National

Revellers Brave The Heat To Celebrate Canada Day On Parliament Hill

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Jul, 2018 01:42 PM

OTTAWA — A scorching heat wave has kept crowds on Parliament Hill smaller than usual for Canada Day festivities in the nation's capital.

Paramedics in Ottawa have been busy responding to holiday revellers in distress, mainly due to the heat. Temperatures were above 34 C with a humidex that reached 47 C in the afternoon.

Ottawa Paramedic Services says as of 2 p.m., their members had attended to 54 patients at Canada Day events. Seven people were taken to hospital with heat illnesses or heart problems.

Both Ottawa police and the parliamentary police force say there have been no security incidents on or around Parliament Hill.

But officials do say they've noticed a drop in the number of participants this year, which they attribute mainly to the heat.

Canadian Heritage says only 6,000 people attended the noon-hour show on Parliament Hill — thousands less than last year.

Happy Canada Day! Wishing you all the best as we celebrate our great country from coast to coast to coast. https://t.co/SZ7FGXQRQ6 pic.twitter.com/DDRy08TVpU
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 1, 2018

What’s red and white and has nine twinkling lights? Your #CFSnowbirds! Our iconic red and white jets make it obvious wherever we go that we are proudly and fiercely Canadian. We are so honoured to represent our amazing country. Happy #CanadaDay! 🇨🇦

📷 MCpl Robert Bottrill pic.twitter.com/gOsc6VE8tV
— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) July 1, 2018

🇨🇦 Happy #CanadaDay from the Royal Canadian Air Force! 🇨🇦
And what better way to celebrate being Canadian than with today's presentation by the #RCAF Public Duties contingent in the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/kWawOIy79B
— RCAF (@RCAF_ARC) July 1, 2018

Happy Canada Day from Leamington! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/rDZuZWLrkP
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 1, 2018

TRUDEAU THANKS CANADIANS FOR STANDING UP FOR EACH OTHER AS COUNTER-TARIFFS BEGIN

OTTAWA — As the country celebrates Canada Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on the road highlighting the stand he has taken against the U.S. government's decision to impose tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products.

Speaking in Leamington, Ont., Sunday morning, Trudeau thanked residents and Canadians for always standing up for one another and for Canadian values.

"This is who we are, we're there for each other in times of difficulty, in times of opportunity. We lean on each other and we stand strong and that's what we do from coast to coast to coast," Trudeau said.

The Ontario town is one of three stops the prime minister will make today as he crosses the country, and one of two stops designed to reflect the looming trade war between Canada and the United States.

Trudeau met with workers at a major canning and food processing operation in Leamington where the tomato paste used in French's ketchup is made and later today will visit a major steel refinery in Regina — two industries at the centre of the trade dispute.

Let's celebrate now, and keep working together, for a better future for everyone in BC.

Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) July 1, 2018

Happy Canada Day to the #VPD 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) July 1, 2018

Today, New Democrats join Canadians everywhere in celebrating Canada’s 151st anniversary

Happy #CanadaDay! 🎉🇨🇦🎉 https://t.co/jN4iFkD9Vh
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) July 1, 2018

On #CanadaDay, take pride in the accomplishments of these Canadians who have been appointed to the #OrderOfCanada! https://t.co/IMTNHVt7Ih pic.twitter.com/rIezgP6sYj
— GGJuliePayette (@GGJuliePayette) July 1, 2018

Trudeau's counter-tariffs take effect today — a month after the Trump administration slapped duties on U.S. steel and aluminum imports from Canada and other allies.

Canada's response includes imposing $16.6 billion worth of tariffs on a long list of consumer products that come from a wide range of sectors — from beer kegs, to ballpoint pens, to ketchup.

On Friday Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by telephone, reiterating that Canada has had "no choice" but to take countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs.

It appears Trump, too, is not backing down.

In an interview that aired Sunday morning, Trump said he will delay signing a revised version of the North American Free Trade Agreement until after the U.S. midterms in November in hopes of reaching a better deal.

He said he could quickly sign an agreement with Mexico and Canada, "but I'm not happy with it. I want to make it more fair."

Happy #CanadaDay to our West Coast! With the Rockies and over 600 provincial parks, it's no secret that British Columbia is an Instagram dream! And, they don't shy away from the spotlight, having hosted the 2010 Olympics, Expo86 and enough film crews to be dubbed Hollywood North. pic.twitter.com/sjmVcADVbP
— Canada (@Canada) July 1, 2018

Thank you to Canadian-American @Astro_Feustel for calling us at the #CanadaDay Noon Show all the way from the @Space_Station! pic.twitter.com/X8J3txS3Kq
— GGJuliePayette (@GGJuliePayette) July 1, 2018

Happy day to the great country who gave us Ryan Reynolds. #CanadaDay pic.twitter.com/PAESzFS0E6
— Deadpool Movie (@deadpoolmovie) July 1, 2018

Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
My home and native land#ProudCanadian #AlwaysHome #AlreadyGreat #TheIndianDetective #DeportedWorldTour Across Canada in November! pic.twitter.com/2nDzIuZ6Wv
— Russell Peters (@therealrussellp) July 1, 2018

Happy #CanadaDay! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/5Mn28TcBFk
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 1, 2018

In the interview on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo," Trump again threatened to impose tariffs on imported cars, trucks and auto parts, saying, "The cars are the big ones." The move has been viewed as a possible negotiating ploy to restart NAFTA talks, which could resume following Sunday's elections in Mexico.

U.S. tariffs on auto imports would be a major blow to Canada's economy because of the importance of the auto industry plays in the country. The U.S. Commerce Department is expected to hold hearings on auto tariffs in late July and to complete its investigation into auto imports later this summer.

Despite the tense political rhetoric among leaders, Trudeau kept his remarks upbeat and patriotic on Canada Day as he spoke to a crowd in Leamington.

He praising Canadians for their supportive attitudes in the face of a trade dispute with its largest trading partner.

"There is so much to be proud of as a country, but the thing we always have to be most proud of is Canadians ourselves — the way we step, the way we lean on each other, the way we're creative and optimistic about the future, the way we look at challenges as opportunities, to grow, to build, to be there for each other. That's what the message we're celebrating on Canada Day.

Trudeau was speaking on the front steps of Highbury Canco with CEO Sam Diab.

Diab said in an interview that the tomato-processing facility will increase prices of its products as a response to the Canada and U.S. trade dispute.

However, the company does not plan on laying off any workers or shrinking its production, Diab said.

Ended my Canada Day celebrations with some ribs at this year’s Rib Fest in Etobicoke! Happy Canada Day once again everybody - hope you have a holiday to remember. #CanadaDay2018 pic.twitter.com/q8dnt5tWzj
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) July 1, 2018

From our #Epcot family to all our Canadian followers, we're sending you best wishes for a Happy #CanadaDay! 🍁🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/KcTjbaRduA
— Walt Disney World Today (@WDWToday) July 1, 2018

The world needs more Canada. #CanadaDay pic.twitter.com/U7rntpJBR9
— Eric Alper (@ThatEricAlper) July 1, 2018

A beautiful celebration for a beautiful country. #CanadaDay ❤️🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/Gmo0yZ4b4Q
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 1, 2018

Trudeau got a tour of the facility and the two spoke about the trade environment and how Diab supports Trudeau with the retaliatory tariffs.

"We just need closure so that we can move forward and companies can start investing again," said Diab, adding that the prime minister's visit to the company made him feel more "confident" in the market.

"Our company will survive no matter what."

Revellers on Parliament Hill who braved scorching temperatures to take in the festivities in Ottawa also expressed support for Trudeau's hard line against Trump on trade.

Angela Egan said she feels Trump is trying to "bully" Canada into submission.

"I'm glad that Justin Trudeau is standing up to him, because I feel like that's his modus operandi, he just tries to bully to get his way and we need to stand up for ourselves," she said.

"I think if you stand up to him, he'll back down."

Ian Cross of Prince Edward Island says he does not believe Canada-U.S. relations are being damaged too deeply by the current trade spat.

"I think we'll get through this. Everybody has to go through different arguments and discussions. People do it, families do it, so I don't think this is a big deal."

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