>> Rosemary: HI, EVERYONE.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN 
OTTAWA ON CBC, CBC NEWS NETWORK 
AND ON OUR CBC APP AROUND THE 
WORLD.
WE'RE EXPECTING THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S COVID UPDATE TO 
START WITHIN MINUTES OUTSIDE 
HIS HOME.
HE IS EXPECTED TO TALK ABOUT 
THAT ANNOUNCEMENT YOU HEARD 
LAST HOUR AND THAT IS A NEW 
PLAN TO SUPPORT SENIORS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT MANY OF YOU 
HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT OVER THE 
COURSE OF THE LAST NUMBER OF 
WEEKS.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME OF 
THE HIGHLIGHTS, IT WILL BE A 
ONE-TIME TAX-FREE PAYMENT FOR 
CANADIANS WHO RECEIVE O.A.S., 
OLD AGE CONSULTER, THE PENSION 
TOP-UP.
ONE TIME $300 TAX-FREE.
IF YOU ARE ON G.I.S., THE 
GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPORT, YOU 
WILL GET AN ADDITIONAL $200.
SO, A TOTAL OF $500 TAX-FREE IN 
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT.
THERE ARE 6.7 MILLION SENIORS 
WHO USE O.A.S., WHO ARE 
ELIGIBLE FOR O.A.S. IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
SO, THAT IS A BIG AMOUNT.
AND THE WHOLE PACKAGE COSTS 
$2.5 BILLION.
AGAIN, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT 
A LOT OF YOU HAD BEEN ASKING 
ABOUT AND THE GOVERNMENT 
PROMISED AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE 
COMING DAYS AND HERE WE ARE.
I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES 
KNOWING THAT I MAY HAVE TO CUT 
THEM OFF VERY QUICKLY.
THE HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS", 
VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID 
COCHRANE BOTH JOIN ME, HERE IN 
OTTAWA, OF COURSE.
I'M SURE YOU ALL GOT TE MAILS 
AND TWEETS THE WAY I DID.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE DESPERATE 
FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE 
HAVE BEEN, FOR SENIORS, SOME 
ADDITIONAL COSTS, WHETHER IT BE 
GETTING THINGS DELIVERED OR, 
YOU KNOW, GROCERIES ARE A 
LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, THOSE 
KINDS OF THINGS.
THIS WILL COME AS A RELIEF TO A 
LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEN THERE 
WILL, OF COURSE, BE QUESTIONS 
ABOUT WHETHER IT'S ENOUGH AND 
WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE MORE AS 
THERE ALWAYS ARE WITH THESE 
KINDS OF THINGS.
IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE IT WAS OUT 
OF REALM OF POCKET THAT THERE 
COULDN'T BE MORE, VASSY.
BUT FOR NOW, IT IS A ONE-TIME 
PAYMENT.
>> Vassy: FOR NOW IT IS THE 
ONE-TIME PAYMENT.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
THE BIG QUESTION THAT I'M 
HEARING SO FAR IS WHETHER OR 
NOT THIS IS ENOUGH.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THE 
MINISTER FOR SENIORS, DEB 
SCHULTZ, SORT OF SHOW US 
EXACTLY WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH 
THAT NUMBER BASED ON AND IT'S 
EXACTLY WHAT YOU LAID OUT, 
ROSIE.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T TAKE 
PUBLIC TRANSIT ANYMORE.
YOU HAVE TO RELY ON TAXIS.
TOUGH GET YOUR GROCERIES 
DELIVERED, THAT IS AN INCREASED 
COST AS WELL.
INCREASE IN DISPENSING FEES FOR 
PHARMACEUTICALS.
THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, IT'S THOSE SMALLER 
INCREMENTAL COSTS THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THIS IS 
WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TO 
ADDRESS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT 
THERE AREN'T ADDITIONAL NEEDS 
FOR SENIORS AND PARTICULARLY 
ADDITIONAL ASKS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT DRIVEN LARGELY BY 
OPPOSITION PARTIES AND, OF 
COURSE, OBVIOUSLY GROUPS THAT 
REPRESENT SENIORS AND CHIEF 
AMONG THEM IS IF YOU NEED TO 
USE SOME OF YOUR RETIREMENT 
SAVINGS IN ORDER TO BUY YOU 
SOME TIME TO GET THROUGH THIS 
PANDEMIC, OR YOU NEED TO ACCESS 
THEM, IS THERE A WAY THE 
GOVERNMENT CAN REDUCE THE 
AMOUNT YOU'RE TAXED NAER?
>> Rosemary: OK.
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT 
AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Interpreter: ANNOUNCED A NEW 
CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE 
VACCINE ALLIANCE.
THESE ORGANISATIONS DISTRIBUTE 
VACCINES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE 
AROUND THE WORLD AND SAVE 
MILLIONS OF LIVES.
MOST RECENTLY, IT HAS BEEN 
HELPING DEVELOPING COUNTRIS TO 
RESPOND TO OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE 
SUCH AS COVID-19.
ONCE WE HAVE FOUND A VACCINE, 
GAVI WILL BE HELPING TO 
DISTRIBUTE IT TO THOSE WHO NEED 
IT.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS.
BECAUSE IN OUR INTERCONNECTED 
WORLD, IN ORDER END THE 
PANDEMIC IN CANADA, WE MUST 
DEFEAT THE VIRUS EVERYWHERE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
WANT TO NOTE THAT EARLIER THIS 
MORNING, MINISTER GOULD 
AFOUNDSED A CONTRIBUTION TO THE 
VACCINE INITIATIVE, GAVI, THE 
VACCINE AHINDSING, GAVI AND THE 
GLOBAL POLIO ERADICATION 
INITIATIVE.
THESE ORGANISATIONS DELIVER 
VACCINES TO THE WORLD'S MOST 
VULNERABLE, SAVING MILLIONS OF 
LIVES.
MOST RECENTLY, THEY ARE 
DEVELOPING TO RESPOND TO 
DISEASE OUTBREAKS LIKE COVID-19.
ONCE THE COVID-19 VACCINE IS 
AVAILABLE, GAVI WILL HELP GET 
IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
AND THAT WILL KEEP US ALL SAFER.
BECAUSE IN OUR INTERCONNECTED 
WORLD, TO END THIS PANDEMIC FOR 
GOOD IN CANADA, WE HAVE TO END 
IT EVERYWHERE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: AS WE KNOW ONLY 
TOO WELL, THE LAST FEW WEEKS 
HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY TOUGH 
FOR SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS 
ARE MORE AT RISK OF CATCHING 
COVID-19 AND OF SUFFERING THE 
MOST SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES AND 
SENIORS HOMES HAVE BEEN THE 
MOST HARD-HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.
EXPOSING THE FAILURES OF A 
SYSTEM THAT MUST BE 
STRENGTHENED.
BUT THE CHALLENGES OF THE 
PANDEMIC FOR SENIORS ARE NOT 
JUST LIMITED TO WHAT'S 
HAPPENING IN SENIORS HOMES.
THE LOCKDOWN IS WEIGHING 
HEAVILY ON SENIORS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ALONE 
AND SEPARATED FROM THEIR 
FAMILIES.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO 
NOT GO OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, 
THEY CAN'T USE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
THEY RELY ON DELIVERY SERVICES 
TO DO THEIR ERRANDS AND OFTEN 
THAT MEANS THEY CAN'T TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF SALES IN STORES.
IT'S HARD ON THEIR MORALE AS 
WELL AS ON THEIR FINANCES.
SO TODAY, OUR GOVERNMENT IS 
ANNOUNCING NEW MEASURES TO HELP 
OUR SENIORS GET THROUGH THIS 
CRISIS.
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU RECEIVE 
OLD AGE SECURITY, YOU WILL BE 
RECEIVING $300 MORE TO HELP YOU 
WITH THE COST THAT YOU'VE HAD 
TO INCUR AS A RESULT OF 
COVID-19.
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT ALMOST SEVEN 
MILLION PEOPLE WHO WILL BE 
RECEIVING MORE MONEY IN THE 
COMING WEEKS.
AND TO HELP THOSE SENIORS WHO 
ARE MOST VULNERABLE, WE WILL 
ALSO BE PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 
$200 TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE 
ELIGIBLE FOR THE GUARANTEED 
INCOME SUPPLEMENT.
THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE 
RECEIVING BOTH O.A.S. AND THE 
G.I.S., YOU WILL RECEIVE $500 
MORE.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO BE 
GRANTING $20 MILLION MORE TO 
THE NEW HORIZONS FOR SENIORS 
PROGRAMME.
WE DID MAKE CHANGES TO THAT 
PROGRAMME SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, TO 
ALLOW ORGANISATIONS TO ADJUST 
THEIR SERVICES TO, BASED ON THE 
REALITIES OF PANDEMIC, AND HELP 
SENIORS REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH 
THEIR FAMILIES.
SO, WE'RE AGAIN INVESTING IN 
THAT PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE FOR 
MORE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL 
COUNTER THE ISOLATION OF 
SENIORS AND IMPROVE THEIR 
QUALITY OF LIFE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
ANNOUNCING NEW MEASURES TO 
SUPPORT SENIORS DURING THIS 
PANDEMIC.
FIRST, IF YOU'RE RECEIVING 
OLD-AGE SECURITY, YOU WILL GET 
AN ADDITIONAL $300 TO OFFSET 
SOME OF THE EXTRA COSTS YOU'VE 
HAD TO COVER BECAUSE OF THE 
VIRUS.
THIS MEANS THAT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, ALMOST SEVEN MILLION 
SENIORS WILL GET THE HELP THAT 
THEY NEED.
AND TO BETTER SUPPORT THE MOST 
VULNERABLE SENIORS, WE WILL 
GIVE AN EXTRA $200 FOR PEOPLE 
ELIGIBLE FOR THE GUARANTEED 
INCOME SUPPLEMENT.
IF YOU ARE RECEIVING O.A.S. AND 
G.I.S., YOU WILL GET AN 
ADDITIONAL $500 IN TOTAL TO 
HELP YOU.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS ALSO 
INVESTING AN ADDITIONAL 2K4R0R 
MILLION FOR THE NEW HORIZONS 
FOR SENIORS PROGRAMME.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE BOOSTED 
FUNDING SO ORGANISATIONS CAN 
PROVIDE DELIVERY SERVICES AND 
HELP SENIORS STAY IN TOUCH WITH 
FAMILY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO, WE'RE MAKING ANOTHER 
INVESTMENT TODAY TO CREATE MORE 
PROGRAMMES TO HELP ISOLATED 
SENIORS AND IMPROVE THEIR 
QUALITY OF LIFE.
NOW THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT 
COVID-19 HAS BEEN TAKING ITS 
TOLL ON SENIORS, BOTH 
EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY.
AND WITH TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, 
OUR GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ACTION 
TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE STRESS 
THEY MAY BE FEELING.
BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO 
BE DONE.
NOT ONLY TO FIND SHORT TERM 
FIXES, BUT LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
COVID-19 HAS EXPOSED SOME 
UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS ABOUT OUR 
SOCIETY.
INCLUDING HOW WE CARE FOR 
SENIORS IN CANADA.
WE'VE SEEN HEARTBREAKING 
TRAGEDIES IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES AND NURSING HOMES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
OVERWORKED STAFF, UNDERSTAFFED 
RESIDENCES, GRIEVING FAMILIES.
THERE ARE SERIOUS, UNDERLYING 
CHALLENGES FACING THESE 
FACILITIES AND, IN THE COMING 
MONTHS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
WOULD BE THERE TO HELP THE 
PROVINCES FIND LASTING 
SOLUTIONS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: SINCE THIS 
CRISIS BEGAN, WE HAVE WITNESSED 
HEARTBREAKING SCENES IN 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND 
SENIORS RESIDENCES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
OVERWHELMED CAREGIVERS, 
OVERCROWDED RESIDENCES AND 
FAMILIES IN MOURNING.
THESE FACILITIES ARE FACING 
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.
AND IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO HELP THE PROVINCES 
ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
EVERY CANADIAN, NO MATTER WHERE 
THEY LIVE OR WHAT THEY DO, HAS 
A ROLE TO PLAY IN SUPPORTING 
OUR SENIORS DURING THIS 
PANDEMIC.
IT STARTS WITH FOLLOWING PUBLIC 
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU KNOW THE DRILL -- STAY 
HOME, WASHING OUR HANDS AND 
KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE FROM 
OTHERS WHEN WE GO OUT.
THAT'S HOW WE CAN PROTECT THE 
PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OUR PARENTS 
AND GRANDPARENTS DURING THIS 
PANDEMIC, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET 
ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY 
SINGLE SENIORS, ARE FEELING 
REALLY LONELY RIGHT NOW.
SO CALL YOUR GRANDPARENTS, ASK 
THEM HOW THEIR DAY IS GOING, 
HOW THEY'RE DOING, AND HOW YOU 
CAN HELP.
CONSIDER WRITING A LETTER OR A 
POSTCARD TO ISOLATED SENIORS, 
VOLUNTEER WITH A LOCAL 
ORGANIZATION TO FIGHT THE 
ISOLATION OF SENIORS.
WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR THOSE 
WHO HAVE BUILT THIS COUNTRY FOR 
THE REST OF US AND THAT'S WHAT 
CANADIANS WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
AND, TOGETHER, WE WILL GET 
THROUGH THIS.
MERCI.
>> THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
WE'LL GO TO THE PHONE FOR 
QUESTIONS.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP.
OVER TO YOU, OPERATOR.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
FIRST QUESTION, TVA.
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: GOOD MORNING, 
PRIME MINISTER.
WITH RESPECT TO SUPPORT FOR 
SENIORS, THE AMOUNT YOU ARE 
ANNOUNCING TODAY DO NOT REFLECT 
WHAT SOME GROUPS WERE ASKING 
FOR.
SOME PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR 
MONTHLY INCREASES.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU 
COULD DO?
SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR 
STUDENTS?
WELL, FROM THE BEGINNING OF 
THIS PANDEMIC, WE'VE KNOWN THAT 
SENIORS ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE 
TO THE IMPACT OF COVID-19.
AND THAT IS WHY WE BROUGHT IN 
SO MANY MEASURES AS A SOCIETY 
TO TRY AND PROTECT OUR PARENTS 
AND GRANDPARENTS.
BY STAYING HOME AND BY 
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF 
COVID-19 RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE TOOK 
CONCRETE MEASURES THROUGH 
UNITED WAY, THROUGH G.S.T. TAX 
CREDIT THAT HELPED A LOT OF 
SENIORS.
AND TODAY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD 
AGAIN TO HELP THESE SENIORS WHO 
ARE FEELING A LOT OF ANXIETY 
AND HAVING TO INCUR EXTRA COSTS.
OF COURSE, FROM THE VERY 
BEGINNING, WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED 
ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST 
THEIR INCOME.
SUCH AS WORKERS WHO LOST THEIR 
JOB OR STUDENTS WHO WILL NOT 
HAVE A SUMMER JOB THIS YEAR.
AND BE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR 
TUITION NEXT YEAR.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WILL BE 
THERE FOR EVERYONE, ALL MEMBERS 
OF SOCIETY WHO NEED OUR THOEP 
HELP THEM GET THROUGH THIS 
CRISIS.
THAT IS WHAT CANADIANS DO.
WE HELP EACH OTHER AND THAT 
CONTINUES TODAY.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FROM 
THE BEGINNING WE ERECT NIEZED 
THAT SENIORS ARE AS A RESULT 
NEGOTIABLE COVID-19 AS A 
DISEASE.
THAT IS WHY WE TALKED ABOUT THE 
NEED TO PROTECT OUR PARTNERS 
AND GRANDPARENTS BY SLOWING THE 
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, BY KEEPING 
PEOPLE SAFE.
THE SAME TIME, WE DID MOVE 
FORWARD ON DIRECT MEASURES TO 
SUPPORT MOST VULNERABLE SENIORS 
THROUGH ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE 
UNITED WAY AND THE G.S.T. THAT 
WAS INCREASED IS GOING TO HELP 
-- HELP SIGNIFICANTLY LARGE 
NUMBER OF SENIORS.
BUT TODAY WE'RE ANNOUNCING MORE 
HELP.
BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY 
WEEK, SENIORS ARE OUT OF POCKET 
A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR DELIVERY 
COSTS FOR GROCERIES OR OTHER 
THINGS THAT THEY'RE CHALLENGED 
WITH, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE 
STEPPING UP ON SENDING SENIORS 
THE HELP THEY NEED.
>> Interpreter: FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: WITH RESPECT TO 
THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, 
MR. SINGH WAS SAYING THAT 
PRIVATE HOMES SHOULD BE 
NATIONALIZED.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE?
INGER WHAT DO YOU SEE AS 
SOLUTIONS FOR THE TRAGEDY WE'RE 
SEEING IN SENIORS HOMES?
SIMPLY TRANSFERRING MONEY TO 
THE PROVINCES OR DO YOU FEEL 
YOU SHOULD PLAY A MORE ACTIVE 
ROLE AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS NOT UP TO 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO 
PROVIDE A SOLUTION WITH RESPECT 
TO THESE LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES.
THIS FALLS WITHIN PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL BE 
THERE TO HELP AND TO SUPPORT 
THE PROVINCES IN LOOKING AT THE 
VARIOUS OPTIONS.
I THINK CANADIANS ACROSS THIS 
COUNTRY ARE ASKING JUST HOW WE 
SHOULD BE LOOKING AFTER OUR 
ELDERLY AND IN THE COMING 
MONTHS AND YEARS THERE HAS TO 
BE IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT IT WILL BE UP TO THE 
PROVINCES TO DETERMINE WHAT 
NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO SUPPORT THE PROVINCES 
IN TERMS OF THE ASSISTANCE THEY 
NEED AND THE CHANGES THEY WISH 
TO MAKE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, CANADIAN PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: YES.
THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US 
TODAY.
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER 
SUGGESTED YESTERDAY THAT 
TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE U.S. AND 
CANADA IS BOUND TO INCREASE AS 
STATES AND PROVINCES RE-OPEN.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THE 
GOVERNMENT PLANNING TO DO TO 
DEAL WITH AN INCREASE IN 
INBOUND PHOTOGRAPHIC THE U.S., 
CONSIDERING THE RISK OF 
INFECTION?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE 
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT VECTORS OF 
INFECTION INTO CANADA, THAT 
MEANS CONTINUING WITH 
RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL 
TRAVEL.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE 
BROUGHT IN MEASURES THAT MEANS 
ANYONE COMING IN TO CANADA, 
RETURNING RESIDENTS 
PARTICULARLY, WILL NEED TO 
SELF-ISOLATE FOR TWO WEEKS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT STRONGER 
MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT 
WE'RE FOLLOWING UP 
APPROPRIATELY ON PEOPLE COMING 
OVER.
BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, AS ECONOMIC 
ACTIVITY STARTS TO RAMP UP AND 
RESTRICTIONS ARE LOOSENED 
ACROSS COUNTRIES, IT IS LIKELY 
THAT WE SEE A FEW MORE PEOPLE 
EITHER RETURNING HOME OR A FEW 
MORE PEOPLE TRYING TO CROSS THE 
BORDER.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 
MEASURES THAT WE'RE BRINGING 
FORWARD ARE GOING TO KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE.
>> FOLLOW-UP, PLEASE.
>> Reporter: GIVEN THE RECOVERY 
CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD, IS 
NOW THE TIME TO ENSURE ALL 
CANADIANS, ESPECIALLY 
NONSALARIED WORKERS HAVE ACCESS 
TO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK ONE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE 
SEEN PARTICULARLY WHEN MANY OF 
THE VERY FIRST JOBS LOST DURING 
THIS CRISIS WERE ONES HELD BY 
WOMEN, DISPORTION NATALIE HELD 
BY WOMEN T NEED FOR CHILD CARE 
HAS NEVER BEEN MADE CLEARER.
THAT'S WHY WE WILL CONTINUE TO 
WORK WITH PROVINCES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES ON ENSURING THAT 
THERE ARE AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE 
SPACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE 
MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN 
CHILD CARE AND WE'LL CONTINUE 
TO DO THAT.
IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE 
SHARE WITH THE PROVINCES AND 
WE'LL DON'T WORK WITH THEM TO 
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO 
DELIVER THE KIND OF CHILD CARE 
THAT IS NEEDED FOR THEIR 
SOCIETY.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT DAYCARE CENTRES ARE 
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR PEOPLE 
TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND THE FACT 
IS THAT, FROM THE BEGINNING OF 
THIS CRISIS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE 
LOST THEIR JOBS AND, OF COURSE, 
WHEN WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO 
RE-OPEN THE ECONOMY, WE'LL HAVE 
TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH 
SPACES IN CHILD CARE CENTRES 
FROM.
THE BEGINNING OF OUR MANDATE 
FIVE YEARS AGO, WE WERE THERE 
HELPING TO PROVIDE DAYCARE 
SERVICES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO 
BE THERE AND DISCUSS THIS WITH 
THE PROVINCES TO ENSURE THAT WE 
HAVE A BETTER DAYCARE SYSTEM 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> [SPEAKING FRENCH].
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, BILL CURRY T 
"GLOBE AND MAIL".
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, 
PRIME MINISTER.
YOU ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THE BIG 
BUSINESS PROGRAMME WILL REQUIRE 
COMPANIES TO PRODUCE REPORTS ON 
HOW THEIR ACTIONS CONTRIBUTE TO 
NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS.
THE INITIAL REACTION IS THAT 
MOST ENERGY COMPANIES ARE 
ALREADY PRODUCING REPORTS LIKE 
THIS.
IS THIS A MATTER OF ASKING 
COMPANIES TO MAINTAIN THEIR 
EXISTING LEVEL OF CLIMATE 
REPORTING OR ASKING THEM TO DO 
SOMETHING BEYOND THAT.
IF SO, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK 
LIKE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: AS 
YOU POINTED OUT, THERE ARE MANY 
COMPANIES IN THE ENERGY SECTOR 
THAT ARE ALREADY TAKING 
SERIOUSLY THE NEED TO PLAN FOR 
THE LONGER TERM, TO PLAN FOR 
REDUCING EMISSIONS AND FIGHTING 
CLIMATE CHANGE.
BUT NOT ALL OF THEM AND THAT IS 
WHY WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE 
THAT, AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON 
SUPPORT FOR LARGE EMPLOYERS 
ACROSS ALL SECTORS THAT THEY 
ARE ALSO, IN ALL SECTORS, NOT 
JUST THE ENERGY SECTOR, 
THINKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGE 
THAT CLIMATE CHANGE POSE TO 
THEIR COMPANY AND TO THEIR 
FUTURE.
AND HAVE A RESPONSE FOR IT.
>> Reporter: AGAIN ON THE LOAN 
PROGRAMME, IT IS CLEAR THAT 
LARGE COMPANIES THAT ARE -- 
THAT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF TAX 
EVASION DON'T QUALIFY.
BUT YESTERDAY IN YOUR COMMENTS, 
YOU WENT FURTHER AND SAID THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT WILL WATCH FOR, 
QUOTE, AGGRESSIVE TAX AVOIDANCE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK CANADIANS EXPECT THAT IF 
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING 
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, PUBLIC MONEY 
TOWARDS SUPPORTING THESE 
COMPANIES, THAT THEY BE PAYING 
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT COMPANIES 
HAVE OFTEN VERY COMPLEX WAYS OF 
MANAGING AND STRUCTURING THEIR 
REVENUE AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS.
BUT IF THEY WANT TO APPLY FOR 
THE LARGE ENTERPRISE EMERGENCY 
FINANCING FACILITY, THEY ARE 
GOING TO HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE A 
LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY THAT 
SHOWS HOW THEY ORGANIZE THEIR 
STRUCTURES SO WE CAN MAKE 
DETERMINATIONS AROUND WHETHER 
THEY ARE, INDEED, PAYING THEIR 
FAIR SHARE OF TAXES BEFORE WE 
PUT IN CANADIAN MONEY.
OK.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT MANY LARGE CORPORATIONS 
HAVE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES IN 
ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE TAXES 
THEY HAVE TO PAY.
BUT CANADIANS DO EXPECT THAT 
PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING PUBLIC 
MONEY SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR 
SHARE OF TAXES.
SO, WE'RE DEMANDING A CERTAIN 
AMOUNT OF OPENNESS AND 
TRANSPARENCY FROM THOSE 
COMPANIS SO THEY CAN SHOW US 
THAT THEY PAID THEIR FAIR SHARE 
OF TAXES AND ARE NOT USING 
CERTAIN MEANS TO TRY AND AVOID 
PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF 
TAXES.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT IF 
THEY'RE RECEIVING PUBLIC MONEY, 
THEY ARE AND HAVE BEEN MAKING A 
PROPER CONTRIBUTION THROUGH 
TAXES.
>> MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE 
PHONE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] LA PRESS.
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
YOU ANNOUNCED A SUCCESSION 
[INAUDIBLE] FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE FOR WORKERS, FOR 
FAMILIES AND AN IMPROVEMENT TO 
THE C.B. 
THERE WAS SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS 
TODAY AND SENIORS.
NOW HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT 
THAT SENIORS HAVE COME AT THE 
VERY END OF THIS LONG LIST OF 
MEASURES YOU'VE BROUGHT IN?
NO, QUITE THE CONTRARY.
WE ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THAT 
SENIORS WERE THE MOST 
VULNERABLE TO COVID-19 BECAUSE 
OF THEIR HEALTH STATUS AND 
THEIR AGE.
AND THAT IS WHY, RIGHT FROM THE 
BEGINNING, WE BROUGHT IN 
MEASURES TO PROTECT THEM.
BY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY 
HOME, NOT TO GO AND SEE THEIR 
GRANDPARENTS, BY HELPING THEM 
THROUGH ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS 
THE UNITED WAY OR GIVING THEM 
MORE MONEY THROUGH A G.S.T. TAX 
CREDIT.
AND WE HAVE BEEN THERE TO 
SUPPORT SENIORS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TODAY, WE 
ARE GOING EVEN FURTHER IN 
SUPPORTING THEM.
WE WILL BE SENDING A $300 
MILLION CHEQUE TO SENIORS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH A $200 
BONUS FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE 
ALSO RECEIVING THE GUARANTEED 
INCOME SUPPLEMENT BECAUSE THEY 
ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE 
CANADIANS.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT ALL SECTORS 
OF THE ECONOMY AND WE 
RECOGNIZED RIGHT FROM THE 
BEGINNING THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD 
LOST THEIR INCOME OR LOST THEIR 
PAYCHEQUES ARE STUDENTS WHO 
WOULD NOT HAVE A SUMMER JOB.
STARTING IN MAY.
THEY NEEDED IMMEDIATE HELP FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT.
BUT NOW WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO 
BE ABLE TO HELP SENIORS WHO ARE 
INCURRING ADDITIONAL EXPENSES 
AND THIS WILL HELP.
FOLLOW-UP?
YES, WITH RESPECT TO THE BORDER 
BETWEEN CANADA AND THE U.S., WE 
ASSUME THAT THERE ARE 
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RE-OPENING 
THE BORDER AND RENEGOTIATING 
THE AGREEMENT THAT GOES TO MAY 
21.
BUT IN THAT AREA, MY QUESTION 
REMAINS WILL YOU OR WILL YOU 
NOT RE-OPEN THE BORDER ON MAY 
21.
WELL, AS YOU'VE SEEN FROM THE 
VERY BEGINNING, OUR DISCUSSIONS 
WITH THE UNITED STATES ARE 
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF 
ENSURING THAT RESTRICTIONS ARE 
IN PLACE, BUT ALSO FOR ENSURING 
THAT ESSENTIAL GOODS AND 
SERVICES CAN CONTINUE TO CROSS 
THE BORDERS IN THESE DIFFICULT 
TIMES OF COVID-19.
AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE IN 
CONSTANT DISCUSSION WITH THE 
UNITED STATES ON ISSUES SUCH AS 
THE BORDER AND OTHER SHARED 
ISSUES.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS ARE ALWAYS VERY 
POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE.
CHRISTIAN NOEL, RADIO-CANADA.
SENIORS ARE AMONG THE MOST 
VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE 
FACING INCREASED COST THAT THEY 
CAN'T NECESSARILY PAY.
AND YET YOU'RE ONLY GIVING THEM 
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT.
A MAXIMUM OF $500.
AND SOME WILL BE RECEIVING LESS.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT $500 IN 
YOUR HEART?
IS THAT ENOUGH FOR OUR SENIORS?
WELL, WE KNOW THAT A THERE ARE 
MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE 
LOST THEIR SOURCE OF INCOME AS 
A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
THEY'VE LOST THEIR PAYCHEQUE.
STUDENTS WILL NOT HAVE THEIR 
SUMMER JOB.
WORKERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO 
MAKE ANY MONEY, MONEY THAT THEY 
WERE RELYING ON IN ORDER TO PAY 
FOR THEIR GROCERIES OR PAY 
THEIR RENT.
SENIORS ARE NOT GENERALLY IN A 
SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE LOST 
THEIR INCOME.
BUT THEY ARE FACING ADDITIONAL 
COSTS, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL 
STRESS AND ANXIETY BECAUSE OF 
THEIR HEALTH STATUS AND THEIR 
VULNERABILITY TO COVID-19.
AND THAT IS WHY WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL 
HELP WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
WE'RE GIVING $300 TO ALL 
SENIORS WHO QUALIFY FOR O.A.S. 
AND $200 MORE FOR PEOPLE 
RECEIVING G.I.S. 
BUT YOURSELF IN THE PLACE OF A 
SENIOR WHO WILL BE RECEIVING 
$500.
IF THAT LASTS A YEAR, THAT 
MEANS $41 A MONTH OR $10 MORE A 
WEEK.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO 
WITH SO LITTLE MONEY?
WELL, WE KNOW THIS IS AN 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION AND 
WE'RE TAKING ACTION NOW AND FOR 
THE MONTHS TO COME.
OBVIOUSLY IF THE SITUATION 
CONTINUES FOR SIX MONTHS OR A 
YEAR, WE WILL HAVE TO INTRODUCE 
NEW MEASURES AND HAVE 
ADDITIONAL REFLECTION ON HOW 
WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT SENIORS, 
YOUNG PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, 
WORKERS.
THE HELP THAT WE'RE PROVIDING 
NOW IS SHORT-TERM HELP FOR THE 
EMERGENCY WE ARE FACING.
AS YOU'VE SEEN, AS WE MOVE 
FORWARD, WE  WILL ALWAYS BE 
ADJUSTING OUR ACTION WHENEVER 
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE 
RECEIVE THE HELP THEY NEED.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: ONE 
OF THINGS WE'VE SEEN IN THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION IS WE 
NEED TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND 
SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH WHAT THEY 
NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT.
OBVIOUSLY IF THIS CONTINUES FOR 
ANOTHER SIX MONTHS OR YEAR, 
WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE 
ADJUSTMENTS AND EXTEND MANY 
PROGRAMMES.
BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE 
LOOKING AT IS THE SHORT TERM 
SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED TO GET 
CANADIANS THROUGH THIS SO THAT 
WE CAN COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE 
AND RESTART THE ECONOMY SOON 
AND WE WON'T NEED TO LOOK AT 
WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO DO IN SIX 
MONTHS IF WE'RE STILL, HEAVEN 
FORBID, ALL LOCKED DOWN STILL.
WE WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS.
WE WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS 
QUICKLY.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO 
SUPPORT PEOPLE RIGHT NOW AS WE 
GET THROUGH THIS AND THAT IS 
WHAT THIS EXTRA HELP FOR 
SENIORS WILL HELP WITH.
>> Reporter: PRIME MINISTER, 
CHINESE CANADIANS, INCLUDING 
HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES 
ANASTASIA LIN, SAY COMMUNITY 
MEMBERS ARE UNDER PRESSURE FROM 
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR 
THEIR INFLUENCE NETWORKS AROUND 
THE WORLD, LIKE UNITED FRONT.
THEY FEAR FOR FAMILY MEMBERS 
BACK IN CHINA IF THEY SPEAK OUT 
AND THEY ALSO SAY THAT THEY 
DON'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT HERE IN 
OTTAWA.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT 
YOUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO 
EXPOSE AND STOP THE INSOLENCE 
OF THE UNITED FRONT HERE IN 
CANADA.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS 
HIGHLIGHTED CONCERNS AROUND 
HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPECT FOR 
BASIC HUMAN DEMOCRACIES AND 
LIBERTIES WITH EVERY COUNTRY 
THAT WE ENGAGE WITH AROUND THE 
WORLD.
INCLUDING CHINA.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE STRONG 
SUPPORTERS AND DEFENDERS OF THE 
RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH, THE RIGHT 
TO PROTEST T RIGHT TO EXPRESS 
THEMSELVES HERE IN CANADA AND 
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND 
HUMAN RIGHTS WHILE AT THE SAME 
TIME, LOOKING TO PROTECT 
CANADIANS EVERYWHERE AROUND THE 
WORLD.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'LL 
CONTINUE TO DO.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: WE'VE ALWAYS 
BEEN VERY CLEAR IN OUR DEFENCE 
OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF 
EXPRESSION AND FREEDOM OF 
ASSEMBLY AND FREEDOM OF 
DEMONSTRATION AND WE WILL 
ALWAYS DEFEND THE CANADIAN'S 
RIGHTS TO DO THAT.
IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT 
CIRCUMSTANCES, WE HAVE DEFENDED 
HUMAN RIGHTS WITH THE CHINESE 
GOVERNMENT.
>> Reporter: THE AGREEMENT TO 
SHUT DOWN THE CANADA-U.S. 
BORDER EXPIRES NEXT WEEK.
A NUMBER OF PROVINCES SAID THAT 
THEY DON'T WANT THAT BORDER TO 
RE-OPEN.
DO YOU -- IS THERE A TIME 
PERIOD AS TO HOW MUCH LONGER WE 
EXPECT THAT TO BE CLOSED AND 
WHAT ABOUT THE TOURISM SECTOR 
THAT RELIES SO HEAVILY ON 
VISITORS FROM THE SOUTH?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
HAVE TAKEN NECESSARY MEASURES 
TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
THAT HAS BEEN OUR PRIORITY AND 
BECAUSE THAT HAS MEANT NEGATIVE 
ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR MANY 
SECTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE 
HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH 
SUPPORTS FOR WORKER ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
BUT OUR PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE 
KEEPING CANADIANS SAFE AND THAT 
IS THE SPIRIT IN WHICH WE HAVE 
ENGAGED IN CONSTANT AND 
CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE 
AMERICANS TO TALK ABOUT SHARED 
INTERESTS, INCLUDING THE BORDER 
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT WE'LL HAVE 
MORE TO SAY IN THE COMING DAYS 
ON HOW WE CONTINUE TO MOVE 
FORWARD IN A WAY THAT KEEPS 
CANADIANS SAFE.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, 
PRIME MINISTER.
OLIVIA STEFANOVICH.
CBC NEWS.
WHAT DOES CANADA NEED TO SEE ON 
BOTH SIDES OF BOARDS EASIER 
BEFORE YOU CONSENT TO ALLOWING 
NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK WE ALL ARE FOCUSED RIGHT 
NOW ON ENSURING FLATTENING OF 
THE CURVE, DECREATION -- 
DECREASING OF THE CASES OF 
COVID-19 SO WE CAN RESTART 
CERTAIN SECTORS OF ECONOMY.
THAT MUST BE DONE GRADUALLY AND 
WITH TREMENDOUS VIGILANCE AND 
WE NEED MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE 
THE MECHANISMS AND MATERIALS IN 
PLACE TO DEAL WITH ANY FURTHER 
SPREADS OR SPIKES IN COVID-19.
PREVENTING TRANSMISSION FROM 
OUTSIDE OF CANADA INTO CANADA 
ONCE WE HAVE CONTROLED THE 
SPREAD WITHIN CANADA WILL BE AN 
ESSENTIAL PART OF ENSURING THAT 
WE DON'T FALL BACK INTO A 
SECOND WAVE THAT COULD BE AS 
SERIOUS AS THIS WAVE WE'RE 
GOING THROUGH OR EVEN MORE SO.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY, VERY 
CAREFUL ABOUT RE-OPENING ANY 
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, INCLUDING 
THE UNITED STATES, BEFORE WE 
FEEL THAT IT IS TIME.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: WE KNOW THAT 
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS 
PROTECT CANADIANS.
BY PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF 
COVID-19 WITHIN CANADA.
AS A RESULT, WE MUST CONTROL 
THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 
CANADIANS AND ENSURE THAT IN 
CANADA, WE ARE MASSIVELY 
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CASES.
THAT BEING THE CASE, OF COURSE, 
WE'LL BE  VULNERABLE TO CASES 
COMING FROM OUTSIDE AND THAT IS 
WHY WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT AND 
ATENTIVE AS TO HOW WE CAN 
ENSURE THAT COVID-19 DOES NOT 
COME INTO CANADA AND PREVENT A 
SECOND WAVE THAT IS AS BAD OR 
WORSE THAN THE ONE WE'RE IN NOW.
SO WE WILL BE VERY ATTENTIVE 
AND BE VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN IT 
COMES TO RE-OPENING 
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.
>> Reporter: WET'SWET'EN CHIEFS 
ARE CALLING FOR THE RESIGNATION 
OF CAROLYN BENEFIT NOTE BECAUSE 
SHE FAILED TO CONSULT WITH 
LEADERSHIP OVER A MEMORANDUM OF 
UNDERSTANDING WHICH THEY'RE 
CALLING YOUR GOVERNMENT TO 
REJECT.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE 
CALLS AND WILL THE VIRTUAL 
SIGNING SCHEDULED FOR MAY 14 OF 
THIS MEMORANDUM OF 
UNDERSTANDING STILL GO AHEAD?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING 
MINISTER BENNETT FOR THE 
EXTRAORDINARY WORK THAT SHE HAS 
DONE OVER THE PAST MONTHS, AND 
CONTINUES TO DO ON A VERY 
DIFFICULT ISSUE THAT HAS GONE 
ON FOR DECADES NOW.
THE CHALLENGES FACING THE 
WET'SWET'EN ARE CIG  -- 
SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF HOW 
THEY ENGAGE AND WORK WITH THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE'LL 
ALWAYS BE THERE AS A PARTNER TO 
LISTEN, TO WORK WITH THEM AND 
TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD ON 
THE PATH TO RECONCILIATION AND 
PARTNERSHIP.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: FIRST OF ALL, 
THANKS TO MINISTER BENNETT FOR 
HER LEADERSHIP AND THE APPROACH 
SHE TOOK IN WORKING WITH THE 
WET'SWET'EN ON THESE VERY 
DIFFICULT ISSUES.
THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 
DECADES.
AND AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 
WE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO WORK 
WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO TRY AND 
SUPPORT THEM AND HELP THEM, TO 
ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE 
FACING.
WE KNOW THAT THE PATH TO 
RECONCILIATION HAS TO GO 
THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AND WE WILL 
BE THERE.
>> Reporter: YESTERDAY YOU SAID 
THAT THE FEDERA GOVERNMENT 
WOULD BE THE LENDER OF LAST 
RESORT TO THESE COMPANIES THAT 
COME TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
ASKING FOR MONEY.
THAT MEANS THAT BANKS, PRIVATE 
INVESTORS AND PENSION FUNDS, 
THEY WILL HAVE PRESUMABLY SAID 
NO TO THESE COMPANIES, WE DON'T 
WANT TO ININ YOU.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ON TOO 
MUCH RISK IF THE MARKET HAS 
SAID NO TO THESE COMPANIES 
ALREADY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
THERE ARE BIG COMPANIES IN 
CANADA WHO EMPLOY THOUSANDS 
UPON THOUSANDS OF CANADIANS FOR 
WHOM THE THANER PRIVATE 
LIEUTENANTERS MIGHT HAVE OF 
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS PROFITABLE 
IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE THAT A 
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO LOOK AT.
WE KNOW THAT IF SIGNIFICANT 
NUMBERS OF CANADIANS LOSE THEIR 
JOBS FOR GOOD BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19, IF BIG EMPLOYERS GO 
UNDER PURELY BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19 BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T 
HAVE THE LIQUIDITY TO MAKE IT 
THROUGH THIS, THEN OUR ECONOMY 
WILL NOT ONLY BE WORSE A OFF A, 
BUT WE'LL HAVE MORE TROUBLE 
COMING BACK.
THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS 
PUT FORWARD THIS LARGE EMPLOYER 
EMERGENCY FINANCING FACILITY TO 
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE COMPANIES 
THAT, IF THEY WERE TO GO UNDER 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19, YOU KNOW, 
AND IMPACT ON THE LIVELIHOODS 
OF THOUSANDS OF CANADIANS FOR 
WHOM IT WOULD NOT BE THEIR 
FAULT, OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO 
BE THERE.
>> Interpreter: WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT THERE ARE LARGE 
CORPORATIONS THAT EMPLOY 
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF 
PEOPLE.
AND THAT THERE WOULD BE A 
LONG-TERM AND INJURIOUS EFFECT 
ON OUR ECONOMY IF THEY FAILED 
AS A RESULT OF COVID-19.
AS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE 
HAVE TO BE THERE FOR WORKERS TO 
ENSURE NOT ONLY THAT OUR 
ECONOMY CAN COME THROUGH THIS, 
BUT THAT IT CAN REBOUND 
AFTERWARDS, AND, THEREFORE, 
WE'LL BE THERE TO PROVIDE 
LIQUIDITY TO COMPANIES THAT 
CANNOT FIND THAT ON PRIVATE 
MARKERS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT 
THE IMPACT ON THE CANADIAN 
ECONOMY AND ON WORKERS IS JUST 
TOO GREET ALLOW THEM TO FAIL.
>> YOU EXPECTED THESE COMPANIES 
NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS THE 
OF TAX EVASION AND OTHER THINGS 
THAT THEY'VE DONE.
WILL YOU COMMIT THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE PROGRAMME 
ITSELF AND MAKE BOTH THE TERMS 
OF THE DEAL AND AMOUNT OF MONEY 
GIVEN TO THESE COMPANIS CAN 
COMPLETELY PUBLIC SO CANADIANS 
CAN EVALUATE THE DEAL THAT YOUR 
GOVERNMENT HAS DONE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, WE'VE 
BEEN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT 
THE AID WE'VE PUT FORWARD 
DURING THIS UNPRESS DENED TIME 
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE 
WITH CANADIANS THE INFORMATION 
ON WHAT WE'RE DOING, TO MAKE 
SURE THAT CANADIANS ARE KEPT 
SAFE AND OUR ECONOMY IS ABLE TO 
COME ROARING BACK AFTERWARDS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA ON THIS TUESDAY, GIVING 
US AN UPDATE ON HIS 
GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO 
FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC.
A LITTLE EARLIER THAN USUAL 
BECAUSE HE WILL BE AT THE 
COVID-19 VIRTUAL COMMITTEE THAT 
GETS STARTED AT NOON EASTERN 
AND WE'LL BRING THAT TO YOU 
LIVE AS WELL.
LET'S BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
VASSY CAL>>  -- VASSY KAPELOS 
AND DAVID COCHRANE.
I CUT YOU OFF EARLY BECAUSE THE 
PRIME MINISTER CAME OUT.
OBVIOUSLY THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 
TODAY FOR SENIORS.
LOTS OF PEOPLE TWEETING ME 
WANTING MORE INFORMATION, 
PRIMARILY WHEN IS IT COMING.
VASSY, OVER TO YOU FOR ALL THAT.
>> Vassy: I WAS GETTING THE 
SAME TWEETS SO I QUICKLY TEXTED 
THE SPOKESPERSON FOR MINUTE 
SHER SCHULTZ, THE MINISTER FOR 
SENIORS, WHO SAYS IT WILL BE 
AUTOMATIC.
SO, IF YOU ARE ALREADY 
RECEIVING OLD AGE SECURITY OR 
THE GUARANTEED INCOME 
SUPPLEMENT, OR BOTH, YOU WILL 
AUTOMATICALLY GET THIS MONEY 
AND THAT WILL HAPPEN WITHIN A 
MATTER OF WEEKS.
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IS THIGH DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY 
BIG HANG-UP ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW THERE ARE QUESTIONS 
ABOUT YOUR OWN ELIGIBILITY FOR 
IT OR IF YOU HAD IT CLAWED BACK.
I'M WORKING ON GETTING THOSE 
ANSWER AS AS WELL SO WE'LL TRY 
TO UPDATE VIEWERS THROUGHOUT 
THE DAY.
BUT THE BIG NEWS IS YOU DON'T 
HAVE TO, MUCH LIKE THE OPPOSITE 
OF THE CERB OR STUDENT BENEFIT, 
YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO GO INTO A 
PORTAL AND APPLY FOR THIS.
IT'S AUTOMATIC.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROGRAMME 
IS ABOUT 2.5 BILLION AND YOU 
HEARD THE NATURE OF THE 
QUESTIONS BOTH THE PRIME 
MINISTER AND MINISTER OF 
SENIORS, DO THEY NEED TO DO 
MORE?
ARE THEY CONSIDERING MORE?
AND I THOUGHT THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S ANSWER WAS 
INTERESTING BECAUSE WE'RE ALL 
CLINGING TO ANY SIGN OF A 
PREDICTION ABOUT HOW LONG THIS 
SCENARIO MIGHT LAST AND HIS 
ANSWER WAS THAT THIS IS THE 
MONEY FOR RIGHT NOW AND WE KNOW 
THAT THEY CALCULATED THIS 
AMOUNT OF MONEY BASED ON 
INCREASED INCREMENTAL COSTS FOR 
SENIORS.
INSTEAD OF TAKING PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION OR GETTING 
GROCERIES DELIVERED.
BUT IF THIS WERE TO CONTINUE 
LONGER, HE USED THE EXAMPLE OF 
SIX MONTHS.
IF THIS TYPE OF QUOTE-UNQUOTE 
SHUTDOWN OR LOCKDOWN WOULD 
HAPPEN, THEN THE AMOUNT OF 
MONEY OR THE PROGRAMMES THROUGH 
WHICH THAT MEAN IS DELIVERED 
COULD BE AMENDED.
THAT IS SIMILAR TO THINGS THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID AND THE 
PRIME MINISTER SPECIFICALLY 
ABOUT OTHER FINANCIAL AID 
MEASURES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS 
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY ARE 
EXTENDED.
THE COST ALREADY IS QUITE GREAT 
WHEN YOU PUT IT TOGETHER.
LOOKING AT DEFICIT OF $250 
BILLION AND THAT IS JUST FOR 
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
IF THIS SCENARIO LASTS LONGER, 
WHICH IS THE BIGGEST BECAUSE 
WE'RE SEEING VARIOUS PROVINCES 
RE-OPEN PARTS OF THEIR 
ECONOMIES, IT LOOK LIKE THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SIGNALING 
AT LEAST, AND JUST SIGNALING -- 
THERE ARE NO DETAILS -- THAT IT 
IS PREPARED TO OFFER MORE 
ASSISTANCE IF NECESSARY.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
AND JUST TO -- LOTS OF PEOPLE 
ARE ALSO ASKING ME, SO IT'S 6.7 
MILLION CANADIANS WHO HAVE THE 
O.A.S., OLD AGE SECURITY.
AND OF THAT, 2.2 MILLION WHO 
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GUARANTEED 
INCOME SUPPLEMENT.
SO, THE PEOPLE REALLY 
STRUGGLING THE MOST WHO WILL 
GET THE BIGGEST TOP-UP HERE OF 
$500.
THEY HAVE DONE A COUPLE OF 
OTHER THINGS, THE GOVERNMENT 
HAS.
THE ONE-TIME SPECIAL PAYMENT 
THROUGH THE G.S.T. AND THEN 
THEY DID ALLOW FLEXIBILITY 
AROUND PULLING OUT YOUR RRSPs 
IN TERMS OF THE MINIMUM 
WITHDRAWAL NEEDED.
I'M GOING TO GET YOU TO TALK 
ABOUT THE BORDER THERE BECAUSE 
I THOUGHT THE PRIME MINISTER 
HAD INTERESTING THINGS TO SAY 
ON THE DAY WHEN THE SENATE IS 
HEARING FROM THE C.D.C. AND DR. 
FAUCI ABOUT HOW THE U.S. IS FAR 
FROM OUT OF THE WOODS YET.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
THE DEAL TO KEEP THE BORDER 
CLOSED EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL 
TRAFFIC EXPIRES ON THE 21ST OF 
MAY, BUT SURE DOESN'T SOUND 
LIKE THERE IS ANY RUSH TO 
RE-OPEN THAT BEYOND THE CURRENT 
CONDITIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE 
RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THERE MAY  BE, AS THE 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SUGGESTED 
A RELAXING OR BROADENING OF 
WHAT CONSTITUTES AS ESSENTIAL 
TRAVEL AS MORE ECONOMIC 
ACTIVITY RETURNS TO NORMAL.
BUT THE USUAL FREE FOR ALL OF 
CANADIANS AND AMERICANS 
CROSSING THAT BORDER SEEMS A 
LONG WAY AWAY.
LIKE LOT OF THINGS SEEM RIGHT 
NOW A LONG WAY AWAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD GO ON 
TO THE POINT THAT THE THREE OF 
US WILL BE QUALIFYING FOR 
O.A.S. AT A CERTAIN POINT.
[LAUGHTER]
I WANT TO JUST GO BACK TO THAT, 
ABOUT THE AID ANNOUNCED FOR 
SENIORS.
ONE OF PERSISTENT QUESTIONS HAS 
BEEN WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG 
TO GET TO DIRECT FINANCIAL AID 
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FIXED 
INCOMES AND THAT KIND OF 
ANSWERS THE QUESTION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS RESPONSE AS 
AN ECONOMIC EMERGENCY ROOM 
WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS HAD TO 
DO TRIAAGE ON ABSOLUTELY 
EVERYTHING, IT IS THE PEOPLE 
WHO LOST ALL OF THEIR INCOME, 
WHO NEEDED THE IMMEDIATE AND 
URGENT HELP AND THAT IS WHERE 
THINGS LIKE THE CERB AND E.I. 
THINGS CAME INTO PLACE BECAUSE 
IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF 
INCOME.
WHAT YOU'VE SEEN WITH SENIORS, 
MOST SENIORS, NOT ALL SENIORS, 
IS AN A INCREMENTAL EROSION OF 
THE BUYING POWER AND 
INCREMENTAL INCREASE OF THEIR 
EXPENSES AND THIS IS WHY, 
BECAUSE OF THE FIXED INCOME 
THERE WAS NO CATASTROPHIC DROP 
IN THEIR INCOME, IT WAS A 
GRADUAL RISE TO THINGS LIKE 
DISPENSING FEES BECAUSE YOU 
CAN'T GET THREE MONTHS OF 
PRESCRIPTIONS NOW.
YOU CAN ONLY GET ONE MONTH.
THIS IS WHY IT HAS TAKEN A 
LITTLE BIT LONGER.
AND AS FOR THE QUESTIONS OF WHY 
ONLY A ONE-TIME PAYMENT, IT 
WASSTOMY WHAT WE SAW WITH THE 
CANADA CHILD BENEFIT WHERE 
FAMILIES GOT UP TO $300 PER 
CHILD AS A ONE-TIME PAYMENT.
I WAS JUST SPEAKING WITH 
SOMEONE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
OFFICE.
THESE ARE BUTTONS THEY CAN 
PRESS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN 
AS NEEDED.
THEY NEEDED TO CREATE WHOLE NEW 
PROGRAMMES FOR THE WAGE SIX DID 
TO PUT THE FLOOR UNDER THE VAST 
MAJORITY, MORE THAN I THINK IT 
IS ABOUT 9.5 MILLION CANADIANS 
THAT ARE GETTING AID RIGHT NOW 
THROUGH BOTH OF THOSE 
PROGRAMMES.
THIS IS DIFFERENT IF YOU ARE 
RELYING ON MARKET INVESTMENTS 
AND THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER 
CONVERSATION.
GOD FORBID IF WE'RE STILL 
LOCKED DOWN IN SIX MONTHS THEY 
CAN DO MORE HERE BY PRESSING 
THESE BUTTON AND MAKE CHANGES 
TO R.S.P. WITHDRAWALS AND 
THINGS LIKE THAT.
A FIRST BIG STEP FOR SENIORS 
HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL BE 
THE ENTIRETY OF WHAT WE SEE IN 
TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE 
OVER THE AGE OF 65.
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU, BOTH.
IF YOU GET THE O.A.S. TOP-UP 
FOR COUPLE OR PER INDIVIDUAL.
OLD AGE SECURITY IS NOT 
CALCULATED PER COUPLE.
IT'S PER INDIVIDUAL.
SO IF YOU ARE LIVING WITH YOUR 
HUSBAND OR WIFE, YOU WILL GET 
$300 EACH.
IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE G.S.T. 
WHICH IS BASED ON A COUPLE, SO 
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDER ACTION 
THAT, TOO.
LET'S BRING IN SOMEONE WHO HAS 
BEEN WANTING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT 
THAT AND THAT IS JOAN McDOUGALL 
AND SHE IS RETIRED AND SHE 
RELIES ON HER INVESTMENT INCOME.
SHE IS BASED IN HALIFAX.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M FINE, THANK YOU VERY 
MUCH.
>> Rosemary: GOOD.
YOU WERE THRONG ALL OF THESE 
ANNOUNCEMENT THIS IS MORNING.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ON RED ALERT 
FOR SOME NEWS FOR SENIORS.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT THE 
PRIME MINISTER AND THE 
MINISTERS HAD TO SAY?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING 
BECAUSE THE PRIME MINISTER HAS 
BEEN SAYING, AT LEAST FOR A 
MONTH, PROBABLY TWO MONTHS NOW, 
THAT HE HAS OUR BACK AS A 
CANADIANS.
AND ACTUALLY, AFTER TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT, MY BACK STILL 
FEELS A BIT BREEZY, IF YOU WILL.
[CHUCKLING]
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS, I THINK, ARE 
POSITIVE.
EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS WHEN 
YOU ARE ON A FIXED INCOME.
AND THAT IS GOOD.
IT DOES HELP TO OFFSET SOME OF 
THE RISING COSTS THAT WE'RE 
SEEING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN 
ELECTION FRONTS INCREASE O.A.S. 
BY 10%.
THIS IS LAST FALL.
AND ALSO FOR WIDOWS BENEFITS BY 
25%.
NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THAT TAD 
AND I KNOW HE INDICATED IT IS A 
SHORT-TERM AND HOPEFULLY A 
STEPPED APPROACH.
I WOULD WONDER IS THAT STILL 
GOING TO HAPPEN?
BOTH OF THOSE BENEFITS WOULD 
IMPACT ME SIGNIFICANTLY AND I 
THINK FOR MANY SENIORS AS WELL.
MY WORRY, I GUESS, IS MORE 
DEEPER AND LONG-TERM.
I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY SENIORS.
MY DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES HAVEN'T 
REALLY BEEN IMKT PAED THAT MUCH.
I CAN STILL MANAGE THEM.
SO MY WORRY IS DEEPER AND MAYBE 
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CRISIS IN 
THE FINANCIAL MARKETS WHERE 
WE'VE BEEN SAVING AND HAVING 
INVESTED OUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS.
AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSES ME THE 
STRESS AND I WANT IT ADDRESSED 
TO SOME EXTENT.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN 
TODAY SOMETHING LIKE HAVING A 
CHOICE.
WE COULD HAVE LEFT ALL OF OUR 
RISKS INVESTED BECAUSE NOT ONLY 
WOULD YOU GET A BIT OF A TAX 
CUT FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT IT WOULD 
ALLOW TIME FOR THE PORTFOLIO TO 
RECOVER A BIT HOPEFULLY ON THE 
HEEL.
AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW -- THE 
PRIME MINISTER MENTIONED TODAY 
SIX MONTHS.
THAT JOLTED ME.
I WAS THINKING THREE MONTHS.
SIX MONTHS WOULD BE -- THAT HAS 
A LOT MORE IMPACT.
MOST SENIORS, MYSELF INCLUDED, 
I THINK ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS, 
IF YOU WILL, IS TO LIVE 
INDEPENDENTLY AS LONG AS WE CAN.
AND TO DO THAT, YOU NEED TO 
HAVE MARKET STABILITY IN THE 
MONEY THAT YOU'VE INVESTED.
NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR LARGE IT 
IS.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN 
A LITTLE BIT MORE ADDRESSING OF 
THAT AND MAYBE THAT WILL HAPPEN 
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
>> Rosemary: YOU ARE CERTAINLY 
WELL-BRIEFED HERE, JOAN.
YOU DO FOLLOW THIS CLOSELY.
I WILL SAY THAT THEY DID MAKE 
THAT LITTLE CHANGE ON THE RISK 
BY REDUCING THE MINIMUM 
WITHDRAWS BY 25% FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE 
SAYING, YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT -- 
THEY PROMISED TO DO MORE FOR 
OLD AGE SECURITY, SAYING THEY 
WOULD INCREASE IT BY 10% ONCE A 
SENIOR TURNS 75 AND THEY 
PROMISED TO DO THAT BY JULY AND 
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE 
SIGNIFICANT THAN WHAT THEY HAVE 
ANNOUNCED AS A ONE-TIME PAYMENT 
TODAY.
THAT IS WORTH ASKING THE 
GOVERNMENT WHETHER THEY INTEND 
TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT.
AND WHETHER THAT COULD HAVE 
SOLVED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS 
HERE.
WHAT IS THE MAIN CONCERN FOR 
YOU THEN?
IT'S THAT YOU CAN'T SORT OF 
BUDGET, NOT KNOWING THAT YOU 
HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOUR 
MONEY IN THE MARKETS AND YOU'RE 
LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THAT?
>> Caller: YEAH.
--
>> YEAH.
MY MONEY IS BASICALLY INVESTED.
MAYBE I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER 
TO PUT IT IN MY MATTRESS, I 
DON'T KNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THAT IS MY WORRY.
IT'S MORE OF A LITTLE BIT OF A 
LONG-TERM.
I'M GOING TO BE 75 IN OCTOBER.
SO, I'M GETTING UP THERE WHERE 
YOU CAN LOOK AHEAD AND HOPE 
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 
ENOUGH TO LIVE ON, CERTAINLY 
AND MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT 
LEFT OVER FOR YOUR KIDS AND 
GRANDKIDS.
SO, THAT WORRY IS MINE.
SHORT TERM, YES, I'M SEEING 
RISING COST IN FOOD.
FLOUR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT FOR ME, I GUESS I'M A LUCKY 
SENIOR THAT I DON'T RELY ON 
THAT AND IT IS A DAY-TO-DAY, I 
HAVEN'T NOTICED A LOT.
I'M NOT SPENDING A LOT BECAUSE 
I'M STAYING AT HOME BASICALLY.
THAT COULD CHANGE AS THE MARKET 
OPENS.
>> Rosemary: SURE.
SURE.
>> SO I DON'T WANT TO COUNT MY 
CHICKENS YET.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Rosemary: HOW ARE YOU DOING, 
JUST IN TERMS OF LIVING WITH 
THIS.
YOU SAID YOU'VE GOT KIDS AND 
GRANDKIDS.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE BEEN 
ABLE TO SEE THEM YET, GIVEN THE 
SITUATION IN NOVA SCOTIA, WHICH 
IS NOT TOO BAD RIGHT NOW.
HOW ARE YOU COPING IT WITH 
EMOTIONALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND 
ME ASKING?
>> I'M PRETTY GOOD, I GUESS.
I'M BASICALLY COPING.
MY SON LIVES IN EDINBURGH IN 
ENGLAND AND I'M MORE WORRIED 
ABOUT HIM BECAUSE IT'S A BAD 
SITUATION THERE.
BUT WE'RE ABLE TO GET ONLINE 
AND CHAT.
MY DAUGHTER LIVES PRETTY CLOSE 
TO ME AND SHE HAS TWO YOUNG 
GRANDCHILDREN.
I FOUND THAT A LOT HARDER.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN 
GOING OVER DOING SOME BACKYARD 
VISITS, IF YOU WILL.
AT FIRST THE KIDS WERE UP ON 
THEIR DECK AND I WAS DOWN IN 
THE YARD.
AND WE'RE VENTURING A LITTLE 
BIT CLOSER.
SO THAT'S GOOD.
BUT YOU STILL CAN'T GIVE THEM A 
HUG.
YOU CAN'T PROMISE A SLEEPOVER 
OR SIT AND READ WITH THEM.
ALL THE THINGS AS GRANDPARENTS 
YOU LOVE TO DO.
AND THAT IS HEARTBREAKING.
AND THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT WITH 
OLDER PEOPLE, ISOLATION IS 
HARDER.
AND I THINK IT REALLY IS.
AND ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO 
YOUR FAMILY.
WHEN THEY'RE QUITE CLOSE.
IT'S A BIG CHANGE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
CAN I ASK -- I HAD A MAN ON 
LAST WEEK, A SENIOR, OLDER THAN 
YOU.
BUT ALSO LIVING AT HOME AND 
DOING VERY WELL.
DO YOU WORRY, GIVEN WHAT YOU'RE 
SEEING WITH LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES, ABOUT YOUR FUTURE AND 
HOW THAT MIGHT BE MANAGED OR 
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU 
KNOW, THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD 
WANT TO STAY IN YOUR HOUSE MUCH 
LONGER?
BECAUSE IT IS A SORT OF SCARY 
SITUATION, I THINK, FOR A LOT 
OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK -- MY MOTHER DIED LAST 
YEAR PRIOR TO COVID.
SHE WAS 98 AND SHE LIVED IN A 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY AND SHE 
GOT EXCELLENT CARE.
BUT I RECOGNIZED AT THE TIME 
THOSE POOR PEOPLE, THE STAFF 
WERE RUN OFF THEIR FEET.
AND THEY WERE UNDERPAID.
MOST OF THEM HAD TO TAKE TWO OR 
THREE JOBS.
AS FOR MYSELF, I WANT TO BE AS 
INDEPENDENT AS I CAN FOR AS 
LONG AS I CAN.
AND SEEING ON A FIRST -- SEEING 
THAT UP CLOSE WITH MY MOM MADE 
ME WANT TO PUT IT OFF TO AS 
LONG AS I CAN.
BUT I MEAN, BASICALLY THE 
IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT OR COLLECT 
GOVERNMENTS DO SOMETHING TO 
RECTIFY THAT SITUATION.
IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE ALL 
THESE PEOPLE DYING ON THEIR OWN 
IN THESE HOMES.
BUT REALLY JOLTING FOR SOMEBODY 
IN THEIR MID 70s MYSELF BECAUSE 
I EXPECTED OR I ASSUMED THAT AS 
MY END OF YEARS, IF YOU WILL, 
THAT I WOULD BE IN THESE HOMES, 
TOO.
AND I ASSUMED THEY WOULD BE 
SAFE AND I ALSO ASSUMED THAT I 
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SEE ME 
THROUGH, TO TIDE ME OVER FOR MY 
NEEDS.
AND THEN HAVE A LITTLE BIT 
LEFTOVER.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT'S THE 
IMPORTANT THING, THAT WE GET 
THAT SITUATION IN THESE HOMES 
TAKEN CARE OF.
I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO 
WITH THE AGE OF THE HOMES AND 
THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES.
MY MOM WAS IN TWO SEPARATE 
NURSING HOMES.
ONE HAD A MUCH BETTER BUILDING 
STRUCTURE AND THAT MADE A HUGE 
DIFFERENCE IN THE CARE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE NURSES COULD 
SEE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THEIR 
LITTLE UNITS WHERE THEIR 
STATION WAS.
IN THE NEWER HOME WHERE MOM 
WENT TO, THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
SO, AND THEN YOU HAVE THESE 
HOMES AND IN HALIFAX, FOR 
EXAMPLE, WHO ARE HAVING 
TERRIBLE DIFFICULTIES.
I THINK THAT IS A 10 OR 
11-STOREY APARTMENT BUILDING, 
IF YOU WILL.
VERY NARROW HALLWAYS AND I DID 
GO IN THERE TO VISIT A FRIEND 
LAST YEAR.
I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE ALL I 
COULD THINK OF WAS IF THERE WAS 
EVER A FIRE IN THAT BUILDING 
HOW WOULD THEY EVER GET OUT?
AND ONE OF TWO SENIORS THAT I 
WAS VISITING, I DON'T THINK SHE 
COULD GET UP AT THE SAME TIME 
IN THE MORNING AS HER ROOMMATE 
BECAUSE IT WAS SO NARROW.
IT WAS TERRIBLE.
TERRIBLE WAY TO END UP.
SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY 
IMPORTANT THING.
FOR EVERYBODY.
COLLECTIVELY FOR SENIORS AND I 
DO WORRY ABOUT IT.
I'M HOPING THAT I CAN PUT THAT 
SITUATION OFF FOR AS LONG AS I 
CAN.
>> Rosemary: WELL, YOU LOOK 
LIKE YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR THERE 
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT AND 
I'LL TRY TO GET YOU AN ANSWER 
ON WHAT THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO 
GO DOH WITH O.A.S. WITH THEIR 
ELECTION PROMISE.
I PROMISE TO DO THAT FOR YOU.
JOAN, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO 
US.
GOOD CHATING WITH YOU AND I 
WISH YOU GOOD HEALTH AND HOPE 
YOU GET TO SEE YOUR GRANDKIDS 
PRETTY SOON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS JOAN 
McDOUGALL IN HALIFAX, A SENIOR 
REACTING TO THE NEWS TODAY THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT IS INCREASE,, 
GIVING YOU A ONE-TIME TAX-FREE 
BENEFIT IF YOU HAVE OLD AGE 
SECURITY OF $300 AND ADDITIONAL 
$200 IF YOU ARE ON A GUARANTEED 
INCOME SUPPLEMENT.
BUT I WANT TO TURN OUR 
ATTENTION TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S 
DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENCE THAN 
USUAL RIGHT NOW AS WE ALL TRY 
TO FIND WAYS TO PITCH IN AND 
HELP IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN OUR 
COMMUNITIES AND THIS IS 
SASKATCHEWAN'S OPPOSITION 
LEADER.
HE'S DUSTED OFF HIS STETHOSCOPE 
AND RETURNED TO PRACTICING 
MEDICINE TO HELP IN THE FIGHT.
DR. BRIAN BAILEY IS CURRENTLY 
THE M.L.A. FOR SASKATOON AND 
THE LEADER OF THE NEW 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY THERE AND HE 
JOINS US FROM SASKATOON.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, ROSEMARY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
>> Rosemary: I'M GOOD.
I THINK YOU ARE IN YOUR 
POLITICAL OFFICE THERE, IN YOUR 
ACTUAL JOB OFFICE.
TELL ME, THOUGH, WHY YOU 
DECIDED TO DO THIS.
>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST SEING 
SO MANY PEOPLE STEPPING UP AND 
SO MANY EXCEPTIONAL WAYS ACROSS 
THE PROVINCE, ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
AND I CERTAINLY WANTED TO BE 
PART OF THE EFFORT IN 
RESPONDING TO COVID-19, HAVING 
THE FAMILY MEDICINE TRAINING.
I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT 
AND BE PART OF THE TEAM THAT'S 
RESPONDING TO COVID-19, 
ESPECIALLY IN THE CORE 
NEIGHBOURHOODS AND THE CITY OF 
SASKATOON WHERE I LIVE AND WORK.
>> Rosemary: AND WHAT HAVE YOU 
BEEN DOING?
YOU'RE A FAMILY PHYSICIAN.
HAVE THEY JUST THROWN YOU IN 
THERE, OR WHAT KINDS OF THINGS 
HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?
>> KIND OF JUST THREW ME IN 
THERE.
I'M WORKING AT COVID TESTING 
SITE AT AN INNER CITY SCHOOL.
SO, THERE WE TEST PEOPLE FOR 
COVID-19 AS WELL AS ADDRESS ANY 
OTHER HEALTH NEEDS THEY MIGHT 
HAVE.
AND I ALSO WORK AT THE 
LIGHTHOUSE, WHICH IS THE 
LARGEST HOUSING SHELTER IN 
SASKATOON AND I'M DOING A 
WEEKLY CLINIC THERE AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: AND HAVE YOU -- 
WERE YOU CONCERNED AT ANY POINT 
ABOUT YOUR OWN SAFETY?
DID YOU CONTEMPLATE THE RISK 
INVOLVED IN DOING THIS?
>> CERTAINLY WE HAD THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS.
MY WIFE'S A PEDIATRICIAN SO 
SHE'S WORKING WITH PATIENTS AS 
WELL.
AND WE HAVE TWO LITTLE KIDS SO 
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE 
ABLE TO KEEP TAKING CARE OF 
THEM.
REALLY THAT COMES DOWN TO THE 
SAME KIND OF RISKS THAT 
EVERYONE IS TAKING IN HEALTH 
CARE AS WELL, THOUGH.
AND JUST MEANS BEING REALLY 
CAREFUL AND MAKING SURE THAT 
WE'RE USING THE RIGHT 
PROTECTION AND BEING CAUTIOUS 
ABOUT CLEANING UP WHEN WE COME 
HOME,ETC.
BUT WE KNOW IT IS A RISK.
WE COULD END UP CATCHING 
COVID-19 AND THAT IS THE SAME 
RISK ANYBODY IS WORKING IN 
HEALTH CARE TAKES.
>> Rosemary: WHAT ABOUT THIS 
VIRUS DO YOU FIND SO DISTURBING?
EITHER FROM SOMETHING THAT 
YOU'VE SEEN UP CLOSE OR SNAG 
YOU'RE HEARING?
>> IT IS SUCH AN INVISIBLE 
THREAT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN CATCH 
UP WITH PEOPLE AND IT'S SO HARD 
TO KNOW AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE 
CONSTANTLY VIGILANT.
THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF LA 
LOCHE WHERE IT'S FAR IN THE 
NORTH.
PEOPLE PROBABLY THOUGHT IT'S 
UNLIKELY TO COME THERE AND NOW 
IT'S THE WORST COMMUNITY 
OUTBREAK IN THE COUNTRY.
AND IT'S JUST SUCH A SNEAKY 
VIRUS AND YOU HAVE TO BE SO 
CAREFUL TO AVOID GETTING IT.
>> Marcy: THAT LEADS ME TO HAVE 
YOU PUT ON YOUR OTHER HAT.
AND SASKATCHEWAN HAS DONE 
PRETTY WELL IN TERMS OF 
CONTAINING THOUT BREAK THERE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY CASES YOU 
HAVE TODAY.
BUT WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF 
THE THE RE-OPENING STRATEGY THE 
PREMIER HAS PUT IN PLACE, GIVEN 
THAT IN NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN 
THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT 
HAPPENING THERE?
>> I THINK THAT NORTHERN 
SITUATION REALLY NEEDS TO GIVE 
US PAUSE AND MAKE SURE THAT 
WE'RE APPROACHING THIS 
RE-OPENING REALLY CAREFULLY, 
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CUES 
WILL BE TO BACK OFF IF WE START 
TO SEE A BIG SPIKE IN CASES AND 
THAT IS MY BIG HOPE IS THAT THE 
PREMIER AND THE LEADERSHIP WILL 
MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING 
LED BY DATA AND NOT BY DATES.
THAT THEY'RE NOT LOCKED IN BY 
SUCH AND SUCH A DATE, THAT 
THEY'RE MAKING SURE TO WATCH 
THE CASE LOAD AND READY TO PULL 
BACK IF WE DO SEE AN INCREASE.
WE ALL WANT TO SEE THE ECONOMY 
OPEN UP AGAIN.
WE ALL WANT TO BE INTERACTING 
WITH OUR FRIENDS AND 
NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SHOPPING AND 
DOING ALL OF THOSE NORMAL PARTS 
OF LIFE SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE 
THAT THAT'S DONE IN A WAY THAT 
IS REALLY, REALLY SAFE.
>> Rosemary: OK.
SO GOOD TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO 
HAVE THESE OTHER PROFESSIONS 
AND GET BACK IN THEM TO HELP 
OUT.
I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> Rosemary: YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH ME.
AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, 
THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT 
TODAY REALLY FOCUSED ON SENIORS.
$2.5 BILLION TO HELP MANY 
SENIORS WHO GET OLD AGE 
SECURITY AND GUARANTEED INCOME 
SUPPLEMENT.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE 
AFTER WE TAKE SHORT BREAK.
THE COVID COMMITTEE IN 
PARLIAMENT IS SITTING AT THE 
TOP OF THE CLOCK.
WE'LL BRING YOU THAT, TOO.
>> Rosemary:  THANKS FOR JOININ"
STREAMING WHEREVER YOU ARE, ON
OUR APP OR CBC.CA.
MILLIONS OF OLDER CANADIANS CAN
EXPECT TO SEE A BIT MORE MONEY
IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT.
THERE WILL BE $2.5 BILLION IN
FINANCIAL AID TO OFFSET SOME
PARTICULAR EXTRA COSTS THAT MAY
HAVE HAPPEN.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IT
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
PROVINCES TO FIND LASTING
SOLUTIONS.
WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM FEDERAL
MINISTER AND THE PRIME MINISTER
ANY MINUTE NOW AS THE COVID-19
COMMITTEE RAMPS UP ITS VIRTUAL
SESSION AT AROUND NOON, BUT
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I'LL
BRING IN MY COLLEAGUE, DAVID
COCHRAN AND VASSEY KAPELOS FOR
ANOTHER TAKE ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD
FROM MINISTERS AND THE PRIME
MINISTER.
VASSY, YOU HAD MORE DETAILS,
BECAUSE JOAN WAS GREAT.
SHE KNEW A LOT AND BROUGHT UP
THE POINTS THAT I HAD WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT, TOO, WHICH WAS THE
PROMISE THE LIBERALS MADE ABOUT
OLD AGE SECURITY DURING THE
ELECTION, THAT THEY WOULD
INCREASE IT SOON, I THINK IN
JULY, WAS THE INTENT.
>> Vassy:  BOTH SHE AND YOU
REMINDED ME OF THAT PROMISE,
THAT THE LIBERALS MADE, I
BELIEVE, BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF
THAT YEAR AND IT WAS A TWO-PART
PROMISE DIRECTLY ADDRESSING
SENIOR'S ISSUES WITH INCOME
SUPPORT.
WITH THE OAS, ONCE YOU TURN 75,
YOU WOULD GET A 10% INCREASE AND
THEN WITH THE CPP, THERE'S A
SURVIVOR'S BENEFIT FOR WIDOWS
AND THEY PROMISED TO INCREASE
THAT BY 25%.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND I
COULDN'T FIND THE DATE FOR THE
CPP PROMISE, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT,
FOR THE OAS PROMISE, THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN JIM.
THE BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS NOT
GOING AHEAD AND I THINK THAT IS
SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE I THINK IT
WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAD TO AN
INCREASE OF MORE THAN $700, AN
EXTRA $729 EACH YEAR.
THE PROMISE FROM THE LIBERALS IS
THAT IT WOULD LIFT 20,000
SENIORS OUT OF THE POVERTY.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING IT WOULDN'T
HAPPEN BUT THEY ARE FOCUSED ON
THESE MEASURES, SPECIFICALLY AS
THEY RELATE TO THE PANDEMIC AND
ADDRESSING THE NEED THAT HAS
ARISEN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC
AND READING BETWEEN THE LINES,
THAT MEANS THIS IS NOT COMING IN
JULY.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT IS COMING.
THEY PROMISE IT IS AT SOME
POINT.
TO JOAN'S POINT, THAT'S
INTERESTING FOR A NUMBER OF
SENIORS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM
WHAT THEY'RE PROMISING WITH THE
PANDEMIC.
IT'S A ONE-TIME PAYMENT AND IT
IS POSED TO ADDRESS THE
INCREMENTAL COST BUT THERE IS AN
OVERALL FEELING THAT THE COST OF
LIVING FOR SENIORS WAS
INCREASING AND THAT THERE NEEDED
TO BE MORE DONE.
>> Rosemary:  AND YOU SORT OF
WONDER IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO
IT ANYWAY AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE
LEGISLATION -- I UNDERSTAND
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC -- BUT WHY NOT DO IT SO
THAT THAT ADDITIONAL BIT OF
MONEY COMES TO JOAN AND PEOPLE
LIKE HER.
ANYWAY, DAVID, OVER TO YOU.
>> David:  THIS IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THE GOVERNMENT IS DEALING
WITH.
IT MADE A LOT OF PROMISES IN THE
ELECTION AND THE WORLD HAS BEEN
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE LAST
WEEK ABOUT THE ENORMOUS DEFICITS
THE COUNTRY WOULD RUN AND FACING
AND THE PLAN FOR GETTING THESE
THINGS UNDER CONTROL AND REALLY,
THE DEFICIT SPENDING WILL
CONTINUE WELL INTO THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY PHASE.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BORDER
REOPENING EARLIER.
YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY IN CANADA UNTIL YOU
HAVE A RECOVERY IN THE UNITED
STATES.
IT'S SUCH A DRIVER OF COMMERCE
AND TRADE AND WE'RE SO
INTERTWINED THAT UNTIL THINGS
GET TO SOME NORMAL, THEY WON'T
GET TO GROWTH PHASE UP HERE.
SO ONE OF THE ISSUES THEY'RE NOW
LOOKING AT IS GOING SLOWER ON A
LOT OF THE ELECTION PROMISES.
AT NO POINT DID THAT PROMISE 45%
WOULD BE ON A WAGE SUBSIDY AS WE
HEAD INTO THE SUMMER SEASON IN
THE COUNTRY.
SO A LOT OF THINGS THEY PROMPTED
TO DO, YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHERE
PHARMACARE IS GOING TO GO.
THIS IS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR
TICKETED ITEM THAT THEY WERE
ELECTED ON AND PROMISED TO DO
WITH SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER
OPPOSITION PARTIES AND HOW DO
YOU MOVE AHEAD WITH SOMETHING
LIKE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE 7.7
PEOPLE GETTING CERB AND THE
OTHERS QUALIFY FOR THE WAGE
SUBSIDY.
A LOT OF THINGS THEY PROMISED
THEY HAVE TO GO SLOWER ON
BECAUSE OF THE SPIKE IN PANDEMIC
COSTS.
>> Rosemary:  I WOULD SAY, DO
YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH PHARMACARE
IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG-TERM
CRISIS AND MAYBE THAT THE MONEY
SHOULD GO THERE?
BACK TO THE BORDER, IF I CAN,
BECAUSE MY WONDERFUL PRODUCER,
PHIL, WHO YOU ALL KNOW NOW SAID
THAT YESTERDAY B.C. RAISED
ISSUES AROUND THIS, AS WELL.
THIS IS ANOTHER PROVINCE RAISING
ISSUES THAT WE KNOW OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF DAYS BUT MORE
THAN 2500 AMERICANS WERE
ACTUALLY TURNED AWAY FROM TRYING
TO GET INTO CANADA BETWEEN MARCH
22nd AND MARCH 23rd.
IT IS A LIVE ISSUE FOR PREMIERS
AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE FOR
TRAVELERS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL
NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THAT
TRAVELING ACROSS THE BORDER IS
NOT WISE RIGHT NOW AND VASSY,
I'LL GET YOU TO WEIGH IN.
>> Vassy:  WHAT'S INTERESTING AS
WE WEIGH INTO THE DEADLINE FOR
THE ITERATION BEFORE THIS
EXPIRING, THE CONDITIONS HAVE
CHANGED.
MANY OF THE STATES HAVE, TO A
DEGREE, HAVE REOPENED THEIR
ECONOMIES.
NOT ALL BY ANY MEANS, BUT A LOT
OF THEM AND TO THE DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER'S POINT, THAT WILL
LIKELY INCREASE TRAFFIC.
DOES THAT MEAN THEY TRY TO KEEP
THE AGREEMENT IN PLACE?
IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF THE
PREMIERS ARE ON BOARD.
THE WORD DOUG FORD USED LAST
WEEK IS HE IS ADAMANT AND DOES
NOT WANT THOSE RESTRICTIONS
LIFTED BUT YOU HAVE TO WONDER
WHAT THE CONVERSATION IS LIKE
BEHIND THE SCENES.
IF THE ECONOMIES SOUTH OF THE
BORDER ARE REOPENING AND THERE'S
AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC, WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE BORDER
ITSELF?
DO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES THERE
NEEDED TO SCREEN THOSE PEOPLE,
TO TURN THEM AWAY, IF NECESSARY?
IF IN MARCH, THE NUMBERS WERE
HIGH FOR TURNING BACK, YOU HAVE
TO WONDER IF THEY'RE LIFTED OR
THE ECONOMIES REOPEN, WHAT THAT
MEANS FOR TRAFFIC AT THE BORDER.
I THINK IT BECOMES A CORE
COMPLICATED LIVE ISSUE FOR THE
GOVERNMENT AS WE'RE NOT IN THIS
SHUTDOWN, LOCKDOWN MODE AND
THERE ARE THESE CHANGES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE BORDER THAT
ULTIMATELY CHANGE THE
DISCUSSION, TOO.
>> Rosemary:  I FOUND THAT THE
PRIME MINISTER'S WORD'S TODAY
WERE FAR MORE DEFINITIVE THAN
PAST.
THIS IS ABOUT PREVENTING
TRANSMISSION FROM THE OUTSIDE TO
THE INSIDE, HE SAID, AND THAT
WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HOW
WE EVALUATE AND WE'LL BE CAREFUL
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,
INCLUDING U.S., BEFORE WE FEEL
IT'S TIME WE WON'T DO ANYTHING.
BUT AS DAVID MENTIONED, THE
PRESSURE ON THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT AND THE PRESSURE
EXERTED BY THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT IS ANOTHER POINT.
WE'LL GO TO THE CHIEF PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICER RIGHT NOW AND WE
WILL SHORTLY TAKE YOU INSIDE THE
COVID-19 COMMITTEE WHEN IT GETS
UNDERWAY.
LET'S LISTEN.
>> AMONG THESE, INCLUDING
PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS,
ORDERLIES AND PATIENT ATTENDANTS
HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO
COMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19.
REMEMBER ON THIS 
200th ANNIVERSARY OF FLORENCE
NIGHTENGAIL'S BIRTHDAY, SHINE A
LIGHT AND MAKE AN EXTRA LIGHT
FOR THOSE WHO WORK AROUND THE
CLOCK TO BE THERE FOR US WHEN WE
NEED THEM MOST.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
>> THERE ARE NOW 70,342
CONFIRMED CASES, INCLUDING 5,149
DEATHS AND 33,254 OR 47% NOW
RECOVERED.
THEY ARE THEFTED OVER 1,145,0005
ACROSS CANADA.
WE'RE TESTING AN AVERAGE OF
26,000 TO 28,000 PEOPLE A DAY
AND THESE NUMBERS CHANGE QUICKLY
AND ARE UPDATED REGULARLY ON THE
WEBSITE CANADA.CA/CORONAVIRUS.
LAST WEEK, I MENTIONED THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AND
SEVERE OUTCOMES OF COVID-19 ON
OUR SENIORS, PARTICULARLY THOSE
IN LONG-TERM CARE AND ASSISTED
FACILITIES.
AN ESTIMATED 20% OF COVID-19
CASES ARE LINKED TO LONG-TERM
CARE HOMES, BUT OVER 80% OF ALL
DEATHS ARE AMONG SENIORS
RESIDING IN THOSE SETTINGS.
THESE PEOPLE INCLUDE NURSES WHO
WE ARE CELEBRATING ON THIS
NATIONAL NURSE'S WEEK, BUT ALSO
THE PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS AND
THE MANY OTHER ESSENTIAL STAFF
THAT DELIVER CARE AND SERVICES
TO OUR ELDERS, PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS.
 HEALTHCARE WORKERS NOT ONLY
DELIVER HEALTH AND PERSONAL CARE
SERVICES, BUT THEY ALSO
ESTABLISH FAMILIARITY,
FRIENDSHIP, THEY OFFER COMPANION
SHIP AND THEY HAVE PERSONAL
INTERACTION AND PROVIDE SIMPLE
HUMAN KINDNESS, ALL OF WHICH IS
AS VITAL AS ANY MEDICINE.
DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,
THEIR WORK HAS BECOME
IMMEASURABLY HARDER.
THEY HAVE SHOWN UP AND DESPITE
STAFFING SHORTAGES AND THEIR OWN
FEARS, THEY WORKED LONG HOURS
AND HAVE TAKEN EXTRA SHIFTS AND
IN SOME CASES, THEY HAVE
ISOLATED FROM THEIR OWN
FAMILIES.
TRAGICALLY, SOME OF THE LEAST
COMPENSATED AND RECOGNISED OF
THESE WORKERS, INCLUDING
PERSONALITY SUPPORT WORKERS,
ORDERLIES AND PATIENT ATTENDANTS
HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO
COMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19.
>> Rosemary:  OK, WE'LL PULL
AWAY FROM THE FEDERAL BRIEFING.
YOU CAN WATCH THAT ON OUR
WEBSITE.
WE'LL GO TO THE VIRTUAL COVID
COMMITTEE WHERE WE WILL FIND THE
PRIME MINISTER TAKING QUESTIONS.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  OUR
FOCUS HAS BEEN TO GET THE HELP
OUT TO CANADIANS.
THANK YOU, Mr. SPEAKER, OUR
PRIORITY FROM THE BEGINNING IS
TO MAKE SURE THAT CANADIANS GET
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.
WE MOVED VERY QUICKLY TO GET THE
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT OUT, TO GET THE WAGE
SUBSIDY OUT AND TO HELP
CANADIANS IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED
SITUATION AND WE RECOGNISED THAT
WILL BE CHALLENGES AND WE'RE
GOING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE
CHALLENGES, BUT OUR PRIORITY,
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WAS TO
MAKE SURE WE HELPED AS MANY
CANADIANS AS POSSIBLE.
>> WE'LL GO TO Mr. ELBIS NOW.
>> CAN THE PRIME MINISTER
CONFIRM THIS HAS BEEN GIVEN TO
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES?
>> RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  OUR
FOCUS HAS BEEN ON HELPING AS
MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
THE DECISION FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING WAS TO GET THE HELP
OUT TO PEOPLE AND TO FIGURE OUT
WITH RETROACTIVE ACTION, IF
NECESSARY, WHERE AND WHEN THEY
MAY HAVE BEEN FRAUDULENT USE.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION.
>> Mr. SPEAKER, THIS CAME FROM
A MEMO ISSUED BY A DEPUTY
MINISTER.
DID THE MINISTER'S OFFICE OR THE
PRIME MINISTER SIGN OFF ON THIS
MEMO?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  AGD
SITUATION, OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON
HELPING AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER PARTIES
MIGHT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENT
CHOICE HAD THEY BEEN IN
GOVERNMENT, BUT OUR FOCUS WAS
GETTING HELP OUT TO PEOPLE WHEN
THEY NEEDED IT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE AND CLEANING IT UP.
>> Mr. SPEAKER, I ASKED A
SIMPLE QUESTION, DID THE PRIME
MINISTER OR HIS MINISTER SIGN
OFF ON THIS MEMO ISSUED BY THE
DEPUTY MINISTER?
YES OR NO?
>> RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  Mr
. SPEAKER, WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED
ON GETTING HELP OUT TO CANADIANS
WHEN THEY NEED IT AND THAT HAS
MEANT, YES, THERE WILL BE THINGS
WE NEED TO CLEAN UP AFTER THE
FACT AND WORK TO FIX.
BUT GETTING THAT HELP INTO
CANADIAN'S POCKETS DURING THIS
PANDEMIC WAS OUR PRIORITY.
>> WE'LL GO BACK NOW.
>> I'M ASKING THE PRIME MINISTER
TO SHOW ACCOUNTABILITY.
DID HE OR HIS OFFICE SIGN OFF ON
THIS MEMO.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  Mr
. SPEAKER, MY OFFICE AND I HAVE
BEEN ABSOLUTELY FOCUSED ON
GETTING THE HELP THE CANADIANS
THAT WAS NECESSARY.
PERHAPS, AS Mr. ALBA POINTS
OUT, OTHER PARTIES WOULD HAVE
BEEN SLOWER TO GET THE MONEY
OUT.
WE WERE FLOWING MONEY TO PEOPLE
WHO NEEDED IT.
>> OBVIOUSLY THE PRIME MINISTER
DOESN'T SEEM COMFORTABLE WITH
THE ANSWER.
WILL HE AT LEAST, THEN, COMMIT
TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL CASE OF
FRAUD OR WILL HE WRITE IT OFF AS
THE STORY IS SAID?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  Mr
. SPEAKER, IN THIS
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION,
CANADIANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS
AND CANADIANS HAVE LOST THEIR
PAYCHEQUES, DON'T KNOW HOW
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT LOVED
ONES AND PAY FOR THEIR
GROCERIES.
WE MADE A DECISION AS A COUNTRY
THAT WE WOULD BE THERE FOR THEM,
AND THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE OUR PRIORITY.
>> WE'RE ASKING A SIMPLE
QUESTION HERE, WILL HE COMMIT AS
A GOVERNMENT TO ENFORCE THE RULE
OF LAW THAT SAYS THAT IF SOMEONE
COMMITS FRAUD, THAT IT WILL BE
FOLLOWED UP AND PURSUED?
>> RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  MIR
AND AS A GOVERNMENT IS TO
SUPPORT CANADIANS, IS TO PROTECT
THEM AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
DOING, BY GIVING THEM THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED THROUGH THIS
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
PERHAPS OTHER PARTIES DON'T
THINK IT'S AS IMPORTANT TO
SUPPORT CANADIANS.
WELE WILL KEEP FOCUSED ON
SUPPORTING CANADIANS.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING
HERE, Mr. SPEAKER.
CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT LEGISLATION
ALLOWED SUPPORTS TO GO THROUGH.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING ABOUT IS
FRAUD.
ALL ALONG WE'VE BEEN TOLD FRAUD
WILL BE DETECTED THROUGH AUDITS
AFTER THE FACT AND EXPECT THAT
TO HAPPEN.
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER AT LEAST
CONFIRM THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN?
>> RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WHT
WE NEEDED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO
HELP CANADIANS, WE KNEW THAT
THERE WOULD BE A NEED TO CLEAN
UP AFTER THE FACT, TO GO AFTER
FRAUDULENT CASES AND WE WILL DO
THAT.
BUT OUR PRIORITY NOW AND IN THE
COMING MONTHS IS TO ENSURE
CANADIANS GET THE SUPPORT THEY
NEED AND OUR ECONOMY COMES
ROARING BACK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE WILL NOW BE CONTINUING.
THANK YOU, Mr. CHAIR.
YESTERDAY, THE PRIME MINISTER
ANNOUNCED LARGE EMPLOYERS
EMERGENCY FINANCING FACILITIES,
FREIGHT.
EVEN BETTER, HE ANNOUNCED THESE
LOANS WERE CONDITIONAL AND THAT
THEY NOT BE GUILTY OF TAXATION.
WOW!
THE RATHER ABUSIVE TAX EVASION
OR AVOIDANCE.
BUSINESSES THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF TAX HAVENS AND WHO DO SO
LEGALLY WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS
TO THIS EMERGENCY CREDIT.
WHY IS THE PRIME MINISTER
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT PROFIT
PROFITEERS?
>> OUR PRIORITY IS WORKERS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO MAY LOSE
THEIR JOBS AND WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS AND THAT IS WHY WE
ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH MEASURES
TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE OUR PRIORITY.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. CHAIR.
WHEN I HEAR THE PRIME MINISTER
SAY NO TOLERANCE FOR TAX
AVOIDANCE, I -- OR TAX EVASION,
I AM THRILLED, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE
REALITY ON THE GROUND.
AVOIDANCE IS A LEGAL USE OF TAX
STRATEGIES, ALL FIVE MAJOR BANKS
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, BIG
CORPORATIONS AND WE HAVE TO
FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE
COMPANIES.
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER AND
GOVERNMENT ACT TO MAKE ILLEGAL
WHAT IS IMMORAL?
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WHE
FINANCING FACILITY, WE SAID
THOSE WHO WISH TO RESERVE THE
TAXPAYER'S MONEY UNDER THESE
EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE
TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED BY PAYING
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE PUTTING IN
PLACE MEASURES THAT LOOK CLOSELY
AT THE TAX STRUCTURES OF THESE
COMPANIES BEFORE LENDING MONEY
TO THEM.
>> YES, THANK YOU, Mr. CHAIR.
WHEN A BANK MOVES ITS MOST
PROFITABLE ACTIVITIES ELSEWHERE
IN CANADA, THEY'RE IN CANADA BUT
REGISTERED IN THE BAHAMAS OR
ANOTHER TAX HAVEN, DO THEY
CONSIDER THAT THAT COMPANY IS
DOING ITS FAIR SHARE AND PAYING
TAXES IN CANADA?
>> THANK YOU, RIGHT HONOURABLE
PRIME MINISTER.
THANK YOU, Mr. CHAIR.
WE WILL BE ASSESSING ON A CASE
BY CASE BASIS THE APPLICATIONS
FOR THE LARGE EMPLOYER'S
EMERGENCY FUND AND FACILITY.
WE DO NOT EXPECT THE MAJOR BANKS
TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS, BUT WE
WILL ENSURE WHOEVER DOES APPLY
FOR THESE FUNDS IS TRANSPARENT
WITH THE WAY THEY ARE MANAGING
THEIR MONEY, INCLUDING THEIR
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS BEFORE
WE LEND THEM MONEY.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. CHAIR.
NOW CONSUMERS ARE PAYING MORE
AND MORE WITH THEIR CREDIT
CARDS.
THIS IS PROFITABLE FOR VISA AND
MASTER-CARD WHO CHARGE
UNBELIEVABLE HIGH FEES, ALMOST
TEN TIMES WHAT PEOPLE PAY IN
EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA AND COSTING
OUR RETAILERS A FORTUNE.
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER DO THE
SAME THING AS DONE IN EUROPE AND
AUSTRALIA AND LIMIT THE
INTERCHANGE FEES TO 0.3%, THANK
YOU.
RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  TH.
WE ARE ALWAYS SEEKING TO REDUCE
COSTS FOR CONSUMERS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE
MAJOR BANKS TO FIND HELP AND
PROVIDE ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO
NEED IT.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT WAYS TO
LOWER COSTS FOR CONSUMERS, BUT
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SENDING MONEY
TO CONSUMERS WHO NEED IT THE
MOST ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO GET
THROUGH THIS CRISIS AND THAT IS
WHAT WE SHALL CONTINUE TO HAVE
AS A PRIORITY.
>> YES, THE QUESTION WASN'T
ABOUT CONSUMERS BUT ABOUT
RETAILERS.
A CREDIT CARD THAT CHARGES 2.5%
OR 3% PER TRANSACTION LOWERS
PROFIT MARGINS AND ENRICHES OUR
CREDIT CARD COMPANIES TO THE
DETRIMENT OF OUR RETAILERS.
I INVITE OUR PRIME MINISTER TO
BE INSPIRED BY PRACTISES IN
EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA AND LIMIT
THE INTERCHANGE FEES TO 0.3%.
RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE
MAJOR BANKS AND CREDIT CARD
COMPANIES TO HELP CONSUMERS
DURING THESE EXCEPTIONAL AND
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT
WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IN THE
LONGER TERM, AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL NOW GO ON TO MISS QUAN.
>> THANK YOU.
INSTEAD OF PROVIDING A UNIVERSAL
DIRECT PAYMENT FOR ALL, THE
GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO
IMPLEMENT A PROGRAMME THAT
LEAVES MANY PEOPLE BEHIND.
A SINGLE PARENT WITH FOUR
SINGLE-AGED CHILDREN LOST HER
INCOME BUT SHE'S NOT ELIGIBLE
FOR CERB.
IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN WEEKS, AND
STILL NO ACTION.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER STEP IN
AND FIX THIS GAP SO THAT THE
SINGLE PARENTS AND THEIR
CHILDREN CAN GET THE SUPPORT
THEY NEED DURING THIS PANDEMIC?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  I'M
HAPPY, Mr. SPEAKER, TO CORRECT
THE HONOURABLE MEMBER TO POINT
OUT THAT WE ACTUALLY MOVED IN
THE MOST RAPID AND SIMPLEST
POSSIBLE WAY IN PROVIDING INCOME
REPLACEMENT TO MILLIONS UPON
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS WHO NEEDED
IT WITH THE CANADIAN RESPONSE
BENEFIT.
HOWEVER, AS THE MEMBER POINTS
OUT, WHEN ONE MOVES QUICKLY AND
EFFICIENTLY, THERE WILL BE GAPS
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN
WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO
FILL THOSE GAPS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
CANADIANS NEED HELP GET IT.
>> Mr. QUAN.
>> THE MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT
HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS FOR THREE
WEEKS AND SAYS SHE WAS LOOKING
INTO IT AND STILL THERE'S NO
ACTION.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT
SINGLE PARENTS AND THEIR
CHILDREN, DEPENDING ON SPOUSAL
SUPPORT AND CHILD MAINTENANCE
ARE NOT GETTING SUPPORT.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER FIX THIS
GAP.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
RECOGNISE THE PARTICULAR
CHALLENGE FACED BY FAMILIES, BY
SINGLE PARENTS, BY FAMILIES WITH
YOUNG CHILDREN, WHICH IS WHY WE
INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF THE
CANADA CHILD BENEFIT TO BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN IN THIS
PARTICULAR MOMENT.
WE HAVE LOOKED TO FILL FURTHER
GAPS WITH THE RESPONSE BENEFIT,
WELL OVER SEVEN MILLIONS HAVE
ACCESS TO THAT.
>> Mrs. QUAN.
>> THAT DOES NOT REPLACE SPOUSAL
AND CHILD MAINTENANCE,
Mr. PRIME MINISTER.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE IS NO
NATIONAL STANDARD TO ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, LEAVING
COMMUNITIES AT HEIGHTENED RISK.
CANADIANS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR
LIVING IN SUB STANDARD HOUSING
HAVE NO ACCESS TO BATHROOM
FACILITIES FOR BASIC HYGIENE.
THOSE LIVED IN SHELTERS CANNOT
PRACTISE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
THE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY
ACUTE IN MY RIDING, IN THE
DOWNTOWN EAST SIDE.
WHILE THE B.C. GOVERNMENT HAS
IMPLEMENTED AN INITIATIVE TO
HOUSE SOME OF THE HOMELESS
POPULATION IN EMPTY HOTELS IN
THE SHORT-TERM, SUPPORTS ON THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED TO
SECURE PERMANENT SOLUTIONS POST
COVID-19.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER COMMIT
TO PROVIDING MATCHING FUNDS AND
TAKE THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE
HOUSING SERIOUSLY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
MINISTER.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  I
KNOW THE HONOURABLE MEMBER
WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE
INADVERTENTLY MISLEAD THE HOUSE.
THE FACT IS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
SENT SIGNIFICANT, HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF RESOURCES
TO SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO ENABLE THEM TO CREATE
FACILITIES, INCLUDING RENTING
NEW SPACES, TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS WITHOUT
INCREASING THE DANGER OR SPREAD
OF COVID-19.
I RECOGNISE THERE'S ALWAYS MORE
TO DO, BUT AS WE DEMONSTRATE
WITH OUR NATIONAL HOUSING
STRATEGY, WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS AND
SUPPORTING THE VULNERABLE
CANADIANS AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO.
>> MISS QUAN.
>> THE PRIME MINISTER MUST KNOW
THAT THE MONEY THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SENT IS DEFICIENT.
MANY PEOPLE STILL REMAIN
HOMELESS AND THEY ARE AT RISK.
CUTTING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS BY
50% OVER THE NEXT DECADE IS NOT
GOOD ENOUGH AND THAT IS THIS
PRIME MINISTER'S NATIONAL
HOUSING STRATEGY.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT STOP MAKING
EMPTY PROMISING AND ENSURE EVERY
CANADIAN HAS THE RIGHT TO
HOUSING AND WILL HE POP UP THE
SUPPORT FOR PROVINCES TO AT
LEAST MATCH THEIR FUNDS?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  Mr
. SPEAKER, CUTTING CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS BY 50% IS AN
AMBITIOUS GOAL THAT NO ONE ELSE
HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO DO AS A
GOVERNMENT AND WE ARE WELL ON
TRACK FOR IT.
I WOULD SUGGEST THE MEMBER
OPPOSITE NOT DISMISS THAT AS
EMPTY PROMISES BECAUSE WE HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THE ACTIONS ON IT.
BUT I RECOGNISED THERE IS MORE
TO DO.
THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO DO.
AND WE WILL BE THERE, CONTINUE
TO BE THERE FOR VULNERABLE
PEOPLE INCLUDING HOMELESS
CANADIANS.
>> MISS QUAN.
>> I WOULD REMIND THE PRIME
MINISTER IT WAS THE FEDERAL
LIBERALS WHO ACTUALLY ELIMINATED
THE NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAMME IN 1993 AND SO WE HAVE
THIS HOMELESS CRISIS TODAY AS A
RESULT LIBERALS AND WE IN
VANCOUVER EAST HAVE THE THIRD
LARGEST URBAN INDIGENOUS
POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY.
YET, WE GOT LESS THAN 2% OF THE
PANDEMIC URBAN INDIGENOUS
HOUSING FUNDING.
THEY'RE OVERREPRESENTED AMONG
THE HOMELESS POPULATION, WHY.
>> RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  Mr
. SPEAKER, WE RECOGNISE THERE
IS MORE TO DO ON SUPPORTING
URBAN AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD BOTH TO
THE MINISTER OF INDIGENOUS
SERVICES AND MINISTER OF CROWN
INDIGENOUS RELATIONSHIP TO
ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES FACING
URBAN ABORIGINAL POPULATIONS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THEM, TO RECOGNISE THESE ARE
AMONGST THE MOST VULNERABLE
PEOPLE IN CANADA WHO DESERVE THE
RIGHT SUPPORT FROM ALL ORDERS OF
GOVERNMENT AND WE WILL BE THERE
TO SUPPORT THAT AND INCREASE
THAT IN THE COMING YEARS.
>> NOW ON TO Mr. BERGEN.
>> THANK YOU, Mr. SPEAKER.
I'M HEARING IN MY RIDING THAT
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEALING WITH
SERVICE CANADA THROUGH THE MAIL
ARE EXPERIENCING DELAYS AND IT
SEEMS THAT THE MAIL THAT'S GOING
TO SERVICE CANADA HAS NOT BEEN
OPEN.
IN FACT, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS
SENT DOCUMENTS INCLUDING A
DOCTOR'S NOTE TWO MONTHS AGO ON
MARCH 12th AS BEING TOLD NOW
THAT SHE MUST RESEND THOSE
DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER
BEEN OPENED.
CAN THE GOVERNMENT TELL US, IS
THIS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM AND
HOW ARE THEY DEALING WITH
UNOPENED MAIL THAT IS HAPPENING
IN SERVICE CANADA?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> Mr. SPEAKER, I WANT TO
ENSURE THE HONOURABLE MEMBER
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN IN
SERVICE CANADA TO MEET THE
EXPECTATIONS OF CANADIANS.
WE HAVE UNPRECEDENTED VOLUMES
BUT HAVE REDEPLOYED THOUSANDS OF
STAFF TO FRONTLINE SERVICES BY
PHONE AND BY OTHER MEANS AND WE
HAD TO CLOSE A NUMBER OF THE
CENTRES BECAUSE OF COVID-19
CONCERNS, OF THE SAFETY AND
WELL-BEING OF CANADIANS.
>> MISS BERGEN.
>> THANK YOU, SOME SPEAKER.
SO IS THE MINISTER AWARE, IS
THIS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM?
IS THIS HAPPENING RARELY OR
FREQUENTLY?
I'M HEARING ABOUT IT AND I KNOW
FOR MANY M.P.S, WE ARE AT THE
FRONTLINES OF DEALING AND
HELPING WITH THE CONSTITUENTS
WHO ARE NOT ONLY WANTING TO GET
SUPPORT BUT ARE ALSO TRYING TO
GET PROGRAMMES UNRELATED TO
COVID-19.
IS UNOPEN MAIL A WIDE-SPREAD
PROBLEM WITH SERVICE CANADA?
>> Mr. SPEAKER, I'M HAPPY TO
LOOK INTO THE PARTICULAR CASE
THAT THE HONOURABLE MEMBER
BRINGS UP AND I AM NOT AWARE OF
UNOPENED MAIL TO BE A
WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I'M
HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE MEMBER TO
SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS
INDIVIDUAL CASE.
>> MISS BERGEN.
>> Rosemary:  WE'LL PULL AWAY
AND TALK WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
THERE'S AN INTERESTING AND
USEFUL EXCHANGE, POTENTIALLY,
OFF THE TOP THERE BETWEEN THE
PRIME MINISTER AND CONSERVATIVE
M.P., DAN ALBAS, REPORTING A
POST IN THE NATIONAL POST.
THIS IS SOMETHING OUR COLLEAGUE
CATHERINE CULLEN HAS DONE
REPORTING ON.
IT WAS INTERESTING WHAT THE
PRIME MINISTER HAD TO SAY OR
DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY.
>> Vassy:  DAN ALBAS IS
QUESTIONING THE PRIME MINISTER
WHAT, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL
POST, AMOUNTS TO A DIRECTIVE TO
STAFF WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE
CLAIMS FOR THE CERB TO,
BASICALLY, DO NOT IMPOSE -- THE
QUOTE IS DO NOT IMPOSE A STOP
PAY AND SO THE IDEA BEING IF
THERE ARE FRAUDULENT CLAIMS, AT
THIS POINT, GET THE MONEY OUT
AND DON'T PROHIBIT THAT MONEY
FROM GETTING OUT.
THE QUESTIONS I ARE AROUND, HOW
DO YOU KNOW THE CLAIMS ARE
RESTAURANTS AND HOW DO YOU
ASSESS THAT?
WHAT IS THE MECHANISM FOR DOING
SO AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS TO THE PRIME MINISTER,
TOO.
THE REPORTING FROM THE NATIONAL
POST SAYS THE ESTIMATE AT THIS
TIME IS ABOUT 200,000,
POTENTIALLY, UP TO 200,000
FRAUDULENT CLAIMS, WHICH WOULD,
OBVIOUSLY, BE, IF THAT'S $2,000
A CLAIM OVER A NUMBER OF MONTHS,
WE'RE TALKING A LOT OF MONEY
HERE.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED
WHETHER OR NOT HIS NAME WAS ON
THE MEMO, WHETHER HE ENDORSED
THE MEMO.
HE WOULD NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER
THAT QUESTION AND WHAT WE'VE
HEARD FROM THE EMPLOYMENT
MINISTER IN THE PAST IS THAT,
BASICALLY, THIS WILL BE SORT OF
DON'T ASK NOW AND RECOUPE MONEY
LATER TYPE OF POLICY AND I THINK
THERE ARE GENERAL QUESTIONS TO
BE ASKED HOW THAT WILL WORK
GOING FORWARD.
I NOTICED, FOR EXAMPLE, ON --
YOU HAVE TO LOG INTO MYCRA TO
REAPPLY FOR IT EACH MONTH AND
THERE'S A BUTTON TO PRESS IF YOU
NEED TO REPAY ANY MONEY.
MY GUESS, THE WAY IN WHICH YOU
FIGURE OUT WHETHER SOMEBODY
SHOULDN'T HAVE RECEIVED IT, I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE
INTENTIONAL.
THERE COULD BE SOME DOING IT BY
MISTAKE.
REMEMBER, YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY
CHECK A COUPLE OF BOXES ON A
PAGE SAYING I HAVEN'T BEEN
WORKING FOR 14 DAYS AND I AM
ELIGIBLE.
JUST SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
SO IF THE SCOPE IS 200,000
PEOPLE, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM FOR
THE GOVERNMENT AND THERE ARE
GENUINE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS GOING FORWARD.
AND I THINK THE QUESTIONS TO THE
PRIME MINISTER WERE MORE SO
ABOUT THIS MEMO, SHOULD THIS BE
THE DIRECTIVE AT THIS POINT?
SHOULD THEY, IN FACT, BE HANDING
OUT MONEY RATHER THAN STOPPING
THE MONEY BEFORE IT GETS OUT TO
WHAT AMOUNTS TO FRAUDULENT
CLAIMS?
THE PRIME MINISTER REITERATED IS
GETTING THE MONEY OUT RIGHT NOW
AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER.
>> Rosemary:  HE SAID THERE WILL
BE THINGS TO CLEAN UP AFTER THE
FACT.
I MEAN, I THINK YOU WOULD GET
QUESTIONS IF YOU HAD DONE IT THE
OPPOSITE WAY, TOO, NO, NO, WE'RE
GOING TO VERIFY EVERYTHING
YOU'VE TOLD US AND TAKE TWO
WEEKS TO GET YOU THE MONEY AS
OPPOSED TO THE WAY THEY'RE DOING
THIS NOW.
I MENTIONED THIS YESTERDAY,
DAVID, BECAUSE THE NEXT ROUND OF
CERB IS UP ONLINE NOW AND YOU
HAVE TO APPLY FOR IT EVERY
MONTH.
IF YOU KNOW YOUR COMPANY IS
HIRING YOU BACK UNDER THE WAGE
SUBSIDY PROGRAMME, EXPECT FOR
THE GOVERNMENT TO COME CALLING
AT SOME POINT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW AGGRESSIVE THEY
WILL BE, BUT THIS IS NOT A FREE
LOTTERY SITUATION.
THERE CAN BE AND WILL BE,
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT
FOLLOW-UP ON THIS.
>> David:  THIS WAS ALWAYS
INTENDED FROM ROLL-OUT, THIS WAS
INTENDED TO BE A POST PAYMENT
COMPLIANCE PROCESS.
ESSENTIALLY, IT'S THE SAME THING
WITH THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
WE REMEMBER THE PRIME MINISTER
AT THE RIDEAU COLLEGE SAYING IF
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THIS, DON'T.
THAT WAS HIS WARNING TO THE
EMPLOYERS ON THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
IT'S A SIMILAR THING HERE.
AND SO I THINK THE FACT THERE IS
FRAUD IS NOT SURPRISING.
THE 200,000 CLAIMS, TIMESES
2,000, THAT'S $400 MILLION A
MONTH.
UP SPREAD THAT OUT OVER THE 16
WEEKS OF THE PROGRAMME AND
THAT'S $1.6 BILLION IN
FRAUDULENT PAYMENTS, IF THE MATH
AND MEMO THAT THE POST OBTAINED
IS, IN FACT, ACCURATE.
AS BIG AS THOSE NUMBERS ARE,
IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF WHAT
THIS PROGRAMME IS AND WHAT IT'S
INTENDED TO DO.
BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS, BECAUSE
OF THE URGENT NEED TO RUSH IT
OUT SO FAST, IT WILL BE AN
AFTER-THE-FACT COMPLIANCE
PROCESS.
IF YOU GET THIS MONEY, IT WILL
BE TIED TO YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER AND CAUGHT AT TAX-FILING
TIME NEXT YEAR, IS WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SAYING.
SO YOU MAY BE PULLING A FAST ONE
ON THE GOVERNMENT NOW AND MONEY
MAY BE GOING OUT THE DOOR THAT
SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT THE DOOR.
BUT THE INTENTION, BECAUSE OF
THE WAY THE PAYMENTS IS MADE, IT
WILL BE CAUGHT OR YOU'LL BE
DRAGGED INTO COURT OR FORCED TO
DEAL WITH IT AFTER THE FACT IF
YOU KNOWINGLY SIGN UP FOR A
BENEFIT YOU DO NOT QUALIFY FOR
AND ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GET.
SO I SUSPECT THE VIGOROUSNESS AT
WHICH ALL OF THIS IS PURSUED
WHEN THE DIFFERENT SETTLES ON
THIS PANDEMIC WILL BE THE TRUE
TEST OF THIS FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY SET UP A PROGRAMME THAT
THEY KNEW AND SAID FROM THE
BEGINNING WOULD LEAD TO GETTING
PEOPLE THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED AND
QUALIFY FOR.
IT'S HOW THEY DEAL WITH IT IN
THE RECLAMATION OF THE
UNNECESSARY FUNDS THAT WILL BE
THE TRUE TEST OF THE INTEGRITY
OF THIS PROGRAMME.
>> Rosemary:  OF COURSE, THERE'S
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWINGLY
DOING THIS, KNOWING YOU
SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT AND MAKING
A MISTAKE BECAUSE IT IS HARD FOR
PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE AND YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE
NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IN YOUR
LIVES AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO
RUN AROUND PANICKING EITHER.
I'LL COME BACK TO YOU BOTH,
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT
IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT THE
REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY AND THE
BALANCING ACT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN
IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RESTRICTIONS AND TRYING TO GET
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK IN SOME WAY.
AND ALL OF THAT IS CLOSELY TIED
TO TRYING TO AVOID A SPIKE IN
NEW CASES AND WE ARE SEEING SOME
OF THAT IN COUNTRIES WHERE IT
HAD SEEMED AS THOUGH THE
PANDEMIC WAS UNDER SOME CONTROL,
WHETHER IT BE SOUTH KOREA AND
EVEN IN WUHAN WHERE, OF COURSE,
THIS ALL ORIGINATED.
NOW IT'S ENTIRE POPULATION BEING
TESTED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN AN
OUTBREAK OF CASES, AGAIN, IN
WUHAN.
SO I WANTED TO BRING IN SOMEONE
WHO KNOWS INFINITELY MORE, AN
INFECTIOUS SPECIALIST.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU.
I WILL SAY THAT WHEN I HEARD
WUHAN HAVING THIS OUTBREAK, AND
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE PLACE
IT SEEMS TO HAVE ORIGINATED
FROM, THE VIRUS HAS ORIGINATED
FROM, IT WAS VERY WORRYING TO
ME, AS WE ARE SLOWLY MOVING IN
THIS COUNTRY TOWARDS REOPENING.
SO HOW SHOULD WE READ WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN WUHAN OR IN SOUTH
KOREA OR OTHER PLACES THAT ARE
FURTHER ALONG IN THE LIFE CYCLE
OF THIS VIRUS THAN WE ARE?
>> I AGREE WITH YOU AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO WHAT'S HAPPENING
THERE, WE WANT TO TAKE ALL OF
THOSE SITUATIONS AND USE THEM TO
OUR ADVANTAGE SO WE CAN LEARN
MORE AND ACCORDINGLY RESPOND.
IT'S NOT SURPRISING, THOUGH,
WHEN YOU PULL BACK ON YOUR
RESTRICTIONS, YOU'LL SEE MORE
CASES ARISE AND THE POINT IS,
YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY THE CASES
QUICKLY, ISOLATE AND PUT THESE
SMALL FIRES OUT SO THERE WON'T
BE A BIG FIRE.
THAT'S THE MAIN GOAL GOING
FORWARD.
>> Rosemary:  WE'VE HEARD THAT
FROM OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS, AS WELL, THAT IN THE
CASE OF WUHAN, TO GIVE PEOPLE,
IN CASE THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY
PLAN TO DO TESTING OF 11 MILLION
PEOPLE, THE POPULATION IN THAT
PROVINCE, AND SAY IT COULD BE
DONE WITHIN TEN DAYS.
THAT'S A STAGGERING EFFORT
THEY'RE THROWING AT THIS.
BUT IS IT SOMETHING WE COULD
REPLICATE HERE?
WE ARE NOT AT THAT KIND OF
TESTING LEVEL, IT WOULD SEEM TO
ME.
>> IN CHINA, THE GOVERNMENT HAS
QUITE A BIT OF CONTROL OVER THE
POPULATION AND IT'S NOT THE SAME
THING HERE.
WE CAN STILL DO BROAD-SPECTRUM
TESTING AND LOOK AT WHERE ALL OF
THE CASES ARE AND TRY TO PUT OUT
THESE SMALL FIRES WHERE WE CAN.
>> Rosemary:  WHAT ABOUT CONTACT
TRACING?
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS
AROUND TESTING ITSELF AND
WHETHER IT NEEDS TO EXPAND
BEYOND THE CRITERIA WE SEE RIGHT
NOW AND HAS DONE THAT OVER THE
WEEKS OF TIME.
BUT IF WE MOVE TO A SITUATION
WHERE WE'RE NOT TESTING
EVERYONE, BUT WE DO WANT TO BE
ABLE TO TRACE WHERE THEY ARE, DO
YOU HAVE, IN YOUR MIND, A SENSE
OF HOW BIG THAT CONTACT TRACING
TEAM WOULD NEED TO BE?
>> I CAN'T GIVE AN EXACT NUMBER
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU THE GENERAL
PRINCIPLES.
WE NEED A BIG TEAM TO DO THAT.
IT'S QUITE PAINSTAKING WORK.
WE CAN'T BE TESTING PEOPLE WHO
JUST HAVE SYMPTOMS.
WE HAVE TO BROADEN THAT
DEFINITION AND GO INTO CERTAIN
TARGETED AREAS THAT WE KNOW ARE
HIGHER RISK, LIKE IN THE
HOSPITAL OR LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITY AND THOSE SITUATIONS,
YOU MAY HAVE TO DO REPEATED
TESTING, EVEN OF PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS.
IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT WITH
OUR RESPONSE GOING FORWARD.
>> Rosemary:  IN THE CASE OF
SOUTH KOREA, IT APPEARS TO BE
ONE GUY, FOR NOW, WHO WAS AT A
BAR OR A NIGHTCLUB AND NOW, THEY
THINK IT'S SPREAD TO MORE THAN
100 CASES, I THINK, LINKED TO
THIS ONE PERSON, WHICH IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
CONTROL, THE REPLICATION OF THE
PASSAGE OF THE DISEASE BETWEEN
MULTIPLE PEOPLE.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT
THE LIKELIHOOD THIS COUNTRY IS
EVER GOING TO GET TO A PLACE
WHERE BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS ARE
OPEN?
BECAUSE TO ME, I READ THAT AND
SAY, OK, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING
UNTIL THERE'S A VACCINE.
WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT?
>> I AGREE WITH THAT COMPLETELY.
SO IF SOMEBODY HAD A REMARKABLE
RESPONSE AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
IS WITH COVID-19, IS WE KNOW
THAT IT SPREADS THE BEST IN
CLOSED SPACE WITH PEOPLE AND
THAT'S, OF COURSE, WHAT A BAR
AND NIGHTCLUB ARE, CONCERTS AND
THAT TYPE OF THING.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE ANYTHING
LIKE THAT FOR TWO YEARS,
MINIMUM, AND I HOPE I'M WRONG
BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE METALLICA
AGAIN.
[ Laughter ]
>> BUT THAT WILL BE THE LAST
PHASE WHEN THE VACCINE IS
AVAILABLE.
>> Rosemary:  THERE'S A GREAT
ARTICLE BY DAVE -- I LOST HIS
NAME NOW -- IN THE ATLANTIC
ABOUT WHEN CAN I GO FOR A
CONCERT NOW AND DAVE GROLL,
THERE YOU GO.
I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE CAN FEEL
YOUR PAIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US
PICK YOUR BRAIN A LITTLE BIT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DR. SUMON CHAKRABARTI, AN
INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST
FROM ONTARIO.
I'LL BRING IN VASSY AND DAVID
ONE MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THERE,
REOPENING, MAYBE NOT A METALLICA
CONCERT FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE
KNOW THE BALANCE BETWEEN MAKING
SURE THAT THINGS ARE IN PLACE IN
ORDER TO LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS IS
VERY HARD.
AND I'M NOT SURE WE'VE SEEN
PEOPLE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THOSE
MEASURES ARE IN PLACE YET WHEN
IT COMES TO TESTING AND CONTACT
TRACING, VASSY.
>> Vassy:  I THINK THE SOUTH
KOREAN EXAMPLE YOU BROUGHT UP IS
SO INTERESTING.
I'VE BEEN DOING READING INTO HOW
THEY'RE CONTACT TRACING AND
DEALING WITH TRAVELERS.
THE RESTRICTS HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN
LOOSENED BUT NOT AS CLAMPED DOWN
AS THEY ARE HERE.
WHAT REALLY JUMPED OUT IS THE
LEVEL OF CONTACT TRACING, THE
APPS THAT THEY HAVE IN USE OR
TRAVELERS WHO COME IN THAT ARE
AUTOMATICALLY QUARANTINED AND
THEY GET AN ANKLE BRACELET AND
THEY'RE TESTED.
THE MEASURES THERE ARE MUCH MORE
PLENTY FULL THAN THEY ARE HERE
RIGHT NOW.
STILL, THEY'RE DEALING WITH THAT
OUTBREAK AND CERTAINLY THEY HAVE
THE ABILITY TO TRACE WHERE IT
CAME FROM AND PEOPLE WHO MAY
HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THAT
PERSON, BUT A LOT OF QUESTIONS,
DOES THAT SLOW DOWN KIDS GOING
BACK TO SCHOOL AND THAT KIND OF
THING.
IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE IN THE
MIDDLE OF AN EXPERIMENT.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE LEVEL OF
TESTING FOR ANY PROVINCE TO BE
COMPLETELY CONFIDENT THAT THEY
CAN REOPEN THE ECONOMY, WE JUST
DON'T.
THAT'S A FACT AT THIS POINT.
THAT CAPACITY IS RAMPING UP.
THAT CERTAINLY IS TRUE AND IT
DEPENDS ON THE PROVINCE YOU'RE
LIVING IN AND THE SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS AT THIS POINT.
BUT I THINK IT IS INTERESTING TO
SEE THE EXAMPLES OF OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND HOW THEY DEAL
WITH IT AND WHAT BECOMES SO
EVIDENT, EVEN AS YOU LOOSEN
RESTRICTIONS, IT IS SO EASY FOR
SOMETHING TO HAPPEN IN WHICH YOU
HAVE TO TIGHTEN IT UP AGAIN.
>> Rosemary:  THIS IS PROBABLY A
GOOD TIME TO PLUG THAT LITTLE
BOX ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN,
THIS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TOMORROW
NIGHT ON CBC AND CBC'S NEWS
NETWORK WITH MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, DUNCAN MCEWE.
WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE HOW YOU LIVE
WITH THE VIRUS BECAUSE IT'S
CLEAR WE'RE NOT MOVING PASSED IT
AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME YET.
THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING,
ADAPTING AND WHETHER IT BE YOUR
HEALTH, THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE
TO DO PERSONALLY OR EVEN YOUR
OWN FINANCES AND HOW YOU'LL
MANAGE THAT.
THAT'S BETWEEN 7:00 AND 9:00 AND
THERE'S A WEBSITE, COVID@CBC.CA.
DAVID, OVER TO YOU ON THOSE
ISSUES.
BECAUSE AS VASSY RIGHTLY SAID,
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE
TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING AT
THE SCALE WHERE IT SHOULD BE AT,
IT DOES MEAN THAT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH RESTRICTIONS, IN SOME
WAYS, REMAIN IN PLACE, EVEN IF
YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO MORE AND
THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO HEAR
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYING, KEEP
YOUR DISTANCE, DON'T GO OUT IF
YOU'RE SICK, WASH YOUR HANDS.
THOSE MEASURES AND THOSE
DIRECTIVES ARE NOT GOING TO
CHANGE, EVEN IF YOU'RE ALLOW DOD
TO DO A FEW MORE THINGS.
>> David:  IT'S ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTEMPLATE THE
REALITY OF THE SITUATION THAT
WE'RE IN ALL ALL OF THE
LOCKDOWNS AND STAYING AT HOME,
THAT WAS ALL TO STOP THE HEALTH
SYSTEM FROM BEING OVERWHELMED,
RIGHT?
IT WAS TO KEEP THE CAPACITY AND
THE INTENSIVE CARE BEDS AND TO
STOP AN OVERLOADING OF THE
HEALTH SYSTEM LIKE WE SAW IN
ITALY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE IT
JUST GOT COMPLETELY OUT OF
CONTROL.
THESE MEASURES AREN'T ABOUT A
RETURN-TO-NORMAL.
WE HAVE TODAY THE PRIME MINISTER
TODAY AND YESTERDAY ANNOUNCING
WHAT ARE STILL EMERGENCY SUPPORT
MEASURES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND
BUSINESSES COPE WITH THE
LOCKDOWN.
AND WE ALL WANT TO LOOK AHEAD TO
THE RETURN-TO-NORMAL AND THE
REOPENING AND WHEN DOES THE
BORDER COME BACK AND WILL
SCHOOLS REOPEN LIKE THEY'RE
DOING IN QUEBEC AND WHEN CAN YOU
GO OUT TO A BAR TO HAVE A DRINK
WITH YOUR BUDDIES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STILL
BORDERS INSIDE THE COUNTRY THAT
ARE CLOSED OFF.
NEW BRUNSWICK DOESN'T WANT
PEOPLE TO COME TO NEW BRUNSWICK.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO HOME TO
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR FOR A
WEDDING FOR ONE OF MY BUDDIES
THIS SUMMER AND I'M NOT ALLOWED
TO ENTER THE PROVINCE NOW
WITHOUT PERMISSION BECAUSE I'M
NOT A RESIDENT THERE AND ANY
KIND OF EVEN GOING HOME TO VISIT
MY FAMILY WOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
WE'RE ALL A LONG, LONG WAY FROM
A RETURN TO NORMAL.
WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM HAVING
THIS DAILY TESTING CAPACITY
WHERE WE CAN DO THE TEST TRACE
ON ISOLATE THAT WORKS SO WELL IN
THE EARLY DAYS IN PLACES LIKE
SOUTH KOREA AND HAVE WORKED IN
PLACES LIKE GERMANY.
 BUT ARE NOT
A 100% PERMANENT SOLUTION TO
THIS PROBLEM.
IT'S A VACCINE OR SOME SORT OF
ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT BUT WE DO
NOT KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THIS
VIRUS AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE
COPING MECHANISMS YET TO
MISUNDERSTANDS WELL AS A
SOCIETY.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS
GOING TO BE WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR
QUITE A LONG TIME.
THERE'S THE QUESTION IS IF
GOVERNMENTS DID START REOPENING
THINGS AND LOOSENING
RESTRICTIONS, WOULD PEOPLE DO
IT?
THERE'S STILL A DOUBT AND A FEAR
AND HERE IN ONTARIO, I'VE GOT
SCHOOL AGED KIDS, AND IF THE
EDUCATION MINISTER OPENED
SCHOOLS TOMORROW, I DON'T THINK
I'M SENDING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL
TOMORROW BECAUSE I'M NOT
CONVINCED AS A DAD THAT IT'S THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
IMPATIENCE AND FRUSTRATION, BUT
YOU CAN'T RUSH SCIENCE.
WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM THROUGH
THE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES AND
TRYING TO SKIP THIS WILL
COMPOUND IT AND MAKE IT WORSE.
>> Rosemary:  THE RESPONSE IS
UNPRECEDENTED AND SO MANY THINGS
WE DON'T KNOW.
I'LL COME BACK TO BOTH YOU AND
TURN OUR ATTENTION TO A STORY
OVERNIGHT.
BRYAN ADAMS FACING ACCUSATIONS
OF RACISM AND THE SINGER HAS NOW
APOLOGIZED, SORT OF, ON HIS
INSTAGRAM, BUT THE ORIGINAL POST
IS DRAWING ALL KINDS OF
ATTENTION AND CRITICISM, BUT
THIS IS SOMETHING THE PRIME
MINISTER, THE MINISTER, PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE TALKED
ABOUT AND THAT IS PEOPLE IN A
CELEBRITY POSITION, PUBLIC HIGH
PROFILE POSITION SAYING THINGS
THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RACIST
ATTITUDES AND TO DIRECTOR TORE Y
COMMENTS.
>> Reporter:  BEFORE I SHARE THE
APOLOGY THAT CAME OUT, LET'S
START WITH THE ORIGINAL TWEET.
I WAS ON INSTAGRAM AND THE TWEET
WAS DELETED.
THE COMMENT SECTION WAS REMOVED.
HE POSTED HIS SONG, HIM SINGING
THE HIT THAT HE HAD IN THE '80S,
CUTS LIKE A KNIFE AND SHARED
WHAT HE FEELS IS THE BLAME OR
WHERE THE BLAME SHOULD LAY WHEN
IT COMES TO THE VIRUS.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THAT
STATEMENT, WHERE THE KEY POINTS
HERE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
TALKING ABOUT IS THAT IN LAYING
BLAME, HE REFERENCES BAT EATING,
WET MARKET ANIMAL SELLING, VIRUS
MAKING, GREEDY AND IT'S LADEN
WITH EXPLETIVES AND TALKS ABOUT
THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT JUST HE
IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SHOW.
HE KNOWS THAT THOUSANDS HAVE
SUFFERED OR DIED FROM THIS VIRUS
AND HIS MESSAGE TO THEM IS
SAYING, THANKS A LOT, OF COURSE,
BEING INCREDIBLY SARCASTIC AND
HE JUST REALLY CAUSED A LOT OF
PEOPLE TO COMMENT, TO START A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT
OUR FAIR TOR SOMEONE TO SAY.
THE WET MARKET HE'S REFERRING
TO, OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN
HEARING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO
THE W.H.O. AND SAYING THERE WAS
PROBABLY SOME SORT OF A LINK
BETWEEN A WET MARKET, WHICH IS
JUST A MARKET THAT SELLS LIVE
FISH OR ANIMALS OR POULTRY IN
WUHAN, IN CHINA.
HOWEVER, THEY OFTEN REITERATED
THE STATEMENT THAT THERE IS TO
LINK THAT HAS BEEN CONCRETELY
PROVEN.
WE DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE.
AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
PEOPLE COMING OUT AND SAYING
THAT THESE KIND OF WORDS AND
LANGUAGE LEADS TO XENOPHOBIC
TALK.
AMY GO WHO IS THE PRESIDENT FOR
SOCIAL JUSTICE, SHE SAID THESE
COMMENTS WERE RACIST AND I'LL
PUT THAT BACK UP, ACTUALLY.
THIS WAS A TWEET BY A STAR FROM
ASIAN DISSENT THAT MANY PEOPLE
KNOW AND SAYS IT'S NOT MY
INTENTION TO GO AT OR CANCEL
ANYONE BUT TO CONDONE ACTS LIKE
THIS.
THE PLAY OF WORDS ON SUMMER
OF '69.
BRYAN ADAMS SAY I APOLOGIZE TO
ALL WHO TOOK OFFENSE, BUT I
WANTED A RANT ABOUT THE ANIMAL
HORRIBLE CRUELTY IN THESE WET
MARKETS AND A LITTLE LESS
DEFINITIVE TODAY.
I HAVE LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE AND
MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH EVERYONE
DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC
AROUND THE WORLD.
OBVIOUSLY GOING BACK A BIT ON
HIS STATEMENTS AND GOING BACK ON
THE TERSE NATURE OF HIS
COMMENTS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT BRYAN ADAMS, HE
ISN'T SOMEONE WHO IS PRONE TO
THIS STRONG LANGUAGE.
I MEAN HE HAS 15 GRAMMY
NOMINATIONS, AND HE'S BEEN
LOTTED AS MANY KNOW FOR DECADES
AS THIS CANADIAN EXAMPLE OF
SOMEONE WHO PLAYS AROUND THE
WORLD AND HE'S TURNED TO
PHOTOGRAPHY AND HAS TAKEN PHOTOS
OF DIGNITARIES AND PROMINENT
CANADIAN PEOPLE.
AS WE STARTED OFF, YOU WERE
SAYING THAT HE IS A PERSON OF
INFLUENCE, FOR SURE.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TWEETS
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHARING, THEY
RUN THE GAMUT FROM PEOPLE WHO
USED TO BE FANS SAYING THEY'RE
SO DISAPPOINTED SAYING A RACIST
HIT AGAINST ASIAN OR CHINESE
PEOPLE AND THEN THE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO ARE SAYING, LISTEN, I AGREE
WITH HIS ANIMAL RIGHT'S POINTS
AND DON'T WANT ANY ANIMALS EATEN
AND THAT IS SOMETHING SHARED
FROM PETA FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION
AND THEY SAID THAT THEY
REITERATED SOME OF HIS COMMENTS
AND SUPPORT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
AND THAT THEY REALLY WANT PEOPLE
TO STOP THIS ALL TOGETHER.
SO ALL OF PEOPLE SHARING BACK
AND FORTH ON THIS ONE AND IT'S
GOING TO CONTINUE BECAUSE EVEN
THOUGH THE APOLOGY IS OUT, WHEN
YOU ISSUE A STATEMENT THAT HE
DID IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH SUCH
STRONG LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW IT'S
GOING TO KEEP TRENDING ONLINE.
>> Rosemary:  AND NEVER TOOK THE
STATEMENT DOWN, I WOULD POINT
OUT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT DIFFICULT
TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT, BUT
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO
US.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TALKING
ABOUT IT OVERNIGHT, TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS ALL
ABOUT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE
MESSAGE THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM
MANY POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND THAT IS
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
PARTICULARLY PEOPLE IN PUBLIC
POSITIONS TO NOT SPARK RACISM
AGAINST CHINESE OR ASIAN
CANADIAN OR ANYONE AROUND THE
WORLD FOR THE LINKS THAT THEY
MIGHT BE SUGGESTING THERE.
LET'S BRING BACK VASSY AND DAVID
FOR ONE LAST CHAT BEFORE WE GO.
AND LET'S GO BACK TO THE
SENIOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY
BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT JUST BE
TUNING AND AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING
TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW QUICKLY THIS WILL HAPPEN AND
ROLL OUT.
VASSY, DO YOU WANT TO REMIND
PEOPLE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
LANDED ON THIS?
>> Vassy:  THE PRIME MINISTER
SIGNALED IT WAS COMING ANY DAY
AND HEARING FROM SENIORS ANXIOUS
TO FIND OUT WHEN THAT IS.
THAT DAY IS TODAY.
IF YOU GET THE GUARANTEED
SUPPLEMENT THAT'S $200 A PERSON.
IF THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN YOUR
HOUSEHOLD, YOU CAN GET UP TO
$500 EACH.
IT WILL BE A ONE-TIME PAYMENT
AND HERE IS WHAT'S KEY, IT'S
AUTOMATIC.
YOU DO NOT NEED GO ON THE
INTERNET OR AN APPLICATION
PORTAL AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
AND SAY THAT YOU MEET CERTAIN
CONDITIONS OR ATTEST TO ANYTHING
BECAUSE YOU ARE ON OAS AND/OR
GIS, YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS
BENEFIT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES
IT'S ABOUT SEVEN MILLION SENIORS
WHO WILL QUALIFY AND THE GRAND
TOTAL IS $2.5 BILLION.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE
A LOT OF SENIORS WHO ARE ASKING
IF THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORTS.
AND THE PRIME MINISTER, AS WELL
AS THE MINISTER OF SENIORS,
DIDN'T RULE THAT OUT IN THE
FUTURE.
BUT WITH THIS BENEFIT, THEY WERE
LOOKING TO ADDRESS INCREMENTAL
COSTS.
THINGS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC
YOU HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR, THE
DELIVERY OF GROCERIES, TAKING
TAXIS INSTEAD OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION AND THAT'S WHY
THIS IS $500 AND HAPPENING ONCE.
THERE ARE OTHER REQUESTS FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE,
TO BRING DOWN THE AMOUNT THAT
RETIRED SAVING PLANS ARE TAXED
AT.
SO TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE TAXES
IF YOU HAVE TO ACCESS THAT
MONEY.
THE MINISTER FOR SENIORS HASN'T
RULED THAT OUT BUT DIDN'T
PROVIDE ANY TIMELINE FOR A
DECISION ON THAT.
THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MAJOR
ASKS FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHICH
REPRESENT SENIORS.
>> Rosemary:  CAN I GET YOU, AS
WELL, TO UPDATE US ON THE
STUDENT AID.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD TALK TO A
STUDENT AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
BUT THAT IS NOT WORKING YET, BUT
JUST, MAYBE, TO BRING PEOPLE UP
TO SPEED ON THAT.
>> Vassy:  THE LATEST ON THAT --
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS $1250 IN
EMERGENCY BENEFIT LIKE THE CERB
FOR STUDENTS AND THEN, ALSO, IF
YOU HAVE A DEPENDENT OR A
DISABILITY, IT BECOMES $2,000
AND I BELIEVE IT WAS $1750 AND
NOW IT'S $2,000.
I ASKED WHEN THIS APPLICATION
PORTAL OPENS UP AND AT THE
LATEST, THIS FRIDAY.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE END OF
THIS WEEK.
I CHECKED TO SEE IF WE'RE STILL
TRACKING AND HAVEN'T HAD A
RESPONSE BUT I'LL TWEET IT WHEN
IT HAPPENS.
YOU WILL HAVE TO GO ONLINE AND
ATTEST YOU'RE WORKING, FILL OUT
A COUPLE OF OTHER QUALIFIERS AND
THAT IS HOW YOU GET YOUR MONEY.
APPLY FOR THE MYCRAACCOUNT.
THAT WILL ENSURE THE MONEY GOES
INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AFTER YOU
APPLY.
>> Rosemary:  DO THAT NOW IF
YOU'RE A STUDENT WAITING.
I KNOW STUDENTS ARE FEELING THE
PINCH BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND
JOBS AND LOOKING FOR THAT AID
BENEFIT.
DAVID, I'M NOT SURE WHERE YOU
WANT TO GO AND WHAT WOULD YOU
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT?
[ Laughter ]
>> David:  TWO THINGS, THE
DETAILS OF THE OAS AND GIC, THAT
SHOWS USING THE CURRENT
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMME IN
PLACE, AS OPPOSE O OPPOSED TO CG
THE CERB.
MAKE SURE IT GOES TO PEOPLE WHO
QUALIFY AND IT'S A LEVER YOU CAN
PULL OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF
THIS.
THE OTHER THING TO EXPECT
DETAILS ON IS THE EXTENSION OF
THE WAGE SUBSIDY THE PRIME
MINISTER ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK AND
THIS WAS A PROGRAMME THAT WOULD
RUN UNTIL JUNE AND HE SAID IT
WOULD BE EXTENDED BEYOND JUNE
AND THERE WILL BE NEW DETAILS
ABOUT THAT AND CHANGES TO HOW
THAT WOULD WORK BECAUSE THE
MONEY IS STILL IN THE -- GETTING
OUT THE DOOR PHASE IN THAT
PROGRAMME.
BUT WE WILL GET DETAILS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THAT AT
SOME POINT THIS WEEK, BECAUSE
THIS JUST SHOWS YOU, GOING BACK
TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
DURATION OF THIS, THE NEED TO
EXTEND SOME OF THESE SUPPORT
PROGRAMMES BEYOND THE INITIAL
PLAN AND MAYBE DEEP INTO THE
RECOVERY PHASE TO ALLOW THE
ECONOMY TO EXTEND AND TRY TO
GROW AND COME BACK AND ALLOW
PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK.
IT'S A VERY TENUOUS SITUATION
FOR A LOT OF EMPLOYEES AND
EMPLOYERS.
THE EXTENSION WILL BE A
SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF PUBLIC
POLICY, AND MORE DETAILS TO COME
IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
>> Rosemary:  I THINK WE'RE
EXPECTING MORE DETAILS ON THE
COMMERCIAL RENT PROGRAMME TO
OPEN UP THIS WEEK.
AM I RIGHT, VASSY?
>> Vassy:  PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUSLY
AWAITING THOSE DETAILS BECAUSE
WE'RE TWO WEEKS OUT FROM THE END
OF THE LAST MONTH THAT THAT
PROGRAMME IS SUPPOSED TO HELP
WITH.
>> Rosemary:  SO LISTEN, WE'RE
WELL INTO ALL OF THIS AND THERE
ARE STILL NEW MEASURES BEING
ANNOUNCED AND BEING FIXED.
SO A LOT OF RESPONSE FROM THE
GOVERNMENT TO COME.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH AND I
APPRECIATE IT.
VASSY KAPELOS CHECK OUT HER SHOW
AT 5:00 EASTERN TONIGHT AND
DAVID COCHRAN, THANK YOU.
TO WRAP THINGS UP, THE PRIMARY
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT
ABOUT SENIORS AND SOMETHING MANY
HAVE BEEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING.
AS VASSY POINTED OUT, IF YOU'RE
ALREADY RECEIVING THE OAS OR
GIS, DON'T WORRY, THE MONEY WILL
COME.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE AND THE PRIME MINISTER
SAYS IN THE COMING WEEKS, YOU'LL
GET THAT TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
WE'LL END OUR COVERAGE HERE ON
"CBC NEWS NETWORK" AND WE'LL BE
BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR YOUR
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