Who is Emmanuel Macron and what is his plan for France? + MORE May 4th

Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, gestures to supporters after the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier – RTS13LN5
PARIS – French centrist Emmanuel Macron has already achieved an immense task: a former outsider with little political experience, he is now the front-runner in France’s presidential race, banking on the promise to reform the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies.
The 39-year-old independent candidate faces far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in Sunday’s presidential runoff.
A former investment banker and economy minister, Macron has never held elected office.
The strong advocate of a free market and entrepreneurial spirit has called for France to focus on getting benefits from globalization rather than the protectionist policies advocated by the far right…

(Mcpl Vanputten/Canadian Armed Forces)
When the wildfire struck outside Fort McMurray a year ago, Rocco Neglia was sitting in a regular office meeting across the country at the head office of his firm Economical Insurance, in Kitchener, Ont.
The latest news was initially positive, recalls the vice-president of claims. “I got an email that morning from our Edmonton office saying wind conditions were good and it looked like we would avoid complications due to the fire,” says Neglia.
“But then at about 1:00 pm, that forecast changed and the entire town was given evacuation orders. I kept looking at my mobile device and knew by midday that it would need a huge response from the insurance industry.”
In the end, in addition to bringing devastation on the lives of residents it would become the most expensive disaster in Canadian history and the impact continues to be felt on the local and regional economy. And on top of that, citizens are likely to face higher insurance rates.
Insurance companies are in the business of making people whole and putting them back in the financial shape they were in before a disaster hits…

Several American companies that rely on Canadian softwood say thousands of American jobs are at risk unless the U.S. Department of Commerce exempts them from hefty duties imposed on imported softwood lumber.
The U.S. owners of three bed-frame makers and a company that transforms yellow cedar into high-end products have appealed to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to be exempted from 20 per cent average countervailing duties and impending anti-dumping charges on Canadian imports.
Without a dispensation, the companies said they would be forced to substantially raise prices, risking lower sales and job losses.
“Disruptions, even if temporary, will eliminate jobs in the U.S. and damage the financial stability of the U.S. mattress manufacturing base,” wrote Stephen McLaughlin, vice-president global sourcing for Kentucky-based Tempur-Pedic.
Similar letters sent by other companies were posed on the Department of Commerce website.
They said U.S. lumber mills that launched the trade action against Canada support its request, but the government said it would only respond when it issues its final duty determinations in about five months…

The move comes after the Houston-based company announced plans last month to sell most of its Canadian assets to Calgary-based Cenovus Energy in a $17.7-billion deal.

Express Inc. says it’s closing its 17 Canadian stores in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
The American clothing retailer says it will discontinue its Canadian operations through its subsidiary, Express Fashion Apparel Canada Inc.
Store closing sales will begin in the middle of the month.
The company’s CEO David Kornberg said in a statement that the challenging Canadian retail environment and unfavourable exchange rates prevented the company from meeting its expectations in Canada when it entered the market in 2011.
Back then, the company planned to introduce more than 50 Canadian stores over five years.
During the company’s last financial year ended Jan. 28, Express Canada recorded net sales of about US$34 million and contributed a US$6 million net loss to Express Inc.
Express operates 635 stores in the U.S. and several locations in Puerto Rico.
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