Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised aid to hurricane-battered eastern Canada while reacting to increased volatile weather blamed on climate change.

Canada needs to better adapt its infrastructure to the changing climate, Trudeau said while spending three days surveying the millions of dollars in damage from Hurricane Fiona that stretched from eastern Quebec to the Atlantic provinces.

Hundreds of thousands of people are still without power a week into the cleanup that saw numerous houses washed away into the Atlantic Ocean and three deaths from the raging surf and a home generator problem.

“The reality is that we are going to see more and more intense storms in the years to come and we will have to adapt our infrastructures,” Trudeau said after speaking with survivors.

A week ago, Fiona slammed into Cape Breton, Nova Scotia with 80 mph winds and damaging tides.

Trudeau sent in the military and said the government and provinces will help people rebuild or relocate at no cost to them.

Conservative leader wants to explore building wall along U.S. border

Concern over the growing number of asylum-seekers in Quebec has led to a politician calling for the building of a wall along the U.S. border.

Eric Duhaime, leader of the Quebec Conservative Party seeking re-election on Tuesday, said something needs to be done to address this problem.

While saying he is not into building walls, “something is needed to quell the influx of asylum seekers.”

A wall along the needed area would cost about $53,000, he estimated.

“If illegal immigration continues, serious consideration should be given to building a wall,” he said.

His idea is gaining some support to “stop the thousands of illegal immigrants flooding into the province through Roxham Road,” an unofficial crossing near the Quebec-New York border.

News in brief

• As predicted, beginning yesterday (Oct. 1), all COVID-19 border requirements, including vaccination, mandatory use of ArriveCAN app and any testing and quarantine/isolation requirements ended for travelers entering Canada by land, air or sea. Travelers will no longer be required to undergo health checks for travel by air, rail and cruise ships or the need to wear masks on planes and trains. “But an all travelers are “strongly recommended to wear high-quality and well-fitted masks during their journeys,” the government said.

Facts and figures

• The Canadian dollar is lower at 73 U.S. cents while the U.S. dollar returns $1.37 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.

• The Bank of Canada’ key interest rate is steady at 3.5 percent while the prime lending rate at commercial banks is 5.45 percent.

• Canadian stock markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 18,667 points while the TSX Venture index is 593 points.

• The average price for gas in Canada is higher at $1.65 a liter or $6.27 for a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds.

• Lotto Max: (Sept. 27) 10, 12, 13, 26, 29, 39 and 46; bonus 23. (Sept. 23) 15, 17, 21, 24, 28, 32 and 43; bonus 27.

• Lotto 6/49 (Sept. 28) 7, 10,11, 24, 32 and 40;bonus 25. (Sept. 24) 10, 13, 21, 37, 40 and 41; bonus 48.

Regional briefs

• Canada marked the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Friday with marches and gatherings to honor residential school survivors. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, it’s a federal statutory holiday established last year after thousands of unmarked graves and burial sites were uncovered at now-defunct residential schools. Government and church supported, this is where Indigenous children were taken from their homes to be “Canadian-ized.” Prime Minister Trudeau attended a sunrise ceremony with representatives of various First Nations in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

• Gas prices have reached what industry watchers say is the highest in North America at $2.40 a liter ($9.12 a U.S. gallon in Canadian funds) in Metro Vancouver. That’s three cents a liter higher than the previous record set in June. Analyst Paul Pasco of Kalibrate expects the prices will drop just below $2 a liter around Oct. 10, the Canadian Thanksgiving. The price hike is blamed on a loss of refining capacity, hurricanes and refinery fires in the United States affecting the west coast.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blames climate change for dangerous storms