Radiation
patients set off border scanners
Canadians who have received treatment
involving radiation are setting off detectors at
crossings along the border with the United States.
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, radiation scanners have
been installed at border crossings as a means to detect nuclear
weapons. The detectors are extremely sensitive, even to medical
isotopes used on people.
Radioistopes are used in medical procedures that
range from heart tests to cancer treatment. In the
procedure, a small amount of radioactive material
is injected into the body, where it can remain for
hours or a few weeks.
Many doctors now issue letters for patients to show at the
border with the U.S.
WTO
Rules in Canada’s Favour
Canada received a small victory
in the ongoing softwood lumber dispute with the United
States.
The World Trade Organization sided with Canada and ruled
that the US has failed to prove some of its claims that certain
softwood lumber exports have been unfairly subsidized.
Washington has collected duties now totalling almost
$5 billion on softwood exports, using allegations of subsidies
as a key reason to do so.
Trade officials in Ottawa said this latest ruling won't end
the dispute but should give Canada some leverage in its fight
to end the duties collected by Washington since 2002.
The US lumber lobby, which has accused its Canadian rivals
of being heavily subsidized, dismissed the latest WTO ruling
as a "technical matter.”
US Company Set to Buy Terasen
Gas
Terasen Gas customers in British
Columbia could be paying their monthly heating
bills to a company based in Houston, Tex., under
a recently announced $6.9-billion deal.
To go through - the deal requires approval of
75 per cent of Terasen shareholders, who are
being offered a premium of nearly 20 per cent
over the current value of the company's shares.
It also requires some approvals by the B.C.
Utilities Commission.
If the proposed deal goes through, then the Vancouver-based
Terasen would be purchased by Kinder Morgan of Houston,
a $35-billion company. Kinder is one of the United
States' wealthiest citizens and a strong supporter
of George W. Bush.
Terasen provides gas-delivery utility service to both
household and commercial customers in B.C. It is also
a pipeline company that provides service in both Canada
and the United States. It is the future potential of
Terasen’s pipeline operations that are the biggest
benefit to the US company. The company has connections
to the Alberta oil sands and owns a 2700-kilometre
pipelines into the US Rocky mountain states, which
would benefit a growing US desire for North American
sources of petroleum.
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