PANDEMIC.
HE'S EXPECTED TO START AT 11 
EASTERN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT 
EARLIER THAN USUAL TODAY, ANY 
MOMENT NOW.
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE 
TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S 
PROPOSED $9 BILLION AID PACKAGE 
THAT IS TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN 
THIS COUNTRY.
IT COMES A DAY AFTER THERE WAS A
VIRTUAL VERY LARGE COMMITTEE 
MEETING, ALMOST 300 MPs WERE 
VIRTUALLY DIALLED IN YESTERDAY 
ON A ZOOM CALL TO ASK QUESTIONS 
OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER 
MINISTERS.
TODAY, THOUGH, THE PRIME 
MINISTER WILL GO TO THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS, AS WILL OTHER LEADERS, 
OPPOSITION LEADERS, TO DEAL WITH
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION 
DIRECTLY.
WE EXPECT THE PRIME MINISTER TO 
HAVE TO LEAVE THIS PRESS 
CONFERENCE AT AROUND 11:30, IN 
FACT, TO MAKE HIS WAY TO THE 
HOUSE WHICH SITS AS OF NOON 
EASTERN.
SHOULD SAY THAT THIS GOVERNMENT 
AID PACKAGE THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER WILL SPEAK MORE ABOUT 
IN JUST MOMENTS, THERE ARE 
QUESTIONS AROUND CONCERNS AND 
EVEN SOME REAL CRITICISM FROM 
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ABOUT IT.
THE CONSERVATIVES AND THE BLOC, 
AND THE NDP, ALL SAYING THAT IT 
IS IN MANY WAYS NOT ENOUGH FOR 
STUDENTS.
THE CONSERVATIVES CALL IT A 
DISINCENTIVE FOR SOME STUDENTS 
TO SEEK OUT WORK AT A TIME WHEN 
THERE ARE BUSINESSES 
EXPERIENCING LABOUR SHORTAGES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A CLOSER 
LOOK AT WHAT OTHER PARTIES ARE 
SAYING ABOUT IT AND WHETHER THE 
GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO MAKE 
SOME TWEAKS.
HERE NOW THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
NORMALLY STUDENTS ARE ANXIOUS TO
SEE THE MONTH OF MAY ARRIVE.
CLASSES ARE OVER AND THERE ARE 
ONLY A FEW EXAMS, AND YOU'RE 
ANXIOUS TO START YOUR NEW SUMMER
JOB AND SPEND MORE TIME WITH 
YOUR FRIENDS, BUT THIS YEAR IS 
DIFFERENT.
THE PANDEMIC IS CREATING A LOT 
OF INSTABILITY AND UNCERTAINTY 
FOR MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOUNG
PEOPLE.
SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO 
GRADUATE WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE 
FULLY -- FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE 
LAST SEMESTER, AND NOW THEY'RE 
HAVING TROUBLE ENTERING THE JOB 
MARKET.
THOSE WHO ARE STILL IN SCHOOL 
ARE FACING SIMILAR OBSTACLES.
A NUMBER OF THINGS HAVE BEEN 
CANCELLED, AND THERE ARE MANY OF
YOU OUT THERE WHO ARE WONDERING 
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IN THE 
COMING MONTHS AND HOW YOU'RE 
GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY YOUR 
TUITION FOR THE COMING YEAR.
SO LAST WEEK WE UNVEILED A $9 
BILLION PLAN TO HELP YOU TO GET 
THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ANNOUNCED THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY STUDENT BENEFIT
WHICH WILL PROVIDE $1250 A MONTH
TO STUDENTS DURING THE SUMMER.
AND IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY, 
YOU WILL BE RECEIVING MORE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE 
INVESTING TO CREATE 76,000 
ADDITIONAL JOBS FOR STUDENTS IN 
THOSE SECTORS THAT NEED A HAND 
OR ARE ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING TO 
THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
THESE JOBS CAN BE ADDED TO THOSE
THAT ARE ALSO AVAILABLE UNDER 
THE CANADA SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM.
[ End of Interpretation ].
-- BUT WANT TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE
FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, WE'RE 
GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE 
SUPPORT TOO.
STUDENTS HELPING IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19 THIS SUMMER 
WILL SOON BE ELIGIBLE FOR $1,000
TO $5,000 THROUGH THE NEW CANADA
STUDENT SERVICE GRANT FOR 
VOLUNTEER HOURS.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE PROVIDING
SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR FIRST 
NATIONS, INUIT AND METIS NATION 
STUDENTS.
FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AND THOSE 
CONNECTING RESEARCH, WE'RE GOING
TO EXTEND SCHOLARSHIPS, 
FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS SO YOUR 
WORK CAN CONTINUE.
AND WE'RE DOUBLING STUDENT 
GRANTS FOR LOW- AND 
MIDDLE-INCOME STUDENTS FOR 
2020-2021.
TAKEN TOGETHER, OUR GOVERNMENT 
HAS A $9 BILLION PLAN TO HELP 
STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADS GET 
THROUGH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
SINCE WE INTRODUCED THIS PLAN, 
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES ON 
LEGISLATION THAT WILL GET THIS 
HELP TO YOUNG PEOPLE AS QUICKLY 
AS POSSIBLE.
I'LL BE HEADING TO PARLIAMENT 
SHORTLY WHERE WE WILL INTRODUCE 
A BILL TO PUT THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY STUDENT BENEFIT IN 
PLACE.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN 
DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE, AND OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ACTION TO 
HELP YOU DURING THIS CRISIS.
TO HELP PARENTS, WE WILL BE 
IMPROVING THE CANADA CHILD 
BENEFIT IN MAY.
AFTER THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS, 
PARENTS BECAME TEACHERS, 
RESTAURANTEURS AND MUSIC 
TEACHERS.
OUR SOLUTION IS HARD FOR 
FAMILIES, AND WE ARE HELPING 
THEM WITH THE CANADA CHILD 
BENEFIT, AND TO SUPPORT PEOPLE 
OF LOW-INCOME, OUR GOVERNMENT 
WILL BE INTRODUCING THE GST 
CREDIT.
I ALSO INCREASES THE GST CREDIT.
IF YOU HAVE TO PAY TAXES, YOU 
HAVE UNTIL AUGUST TO MAKE YOUR 
PAYMENT [ End of Interpretation 
].
THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN HARD ON 
EVERYONE, AND THAT'S WHY OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING UP TO 
SUPPORT YOU.
FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE THEIR HANDS
FULL THESE DAYS, OUR GOVERNMENT 
WILL BE BOOSTING THE CCB PAYMENT
IN MAY, AND TO HELP LOW-INCOME 
CANADIANS, WE SUPPLEMENTED THE 
GST CREDIT.
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE 
THAT THIS YEAR, IF YOU OWE 
INCOME TAX, YOU HAVE UNTIL 
AUGUST TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENT.
YESTERDAY MINISTER HAJDU AND 
DR. TAM PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON 
OUR LATEST MODELLING, AND THE 
GOOD NEWS IS THAT CANADIANS ARE 
STEPPING UP TO KEEP EACH OTHER 
SAFE.
IN FACT, IN MANY PARTS OF THE 
COUNTRY, THE CURVE HAS 
FLATTENED, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP IT
UP.
WE'RE SEEING SOME PROGRESS 
BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM COAST TO 
COAST TO COAST ARE MAKING 
SACRIFICES AND FOLLOWING PUBLIC 
HEALTH RULES, SO LET'S STICK TO 
IT.
LET'S STAY HOME, WASH OUR HANDS 
AND WHEN WE GO OUT LET'S SAY 2 
METRES AWAY FROM OTHERS.
STARTING THIS WEEKEND IN NOVA 
SCOTIA, THE CANADIAN FORCES 
SNOWBIRDS WILL HEAD ACROSS 
CANADA TO SALUTE CANADIANS DOING
THEIR PART TO STOP THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19.
AS WE WATCH THE SNOWBIRDS FLY 
OVER OUR HOMES, LET'S REMEMBER 
THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS 
TOGETHER.
HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS 
NOW.
[ No Interpretation ]
>> Operator: THANK YOU, FIRST 
QUESTION, STEPHANIE LEVITT, THE 
CANADIAN PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
MEASURABLE TARGETS AND STANDARDS
ATTACHED TO THE NATIONAL 
GUIDELINES FOR LIFTING 
RESTRICTIONS, THE GUIDELINES 
THAT WERE RELEASED YESTERDAY, 
THAT PEOPLE CAN BE CONFIDENT 
THAT DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE 
BASED ON SCIENCE RATHER THAN 
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE 
PREMIERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO 
ENSURE THAT WE COULD GET 
GUIDELINES THAT REFLECTED THE 
FOUNDATIONAL SCIENCE AND THE 
BEST ADVICE GIVEN BY MEDICAL 
EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS ON WHAT 
NEEDED TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE 
PROVINCES, REGIONS COULD THINK 
ABOUT REOPENING.
EVERY REGION, EVERY PROVINCE, 
EVERY TERRITORY IS FACING A VERY
DIFFERENT SITUATION RIGHT NOW 
WITH DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, 
DIFFERENT SIZED CITIES AND 
DIFFERENT SPREAD OF COVID-19.
THAT'S WHY WE NEEDED TO MAKE 
SURE THAT THE FOUNDATIONAL 
ELEMENTS WERE THERE, THAT WE 
COULD ALL FOLLOW AS CANADIANS, 
BUT RECOGNIZE THAT DIFFERENT 
JURISDICTIONS WILL ACT 
DIFFERENTLY.
BUT THERE IS A COMMON DESIRE 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM 
ALL PREMIERS TO ENSURE THAT 
WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT.
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE 
DANGER OF OPENING UP TOO QUICKLY
OR THE WRONG WAY COULD MEAN WE 
COME BACK INTO THIS SITUATION 
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, AND 
NOBODY WANTS THAT, SO WE'RE 
GOING TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD 
RESPONSIBLY ACCORDING TO THE 
GUIDELINES.
>> Operator: [ No Interpretation
].
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> Reporter: YES, I'D LIKE YOU 
TO COMMENT ON THE AGREEMENT ON 
THE CERB THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH
THE OTHER PARTIES.
DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE HARDER 
TO HAVE THIS POLICY ADOPTED 
COMPARED TO THE WAGE SUBSIDY?
AND I'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO COMMENT
ON THE REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE.
WILL YOU BE PROVIDING THE $150 
MILLION THAT IS BEING REQUESTED 
BY THE CFL?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FIRST
OF ALL, I'M CONFIDENT THAT ALL 
OPPOSITION PARTIES AND MEMBERS 
OF PARLIAMENT KNOW THAT WE MUST 
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
THIS IS IMMEDIATE RELIEF THAT IS
NEEDED SINCE STUDENTS DON'T KNOW
HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FIND A 
SUMMER JOB OR HOW THEY'RE GOING 
TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT OR 
BUY GROCERIES.
SO WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM NOW 
FOR THE SUMMER.
WE ALSO NEED TO SUPPORT THEM SO 
THAT WHEN THE FALL COMES AROUND 
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SUCCEED, 
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR 
TUITION AND BENEFIT FROM THE 
WORK AND EXPERIENCE THEY HAD 
DURING THE SUMMER.
SO THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IN THIS
EMERGENCY BENEFIT FOR STUDENTS, 
BUT THAT WILL HAPPEN ALSO AS A 
RESULT OF JOBS THAT ARE BEING 
CREATED FOR STUDENTS WHO WILL BE
ABLE TO HELP THE ECONOMY TO 
RECOVER, AND I'M QUITE CONFIDENT
THAT EVEN IF THE CONDITION -- 
THE DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE WITH 
THE PARTIES, WE MUST HELP 
STUDENTS, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT
THAT WILL WORK.
NOW WITH RESPECT TO THE CFL, WE 
ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT HOW WE 
CAN SUPPORT VARIOUS 
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS AN 
IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE LEAGUE 
AND FOR MANY CANADIANS, AND WE 
ARE CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSIONS 
WITH THEM.
[ End of Interpretation ].
WE ARE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH
VARIOUS SECTORS, INDUSTRIES AND 
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE FACING 
DISRUPTIONS BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
THE CFL HAS APPROACHED US ABOUT 
SUPPORT.
WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.
WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO MANY 
CANADIANS, AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS
ARE ONGOING.
>> Operator: [ No Interpretation
].
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
I'D LIKE YOU TO COMMENT ON THE 
WAGE TOP-UP FOR ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS.
YOU PROMISED TO REACH AN 
AGREEMENT WITH THE PROVINCES SO 
THAT THOSE TOP-UPS WOULD COME 
IN.
THAT WAS APRIL 15, AND IT'S BEEN
TWO WEEKS SINCE THEN.
SO WHERE IS THE LOGJAM?
NOW SINCE YOU HAVE AGREED WITH 
THE PROVINCES ON SUPPORT FOR 
COMMERCIAL RENT, WHERE IS THE 
STUMBLING BLOCK IN TERMS OF 
THOSE WAGE TOP-UPS FOR ESSENTIAL
WORKERS?
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
AND WITH WHOM DO YOU HAVE A 
PROBLEM RIGHT NOW?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
FIRST OF ALL, RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, ALL THE PROVINCES AND 
ALL THE PREMIERS RECOGNIZE THAT 
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT 
OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS CAN DO 
THEIR JOB.
OBVIOUSLY IN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES, SO IT'S IMPORTANT
TO TOP UP THEIR WAGE, AND THAT'S
A GOOD THING FOR EVERYONE.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S 
COMPLICATED BECAUSE IT WILL BE 
DELIVERED BY THE VARIOUS 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, AND 
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS 
AND DIFFERENT NEEDS WHEN IT 
COMES TO THOSE ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS.
WE ARE COMPLETING OUR AGREEMENTS
WITH THE VARIOUS PROVINCES AT 
THIS TIME, AND IT'S DIFFERENT 
FROM THE COMMERCIAL RENT PROGRAM
THAT WILL BE THE SAME ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM 
RECOGNIZES THAT THERE ARE 
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 
PROVINCES IN TERMS OF THEIR 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND IT'S 
IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE.
SO WE HOPE TO HAVE GOOD NEWS TO 
ANNOUNCE VERY SOON.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION, KELSEY JOHNSON, 
REUTERS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU, PRIME 
MINISTER, FOR TAKING MY 
QUESTION.
I'M WONDERING, IS CANADA 
CONSIDERING MANDATING MEAT 
PLANTS TO STAY OPEN, LIKE THE 
U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS 
DONE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS 
TO ENSURE THE SUPPLY OF FOOD TO 
CANADIANS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
AND WE'RE WATCHING WITH INTEREST
AND CONCERN SOME OF THE ISSUES 
FACING MEAT PRODUCERS AND THE 
SUPPLY CHAIN ACROSS THE 
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE 
SUPPLY CHAINS CAN KEEP 
FUNCTIONING, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO 
WORK IN THOSE SUPPLY CHAINS AND 
WILL CONTINUE TO NEED TO WORK IN
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES OVER THE
COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AS WE 
CONTINUE TO BATTLE COVID-19 ARE 
KEPT SAFE.
THE PRIORITY FOR US IS BOTH 
THINGS: KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND 
ENSURING GOOD SUPPLY OF FOOD TO 
CANADIANS.
WE WILL MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING 
THEM BOTH TOGETHER.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
TO ENSURE THAT THE FOOD CHAIN IS
WORKING IN ORDER TO DELIVER FOOD
TO CANADIANS.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S 
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY 
OF THOSE WORKERS WHO ARE PART OF
THE FOOD CHAIN SO THAT WE CAN 
CONTINUE TO RELY ON THEM IN THE 
WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME IN VERY
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO WE WILL DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO 
BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE TWO
PRINCIPLES ARE FOLLOWED SO THAT 
THERE CAN BE FOOD FOR CANADIANS 
AT THE SAME TIME AS WE PROTECT 
THE WORKERS.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Reporter: I JUST WANT TO 
FOLLOW UP WITH MY COLLEAGUE ON 
THE PHONE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO YOU SAID YOU 
WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT FOOD 
SHORTAGES.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE McDONALD'S NOT
ABLE TO RELY ON CANADIAN BEEF 
AND WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT
SMALLER RESTAURANTS OR BURGER 
JOINTS OUT THERE TRYING TO STAY 
ALIVE.
WHAT IS YOUR SPECIFIC PLAN WHEN 
IT COMES TO THE BEEF INDUSTRY, 
AND ARE YOU BRACING FOR OTHER 
HITS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
KNOW THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS 
UNPRECEDENTED, AND ITS IMPACTS 
ARE FAR REACHING ON OUR DAILY 
LIVES, ON MANY DIFFERENT 
INDUSTRIES.
WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY TO 
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE GET GOOD 
HEALTHY FOOD, PARTICULARLY AS WE
EMBARK UPON THE SUMMER WHERE 
THERE WILL BE A NEED AND AN 
ABILITY TO GET LOTS OF FRESH 
VEGETABLES AND PRODUCE FROM 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE 
ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THAT.
WE'RE WORKING WITH PROVINCES.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SECTOR, 
AGRICULTURE CANADA IS VERY MUCH 
ON THIS ISSUE.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STAY 
VIGILANT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE 
DISRUPTIONS ACROSS MANY 
DIFFERENT SECTORS IN OUR 
COUNTRY, INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY 
AGRICULTURE.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY
AND WITH AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, 
AND WE ARE ALSO COOPERATING WITH
THE PROVINCES TO ENSURE THAT THE
PRODUCTION OF FOOD IN CANADA CAN
CONTINUE.
WE MUST BE VIGILANT BECAUSE WE 
KNOW THAT THIS IS AN 
UNPRECEDENTED AND DIFFICULT 
SITUATION, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE 
TO CONSIDER THIS A PRIORITY SO 
THAT CANADIANS CAN BE PROPERLY 
FED.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Reporter: JUST TO FOLLOW ON 
THAT, GIVEN THAT MEAT INSPECTED 
BY PROVINCIAL MEAT INSPECTORS 
CAN ONLY BE SOLD IN THAT 
PROVINCE, WHEREAS MEAT INSPECTED
BY FEDERAL INSPECTORS CAN BE 
SOLD NATION-WIDE, I'M WONDERING 
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT EASING 
RESTRICTIONS SO THAT MEAT 
INSPECTED BY PROVINCIAL 
INSPECTORS CAN BE SOLD 
NATION-WIDE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK WE'RE OPEN TO ALL SORTS OF
FLEXIBILITY, ENSURING THAT WE 
CAN KEEP CANADIANS SAFE RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT 
RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN A 
DIFFICULT SITUATION.
BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE 
PRIORITY -- OR THE PREOCCUPATION
AND THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING 
ISN'T AS MUCH AROUND SAFETY OF 
THE FOOD PRODUCED, WHICH 
CONTINUES TO BE ENSURED, BUT THE
SAFETY OF THE WORKERS WORKING IN
THOSE PLANTS BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19, AND THAT IS SOMETHING 
THAT REQUIRES A LITTLE MORE WORK
AND A LITTLE MORE COORDINATION 
TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING 
THOSE WORKERS SAFE AND NOT JUST 
THE FOOD SAFE, WHICH IS ALWAYS A
PRIORITY FOR US ALL.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FEDERAL
GUIDELINES FOR REOPENING.
YOU TALKED ABOUT A COMMON DESIRE
TO GET THIS RIGHT.
OTTAWA AND THE PROVINCES HAVE 
AGREED ON THIS CRITERIA THAT 
ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT PROVINCES 
NEEDING TO HAVE SUPPORT FOR 
HUMAN RESOURCES, SUPPORT FOR 
VULNERABLE PEOPLE, ENOUGH HEALTH
CARE CAPACITY.
DO YOU THINK PROVINCES THAT ARE 
PLEADING FOR VOLUNTEERS AND 
CALLING ON THE MILITARY TO HELP 
MEET THAT CRITERIA?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THESE
ARE NOT FEDERAL GUIDELINES ONLY.
IT'S NOT OFTEN IN THIS 
FEDERATION THAT THE PROVINCES 
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN 
COME TOGETHER AS COLLABORATIVELY
AS WE HAVE, NOT JUST ON THIS 
PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT OVER THE 
PAST WEEKS IN WORKING WITH 
COMMON GOALS, COMMON DESIRES TO 
KEEP CANADIANS SAFE, AND IT 
REALLY IS SOMETHING TO NOTE AND 
TO CELEBRATE ABOUT CANADIANS, 
THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER SO 
EFFECTIVELY.
PROVINCES HAVE THE 
RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING THE 
SAFETY OF THEIR CITIZENS WHILE 
THEY LOOK AT REOPENING, AND WE 
ARE COMFORTABLE THAT THESE 
GUIDELINES LAY OUT A ROAD MAP 
THAT EVERYONE CAN FOLLOW, THAT 
PRINCIPLES THAT WILL ALLOW THEM 
TO PUT IN THE MEASURES THAT WILL
KEEP THEIR CITIZENS SAFE WHILE 
LOOKING AT REOPENING VARIOUS 
PARTS OF THE ECONOMY CAREFULLY.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT 
OUT THAT IN A COUNTRY WHERE 
DISPUTES BETWEEN THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCES ARE
FAIRLY FREQUENT, IT'S QUITE 
INCREDIBLE TO SEE JUST HOW WELL 
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ARE 
WORKING TOGETHER.
WE ARE UNITED IN OUR DESIRE TO 
HELP CANADIANS AND PROTECT 
CANADIANS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
AND I THINK WE CAN ALL BE PROUD 
OF THIS COMMON APPROACH THAT 
BRINGS US TOGETHER AS 
GOVERNMENTS AND AS CITIZENS.
SO THESE PRINCIPLES ARE NOT 
FEDERAL PRINCIPLES.
THEY ARE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL 
PRINCIPLES BECAUSE WE AGREED ON 
THESE BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT WILL
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE 
NECESSARY MEASURES IN PLACE 
BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 
REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL 
ALL BE WORKING TOGETHER TO 
ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF 
ALL CANADIANS, PARTICULARLY 
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES.
>> Reporter: RADIO-CANADA.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE 
IN YOUR THINKING WITH RESPECT TO
A MOBILE APPLICATION.
WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE 
BETWEEN PROTECTION OF PEOPLE'S 
PRIVACY AND THE PROTECTION OF 
CITIZENS?
WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOUR, FOR 
EXAMPLE, OF SOMETHING VOLUNTARY?
I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOU COMMENT ON 
THAT.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION, AND
THIS IS A REFLECTION THAT IS 
CONTINUING.
NOW I THINK THAT MANY CANADIANS 
WOULD BE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF 
PROVIDING SOME INFORMATION THAT 
WOULD NORMALLY NOT BE PROVIDED, 
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC.
BUT WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE?
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT 
YET BEEN ESTABLISHED.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES 
IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES THAT ARE 
WORKING ON DIFFERENT APPROACHES 
THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR 
COUNTRIES, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT
VARIOUS OPTIONS.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE BASIC 
PRINCIPLE, EVEN IN A CRISIS, IS 
THAT CANADIANS WANT TO PROTECT 
THEIR PRIVACY AND THEIR OWN 
INFORMATION.
AND AS A GOVERNMENT, WE SHARE 
THAT CONCERN.
SO EVEN IN AN EMERGENCY WE WILL 
BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO ASK CANADIANS.
IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ALLOW 
THIS TO BE VOLUNTARY, BUT THAT'S
PART OF OUR CURRENT REFLECTION 
IN TERMS OF REOPENING THE 
ECONOMY STEP BY STEP.
[ End of Interpretation ].
I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT 
QUESTION AS TO HOW WE CAN ENSURE
THE PRIVACY AND DATA SECURITY OF
CANADIANS IN THIS SITUATION 
WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT 
NEW MEASURES IN TERMS OF CONTACT
TRACING AND APPS THAT PROVIDE 
MORE INFORMATION.
GETTING THAT BALANCE RIGHT WILL 
BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE SEEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES 
AROUND THE WORLD WITH DIFFERENT 
APPROACHES TO PERSONAL PRIVACY, 
TRY DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS 
AND COMPANIES WORKING ON 
DIFFERENT MODELS THAT MIGHT BE 
APPLICABLE TO CANADA.
BUT AS WE MOVED FORWARD ON 
TAKING DECISIONS, WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP IN MIND THAT CANADIANS PUT 
A VERY HIGH VALUE ON THEIR 
PRIVACY, ON THEIR DATA SECURITY,
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE 
RESPECT THAT, EVEN IN A TIME OF 
EMERGENCY MEASURES AND 
SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY AND 
CRISIS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT BALANCE 
RIGHT.
THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES AROUND 
USING VOLUNTARY MEASURES, AROUND
OTHER THINGS, BUT EVERY STEP OF 
THE WAY WE WILL HOLD TRUE TO THE
VALUES THAT MEAN SO MUCH TO 
CANADIANS AROUND PRIVACY AND 
SECURITY.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE 
EXPECT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENTS, 
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL STAY 
FOCUSED ON.
[ No Interpretation ]
>> Rosemary: OKAY, A BRIEF PRESS
CONFERENCE FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER TODAY.
HE IS HEADED TO PARLIAMENT HILL 
FOR A NOON APPEARANCE WHEN THE 
HOUSE RECONVENES WITH REAL 
PEOPLE INSTEAD OF VIRTUALLY AS 
THEY DID YESTERDAY AND AS THEY 
WILL DO TOMORROW.
I'M BRING IN CATHERINE CULLEN 
AND THE HOST OF "POWER & 
POLITICS" VASSY KAPELOS.
NOT A LOT OF NEWS IN THE PRESS 
CONFERENCE TODAY, OTHER THAN THE
SNOWBIRDS ARE HEADED ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY TO ENTERTAIN US ALL AT 
VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
I MEAN, PRIMARILY THERE TODAY TO
HIGHLIGHT THE STUDENT AID 
PACKAGE THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED 
AND DEBATED AND PERHAPS EVEN 
TWEAKED BASED ON SOME 
SUGGESTIONS THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES MIGHT HAVE TODAY.
VASSY, I'LL TURN TO YOU.
>> Vassy: THAT'S WHERE MY 
QUESTIONS REMAIN AFTER LISTENING
TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
COMMENTS.
WHAT HE DID WAS REITERATE WHAT 
HE DID LAST WEEK AROUND STUDENT 
AID.
WE KNOW THEY WILL GET SOMETHING 
LIKE OR THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED 
TO BE SOMETHING LIKE WHAT THE 
CERB IS, SORT OF A CHUNK OF 
CHANGE FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS 
WHILE THEY ARE OFF.
MANY STUDENTS, OF COURSE, UNABLE
TO FIND JOBS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR
TUITION AND OTHER COSTS THEY 
HAVE, LIKE RENT COMING UP IN THE
FALL.
BUT THEY'LL GET A SMALLER 
AMOUNT.
IT'S $1,250 A MONTH OR THAT 
INCREASES TO $1750, I BELIEVE IT
IS, IF YOU HAVE A DEPENDENT, SO 
A CHILD FOR EXAMPLE, OR IF YOU 
ARE A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY.
THERE IS SOME CRITICISM FROM 
BOTH OPPOSITION PARTIES, THE 
CONSERVATIVES AND THE NDP, 
AROUND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO 
SEE IN THE LEGISLATION.
THE CONSERVATIVES, FOR EXAMPLE, 
HAVE SAID THAT THEY WANT TO SEE 
MORE INCENTIVES BUILT INTO THE 
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR 
STUDENTS TO WORK, AND THE NDP 
HAS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE IDEA 
THAT IF YOU ARE A STUDENT WITH A
KID OR WITH A DISABILITY, WHY 
SHOULD YOU STILL BE EARNING LESS
THAN SOMEBODY WHO CAN ACCESS THE
CERB?
SO THE BIG QUESTION I HAVE IS TO
WHAT DEGREE ARE THOSE CRITICISMS
REFLECTED IN WHATEVER THE 
LIBERALS AND THE GOVERNMENT 
INTRODUCES INTO PARLIAMENT TODAY
IN THE LEGISLATION?
WILL THIS BE REFLECTED IN THE 
LEGISLATION?
WILL THEY HAVE MADE CHANGES TO 
IT?
WILL THOSE INCENTIVES, FOR 
EXAMPLE, BE IN THERE?
A NUMBER OF STUDENT GROUPS DON'T
LIKE THAT.
ALSO A CRITICISM AROUND 
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
THEY ARE NOT PART OF THIS TO ANY
DEGREE.
THERE ARE SOME ALLOWANCES FOR 
THEM TO WORK MORE UNDER THE 
CURRENT CONSTRUCT, BUT NOTHING 
FOR THEM TO BE COVERED IN THIS 
INSTANCE, AND MANY OF THEM ARE 
STUCK IN CANADA AT THIS MOMENT.
AND WILL, ULTIMATELY, THE 
LEGISLATION BE BROADENED AT ALL 
FOR STUDENTS WITH DEPENDENTS OR 
WHO HAVE A DISABILITY, WILL THEY
BE ABLE TO ACCESS MORE MONEY?
NONE OF THOSE ANSWERS REALLY 
FORTHCOMING FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER TODAY, SO I GUESS WE'LL
HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IN A LITTLE
WHILE WHEN THAT LEGISLATION IS 
INTRODUCED, BUT CERTAINLY THE 
PROCESS SO FAR HAS BEEN THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES GET IT ON THE
WEEKEND.
THEY SEND IN THEIR CRITICISM, 
THEY WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT 
AND THEN WHAT RESULTS IN THE END
IS SORT OF AN AMENDED PIECE OF 
LEGISLATION TO WHAT DEGREE WE 
JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.
>> Rosemary: AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN
IT AT THIS STAGE, AND I'M NOT 
SURE THAT THEY'VE EVEN SETTLED 
ON WHAT THE FINAL VERSION WILL 
BE.
>> Vassy: EXACTLY.
>> Rosemary: WE'LL FIGURE OUT 
MORE AT NOON WHAT'S GOING ON 
THERE.
I WOULD POINT OUT TO THE 
CONSERVATIVES' CLAIM THAT THEY 
WANT MORE INCENTIVES FOR WORK, I
THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS 
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF WORK OUT 
THERE.
WE KNOW THERE IS SOME ESSENTIAL 
FRONT-LINE WORK THAT MIGHT BE 
AVAILABLE, WHETHER IT'S HELPING 
IN LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES OR 
FARMING OR THOSE KINDS OF 
THINGS.
IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MANY JOBS 
WILL BE THERE FOR STUDENTS.
THE OTHER THING THAT THERE WAS A
LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT 
INTERESTED ME A LOT IS THE 
FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL GUIDELINES.
THERE ARE A SET OF GUIDELINES.
I TWEETED OUT THIS SORT OF SEVEN
CRITERIA THIS MORNING.
THEY SEEM VERY SPECIFIC, BUT 
THEY CAN ALSO BE VERY MUCH 
INTERPRETED BY EACH PROVINCE, 
AND THEN THE PROVINCE CAN MAKE A
DECISION BASED ON WHAT'S 
HAPPENING INSIDE THEIR OWN 
PROVINCE.
I GUESS ONE OF THE CONCERNS 
RIGHT NOW IS WHAT'S HAPPENING, 
WHAT'S UNFOLDING IN QUEBEC, EVEN
THE QUEBEC PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER
YESTERDAY, CATHERINE, SAID THAT 
THE PLAN TO REOPEN BUSINESSES BY
THE END OF MAY, A LOT OF 
BUSINESSES, IS HIGH RISK.
A RISKY BET.
I DON'T KNOW HOW REASSURING THAT
IS TO PEOPLE INSIDE QUEBEC OR 
WHETHER THERE'S ANYTHING MORE 
THAT WILL BE DONE TO SORT OF 
MITIGATE THE IDEA THAT WE ARE 
BETTING ON PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> I MEAN, I THOUGHT THE VERY 
FIRST QUESTION TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER WAS AN INTERESTING ONE,
ROSEMARY.
PERHAPS THE QUESTION IN SOME 
WAYS MORE INTERESTING THAN THE 
ANSWER BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET A 
LOT OF NEW INFORMATION FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
BUT THIS QUESTION OF, OKAY, 
THESE GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN SET 
FORTH.
WHY NOT HAVE SPECIFIC TARGETS 
THAT THE PROVINCES, THE 
TERRITORIES AND THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT AGREE TO?
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED 
ABOUT THIS IN A COUPLE OF 
DIFFERENT WAYS TODAY AND REALLY 
PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE FACT 
THAT THIS IS -- THESE ARE NOT 
FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
THESE ARE GUIDELINES THAT THE 
VARIOUS PARTIES AGREED TO.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE 
OF COLLABORATION, YOU KNOW, THAT
HE FEELS ALL PROVINCES ARE BEING
PRUDENT.
BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF 
QUEBEC, BOTH WITH GOING BACK TO 
SCHOOL AND REOPENING THE 
ECONOMY, THE SUGGESTION FROM 
BOTH THE PREMIER AND HEALTH 
OFFICIALS THERE IS THAT PART OF 
THE FIGURES THAT THEY ARE 
LOOKING AT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO 
THINK THAT THEY CAN START TO GO 
DOWN THIS ROAD OF REOPENING, AND
WE SHOULD SAY THEY ARE DOING IT 
GRADUALLY, THEY SAY THEY ARE 
GOING TO WATCH THE NUMBERS FOR 
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE 
THEY MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, BUT 
THE PREMIER HAS TALKED ABOUT A 
STABILIZATION IN THE DEATH RATE 
OUTSIDE OF LONG-TERM CARE HOMES,
AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME 
SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER 
OR NOT THAT IS INDEED THE RIGHT 
MARKER HERE.
AND SHOULD THERE BE SPECIFIC 
MARKERS SET FORTH IN TERMS OF 
NUMBERS?
IT'S VERY TRUE THAT WHEN YOU 
TALK ABOUT THE OUTBREAK ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY, IT'S SOMETHING YOU 
HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THAT 
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PICTURES IN 
EACH PROVINCE AND TERRITORIES, 
AND EVEN THEN WITHIN THE 
PROVINCE AND TERRITORY.
I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT NEW 
BRUNSWICK, FOR INSTANCE, WHO'S 
ONE OF THE FIRST PROVINCES TO 
LAY OUT ITS REOPENING PLAN, AND 
PERHAPS THAT HAD PEOPLE ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY PARTICULARLY ANXIOUS
AS THEY SEE SASKATCHEWAN AND NEW
BRUNSWICK.
AS OF YESTERDAY, NEW BRUNSWICK 
HAD NO NEW CASES FOR TEN DAYS, 
SO A DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT 
SITUATION THAN WHAT WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, IN 
TERMS OF QUEBEC.
BUT THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY 
REALLY NOT -- CERTAINLY NOT 
OFFERING ANYTHING IN TERMS OF 
CRITICISM AND REALLY PUTTING THE
EMPHASIS ON COLLABORATION AND 
WORKING TOGETHER.
I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS 
INTERESTING WHAT HE DIDN'T SAY, 
ROSEMARY, WHEN HE WAS ASKED 
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE WOULD 
STILL PROVIDE THE SAME 
ASSURANCES THAT THE FOOD SUPPLY 
IS SECURE.
HE SAID LAST WEEK THERE WILL BE 
ENOUGH MEAT BUT YOU MIGHT SEE 
PRICES GO UP.
I WOULD WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT
READING INTO HIS ANSWER.
IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT HE'S SAYING,
WELL, I CAN'T SAY THE FOOD 
SUPPLY IS STILL SECURE, BUT HE 
CERTAINLY DIDN'T GO THAT FAR.
HE SAID IT'S UNPRECEDENTED.
IT'S A PRIORITY FOR US AND 
SOMETHING WE ARE WATCHING 
CAREFULLY.
>> Rosemary: I GUESS THE CONCERN
INSIDE THE PLANTS IS THE HEALTH 
AND SAFETY OF THE WORKERS WHO 
ARE IN VERY CONFINED PLACES AND 
NOT NECESSARILY THE FOOD, BUT 
OBVIOUSLY THE QUESTION WAS ASKED
BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP YESTERDAY 
WAS SUGGESTING THAT THESE MEAT 
PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES WILL
HAVE TO STAY OPEN.
VASSY, I'LL GET YOU TO WEIGH IN 
ON THE FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL 
GUIDELINES.
I GET THIS WAS A COLLABORATIVE 
EFFORT, THEY ALL SIGNED OFF ON 
THIS, THERE ARE JURISDICTIONAL 
ISSUES AT PLAY, AND MUCH TO 
CATHERINE'S POINT, IT WOULD BE 
HARD TO SET TARGETS GIVEN THE 
STATE OF THE VIRUS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE SENSE.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE SAID THINGS 
LIKE WE NEED TO SEE A DECREASE 
IN CASES, WE NEED TO SEE THAT 
THERE'S MORE TESTING, THERE'S 
MORE ABILITY TO TRACE CASES.
BUT STILL, IT DOES MAKE YOU 
WONDER WHAT HAPPENS IF A 
PROVINCE DOES SOMETHING THAT 
OTHER PROVINCES OR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS UNCOMFORTABLE 
WITH, KNOWING -- I TALKED TO 
MR. SKEET YESTERDAY, THAT THEY 
MIGHT CHANGE THEIR MIND ON 
THINGS.
>> Vassy: YEAH, I THINK THE 
BOTTOM LINE IS THIS QUESTION IS 
BEING ASKED OF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT ABOUT THEIR 
GUIDELINES BECAUSE THERE IS A 
PROVINCE RIGHT NOW THAT IS AN 
OUTLIER, AND CATHERINE OUTLINED 
IT.
YOU HAVE NEW BRUNSWICK AND OTHER
PROVINCES LIKE SASKATCHEWAN OR 
MANITOBA OR EVEN B.C., WHICH 
HAVE A FAR LOWER CASELOAD OF 
COVID-19, LOWER NUMBER OF 
DEATHS, FEWER NUMBER OF DEATHS, 
AND THEY ARE PROCEEDING WITH 
MORE CAUTION.
THEY ARE NOT SAYING GO BACK TO 
SCHOOL IN TWO WEEKS.
THEY ARE NOT REOPENING MAJOR 
SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY IN THREE 
WEEKS, AND SO THE QUESTION THEN 
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
BECOMES: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO 
DO ABOUT IT?
OR ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT?
AND I THINK IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS
SOME MAJOR JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES
RIGHT NOW, AND I'LL -- I THINK 
THE HEALTH MINISTER HAS GONE 
FURTHER THAN THE PRIME MINISTER,
OR WHERE THE PRIME MINISTER 
WOULDN'T.
SHE WAS EXPLICIT LAST NIGHT, WE 
WILL NOT INTERVENE.
AND I THINK THAT THE GUIDELINES 
ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATION 
BECAUSE IF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT SETS OUT, OKAY, 
HERE'S THE BASELINE OF WHERE YOU
HAVE TO BE BEFORE, FOR EXAMPLE, 
KIDS CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL, 
WELL, THEN, IF YOU DON'T MEET 
THAT BASELINE, THE EXPECTATION I
THINK OF CANADIANS WOULD BE, 
WELL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S 
GOING TO SAY SOMETHING TO 
QUEBEC.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT 
HAVE ANY INTENTION OF DOING 
THAT, AND I THINK IN TWO WEEKS 
THAT WILL BE A VERY REAL, LIVE, 
ACTIVE ISSUE.
SO IT'S FINE TO SAY, AND IT'S 
UNDERSTANDABLE, GIVEN 
JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES, THAT THIS
IS QUEBEC'S BALL GAME.
THIS IS PREMIER FRANÇOIS 
LEGAULT'S DECISION TO MAKE, BUT 
IF IN FACT IN TWO WEEKS THE 
NUMBER OF CASES IS STILL ABOVE 
700 IN QUEBEC, IF IN FACT -- AND
I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT BEING 
PUT FORTH ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE 
VERSUS THE REST OF SOCIETY, BUT 
LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THE REST OF 
SOCIETY WORK IN LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES, AND IF IN FACT THE NUMBER
OF DEATHS, FOR EXAMPLE, IS STILL
WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW AND YOU 
DON'T SEE A DECREASE IN THE 
NUMBER OF CASES AND QUEBEC SAYS 
WE'RE STILL GOING AHEAD, WELL, 
WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DO THEN?
IS THERE INTENTION NOT TO 
INTERVENE OR NOT TO SAY ANYTHING
OR NOT TO HOLD BACK ANY KIND OF,
I DON'T KNOW, FUNDING?
I'M NOT SURE WHAT.
IF IT IS, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT 
THEY'RE INDICATING RIGHT NOW, 
AND I THINK IT BECOMES SORT OF 
LESS THEORETICAL AND MORE 
PRACTICAL, AND YOU KNOW, IN A 
FEW WEEKS, WHEN THAT DECISION IS
SO PRESENT FOR SO MANY 
QUEBECERS.
AND I SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT, TO 
BE FAIR TO QUEBEC, IT'S 
VOLUNTARY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO 
SCHOOL.
FOR THE KIDS.
FOR THE TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO 
HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT 
NOT HAVING ADEQUATE PPE, FOR 
EXAMPLE, IT IS NOT A CHOICE.
>> ROSY, IF I COULD QUICKLY JUMP
IN AND POINT OUT, FURTHER TO 
VASSY'S POINT, THOUGH, JUST HOW 
POORLY IT WOULD BE RECEIVED IN 
SO MUCH OF QUEBEC IF INDEED THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WERE TO SORT 
OF FLEX THEIR MUSCLES IN ALL OF 
THIS.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE OF 
ANY PROVINCE, BUT WHEN IT COMES 
TO QUEBEC, IN PARTICULAR THE 
IDEA OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
SORT OF REACHING ITS HAND IN 
WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE VERY WELL 
RECEIVED.
THAT WOULD, OF COURSE, DEPEND ON
THE PARTICULAR DYNAMICS OF THE 
SITUATION, THOUGH.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, I THINK 
THAT -- I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT TO 
POINT THAT OUT, AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER WOULD BE, AS SOMEONE 
FROM QUEBEC, AN MP FROM QUEBEC, 
VERY SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT 
ANY EVEN APPEARANCE OF 
INTERVENTION WOULD NOT FLY 
PARTICULARLY -- WELL, WITH ANY 
PREMIER, AND PARTICULARLY WITH 
FRANÇOIS LEGAULT.
AND I WILL JUST SAY, IT'S NOT 
EVEN CLEAR, AS WE'VE ALL TALKED 
ABOUT, WHAT COULD BE DONE, OTHER
THAN MAYBE SOME STRONG LANGUAGE,
WHICH WOULD ALREADY BE ENOUGH TO
PROBABLY IRRITATE A LOT OF 
QUEBECERS WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT 
VIEW, I THINK, OF PROTECTION OF 
THEIR JURISDICTION PROBABLY THAN
MANY PROVINCES, SO MAYBE I'M 
BEING OVERLY SENSITIVE TO QUEBEC
HERE TOO.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU BOTH 
ON HOLD FOR A COUPLE MINUTES, IF
YOU DON'T MIND.
WE HAVE FINISHED A LITTLE BIT 
EARLIER WITH THE PRIME MINISTER 
BECAUSE PARLIAMENT IS RETURNING 
TODAY.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN A 
REDUCED CAPACITY, BUT PEOPLE 
THERE IN PERSON, PRIME MINISTER 
MAKING HIS WAY THERE.
ANDREW SCHEER, JAGMEET SINGH AND
OTHERS, TO DISCUSS THIS 
LEGISLATIVE AID PACKAGE FOR 
STUDENTS.
$9 BILLION THAT WILL -- THE 
GOVERNMENT HOPES -- BE PASSED 
QUICKLY IN ORDER TO TRY AND GET 
THAT OUT TO STUDENTS QUICKLY.
BUT AS WE WAIT FOR THAT TO 
HAPPEN AT 12, THERE ARE A COUPLE
OF OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN THE
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
WE TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIES 
REOPENING, MANITOBA, MY HOME 
PROVINCE, GOING TO ANNOUNCE 
DETAILS OF THAT, AND WE'LL GET 
TO THAT STORY AS WELL.
ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT 
OTTAWA ANNOUNCED RECENTLY, I 
BELIEVE IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK, 
WAS A LOT MORE MONEY FOR 
VACCINES, FOR SCIENTIFIC 
RESEARCH, TO TRY AND BETTER 
UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT WE'RE 
DEALING WITH, AND MONA NIMAR IS 
CANADA'S CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISOR 
AND NOW A MEMBER OF THE TASK 
FORCE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> HELLO.
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU FOR 
MAKING THE TIME.
SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF 
DISCUSS OVER THE PAST EVEN FIVE 
DAYS ABOUT IMMUNITY, HERD 
IMMUNITY, DO WE HAVE IT, CAN WE 
GET IT.
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO BETTER 
UNDERSTAND AROUND THE ISSUE OF 
IMMUNITY THAT YOU DON'T 
UNDERSTAND NOW?
I WOULD IMAGINE WE REALLY DON'T 
UNDERSTAND ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, 
BUT YOU TELL ME.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, INDEED WE 
DON'T UNDERSTAND MUCH ABOUT THE 
IMMUNE RESPONSE TO THIS NEW 
VIRUS, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
BE DOING BOTH BASIC RESEARCH 
INTO THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO THE 
VIRUS, BUT ALSO TO UNDERSTAND 
THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION
THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THE 
VIRUS.
RIGHT NOW WE WERE TESTING ONLY 
PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOWING 
SYMPTOMS, SO WE DON'T REALLY 
KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUAL
SYMPTOMS AND HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, 
NUMBER ONE, IT GIVES US A BETTER
IDEA OF THE INFECTION RATE OF 
THE VIRUS.
AND THE SECOND ONE IS, YOU KNOW,
JUST IN TERMS OF IMMUNITY TO THE
VIRUS, THERE ARE TWO WAYS THAT 
YOU CAN GET IT.
ONE IS THROUGH VACCINATION, AND 
THE OTHER IS THROUGH NATURAL 
IMMUNITY, THAT IS YOU WERE 
INFECTED, YOUR BODY HAS 
DEVELOPED THE MECHANISM TO FIGHT
THE VIRUS AND HAS SUCCEEDED IN 
OVERCOMING IT, WHICH MEANS THAT 
THERE ARE ANTIBODIES IN YOUR 
BLOOD THAT WE CAN DETECT.
THIS, OF COURSE, DOES NOT 
GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT GET 
REINFECTED AGAIN AND THAT THE 
RESPONSE -- YOU WILL NOT HAVE 
SYMPTOMS, BUT GENERALLY 
SPEAKING, AND THAT'S THE BASIS 
OF VACCINATION, THE RESPONSE 
WILL BE MILDER IN GENERAL.
NOW HOW LONG WILL THIS IMMUNITY 
LAST, THAT'S ANOTHER VERY 
IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT WE NEED 
TO TACKLE AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: AND SO THE IDEA 
THAT WE WOULD MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH
DECISIONS AROUND HERD IMMUNITY, 
THAT THE FACT THAT WE WOULD, YOU
KNOW, TRY TO GROW OUR IMMUNITY 
STRENGTH SORT OF NATURALLY, THAT
HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT DR. TAM 
OVER THE WEEKEND SAID IS NOT A 
CONCEPT SHE SUPPORTS RIGHT NOW.
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON USING 
THAT AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCEPT 
EVEN?
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY 
CAREFUL PRECISELY BECAUSE WE 
DON'T YET UNDERSTAND WHO ARE THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE 
TO THE DISEASE.
LET'S REMEMBER, 80% OF PEOPLE 
WHO ARE INFECTED ACTUALLY DO 
WELL, DON'T NEED HOSPITALIZATION
AND DON'T NEED ANY VENTILATION 
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
HOWEVER, WE STILL DON'T KNOW 
EXACTLY IF THERE ARE MORE 
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, MORE 
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
SO SENDING PEOPLE OUT THERE AND 
SAYING GO GET, YOU KNOW, 
INFECTED BECAUSE YOU'LL DEVELOP 
IMMUNITY IS ACTUALLY VERY RISKY.
NOW IF THINGS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, 
SORT OF NATURALLY IN THE CONTEXT
OF DISTANCING, IN THE CONTEXT OF
YOU'RE GOING SHOPPING, GOING 
ABOUT DECREASING THE NUMBER OF 
INTERACTIONS SO THAT WE DON'T 
OVERWHELM THE HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY 
DETECT VERY QUICKLY THOSE WHO 
ARE INFECTED AND ALSO TRACE 
THEIR CONTACTS AND ISOLATE THEM,
I.E., CAN WE MANAGE NEW 
INFECTIONS, THAT'S ANOTHER 
STORY.
>> Rosemary: THE SEROLOGICAL 
TESTING, THE BLOOD TESTING THAT 
WOULD BE I THINK HUGELY USEFUL 
AS WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE 
IMMUNITY PART OF THIS, THAT IS 
NOT, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, 
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE EVEN ABLE 
TO DO.
WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY CONFIDENT
IN THOSE TESTS AT THIS STAGE.
IS THAT OF CONCERN TO YOU AS YOU
TAKE ON THIS NEW TASK FORCE?
>> I MEAN, FOR SURE YOU HAVE TO 
BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE 
MEASURING, SO THE TESTS HAVE TO 
BE VALIDATED AND MAKING SURE 
THAT WE DON'T GET FALSE 
POSITIVE, FALSE NEGATIVE, 
ET CETERA.
THERE ARE SEVERAL TESTS ON THE 
MARKET THAT, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE 
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONFIDENCE.
THEY ARE NOT ALL GOOD.
I THINK THAT IF WE ARE TO 
CERTIFY PEOPLE, WHETHER 
INDIVIDUALLY YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, 
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, WE HAVE TO
BE EXTRA, EXTRA CAUTIOUS.
WE NEED VIRTUALLY 99% 
SPECIFICITY AND CONFIDENCE.
BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A 
GENERAL SORT OF UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW MANY -- WHAT'S THE 
PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE 
BEEN INFECTED, I THINK WE CAN 
AFFORD, SAY, 95% SPECIFICITY ON 
THE BASIS THAT WITH THE LARGE 
NUMBERS THE FALSE POSITIVE, THE 
FALSE NEGATIVE MAY CANCEL 
THEMSELVES OUT.
BUT WHEN YOU START, YOU KNOW, 
GIVING, LIKE, IMMUNITY 
PASSPORTS, THEN YOU BETTER BE 
VERY, VERY CAREFUL ABOUT, YOU 
KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE CERTIFYING.
>> Rosemary: RIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE 
BIT ABOUT THE LISTING, THE 
EASING OF SOME PUBLIC HEALTH 
RESTRICTIONS IN DIFFERENT PLACES
IN THE COUNTRY, AND YOU KNOW, WE
HEARD THE PRIME MINISTER THERE 
SAYING EVERYONE IS IN CHARGE OF 
THEIR OWN JURISDICTION, EVERYONE
IS MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS 
BASED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING 
INSIDE THEIR PROVINCE.
THE NOTION THAT WE WOULD SEND 
CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL FIRST, 
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT QUEBEC IS
DOING, AND IT IS, AS VASSY WAS 
SAYING THERE, A BIT OF AN 
OUTLIER IN TERMS OF THAT 
APPROACH.
CHILDREN, AS WE KNOW, ARE NOT 
GETTING THE VIRUS AT A VERY HIGH
RATE, AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT
GETTING VERY SEVERE SYMPTOMS, 
BROADLY SPEAKING.
DO YOU THINK THAT THAT IS A SAFE
RISK FOR A PROVINCE TO TAKE, 
THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE SAFE 
ENOUGH SENT BACK INTO SOCIETY 
WITHOUT THE SAME KIND OF 
RESTRICTIONS THAT THE REST OF US
ARE LIVING UNDER?
>> Interview: LOOK, IN AN IDEAL 
WORLD WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY 
TESTED FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE 
VIRUS AND THE PRESENCE OF 
IMMUNITY IN CHILDREN TO REALLY 
BETTER UNDERSTAND WHETHER THEY 
ARE OR NOT A VECTOR, HOW THEY 
ARE GETTING INFECTED, HOW THEY 
ARE DEVELOPING RESISTANCE TO THE
SYMPTOMS, ET CETERA.
UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE SITUATION
OF EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD JUST 
FIGHTING OVER SCARCE RESOURCES 
FOR TESTING, WE HAVEN'T BEEN 
ABLE TO DO THIS YET, BUT THESE 
ARE SOME OF THE STUDIES THAT THE
IMMUNITY TASK FORCE WILL 
CERTAINLY BE -- YOU KNOW, DOING 
AND GETTING THE RESULTS FROM.
SO IT'S A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, 
CALCULATED RISK AND TOLERANCE 
FOR RISK IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN 
THE COUNTRY.
LOOK, THE REALITY IS WE'RE 
UNLIKELY TO HAVE A VACCINE BY 
SEPTEMBER, SO THE QUESTION IS, 
YOU KNOW, HOW LONG ARE CHILDREN 
GOING TO STAY HOME.
ARE WE GONNA BE HOME NEXT 
SEPTEMBER.
SO I GUESS THESE ARE THE KIND OF
CALCULATED RISKS THAT DIFFERENT 
PROVINCES ARE TAKING, AND I 
THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING 
IS TO BE PREPARED TO TEST 
VERY -- YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE 
AND ALSO TO REVERSE MEASURES IF 
YOU SEE THAT THE SITUATION IS 
WORSENING.
>> Rosemary: AS WE SAW -- THIS 
WILL BE MY LAST QUESTION FOR 
YOU.
AS WE SAW THE MODELLING 
YESTERDAY FROM DR. TAM, IT DID 
SHOW A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR 
THE POPULATION, BROADLY 
SPEAKING, BUT THAT THERE WERE 
STILL THESE REALLY SERIOUS AND 
SEVERE PROBLEMS WITHIN LONG-TERM
CARE AND WITHIN PLACES WHERE 
THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING 
TOGETHER, CONGREGATE LIVING 
SITUATIONS.
AND THAT 79% OF THE DEATHS IN 
THIS COUNTRY ARE RELATED TO 
LONG-TERM CARE.
WHAT WORRIES YOU THE MOST ABOUT 
THAT SITUATION, KNOWING THAT THE
CURVE IS SORT OF BEING FLATTENED
OUTSIDE OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL IT IS A 
MOST UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T PREDICT, AND
WHAT WORRIES ME IS THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE PEOPLE GOING AND WORKING
INTO THESE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES,
AND THEY ARE GOING BACK IN 
SOCIETY AND THEY ARE GOING BACK 
HOME.
SO I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY 
NEED TO RAMP UP OUR TESTING 
MASSIVELY.
I THINK IN THOSE SETTINGS WE 
NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO REGULAR 
AND IDEALLY EVERY DAY TESTING TO
RAPIDLY DETERMINE WHO IS 
INFECTED AND REALLY CARE FOR 
THEM AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, MONA NEMER, 
THANK YOU.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET YOUR 
BRAIN AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON 
ALL OF THIS.
WE DO APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ROSY.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S CANADA'S 
CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISOR, MONA 
NEMER IN OTTAWA.
VERY GOOD TO TALK ABOUT A 
SCIENTIST ABOUT THIS STUFF THAT 
IS COMPLICATED FOR US TO 
COMPREHEND AND GET A BETTER 
UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARTS OF 
THIS THAT REALLY NEED TO BE 
FIGURED OUT IN ORDER FOR THESE 
RESTRICTIONS TO START TO BE 
EASED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 
WHETHER IT BE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD
OR IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
AS YOU HEARD THERE, A VACCINE 
STILL A LONG WAYS OFF.
MANITOBA IS A PROVINCE TODAY 
THAT IS GOING TO RELEASE SOME OF
ITS PLAN TO REOPEN THE 
PROVINCIAL ECONOMY TODAY.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THAT
THEY WILL ALSO, AS OTHER 
PROVINCES IN THIS COUNTRY, BE 
TAKING A, QUOTE, CAUTIOUS 
APPROACH.
THE CBC'S KEN MACINTOSH JOINS ME
FROM WINNIPEG.
SO, CAM, WE KNOW THAT ALL THE 
PROVINCES AND THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HAVE AGREED ON THESE 
SORT OF BROAD GUIDELINES.
DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW 
MANITOBA'S GOING TO TACKLE THIS?
BECAUSE MANITOBA HAS BEEN DOING 
OKAY, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
>> Reporter: YEAH, THE CASELOAD 
HERE HAS BEEN QUITE LOW, ONLY 
272 CASES OVERALL.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE CASES
HAVE RECOVERED.
WE'VE ONLY HAD SIX DEATHS, 
KEEPING IN MIND WE'RE TALKING 
ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES HERE, BUT 
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, THE 
NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN 
ENCOURAGING, AND THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME FACTORS THAT HAVE PLAYED 
INTO THAT, GEOGRAPHY AND TIMING 
MOSTLY.
EXPECT WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN 
MANITOBA TO BE METHODICAL, SLOW,
DELIBERATE AND QUITE LIKELY VERY
FLUID.
THIS WON'T BE A RISKY BET.
PREMIER PALLISTER HAS ALWAYS 
BEEN TALKING ABOUT LIVES OVER 
LIVELIHOODS, BUT YOU KNOW, 
RECOGNIZING THERE'S A NEED TO 
BALANCE BOTH.
SO WHAT WE'LL LIKELY HEAR FROM 
THE PROVINCE TODAY IS A PLAN 
THAT WILL GET SOME SERVICES 
GOING AGAIN.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM, SAY, 
LIKE, THE HAIR INDUSTRY THAT 
THEY EXPECT TO BE GOING AGAIN IN
MID-MAY.
WE'LL SEE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES
THAT PEOPLE DEPEND ON START TO 
REOPEN, KEEPING IN MIND WE 
HAVEN'T GONE AS FAR IN OUR 
CLOSURES AS SOME OTHER PROVINCES
HAVE ALREADY.
SOME INDUSTRIES, LIKE THE 
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, ARE STILL
GOING HERE IN MANITOBA.
SO WE'LL SEE THIS KIND OF 
METHODICAL ROLLOUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL SEE ANY 
REAL SOLID DATES ATTACHED, OTHER
THAN KIND OF A BEGINNING DATE.
WHAT THEY'LL DO HERE IS THEY'LL 
LOOK AT THE DATA.
THE CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER
HERE HAS BEEN VERY BIG ON 
TALKING ABOUT A SEVEN-DAY 
AVERAGE, SEEING HOW MANY PEOPLE 
PRESENT WITH SYMPTOMS AND BASING
THEIR DECISIONS ON THAT.
AND I EXPECT THAT WE'LL HEAR 
FROM THE PREMIER TODAY THAT, YOU
KNOW, ONCE THINGS REOPEN, THEY 
MAY NOT BE OPEN DEFINITELY, THAT
THEY WILL RESERVE THE RIGHT TO 
CLOSE THINGS AGAIN SHOULD THEY 
SEE THE NUMBERS START TO MOVE IN
A NEGATIVE POSITION.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD LOOK FOR
HERE TODAY IS A DECISION ON 
SCHOOLS.
LAST WEEK THE PREMIER KIND OF 
SAID OFF THE CUFF THAT, YOU 
KNOW, SCHOOLS ARE DONE FOR THE 
YEAR.
THE CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER
OPENED THE DOOR A LITTLE BIT 
EARLIER THIS WEEK SAYING THAT 
PERHAPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS COULD
COME BACK AT SOME POINT.
SO LOOKING FOR SOMETHING 
DEFINITIVE THERE TODAY.
>> Rosemary: YOU KNOW, I'VE 
SEEN -- WINNIPEG IS ONE OF THE 
PLACES WHERE THEY QUICKLY 
ADAPTED SOME STREETS, CLOSING 
STREETS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE 
MORE PHYSICAL DISTANCING WHEN 
THEY GOT OUTSIDE.
IS THERE A SENSE THAT THAT KIND 
OF STUFF WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY 
TOO, LETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO 
PARKS, LETTING THEM GO BACK TO 
THE FORKS WHERE YOU ARE.
I CAN SEE IN THE BACKGROUND.
LETTING THEM OUTSIDE AND GETTING
INTO OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENTS MORE?
>> Reporter: YEAH, I THINK 
THERE'S DEFINITELY A PUSH 
TOWARDS THAT, KEEPING IN MIND 
PEOPLE THERE'S BEEN AN ISSUE TO 
GET THINGS GOING HERE AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE
PLAYGROUNDS REOPENED.
THERE'S SOME QUESTION ABOUT 
WHETHER CAMPGROUNDS MIGHT BE 
REOPENED ON SOME SORT OF MAYBE 
LIMITED CAPACITY OR, YOU KNOW, 
WITHOUT PUBLIC AMENITIES IN 
THEM.
WE COULD SEE THAT.
PREMIER'S BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT 
LARGE EVENTS, LIKE FESTIVALS, 
SPORTING EVENTS, ARE GOING TO BE
THE VERY LAST THING.
SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD 
BE EXPECTING TO GO TO A CFL GAME
THIS SUMMER.
ALL THE MAJOR FESTIVALS AND 
EVENTS FOR THE SUMMER HAVE BEEN 
LARGELY CANCELLED OR DELAYED 
ANYHOW.
BUT YEAH, JUST GETTING PEOPLE 
OUT ON THE STREETS, GETTING 
PEOPLE INTO COMMON AREAS.
WE MAY SEE THOSE RESTRICTIONS 
LOOSENED UP.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON A RESTRICTION
OF GROUPS OF 10 OR LESS.
WE MAY SEE THAT OPENED UP A BIT,
AND ONCE WE START SEEING THAT 
OPENED UP, WE COULD SEE THINGS 
LIKE RESTAURANTS MAYBE COME BACK
ON A LIMITED CAPACITY, THAT SORT
OF THING.
BUT YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY THE 
APPROACH HERE IN MANITOBA WILL 
BE SLOW AND IT WILL BE 
METHODICAL.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, CAM MACINTOSH
IN MY HOME TOWN OF WINNIPEG 
TODAY.
THANKS FOR THAT, CAM.
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
MANITOBA, JUST ANOTHER PROVINCE 
TODAY THAT WILL GIVE SOME MORE 
DETAILS ON HOW IT WILL DO THIS.
AS YOU HEARD THERE FROM CAM, THE
CASELOAD VERY, VERY DIFFERENT 
THAN YOU WOULD SEE IN QUEBEC, 
ONTARIO, AND EVEN INDEED IN 
ALBERTA BECAUSE OF SOME LARGE 
OUTBREAKS HAPPENING IN MEAT 
PACKING PLANTS AND OTHER PLACES 
THERE.
WE DO KNOW THAT ALL OF THE 
PROVINCES HAVE AGREED TO SORT OF
WATCH HOW THINGS UNFOLD OVER 
PERIODS OF ABOUT TWO TO FOUR 
WEEKS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE TWO 
WEEKS IS SORT OF THE INCUBATION 
PERIOD FOR THE VIRUS.
SO THAT WOULD GIVE PROVINCES A 
SENSE OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING AS
THEY CONTINUE TO EASE BACK ON 
RESTRICTIONS.
BUT WHAT EVERYONE WILL TELL YOU,
CERTAINLY WHAT DR. TAM WAS 
TELLING ME IN AN INTERVIEW I DID
WITH HER OVER THE WEEKEND, IS 
NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO GO BACK
TO ANY SORT OF NORMALCY THAT YOU
MIGHT IMAGINE.
THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A LOT OF 
ADAPTION IN THE WAY YOU'RE 
LIVING, WORKING AND TRAVELLING.
JUST BECAUSE CAM MENTIONED IT 
THERE, AND BECAUSE THE PRIME 
MINISTER WAS ASKED ABOUT IT, THE
ISSUE AROUND THE CFL, THE 
CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
THEY HAVE, ACTUALLY, MADE A 
REQUEST FOR SOME FINANCIAL AID, 
$150 MILLION, BECAUSE THEY, A, 
DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO 
BE ABLE TO START THEIR SEASON ON
TIME.
IF THEY DO START THEIR SEASON, 
WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE AUDIENCE 
AT THE STADIUMS, AND THEY ARE 
LOOKING FOR SOME SUPPORT.
THE PRIME MINISTER DID SAY THERE
ARE DISCUSSIONS WITH DIFFERENT 
PARTIES, DIFFERENT ISSUES LIKE 
THIS, SO HE DIDN'T SHUT IT DOWN 
ENTIRELY, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS 
SOMETHING THAT IS FOR 
DISCUSSION, AND I WOULD IMAGINE 
THERE WILL BE OTHER BUSINESSES 
AND SPORTING EVENTS LIKE THIS 
THAT WOULD BE LOOKING FOR 
SUPPORT.
AND I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, IF 
YOU CRACK THE DOOR OPEN, HOW 
MUCH DO YOU HAVE TO GIVE TO 
EVERYONE ELSE.
JUST UPDATE YOU THAT WE ARE 
STANDING BY FOR -- THERE IS A 
REGULAR NOON PRESS CONFERENCE 
TODAY, BUT IT WILL ONLY BE 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO WILL
BE IN ATTENDANCE THERE.
INSTEAD AT NOON WE WILL SEE THE 
VAST MAJORITIES OF MINISTERS AND
MPs WHO MIGHT BE IN TOWN INSIDE 
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR A 
VIRTUAL SITTING ON THE 
GOVERNMENT'S COVID-19 PLAN.
TODAY THE FOCUS PRIMARILY ON 
THAT LEGISLATION TO TRY TO GET 
$9 BILLION OF VARIOUS KINDS OF 
AID TO STUDENTS ACROSS THIS 
COUNTRY.
NOW AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT 
THROUGH THE PAST HOUR, THERE IS 
A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS 
HAPPENING INSIDE QUEBEC.
SCHOOLS, YES, BUT ALSO AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY THAT SOME
BUSINESSES ARE GONNA GRADUALLY 
REOPEN IN MAY AS WELL.
DEBBY DONNEL PLANS TO OPEN UP 
HER TWO SHOPS IF SHE CAN, BUT 
SHE DOES HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT 
KEEPING HER CUSTOMERS AND 
EMPLOYEES SAFE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, DEBBIE. 
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, ROSY.
THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, A PLEASURE.
SO YOU OWN LINGERIE STORES, SO 
NOT NECESSARILY ESSENTIAL 
BUSINESSES AT THIS STAGE.
AND I GUESS YOU'VE BEEN WORKING 
WITH ON-LINE SHOPPING.
HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOUR 
BUSINESS, THE PANDEMIC SO FAR?
>> Interview: WELL, OBVIOUSLY, 
YOU KNOW, WE WENT FROM BEING A 
FLOURISHING BUSINESS WITH TWO 
BOUTIQUES, BRA-FITTING 
BOUTIQUES, ABOUT A MONTH AND A 
HALF AGO TO LITERALLY BEING 
CLOSED.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF 
SCRAMBLING.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY -- OBVIOUSLY 
THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE 
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF CUSTOMERS
AND CLIENTS, SO WE MADE THE 
DECISION BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT 
MANDATED IT TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF 
THE TYPE OF BUSINESS WE OFFER 
WHERE WE'RE IN VERY CLOSE 
PROXIMITY TO CLIENTS.
WE DIDN'T FEEL WE COULD REALLY 
MANAGE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING 
ASPECT AT THAT TIME.
THERE WAS SO MUCH STILL UNKNOWN 
A MONTH AND A HALF AGO.
AND SO WE CLOSED OUR STORES, AND
THEN WENT INTO PANIC MODE OF, 
WELL, WE'VE CUT OFF ALL OF OUR 
REVENUE, WE STILL HAVE ALL THESE
EXPENSES.
AT THAT POINT THE APRIL RENT WAS
DUE, WE HAD ALL KINDS OF STILL 
GOVERNMENT BILLS, DEDUCTIONS AT 
SOURCE, WE HAD LOTS OF EXPENSES,
AND NO REVENUE.
SO MY HUSBAND, MY DAUGHTER AND 
MANAGER OF ONE OF MY STORES AND 
MYSELF ALL WORKED TOGETHER TO 
GET AN ON-LINE STORE UP AND 
RUNNING IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS, 
WHICH NORMALLY TAKES THREE 
MONTHS.
>> Rosemary: WOW.
>> Interview: SO WE ALL WORKED 
REALLY HARD ON IT.
IT WAS A FAMILY COLLECTIVE 
EFFORT, AND WE STARTED THE 
ON-LINE STORE WHICH IS ALWAYS --
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN RETICENT TO DO 
BECAUSE BRA-FITTING IS A VERY 
PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE, AND WE 
SPECIALIZE IN MANY DIFFERENT 
SIZES, SO WE LITERALLY NORMALLY 
ASSIGN A BRA FIT SPECIALIST TO 
FIT A CLIENT ONE ON ONE, AND SO 
WHEN WE COULDN'T DO THAT, DOING 
IT ON-LINE IS A LITTLE BIT 
DIFFERENT.
SO IN THE LAST -- SINCE THE LAST
MONTH, I GUESS, WE HAVE HAD THE 
ON-LINE STORE RUNNING.
IT IS A BIG ADAPT -- IT TAKES A 
LOT FOR MYSELF AND OUR CLIENTS 
TO ADAPT TO.
THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT.
WE HAVE BEEN GETTING SOME 
ORDERS.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TO 
PAY THE RENT, BUT IT'S 
DEFINITELY HELPING SOMEWHAT.
IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I COULD DO 
SOMETHING AND RESPECT ALL THE 
MEASURES IN PLACE.
>> Rosemary: SO YOU DID HAVE 
EIGHT WORKERS TOO, IF I'M NOT 
MISTAKEN, AND I GUESS YOU'VE HAD
TO LAY THEM OFF BECAUSE IF 
YOU -- I WOULDN'T IMAGINE YOU'D 
BE ABLE TO COVER THEIR SALARIES 
AND RENT AND ANYTHING ELSE.
>> NO.
I WISH.
AT THE TIME, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, SO
MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 
MONTH AND A HALF, I KEPT MY 
STAFF ON FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS, 
PAYING THEM A LITTLE BIT OF A 
REDUCED SALARY, JUST TO BE ABLE 
TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT WAS 
HAPPENING.
AT THE TIME THE CERB WASN'T EVEN
OFFICIAL.
SO AFTER ABOUT THREE WEEKS, I 
FELT COMFORTABLE THAT AT LEAST 
THERE WAS SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR
THEM TO SUPPORT THEM, EVEN 
THOUGH I COULDN'T, YOU KNOW?
>> Rosemary: AND WHAT ABOUT THE 
RENT SITUATION AND JUST KEEPING 
THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES 
GOING?
I KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF 
CREDIT THAT'S BEEN OFFERED FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN DEALING WITH 
THAT PART OF IT?
>> Interview: WELL, THAT WAS 
JUST ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, AND IT 
SOUNDED GREAT AT THE TIME.
ALL OF MY FRIENDS CALLED ME UP 
AND SAID RENT SUBSIDY, JUST WHAT
YOU WERE HOPING FOR.
THE PROBLEM IS THE DEVIL'S 
ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS IN THESE 
SITUATIONS, AND WHEN THE MORE 
INFORMATION CAME OUT OVER THE 
WEEKEND ABOUT IT, IT TURNS OUT 
THAT IT'S REALLY THE LANDLORD 
HAS TO AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN 
THE PROGRAM AND THEN TAKE A CUT 
OF 25%, AND SO MY COMMUNICATIONS
WITH MY TWO LANDLORDS THIS WEEK,
THEY HAVE BEEN FLEXIBLE ABOUT 
PUSHING RENT PAYMENTS, BUT THEY 
ARE NOT SURE THEY ARE GOING TO 
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, FOR 
VARIOUS REASONS.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DETAILS OUT 
YET, BUT MAY 1 IS TWO DAYS AWAY.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
>> Interview: SO THERE'S A LOT 
OF STRESS.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRYING TO MOVE 
MONEY AROUND THAT WE DON'T 
NECESSARILY HAVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF LOANING 
PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, INTO THE 
BUSINESS, JUST TRY TO KEEP IT 
AFLOAT.
>> Rosemary: SO TELL ME HOW YOU 
FEEL, THEN, ABOUT THE NOTION 
THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO OPEN UP 
IN SOME CAPACITY IN A FEW WEEKS'
TIME?
DOES THAT -- WHAT CONCERNS DO 
YOU HAVE AROUND THAT?
>> Interview: I HAVE A LOT OF 
CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY AND 
SECURITY, AS I DID BEFORE, OF 
OUR CLIENTS AND MY EMPLOYEES.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TWO BOUTIQUES.
THEY ARE BOTH SET UP VERY 
DIFFERENTLY, PHYSICALLY WITH 
SPACE.
SO I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT
SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU 
KNOW, CAN WE STILL AGAIN OFFER 
THE SERVICES -- WELL, WE WON'T 
BE ABLE TO OFFER SERVICES THE 
WAY WE HAVE BEEN OFFERING IT 
BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET WITHIN THAT
SIX FEET DISTANCE WITH CLIENTS.
BUT MAYBE THERE'S A WAY WE CAN 
OFFER SOME OF THOSE SERVICES, 
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY, AND MAYBE 
WE HAVE TO RESTRUCTURE THE 
LAYOUT OF ONE OF OUR STORES I 
THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO 
ACCOMMODATE.
SO I REALLY THINK IT'S A -- FOR 
ME PERSONALLY, THERE'S A LOT OF 
ANXIETY TOO ABOUT PPE AND 
CLEANING PRODUCTS.
LIKE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO 
FIND CLEANING PRODUCTS IN THE 
LAST MONTH AND A HALF, TWO 
MONTHS.
SO TO BE ABLE TO -- AND I HAVE 
FOUND A FEW THINGS, BUT TO BE 
ABLE TO DO IT AND CLEAN 
REGULARLY TO THE DEGREE I THINK 
IT NEEDS TO BE DONE, I'M NOT 
SURE.
SO I'M NOT -- I'M NOT -- AND 
I'M -- AT THE SAME TIME, I'M 
ALSO NOT SURE ABOUT HOW THE 
CLIENTS ARE GOING TO REACT AND 
WILL THEY COME TO THE STORE.
YOU KNOW, OUR REVENUE IS NOT ALL
OF A SUDDEN GOING TO BE, BOOM, 
BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, SO I 
HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT 
THE EXPENSES THAT I CURRENTLY 
HAVE AND HOW -- WITH, AGAIN, 
LIMITED REVENUE AND HOW THAT'S 
ALL GOING TO TIE TOGETHER.
SO A LOT OF THINGS TO THINK 
ABOUT.
>> Rosemary: YOU'RE SORT OF IN A
VERY MICRO WAY LIVING WITH WHAT 
GOVERNMENTS ARE DEALING WITH, 
RIGHT?
LIKE THE ECONOMIC PRESSURES THAT
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO 
SUSTAIN AND THEN TRYING TO MAKE 
SURE EVERYBODY IS PROTECTED AND 
GOING TO BE HEALTHY.
DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S HAPPENING
TOO QUICKLY IN QUEBEC OR DO YOU 
THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT 
TIMELINE?
WHAT'S YOUR VIEW?
>> Interview: I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.
I MEAN, I'M A BIT NERVOUS BASED 
ON WHERE QUEBEC LIES IN 
COMPARISON WITH THE REST OF THE 
COUNTRY AND THE REST OF THE 
WORLD IN TERMS OF OUR CURVE 
VERSUS, YOU KNOW, OPENING AT 
THIS STAGE.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT A SCHOOL.
WE ARE DEALING WITH ADULTS, SO I
THINK IT'S EASIER TO KIND OF 
CONTROL THE FLOW OF PEOPLE IN 
AND OUT OF THE STORE, LIMIT THE 
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE IN 
AT ONE TIME.
MAYBE EVEN ASK THEM, WHICH I 
MEAN -- POSSIBILITY, TO WEAR A 
MASK.
BUT IT'S VERY DIFFERENT IN THIS 
ENVIRONMENT IN MY STORE THAN IT 
WOULD BE, I WOULD THINK, IN A 
SCHOOL OR A DAYCARE.
SO YEAH, I'M CONCERNED.
I'M NOT GUARANTEED THAT I WILL 
OPEN, DEFINITELY BOTH MY STORES 
ON THE 11TH.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO AN 
ASSESSMENT, TALK TO MY STAFF.
AGAIN, MEASURE THINGS OUT AND 
SEE IF WE THINK WE CAN DO 
ANYTHING, AND THEN -- EVEN THEN,
LIKE I SAID, IT WILL DEPEND ON 
IF PEOPLE COME IN.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, DEBBIE, YOU 
REPRESENT A LOT OF VOICES IN THE
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, AND YOU KNOW,
IT IS -- IT'S VERY, VERY HARD 
WHAT EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH,
SO I WISH YOU LOTS OF LUCK AND 
IF YOU DO REOPEN, I HOPE IT GOES
OKAY.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANKS, ROSY.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S DEBBIE 
DONNELE.
SHE IS IN MONTREAL.
ALL RIGHT, A WE WIND DOWN HERE 
OUR COVERAGE ON CBC TELEVISION 
AND AWAIT THE RETURN OF THE 
HOUSE OF COMMONS AT THE TOP OF 
THE HOUR, LET'S BRING BACK VASSY
KAPELOS AND CATHERINE CULLEN.
WANTED TO GET SOME DIFFERENT 
PERSPECTIVES ON THERE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPER 
INTERESTING TO TALK TO DEBBIE.
ALL SORTS OF THINGS I HAVEN'T 
THOUGHT ABOUT, IN TERMS OF THE 
SPACING OUT OF A BUSINESS.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR 
RESTAURANTS BUT NOT REALLY FOR 
BOUTIQUES.
EVEN THAT, THE TIMELINE THAT IS 
THERE FOR THOSE BUSINESSES IN 
QUEBEC, IS VERY FAST IF YOU HAVE
TO READJUST HOW YOUR BUSINESS IS
GOING TO WORK AND MAKE SURE YOU 
HAVE CLEANING SUPPLIES AND PPE 
TO EQUIP YOURSELF AND YOUR 
STAFF.
THAT ALL SEEMS VERY CHALLENGING 
TO ME IN THAT TIMELINE, BUT 
MAYBE I'M WRONG.
VASSY?
>> Vassy: YEAH, IT'S FAST.
THE TIMELINE IS INTERESTING, BUT
IT UNDERSCORES FOR ME WHAT I 
THINK SO MANY BUSINESS OWNERS IN
THIS COUNTRY ARE FACING.
WHILE THEY ARE IN THE MOST 
ACUTELY PAINFUL PART OF THIS 
CRISIS RIGHT NOW, HAVING TO HAVE
SHUT DOWN, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S 
GOING  BE PAINLESS AFTER THAT.
THE PROCESS OF REOPENING AND 
EVEN IF YOUR BUSINESS IS OPEN IS
NOT AN EASY ONE, AND EVEN THE 
IDEA THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO LIMIT 
THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS IN, THE 
QUESTIONS AROUND WILL PEOPLE 
FEEL COMFORTABLE -- I THINK 
THAT'S A BIGGER SOCIETAL 
QUESTION TOO.
WILL PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN 
GO TO RESTAURANTS WHEN THEY ARE 
OPEN?
DO THEY WANT TO GO SHOPPING IN 
PERSON?
ARE THEY FEELING COMFORTABLE AND
SAFE IF THEY DO SO?
ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT 
AT THE END OF THE DAY NOT JUST 
OUR HEALTH AND OUR SAFETY BUT 
THE BOTTOM LINE, THE AMOUNT OF 
REVENUE THESE COMPANIES CAN 
GENERATE.
AND I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WE 
ARE STILL UNDERSTANDABLY FOCUSED
ON -- AND THE GOVERNMENT IS 
FOCUSED ON SORT OF BRIDGING THE 
GAP BETWEEN THE POINT IN THE 
BEGINNING OF MARCH OR THE MIDDLE
OF MARCH AND PROBABLY THE 
BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER, LET'S 
SAY, IN MOST PLACES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT IS 
NOT GOING TO BE EASY, AND I 
THINK EVEN SOMETHING ELSE THAT 
DEBBIE HIT ON AROUND COMMERCIAL 
RENT, THE PROGRAM THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK, 
I'M HEARING FROM SO MANY PEOPLE 
WHO HAVE LANDLORDS WHO ARE 
UNSURE IF THEY WANT TO 
PARTICIPATE.
THE PROGRAM WORKING PREDICATED 
ON THEIR PARTICIPATION, AND 
THERE'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF 
INCENTIVE FOR LANDLORDS TO DO SO
BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING TO AGREE
TO TAKE A HIT WHEN IT COMES TO 
THE RENT, AND SO I THINK THAT'S 
SOMETHING TO KEEP OUR EYE ON AS 
WELL.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND THAT'S 
SUCH AN INTERESTING POINT ABOUT 
WHAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE 
PREPARED FOR MENTALLY.
WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THIS STATE NOW
OF SORT OF A DEEP FREEZE AT HOME
AND NOT BEING ALLOWED TO BE 
CLOSE TO PEOPLE.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S WORKING.
WE'VE SEEN THAT FROM -- 
CERTAINLY FROM THE NUMBERS 
YESTERDAY, AND THEN HOW DO YOU 
GO AROUND AND SAY, OKAY, YOU CAN
START TO EASE BACK.
HOW WILLING WILL PEOPLE BE TO DO
THAT?
CATHERINE, I'LL GET YOU TO WEIGH
IN HERE.
WHEN THEY MAYBE ARE FRIGHTENED, 
LEGITIMATELY, OR HAVE CONCERNS 
AROUND HOW THIS IS GOING TO GO.
>> AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY 
LEGITIMATE POINT, SOMETHING 
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT 
AND REFLECTED BY SOME PUBLIC 
OPINIONS HERE.
IT'S INTERESTING TO TALK ABOUT 
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION, 
ROSEMARY, WHEN SASKATCHEWAN PUT 
FORWARD ITS PLAN FOR REOPENING 
WE HAD SOME REPORTING BY OUR 
COLLEAGUES IN THAT PROVINCE 
SAYING THAT THE SASKATCHEWAN 
PLAN, A LOT OF THAT REOPENING, 
STILL SEVERAL DAYS OUT, MAY 4 I 
BELIEVE WAS THE FIRST DEADLINE, 
BUT THAT THEY WERE ALREADY 
SEEING PEOPLE IN THE STREETS 
THAT WEEKEND.
PEOPLE WERE REPORTING THAT THEIR
NEIGHBOURS WERE STARTING TO 
CONGREGATE.
LA PRESSE HAS A STORY TODAY IN 
MONTREAL TALKING ABOUT PARENTS 
WHO ARE STARTING TO LET THEIR 
CHILDREN PLAY TOGETHER RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THERE'S TALK OF SCHOOLS 
REOPENING DESPITE THE FACT THAT 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IT'S
NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO.
I THINK IT HIGHLIGHTS THE RANGE 
OF REACTIONS TO THIS.
YOU ALSO RAISED PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG 
QUESTION.
I WAS TALKING TO A DOCTOR WHO 
PERFORMS MEDICALLY ASSISTED 
DEATHS SAYING THAT SHE COULDN'T 
GET GOWNS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?
SO DOCTORS WHO CAN'T GET 
EQUIPMENT, AND THEN YOU WONDER 
ABOUT BUSINESSES LIKE THE ONE WE
JUST HEARD FROM THAT ARE LOOKING
FOR THAT KIND OF THING.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, OKAY, THANK 
YOU BOTH FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE 
COVERAGE.
I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
WE ARE STANDING BY AT THIS HOUR 
TO BRING YOU INSIDE THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS AND FOR A BRIEFING OF 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
THE FOCUS HERE IN OTTAWA TODAY 
ON TRYING TO GET THAT 
LEGISLATION FOR STUDENTS PASSED 
VERY QUICKLY.
WE WILL LEAVE YOU HERE ON CBC 
TELEVISION.
YOU CAN NOW WATCH ON "CBC NEWS 
NETWORK", CBC.CA.
♪
>> Rosemary: HI AGAIN.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN 
OTTAWA.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON
"CBC NEWS NETWORK", OUR CBC NEWS
APP AND CBC.CA.
HERE ARE SOME OF YOUR TOP 
STORIES THIS HOUR AS WE CONTINUE
TO TRACK THE PANDEMIC IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
OTTAWA IS TRYING TO EXPAND 
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE DURING 
THE PANDEMIC, FOR STUDENTS.
THE PRIME MINISTER JUST TALKING 
ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S 
PLANS TO PROVIDE, FOR INSTANCE, 
GRANTS OF UP TO $5,000 FOR 
STUDENTS WHO VOLUNTEER IN ANY 
WAY FOR HELP IN CONTAINING THE 
PANDEMIC, AN OVERALL PACKAGE OF 
$9 BILLION, REALLY TARGETED 
TOWARDS STUDENTS, WHETHER IT BE 
THEIR OWN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 
BENEFIT, WHICH IS LESS THAN THE 
CERB BUT STILL A CERTAIN AMOUNT 
OF MONEY FOR STUDENTS, OR OTHER 
THINGS THAT THEY CAN USE TO TRY 
TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES UNTIL THE 
NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND BEYOND.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IS GOING TO
DEBATE THAT AID PACKAGE.
IT WAS UNVEILED JUST LAST WEEK.
THERE ARE ALREADY SOME CONCERNS 
FROM OPPOSITION PARTIES WHO WERE
GIVEN THE DRAFT LEGISLATION OVER
THE WEEKEND.
ANDREW SCHEER PUSHING FOR 
CHANGES, INCLUDING, HE SAYS, A 
NEED FOR INCENTIVES FOR YOUNG 
PEOPLE TO GET JOBS RATHER THAN 
COLLECT THE EMERGENCY BENEFIT.
OF COURSE THE PROBLEM WITH THAT 
IS THERE AREN'T REALLY A LOT OF 
JOBS RIGHT NOW, AS ANYONE WHO IS
UNEMPLOYED RIGHT NOW CERTAINLY 
KNOWS, AND THAT WOULD BE THE 
CASE, OF COURSE, FOR STUDENTS.
THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO REVEALED
ON MAYBE A LITTLE HAPPIER NOTE 
TODAY THAT THE CANADIAN FORCES 
SNOWBIRDS WILL SALUTE CANADIANS 
DOING THEIR PART IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19, AND WE ALL 
KNOW WE'RE DOING OUR PART IN 
SOME WAY.
THEY ARE GOING TO FLY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY BEGINNING IN NOVA SCOTIA
THIS WEEKEND.
I IMAGINE WE'LL GET UPDATES ON 
WHEN THEY MIGHT BE IN YOUR SKY, 
SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, 
PERHAPS.
IN TODAY'S DAILY BRIEFING ON THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TRUDEAU WAS 
ALSO ASKED ABOUT CANADA'S MEAT 
SUPPLY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A
NUMBER OF OUTBREAKS IN ALBERTA.
THERE WAS ONE OF THE POULTRY 
PLANT IN B.C. AND OTHER PLACES.
A LARGE NUMBER OF CASES WHERE 
WORKERS HAVE BEEN HIT WITH THE 
PANDEMIC, AND LOTS OF QUESTIONS 
AROUND WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO 
LEAD TO FOOD SECURITY PROBLEMS 
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE PRIME MINISTER SPECIFICALLY 
ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD FOLLOW 
THE LEAD OF THE UNITED STATES 
AND ORDER MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS
TO REMAIN OPEN IN ORDER TO MAKE 
SURE THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPLY IN 
THE CHAIN.
HERE'S WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
SAID ABOUT THAT.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS 
TO ENSURE THE SUPPLY OF FOOD TO 
CANADIANS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
WE ARE WATCHING WITH INTEREST 
AND CONCERN SOME OF THE ISSUES 
SOME OF THE ISSUES FACING MEAT 
PRODUCERS AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN 
ACROSS THE AGRICULTURAL 
INDUSTRY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE 
SUPPLY CHAINS CAN KEEP 
FUNCTIONING, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
THOSE SUPPLY CHAINS AND WILL 
CONTINUE TO NEED TO WORK IN 
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES OVER THE
COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AS WE 
CONTINUE TO BATTLE COVID-19 ARE 
KEPT SAFE.
THE PRIORITY FOR US IS BOTH 
THINGS: KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND 
ENSURING A GOOD SUPPLY OF FOOD 
TO CANADIANS.
WE WILL MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING 
THEM BOTH TOGETHER.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, AND WE WILL 
SHOW YOU NOW INSIDE THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS.
THAT IS THE SPEAKER OF THE 
HOUSE, ANTHONY RODA, THERE ON 
YOUR LEFT, NOT APPEARING ON A 
ZOOM SCREEN, AS HE DID 
YESTERDAY, BUT ACTUALLY INSIDE 
THE CHAMBER WHERE THE LEADERS 
AND THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE 
SHORTLY TAKING QUESTIONS AND 
TALKING ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION 
THE GOVERNMENT HOPES WILL GET 
PASSED QUICKLY FOR STUDENT AID.
ON THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN IS 
WHERE OUR NOON BRIEFING, OUR 
DAILY BRIEFING, HAPPENS FROM 
CABINET MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS,
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ON THE 
FEDERAL LEVEL ABOUT THE STATE OF
THE PANDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO JUST BE
THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER 
AND HER DEPUTY TODAY.
MINISTERS WILL BE INSIDE THE 
HOUSE OF COMMONS DOING THEIR 
LEGISLATIVE AND PARLIAMENTARY 
WORK TODAY.
I WILL CUT AWAY TO THE HOUSE AS 
SOON AS I SEE IT START TO GET 
REAL EXCITING.
RIGHT NOW THEY ARE JUST 
PRESENTING PETITIONS.
DR. TAM, I SEE, HAS ENTERED THE 
ROOM THERE.
MAYBE I'LL JUST BRING IN QUICKLY
MY OTTAWA COLLEAGUE, CBC'S 
CATHERINE CULLEN, THE HOST OF 
"POWER & POLITICS", VASSY 
KAPELOS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW ANY 
MORE ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THIS 
LEGISLATION WILL HAPPEN, VASSY, 
AND FORGIVE ME FOR PUTTING YOU 
ON THE SPOT, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE
WE HAVE SEEN THAT EVERY TIME 
LEGISLATION IS TABLED THERE ARE,
YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE 
AMENDED BY THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES, AND SOMETIMES IT 
DOESN'T GO NECESSARILY AS 
QUICKLY AS THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT 
LIKE.
>> Vassy: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF 
GONNA DEPEND ON HOW MUCH 
AGREEMENT THE GOVERNMENT WAS 
ABLE TO GET FROM THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES BY MAKING CHANGES TO THE
LEGISLATION.
THE PROCESS THAT IT'S KIND OF 
GONE THROUGH IN PREVIOUS 
ITERATIONS, I'M THINKING, FOR 
EXAMPLE, OF THE CERB OR THE WAGE
SUBSIDY LEGISLATION, TWO 
SEPARATE PIECES OF LEGISLATION, 
IS THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THAT IN 
ADVANCE TO THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES.
THEY COMB THROUGH IT.
THEY COME UP WITH SOME PROPOSALS
FOR IT, AND THEN THERE'S THIS 
SORT OF SET OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT
TAKES PLACE AND THE GOVERNMENT 
DECIDES OR WORKS WITH OPPOSITION
PARTIES TO SORT OF REFLECT THOSE
CRITICISMS OR THOSE CHANGES THAT
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES WERE 
HOPING FOR IN THE LEGISLATION TO
A CERTAIN DEGREE.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW -- AND THEN 
IT'S SORT OF ADOPTED.
THEN EVERYBODY OFFERS THEIR 
SUPPORT FOR IT.
THAT IS A MULTI-DAY PROCESS.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT
IS HAVE THEY ARRIVED AT SOME 
KIND OF AGREEMENT.
ARE THERE CHANGES TO THE 
ORIGINAL BILL THAT WILL BE 
REFLECTED IN WHAT IS INTRODUCED 
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TODAY, 
AND IF THAT, IN FACT, IS THE 
CASE, WILL THAT THEN MEAN THAT 
OPPOSITION PARTIES SUPPORT THE 
PRODUCT THAT'S PUT FORTH AND 
EVERYTHING GETS PASSED AND IT 
GOES RIGHT AHEAD?
ALL OF THOSE ARE QUESTION MARKS 
RIGHT NOW AND THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF POTENTIAL STUMBLING BLOCKS IF
THE LEGISLATION ISN'T TO THE 
LIKING OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES
THAT COULD DELAY THE PASSAGE OF 
IT AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: LET ME CHECK WITH 
WHERE WE ARE AT.
DR. TAM PROBABLY TALKING AT THIS
POINT.
SHOULD WE GO THERE AS WE WAIT 
FOR THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, FOR 
THINGS TO UNFOLD THERE?
YES, LET'S DO THAT.
THERE IS THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICER DR. THERESA TAM.
WE WILL PULL AWAY FROM THIS AS 
FAR AS ACTIVITY GETS GOING IN 
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
>> Dr. Theresa Tam: SOME AREAS 
ARE SEEING VERY FEW OR NO RECENT
CASES AND HAVE STARTED THEIR 
GRADUAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC 
REOPENING.
AT THE SAME TIME, ALL AREAS OF 
THE COUNTRY KNOW THAT THERE IS 
STILL A NEED FOR KEY PUBLIC 
HEALTH PRACTICES, LIKE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING WHEN WE ARE OUT OR IN
THE WORKPLACE AND GOOD 
HANDWASHING ALWAYS.
THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THESE 
PREVENTIVE PRACTICES IS AN 
IMPORTANT PART OF REOPENING 
PLANS FOR WORKPLACES, SCHOOLS 
AND BUSINESSES.
CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY 
THAT MUST BE IN PLACE AND 
MAINTAINED ACROSS CANADA IS 
NECESSARY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE 
TESTING, TO PROTECT, ALERTS AND 
RESPOND QUICKLY TO ANY NEW 
DISEASE ACTIVITY.
LOCAL, PROVINCIAL AND 
TERRITORIAL LEVEL PLANS FOR 
REOPENING ARE KEY TO MANAGING 
THIS NEXT PHASE.
THESE PLANS ARE BASED ON PUBLIC 
HEALTH CRITERIA AND BALANCE THE 
EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES AGAINST THEIR POTENTIAL
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.
LIKEWISE, THESE MEASURES WILL 
NEED TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND 
ADAPTABLE TO ALERTS AND SIGNALS.
ALTHOUGH WE WILL BE LIVING WITH 
COVID-19 FOR THE FORESEEABLE 
FUTURE, WE ALSO KNOW THAT 
TOGETHER WE CAN KEEP THIS VIRUS 
AT BAY BY REMAINING VIGILANT.
OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS HAVE 
ALREADY SLOWED THE GROWTH OF 
COVID-19, BENT THE CURVE, AND 
ENABLED OUR HEALTH SYSTEM TO 
COPE.
THESE ARE NO SMALL FEATS AND 
THEY TELL US WE WILL GET THROUGH
THIS.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> Dr. Howard Njoo: GOOD 
AFTERNOON.
AS USUAL, I WILL START WITH THE 
LATEST NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN 
CANADA.
TODAY THERE ARE NOW 50,373 
CONFIRMED CASES, INCLUDING 2,904
DEATHS.
TO DATE, LABS ACROSS CANADA HAVE
TESTED OVER 758,000 PEOPLE FOR 
COVID-19 WITH ABOUT 7% OF THESE 
TESTING POSITIVE.
YESTERDAY WE HAD AN UPDATE ON 
THE PROGRESS THAT CANADIANS HAVE
MADE IN FLATTENING THE CURVE OF 
COVID-19.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT SOME OF THE 
SHORT-TERM PREDICTIONS FROM OUR 
REAL DATA FORECASTING MODELS.
THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER, BUT 
WE ARE NOT ENTIRELY OUT OF THE 
WOODS YET.
WE HAVE TO REMAIN MINDFUL THAT 
OUR PROJECTIONS ARE ONLY AS 
RELIABLE AS OUR ACTIONS, NOW AND
GOING FORWARD.
IF WE MAINTAIN MEASURES THAT 
KEEP THE GROWTH RATE DOWN AND 
PREVENT A REBOUND, WE STAND THE 
BEST CHANCE OF REMAINING ON THIS
FAVOURABLE TRAJECTORY.
WITH THESE PROMISING SIGNS, WE 
ARE INCREASINGLY HEARING OF 
REOPENING PLANS.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Rosemary: WE ARE GOING INSIDE
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
LEADER OF THE OFFICIAL 
OPPOSITION ANDREW SCHEER IS 
ASKING A QUESTION.
LET'S LISTEN IN LIVE RIGHT NOW.
>> -- BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA 
REVENUE OF COMPANIES THAT THEY 
HAVE ACQUIRED.
THERE ARE OVER 3,000 PEOPLE WHO 
WORK FOR BRANT, INCLUDING 600 
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE COMPANY 
THAT THEY ACQUIRED, WHO ARE ALL 
FACING LAYOFFS IF BRANDT CANNOT 
BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME WAGE 
SUBSIDY THAT HAS BEEN MADE 
AVAILABLE TO OTHER EMPLOYERS.
THIS IS A TECHNICALITY.
THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT HAVE 
BEEN MADE TO THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW FOR 
COMPANIES IN THE SAME SITUATION 
TO ACCESS THIS PROGRAM.
I DID ASK THE PRIME MINISTER 
ABOUT THIS A WEEK AGO.
I WONDER IF HE CAN GIVE ME AN 
UPDATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT 
THESE TYPES OF CRITERIA WILL BE 
BROADENED TO ALLOW FOR MORE 
WORKERS TO STAY ON THE JOB.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
WE MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY WITH 
MEASURES TO HELP AS MANY 
CANADIANS AS POSSIBLE, WORKERS 
WHO WANT TO REMAIN ON THE 
PAYROLL WITH THE CANADA WAGE 
CITY, ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST 
THEIR PAYCHEQUE WITH THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
WE MOVED QUICKLY ON STRONG 
MEASURES THAT WOULD HIT AS MANY 
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE GAPS.
THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IN 
MODIFICATIONS IN CONVERSATIONS 
WITH THE OTHER PARTIES TO ADJUST
THE PERIOD OF TIME WITH WHICH 
PEOPLE COULD APPLY, FOR THEIR 
APPLICATIONS TO THE CERB OR TO 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO MOVE 
FORWARD ON OTHER MEASURES AS 
THEY COME UP.
I WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THE
ISSUE THAT THE HONOURABLE MEMBER
HAS BROUGHT UP IN REGARDS TO THE
COMPANY IN HIS RIDING.
>> MR. SCHEER. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO AN UPDATE 
VERY QUICKLY AS IT IS THE END OF
APRIL.
WORKSERS' JOBS HANG IN THE 
BALANCE.
MR. SPEAKER, PROVINCE'S PLANS TO
EASE HEALTH RESTRICTIONS ARE 
DEPENDENT ON THEIR ABILITY TO 
DRAMATICALLY RAMP UP TESTING.
PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY 
CREATED RAPID BLOOD TESTS THAT 
CAN PROVIDE RESULTS IN UNDER 20 
MINUTES.
THESE TESTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED 
FOR USE IN EUROPE, ASIA AND IN 
THE U.S., BUT IN CANADA THEY ARE
STILL, QUOTE, UNDER REVIEW.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER COMMIT 
TO FAST TRACKING THE APPROVALS 
PROCESS SO THAT PROVINCES HAVE 
ACCESS TO THE TESTS THAT THEY 
NEED?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE DOING 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE A 
FAST MADE-IN-CANADA RESPONSE.
THOUSANDS OF CANADIAN BUSINESSES
HAVE APPLIED TO PRODUCE 
INNOVATIVE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, 
INCLUDING NEW TEST KITS.
AS OF YESTERDAY, HEALTH CANADA 
ISSUED 113 NEW LICENSES FOR 
MEDICAL DEVICES, INCLUDING 15 
ADDITIONAL TEST KITS.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN 
ALLOCATED TO ACCELERATE 
APPROVALS, INCLUDING RECOGNIZING
OR TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHERE 
APPROVALS HAVE BEEN MADE 
ELSEWHERE, BUT WE WILL NOT 
COMPROMISE CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY 
OR CANADIAN SAFETY.
>> MR. SCHEER.
>> THANKS, MR. SPEAKER.
IN MARCH THE MINISTER OF HEALTH 
SIGNED AN INTERIM ORDER TO ALLOW
HEALTH CANADA TO CONSIDER 
EXACTLY THAT.
OTHER COUNTRY'S APPROVALS OF 
MEDICAL PRODUCTS.
RECENT REPORTS INDICATE, 
HOWEVER, THAT THERE ARE OVER 50 
COMPANIES WHO ARE WAITING FOR 
APPROVALS TO DISTRIBUTE TEST 
KITS.
SO HAS HEALTH CANADA ISSUED ANY 
APPROVALS UNDER THIS INTERIM 
ORDER?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: AS OF
YESTERDAY, HEALTH CANADA HAS 
APPROVED 15 ADDITIONAL TESTING 
KITS.
WE RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT 
TESTING IS FOR THE LONG-TERM 
REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY, AND WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE 
THAT CAPACITY RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
I SALUTE THE INNOVATIVE CANADIAN
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MOVED 
FORWARD ON SOLUTIONS AND LOOK 
FORWARD VERY MUCH TO SEEING THEM
COME INTO PLACE, BUT WE CANNOT 
COMPROMISE CANADIAN SAFETY.
WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS 
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD WHEN 
FAULTY TEST KITS WERE RELIED 
UPON.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE CANADIANS 
WERE SAFE.
>> WE ARE, OF COURSE, TALKING 
ABOUT AN INTERIM ORDER THAT 
SPECIFICALLY ALLOWS HEALTH 
CANADA TO LOOK AT OTHER 
APPROVALS GRANTED BY OTHER 
ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE EUROPEAN
UNION.
SO SURELY THE PRIME MINISTER 
WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE EU 
STANDARDS AND THE EU 
CERTIFICATION STANDARDS, WHEN 
THEY ARE CANADIAN COMPANIES 
MANUFACTURING THOSE TEST KITS.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT TALKING 
ABOUT CHOOSING BETWEEN SPEED AND
EFFECTIVENESS.
OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN ABLE 
TO IMPOSE AND IMPLEMENT A FAST 
TRACK SYSTEM.
CANADA SHOULD BE AS WELL.
BUT MR. SPEAKER, IN 2018, A 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT ON 
PANDEMIC PLANNING ADVISED THAT 
CANADA'S APPROACH TO DEALING 
WITH PANDEMICS SHOULD NOT BE TO 
FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE W.H.O. 
BUT TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON 
CANADIAN EXPERTISE AND 
INTELLIGENCE.
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER EXPLAIN 
WHY HIS GOVERNMENT IGNORED THAT 
REPORT.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER, IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS,
PLEASE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FIRST
OF ALL, MR. SPEAKER, IN REGARDS 
TO THE FIRST HALF OF THIS 
QUESTION, WE RECOGNIZE HOW 
IMPORTANT IT IS TO APPROVE AS 
RELIABLE TESTING QUICKLY, BUT 
FOR MADE-IN-CANADA TESTS, IT IS 
UNLIKELY THAT THEY GOT EU 
APPROVAL OR U.S. APPROVAL BEFORE
CANADIAN APPROVAL.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL THE 
STEPS NECESSARY FOR THOSE 
CANADIAN INNOVATORS AS QUICKLY 
AS POSSIBLE.
AND IN REGARDS TO OUR APPROACH 
TO THIS, WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING 
INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS 
EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT MAKING 
SURE WE'RE PROTECTING CANADIANS 
WITH ALL THE BEST INFORMATION WE
HAVE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 
THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS 
GATHERED ALL THE PROVINCIAL 
HEALTH OFFICIALS ON JANUARY 2, 
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO.
>> MR. BLANCHET [ Speaking 
French ] [ Voice of Interpreter 
].
>> HELLO.
WHILE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
GOVERNMENT ARE DISCUSSING THE 
TREATMENT THAT SHOULD BE 
RESERVED FOR SENIORS AND HOW 
WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS 
EMBROILIO, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THE RESTRICTIONS, AND I WANT TO 
GO BACK TO ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
I'M NOT GOING TO CAST ANYONE'S 
GOOD INTENTIONS INTO DOUBT, BUT 
THERE ARE SOME HISTORICAL ISSUES
BETWEEN THE BANK AND THE 
GOVERNMENT.
THE PRIME MINISTER YET INDICATED
YESTERDAY THAT COMPANIES THAT 
PRACTICE FISCAL AVOIDANCE WOULD 
NOT HAVE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT 
PROGRAMS.
I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT THIS 
STATEMENT WAS VERY CLEAR AND 
PRECISE.
DID I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT IS IMPLEMENTING 
CLEAR MEASURES AND CLEAR 
TRACKING FOR COMPANIES THAT 
PRACTICE TAX AVOIDANCE, THAT 
THEY WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND THAT
THEY WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO 
EMERGENCY SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR 
COVID-19?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
COMPANIES WHO DO PRACTICE FISCAL
AVOIDANCE WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES
IN OUR SYSTEM.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE 
CASE, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT A 
PANDEMIC.
WE ARE TAKING UNPRECEDENTED 
MEASURES WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF 
HELPING WORKERS IN CANADA TO 
KEEP THEIR JOBS AND TO SUPPORT 
THEM DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
THERE IS AN AUDIT PROCESS THAT 
HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE 
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES THAT HAVE
BEEN IMPLEMENTED, AND AT THE 
SAME TIME THE FIGHT AGAINST TAX 
EVASION CONTINUES TO BE A 
PRIORITY.
THE U.S. HAS -- WE HAVE MADE 
UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENTS IN THE
CRA TO LOOK AT TAX EVASION, AND 
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS 
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC TO 
ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE 
CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY COMPANY 
THAT DOES NOT PAY ITS FAIR SHARE
OF TAXES.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> WELL, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE 
BETWEEN TAX EVASION AND TAX 
AVOIDANCE.
AND WHAT IS LEGAL UNDER CANADIAN
LAW.
THAT'S THE WHOLE SCANDAL BEHIND 
THIS.
I WANT TO BE SPECIFIC.
IF A BANK DOING BUSINESS IN 
CANADA USES TAX AVOIDANCE BY 
PUTTING MONEY OUTSIDE OF THE 
COUNTRY TO PAY LESS TAX IN 
CANADA, WOULD SUCH A BANK BE 
NECESSARILY EXCLUDED FROM 
SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR COVID-19?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE'RE
ALWAYS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE 
VERY SEVERE WITH THOSE COMPANIES
THAT DON'T PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE 
OF TAXES, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE 
ESTABLISHED MORE TOOLS AT THE 
CRA IN RECENT YEARS TO ENSURE 
THAT EVERYONE PAYS THEIR FAIR 
SHARE OF TAXES.
OUR PRIORITY TO HELP CANADIANS 
AND TO HELP WORKERS WAS TO GIVE 
THEM THE NECESSARY SUPPORT, AND 
THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE.
>> MR. BLANCHET. 
>> IF A BANK WANTS TO PROFIT 
FROM SUCH PROGRAMS AND THEY USE 
TAX AVOIDANCE, WILL THEY BE 
EXCLUDED?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE'RE
GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE SUPPORT 
WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO 
NEED ASSISTANCE, AND AT THE SAME
TIME WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 
FIGHT AGAINST TAX AVOIDANCE AND 
TAX EVASION.
THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR 
ALL THOSE WHO DO SO.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT 
CANADIANS AND QUEBECERS WILL BE 
MORE REASSURED ABOUT THIS, BUT 
NOW I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR 
THE PRIME MINISTER.
CAN WE AGREE THAT THE EFFECTS OF
THIS PANDEMIC ON SENIORS APPLY 
TO EVERYONE OVER 75 YEARS OF AGE
IN THE SAME MANNER?
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD THEY 
ARE AND HOW WE MANAGE THIS 
CRISIS.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT SENIORS WHO ARE 
THE MOST VULNERABLE IN GENERAL 
ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE 
IMPACTS OF COVID-19.
SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE 
RESOURCES OR THE NECESSARY 
EQUIPMENT AND HAVING A HARD TIME
PAYING THEIR RENT BECAUSE THEY 
HAVE LOW INCOME, THEY WILL HAVE 
ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR FOOD AND 
THE DELIVERY OF MEDICATION, AND 
THEY WILL BE FACING GREATER 
CHALLENGES THAN SENIORS WHO ARE 
FINANCIALLY COMFORTABLE.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> MR. SINGH.
>> MY QUESTION IS VERY SIMPLE.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER COMMIT, 
LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE DONE, 
INCLUDING FRANCE, DENMARK AND 
POLAND, TO GUARANTEE THAT IF A 
COMPANY IS REGISTERED IN A TAX 
HAVEN, THAT COMPANY WILL NOT 
RECEIVE PUBLIC SUPPORT.
YES OR NO?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, SINCE 2015 WE HAVE 
MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN 
THE CRA TO FIGHT AGAINST FISCAL 
AVOIDANCE AND -- TAX AVOIDANCE 
AND TAX EVASION.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE 
TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY AS A 
COUNTRY, AND THERE WILL ALWAYS 
BE STRONG CONSEQUENCES FOR SEMIN
WHO AVOIDS TO PAY THEIR FAIR 
SHARE OF TAXES.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE BEEN 
INVESTING TO ENSURE CANADIANS 
GET THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED, 
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY WORK 
FOR SMALL OR LARGE COMPANIES.
>> I ASKED VERY CLEARLY IF A 
COMPANY IS REGISTERED IN A TAX 
HAVEN, WILL THEY GET HELP, YES 
OR NO.
AND WE GOT AN EVASIVE ANSWER.
I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN, VERY 
CLEARLY, OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE 
DONE THIS.
POLAND HAS DONE IT.
DENMARK HAS COMMITTED TO IT.
FRANCE HAS COMMITTED TO IT.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT COMMIT 
TODAY, VERY SIMPLY, TO SEE IF A 
COMPANY IS CHEATING THE PUBLIC 
OF PAYING ITS FAIR SHARE THROUGH
USING LEGAL TAX HAVENS, WILL 
THIS GOVERNMENT COMMIT TODAY TO 
SAY, NO, WE WILL NOT GIVE THEM 
PUBLIC HELP IF THEY ARE CHEATING
THE PUBLIC OF CONTRIBUTING TO 
OUR ECONOMY, TO OUR SOCIETY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
WORK WE'VE DONE FROM THE VERY 
BEGINNING HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON 
HELPING CANADIANS, CANADIANS WHO
WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, 
CANADIANS WHO WORK FOR LARGE 
BUSINESSES, CANADIANS WORK FOR 
FRANCHISES OR MOM AND POP SHOPS.
WE KNOW THAT COVID-19 HAS CAUSED
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 
DIFFERENT SECTORS, IN DIFFERENT 
INDUSTRIES, TO LOSE THEIR 
PAYCHEQUES, AND OUR FOCUS HAS 
BEEN ON MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE 
GET THE HELP THEY NEED TO PAY 
FOR GROCERIES, TO PAY FOR THEIR 
RENT REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF 
COMPANY THEY WORK FOR.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE CONTINUE TO
BE VERY SEVERE ON TAX AVOIDANCE 
AND TAX EVASION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN 
THE CANADA REVENUE AGENCY TO 
MAKE SURE THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES
FOR PEOPLE WHO AVOID PAYING 
THEIR TAXES.
>> MR. SINGH.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT 
IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENTS
GETTING MORE HELP THAN THEY NEED
THAN $25 BILLION OF LOST AVENUE 
DUE TO OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS.
THEY SEEM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT 
FAMILIES RECEIVING MORE HELP 
THAN THEY NEED THAN ENSURING 
THAT THE COMPANIES, LIKE LOBLAW,
GET AWAY WITH NOT PAYING $400 
MILLION IN TAXES.
WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT TAKE 
THIS APPROACH THAT THEY ARE SO 
CONCERNED ABOUT DENYING HELP TO 
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED BUT ALLOW
BUSINESSES TO GET AWAY WITH NOT 
PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE?
WHY ARE THE GOVERNMENT'S 
PRIORITIES SO MIXED UP?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I'M 
SURE THE HONOURABLE MEMBER ISN'T
SUGGESTING THAT SOMEONE WHO 
WORKS AS A GROCERY CLERK IN 
LOBLAWS SHOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE 
TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF BEHAVIOUR 
OF WHAT THEIR HEAD OFFICE HAS 
DONE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE TAX 
AVOIDANCE AND TAX EVASION WITH 
ALL THE TOOLS OF THIS GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE WE TAKE IT VERY 
SERIOUSLY, THAT EVERYONE PAY 
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO DELIVER SIGNIFICANT 
HELP FOR STUDENTS, FOR SENIORS, 
FOR WORKERS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
>> MR. SINGH?
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS GO TO TAX
HAVENS AND IS LOST.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PAY $1.8 
BILLION TO LOBLAWS BECAUSE OUR 
TAX RULES ALLOW COMPANIES TO GET
AROUND THE RULES.
BUT THIS ISN'T WHAT'S WORRYING 
THE GOVERNMENT.
WHAT'S WORRYING THE GOVERNMENT 
IS THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING TOO
MUCH MONEY AND ARE STAYING HOME.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE PRIME 
MINISTER KNOWS IT, BUT $2,000 A 
MONTH BARELY COVERS THE BASIC 
NEEDS.
WHY?
IS THE GOVERNMENT MAKING THIS 
CHOICE?
IT'S A CHOICE TO MAKE LIVES MORE
DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS RATHER 
THAN DEALING WITH THE MAJOR 
COMPANIES THAT ARE EXPLOITING 
OUR SYSTEM.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WHAT 
CONCERNS THE GOVERNMENT IS TO 
MAKE SURE THAT WORKERS AND 
STUDENTS AND CANADIANS ARE 
GETTING THE ASSISTANCE THEY 
NEED.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON, 
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE PUT 
FORWARD THE CANADA STUDENT 
BENEFIT, BUT WE DIDN'T STOP 
THERE.
WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS NEED JOBS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IMPROVED THE 
SUMMER JOB PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS.
WE WILL ALSO CREATE THOUSANDS OF
JOBS FOR STUDENTS AS WELL.
WE WILL IMPROVE VOLUNTEERISM 
WITH AMOUNTS OF $1,000 TO $5,000
FOR STUDENTS.
WE WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY 
ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS FOR THEIR
TUITION.
WE ARE THERE TO HELP THOSE IN 
NEED, AND THAT IS THE PRIORITY.
NOT POLITICS.
THERE IS SUBSTANCE HERE, 
MR. SPEAKER.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO SPLIT MY TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, THE PRIME MINISTER 
JUST SAID THAT IT WOULD BE 
HIGHLY UNLIKELY FOR A CANADIAN 
COMPANY TO HAVE RECEIVED 
APPROVALS IN EITHER THE EUROPEAN
UNION OR IN THE U.S. FOR TESTING
KITS WITHOUT HAVING RECEIVED 
APPROVAL HERE IN CANADA.
I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW HIS 
ATTENTION TO A COMPANY CALLED 
BTNX WHO HAS BEEN APPROVED TO 
SELL THEIR TESTING KITS IN THE 
U.S. UNDER SECTION D OF THE 
FDA'S POLICY FOR DIAGNOSTIC 
TESTS FOR CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 
2019 DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
EMERGENCY.
THEY ARE BASED IN MARKHAM, 
MR. SPEAKER.
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER EXPLAIN 
WHY BTNX HAS RECEIVED APPROVAL 
IN THE U.S. UNDER THE FDA BUT IS
STILL WAITING FOR HEALTH CANADA 
APPROVALS FOR TESTING KITS?
>> THE HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THANK THE MEMBER OPPOSITE FOR 
HIGHLIGHTING AN EXCELLENT CASE 
OF AN INNOVATIVE CANADIAN 
COMPANY THAT IS MOVING FORWARD 
WITH A WORLD-CLASS PRODUCT.
WE WILL ENSURE THAT IT GOES 
THROUGH THE PROPER EXPECTATIONS 
AND QUALIFICATIONS IN CANADA 
BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE GIVING UP
OUR SOVEREIGNTY TO THE UNITED 
STATES OR TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCTS
WE APPROVE IN CANADA ARE SAFE 
FOR CANADIANS.
WE'VE SEEN OTHER COUNTRIES TAKE 
VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT 
WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IN 
CANADA.
WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE THAT EVERY
STEP OF THE WAY WHAT WE DO IS 
SAFE FOR CANADIANS.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> MR. RIAZ. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS 
CRISIS, SO WE HAVE FELT FRICTION
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
AND THE VARIOUS PROVINCES, 
PARTICULARLY WITH QUEBEC.
ON APRIL 23, THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND THE MINISTER OF HEALTH 
INDICATED THAT SENIORS RESIDENTS
COULD BE A NATIONAL PROJECT.
THEY REFERRED TO THE CANADIAN 
HEALTH ACT.
THEN ON APRIL 25, THE PRIME 
MINISTER ATTEMPTED TO CLARIFY 
THOSE COMMENTS, SAYING THAT HE 
DIDN'T INTEND TO GET INVOLVED OR
INTERFERE IN AREAS OF PROVINCIAL
JURISDICTION.
I THINK THAT WHEN IT'S A 
PANDEMIC, THE LAST THING WE NEED
IS A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS AND A
GOVERNMENT THAT'S TRYING TO 
INTERFERE.
I WOULD LIKE THE PRIME MINISTER 
TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL
US CLEARLY THAT THERE IS NO 
INTENT TO INTERFERE IN AREAS 
UNDER PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION, 
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 
PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF 
SENIORS AND LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES.
IT'S ALREADY DIFFICULT ENOUGH 
FOR THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT TO 
MANAGE THIS.
>> I APOLOGIZE, THE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I THINK THAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS 
SEEN FROM THE BEGINNING THAT 
THERE IS NO INTENTION BY THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE,
BUT RATHER TO COLLABORATE WITH 
ALL OF THE PROVINCES.
IT'S PARTICULARLY TRUE, 
MR. SPEAKER, IN QUEBEC WHERE WE 
ARE SEEING A VERY DIFFICULT 
SITUATION.
WE ARE THINKING OF OUR SENIORS 
AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE WORKING IN 
COOPERATION WITH QUEBEC.
I'M IN CONTACT WITH A NUMBER OF 
MINISTERS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AS
WELL AS THE MINISTER FOR QUEBEC,
AND THE PRIME MINISTER WHO ARE 
SPEAKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON
GOOD.
>> MR. RAYES. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, QUEBEC DECIDED 
TO PUT IN PLACE A PROGRESSIVE 
RELEASE OF THE SOCIAL DISTANCING
RULES.
FOR OUR PART, FOR SOME DAYS, THE
PRIME MINISTER SEEMS TO PUBLICLY
BE QUESTIONING THESE IN THE 
PRESS CONFERENCES, THAT IS THE 
DECISIONS OF QUEBEC IN 
PARTICULAR, WITH REGARD TO THIS 
GRADUAL RETURN TO NORMAL.
COULD HE TELL US TODAY, IN THE 
HOUSE, IF HE AGREES, YES OR NO, 
WITH THE PLAN THAT WAS PROPOSED 
BY THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC?
>> THE MINISTER.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> I WILL SAY THAT I'M 
INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE 
COLLABORATIVE WORK OF THE 
PROVINCES, TERRITORIES AND THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME UP 
WITH A SHARED SET OF GUIDELINES 
THAT WILL HELP US ENSURE THAT AS
WE MOVE TOGETHER AND OBVIOUSLY 
SEPARATELY, GIVEN OUR OWN 
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION, OUR 
OWN PARTICULAR APPROACH, THAT WE
HAVE A SET OF GUIDELINES THAT 
WILL PROTECT THE HEALTH OF ALL 
CANADIANS.
AND I KNOW THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY 
WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS, WITH ALL 
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, 
AND WE'RE THRILLED THAT THERE IS
SUCH COLLABORATION ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THANK YOU.
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> MR. RAYES, 30 SECONDS FOR THE
QUESTION.
>> I WILL ASK IT AGAIN IN A 
SIMPLE WAY.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, THE PRIME MINISTER 
HIMSELF, WHO SPEAKS ON A DAILY 
BASIS, AGREES, YES OR NO, WITH 
THE RETURN TO NORMAL PLAN PUT IN
PLACE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF 
QUEBEC.
YES OR NO.
IT'S SIMPLE.
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> MR. SPEAKER, I THINK AS MY 
COUNTERPART INDICATES, IN FACT, 
THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE GONG 
WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS 
COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS,
AND I AM THRILLED THAT WE HAVE A
SHARED SET OF GUIDELINES THAT 
ALL PROVINCES HAVE AGREED TO USE
TO GUIDE THEM IN THE SAFE 
PRACTICES AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO 
REOPEN OUR ECONOMIES.
IT'S A DELICATE PROCESS.
IN FACT, MUCH OF IT IS BEING 
DEVELOPED AT A LOCAL LEVEL 
BECAUSE, OF COURSE, SITUATIONS 
VARY SO GREATLY ACROSS THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
BUT THOSE GUIDELINES THAT ARE IN
PLACE WILL ENSURE THAT PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES HAVE A ROAD MAP 
THAT WILL PROTECT THE HEALTH OF 
CANADIANS.
THANK YOU.
>> MS. BLANC?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. CHAIR.
REPORTS IN THE NEWS ABOUT A 
SURGE IN COUNTERFEIT PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMING INTO
CANADA ARE DEEPLY CONCERNING TO 
MANY CANADIANS.
CAN MINISTER ADVISE US AS TO THE
EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, OUR PRIORITY IS 
ALWAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SAFE, EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND 
SUPPLIES IN THE HANDS OF OUR 
FRONT-LINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE 
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN, ENSURING 
QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT IS 
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH ESTABLISHED 
SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, AS 
WELL AS QUALITY ASSURANCE 
EXPERTS, AND WE HAVE STRONG 
PROCESSES IN PLACE TO HELP 
ENSURE THAT THE SUPPLIES WE 
RECEIVE MEET ALL NECESSARY 
STANDARDS.
IN ADDITION, THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
AGENCY OF CANADA HAS ROBUST 
TESTING MEASURES IN PLACE.
WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT EQUIPMENT
IS SAFE -- 
>> MS. BLANC?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE MINISTER
HOW MANY SHIPMENTS -- OR IF SHE 
CAN TELL US WHO IS ORDERING 
THESE SUPPLIES.
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE 
FOLLOWING AT PUBLIC SERVICES AND
PROCUREMENT IS THAT WE ARE 
ORDERING BASED ON ORDERS THAT 
HAVE COME FROM THE PROVINCES, 
BASED ON WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH 
TELLS US THEY HAVE REQUESTED.
>> I AM JUST GOING TO STOP THE 
CLOCK FOR A SECOND.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE 
THAT THE LENGTH OF THE QUESTION 
SHOULD BE REFLECTED BY THE 
LENGTH OF THE ANSWER.
I KNOW IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT 
SO THAT WE'RE WELL AWARE OF THE 
GUIDELINES THAT WE'RE USING.
MS. BLOCK, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. CHAIR.
CAN THE MINISTER TELL US HOW -- 
WHICH COMPANIES ARE ORDERING 
THESE COUNTERFEIT SUPPLIES?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
WE, AS I SAID, ARE ENGAGED WITH 
A NUMBER OF DIVERSE SUPPLIERS 
INTERNATIONALLY AND DOMESTICALLY
TO ENSURE THAT OUR FRONT-LINE 
HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE THE 
SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED, AND WE 
ARE ENGAGED WITH RIGOROUS 
QUALITY ASSURANCE CONTROLS 
INTERNATIONALLY AND 
DOMESTICALLY.
>> MS. BLOCK. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CAN THE MINISTER AT LEAST TELL 
US WHAT MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO
ENSURE THAT CANADA IS ONLY 
BUYING PPE FROM REPUTABLE 
SOURCES?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POINTS 
AT WHICH QUALITY ASSURANCE IS 
OCCURRING, MR. SPEAKER.
WE ARE ENSURING THAT 
MANUFACTURERS ARE REQUIRED TO 
CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE MEETING 
SPECIFIC STANDARDS.
NEW CONTROLS BY THE CHINESE 
GOVERNMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL 
PROCUREMENTS REQUIRE ADDITIONAL 
OVERSIGHT, AND THE PSPC IS 
WORKING CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC 
HEALTH THAT MAKES SURE THAT 
THERE ARE -- THERE IS QUALITY 
ASSURANCE TAKING PLACE RIGHT 
HERE IN CANADA IN CANADIAN 
WAREHOUSES.
>> MS. BLOCK. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. CHAIR.
THE CBSA HAS CONFIRMED BORDER 
AGENTS HAVE STOPPED SHIPMENTS 
FROM COMING INTO CANADA THAT 
CONTAIN SUSPECTED FAKE PPE.
CAN MINISTER BLAIR CONFIRM HOW 
MANY SHIPMENTS THE CBSA HAS 
SEIZED?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT CBSA VERY
VIGOROUSLY CHECKS THE QUALITY 
AND THE PROVIDENCE OF THE 
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT THAT IS 
COMING IN.
IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT IT IS 
COUNTERFEIT AND, THEREFORE, IN 
VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENTS, IT 
IS SUBJECT TO SEIZURE.
I DON'T HAVE THE PRECISE NUMBER 
OF SEIZURES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE,
BUT I CAN ASSURE THE MEMBER 
OPPOSITE THAT CBSA IS VERY 
RIGOROUS IN ENSURING THAT NO 
COUNTERFEIT MATERIAL IS ALLOWED 
INTO THE COUNTRY.
>> MS. BLOCK. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. CHAIR.
CAN THE MINISTER ADVISE US AS TO
WHAT MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN TO
STOP THESE SHIPMENTS FROM COMING
TO CANADA?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, AS I MENTIONED, 
WE ARE TAKING A NUMBER OF 
MEASURES TO MAKE SURE QUALITY 
ASSURANCE OCCURS IN THE COUNTRY 
OF ORIGIN WITH DIRECT 
COMMUNICATION WITH THE 
MANUFACTURERS, ON-THE-GROUND 
LOGISTIC SUPPORT THAT WE'VE 
ENGAGED FROM PRIVATE 
CORPORATIONS, AS WELL AS THE 
EMBASSY IN CHINA, AND THEN ONCE 
AGAIN, WHEN THE GOODS ARRIVE IN 
CANADA, THEY ARE QUALITY TESTED 
BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF 
CANADA.
>> MISS BLOC. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CAN THE MINISTER PLEASE ADVISE 
US OF WHAT THOSE MEASURES ARE?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, AS I MENTIONED, 
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA 
IS TAKING EXTREME CAUTION AND 
EXTREME CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT 
NO DEFECTIVE GOODS ARE DELIVERED
TO FRONT-LINE HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS.
THAT IS A PROCESS THAT WE TAKE 
VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE OF OUR 
COMMITMENT TO OUR FRONT-LINE 
HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
>> MR. HALLEN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE MINIMUM $5,000 INCOME -- FOR
KRSH IS CUTTING OUT ALBERTANS.
BRENDA IS A CONSTITUENT OF MINE 
WHO WAS LAID OFF FROM HER OIL 
AND GAS JOB IN 2018.
SHE HAS BEEN ON EI FROM SPRING 
2019 UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR.
AS HER EI DOESN'T COUNT AS 
INCOME UNDER THE PROGRAM, SHE 
DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR CERB.
SHE HAS BEEN TRYING HER BEST TO 
FIND WORK, BUT LIKE OTHER FORMER
INDUSTRY WORKERS, SHE'S HAD A 
TOUGH TIME.
THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING 
PIPELINES, COMPOUNDED WITH THE 
CURRENT PANDEMIC, HAS ONLY MADE 
THE JOB SEARCH HARDER.
WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT CUTTING 
OUT UNEMPLOYED OIL AND GAS 
WORKERS, LIKE BRENDA, FROM 
RECEIVING CERB?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I AM VERY WELL AWARE OF 
SITUATIONS LIKE THE CONSTITUENT 
THAT THE MEMBER SPEAKS OF AND 
CAN ASSURE HIM THAT RECENT 
CHANGES TO A REGULATORY CHANGES 
TO THE CERB, IF BRENDA'S EI 
EXPIRED SINCE DECEMBER 29 OF 
LAST YEAR, WOULD QUALIFY HER, IN
FACT, FOR THE CERB.
>> MR. HALLEN.
>> DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE 
PLANS FOR HELPING OIL AND GAS 
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF 
WORK IN RECENT YEARS AND WHOSE 
JOB SEARCH HAS BEEN MADE EVEN 
HARDER BECAUSE OF COVID-19?
YES OR NO.
>> HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE VERY 
AWARE OF THE INTENSE PRESSURES 
THAT OIL AND GAS WORKERS ARE 
FACING, AND LET ME START BY 
EXPRESSING THE GREAT SYMPATHY 
THAT I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS 
HOUSE TODAY FEELS FOR THE PEOPLE
OF FORT McMURRAY, WHO ARE FACING
A TRIPLE BLOW OF A FLOOD, OF THE
CORONAVIRUS, AND OF A DEEPLY 
DEPRESSED PRICE FOR OIL.
WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYING OIL 
AND GAS WORKERS, THE SUPPORT 
THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN 
DIRECTLY FOR THE CLEANUP OF 
ORPHAN WELLS, $1.7 BILLION, IS 
GOING TO PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE 
BACK TO WORK VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
>> MR. HALLEN. 
>> MINIMUM $20,000 PAYROLL 
REQUIREMENT IS DISQUALIFYING 
SMALL FAMILY BUSINESSES AND 
SELF-EMPLOYED BUSINESSES.
THIS INCLUDES HARD-WORKING TRUCK
DRIVERS RISKING THEIR LIVES TO 
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AND 
THEY HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED FROM
RECEIVING THE LOANS.
BE THEY BUSINESSES THAT ARE MOST
AT RISK FROM THE CURRENT CRISIS.
LISA IS SELF-EMPLOYED AND RUNS A
CONSULTANCY IN MY RIDING.
SHE HAS WORKED HARD TO GROW HER 
BUSINESS, PLANNING TO HIRE AN 
EMPLOYEE BEFORE COVID-19 AND 
PLANNED TO FINALLY DRAW A SALARY
NEXT MONTH.
NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC, SHE IS 
STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE DOORS 
OPEN.
WHY ARE SELF-EMPLOYED BUSINESS 
OWNERS LIKE LISA DISQUALIFIED 
FROM CEBA?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER. 
>> I WANT TO THANK THE 
HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR THAT VERY 
GOOD QUESTION, AND TO THAT 
EMPLOYER AND THAT BUSINESS 
OWNER, KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING 
WITH HER AND WITH MANY ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE PROVIDED MANY SUPPORTS 
FOR BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE HER.
IF SHE HAS SEEN A DROP IN 
REVENUE, SHE CAN ACCESS THE WAGE
SUBSIDY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD
A LOT FROM BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE 
THE ONE YOU JUST DESCRIBED IS 
THE ENORMOUS EXPENSE OF RENT, 
AND WE HAVE JUST RELEASED 
SUPPORT FOR RENT, 75% FOR RENT 
RELIEF FOR THOSE SMALL 
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN 
SEVERELY HURT DURING THIS TIME, 
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO 
SUPPORT BUSINESSES LIKE THE ONE 
YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
THANK YOU.
>> MR. HALLEN.
>> FAMILY-RUN NAIL SALON IN MY 
RIDING IS STRUGGLING TO STAY 
HOPE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
AS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY 
EMPLOYEES, THEY DON'T MEET THE 
$20,000 PAYROLL REQUIREMENT FOR 
CEBA.
YES OR NO, DOES THE MINISTER 
BELIEVE THAT SMALL FAMILY-RUN 
BUSINESSES, LIKE THIS NAIL 
SALON, ARE NOT BEING AFFECTED BY
THE PANDEMIC?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> HAVING GROWN UP IN A BUSINESS
JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT THE 
HONOURABLE MEMBER JUST 
DESCRIBED, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT
THAT BUSINESS AND EVERY BUSINESS
IS AT THE HEART OF THE WORK THAT
WE DO.
SO WE VERY MUCH ARE CONCERNED 
ABOUT THAT BUSINESS AND ALL 
BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN.
THE WORK IS NOT DONE, AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT 
BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT
ARE CONTRIBUTING SO MUCH TO OUR 
COMMUNITIES, ARE INDEED 
SUPPORTED DURING THIS IMPORTANT 
AND CRITICAL TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> MR. HALLAN.
>> KRISTA OWNS A MASSAGE KRINIC 
AND THE PROPERTY IT RESTS ON.
SHE WAS OFFERED A LOAN FROM HER 
BANK BUT WORRIES THAT SHE 
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH
THE INTEREST PAYMENTS.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE LAND TAX, 
MANAGEMENT FEES AND UTILITIES.
SHE WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR CEBA
BUT CANNOT BECAUSE OF THE 
MINIMUM 20,000 PAYROLL.
AGAIN, WHY ARE SMALL BUSINESS 
OWNERS LIKE KRISTA INELIGIBLE 
FOR CEBA, AND SHOULD WE NOT LIST
THE $20,000 PAYROLL REQUIREMENT?
>> HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, THE HONOURABLE 
MEMBER, FOR THAT IMPORTANT 
QUESTION.
AND THAT EMPLOYER AND 
ENTREPRENEUR IS AT THE VERY 
HEART OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF US 
COULDN'T WALK DOWN ANY OF OUR 
STREETS AND NOT SEE A WONDERFUL 
BUSINESS LIKE THAT, AND I WANT 
TO ASSURE THOSE BUSINESSES THAT 
WE CONTINUE TO WORK, WE CONTINUE
TO LISTEN AND WE CONTINUE TO 
FIND SOLUTIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE 
DONE, OF COURSE, TO HELP 
BUSINESSES LIKE THIS ONE IS TO 
MAKE SURE THAT THEIR COSTS ARE 
KEPT LOW.
SO WE'VE DEFERRED PAYING THE GST
AND HST AND CUSTOMS DUTIES FOR 
THOSE TYPES OF DUTIES SO THAT 
THEIR COSTS ARE MAINTAINED LOW 
DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
>> MR. WILLIAMSON.
>> MR. SPEAKER, DEMOCRATIC 
GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD 
HAVE HAD TO LEARN A TOUGH 
LESSON, A GOVERNMENT THAT LIES 
TO ITS OWN PEOPLE WILL LIE TO 
THE WORLD.
BEIJING'S MANAGEMENT OF THEIR 
CORONAVIRUS HAS BEEN CALLED ITS 
CHERNOBYL MOMENT BY SCHOLARS 
AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING OUR 
OWN IRWIN COTLER.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT JOIN CALLS 
FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF CHINA'S 
COVID-19 CONDUCT AS AUSTRALIA IS
ASKING?
>> THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, LET ME BEGIN BY 
SAYING THAT I DEFER TO NO ONE IN
MY TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR IRWIN 
COTLER WHO I THINK IS A MORAL 
AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED BY ALL 
MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE.
WHEN IT COMES TO REPORTING ON 
THE CORONAVIRUS IN COUNTRIES 
AROUND THE WORLD, IT IS 
ABSOLUTELY THE CASE THAT WE ALL 
HELP OUR OWN CITIZENS AND WE 
HELP EACH OTHER WITH CANDOUR AND
TRANSPARENCY, AND IT IS ALSO THE
CASE THAT WE NEED TO WORK 
TOGETHER.
HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK ALL 
MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE WILL AGREE
THAT A DEMOCRACY WILL ALWAYS BE 
MORE TRANSPARENT THAN ANY 
AUTHORITARIAN REGIME. 
>> CANADA'S AMBASSADOR TO CHINA 
HAS LAVISHED PRAISE.
DOES -- OF CHINA'S RESPONSE TO 
COVID-19?
>> THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, I BEGAN BY 
SAYING THAT I THINK WE SHARE A 
HIGH REGARD FOR IRWIN COTLER, 
AND LET ME SIMPLY SAY THAT I 
PERSONALLY HAVE A VERY HIGH 
REGARD FOR AMBASSADOR DOMINIC 
BARTON WHO IS THE RIGHT MAN AT 
THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT 
TIME.
AMBASSADOR BARTON IS ABSOLUTELY 
CENTRAL TO OUR PROCUREMENT WORK 
IN CHINA TODAY AND HIS EXTENSIVE
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IS SAVING 
CANADIAN LIVES.
>> MR. WILLIAMSON.
>> BEGRUDGINGLY IT SEEMS THE 
GOVERNMENT IS NOW OPEN TO 
REVIEWING THE WORLD HEALTH 
ORGANIZATION'S RESPONSE TO 
COVID-19.
BUT, MR. SPEAKER, OFFICIALS FROM
THIS INTERNATIONAL AGENCY HAVE 
THUS FAR REFUSED TO TESTIFY 
BEFORE THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT JOIN US IN 
CALLING ON W.H.O. OFFICIALS TO 
TESTIFY BEFORE OUR HOUSE OF 
COMMONS COMMITTEE?
>> THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THERE WAS 
NOTHING GRUDGING AT ALL IN THE 
VERY CANDID AND IMPORTANT 
CONVERSATION OUR MINISTER OF 
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAD 
RECENTLY WITH A DOCTOR OF THE 
W.H.O.
IN THAT CONVERSATION, SHE TALKED
ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THE 
W.H.O. PLAYS AS THE ONLY 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT 
COORDINATES THE WORLD'S HEALTH 
RESPONSE, AND WE NEED THAT IN A 
PANDEMIC.
SHE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT HOW 
IMPORTANT IT WILL BE TO HAVE A 
POST-CRISIS REVIEW -- 
>> MR. WILLIAMSON?
>> CANADA IS GRATEFUL FOR 
TAIWAN'S DONATION OF HALF A 
MILLION SURGICAL MASKS TO 
CANADA, TO OUR COUNTRY.
IS THE GOVERNMENT WILLING TO 
SUPPORT TAIWAN'S W.H.O. 
MEMBERSHIP AS A CONDITION OF 
W.H.O. REFORMS?
>> THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, CANADA'S ONE 
CHINA POLICY IS CLEAR AND HAS 
BEEN THE POLICY OF SUCCESSIVE 
CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS.
WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TAIWAN'S 
MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN 
INTERNATIONAL MULTILATERAL 
ORGANIZATIONS WHERE ITS PRESENCE
IS IMPORTANT.
TAIWAN'S ROLE AS AN OBSERVER IN 
THE W.H.O. IS VERY HELPFUL, AND 
LET ME POINT OUT WE PARTICIPATE 
TOGETHER WITH TAIWAN IN APEC.
>> MR. WILLIAMSON.
>> CANADA'S FISH AND SEAFOOD 
HARVESTERS FACE UNPRECEDENTED 
UNCERTAINTY, AND THE FISHERIES 
MINISTER HAS SAID, QUOTE, IT IS 
UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL AREA TO 
DETERMINE IF FISHERMEN WANT TO 
DELAY OR STAY ON SHORE."
WHILE THIS HAS HELD TRUE FOR 
OTHERS, THE MINISTER HAS REFUSED
TO OPEN UP OTHER LOBSTER 
FISHERIES, INCLUDING LFA24, 
DESPITE THE FACT FISH HARVESTERS
VOTED IN FAVOUR OF GOING FISHING
ON MAY 6.
IS THE GOVERNMENT AWARE THE 
FISHERIES MINISTER IS PICKING 
WINNERS AND LOSERS BY IMPOSING A
DOUBLE STANDARD ON CANADIAN 
HARVESTERS AND ADDING TO 
UNCERTAINTIES IN THE ATLANTIC 
FISHERY?
[ Speaking French ] [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ End of Interpretation ].
THE SUPPORT OF BOTH THE 
HARVESTERS AND PROCESSORS, AND 
AFTER CONSIDERING A VARIETY OF 
FACTORS, INCLUDING CONSERVATION 
AND PROTECTION [INDISCERNIBLE] 
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF 
HARVESTERS, OUR GOVERNMENT IS IN
CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH 
PROVINCIAL AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS
TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES.
>> MR. WILLIAMSON.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
BACK TO THE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
WOULD THE GOVERNMENT PREFER TO 
SEE ITS ONE CHINA POLICY UNDER A
DEMOCRATIC CHINA OR UNDER ITS 
TOTALITARIAN REGIME?
>> THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER IN 15 SECONDS OR LESS, 
PLEASE. 
>> I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS 
HOUSE BELIEVES IN DEMOCRACY AND 
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE 
WORKING ON AND DEMONSTRATING IN 
OUR DEBATES TODAY.
>> MR. MCCAULEY. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ON FEBRUARY 26, 2020, OVER A 
MONTH AFTER CANADA'S FIRST 
COVID-19 CASE, THE MINISTER OF 
PUBLIC HEALTH TABLED THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH AGENCY'S DEPARTMENTAL 
RESULTS REPORT IN THIS HOUSE.
IN IT, THE REPORT STATED WE 
OPTIMIZED THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY
STRATEGIC STOCKPILE.
IN THEIR 2019-2020 REPORT, WHICH
COVERS UP TO MARCH 31 OF THIS 
YEAR, THE PLAN SAID TO ENHANCE 
THE EMERGENCY STOCKPILE, AND YET
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON
APRIL 1 SAID THE STOCKPILE WAS 
NOT SUFFICIENT.
WHY?
>> MR. SPEAKER, AS WE'VE TALKED 
ABOUT NUMEROUS TIMES IN THIS 
HOUSE, YOU KNOW, ANTICIPATING A 
GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF THIS SIZE 
JUST WAS A VERY DIFFICULT THING 
TO DO, AND AS WE SAW THE DEMAND 
INCREASE ACROSS CANADA, OF 
COURSE WE REALIZE THAT THE 
PANDEMIC STOCKPILE WHICH HAD 
BEEN ASSEMBLED OVER A NUMBER OF 
YEARS WAS SIMPLY NOT GOING TO BE
SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF 
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ACROSS 
CANADA.
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES WERE 
STRUGGLING, AND WE WORKED 
CLOSELY WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS TO
ENSURE WE COULD PROCURE DEVICES 
FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
>> MR. MCCAULEY. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I WILL NOTE THAT THE REPORT 
TABLED IN THIS VERY HOUSE STATED
THAT THEY HAD OPTIMIZED THE 
STOCKPILE, AND YET THEY DID NOT.
THE DEPARTMENTAL REPORT WHICH 
COVERED UP TO MARCH 31, STATED 
AS WELL THEY WERE TO ENHANCE IT.
NOW IS THERE A FORMAL WAY TO 
DETERMINE HOW MUCH NEEDS TO BE 
IN AN EMERGENCY STOCKPILE?
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER,
AND IN FACT THE NATIONAL 
EMERGENCY STOCKPILE WAS NEVER 
MEANT TO STOCKPILE ENOUGH 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR A 
PANDEMIC OF THIS SIZE.
IN FACT, IT'S THERE TO PROVIDE A
BACKUP TO PROVINCES THAT MAY BE 
HAVING A PROVINCIAL OUTBREAK OR 
A REGIONAL LOCAL OUTBREAK IN 
WHICH THEY NEED SUPPORT TO 
AUGMENT THE STOCKPILE THAT THEY 
HAVE AT THE PROVINCE AND 
TERRITORY LEVEL.
OF COURSE NOW WE'RE REVIEWING 
THE ROLE IN TERMS OF PROTECTION 
FOR CANADIANS AS WE MOVE 
FORWARD.
>> MR. MCCAULEY. 
>> THE REPORT SAID THAT THEY HAD
OPTIMIZED THE AMOUNT OF THE 
STOCKPILE.
HOW DO THEY DETERMINE WHAT IS 
OPTIMIZED?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. SPEAKER.
THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY STOCKPILE
DOESN'T JUST HOLD PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
IN FACT, IT'S NOT THE MAJORITY 
OF -- THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
>> MR. MCCAULEY?
>> THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK, THE PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER 
JUSTIFIED CHOOSING AMAZON TO 
DISTRIBUTE PPE IN CANADA INSTEAD
OF CANADA POST BY SAYING AMAZON 
WAS NOT A FOREIGN COMPANY AND 
WAS, IN FACT, A CANADIAN 
COMPANY.
BUT THE -- JEFF BEZOS TOOK OUT 
CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP.
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER?
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE INTENTION OF
MY COMMENTS LAST WEEK AT 
COMMITTEE WERE AS FOLLOWS.
AMAZON ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT
WITH CANADA.
THERE IS A CANADIAN OPERATION OF
THAT COMPANY THAT IS WORKING 
WITH PUROLATOR, AS WELL AS 
CANADA POST, TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE
AND EFFICIENT DISTRIBUTION TO 
FRONT-LINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, 
WHICH IS THE PRIORITY OF THIS 
GOVERNMENT.
>> WE HAVE A POINT OF ORDER FROM
ACTUALLY -- YES, FROM 
MR. MCCAULEY.
>> I BELIEVE THE TIME TO RESPOND
SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE 
LENGTH OF THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
>> YES, WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL TRY TO GET THAT A 
LITTLE BIT IN LINE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MR. MCCAULEY. 
>> IN THE VERY SAME COMMITTEE, 
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPUTY MINISTER
WOULD ONLY STATE HE ACCEPTED 
THAT THE -- OR THE CONTAMINATED 
AND SUBSTANDARD PPE WOULD BE 
REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO 
CANADIAN TAXPAYERS.
WERE THESE CONTAMINATED 
NON-COMPLIANT MASKS BE REPLACED 
100% WITHOUT ONE PENNY OF ADDED 
COST TO CANADIANS?
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE CORPORATION 
HAS ASSURED US THAT THEY WILL 
NOT BE CHARGING US FOR THE MASKS
THAT WERE DEFECTIVE.
>> MR. MCCAULEY. 
>> A SPOKESPERSON FOR PSPC THEN 
WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE 
SUBSTANDARD N95 MASKS WOULD NOT 
ACTUALLY BE REPLACED FREE OF 
CHARGE IF WE ACTUALLY USED THEM 
FOR OTHER NON-MEDICAL PURPOSES.
WHY WOULD WE PAY SUPPLIERS IN 
CHINA FULL PRICE FOR SHODDY PPE 
AND THEN USE THOSE ITEMS FOR 
NON-MEDICAL PURPOSES?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, THERE IS STILL 
TESTING GOING ON TO SEE IF THOSE
MASKS CAN BE REPURPOSED FOR 
NON-MEDICAL PURPOSES, AND SO 
THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I'LL 
HAVE TO REPORT BACK TO THE HOUSE
WHEN THAT ASSESSMENT IS 
COMPLETE.
>> MR. MCCAULEY, YOU HAVE 15 
SECONDS FOR A QUESTION AND 15 
SECONDS FOR AN ANSWER.
>> OKAY, WHAT IS THE NON-MEDICAL
USE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
CONSIDERING FOR THESE 
SUBSTANDARD MASKS?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, A MAJORITY OF 
THE MASKS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE 
WERE DEFECTIVE IN TERMS OF THEIR
STAPS, AND IT'S BEING DETERMINED
WHETHER THOSE STRAPS CAN BE 
REPLACED AND THEN REPURPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND 
THROUGH YOU TO THE MINISTER OF 
SMALL BUSINESS, I WOULD LIKE TO 
NOTE THAT MANY SMALL BUSINESSES 
IN THE KENORA RIDING ARE IN THE 
TOURISM INDUSTRY.
AND THIS IS NORMALLY A HUGE 
SECTOR FOR OUR ECONOMY.
ESPECIALLY IN THE COMING SUMMER 
MONTHS, BUT DUE TO BORDER 
CLOSURES AND DUE TO 
INTERPROVINCIAL TRAVEL 
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE SECTOR WILL
BE HIT VERY HARD, PLACES LIKE 
TEMPLE BAY LODGE, PLACES LIKE 
GOLDEN EAGLE RESORT IN MY RIDING
ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING.
CAN THE MINISTER TELL THE HOUSE 
IF THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING 
ANY SUPPORTS FOR THE TOURISM 
INDUSTRY.
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE 
HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR THAT 
REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION, AND 
THOSE ARE CERTAINLY PLACES WHERE
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPENT TIME 
ENJOYING THOSE PARTICULAR 
SIGHTS, AND IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
FOR THOSE BUSINESSES IN THE 
TOURISM SECTOR AND IN ALL 
SECTORS, WE'RE HELPING THEM WITH
THE MANY MEASURES, WHETHER IT IS
TO HELP KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES ON 
STAFF OR WHETHER IT'S TO HELP 
THEM WITH CASH FLOW OR HELP THEM
KEEP THEIR EXPENSES LOW.
THAT'S HOW WE ARE HELPING AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
>> AND MANY BUSINESSES, 
PARTICULARLY OUR SEASONAL 
OPERATIONS, THEY RELY ON 
PROGRAMS LIKE THE CANADA SUMMER 
JOBS, WHICH THEY MAY FACE 
DIFFICULTY ACCESSING IF THEY ARE
NOT ABLE TO OPEN ON TIME.
SIMILARLY, THE EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDY DISQUALIFIES MANY 
SEASONAL BUSINESSES FROM BEING 
ABLE TO ACCESS IT.
WILL THE TIME FRAMES BE EXTENDED
TO SUPPORT THESE STRUGGLING 
BUSINESSES?
>> I CAN CONFIRM FROM THE 
PERSPECTIVE CANADA SUMMER JOBS 
THAT THE TIME FRAME HAS BEEN 
EXTENDED UNTIL FEBRUARY OF 2021,
FOR REASONS EXACTLY AS PUT FORTH
BY THE MEMBER.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, WE'RE GOING 
TO PULL AWAY FROM THIS QUESTION 
AND ANSWER SESSION TAKING PLACE 
RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP WATCHING IT 
BECAUSE YOU LOVE POLITICS AS 
MUCH AS I DO, YOU CAN GO TO 
CBC.CA/POLITICS.
WE ARE ALSO STREAMING AT THAT 
LOCATION THE PRESS CONFERENCE 
FROM DR. TAM.
IF THAT IS ONGOING.
I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT THAT 
IS -- WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE 
THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW IS EXPECTED 
TO LAST UNTIL JUST ABOUT 2:15 
EASTERN.
AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE VASSY 
JUST SENT ME A VERY DETAILED 
EMAIL, SO I'LL LET HER EXPLAIN 
HOW THE REST OF THE DAY WILL 
UNFOLD.
SO THAT WAS -- I WANTED TO TAKE 
A FAIR CHUNK OF THAT BECAUSE I 
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE 
QUESTIONS FROM THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES AND SEE HOW THE 
GOVERNMENT IS RESPONDING AT A 
TIME LIKE THIS, AND WE'RE GOING 
TO GET MORE OF THAT AS THE HOUSE
SORT OF RAMPS UP IN VARIOUS 
WAYS, IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY.
BUT LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE 
SHOULD EXPECT FOR THE REST OF 
THE AFTERNOON, VASSY.
>> Vassy: SO YOU'RE RIGHT, ROSY.
UNTIL ABOUT 2:15 I'M TOLD WE CAN
EXPECT A QUESTION AND ANSWER 
SESSION LIKE WE WERE JUST 
WATCHING.
THE COMMITTEE WILL THEN BREAK 
AND THE HOUSE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, 
WILL RESUME OF COURSE WITH THE 
REDUCED NUMBER OF MPs, AND 
THAT'S WHEN WE CAN EXPECT THEM 
TO FOCUS ON THE LEGISLATION 
AROUND STUDENTS THAT IS 
ANTICIPATED TO BE INTRODUCED BY 
THE GOVERNMENT, AND WE CAN 
EXPECT QUESTIONS AND DEBATE TO 
CONTINUE ON THAT LEGISLATION OR 
A FOCUS ON IT, RATHER, UNTIL 
EARLY INTO THE EVENING, 
SOMEWHERE AROUND 6 OR 6:30.
IT COULD BE LATER.
OF COURSE IT DEPENDS ON HOW 
THINGS PROCEED.
THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF 
BEHIND-THE-SCENES WRANGLING.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THESE 
NEGOTIATIONS TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 
THE PARTIES TO END UP WITH A 
PIECE OF LEGISLATION EVERYONE 
CAN SUPPORT, AND I'M TOLD THAT 
THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE MAYBE NOT
GOING AMAZINGLY BEHIND THE 
SCENES, WHICH COULD INEVITABLY 
DELAY THE PASSAGE OF THE 
LEGISLATION, THOUGH OBVIOUSLY I 
DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THROW 
ANY MONEY ON THAT YET.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.
>> Rosemary: JUST SO PEOPLE 
UNDERSTAND, TYPICALLY THAT KIND 
OF WORK IS DONE THROUGH 
COMMITTEES, LIKE PARLIAMENTARY 
COMMITTEES.
THEY GO OFF AND STUDY THE 
LEGISLATION.
THEY HEAR FROM PEOPLE.
THEY CHANGE THE LEGISLATION.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY AND 
THE TIME CRUNCH OF ALL THIS, 
IT'S HAPPENING, AS YOU SAY, 
REALLY MUCH BEHIND THE SCENES 
WITH HOUSE LEADERS AND OTHER 
OFFICIALS.
AND THEY TRY TO GET SOME PLACE, 
REACH SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE, 
WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
IT'S BEEN BUMPY AT TIMES, BUT 
EVERYBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO GET 
THERE EVENTUALLY.
CATHERINE, THERE WERE SOME GOOD 
QUESTIONS.
I CERTAINLY DON'T MISS THE 
CLAPPING AND WHATNOT.
I TWEETED THAT OUT EARLIER, 
BECAUSE IT JUST MAKES THINGS 
TICK ALONG, I THINK, IN A MORE 
INTERESTING WAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE STOCKPILE AND THE PPE 
A LITTLE BIT, IF THAT STOOD OUT 
FOR YOU.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME 
INTERESTING QUESTIONS AROUND THE
STOCKPILE BECAUSE THE FUNCTION 
HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, AND I 
GUESS THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT 
WHETHER THAT IS WHAT IT SHOULD 
BE DOING OR WHAT IT SHOULD BE 
DOING.
>> YEAH, AND HOW THE NATURE OF 
IT IS GOING TO CHANGE MOVING 
FORWARD TOO AS WE SEE THE NATURE
OF SO MANY THINGS CHANGING RIGHT
NOW, THE HEALTH MINISTER SAYING 
CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD 
HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO 
ANTICIPATE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF 
THIS SIZE.
THAT'S CERTAINLY PART OF THE 
DISCUSSION GOING FORWARD.
I ALSO THOUGHT THE EXCHANGE AT 
THE END WITH MINISTER WAS 
INTERESTING ABOUT THE MASKS THAT
HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED AND 
HEARING ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNMENT
IS GOING TO TRY TO SEE IF THEY 
CAN BE USED FOR NON-MEDICAL 
PURPOSES.
SHE INDICATED IT WAS THE STRAPS 
THAT WERE THE PROBLEM.
I THOUGHT, THOUGH, ROSY, SOME OF
THE MOST INTERESTING QUESTIONS, 
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN ALAIN RAYES 
TRIES TO PUSH WHETHER THEY 
AGREED WITH QUEBEC'S PLAN AND 
GETTING THE PRIME MINISTER TO 
WEIGH IN.
NO LUCK THERE.
ALSO VERY INTERESTING HEARING 
THE CONSERVATIVES ASKING 
QUESTIONS ABOUT CANADA'S 
WILLINGNESS TO CRITICIZE THE 
W.H.O. AND SPECIFICALLY CHINA 
FOR HAVING PERHAPS HELD BACK 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEVERITY 
OF THIS OUTBREAK, AND YOU HEARD 
MINISTER FREELAND SAYING A 
POST-CRISIS REVIEW IS WHAT WE 
WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUT NOW IS 
NOT THE TIME FOR THAT 
DISCUSSION.
[ Please Stand By ]
>> Rosemary: YOU CAN WATCH HER 
SHOW TONIGHT AT 5 A, EASTERN 
AND CBC'S CATHERINE CULLEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT, AS ALWAYS.
SEE YOU TOMORROW, PROBABLY.
AND WE WILL LEAVE IT HERE FOR 
NOW.
I'LL JUST REMIND YOU THAT WHAT 
IS HAPPENING INSIDE THE HOUSE 
LATER TODAY IS OF CRITICAL 
IMPORTANCE.
A BIG PACKAGE THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED, $9 
BILLION WORTH OF VARIOUS KINDS 
OF AID FOR STUDENTS IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
IT IS AN EMERGENCY RELIEF 
BENEFIT OF $1250.
THERE IS INCREASED GRANTS.
THERE'S MONEY FOR VOLUNTEER 
WORK.
AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS 
IF YOU ARE A STUDENT IN THIS 
COUNTRY SO YOU WANT TO KEEP AN 
EYE ON HOW THAT LEGISLATION 
POTENTIALLY CHANGES AND 
WHETHER, INDEED, IT DOES PASSED.
WE'LL SEE YOU HERE TOMORROW FOR 
THE PRIME MINISTER'S REGULAR 
BRIEFING.
MEANWHILE, OUR COVERAGE WILL 
CONTINUE AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK 
WITH ANDREW NICHOLS.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
