Speech bubbles: Make your unemployed kid renovate the basement

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz had more than his share of controversy this week when he lamented the plight of unemployed young people and suggested they volunteer to get job experience.

Who knows what TransCanada chief Russ Girling was thinking when the Republicans won the Senate in a good sign for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. But we can guess.

Mr. Girling isn’t alone. U.S. House Speaker John Boehner immediately put Keystone to the top of his agenda.

Neil Young, on the other hand, isn’t a Keystone fan.

Keystone aside, Finance Minister Joe Oliver is basking in the glow of two months of strong job creation and an unemployment rate not seen since late 2008.

Also on Ottawa’s agenda was a deal with Visa and MasterCard to cut merchant fees.

After an uproar, the Canadian government has backed away from a plan to rename Montreal’s Champlain Bridge after hockey great Maurice “Rocket” Richard.

One wonders if Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi knew what the reaction would be when Saudi Arabia shocked the markets with a U.S. price cut, sending oil plunging and roiling the Canadian dollar.

And, for that matter, whether Super G bronze medalist Jan Hudec thought about the next time he wants to bury a loonie at the finish line.

You think the loonie’s in trouble?

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has been meeting with various EU officials, as Europe’s outlook grows more grim by the day.

Mr. Juncker as he chaired his first official meeting.