James Alexander Michie | Blogger: 2018

Monday, 31 December 2018

The third richest man in Canada, Jim Pattison


	Jim Pattison visits a Pattison Agriculture dealership in Moosomin, Saskatchewan.

James Allen Pattison is a Canadian business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he holds the position of chief executive officer, chairman and sole owner of the Jim Pattison Group, Canada’s second largest privately-held company, with more than 45,000 employees worldwide, and annual sales of $10.1 billion. The Group is active in 25 divisions, according to Forbes, including packaging, food, forestry products.

In 2015, he was considered to be Canada’s fourth richest person. Pattison is often referred to as “Canada’s Warren Buffett”. At the time, he was described as Canada’s third richest man by Bloomberg News.

At 90, Pattison oversees one of the newest weapons in his $ 10 billion empire, Pattison Agriculture. This is a chain of John Deere equipment dealers that serve 21 million acres of farmland. Pattison has expressed, “We are seeing more opportunities than ever”, he said. “There are still many opportunities with all the changes that are happening in the world”.

As he is the third richest man in Canada

The impact created by the oilsands

Allan Adam and his people have a base in Fort Chipewyan, an isolated community that is 40 minutes by plane north of Fort McMurray. Likewise, Adam was at the front and center when he embarked on a tour of Canada five years ago. It collected tens of thousands of dollars for the legal struggle of ACFN against the expansion of Shell’s Jackpine oilsands project.

The same tour was joined by rock star Neil Young and ecologist David Suzuki.

For his part, Adam expressed that the development of oilsands and oils should stop. This took place in one of several interviews with the media in Toronto. Just before the first concert. While the ACFN argued that the government’s consultation process was inadequate.

It should be noted that the tour of Honor to the Treaties was in such a way that it reached the international headlines. Possibly this is due to Young’s occasional rhetoric. In which I come to compare the impact of bituminous oilsands development around Fort McMurray with that of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Despite all the headlines that circulated in addition to ticket sales, this was not enough to end the expansion project. Being that the legal challenge of ACFN was dismissed at the end of 2014. However, the project has not yet been developed.

Now, the same boss signed an agreement in support of the largest and most expensive mining project in the proposed blueberry mine.

Estimates

Yan Boissonneault, left, and James Gallagher are seen at a legal medical grow-op they oversee in Mission, B.C., on Dec. 5, 2018. They operate a handful of small legal medical grow-ops in British Columbia and are among the "craft" producers who hope to use their skills in the fledgling recreational market.Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press

Some consider that Canada is really silly since it cannot make money with oil or whether it is drugs. Likewise, it is considered that possibly Canada could be the only country with legal marijuana and a large amount of oil. Despite this, he really cannot do anything with any of them.

Undoubtedly, there are those who get money really easy because of drugs, for example, the big criminals. Likewise, it was suggested that in Canada, marijuana should be legalized in order to keep the business under control. It seems that if it turned out. In fact, now there is a shortage of things and Ottawa is busy looking for places that do not want marijuana stores within their limits.

While on the other hand, it is difficult not to make money with oil. Being that the sovereign wealth fund of Norway, the largest in the world, contains the U.S. $ 1 trillion of oil profits. It should be noted that this fund is so important in Norway that it has its own television program, a situation comedy about the clash between high finance and innate Nordic moderation. Likewise, oil is the only reason why the Middle East is flooded with petro-princes, hereditary monarchs and truly rich heirs of the throne.

The effect of oil

The popularity of Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seen on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine on sale this Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau graces the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine accompanied by a provocative headline: "Why Can't He Be Our President?"Rolling Stone/The Canadian Press

It seems that Justin Trudeau is popular as he used to be before. In fact, a new survey has emerged in which the Trudeau approval rating is a net negative of 23 percent. Being that when he was elected in 2015, Trudeau had a net score of more than 34 percent.

Likewise, the new survey mentioned above was given by the Angus Reid Institute. In it, the Trudeau approval rating is a net negative of 23% (only 35% approves, 58% does not agree). It is necessary to highlight the fact that in 2015, Trudeau had a net score of more than 34 percent. That being the case is almost double the people approved of him now.

Despite this survey, it does not have the last word. Since Andrew Scheer is now considered the best prime minister by more people than by supporting Trudeau. Being a finding in disagreement with the latest Nanos Research survey on the same question. However, the numbers may be subject to debate.

Now, the question arises: What has happened to almost double the number of Canadians who disapprove of their prime minister in the last three years?

It turns out that half of the Angus Reid respondents said they are concerned that the economy will worsen in the next 12 months.

Words of Trudeau

Canada's foreign policy during 2018

(Shutterstock / Tamara Cerqueira)

It seems that Canada is ending 2018 with fewer friends and this is certainly becoming more evident. In fact, it is no secret to anyone that Canada is currently more isolated on the world stage than it had been in previous decades. For some, this may be due to an indifferent southern neighbor and the emergence of isolationist and populist leaders in other parts of the world.

Do not leave aside an important factor and that is that during this year 2018, the government of Justin Trudeau has faced various challenges. They have been many and they have also been really complex.

Likewise, it has been suggested that most of the foreign policy challenges are the result of what Andrea Charron, of the University of Manitoba, calls a “massive change” in the geopolitical landscape.

For his part, Charron, who is director of the Center for Defense and Security Studies of the university, expressed with precision “China and Russia are exercising more economic and military influence than at any time since the Cold War.” Saudi Arabia is exercising an unprecedented power in the world”.

And in the same way, he added, “Canada must be more strategic about how it behaves on the world stage”.

Canada on the world stage

Justin Trudeau seems firm despite the problems that lie ahead

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a year end interview with The Canadian Press on Dec. 14, 2018.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

It seems that Justin Trudeau seems firm and imperturbable despite the fact that problems are brewing everywhere. So it seems that the strategy of the liberal election would be, do nothing and hope that there is no recession. In fact, during the traditional round of end-of-year interviews, Trudeau was very carefree.

Likewise, after these interviews, I am left with the impression of a prime minister and a government that saw no reason for any major correction in the course. At some point it is understandable and it is true that liberals are performing surprisingly weakly in the polls, given the state of the economy. Despite this, the party could be forgiven for believing that the Trudeau, now experienced, will beat the conservative Andrew Scheer in the campaign.

Questions that arise

Loss week for U.S. stocks

The week had really started energetically for the actions of the United States then turned into losses. Due to the disappointing economic data from China and Europe, global stocks fell on Friday.

It should be noted that the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed close to 500 points on Friday. Likewise, the figures that have reflected the growth of China’s retail industry and sales are better than expected. And it exceeded expectations. In such a way, this produced an effect on the Asian actions causing its descent during the night.

For its part, the decline in US stocks suppressed the week’s gains with small-cap stocks among the most affected. However, small capitalizations, as measured by the Russell 2000 Index, have lost approximately 17% in the last 3 months. While, on the other hand, the S & P 500 large-cap index lost 9% during the same period.

Refuge in instruments with greater liquidity

'Overtourism' the new trend

A large part of Europe lately has been really disconcerted and worried about the ‘overtourism’ and the growing chorus that blames technologies like Airbnb, Uber and another internet.

It is already well known that every summer, the most popular European destinations are filled with tourists. Likewise, around the world, thanks in part to the growing affluence, travel is becoming a more shared hobby. In fact, international travel increased by 6 percent in the first half of the year. That being the case, I exceed the forecasts of the experts, according to the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations.

It would be considered as good news without ambiguities. While, on the other hand, advocates of stopping tourism say that too many visitors are altering the character of historic cities. In the same way, they consider that the trips are also terrible.

Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, in Vancouver, on Wednesday December 12, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Meng Wanzhou also was known as Sabrina Meng and Cathy Meng, is a Chinese business executive. She lives in Shenzhen, China and is vice president of the board and CFO of China’s largest private company. The telecommunications giant Huawei, founded by his father Ren Zhengfei in 1987.

On December 1, 2018, Meng was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States for allegedly defrauding multiple financial institutions. Likewise, the case of Meng has attracted various international media since it has a combination of money, power, and intrigue. Therefore, when she was arrested, she ignited a storm of interest that saw media around the world descend to Vancouver.

Security experts have warned Canada about doing business with Huawei. This in itself has generated concern about the close relationship between the company and the Chinese government.

Likewise, the last week has been auspicious in showing the judicial and legal deficit of the United States in comparison with Canada. And it is necessary to emphasize that the arrest and bail of Meng Wanzhou have been handled with exemplary impartiality. For its part, the United States must be supported by all civilized countries in the imposition of sanctions on Iran. This would be until Iran credibly and verifiably renounces nuclear weapons, or miraculously becomes a country to be trusted.

A red hot slab of steel is cut as it moves along a conveyor at the ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s plant in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Liberty House Group has extended its buying spree after the closely held metals group offered to buy four European steel assets from top producer ArcelorMittal, including the Ostrava plant. Photographer: Martin Divisek/Bloomberg

Likewise, the pressure of strengthening the dollar has come down. Consequently, from this, the metals sector remains the unconditional potential of the normalization of the volatility of the stock market. Being that, on the other hand, gold has the biggest advantage if the shares continue to decrease. Especially if US stocks return more compared to the world. It should be noted that the dollar should decrease and metals and basic products, in general, would benefit. Being that, the potential for gold appreciation remains disconcerting.

In addition to this, industrial metals have compensated a discount in a bull market. Meanwhile, the implications of a sustained decline should increase risks for securities markets. For some, it is necessary to continue the strength or weakness of the dollar in emerging market equities. This in order to appease the bears of the metals sector.

Data to highlight

The largest budget deficit that was registered in November

The largest budget deficit was recorded during the month of November in the United States. Likewise, according to the damages obtained from the Treasury, the federal disbursements double the revenue collection. While similarly, the United States ran the largest fiscal gap in six years in the 2018 fiscal year.

It should be noted that disbursements increased 18 percent to $ 411 billion last month. Being that in turn the receipts were modified slightly to $ 206 billion, according to the Treasury Department in a monthly report. That left a deficit of $ 205 billion, compared to the $ 139 billion breach of the previous year.

Likewise, this deficit has been the highest in a period of six years in fiscal year 2018. The measures have added to the growing federal deficit, which is expected to exceed $ 1 trillion by 2020 when the United States holds the next presidential election.

Likewise, another veteran of hedge funds is leaving a brutal market.

Philippe Jabre is the founder and CIO of Jabre Capital Partners S.A, a Geneva-based hedge fund and a former managing director of GLG Partners, a UK-based hedge fund.

That being the case, Jabre is returning money to investors after a “particularly challenging” year, which adds to the growing list of veterans of hedge funds who renounce an industry where opportunities to generate money have been reduced.

It should be noted that it has been said that the market is increasingly difficult to anticipate. In fact, there is an estimate of 174 hedge funds that were liquidated in the third quarter.

As already mentioned, Jabre Capital Partners SA, headquartered in Geneva, is returning the customers’ money to the three funds personally managed by Jabre. Two remaining funds, one focused on emerging markets and the other on European credit, will continue to operate with external money.

Hard year for hedge funds

Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her home with a security guard in Vancouver the day after she was released on $10 million bail. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

One important fact to note is that according to US attorneys, Meng’s father is the 83rd richest person in the world. Its net worth is the US $ 3.2 billion.

Likewise, it is necessary to mention that Meng has a master’s degree and has worked for the company since 1993, in positions that include director of international accounting, financial director of Huawei Hong Kong and chairman of the accounting management department. But currently, she is the Financial Director of Huawei and Vice President of the Board.

As for his personal life, Meng has four children from 10 to 20 years old. Her three children are from previous marriages and she has a daughter with her current husband, Liu Xiaozong, who is also known as Carlos.

Meng was arrested

It is said that crude oil should be entering an extended range market. In fact, if the story is taken into account, it could be established as a guide. Being those receptive operators are very likely to prevail as the market feels very optimistic near the peaks and bearish towards the nadirs. However, natural gas seems to be the opposite, as it seems to have a bullish potential that outweighs downside risks.

There are those who believe that crude oil should remain the domain of the receptive operators. The 2018 Brent maximum of $ 86.74 per barrel should represent good resistance over an extended period, as the market seeks to support. Back in the middle of the 2012–16 price decline, $ 10 above or below the $ 77 level should mark the bell curve of the trading range for a while. A good support area is $ 67.

Comparisons and estimates

There is no doubt about the future capacity of the greenhouse effect in Canada. And it is that the same will be significantly more than what the market requires. In fact, legal producers expect their first advantage, in the cultivation and large-scale distribution of marijuana, to allow them to export enough supplies abroad. This in order to absorb the excess capacity that is about to impact Canada.

Likewise, it has been said that the positive outlook of Canadians on the marijuana sector is driven by something. The expectation of a potential for massive international growth.

Now, if government surveys are taken into account, it is understood that the medical use rates in Canada and the construction plans of legal producers, we estimate that Canada will have an excessive supply of at least 850,000 kg (85% in excess) for purposes of 2021. Likewise, international demand will have to consume the excess or prices in Canada will fall rapidly at a price as low as $ 2.50 / gram, until enough companies fail to rebalance the market.

Important data

Those responsible for the massive violation of Marriott according to the New York Times

The New York Times has said that behind the massive violation of Marriott are some Chinese hackers. In fact, it has been said that behind the theft of data belonging to clients of the hotel group owned by Marriott are Chinese hackers working for the Ministry of State Security. The country’s civil espionage agency.

It should be noted that this data breach exposed data from approximately 500 million Starwood hotel customers. It also included health insurers and security clearance files for millions of Americans. Likewise, according to the Times, the Trump administration also plans to declassify the intelligence reports. This in order to reveal the Chinese piracy efforts that go back at least to 2014.

More tension between the United States and China

Justin Trudeau's Canada Embraces a World Without Borders | American Thinker

The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to sign the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration at an intergovernmental meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 10, 2018.

Few Canadians are aware of what this UN Global Compact represents; even fewer have been consulted, and without any mandate except for a parliamentary majority, Justin Trudeau is committed in signing Canada into an agreement with far-reaching conseque

nces — not only for Canadians. Canada agreeing to abide by the agreement will also have consequences for Americans, as among migrants entering Canada might well be those intending to sneak into the United States across the world’s longest open border.

The UN Global Compact spells out, in 34 pages of fine print, requirements for member-states to adopt as policy accommodating unfettered mass migration from the global South to the North.

Trump commits to $750 billion defense budget | CNN

(CNN) President Donald Trump has agreed to a request from Defense Secretary James Mattis to propose a defense budget of $750 billion for the coming year, marking a reversal from plans to shrink defense spending, an administration official confirmed to CNN.

Last week, Trump appeared to call the Defense Department budget of $716 billion “crazy” in a tweet. The next day Mattis and key Republican lawmakers who oppose any defense budget cuts met with the President for lunch to discuss military funding.

The agreement on the $750 billion budget came out of the meeting last Tuesday, which was attended by Trump, Mattis and the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at FCA assembly plant in Windsor, Ont. Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. Troy Shantz / THE CANADIAN PRESS

I am a woman. I run a company with my husband. I run a coalition of 150 companies made up primarily of volunteers.

My company, and many in my coalition, employ all kinds of men, often doing physical labour of the sort that, as a rule, men will pick to do before women will.

The Prime Minister this past week insulted every one of these men.

While participating in a gender equality panel at the G20 in Argentina, Trudeau talked about gender impacts on women.

“Even big infrastructure projects, you know, might now say, well, what does a gender lens have to do with building this new highway or this new pipeline or something? Well, you know, there are gender impacts when you bring construction workers into a rural area. There are social impacts because they’re mostly male construction workers.”

A decade after Bernard Madoff was arrested for running the world’s biggest Ponzi scheme, the bitter fight to recoup investors’ lost billions has astounded experts and victims alike.

While no one will ever collect the phantom profits Madoff pretended he was earning, the cash deposits by his clients have been the primary objective for Irving Picard, a New York lawyer overseeing liquidation of Madoff’s firm in bankruptcy court. So far he’s recovered $13.3 billion — about 70 percent of approved claims — by suing those who profited from the scheme, knowingly or not. And Picard has billions more in his sights.

“That kind of recovery is extraordinary and atypical,” said Kathy Bazoian Phelps, a bankruptcy lawyer at Diamond McCarthy LLP in Los Angeles who isn’t involved in the case. Recoveries in Ponzi schemes range from 5 percent to 30 percent, and many victims don’t get anything, Phelps said.

Madoff’s Billions

The Madoff trustee is on track to recover most of victims’ lost principal

Dilemma in NATO

Spanish Frigate Cristobal Colon, French Naval Ship Latouche-Tréville and Turkish Naval Ship Oruceis sail ahead of HMCS Ville De Québec while near the coast of Norway during Trident Juncture on Oct. 26, 2018. (Master Cpl. Andre Maillet/MARPAC Imaging Services)

There is an arctic dilemma of NATO and is that two visions of the Arctic collide when NATO and Russia flex their muscles.

The tensions with Russia do not cease since, in fact, they have constantly increased. That being the case, NATO has been forced to train its military forces again. This in order to face a large and well-armed opponent in northern Europe and possibly even in the Arctic. It should be noted that by the end of October and the beginning of November 2018, the alliance carried out massive war games in and around Norway. The largest NATO exercise since the end of the Cold War.

Now, NATO and Norway have to perform a good balance exercise between deterring Russia's aggressive behavior and causing a greater accumulation of Russian forces at the Norwegian and Arctic border.

Likewise, it is necessary to mention that a small Norwegian city on the Russian border is betting its future on the development of cross-border cooperation. In addition, it is becoming a vital center in a new trans-Antarctic route that connects Russia and China with Western Europe.

Meanwhile, such war games were established as the largest exercise of this kind by NATO since the end of the Cold War. The games, whose code name was Trident Juncture 2018, were extended in late October and early November and involved some 50,000 NATO troops. They were backed by some 250 aircraft, 65 ships, and up to 10,000 vehicles from the 29 NATO countries. In the same way, it covered the four theaters of war: land, sea, air, and cyberwar.

The deployment of war games

Seniors take a break on benches at a temple in Sugamo district in Tokyo. The country's population is shrinking, and more than 20 per cent of its citizens aged 65 or older. (Issei Kato/Reuters)

Japan will open its doors for at least 345,000 foreign workers. That being so while the workforce ages.

It should be noted that previously Japan was doing everything possible to keep foreign workers away. Despite this, he is now forced to accept hundreds of thousands of them. In fact, the country's parliament is scheduled to approve new legislation that will dramatically increase the number of low-skilled and low-wage workers allowed in the country. Summing this way to the inescapable pressure of the demography.

On the other hand, the population of Japan fell by 0.3 percent to 125.2 million as the country registered only 946,060 births. This was established as the lowest number since 1899. Likewise, the number of available jobs far exceeds the number of workers.

What is the result of it?

Letter from Rachel Notley to Albertans

'We need to do more and do it now,' Rachel Notley says in a letter provided to CBC News. (Mark Blinch/Canadian Press)

Rachel Anne Notley MLA is a Canadian policy and the 17th and current prime minister of Alberta, since 2015. She is also a member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Strathcona and leader of the New Democratic Party of Alberta. The daughter of former Alberta NDP leader Grant Notley, Notley’s career before the policy focused on labor law, with a specialty in defending workers’ compensation and health and safety issues in the workplace.

The prime minister’s office provided a letter from Rachel Notley, especially addressed to Albertans, before its announcement on Sunday evening. In fact, Notley is expected to announce mandatory cuts to oil production on Sunday.

In this letter, Notley emphasizes something, “my Albanian colleagues, their energy resources, the natural heritage of each person in this province, are sold for almost nothing”.

Likewise, it highlights that a decision must be made with real repercussions for the workers and for the economy itself. In addition to this, there is a need to express the problems that Alberta faces.

Problems that must be addressed

Leaders pose for a family photo at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires Photographer: Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images

The leaders of the G-20 take Trump in diluted commercial language. Those leaders of the world’s largest economies agreed on something. And is that the global system of rules that sustained trade for decades has flaws, in a statement after the summit on Saturday the White House claimed as a victory for the protectionist agenda of Donald Trump.

It should be noted that the Group of 20 communiqué was the culmination of days of talks throughout the day. In fact, it has been said that just having a statement turns out to be a good result. Topics such as trade, migration, and climate were discussed.

Meanwhile, the leaders recognized the benefits of multilateral trade. In fact, they said that the system “is not meeting its objectives and there is room for improvement.” They also agreed to commit to reforming the WTO, the world’s leading trade regulatory body.

Added to this, the document has been praised. The one who praised him has been a high official of the White House. The addition of the wording to explain Trump’s decision to exit the Paris climate agreement was also well received by the United States, the official said. Being that according to the statement the signatories of the agreement reaffirmed it as irreversible.

Opinions that came to light

Maybe it's not Bernier's time

Maxime Bernier is shown in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on September 28, 2017. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Possibly it is not the time of Maxime Bernier and in fact, maybe he is not the right guy.

Possibly time is not established as the concern of all. Being that some may object to Bernier leaving the Tories on principle because they do not like the principles. In addition to this, we find an emergency argument. One response from Twitter to my support from Bernier was “Canada cannot afford another Trudeau term”. It should be noted that he is just a genius with big harmful government plans. And in no way the only one. Since not all wear red ties. In addition to this, we find the argument of loyalty at all costs. But it’s kind of rich to listen to the old reformers Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney.

Emphasizing Harper, he also had massive deficits to stimulate the economy, he covered the tax code with legal gaps to buy votes, and he undertook to defend the management of the offer in trade negotiations and was lost after a majority incremental timid period that did not leave a valuable legacy.

Without a doubt, Canadians have the possibility to do better and likewise dare to dream big. In fact, he is trying to push for it to be so. But something that should also be is to stay together to implement our agenda. Regardless of what is in it, whether winning the election, regroup after a defeat, among others. But even so, if it is never a good time to raise fundamental questions, specific excuses are no longer important.

Questions about Bernier

It should be noted that it really had a great inaugural start, despite which it has declined at least 5.8%. And is that cannabis operators in the United States have suffered a fall as mentioned, of 5.8% during the month of November. It is also argued that possibly the early acceleration in the month was linked to the interest in the sector before the elections. This, because the index rose more than 24% in the first week of the month.

In fact, a lot of new issues came to the market. They will be mentioned below: Acreage Holdings (CSE: ACRG) (OTC: ACRZF), DionyMed Holdings (CSE: DYME), Dixie Brands (CSE: DIXI), Green Growth Brands (CSE: GGB) (OTC: XTHCF) , Criado Rogue (CSE: GRIN) (OTC: NVSIF), Harvest Health & Recreation (CSE: HARV) (OTC: HTHHF) and MJardin Group (CSE: MJAR) (OTC: MJARF).

Likewise, it is necessary to highlight the inaugural index, which we detailed at the beginning of November, was composed of eighteen qualified companies. Of these, 14 are multi-state operators (MSO), while the remaining four are focused on the sale of CBD derived from industrial hemp. Likewise, despite the pressure in the sector, seven of the eighteen names were able to publish gains during the month.

The best performances

Oman's Sultan Qaboos, left, receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Muscat during Netanyahu's surprise visit there on Oct. 26, 2018. Oman News Agency/AP

It has been said that the true Arab Spring is the beginning of a genuine peace with Israel. In fact, peace, as well as the normalization of relations between Israel, the Arab and Muslim world, have developed at a really significant rate. It has been to such a point that due to this, new relationships have been forged and the old and inactive ties have been revived.

It should be noted that the Saudis, as well as the Israelis, are gravely concerned about Tehran’s expansionist efforts. This in itself is to obtain hegemony in the Middle East and its direct participation in the promotion of the Assad regime in Syria. In addition to its encouragement of violence in Iraq and rebels who support the struggle in Yemen and terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas of Lebanon and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

New relationships and re-invigoration of old and inactive links

Canadian economy affected due to commercial battle | Bloomberg

The commercial battle has reached such a level that it has slowed investment and thus affected the Canadian economy.

The commercial uncertainty has increased during the summer. In fact, it seems that it has affected Canada’s economy in the third quarter. This led households to reduce consumption and companies to drastically reduce investment.

During Friday, data was published by Statistics Canada. These data show that consumer spending grew at the slowest pace in more than two years. While on the other hand, the companies registered an unexpected fall in the investment and reduced their inventories.

Generally speaking, the economy grew at an annualized rate of 2 percent, largely due to a better commercial image as imports declined. Meanwhile, domestic demand, which excludes trade, was the weakest in more than two years. This is because it has registered a slight contraction.

The chief economist of CIBC World Markets, Avery Shenfeld, in a note to investors has said, “Canada had a mediocre third quarter, with some worrying details about what is coming”, he added, “These are not the type of numbers that support a rate hike in December “.

Important information

The Marriott hotel chain says data from customers at Starwood hotels dating back to 2014 has been breached. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Marriott International is an American multinational diversified hotel services company that administers and grants franchises to a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging establishments. The same chain was founded by J. Willard Marriott. Currently, the company is now run by his son, Executive President Bill Marriott, and President and CEO Arne Sorenson.

Marriott International is the largest hotel chain in the world. In fact, it has more than 6,500 properties in 127 countries and territories around the world. In addition to this, more than 1.2 million rooms (until September 2017) and 195,000 additional rooms in the development process.

An important fact to note is that in 2017, Marriott ranked 33rd in Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, its 20th appearance on the list.

Violation of guest data

In Ontario's Central West district, there are simply not enough courtrooms to accommodate all of the cases that require a hearing.Tim Fraser for National Post files

Laurie H. Pawlitza: In every province in Canada, cases are taking longer and our laws have become significantly more complex

On Nov. 19, 2018, Regional Senior Justice Peter Daley took an unprecedented step. Speaking to media, members of the profession and the public from the dais in the Brampton, Ont., courthouse, he addressed growing concerns over the backlog in his region’s courts.

“Regrettably, the Ontario government has failed and refused to live up to its responsibilities, despite being implored to do so countless times over many years by the Superior Court of Justice,” he said.

Quoting the Supreme Court of Canada, he went on to say that “the lack of institutional resources cannot be an excuse used by the Crown to deny an accused’s right to a timely trial. A similar argument may be made for families who are in crisis and desperately require the court’s intervention.”

Two days later, on Nov. 21, 2018, Justice Clayton Conlan released a decision arising from a ten-day trial he heard in Milton, Ont.

Justice Conlan’s decision began with these words: “This proceeding has existed for 17 years. That is not a misprint. I repeat, this proceeding has been around for three years short of two decades.”

While Regional Senior Justice Daley and Justice Conlan have something in common (they each sit in the Central West judicial region of Ontario), the circumstances described by each last week are well known to many who attempt to access the family court system in Canada.
For readers who have managed to avoid our family justice system to date, statistics provide context.

Maxime Bernier is a Canadian businessman, lawyer, and politician, currently serving as a member of parliament for the Quebec Mount Beauce, having been elected four times with a majority of the votes. He is the current founder and leader of the People’s Party of Canada.

Likewise, Bernier, 55, who is the father of two teenagers, worked in law and finance. This was before starting the political career that for a time turned him into a kind of cult figure among the experts who love the free market and the people who use the phrase “dairy cartel”.

He possesses both physical and personal traits that make him stand out. He is tall, charismatic and comfortable in the spotlight, although a little softer in his native French than in English. Without a doubt, Bernier checks all the boxes that a retail politician must possess. And is that it feeds on the energy of a crowd, knows how to navigate a room and the supporters of the hands of those who are happy are warm and genuine.

Don Walker, Magna International CEO, is concerned about Canada's competitiveness.Galit Rodan / Bloomberg

The chief executive of Canada’s largest auto parts manufacturer is concerned that government decisions are putting Ontario’s ability to remain competitive at risk, at the same time that the United States becomes a more attractive market for investment.

Speaking at an annual shareholder meeting, Magna International Inc.’s chief executive Don Walker said initiatives such as Ontario’s cap and trade program, as well as rising electricity costs and new labour legislation are making it increasingly difficult to remain competitive against other jurisdictions that don’t face “all these burdens.”

“I’m worried about what’s going on in Canada,” Walker told employees and shareholders gathered in Markham, Ont. on Thursday.

“I get very frustrated when I see the decisions being made that put undue administrative costs and inefficiencies on our plants, specifically here in Ontario, because we have to compete… We’re not going to get business if we’re forced to be uncompetitive.”

Two workers embrace before their meeting on Monday. (Eduardo Lima/Canadian Press)

While lives will be disrupted, experts say there’s demand for GM’s skilled workers

“It could have been worse” will be of no comfort to those affected by the shutdown and job losses at General Motors. It has been a shock to affected families and to the communities where plants are closing.

“It’s going to affect the province, it’s going to affect the region,” said Oshawa, Ont., mayor John Henry after hearing that the historic Ontario GM plant that his community has hosted and supported for more than a century will be closing. Thousands of workers will be laid off.

“If you look out the window right now and look at the weather, that’s the mood in the city of Oshawa,” Henry told CBC Toronto radio host Matt Galloway on an overcast Monday, shortly before GM’s official announcement.

Pages

Monday, 31 December 2018

As he is the third richest man in Canada

Sunday, 30 December 2018

Estimates

The effect of oil

Sunday, 23 December 2018

Words of Trudeau

Friday, 21 December 2018

Canada on the world stage

Thursday, 20 December 2018