 
NEWS APP AS WELL AS cbcnews.ca.
WE ARE STANDING BY TO HEAD TO 
RIDEAU COTTAGE FOR PRIME 
MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S DAILY 
BRIEFING ON THE CORONAVIRUS 
PANDEMIC.
TODAY, HE'S EXPECTED TO PICK UP 
ON A POSITIVE REPORT FROM 
CANADA'S TOP DOCTOR.
DR. TERESA TAM SAYS THAT, AFTER 
WEEKS OF SHUTDOWNS AND PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, THE COVID-19 CURVE 
IN THIS COUNTRY IS FLATTENING.
SHE SAID THAT IN A STATEMENT 
YESTERDAY.
THAT NEWS COMES AS MORE 
PROVINCES START PHASING IN 
THEIR PLANS TO RE-OPEN THEIR 
RESPECTIVE ECONOMIES.
WE'RE ALSO HEARING TODAY THAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL 
ANNOUNCE FUNDING TO EXPAND 
ON-LINE ACCESS TO HEALTH 
SERVICES.
THAT, OF COURSE, IS KEY FOR THE 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS WHO ARE 
FOLLOWING ORDERS TO STAY AT 
HOME.
I WANT TO BRING IN MY 
COLLEAGUE, DAVID COCHRANE, WHO 
JOINS US HERE IN OTTAWA.
WE'RE EXPECTING A REITERATATION 
OF WHAT THE FEDS PROMISED TO DO 
AROUND THE CANADA CHILD 
BENEFIT, PROBABLY QUESTIONS 
AROUND A STORY ABOUT TESTING 
THAT'S COMING FROM THE JOURNAL 
de MONTREAL.
THE SPARTAN BIOSCIENCE.
IT'S A QUICK TEST APPROVED A 
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BY HEALTH 
CANADA.
LOOKS LIKE IT IS RUNING INTO 
SOME PROBLEMS.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
MOST PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT THIS 
WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED -- THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A 
NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY IN CANADA 
TO GET DOMESTIC COMPANIES 
RAMPING UP AND REORIENTING TO 
FOCUS ON FIGHTING COVID-19.
THIS IS THE OTTAWA TECHNOLOGY 
COMPANY THAT DEVELOPED THIS 
RAPID TEST KITS THAT HAS BEEN 
BOUGH WIDELY, OR IS GOING TO BE 
BOUGHT WIDELY BY GOVERNMENTS 
LIKE ONTARIO AND QUEBEC.
SEND OUT FOR CLINICAL TESTING.
THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS.
WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM HEALTH 
CANADA, IF WE CAN SHOW IT TO 
YOU.
IT SAYS -- 
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT 
OF PEOPLE GOT THE SENSE THAT 
THESE TESTING KITSES WOULD BE 
WIDELY DISTRIBUTED AND WIDELY 
USED TO HELP ACCELERATE NOT 
TONIGHT RATE AT WHICH THE 
COUNTRY CAN TEST BUT THE RATE 
AT WHICH WE CAN GET THOSE TEST 
RESULTS.
IT WAS APPARENTLY A CONDITIONAL 
APPROVAL A, AND EXPEDITED 
APPROVAL TO ALLOW IT TO BE USED 
WITH A CONDITION THAT ALL OF 
ITS RESULTS BE EXAMINED BY THE 
NATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY LAB IN 
WINNIPEG TO VERIFY THAT THE 
TEST RESULTS WERE ACCURATE AND 
APPARENTLY THE VERIFICATION OF 
THE RESULTS HAS LED TO THIS 
STATEMENT FROM HEALTH CANADA.
WHAT I'M TOLD BY GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS THAT THERE IS SOME 
ISSUES WITH THE SWABS, EITHER 
IN THE WAY THEY COLLECT THE 
SAMPLE OR ANALYZED ONCE INSIDE 
THE KIT.
THE KIT ITSELF IS SEEN TO BE 
SOUND BUT THEY NEED TO BE SEEN 
BEFORE IT CAN BE WIDELY USED.
THAT IS A STATEMENT FROM HEALTH 
CANADA AND FROM SPARTAN, THE 
COMPANY.
HERE'S WHAT THEY SAID.
OK.
WE'LL PICK IT UP LATER.
IT SAYS -- 
BEFORE THAT PARAGRAPH THERE, 
THE COMPANY SAID IT WAS ADVISE 
ON MAY 3 BY HEALTH CANADA THAT 
THE EFFICACY OF THE PROPRIETARY 
SWAB WOULD NOT DETERMINE THE 
AND LIT CAL PERFORMANCE OF 
SPARTAN'S TEST REAGENTS AND 
ANALYZER DEVICE.
CURRENTLY THEY SHIPPED 5500 
TESTS NATIONALLY FOR 
VALIDATIONS TO FEDERAL AND 
PROVINCIAL HEALTH AGENCIES AND 
WILL BE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS 
AND BRING THE TEST TO MARKETS.
A SENIOR HEALTH OFFICIAL TOLD 
ME THIS IS AN SETBACK BUT NOT 
AN UNSOLUBLE ONE.
THEY BELIEVE THE ISSUES 
IDENTIFIED CAN BE FIXED AND CAN 
BE ADAPTED AND IT WILL BE ABLE 
TO BE PUT INTO WIDE USE AT A 
CERTAIN POINT ONCE IT CLEARS 
THIS REGULATORY HURDLE.
VASSY?
>> Vassy: AND IF YOU ARE JUST 
JOINING US THERE, YOU'LL SEE 
THERE RIDEAU COTTAGE.
WE'RE AWAITING THE PRIME 
MINISTER IN 15 MINUTES TIME FOR 
HIS BRIEF,.
IT'S A SWAB AND IT GIVES YOU 
THE RESULTS VERY QUICKLY.
AT THE TIME, I THINK IT WAS A 
FEW WEEKS AGO THAT IT GOT THAT 
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL AND DR. 
TAM SAID THEY WERE TRYING TO 
SECURE THE ORDER.
AND ALBERTA'S CONTRACT, I 
BELIEVE AT THE TIME WAS 400,000 
CUTS AT THE C.E.O. AT THE TIME 
SAID HE WOULD SUPPLY THE 
DOMESTIC MARKET AND THERE WERE 
DEMANDS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER 
COUNTRIES AS WELL FOR IT.
BUT AT THAT TIME, HE THOUGHT 
THEY COULD RAMP UP TO LIKE 
100,000 TESTS A WEEK.
SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO 
SEE WHAT EFFECT THIS HAS ON 
THAT KIND OF A TIMELINE.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
AND THIS SPEAKS TO THE 
CHALLENGE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POLITICAL 
PRESSURE ON HEALTH CANADA TO 
APPROVE MORE TESTS QUICKLY AND 
GET THEM ON THE MARKET.
WE'VE SEEN OTHER COUNTRIES MOVE 
TO EROLOGICAL TESTING AND 
ANTIBODY TESTING AND FINDING 
OUT THAT SCIENCE IS A HARD 
THING TO RUSH.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE APPROVALS 
YOU CAN SPEED THEM UP AND BUY 
AND GET THEM INTO THE MARKET.
UNTIL THE TESTING IS REFINED TO 
THE POINT THAT YOU'RE NOT 
GETTING FALSE POSITIVES AND 
FALSE NEGATIVES AND EITHER 
FALSE HOPE OR FALSE INDICATORS 
OF WHERE THINGS ARE IN DEALING 
WITH THE DISEASE, IT BECOMES A 
RISK.
SPARTAN LOOKED VERY PROMISING 
EARLY.
IT HAS PROVED NOT TO BE WHERE 
THEY NEED IT TO BE.
AND IT IS GOING BACK IN -- 
BASICALLY WAS TAKEN OUT FOR A 
TEST DRIVE, VASSY, BUT NEEDS 
SOME MODIFICATIONS BEFORE YOU 
CAN BUY THE THING AND TAKE IT 
HOME WITH YOU.
THAT IS WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.
THE BIOLOGY LAB FOUND SOME 
ISSUES WITH IT.
IT DOES SLOW UP THE SCALING UP 
OF TESTING CAPACITY IN THE 
COUNTRY.
THE HOPE IS THAT IT IS A 
TEMPORARY DELAY.
>> Vassy: OK.
I KNOW YOU WILL BE WITH US 
THROUGH THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
REMARK.
ON THE ISSUE OF TESTING 
CAPACITY, IT IS EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT 
TOWARDS THE PROCESS OF 
RE-OPENING ECONOMIES.
SOME PROVINCES ARE STARTING TO 
RELAX RESTRICTIONS AND ALLOW 
CERTAIN BUSINESSES TO RE-OPEN, 
TO A CERTAIN DEGREE NOVA SCOTIA 
IS ONE OF THEM.
FOR MORE ON, THIS I'M JOINED BY 
PREMIER STEPHEN MCNEIL FROM 
NOVA SCOTIA.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> Vassy: PREMIER, I WANTED TO 
START OFF ON THE QUESTION OF 
RE-OPENING THE ECONOMY.
LAST WEEK WHEN WE SPOKE, YOU 
SAY THAT THE PROVINCE WASN'T 
THERE YET.
YOU WEREN'T PREPARED AT THIS 
POINT TO START RELAXING, YOU 
KNOW, RESTRICTIONS IN A BIG WAY.
YOU DID, HOWEVER, OPEN 
MUNICIPAL AND PROVINCIAL PARKS 
THIS WEEKEND AND HAS A LOT TO 
DO WITH AN A ISSUE THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT 
AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE 
CONCERNED ABOUT GIVEN THE PAST 
FEW WEEKS.
TELL US WHY YOU MADE THAT 
DECISION.
>> WELL, OUR PROVINCE WAS HIT 
WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF 
[INAUDIBLE] DURING A PERIOD OF 
TIME.
WE HAD 37 NOVA SCOTIANS WHO 
PASSED AWAY FROM COVID AND THE 
UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK 
PLACE IN COLCHESTER COUNTY AND 
OF COURSE THIS WEEK WE LOST SIX 
MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES IN A HELICOPTER CRASH, 
ALL OF WHOM WERE PART OF OUR 
NOVA SCOTIA FAMILY.
AND SELF-ISOLATION WAS TAKING 
ITS TOLL AND WE FELT THAT IT 
WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL 
OF US TO FIND SOME WAY TO GET 
OUTDOORS AND FIND SOME LEVEL OF 
GETTING OUT.
WE ARE NOT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC 
YET BUT IT WAS A BALANCE FOR US 
AND REALLY TRYING TO WORK 
TOWARD ENSURING THAT WE TRIED 
TO PROTECT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF 
NOVA SCOTIANS.
>> Vassy: I KNOW THAT PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING MEASURES REMAIN IN 
PLACE.
ARE PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 
IT AND STAYING SAFE?
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY 
ISSUES THIS WEEKEND.
NOVA SCOTIANS RECOGNIZE THIS IS 
THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO DON'T MOVE 
OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND 
RESTRICTIONS.
WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR, DR. 
STRANG AND I, IF THERE WERE 
COMPLICATION AND WE SAW THAT 
THE VIRUS STARTED TO PICK UP 
AGAIN, THAT WE WOULD PUT 
RESTRICTIONS BACK ON OUR 
PROVINCE.
>> Vassy: WHAT ABOUT RELAXING 
OTHER RESTRICTIONS?
WHEN WE SPOKE LAST WEEK, YOU 
SAID YOU WEREN'T THERE YET.
WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF 
WHERE THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW?
>> SO, PART OF IT WE DID ON 
FRIDAY.
I ASKED THE MINISTER OF HEALTH 
AND DEPUTY MINISTER TO WORK 
WITH OUR PARTNERS IN HEALTH TO 
LOOK AT DAY SURGERY OR SHORT 
STAY SURGERY THAT COULD TAKE 
PART IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 
AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND DR. STRANG NOW WILL WORK 
WITH ASSOCIATIONS, LIKE THE 
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AND 
COSMETOLOGY ASSOCIATION, OTHER 
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO 
ARE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, 
HOW CAN WE BEGIN TO OPEN UP OUR 
PARTICULAR SECTORS BY FOLLOWING 
THE NEW NORM, THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
NORM THAT WILL BE IN PLACE?
>> Vassy: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE 
INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE GETTING 
DO YOU FEEL LIKE NOVA SCOTIA IS 
ON THE OTHER END OF THE PEAK?
>> WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT 63% OF 
OUR CASES THAT WE HAVE OF THE 
971 HAVE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH 
THIS NOW, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE 
[INAUDIBLE] IN.
WE'RE SEEING A TREND.
BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A NURSING 
HOME, THE LARGEST NURSING HOME 
EAST OF MONTREAL THAT WE HAVE 
ISSUES IN, THAT WE'RE WORKING 
VERY HARD.
WE SENT IN HEALTH CARE TEAMS 
AND INFECTION CONTROL PEOPLE 
AND STAFF TRYING TO DON'T MAKE 
SURE THAT WE PULL THAT VIRUS, 
ISOLATE THAT VIRUS IN THAT HOME 
AND THEN ERADICATE IT.
>> Vassy: WE KNOW THAT TESTING 
CAPACITY SO KEY TO EVERY 
PROVINCE BEING ABLE TO LOOSEN 
RESTRICTIONS RE-OPEN ASPECTS OF 
THEIR ECONOMIES.
DID NOVA SCOTIA HAVE ANY OF 
THOSE SPARTAN BIOSIGNS TESTS ON 
ORDER?
>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
WE WERE PART OF A NATIONAL 
PROCUREMENT PIECE, BUT THEY'RE 
NOT PART OF OUR TESTING.
WE RAFRND UP TESTING CAPACITY.
WE WENT ON EARLY AWAY FROM 
STRICTLY TRAVEL TO AGGRESSIVELY 
TRY TO ISOLATE THE VIRUS.
WE SAW POCKET  WHERE IS WE SAW 
COMMUNITY SPREAD AND WERE ABLE 
TO PUT IN TEAMS TO GO IN AND 
HELP WITH THAT INFECTION 
CONTROL TYPE OF SETTING.
THIS NURSING HOME AS WELL AS 
ONE THAT WE'VE DONE THE SAME 
THING BY PROVIDING SUPPORTS.
WE RAMPED UP OUR TESTING 
CAPACITY.
IT WAS CRITICAL FOR US.
WE'VE DONE ABOUT 1500 A DAY AND 
SO THIS HAS BEEN OUR STRATEGY 
TO DEAL WITH IT.
MAKING SURE WHERE THE VIRUS IS 
AND IT IS THROUGH THE TESTING 
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE'LL CONTINUE, BY THE WAY, AS 
WE START OPENING UP OUR 
ECONOMY, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH 
THAT TESTING PROCESS.
>> Vassy: AS FAR AS NURSING 
HOME GOES, THERE'S A BIG 
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PAY.
THE PEOPLE IN THOSE HOMES 
RECEIVE OR OTHER ESSENTIAL 
HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
I KNOW IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH 
THE PRIME MINISTER, THAT ISSUE 
IS A LIVE ONE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SAID 
THAT THEY'RE GOING OFFER 
TOP-UPS BUT YOU WERE HOPING FOR 
FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE MANY OF 
THEM ALREADY MAKE THE  AMOUNT 
OF MONEY FOR QUALIFYING OF THE 
TOP-UP THE FEDS WERE PLEDGING.
WHERE DO TALKS  STAND?
WERE YOU ABLE TO GET ANY OF 
THAT FLEXIBILITY SECURED?
>> WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT 
COMES TO MAKING SHHH YOU ARE 
THAT COVID-19 ESSENTIAL SERVICE 
TOP-UP IMPACTS HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE 
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT, WHERE 
THERE ARE MANY PARTS OF OUR 
ECONOMY WORKING DILIGENTLY, 
HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE THE 
ONES GOING INTO THESE HOMES OR 
QUITE FRANKLY INTO OUR 
HOSPITALS AND DEALING WITH 
THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM 
COVID-19.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF 
THERE IS GOING TO BE AN 
ESSENTIAL SERVICE TOP-UP THAT 
IT IMPACTED OUR HEALTH CARE 
TEAMS.
>> Vassy: DO YOU HAVE A PLEDGE 
-- I SHOULD SAY TO OUR  VIEWERS 
THAT WE'RE SHOWING RIGHT NOW 
ANY MINUTE FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER -- DO YOU HAVE ANY 
COMMITMENT FROM THE FOM SUPPLY 
THAT FLEXIBILITY, AND COME UP 
WITH A TOP-UP THAT WILL WORK 
FOR YOUR PROVINCE?
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE 
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND IT IS 
MY HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE A 
POSITIVE RESULT.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION WHEN IT 
COMES TO FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL 
ISSUES AND ON A SEPARATE ISSUE, 
BUT I DO IMAGINE THE PRIME 
MINISTER WILL GET QUESTIONS 
ABOUT THE BAN HIS GOVERNMENT 
INTRODUCED ON FRIDAY FOR 
ASSAULT WEAPONS.
THE PREMIER OF ALBERTA, JASON 
KENNEY FEELS THAT AN IT UNDULLY 
TAKES GUNS AWAY FROM 
LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS.
YOUR PROVINCE HAS OBVIOUSLY 
JUST BEEN THROUGH A HORRIFIC 
INCIDENT INVOLVING A GUNMAN.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE 
BAN INTRODUCED?
DO YOU SUPPORT IT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW 
THE WAIT A MINUTES THAT WERE 
USED BY THE GUNMAN IN OUR 
PROVINCE TWO WEEKS AGO.
HISTORICALLY IT MAKES NO SENSE 
THAT HE WOULD NEED AN SAUL 
WEAPON.
THOSE ARE FOR CONFLICTS OF WAR 
BUT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I LIVE 
IN A RURAL PART OF NOVA SCOTIA.
GLOBAL A RURAL COMMUNITY AND 
LAW ABIDING CITIZENS CAN 
ACTUALLY OWN GUNS IN THIS 
COUNTRY AND IN THIS PROVINCE, 
BUT ASSAULT WEAPONS MAKE NO 
SENSE AND THE ARGUE TO ME IS 
THAT YOU'RE TAKING RIGHTS AWAY 
FROM LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS 
JUST DOESN'T HOLD WATER WHEN IT 
COMES TO ASSAULT WEAPON.
>> Vassy: SO YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE 
OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
DID ON FRIDAY?
>> I'VE BEEN A LONG SUPPORTER 
OF DEALING WITH ASSAULT WEAPONS 
IN THIS COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY.
WE'VE SEEN TOO MUCH CARNAGE 
AROUND THE WORLD IMPACTING 
INNOCENT CITIZENS.
NO REASON THAT ANYONE WHO'S NOT 
IN POSITION OF PROTECTING 
CITIZENS, WHETHER CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES OR CITIZEN IN THIS 
COUNTRY REQUIRE AN SAUL WEAPON 
IN MY VIEW.
>> Vassy: I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING 
TIME FOR US ON THIS SUNDAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Vassy: I'M GOING TO SWING 
BACK TO DAVID COCHRANE, MY 
COLLEAGUE HERE IN OTTAWA, AS WE 
AWAIT ANY MINUTE NOW THE PRIME 
MINISTER COMING OUT OF RIDEAU 
COTTAGE TO ADDRESS REPORTERS.
THAT IS OBVIOUSLY SEPARATE FROM 
COVID-19, BUT DEFINITELY ONE 
THAT IS GARNERING A LOT OF 
DISCUSSION AND REFRACTION 
VARIOUS PROVINCES.
IT IS THE ONLY REALLY 
NONCOVID-19-RELATED 
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IN THE PAST 
SIX WEEKS.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
THERE'S BEEN A FEW THINGS TO 
DEAL WITH, BUT REALLY THE 11:00 
EASTERN OR 11:15 EASTERN UPDATE 
EVERY DAY HAS BEEN ABOUT THE 
RESPONSE TO COVID-19.
AND IT WAS INTERESTING, VASSY, 
THAT A LOT OF PARTISANSHIP HAD 
LARGELY BEEN SET ASIDE.
NOT NECESSARILY BETWEEN THE 
LIBERALS AND THE CONSERVATIVES 
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS BUT 
CERTAINLY BETWEEN THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT.
BUT THIS MOVE ON THE FIREARM 
REGULATIONS AND THE 
RESTRICTIONS DID BRING SOME OF 
THAT BACK OUT.
WE SAW SOME OF THAT SEEPING 
BACK INTO THE NATIONAL 
CONVERSATION WITH DOUG FORD AND 
JASON KENNEY BEING CRITICAL OF 
THE GUN REGULATIONS.
BRIAN PALLISTER IN MANITOBA 
SLAMMING THE CANADIAN EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT THAT IS PAYING 
PEOPLE TO STAY HOME AND NOT 
WORK AND LIMITING THEM 
RE-OPENING THE ECONOMY CAN.
HE'S JUST RE-OPENED --
>> Vassy: HE HAS.
THERE HE IS.
I'LL CUT YOU OFF AND WE'LL TAKE 
LISTEN LIVE TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
RECOGNIZING TODAY MARKS THE 
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE 
OF THE ATLANTIC AS WE REMEMBER 
THE SAILORS AND SOLDIERS AND 
PILOTS THAT HELPED TURN THE 
TIDE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 
WE HONOR ALL OF OUR VETERANS 
THAT STEPPED FORWARD SO WE MAY 
LIVE IN PEACE.
WE THINK OF THE BRAVE MEN AND 
WOMEN WHO SERVE TODAY AND MOURN 
THE SIX HEROES WE LOST JUST 
LAST WEEK.
TO THOSE LOVED ONES SERVING ON 
HMCS FREDERICTON AND ALL C.A.F. 
MEMBERS, I WANT TO ONCE AGAIN 
OFFER MY DEEPEST CONDO LENS TO 
CANADIANS.
OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, 
CANADA HAS EXPERIENCED 
CHALLENGE AND HEARTBREAK ON A 
SCALE WE NEVER WOULD HAVE 
EXPECTED.
IF YOU'RE OVERWHELMED, THAT IS 
UNDERSTANDABLE.
IF YOU NEED SUPPORT, THAT'S OK.
IN APRIL, WE LAUNCHED WELLNESS 
TOGETHER CANADA, A WEBSITE YOU 
CAN FIND PEOPLE TO TALK TO IF 
YOU ARE IN CRISIS.
AND TODAY WE'RE TAKING ANOTHER 
STEP FORWARD.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS INVESTING 
OVER $240 MILLION TO BRING 
HEALTH CARE ON-LINE.
WE'RE EXPANDING EXISTING 
ON-LINE TOOLS CREATING NEW 
VIRTUAL PLATFORMS FOR MENTAL 
HEALTH AND FOR PRIMARY CARE.
WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR 
STRATEGIS TO MANAGE STRESS OR 
SUPPORT FROM A PROFESSIONAL, 
THIS WILL BE A RESOURCE FOR YOU.
IF YOU ARE PART OF A 
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY AND NEED 
SPECIALIZED TOOLS, WELL THERE 
WILL BE SPECIFIC HELP FOR YOU 
AS WELL.
IF WE CAN PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH 
SUPPORT ON-LINE, THERE'S NO 
REASON WE CAN'T LEVERAGE 
TECHNOLOGY IN OTHER AREAS OF 
HEALTH CARE, TOO.
THIS $240 MILLION INVESTMENT 
WILL ALSO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR 
VIRTUAL CARE, FOR TIMES WHEN 
YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR 
IN PERSON.
JUST TAKE VIDEO CONFERENCING.
BY HELPING DOCTORS RUN 
APPOINTMENTS ON-LINE, YOU CAN 
STAY SAFE AT HOME WHILE GETTING 
CARE AND OUR HOSPITALS CAN STAY 
FOCUSED ON THOSE WHO NEED IT 
MOST.
IF WE CAN USE APPS TO ORDER 
DINNER AND VIDEO CHATS TO STAY 
IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY, WE CAN 
USE NEW TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP EACH 
OTHER HEALTHY.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: TODAY, WE ARE 
ANNOUNCING AN INVESTMENT OF 
$240 MILLION IN ON-LINE CARE.
WITH INVESTMENT TO ENABLE US TO 
BROADEN ACCESS TO SERVICES AND 
PROVIDE MORE RESO SOURCES TO 
CANADIANS.
THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO 
CREATE AN ON-LINE PLATFORM THAT 
WILL PROVIDE A WHOLE RANGE OF 
SERCES RELATED TO MENTAL 
HEALTH.
IT IS ALSO MONEY THAT WILL MAKE 
IT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE A 
BROADER RANGE OF VIRTUAL CARE 
FOR TIMES WHEN YOU DON'T NEED 
TO SEE A DOCTOR IN PERSON.
BY PROVIDING ON-LINE CARE, WE 
WILL BE REACHING MORE PEOPLE 
AND REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON 
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
AND SINCE WE ARE ALL PRACTICING 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING THESE DAYS, 
THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO 
INVEST IN THESE SOLUTIONS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: TO 
BEAT COVID-19, WE HAVE TO THINK 
OUTSIDE THE BOX.
WHEN CANADIAN RESEARCHERS HAVE 
A SOLID LEAD, WE NEED TO MAKE 
SURE THEY CAN FOLLOW IT UP.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN 
DOING OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS 
AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE REAL 
RESULTS.
TODAY, I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT 
WE'RE INVESTING OVER $175 
MILLION TO SUPPORT THE CANADIAN 
COMPANY ABSELLERA FOR THEIR 
VERY PROMISING COVID-19 
RESEARCH.
THEY'VE IDENTIFIED ANTIBODIES 
THAT COULD BE USED IN DRUGS TO 
TREAT THIS VIRUS.
THIS NEW FUNDING WILL HELP THEM 
CONTINUE THEIR VITAL WORK AND 
WILL SUPPORT HUMAN TRIES 
BEGINNING AS EARLY AS JULY.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE EFFECTIVE 
TREATMENTS OR, BETTER YET A 
VACCINE, WE STILL NEED A 
RELIABLE SUPPLY OF EVERYTHING 
FROM MASKS TO VENTILATORS.
SO LATER TODAY, WE'LL HEAR THE 
DETAILS OF A NEW COVID-19 
SUPPLY COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL WILL BE TASKED 
WITH FINDING INNOVATIVE 
SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE OUR COUNTRY 
CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS T VITAL 
SUPPLIES NECESSARY TO KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] TREP  
>> Interpreter: THERE WILL BE 
RESEARCH VERY PROMISING CARE 
OUT BY ABSELLERA, A CANADIAN 
COMPANY.
THAT COMPANY IS KUFRNLLY TRYING 
TO IDENTIFY ANTIBODIES THAT 
COULD BE USED IN THE PRODUCTION 
OF MEDICINES TO TREAT THE VIRUS.
OUR INVESTMENT WILL ALLOW THE 
COMPANY TO CONTINUE THAT 
RESEARCH AND AT THE SAME TIME 
WILL SUPPORT CLINICAL TRIALS 
THAT COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS 
JULY.
LATER TODAY, MINISTER ANNAN 
WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS 
REGARDING THE NEW COVID-19 
SUPPLY COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL WILL HAVE, AS ITS 
MANDATE, TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE 
SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE 
HAVE THE SUPPLIES WE NEED SUCH 
AS MASKS AND HAND DISINFECT 
TANL.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s I 
WANT TO END TODAY, AS I DO MOST 
SUNDAYS, TALKING TO FAMILIES, 
TO PARENTS.
I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH TIME 
RIGHT NOW TO BE RAISING KIDS.
RIGHT NOW YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO 
FOCUS ON KEEPING YOUR FAMILY 
SAFE, NOT ABOUT WORRYING ABOUT 
THE BILLS.
SO, THIS MAY, YOU'LL GET MORE 
HELP THROUGH THE CANADA CHILD 
BENEFIT.
WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS MONTH'S 
PAYMENT, YOU'LL SEE AN EXTRA 
$300 PER CHILD.
FOR FAMILIES WITH TWO KIDS, 
THAT MEANS AN EXTRA $600, FOR 
THREE KIDS AN EXTRA $900 AND SO 
ON.
THIS IS MONEY FOR WHATEVER YOU 
NEED, WHETHER IT IS ON-LINE 
TUTORING OR GROCERIES.
AND TO ALL THE KIDS OUT THERE I 
KNOW THINGS ARE HARD FOR YOU, 
TOO.
I KNOW YOU MISS YOUR FRIENDS 
AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO 
YOUR SCHOOL WORK ON-LINE.
BUT THIS ISN'T GOING TO LAST 
FOREVER.
SO, KEEP PLANNING FUN THINGS TO 
DO WITH YOUR FRIENDS ONCE THIS 
IS OVER.
KEEP UP ON YOUR HOMEWORK AND 
REMEMBER WE'RE GOING DO GET 
THROUGH THISING TO.
SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR 
HELP AROUND THE HOUSE, WITH 
YOUR PARENTS AND STICKING 
TOGETHER THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT 
TIME.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: IF YOU ARE A 
PARENT, WE ARE GOING TO BE 
PUTTING MORE MONEY IN YOUR 
POCKET THIS IS MONTH.
YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOUR CANADA 
CHILD BENEFIT COMES IN IN A 
COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT YOU WILL 
BE RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL $300 
PER CHILD.
THAT MEANS $600 MORE FOR TWO 
CHILDREN, $900 FOR THREE 
CHILDREN AND SO ON TO MEET YOUR 
NEEDS, WHETHER IT IS FOR 
ON-LINE WORK OR GROCERIES.
IT IS HARD THESE DAYS FOR 
FAMILIES SO WE ARE HELPING 
PARENTS TO MAKE THINGS EASIER 
FOR THEM.
I KNOW IT IS ALSO VERY HARD FOR 
CHILDREN.
YOU MISS YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU 
WANT TO BE OUTSIDE OR GO TO THE 
PARK.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ANXIOUS TO 
SEE ALL OF THIS END.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE COME A 
LONG WAY IN RECENT WEEKS BUT WE 
MUST CONTINUE.
I KNOW IT WILL BE DIFFICULT.
BUT IF WE ALL CONTINUE TO HELP 
OUT AROUND THE HOUSE AND REMAIN 
POSITIVE, WE WILL GET THROUGH 
THIS.
IF EVERYONE CONTINUES TO DO 
THEIR PART, WE WILL MAKE IT.
THANK YOU.
>>
[SPEAKING FRENCH].
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Reporter:
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE A 
CLARIFICATION A ABOUT THE $240 
MILLION, SINCE IT'S ABOUT 
HEALTH CARE.
WILL YOU BE TRANSFERING THAT 
MONEY TO THE PROVINCES?
AND ALSO WE HEARD TALKING -- WE 
HEARD ABOUT EVIDENCE REGARDING 
THE VIRUS AND THE U.S. 
SECRETARY MENTIONED THIS THIS 
MORNING.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
WELL, THAT MONEY IS FOR ON-LINE 
CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AT 
VARIOUS LEVELS AND THERE WILL 
BE MONEY FOR PROVINCES AS WELL.
WITH RESPECT TO HOW AND WHERE 
THIS VIRUS BEGAN, I KNOW IT'S 
INTERESTING TO FIND THAT OUT.
BUT OUR CONCERN IS REALLY TO 
ENSURE THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE 
NOW.
THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE 
QUESTIONS ASKED AND WE'LL DON'T 
LOOK FOR ANSWERS.
BUT RIGHT NOW OUR PRIORITY IN 
THE COMING WEEKS MUST BE TO DO 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT 
CANADIANS NOW.
SO, SHOULD I UNDERSTAND THAT 
YOU DID NOT SEE THAT EVIDENCE 
THAT THE AMERICANS HAVE BEEN 
TALKING ABOUT?
WELL, THERE A NUMBER OF 
THEORIES OUT THERE AND WE'VE 
HEARD CONCERNS AND HYPOTHESES 
AS TO HOW ALL OF THIS BEGAN.
BUT RIGHT NOW MY PRIORITY IS 
HOW WE MANAGED THE SITUATION.
AFTER, WE CAN ASK THOSE 
QUESTIONS AND TRY TO FIND OUT 
HOW THIS HAPPENED.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, OUR 
FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON WHAT IS 
HAPPENING AND HOW WE HELP IT.
THERE WILL BE MUCH TIME IN THE 
COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS FOR 
REFLECTING ON HOW IT HAPPENED 
AND HOW WE CAN PREVENT IT IN 
THE FUTURE.
BUT FOR NOW, MY FOCUS IS ON HOW 
WE MAKE SURE CANADIANS GET ALL 
THE HELP THEY CAN RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, THE CANADIAN 
PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> YES.
THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU 
COULD SPEAK TO A DIFFERENT 
TOPIC FOR A SECOND.
PREMIER DOUG FORD YESTERDAY 
SUGGESTED THAT THE MONEY FOR 
BUYBACKS WOULD BE BETTER SPEND 
ON BORDER SECURITY AND CRACKING 
DOWN ON SMUGGLING.
COULD YOU RESPOND TO HIS 
COMMENTS, PLEASE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s WE 
KNOW THERE IS MORE TO DO ON 
STRENGTHENING CONTROL IN THIS 
COUNTRY WHICH IS WHY WE'RE 
GOING TO BE MOVING TO WARD WHEN 
PARLIAMENT ALLOWS IT WITH 
STRONGER MEASURES AROUND.
BORDERS AND SAFE STORAGE AND 
HANDGUNS TO PERMIT 
MUNICIPALITIES TO BAN HAND GUNS 
WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS.
WE KNOW THERE IS MORE TO DO.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THERE IS NO 
PLACE IN CANADA FOR GUNS, 
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO KILL 
THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN 
THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE MOVING 
FORWARD WITH A BAN ON SAUL -- 
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.
>>
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE 
DONE TO STRENGTHEN GUN CONTROL 
AND THAT IS WHY WE WILL BE 
INTRODUCING LEGISLATION WHEN A 
PARLIAMENT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.
IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN BORDER 
CONTROLS AND INTRODUCE OTHER 
MEASURES WITH REPRESENT TO 
HANDGUNS IN PARTICULAR AND 
CONTINUE A BUYBACK PROGRAM FOR 
ASSAULT-TYPE MILITARY WEAPONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, I CAN SAY 
THAT WE REALIZE AND KNOW THAT 
THERE IS NO PLACE FOR WEAPONS 
THAT WERE IN CANADA THAT WERE 
INVENTED TO KILL AS MANY PEOPLE 
AS IN THE SHORTEST SPAN OF TIME.
THOSE ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS 
HAVE NO PLACE HERE IN CANADA 
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BANNED 
THEM.
>> Reporter: YEAH, SORRY.
TOMORROW WE'LL SEE A NUMBER OF 
PROVINCES, QUEBEC AND ONTARIO 
IN PARTICULAR START RE-OPENING 
THEIR ECONOMIES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THE 
MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN 
ANNOUNCED BY SOME OF THESE 
PROVINCES, ESPECIALLY QUEBEC, 
GIVEN THAT WE'VE SEEN ONGOING 
INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF 
COVID-19 CASES?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s WE 
ALL, PROVINCES, TERRITORIES AND 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AGREE 
ON SHARED PRINCIPLES THAT WE 
BELIEVE IN, IN TERMS OF OPENING 
GRADUALLY, CAREFULLY AND 
REMAINING EXTREMELY VIGILANT AS 
DIFFERENT REGIONS TAKE 
DIFFERENT MEASURES TO RESTART 
THE ECONOMY WHILE KEEPING 
PEOPLE SAFE.
WE WILL SUPPORT CANADIANS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WE MOVE 
THROUGH THESE NEXT STEPS.
DIFFERENT REGIONS WILL HAVE 
DIFFERENT MEASURES TO BRING IN 
AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND OUR JOB 
IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE 
SUPPORTING THEM AS BEST WE CAN 
AS WE GO THROUGH THIS CAREFULLY 
AND STEP BY STEP.
OK.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: THE VARIOUS 
PROVINCES WILL BE TAKING 
DIFFERENT KINDS OF ACTION.
WE ALL AGREED ON BASIC 
PRINCIPLES AND THE CONDITIONS 
THAT HAVE TO BE PRESENT FOR A 
GRADUAL RE-OPENING OF SOCIETY.
AND OUR ROLE AS A FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES IN THE DECISIONS THAT 
THEY MAKE AND TO BE THERE TO 
HELP ALL CANADIANS RIGHT ACROSS 
THIS COUNTRY.
AS THE VARIOUS REGIONS BEGIN TO 
RE-OPEN, BASED ON THEIR 
PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT THEY 
BELIEVE TO BE APPROPRIATE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter:
GOOD MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
NOW WITH REPRESENT TO THE 
INTRODUCTION OF THE VIRUS IN 
NORTH AMERICA, THERE IS SOME 
SOURCES THAT ARE SAYING THAT WE 
WERE MISLED.
NOW IS IT THE FIRST OF AUGUST 
THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED?
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CLEAR 
WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS ACROSS 
THIS COUNTRY AND WE WILL TRY TO 
BRING IN INTO EFFECT AS SOON AS 
POSSIBLE.
BUT WE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WE 
COULD CONVINCE THE AMERICANS TO 
WAIT UNTIL AUGUST 1.
SO THAT WILL HAPPEN ON JULY 1, 
INSTEAD.
AS I ALWAYS SAID, THERE WILL BE 
COMPENSATION FOR DAIRY 
PRODUCERS.
IT IS A VERY GOOD AGREEMENT FOR 
ALL CANADIANS BUT WE ALSO 
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN 
AGREEMENT THAT WILL HAVE TO 
RESULT IN COMPENSATION FOR 
DAIRY PRODUCERS.
>> Reporter:
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: YES.
IF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE 
STARTS UP AGAIN, WILL EUROPEAN 
PLAYERS BE ALLOWED TO CROSS THE 
BORDER, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT 
CANADIAN CITIZEN OR PERMANENT 
RESIDENTS?
WELL, I BELIEVE THAT IS 
SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK 
AT.
NOW WHOEVER IS COMING IN FROM 
ANOTHER COUNTRY, WILL HAVE TO 
FOLLOW ALL THE QUARANTINE RULES 
BUT WE ARE NOT AT THAT POINT 
YET IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE 
NHL.
WE REALIZE THAT IT IS A 
POSSIBILITY BUT WILL DEPEND ON 
MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS AND I 
CANNOT SAY MORE AT THIS POINT 
AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN UNTIL 
THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN 
COMPLETE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, JUSTIN LANG, 
FREELANCE.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON HIS 
QUESTION ABOUT THIS 
INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT.
FOX NEWS IS REPORTING THAT 
AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE IS SAYING 
THAT THERE IS NOW A GROWING 
CONSENSUS AMONGST MAJOR 
INTELLIGENCE PARTNERS THAT 
COVID-19 WAS ACTUALLY LEAKED 
FROM THE WUHAN GOVERNMENT LAB 
S. THAT NOT YOUR POSITION?
IF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IS 
SAYING THAT THE CONSENSUS IS IT 
NOT INCUMBENT ON YOU TO CLARIFY 
CANADA'S POSITION GIVEN THAT WE 
ARE A MEMBER OF THE 5Is 
INTELLIGENCE PARTNERSHIP.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s WE 
HAVE BEEN CONSUMING E -- AND 
COOPERATING WITH 5Is ON VARIOUS 
INTELLIGENCE THAT'S COME OUT ON 
THIS AND OTHER SUBJECTS.
WE'LL DON'T WORK WITH 
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AROUND 
THE WORLD, NOT JUST THE 5Is BUT 
FRIENDS AND PARTNERS AS WELL.
AND LOOK TO FIND ANSWERS TO THE 
MANY QUESTIONS PEOPLE ARE 
ASKING.
BUT IT IS STILL TOO TOLLER DRAW 
FIRM CONCLUSIONS AND INDEED OUR 
FOCUS REMAINS ON HOW WE ARE 
WORKING TO PROTECT CANADIANS, 
HOW WE ARE ENSURING THAT 
CANADIANS HAVE OUR ENTIRE FOCUS 
RIGHT NOW AND OUR ENTIRE 
ABILITY TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH 
THIS TIME.
>> FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: SO YOU SAY IT IS 
TOO EARLY TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS, 
IS IT FAIR TO INIFER THAT 
CANADA HAS NOT COME TO A 
CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS FROM A 
CHINESE LAB AND IS THERE ANY 
INVESTIGATION BEING ORDERED BY 
CSIS OR C.S.E. TO INVESTIGATE 
THOSE CLAIMS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s WE 
CONTINUE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY 
WITH OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES 
AND INDEED INDEPENDENTLY ON 
MANY SECURITY ISSUES THAT ARE 
IMPORTANT FOR CANADIANS.
AT THIS POINT, WE ARE NOT 
DRAWING ANY FIRM CONCLUSIONS.
>> PRIME MINISTER, CAN YOU TELL 
US MORE ABOUT THE SUPPLY 
COUNCIL, WHAT WILL IT BE FOCUS 
ON AND HOW LONG IS THIS MANDATE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FROM 
THE VERY BEGINNING, WE MAY IT 
AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY TO PROCURE 
THE NECESSARY PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT FOR OUR FRONTLINE 
WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE MANAGED TO WORK WITH 
THE PROVINCES ON SOURCING 
NECESSARY PRODUCTS FROM AROUND 
THE WORLD SO THAT WE'VE BEEN 
ABLE TO MEET THE DEMAND ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
THE SAME TIME WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
WAS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP OUR 
OWN DOMESTIC CAPACITY FOR 
P.P.E. AND THAT IS COMING 
ON-LINE NOW.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT AS THE ECONOMY STARTS TO 
OPEN IN DIFFERENT PLACES, IN 
DIFFERENT WAYS IT IS GOING TO 
BE DIFFICULT TO HAVE PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN VARIOUS 
INDUSTRIES AND THAT IS WHY WE 
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING 
THE RIGHT PROCUREMENT.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE WORKING 
FORWARD WITH THIS SUPPLY 
COUNCIL.
>> Reporter: AND ON THE 
RE-OPENING AND HOW P.P.E. 
INTERPLAYS WITH THAT, SHOULD 
CANADIANS EXPECT TO BE REQUIRED 
TO WEAR MASKS MORE FREQUENTLY 
AS THIS RE-OPENS?
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN ON AIRPLANES 
THAT MASKS ARE NOW REQUIRED.
WHERE ELSE WILL WE SEE THAT 
HAPPEN?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
WHAT SPECIFIC RULES WILL BE IN 
PLACE WILL DEPEND ON THE 
JURISDICTION AND THE REGION IN 
WHICH PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES.
WE SEE VERY DIFFERENT REALITIES 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT CERTAINLY SOCIAL DISTANCING 
RULES WILL DOFNLT APPLY AND 
USING MASKS IN SITUATIONS WHERE 
IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO USE 
FULL SOCIAL DISTANCING IS GOING 
TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL 
AND I'M CERTAIN WE'LL BE SEEING 
MORE PEOPLE USING MASKS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
>> Interpreter: THE VARIOUS 
RULES THAT WILL BE SEEN ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY WILL BE PUT IN 
PLACE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT, AS 
WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE TO 
CONTINUE PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN 
SITUATIONS WHERE IT MAY BE MORE 
DIFFICULT TO DO THAT, SUCH AS 
ON AN AIRPLANE, WELL CLEARLY WE 
WILL BE SEEING MORE AND MORE 
PEOPLE WEARING MASKS.
>> Reporter: PRIME MINISTER, 
WILL YOUR GOVERNMENT BE PUTTING 
FORTH ANY SORT OF FISCAL UPDATE 
THIS MONTH IN TERMS OF NEW 
GOVERNMENT SPENDING RELATED TO 
COVID-19 AND WOULD THAT INCLUDE 
PLANS TO START REDUCING THE 
DEFICIT?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STAY 
TRANSPARENTS ON THE INVESTMENTS 
WE'RE MAKING TO HELP CANADIANS 
THROUGH THIS.
WE KNEW FROM THE VERY BEGINNING 
THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO 
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND HEALTHY 
WAS TO GIVE THEM THE CAPACITY 
TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE, TO STAY 
HOME, TO ISOLATE.
AND THAT MEANT SENDING INCOME 
SUPPORTS THROUGH THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT 
THROUGH THE WAGE SUBSIDY, 
THROUGH SHORT -- THROUGH LOANS 
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, THROUGH 
MANY OTHER MEASURES OF SUPPORT 
FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS.
WE KNOW THAT THE BEST WAY TO 
STAY HEALTHY IS TO SUPPORT 
CANADIANS WHILE WE GO THROUGH 
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
WE HAVE BEEN OHM AND 
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT EVERY 
STEP OF THE WAY AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS 
WE'LL BE MAKING TO KEEP PEOPLE 
SAFE AND OUR ECONOMY GOING.
OUR ECONOMY WAS STRONG BEFORE 
WE WENT INTO THIS AND WE HAVE 
TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE IN 
CANADIANS'S ABILITY TO COME 
ROARING BACK AS WE RE-OPEN IN A 
GRADUAL WAY.
AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE COMFORT 
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE 
CANADIAN ECONOMY AND WE WILL 
HAVE, OF COURSE, MORE UPDATES 
AND MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT AS 
TIME MOVES ON.
>> Reporter: WITH REGARDS TO 
GUN CONTROL T GRANDFATHER 
CLAUSE OF THESE MEASURES SEEMS 
TO ALLOW OWNERS OF THESE GUNS 
TO APPLY TO KEEP THEM IN SOME 
SORT OF FASHION.
IS IT REALLY A BAN IF SOME 
PEOPLE CAN STILL KEEP THOSE 
GUNS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s WE 
KNOW THAT BANNING 
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS 
WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN 
KEEPING CANADIANS SAFE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE 
DONE BECAUSE GUNS DESIGNED TO 
KILL THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF 
PEOPLE IN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT 
OF TIME HAVE NO PLACE IN CANADA.
WE'VE BROUGHT IN A TWO-YEAR 
AMNESTY SO THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
PURCHASED THOSE GUNS LEGALLY 
WILL HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO 
COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS WE 
ARE GOING -- THE REGULATIONS WE 
BROUGHT IN AND THE BUYBACK 
PROGRAM AND LEGISLATION THAT 
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD 
WITH AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY 
WHEN THE HOUSE TURNS ITS 
ATTENTION TO THINGS OTHER THAN 
COVID.
THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE GOING TO 
KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON REDUCING 
THE NUMBER OF ASSAULT WEAPONS 
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE DETAILS ON THE BUYBACK 
PROGRAM, THE DETAILS ON THE 
RULES AS TO WHAT HAPPENS AT THE 
END OF THIS AMNESTY PERIOD WILL 
BE WORKED OUT IN LEGISLATION 
WITH OTHER PARTIES, WITH THE 
STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE GOING TAKE THIS VERY, 
VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE WE, AS 
CANADIAN, KNOW ARE DEEPLY 
COMMITTED TO KEEPING PEOPLE 
SAFE AND STRENGTHENING GUN 
CONTROL IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> PRIME MINISTER, RACHEL HAINS 
FROM CTV NATIONAL NEWS.
FOLLOWING UP ON THE GUN 
QUESTION.
THE DAY THAT YOU ANNOUNCED THE 
GUN BAN IN YOUR ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN, YOU FIRST TOURED 
AROUND THE DANFORTH WHERE A 
SHOOTING HAD HAPPENED BY A 
HANDGUN.
WE KNOW THAT ALMOST 60% OF ALL 
FIREARM-RELATED DEATHS ARE 
BECAUSE OF A HANDGUN.
WHY IS THERE STILL A PLACE FOR 
HANDGUNS IN CANADA AND WHAT 
EVIDENCE IS THERE THAT SHOWS 
THAT BANNING THE GUNS THAT YOU 
CHOSE WILL ACTUALLY CURB GUN 
VIOLENCE HERE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
WE'VE SEEN FAR TOO MANY MASS 
SHOOTINGS IN WHICH 
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS 
WERE USED TO KILL INNOCENT 
CANADIANS.
RECENTLY IN NOVA SCOTIA, BACK 
IN ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE 30 YEARS 
AGO.
WE'VE SEEN FAR TOO MANY CASES 
IN WHICH THESE GUNS HAVE CAUSED 
DEVASTATION TO FAMILIES AND 
COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT IS WHY IT WAS TIME TO 
BAN THEM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE 
ABLE TO DO THROUGH REGULATION.
SO IT DIDN'T REQUIRE 
LEGISLATION.
BUT NEW MEASURES THAT WE INTEND 
TO BRING IN ON ALLOWING CITIES 
THE ABILITY TO RESTRIX HANDGUN 
USE AND HANDGUN OWNERSHIP IS 
GOING TO BE BROUGHT IN AS WE 
WORK ON LEGISLATION AS THE 
HOUSE TURNS ITSELF TO MEASURES 
OTHER THAN COVID-19 AND WE KNOW 
THERE IS GOING TO BE BROAD 
SUPPORT ACROSS POLITICAL PARTIS 
TO DO JUST THAT.
OK.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: WE TOOK 
CONCRETE ACTION NOW TO LIMIT 
ACCESS TO ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS 
BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN FAR TOO 
MANY MASSACRES AND INNOCENT 
VICTIMS THAT LOST THEIR LIVES 
BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THOSE 
WEAPONS IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.
I  -- IT WAS HIGH TIME TO TAKE 
ACTION ON THIS BUT THERE IS 
MORE TO BE DONE.
THAT IS WHY GIVING CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES THE ABILITY TO 
BAN HANDGUNS IN THE MONTHS TO 
COME WILL BE IMPORTANT AND 
WORKING ON LEGISLATION TO DO 
THAT.
WITH POLITICAL PARTIS THAT 
AGREE WITH US AND VARIOUS 
GROUPS ANXIOUS TO SEE MORE GUN 
CONTROL IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: CAN YOU TELL US 
ABOUT THE SPARTAN CUBE TEST 
SEBACK?
THERE ARE PROVINCES, INCLUDING 
QUEBEC, THAT HAVE PURCHASED 
THESE.
THEY ARE SET TO RE-OPEN 
STARTING TOMORROW.
CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE OR WHAT 
DOES THIS MEAN MOVING FORWARD 
IF PROVINCES ARE RELYING ON 
THIS TO RAMP UP THEIR TESTING 
TO RE-OPEN?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s WE 
SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINING 
THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE VERY, 
VERY QUICKLY.
WE MOVED QUICKLY ON ECONOMIC 
MEASURES.
WE'VE ALSO ACCELERATED THE 
TESTING, THE APPROVAL, THE 
PROCESSES BY WHICH WE CAN GET A 
POTENTIALLY LIFE SAVING 
MEASURES OUT THERE TO CANADIANS.
BUT WHEN WE DO THAT QUICKLY,  
THERE ARE GOING NEW FACTS THAT 
COME IN AND A SITUATIONS THAT 
EVOLVE TO REQUIRE SHIFTS IN OUR 
POSTURES.
THAT IS WHY WE WE WILL BE AS 
NIMBLE AS WE CAN TO WHAT'S 
WORKING.
AND WE WILL ALWAYS NEED TO 
ADJUST EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AS 
NEW INFORMATION COMES IN ON A 
DAILY BASIS THROUGH THIS 
PANDEMIC, THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
SIMILARLY, PROVINCES WILL HAVE 
TO ADJUST TO NEW REALITIES AND 
ADJUST TO SUCCESSES AND 
CHALLENGES AS THEY COME UP.
WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THINGS THAT 
CANADIANS EXPECT US TO DO IS 
REACT QUICKLY AS NEW 
INFORMATION COMES IN.
AND NEW UNDERSTANDING GETS 
GLEANED AND THAT IS EXACTLY 
WHAT WE'LL DO.
>> Reporter:
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter:
FRENCH WE  KNEW FROM THE 
BEGINING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO 
TAKE QUICK ACTION IN THIS 
EMERGENCY AND THIS CRISIS TO 
ENSURE THAT WE WERE DOING 
EVERYTHING WE COULD TOLD 
PROTECT CANADIANS AND THAT IS 
EXACTLY WHAT WE DID BY 
INVESTING AND LOOKING AT NEW 
WAYS OF SAVING LIVES.
BUT WHEN YOU MOVE QUICKLY, YOU 
ALSO SOON REALIZE THAT THERE 
CAN BE VARYING LEVELS OF 
SUCCESS AND SOME CHALLENGES 
THAT ARISE WITH CERTAIN 
PROCESSES OR PRODUCTS.
WE CONTINUE TO RESPOND AND I 
THINK THAT IS WHAT CANADIANS 
EXPECT.
AND IN THE PROVINCES, PEOPLE 
WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT NEW 
INFORMATION AND DECIDE WHETHER 
THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR APPROACH 
OR THEIR POSTURE.
I THINK CANADIANS DO NOT EXPECT 
THAT EVERYTHING WE SAY TO BE 
PERFECT FOR THE MONTHS TO COME.
THEY EXPECT US TO ADJUST THINGS 
WHEN THE NEED ARISES.
RADIO-CANADA.
A CONCRETE QUESTION FOR YOU 
ONCE AGAIN -- DO WE HAVE ENOUGH 
TEST KITS NOW, PARTICULARLY 
WITH WHAT WE JUST LEARNED ABOUT 
SPARTAN TO RE-OPEN THE QUEBEC 
ECONOMY AND SASKATCHEWAN AND 
OTHER PROVINCES.
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH?
THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT 
REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE TO MAKE 
FOR THEMSELVES.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS TO BE THERE TO 
SUPPORT THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES AND FIND SOLUTIONS 
TO ALLOW THEM TO DO MORE 
TESTING AND PROVIDE THE 
CHEMICALS TO EQUIPMENT THEY 
NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEIR LEVEL 
OF TESTING IS APPROPRIATE.
BASED ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO 
BE NECESSARY.
SO OUR ROLE IS TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCE'S DECISIONS AND IT'S 
UP TO THE PROVINCES TO DECIDE 
WHETHER THIS NEW INFORMATION 
MEANS THEY CAN GO MORE CLOSELY 
OR MAYBE THEY SHOULD SLOW IT 
DOWN.
BUT AS I SAY, WE ARE THERE TO 
HELP THEM, TO SUPPORT THOSE 
DECISIONS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: IT 
IS UP TO THE PROVINCES TO 
DETERMINE WHAT IS THE RIGHT 
STEP FOR THEM, GIVEN THE TOOLS 
THEY HAVE AND THE PROFILE OF 
THE DISEASE THAT THEY'RE FACING.
OUR JOB AS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
IS TO BE THERE TO HELP PROVIDE 
THEM WITH THE EQUIPMENT THEY 
NEED, THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AS 
THEY MAKE THE RIGHT 
DETERMINATION IN THEIR REGION, 
IN THEIR TERRITORY, IN THEIR 
PROVINCE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE VERY 
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT 
THE PROVINCES IN THE DIFFERENT 
APPROACHES AND STRATEGIES THAT 
THEY TAKE.
>> Reporter:
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: SO YOU'RE NOT 
CLEARLY SAYING WE HAVE ENOUGH 
TESTS TO RE-OPEN THE ECONOMY.
THERE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE 
WORRIED AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL 
WONDER IF THERE IS A SECOND 
WAVE IN THE COMING WEEKS IN 
BRITISH COLUMBIA OR ELSEWHERE.
CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE 
CONTROL AND SAY THAT IS ENOUGH, 
WE HAVE TO SHUT THINGS DOWN S. 
THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO?
MY RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK WITH 
THE PROVINCES SO THEY TELL US 
WE NEED THIS LEVEL OF TESTING 
CONFIRM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
HELP US TO ACHIEVE THAT LEVEL 
OF TESTING AND, YES, OUR ROLE 
AND RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TO 
SUPPORT THE PROVINCES TO MEET 
THOSE TARGETS.
WE RESPOND TO THE REQUESTS THAT 
DPROM THEM AND THEIR REALITY ON 
THE GROUND.
OUR ROLE IS TO MONITOR AND 
COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY AND ENSURE THAT THE 
PROVINCES ARE ABLE TO RESPOND.
IF A PROVINCE STARS TO RE-OPEN 
AND REALIZES THAT UNFORTUNATELY 
THERE IS AN EXPLOSION IN THE 
NUMBER OF CASES, IT WILL BE UP 
TO THE PROVINCES TO RESPOND.
AND I KNOW THAT, IN THAT 
PROVINCE, CITIZENS WILL SAY AT 
THAT POINT THAT THEY WANT A 
DIFFERENT APPROACH.
BUT WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT 
THOSE DECISIONS AND MAKE SURE 
THAT THE RIGHT ONES FOR 
CANADIANS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s ONE 
OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO 
KNOW IS THAT AS PROVINCES MOVE 
FORWARD, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE 
WILL SEE A RISE IN CASES IN 
DIFFERENCE AREAS AND THE 
PROVINCES WILL HAVE TO RESPOND 
WITH MEASURES EITHER SPECIFIC 
TO THAT AREA OR BROADER 
MEASURES.
AND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO SUPPORT AND BE PART OF 
THE SOLUTION AS WE KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE.
BUT I CAN CERTAINLY TELL YOU 
THAT AFTER HAVING SPENT WEEKS 
IN ISOLATION, MANY CANADIANS 
WILL BE VERY, VERY ALERT TO ANY 
SIGNS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO -- 
WE MIGHT BE ENTERING A SECOND 
WAVE AND WE WILL BE DEMANDING 
THAT THEIR LEADERS RESPOND TO 
KEEP THEM SAFE.
MERCI BEAUCOUP.
>> Vassy: THAT IS PRIME 
MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU OUTSIDE 
OF RIDEAU COTTAGE, ADDRESSING A 
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM 
REPORTERS.
I'LL START OFF WITH THE 
SUBSTANCE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT 
THAT HE MADE, SORT OF 
MULTIPRONGED.
FIRST OF ALL, $240 MILLION 
GOING TOWARDS ON-LINE SERVICES 
FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AS WELL 
AS MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
THEN $175 MILLION FOR A COMPANY 
CALLED A ABSELLERA.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS A 
COMPANY THAT HAS DEVELOPEDED A 
PLATFORM THROUGH WHICH CAN -- 
RESEARCH DONE AROUND USING 
ANTIBODIS FROM COVID-19 TO 
ACTUALLY TREAT THE DISEASE.
SO, THAT IS A PART OF THE SORT 
OF RESEARCH PACKAGE THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FUNDED 
AND PUT FORTH SO FAR.
AND THEN THE PRIME MINISTER 
INDICATED THAT IN ABOUT 13 
MINUTES' TIME, WE'LL HEAR FROM 
ANITA ANNAN AROUND THE CREATION 
OF WHAT HE CALLS A NATIONAL 
SUPPLY COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH THE 
RE-OPENING OF ECONOMIES AND 
HAVING ENOUGH PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, MASKS OR 
HAND SANITIZER TO BE ABLE TO 
SUCCESSFULLY DO THAT.
THAT IS WHERE I WANT TO BRING 
IN MY COLLEAGUE, DAVID COCHRANE.
A LOT OF QUESTIONS PRIME 
MINISTER, DAVID, AROUND 
RE-OPENING THE ECONOMY AND 
SOMETHING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT 
PRIOR TO THIS, A PROBLEM WITH A 
NEW SPARTAN TEST KIT, THE PAUSE 
IN THAT APPROVAL PROCESS HAS 
CAUSED AND HE GOT QUESTIONS 
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR TESTING 
CAPACITY IN PROVINCES?
FOR EXAMPLE, IN QUEBEC, IF THEY 
CAN'T DO ENOUGH TESTS, IS IT 
SAFE FOR THEM TO RE-OPEN?
>> Reporter: IT IS 
IMPORTANT-TO-ADDRESS THAT WITH 
THE SETBACK WITH THE SPARTAN 
TEST CUBE, WHICH THEY BELIEVE 
IS A SOLUBLE PROBLEM, JUST NOT 
RIGHT NOW, NO PROVINCE IS 
SEEING THEIR TEST CAPACITY GO 
DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS.
THEY JUST CAN'T ESCALATE IT AND 
EXPAND IT AT THE SCALE AT WHICH 
THEY WERE HOPING AND ESCALATED 
AND EXPANDING AND BROADEN 
TESTING IS A KEY PART, THE 
EXPERTS TELL US, ON BEING ABLE 
TO SAFELY RE-OPEN NOT JUSTS THE 
ECONOMY, BUT RE-OPEN SOCIETY.
AND LET PEOPLE GET BACK TO SOME 
SEMBLANCE OF WHAT IS NORMAL.
SO, WITHOUT THIS BEING ABLE TO 
GO BROADLY INTO THE CANADIAN 
TESTING MARKETPLACE, WE ARE 
LEFT WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
THATER LOT OF QUESTIONS THERE 
ABOUT THE VARIOUS PROVINCES TO 
TAKING STEMS TO RE-OPEN THEIR 
BUBBLE, LIKE IN NEWFOUNDLAND 
AND NEW BRUNSWICK AND THE MORE 
AGGRESSIVE RE-OPENINGS OF 
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN SOME 
PROVINCES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL BIG 
EXPERIMENT FOR CANADA.
WE WON'T FIND OUT TOMORROW IF 
IT WORKS.
WE'LL FIND OUT ABOUT 10 DAYS TO 
TWO WEEKS FROM TOMORROW WHEN WE 
SEE IF NEW TESTING SHOWS A 
GROWTH IN CASES AND SURGE IN 
POSITIVE TESTS IN THE ECONOMIES 
THAT ARE GRADUALLY RE-OPENING 
AND WHETHER THAT MEANS A 
SCALING BACK OF WHAT WE DO 
ECONOMYICALLY OR WHETHER THE 
TEST RESULTS ARE GOOD AND THERE 
CAN BE A FURTHER BROADENING 
AFTER THAT.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED 
POINT BLANK, IF THE PROVINCES 
SCREW THIS UP A PROVINCE SCREWS 
THIS UP, CAN THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT STEP IN AND STOP IT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING 
THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WANTS 
TO DO.
THAT IS AKIN TO THE CONCERNS 
EARLIER IN THIS CRISIS ABOUT 
USING THE EMERGENCIES WHICH IS 
SOMETHING THAT JUSTIN TRUDEAU 
AND THE PREMIERS HAVE MADE 
CLEAR THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE 
HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY AND I 
CAN'T IMAGINE A FO *UK JUSTIN 
TRUDEAU WERE TO TELE GAULT IF  
-- IF JUSTIN TRUDEAU WERE TO 
TELL PREMIER LEGAULT THAT HE 
WAS DOING IT WRONG.
THE DATA IN PLACES LIKE 
SASKATCHEWAN AND QUEBEC WHERE 
THE TRANSMISSION RATE IS STILL 
HIGHER THAN ONE PERSON 
INFECTING ONE PERSON, YOU WANT 
IT DOWN TO R-NAUGHT OR R-0.
QUEBEC AND SASKATCHEWAN ARE 
STILL ABOVE THE R-1 LEVEL.
THAT MEAN THEY'RE ON TRACK TO 
DOUBLE OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF 
DAYS AND MONTREAL IN PARTICULAR 
IS THE EPICENTER FOR THIS 
DISEASE IN CANADA.
SO THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT 
CHALLENGES FOR PROVINCES THAT 
ARE TAKING THESE STEPS TO 
RE-OPEN WHERE THERE IS STILL 
HIGH RATES OF GROWTH IN THEIR 
POPULATION.
LESS SEVERE IN NEW BRUNSWICK, 
NEWFOUNDLAND OR PRINCE EDWARD 
ISLAND WHERE THERE ARE NO NEW 
ACTIVE CASES RIGHT NOW.
BUT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT,  
SOCIETAL TEST AND POLITICAL 
TEST AS PROVINCES MOVE AHEAD.
>> Vassy: AND DR. TERESA TAM, 
WHO WE'RE SCHEDULED TO HEAR 
FROM IN ABOUT 10 MINUTE'S TIME, 
WILL BE ASKED ABOUT THIS.
I WANT TO BRING IN PETER LIN, A 
FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND CBC 
MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR.
TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEW YOU, VASSY.
>> Vassy: THESE ARE CUBE TESTS 
THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK VERY 
QUICKLY.
LOTS OF THEM ON ORDER.
I THINK A MILLION ON ORDER IN 
ONTARIO.
100,000 ON ORDER IN ALBERTA.
HOW BIG OF A BLOW IS THIS TO 
THE TESTING CAPACITY, THE 
FUTURE TESTING CAPACITY OF 
PROVINCES?
>> KEY WAS IT COULD GIVE YOU AN 
ANSWER WITHIN AN HOUR.
SO, PLACES LIKE THAT ARE REMOTE 
THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE 
SWABS TO BE TRAVELED AROUND AND 
SENT AND COME BACK THREE DAYS 
LATER.
YOU CAN GET THE ANSWER WITHIN 
AN HOUR.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EACH 
MACHINE WILL PROCESS ABOUT ONE 
PER HOUR.
SO, 24 PER DAY.
IT IS NOT LIKE THE THOUSANDS 
AND THOUSANDS THAT WE'RE 
HEARING ABOUT THAT ARE BEING 
PROCESSED AT THE BIG LAB.
DOES IT HELP SMALL COMMUNITIES 
AND PERHAPS CERTAIN EMERGENCY 
SITUATIONS WHERE YOU NEED TO 
KNOW THE ANSWER WITHIN AN HOUR?
YES.
BUT DOES IT HELP -- DOES IT 
SORT OF CRIPPLE OUR SYSTEM, NO.
BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE HUGE LAB 
CAPACITY IN TERMS OF PROCESSING 
THESE NORMAL SWABS THAT WE'RE 
DOING.
>> Vassy: AND WHAT ABOUT THE 
SPEED -- THE SORT OF ISSUE 
AROUND APPROVING THESE KINDS OF 
TESTS?
WE'LL BE IN THIS POSITION WHEN 
IT COMES TO ANTIBODY TESTS, 
THESE ARE THE TESTS TO SEE IF 
YOU'VE HAD THE VIRUS.
THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING AN 
APPROVAL PROCESS AS WELL WITH 
HEALTH CANADA.
WHAT DOES IT TELL US ABOUT THE 
SPEED AT WHICH THESE THINGS ARE 
BEING APPROVED AND SHOULD WE 
EXPECT TO BE REASONABLE A FEW 
OTHER SORT OF HICCUPS ALONG THE 
WAY?
>> YEAH.
AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THIS 
HICCUP, THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE 
THING.
THE TEST ITSELF WORKS PERFECTLY 
FINE.
THE CUBE CAN MEASURE AND FIND 
THE VIRUS.
THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM COMES FROM THE SWAB.
THIS TEST WAS ORIGINALLY BILL 
TO LOOK FOR D.N.A..
LIKE DO YOU HAVE THE GENE FOR 
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
THAT'S WHAT THE COMPANY WAS ALL 
ABOUT.
FOR THAT SWAB, YOU ONLY NEED TO 
TAKE A SWAB ON THE INSIDE OF 
YOUR MOUTH AND GET SOME CELLS.
ONCE YOU HAVE CELLS, YOU CAN DO 
THE WHOLE PROCESS ON IT.
THEIR SWAB IS FOR YOUR MOUTH.
THEREFORE, KIT NOT FIT ALL THE 
WAY UP INTO YOUR NOSE AND YOU 
HAVE TO GO PRETTY HIGH UP IN 
THE NOSE.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE 
ARE SWABS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO 
PICK UP EVERYTHING.
YOU CAN ONLY SWAB THE INSIDE OF 
YOUR NOSE OR MOUTH.
COULD THERE BE FALSE NEGATIVES?
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY SAY YOU 
DON'T HAVE THE VIRUS BUT THAT 
IS BECAUSE THE SWABS DIDN'T GET 
UP THERE.
THE DEVICE ITSELF IS FINE.
THEY JUST HAVE TO COME UP WITH 
ANOTHER SWAB.
THE MOMENT YOU DO THAT, YOU 
HAVE TO SHOW THAT THAT SWAB CAN 
COLLECT SAMPLES AND GO THROUGH 
THE TESTING AGAIN.
SO, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT SOCIETY 
BACKWARDS, BUT DEFINITELY FIX 
TONIGHT CHANGE THE SWAB.
AND THE REASON WHY THE 
SITUATION HAPPENED IS BECAUSE 
EVERYBODY WAS IN A RUSH TO GET 
THE TESTING PART RIGHT.
THEY WERE GETTING THAT RIGHT 
AND EVERYBODY FORGOT THAT WE 
NEED TO GET A GOOD SAMPLE.
THEREFORE, FIXING THE SAMPLES 
WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND THEN 
SHOW THAT IT WORKS.
>> Vassy: JUST ONE MORE 
QUESTION ABOUT RE-OPENING THE 
XHIS.
ESPECIALLY IN QUEBEC WHERE WE 
SEE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, 
KIDS START TO HEAD BACK TO 
SCHOOL.
WE'RE STILL SEEING THE NUMBERS 
THERE.
YOU KNOW, IN THE TRIM DIGITS 
FOR THE NUMBER OF CASES.
WHAT IS YOUR SENSE ABOUT THE 
READINESS OF PROVINCES TO 
RE-OPEN?
>> YEAH.
I'M HOPING THAT THE GOVERNMENT 
IS LOOKING AT WHERE THE NUMBERS 
ARE GOING UP.
SO LET'S SAY THE NUMBERS WERE 
GOING UP IN LONG-TERM CARE.
LET'S JUST SAY.
LET'S SAY WE OPEN UP OTHER 
ECONOMY TAS ARE NOT ATTACHED TO 
LONG-TERM CARE OR REGIONS.
MONTREAL PROPER, THERE IS A LOT 
OF SPACES THERE.
OUTSIDE OF MONTREAL MARK IB NO 
CASES OR LOW CASES.
WHAT I'M HOPING IS THEY'RE 
OPENING UP THINGS IN REGIONS 
THAT DON'T HAVE INCREASING 
CASES.
NUMBER TWO IS THAT WE HAVE TO 
KEEP MONITORING AND NUMBER 
THREE, WE CAN'T GIVE ADVICE 
LIKE YOU SHOULD BE AT 50% 
CAPACITY.
BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT'S 
GOING TO KEEP US SAFE.
WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP US SAFE 
IS WE TALK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, SO THAT I CANNOT 
BLOW THE VIRUS TOWARDS YOU.
EITHER BY TALKING TO YOU OR 
LAUGHING AT YOU.
BASICALLY WE NEED TO KEEP THAT.
I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD BE 
TELLING PEOPLE IS KEEP THAT 
DISTANCE.
SO, INDIVIDUALLY WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT WE CAN TELL BUSINESSES IF 
YOU ARE A RESTAURANT, FIGURE 
OUT HOW EVERYBODY CAN FIT SIX 
FEET APART AND YOUR SERVERS CAN 
BE TWO OR THREE FEET APART WHEN 
THEY'RE SERVING.
I KNOW THERE ALREADY LINE-UPS 
LIKE THE GROCERY STORES WHERE 
WE CAN HAVE THOSE MARKINGS.
THOSE PRINCIPLES WILL KEEP THE 
DISTANCES WORKING WELL.
AND IT WILL KEEP US SAFE.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP 
THAT SIX FEET IN OUR MIND 
ALWAYS PRESENT.
>> Vassy: OK.
APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS, AS 
ALWAYS.
>> THANK YOU, VASSY.
>> Vassy:S THE PRIME MINISTER 
ALSO DID, AS I MENTIONED, 
ANNOUNCED $240 MILLION DIRECTED 
TOWARD ON-LINE SERVICES FOR 
BOTH PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND 
MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
FOR THAT I WANT TO BRING IN OUR 
NEXT GUEST, DANA LEE BAGLEY, A 
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST IN 
HALIFAX.
HI, THERE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Vassy: I WANT TO START WITH 
THE IDEA OF ON-LINE SERVICES 
FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING TO STAY 
HOME.
HOW SIGNIFICANT OR IMPORTANT IS 
IT THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCESS 
THOSE SERVICES THROUGH THEIR 
COMPUTER?
>> Caller: I THINK ONE OF THE 
GOOD THINGS THAT CAME ABOUT, 
AND I WISH I COULD HAVE COME 
ABOUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT 
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME 
ABOUT IS AN INCREASED FOCUS ON 
MENTAL HEALTH AND DELIVERED 
WITHOUT PROTECTING OUR MENTAL 
HEALTH.
SO, THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS 
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AS WE JUST 
HEAR.
AND IT'S ALSO REALLY HARD ON 
MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT?
THESE ARE NOT THE THINGS THAT 
WE RECOMMEND FOR GOOD MENTAL 
HEALTH.
I THINK IT IS ESPECIALLY 
IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS 
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
SO THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED 
TIMES AND THAT MIGHT ALSO MEAN 
THAT WE DO THINGS WE WOULDN'T 
NORMALLY DO IN ITEMINGERS OF 
ACCESSING PROFESSIONAL MENTAL 
HEALTH.
MENTAL HEALTHS TRANSLATES VERY 
WELL ON-LINE.
YOU CAN DO THERAPY QUITE WELL.
THERE'S STUDIES SHOWING THE 
EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT AND WE 
ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 
RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS 
TO THE INTERNET BECAUSE THOSE 
ARE EXACTLY THE COMMUNITIS THAT 
WE WANT TO INCREASE 
ACCESSIBILITY AND OFTEN I DON'T 
HAVE STABLE INTERNET TO MAKE 
USE OF THESE RESOURCES.
>> Vassy: THAT IS A REALLY GOOD 
POINT OF DISCUSSION AMONG 
PARLIAMENTARIANS AND 
SPECIFICALLY THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES, TOO.
YOU RUN YOUR OWN PRACTICE.
WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN UP CLOSE 
ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THIS 
PANDEMIC ON CANADIANS' MENTAL 
HEALTH?
>> SO, REALLY IT IS THE ONLY 
THING WE TALK ABOUT IN ALL OF 
THE SESSIONS HOW TO PROTECT OUR 
MENTAL HEALTH.
HOW TO STAY STABLE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO 
CHARGE OUR BATTERIES AND DO 
THINGS THAT ARE DELIBERATE 
ABOUT PROTECTING OUR MENTAL 
HEALTH.
IT IS TAKING A TOLL.
WE'VE SEEN STUS SHOWING THAT IT 
IS TAKING A TOLL AND ALSO THAT 
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE 
DOING IT IF THAT MEANS KEEPING 
PEOPLE SAFE.
SO HAVING ADDITIONAL SERVICES 
THAT YOU CAN ACCESS AND 
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT YOU 
CAN ACCESS TO HELP US COPE WITH 
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> Vassy: JUST A MINUTE LEFT.
BUT MY SENSE PRIOR TO THIS WAS 
THAT ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES 
WAS ALREADY STRAINED AND 
ALREADY AN ISSUE FAR LOT OF 
CANADIANS.
THIS IS MORE MONEY, BUT HOW BIG 
OF AN ISSUE IS THAT ACCESS?
>> SO, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE TALK 
ABOUT.
THE FIRST WAVE IS COVID DEATHS, 
THE SECOND WAVE IS ACUTE DEATHS 
LIKE HEART DISEASE OR HEART 
ATTACKS.
THE THIRD IS CHRONIC DISEASE 
MANAGEMENT SO PEOPLE THAT 
DIDN'T GET SERVICES.
FOURTH IS MENTAL HEALTH AND IT 
IS THE LONGEST ONE.
THE ONE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH 
LONG PAST WHEN THE OUTBREAK IS 
DONE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE 
LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.
BOTH FOR AS THE PUBLIC AS WELL 
AS ESSENTIAL SERVICE WORKERS 
AND FRONTLINE PROVIDERS.
WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THIS 
FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO COME.
>> Vassy: WE SURE WILL BE.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR 
EXPERTISE.
DANA LEE BAGLEY, A REGISTERED 
PSYCHOLOGIST IN HALIFAX.
WE'RE STANDING BY IN A MINUTE'S 
TIME TO TAKE YOU BACK TO 
PARLIAMENT HILL FOR A PRESS 
CONFERENCE FROM THE TWO 
MINISTERS IN CHARGE OF 
PROCUREMENT AND DR. TERESA TAM, 
THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER.
SHE SURELY WILL BE ASKED ABOUT 
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AROUND A 
PAUSE IN TESTING CAPACITY OR 
PERHAPS LIMITS ON TESTING 
CAPACITY FOR PROVINCES AND WHAT 
THAT MEANS FOR THEIR ABILITY TO 
OPEN THINGS UP.
MINISTER ANNAND WILL TALK ABOUT 
A NATIONAL SUPPLY COUNCIL.
WE KNOW THERE ARE ISSUES WITH 
THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, HAND SANITIZERS, 
MASKS, THAT KIND OF THING.
THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES.
THIS COUNCIL IS DEVELOPED TO 
ADDRESS ALL OF THAT GOING 
FORWARD AND RAMP UP THAT SUPPLY 
AS PROVINCIAL ECONOMIES OPEN UP.
THAT IS IT FOR US HERE ON CBC 
NAOUS.
WI WILL CONTINUE ON CBC NEWS 
NETWORK.
STAY WITH US AND JOIN US THERE.
I'M VASSY KAPELOS.
>> LET ME START OFF ON THE
PROCUREMENT ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S
BEEN WITH US FOR THE LAST SIX
WEEKS AND I DON'T THINK I'VE SAW
IT AS MUCH ABOUT PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR KNOWN AS
MUCH ABOUT THE SUPPLY OF IT.
THEY HAVE RAMPED UP THE CAPACITY
TO MEET THAT SUPPLY.
THE IDEA OF WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS
AGAIN OR WHAT KIND OF PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS
NECESSARY TO REOPEN OUR ECONOMY,
EVEN FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IS
ONE THE FEDS ARE FACING.
>> Reporter: THERE'S A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS AND QUESTIONS ARE
GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THE DETAILS ARE
OF THE SUPPLY COUNCIL BUT LONGER
TERM, THIS HAS LAID VERY OUT
BEFORE THE COUNTRY TO SEE JUST
HOW DEFICIENT IS ON PERSONAL
EQUIPMENT.
IT HAS CHANGED WITH CANADA GOOSE
AND STANFIELD RAMPING UP TO MAKE
GOWNS, FACE SHIELDS AND MEDICINE
BUILDING A MASK MANUFACTURING
LINE HERE IN CANADA.
WE RELY ON FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO
DELIVER THIS STUFF.
WHEN THE WORLD IS COMPETING FOR
THE SAME STUFF AT THE SAME TIME
TO DEAL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM,
YOU HAVE ISSUES ON CUT-THROAT
COMPETITION AND ISSUES AROUND
INFERIOR QUALITY.
SOME OF THE THINGS CANADA HAS
BEEN ABLE TO SECURE HAVE BEEN
FOUND TO BE NOT OF SUFFICIENT
ENOUGH QUALITY TO BE USED IN AN
ACUTE CARE MEDICAL SETTING.
WE'RE GOING TO GET AN UPDATE AND
A PATH FORWARD, IT SEEMS, ON THE
STEPS TOWARDS THAT DOMESTIC
SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
THE MINISTER OF BUYING AND
BUILDING IN TERMS OF HOW THIS IS
GOING AND THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE
US A SENSE OF WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN THERE.
IT HAS SHOWN HOW VULNERABLE THE
HEALTH SYSTEM AND HOW WE RELY ON
CHINA, WHICH IS UNDER THE
MICROSCOPE OF ANGER AND
FRUSTRATION IN A GEOPOLITICAL
SENSE BECAUSE OF WHAT IT MAY OR
MAY NOT HAVE DONE IN THE EARLY
STAGES.
>> Vassy: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO
ASK YOU ABOUT.
WE DID SEE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
DIRECTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER
TODAY ABOUT A COUPLE OF REPORTS
COMING OUT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE FIRST, COMES FROM SECRETARY
OF STATE MIKE POMPEO WHO DID AN
INTERVIEW ON ABC WHICH HE SAID,
I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE
THIS CAME FROM THAT LAB IN
WUHAN.
WHERE THIS PANDEMIC FIRST
STARTED IN CHINA.
HE DID NOT, OF COURSE, AT THIS
POINT SAY WHAT THE EVIDENCE WAS.
HE ADD THE BEST EXPERTS, SO FAR,
SEEM TO THINK IT WAS MAN-MADE.
THAT JUMPS OFF ANOTHER REPORT
THAT TALKS ABOUT CHINA, FOR
EXAMPLE, LIMITING EXPORTS AS
SOON AS THEY RECOGNIZE IT WAS A
CONTAGION IN LATE DECEMBER AND
EARLY JANUARY.
TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE SO RELIANT
AT THIS POINT, AS FAR AS THE
SUPPLY CHAIN GOES, AS BEING ABLE
TO GET THAT PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT THAT THOSE MEDICAL
SUPPLIES FROM CHINA.
SO THESE QUESTIONS BECOME EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME
MINISTER WAS ASKED, WELL, HAVE
YOU SEEN THAT EVIDENCE?
HE DID NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER THAT.
>> Reporter: HE SAID -- HE IS
NOT DRAWING ANY FIRM CONCLUSIONS
ON ANYTHING ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF
THE VIRUS.
THE FOX NEWS REPORT, THERE WAS A
REPORT IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
CITING AN INTELLIGENCE REPORT
POINTING TO THIS.
WITHOUT INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION
FROM THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT,
WITHOUT A STATEMENT FROM THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, I'M NOT
SURE WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
A WEEK AGO, U.S. INTELLIGENCE
REPORTS WERE TELLING US KIM
JONG-UN WAS DEAD AND THEY SAY HE
IS FINE.
NOW HE IS ATTENDING EVENTS.
INTELLIGENCE IS NOT ALWAYS
RIGHT.
WE'VE SEEN THE U.S. SECRETARY OF
STATE GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AND SAY THERE WERE WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ AND
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
CHINA WILL HAVE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT DID AND
DIDN'T DO IN THE EARLY STAGES OF
THIS.
CERTAINLY, WHETHER IT CAME FROM
A LAB OR A MARKET, WHICH SEEMS
TO BE THE DOMINANT THEORY TO
THIS POINT, IS SOMETHING THAT
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS WILL
NEED TO BE SORTED OUT AND
INVESTIGATED THROUGH THE INITIAL
HEALTH CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY AND
AROUND THE WORLD.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS ON ANY WORLD LEADER'S
MIND THAT CHINA WAS NOT AT ALL
CANDID ABOUT THE EARLY STAGES OF
THIS AND TOOK STEPS TO LOOK
AFTER ITS INTEREST IN A WAY TO
COMPROMISE EVERYBODY ELSE.
TO ENSURE THEY HAD THE MEDICAL
SUPPLIES AND CAPACITY THEY
NEEDED TO DEAL WITH THE VIRUS
WHEN IT GOT TO THEIR COUNTRY.
THE CHALLENGE IN ALL OF THIS,
YOU STILL NEED THE SUPPLIES
BECAUSE NO ONE IS THROUGH THIS
YET AND A LOT OF THOSE SUPPLIES
ARE MADE IN CHINA.
WHILE THE UNITED STATES MAY HAVE
THE GEOPOLITICAL HEF TO GO
TOE-TO-TOE MIDDLE POWER LIKE
CANADA JUST CAN'T IN TERMS OF
RISKING THE ANGER OF CHINESE
REGIME AND LOSING ACCESS TO THE
MASKS AND THE GOWNSES AND THE
GLOVES AND SANITIZER IT HAS MADE
OVER THERE.
>> Vassy: THAT'S INTERESTING TO
WATCH THE PRIME MINISTER AND
MANY WHO GET THESE QUESTIONS AS
THEY TRY TO NAVIGATE, I GUESS,
THE RESPONSE TO THAT. I REMEMBER
TALKING TO HEALTH MINUTES PATTY
HAJDU WHO WOULDN'T SAY, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT AN
INVESTIGATION -- THERE SHOULD BE
AN INVESTIGATION AT THE END OF
THIS ALL THIS.
WE HEAR THE PRIME MINISTER SAY
THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE
ASKED BUT WE'LL DO THAT LATER.
AS THE U.S. AND -- YOU ARE
RIGHT, THERE'S A DISPARITY IN
OUR ROLES IN THE WORLD, BUT AS
THE U.S. CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT
THIS AND CONTINUES TO BE MORE
SPECIFIC ABOUT THE INTELLIGENCE
OR IF THERE IS EVIDENCE THE
EVIDENCE THAT THEY SEE, I
IMAGINE THOSE QUESTIONS WILL
PERSIST FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND IT'S GOING TO GET
HARDER TO KEEP SAYING, LET'S
JUST WAIT UNTIL THE THIS IS ALL
OVER.
>> Reporter: WE HAVE TO CONSIDER
THE AMERICAN CONTEXT THAT IT IS
IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN AN
ELECTION YEAR TO BE TALKING
ABOUT BLAME FOR THE CAUSE RATHER
THAN BLAME FOR THE RESPONSE OF
THE AMERICANS.
THERE'S A LOT OF CRITICISM FOR
THE U.S. RESPONSE AND WHAT
HAPPENED IN TERMS OF THEIR
PREPAREDNESS AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE
PROTEST IN THEIR STATE
LEGISLATURE AND PEOPLE GOING TO
THE HOMES OF STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS DEMANDING REOPENING.
THERE'S A POLITICAL DESIRE TO
TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THE
UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
AND CHINA IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
IT DOESN'T TAKEAWAY THE FACT
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN
INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT THESE
ANSWER THEY CAN LEARN LESSON FOR
THE NEXT TIME SOME SORT OF NOVEL
VIRUS APPEARS AND THREATENS THE
WORLD'S HEALTH.
POLITICS AND THE PANDEMIC ARE
MIXING IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY
RIGHT NOW AND WE'VE ALWAYS GOT
TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
>> Vassy: LET ME SWING BACK,
DAVID, AS WE WAIT FOR THE
MINISTER AND CHIEF PUBLIC-HEALTH
OFFICER, DR. THERESA TAM --
NEVER MIND.
THEY'RE ON THE WAY.
I THINK A LOT OF US ARE THINKING
AND TALKING ABOUT THAT.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE STEPPING UP.
WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO
DR. TERESA TAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WE'RE STARTING BY HEARING FROM
DR. TAM AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
MINISTER BAIN BY VIDEO
CONFERENCE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
BONJOUR.
I'LL START WITH THE LATEST
NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 57,148 CONFIRMED
CASES, INCLUDING 3,606 DEATHS.
TO DATE, LABS ACROSS CANADA HAVE
TESTED OVER 893,000 PEOPLE FOR
COVID-19 WITH ABOUT 6.5% OF
THESE TESTINGS POSITIVE.
THERE'S THE PART WHERE WE
USUALLY MOVE ON TO A BRIEF
UPDATE ON HOW WE ARE CONTINUING
TO SLOW DOWN THE EPIDEMIC AND
WHAT IS NEEDED NEXT FOR US TO
GET DOWN THE CURVE CAUTIOUSLY
TOGETHER.
INSTEAD, I WANT TO PAUSE HERE TO
REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE
BEHIND OUR DAILY NUMBERS.
NUMBERS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO
FULLY ENCAPSULATE.
EACH ONE OF THE 57,000 CASES HAS
BEEN AN ILLNESS STRIKING FEAR
AND CONCERN FOR EACH PERSON,
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY.
EACH DEATH HAS BEEN A TRAGEDY
AND TO THIS, EACH DEATH HAS
OFTEN MEANT A GOOD-BYE TO LOVED
ONES.
NOT GIVING HUGS AND COMFORTING
TOUCHES.
IT'S IN THESE TRAGIC CONDITIONS
THAT WE ARE MOST THANKFUL FOR
EVERYONE ON THE FRONT LINE OF
THIS CRISIS.
NOT ONLY DO WE COUNT ON HEALTH
WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINES TO
COMFORT US WHEN WE ARE SICK AND
SCARED, BUT THEY ARE THERE TO
OFFER COMFORTING WORDS, AND
HEALING TOUCHES.
THEY REACH OUT WHEN WE HAVE TO
REMAIN DURING ILLNESS, HOSPITAL
STAYS AND LAST MOMENTS.
THEY KEEP US INFORMED AS OUR
LOVED ONES ARE BEING CARED FOR
AND THEY SHARE THE SADNESS OF
NEWS WHEN ILLNESS OUTCOMES CAN
BRING ONLY TEARS.
THERE IS COMFORT IN KNOWING HOW
HEALTH WORKERS, FROM THOSE WHO
SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN OUR
HOSPITALS AND CARE HOMES, TO
THOSE WHO DELIVER DIRECT PATIENT
CARE, HAVE STEPPED IN AND
STEPPED UP TO ALLOW HUMANITY TO
SHINE.
FROM THE CLEANERS WHO SHARE A
WORD OF COMFORT AS THEY GO ABOUT
THEIR DUTIES AND THOSE WHO BRING
BY MEALS, TO A RANGE OF AND GIVE
REASSURANCE.
WE CAN KNOW OUR LOVED ONES ARE
BEING PROVIDED CARE WITH HUMAN
TOUCH AND CONCERN.
AS YOU SUFFER THE LOSS OF A
LOVED ONE, THEY WAIT FOR YOU EX
WITH YOU.
AND ALL CANADIANS ARE FOR
SYMPATHY AS SUFFER THE GREATEST
LOSS OF ALL DURING THIS CRISIS.
TODAY, I OFFER THESE REFLECTIONL
CANADIANS WHETHER THEY ARE
HELPING IN A HOSPITALS AND
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES, PROVIDING
ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR
VOLUNTEERING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
OR CONTINUING TO DO THE VERY
BEST TO STAY HOME TO SAVE LIVES.
EVERY LIFE MATTERS.
KEEP IT UP, CANADA, WE ARE
STRONGER TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. TAM.
>> BONJOUR.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THIS IS DR. HOWARD NJOO OF
THIS COUNTRY FOLLOWING REMARKS
FROM DR. TERESA TAM OF CANADA.
HER REMARKS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING
SOME CONTEXT TO THE NUMBERS
WE'VE HEARD SO FAR.
WE HAVE SOME ISSUES, TECHNICAL
ISSUES WITH OUR TRANSLATOR SO AS
SOON AS DR. NJOO WE WILL BRING
BACK THAT AUDIO.
WE'LL HAVE THE TRANSLATION FOR
YOU AS WELL.
DR. TAM, POINTING OUT THAT AS OF
TODAY, 893,000 TESTS HAVE BEEN
CONDUCTED IN THIS COUNTRY WITH
6.5% OF THEM CONFIRMED POSITIVE.
THAT NUMBER HAS PICKED UP OVER
THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE NUMBER
OF POSITIVE TESTS BUT THAT'S
ANTICIPATED AS TESTING CAPACITY
INCREASES.
SHE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPACT
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SHE SAYS SHE PAUSED TO TALK
ABOUT THE IMPACT BEHIND THE
NUMBERS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY,
AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
CONTRACTED THIS VIRUS AS WELL AS
PASSED AWAY FROM IT AND THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEN, WHO HAVE
TO MOURN THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED
ONES WITHOUT BEING ABLE, FOR
EXAMPLE, TO HOLD THE FUNERAL.
WE'VE SEEN SO MANY EXAMPLES OF
THAT OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS.
AND THE TRANSLATION IS BACK SO
WE'LL TAKE A LISTEN.
>> OR THOSE WHO DELIVER DIRECT
PATIENT CARE.
CLEANERS WHO SHARE COMFORT AS
THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DUTIES OR
THOSE WHO BRING BY THE DAY'S
MEALS TO A WHOLE RANGE OF
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WHO HOLD A
TRIAL END HAND AND GIVE
REASSURANCE.
WE CAN KNOW OUR LOVED ONES ARE
BEING PROVIDED CARE WITH HUMAN
TOUCH AND CONCERN IN OUR WAY.
THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, THEY
WAIT FOR YOU AND WITH YOU AND
ALL CANADIANS OFFER SYMPATHY AS
YOU SUFFER THE GREATEST LOSS OF
ALL DURING THIS CRISIS.
TODAY, AS WE OFFER THIS
REFLECTIONS, I'M THANKING ALL
CANADIANS WHETHER THEY ARE
HELPING IN A HOSPITALS AND
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES, PROVIDING
ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR
VOLUNTEERING IN OUR COMMUNITY OR
CONTINUING TO DO THEIR VERY BEST
TO STAY HOME TO SAVE LIVES.
BECAUSE EVERY LIFE MATTERS, SO
TOO DOES OUR EVERY EVENT TO
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
KEEP IT UP, CANADA, WE ARE
STRONGER TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW, WE'LL LISTEN TO MINISTER
ANAN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. TAM
AND DR. NJOO.
I ECHO YOUR APPRECIATION FOR OUR
FRONT LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
I TOO WILL BEGIN BY SENDING MY
HEART-FELT CONDOLENCES TO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES AS WELL
AS TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS
WITH THE LOSS OF THE SIX MEMBERS
OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES WHO
LOST THEIR LIVES SERVING OUR
COUNTRY.
AS A FELLOW NOVA SCOTIA AN, LET
ME SAY THAT WE ARE ALL GRIEVING
WITH YOU.
>> AS IN THE REST OF THE WORLD,
MOST OF OUR SUPPLIES CONTINUE
COMING FROM ABROAD.
WE ARE STILL FACING LOGISTICAL
CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF THE
HEIGHTENED GLOBAL DEMAND, BUT
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IS BEING
MADE.
>> THEY HAVE HELPED US BRING
HOME SUPPLIES WITH FLIGHTS
COMING IN NEARLY EVERYDAY THIS
PAST WEEK.
WE HAVE ALSO ENGAGE UPS TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
WITH MOVING PPE OUT OF SHANGHAI.
IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT,
OUR DEDICATED TEAM, ON THE
GROUND IN CHINA, INSURES THAT
SUPPLIES ARE COMING INTO THE
WAREHOUSE AND MAKING THEIR WAY
ONTO THE PLANE BACK TO CANADA.
>> OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO PUT SAFE,
RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT
IN THE HANDS OF OUR HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS.
AND WE ARE TAKING ALL NECESSARY
MEASURES FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
WE ARE REMAINING EXTREMELY
VIGILANT WHEN IT COMES TO THE
QUALITY OF THE PRODUCTS WE ARE
DISTRIBUTING.
>> WE ARE ONLY DEALING WITH
COMPANIES THAT CAN MEET THE
STANDARDS THAT WE REQUIRE.
NATIONALLY, CANADIAN COMPANIES
ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE
PRODUCTION AND DELIVERIES ARE
UNDERWAY.
>> BASED IN TORONTO, DELIVERED
THEIR FIRST SHIPMENT OF
VENTILATORS TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
OUR FIRST SHIPMENTS OF FACE
SHIELDS BEGAN TO COME IN THIS
WEEK WITH MORE THAN 740,000
RECEIVED TO DATE.
HALF OF WHICH WERE PRODUCED HERE
IN CANADA BY COMPANIES LIKE
BAUER AND TORONTO STAMPS.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT WE HAVE
SIGNED NEW CONTRACTS FOR
15.5 MILLION FACE SHIELDS FROM
STERLING INDUSTRIES, AFFILIATED
WITH HONDA AND FROM CANADA.
AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, WE
MANAGED TO SECURE A SHAPEMENT
FROM CHINA OF VITAL CHEMICAL
COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE
THE AGENT.
THIS WEEK I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE
WE HAVE FINALIZED A NEW
AGREEMENT WITH LUMEN ULTRA, A
DEADING COMPANY IN NEW BRUNSWICK
AS THE CORPORATION NOW HAS THE
COMPONENTS IT NEEDS TO PRODUCE
ENOUGH FREE-AGENT FOR 500,000
MORE TESTS PER WEEK.
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION RIGHT HERE
AT HOME.
I AM ALSO DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE
THAT WE ARE NOW FINDING A
LONG-TERM AGREEMENT WITH MEDICON
IN QUEBEC.
FOR THE MANUFACTURE HERE IN
CANADA OF 20 MILLION N95 RECEIP5
RESPIRATOR AND MASKS FOR THE
NEXT 10 YEARS.
STARTING THIS SUMMER.
THIS LONG-TERM PROCUREMENT IS
FOR ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND FOR
OTHER THINGS IS PART OF OUR PLAN
TO ENSURE THAT CANADA IS
PREPARED NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
IN COLLABORATION WITH MINISTER
BAINES.
WE HAVE SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT
WITH LOGISTICS UNI CORE, A
MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN ST.
JOHN'S IN QUEBEC.
THEY ARE PROVIDING 11 MILLION
MEDICAL GOWNS.
LOGISTIC UNI CORP IS ONE OF THE
30,000 CORPORATIONS WHICH
RESPONDED TO THE ALL FOR ACTION
THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON THE BUY
AND SELL SITE WHERE WE ARE
ASKING SUPPLIERS TO HELP US
FIGHT COVID-19.
>> HOW COMPANIES LIKE CANADA
HAVE STEPPED UP TO MEET THE
CURRENT CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE
FACING TOGETHER.
THEIR INGENUITY AND TENACITY
WILL HELP US THROUGH THIS
CRISIS.
LAST WEEK, WE LAUNCHED A RUNNING
REPORT OF OUR PROCUREMENT ONLY
OUR WEBSITE.
WHICH WAS UPDATED ON FRIDAY.
THE FIGURES ARE SHOWING THAT WE
HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN ORDERING
AND OBTAINING SUPPLIES FROM THE
COUNTRY AND ABROAD.
BUT WE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN OUR
EFFORTS.
IN ADDITION TO OUR -- WE WILL
NOT GIVE UP.
WE ARE NOT LETTING UP.
>> WE ARE PREPARING FOR A NEW
WAVE OF INFECTION OR A SUDDEN
RESURGENCE AT ANY GIVEN TIME,
WHICH WOULD RENEW THE IMMEDIATE
NEED FOR FURTHER ORDERS OF
CRITICAL SUPPLIES.
THAT IS WHY I HAVE FORMED A
COVID-19 SUPPLY COUNCIL BY
BRINGS TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP
OF LEADERS FROM THE CANADIAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO THE RED
CROSS TO PROVIDE ADVICE ON
BUILDING INNOVATIVE AND AGILE
SUPPLY CHAINS FROM START TO
FINISH.
THIS COUNCIL IS ABOUT BRINGING
TOGETHER DIVERSE INDUSTRIES AND
EXPERIENCES IN ORDER TO BEST
SERVE CANADIANS THROUGH THE NEXT
PHASES OF THIS CRISIS.
THE COUNCIL COMPLIMENTS MY WORK
WITH PROCUREMENT MINISTERS FROM
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES RIGHT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR
COLLABORATION, WHEN WE SPOKE ON
FRIDAY, MY COUNTERPART IN
NUNAVUT, RAISED AN URGENT --
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL
DEFENCE, WE WERE ABLE TO ENSURE
A SHIPMENT OF SWABS WAS SENT ON
ITS WAY TO NUNAVUT WITHIN 24
HOURS.
COOPERATION HAS PROVEN TO BE
INVALUABLE, TIME AND TIME AGAIN,
THROUGHOUT THIS CRISIS.
TOGETHER, WE REMAIN VIGILANT IN
OUR EFFORTS TO SECURE THE VITAL
SUPPLIES THAT WILL KEEP
CANADIANS SAFE TODAY, TOMORROW,
AND IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER, WE'RE
GOING TO HEAR FROM THE MINISTER
OF INNOVATION SCIENCE AND
INDUSTRY.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, ANITA
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CARL.
SIX WEEKS AGO, WE CALLED ON
CANADA'S INVESTMENT COMMUNITY TO
HELP ME WITH THE CRITICAL NEED
FOR PERSONAL HEALTH EQUIPMENT
AND HEALTH SUPPLIES.
WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE
WEALTH OF CANADIAN RESEARCH
INSTITUTIONS, UNIVERSITIES, AND
SCIENCES TO MOBILIZE SCIENCE IN
THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
SINCE THEN, TWO THINGS HAVE
STOOD OUT FOR ME.
FIRST, THE FEAR WHICH CANADIAN
COMPANIES AND RESEARCHERS ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE STEPPED
UP AND OFFERED THEIR HELP TO DO
WHATEVER THEY CAN TO ASSIST THE
FELLOW CANADIANS IN THE CRISIS.
SECONDLY, THE DIVERSE WAYS THAT
CANADIAN INNOVATION HAS BEEN
DEPLOYED TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING.
NEITHER ARE SURPRISING TO ME AND
I'M PROUD OF THE WORK BEING DONE
BY OUR WORLD-CLASS INDUSTRIAL IN
THE COMMUNITY.
>> MORE THAN 6,000 CANADIAN
COOPERATIONS HAVE OFFERED UP
THEIR EXPERTISE AND CAPACITIES.
WE HAVE ALSO MOBILIZED A GREAT
NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS AND
SCIENTISTS WHO ARE RESEARCHING
SOLUTIONS TO THIS UNPRECEDENTED
CHALLENGE.
>> THE MOST RECENT PROGRESS
COMING FROM THESE EFFORTS.
FIRST, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
THE CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN
$175 MILLION TO THE BUY LOGICS,
A BIO TECH COMPANY IN VANCOUVER,
THEY WERE THE FIRST IN NORTH
AMERICA TO RECEIVE A SAMPLE.
AND JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS, THEY
HAVE SCREENED 6 MILLION CELLS
AND HAVE IDENTIFIED OVER 500
HUMAN ANTIBODIES.
THEY'RE WORKING ON IDENTIFYING
WHICH OF THOSE 500 ANTIBODIES
CANNOT ONLY BLOCK THE COVID-19
BUT CAN BE MADE INTO A DRUG TO
TREAT THE VIRUS.
IT'S CURRENTLY WORKING WITH
PARTNERS TO SELECT ANTIBODIES
THAT ARE HIGHLY POTENT, BROADLY
NEUTRALIZING AND CAPABLE OF
LARGE-SCALE MANUFACTURING.
ANTIBODIES FOUND DURING THE
RESEARCH MAY ALSO BE USED TO
CREATE TESTS FOR COVID-19 AND
THE COMPANY IS WORKING WITH
SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO
SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
DIAGNOSTICS AND MONITORING THE
DISEASE.
HUMAN CRITICAL TRIALS ARE
EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE SUMMER.
OVER THE LONG RUN, THEY WILL
HAVE ANTIBODIES SO OUR COUNTRY
IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO FUTURE
PANDEMICS.
LET ME TURN NOW TO UPDATES ON
TEST KITS AND FACE SHIELDS.
WE KNOW THAT WE WILL NEED A
LARGE NUMBER OF RELIABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE TESTS IF WE ARE TO
REOPEN THE ECONOMY SAFELY AND
RESPONSIBLY.
THAT IS WHY WE JUST SIGNED
LETTERS OF INTENT.
DIAGNOSTIC BIO CANADA.
THESE COMPANIES WERE SELECTED TO
ACCELERATE A PROCESS THAT SAW
OVER 100 SUBMISSIONS.
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH
VENTILATORS, AND THE NATIONAL
RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA AND
THE PANEL OF EXTERNAL EXPERTS
IDENTIFIED THE MOST PROMISING
SHORT-TERM CANADIAN
MANUFACTURING OPTIONS FOR
TESTING.
THE SUPERCLUSTER IS ALSO
SUPPORTING OTHER ASPECTS OF
T.P.E. MANUFACTURING.
EIGHT PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
APPROVED.
>> IT HAS CONTRACTED THREE NEW
PROJECTS FOCUSED BY MEDICAL FACE
SHIELDS.
THESE PROJECTS ARE BRINGING
TOGETHER MANUFACTURING IN 3-D
PRINTING COMPANIES AND IT WILL
RESULT IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF FACE SHIELDS BEING PRODUCED
DAILY BY JUNE FIRST.
>> TO CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO
STATE THAT THIS SUPERCLUSTER IS
MODELLIZING ITS MEMBERS AND HAS
APPROVED EIGHT NEW PROJECTS TO
FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
>> INNOVATION IS CENTRAL OF OUR
MOBILIZATION EFFORTS AND WORKING
WITH THE RESEARCH EXPERTS, WE
CONTINUE IN OUR MISSION OF
SUPPORTING OUR HEALTHCARE
WORKERS AND ENSURING THE SAFETY
OF CANADIANS AS WE NAVIGATE THIS
PANDEMIC.
TOGETHER, WE WILL WIN THIS
FIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER BAINS.
WE'LL START WITH THREE
QUESTIONS.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP AND
WE'LL GO TO THE ROOM.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 1 AT THIS TIME
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
I'M SORRY I THINK MAYBE YOU HAVE
SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES.
I CAN HARDLY HEAR CLEARLY THE
MINISTERS SO I'M HOPING THAT DRY
QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENED EXACTLY WITH THIS
SPARTAN CUBE TEST, HOW COME IT
WAS THREE WEEKS AGO, GOOD TO GO
AND NOW IT'S NOT?
>> SO, I THINK IT WAS
APRIL 11th WHEN HEALTH CANADA
AUTHORIZED SPARTAN, THE TEST KIT
IN THE INTERIM ORDER OF PATH WAY
THIS IS PART OF ACCELERATION OF
ACCESS TO OUR INNOVATIVE
TESTING.
BUILT INTO THAT PROCESS IS
ACTUALLY CLINICAL VALIDATION OF
THE DEVICE AND ITS SYSTEMS.
IT WAS THE NATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
LAB FROM THE PUBLIC-HEALTH
AGENCY WHO COLLABORATED WITH
CLINICAL SITES IN THREE
PROVINCES TO ACTUALLY USE THIS
DEVICE AND SYSTEM TO TAKE
SAMPLES FROM ACTUAL PATIENTS.
WHILE THE SPARTAN SYSTEM OR THE
DEVICE PERFORMED VERY WELL IN A
LAB SETTING AND ALONG THE
SPECIFICATIONS THAT THE
MANUFACTURER HAD PROVIDED, IT
WAS IN THE REAL LIFE SETTING IN
THE CLINICAL SETTING WHERE IT
DIDN'T PERFORM WELL.
RIGHT NOW, IT APPEARS IT MAY BE
RELATED TO THE PRO PRIORITY SWAB
THAT GOES WITH THE SYSTEM.
SO, I THINK WHAT HEALTH CANADA
IS DOING IS TO AMEND THE
AUTHORIZED INTENDED USE FOR
RESEARCH USE ONLY SO THAT MORE
CLINICAL VALIDATIONS CAN BE DONE
WHEN THE MANUFACTURER ADJUSTS
ITS SYSTEM.
I ACTUALLY THINK THIS IS A
REALLY -- IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE KIND OF
QUALITY ASSURANCE WE'RE PUT TO
GO OUR NEW TESTS AND THAT REALLY
HAS BEEN NO USE OF THIS TEST KIT
IN A WAY THAT WOULD HAVE
IMPACTED PATIENT DYING KNOW TICK
BECAUSE DO YOU THIS IN THE
CONTEXT OF A ACTUAL CLINICAL
TRIAL EVALUATION.
>> OK.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT THE SWAB, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE THING THAT ACTUALLY
GETS THE SAMPLE, I GUESS AND IF
NOT PLEASE CORRECT ME.
WE WERE TEST ING 23,000 A DAY
AND YOU WERE HOPING FOR ALMOST
THREE TIMES AS MUCH, 60,000.
HOW DOES THIS SPARTAN TUBE
SETBACK IMPACT THIS OBJECTIVE?
>> IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T IMPACT IT
BECAUSE THE PROVINCIAL
TERRITORIAL TARGETS,
COLLECTIVELY, OF THE 60,000 IS
JUST ON THE EXISTING TESTS
WITHIN THE PUBLIC-HEALTH LABS
AND THEN WE WOULD ADD ON TOP OF
THAT ANY POINT OF CARE TESTING
THAT COMES ON BOARD.
SOME OF WHICH ARE ALREADY IN
USE, THAT'S JUST THE GENE
EXPERTS, THAT IS, FOR EXAMPLE,
ALSO BEING USED IN NUNAVUT, FOR
EXAMPLE.
SO SOME OF THE POINTS OF CARE IS
IN ADDITION TO THAT INITIAL
PROVINCIAL TERRITORIAL CAPACITY
TARGET OF 60,000 AND I DO KNOW
THAT PEOPLE, THE PROVINCES ARE
RAMPING UP THE TESTING AND WE'LL
SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT
SEVEN DAYS AS THEY RAMP UP SOME
MORE.
I KNOW THAT IN THE LAST 24
HOURS, WE ACTUALLY DID OVER
31,000 TESTS, [SPEAKING FRENCH]
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM LEE
FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR DR. TAM.
A NUMBER OF PROVINCES WILL TAKE
THE NEXT STEPS TOMORROW TOWARDS
REOPENING.
WHAT WILL YOU AND OTHER
PUBLIC-HEALTH OFFICIALS WATCH
FOR, ESPECIALLY IN QUEBEC WHERE
1,000 CASES WERE REPORTED
YESTERDAY.
DOES THE SPARTAN RECALL OR THE
ISSUES HAVE THAT HAVE BEEN
HIGHLIGHTED THERE, HAVE ANY
IMPACT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN
TERMS OF -- OR WHAT WE MIGHT
EXPECT IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM OR
REOPENING UP?
>> WELL, I THINK BOTH OF THESE
PROVINCES HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO
ESCALATE THE TESTING AND THE
TARGET OF 60,000 DOESN'T INCLUDE
ANY ADDITIONAL OF THOSE NEW
TESTS LIKE POINT OF CARE.
SO, THIS IS BECAUSE WE'RE
LOOKING AT SO MANY DIFFERENT
STREAMS OF NEW TESTS COMING ON
BOARD, THEY'LL HAVE TO RE ADJUST
THE TIME LINES OF PERHAPS WHEN
THEY WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE
SPARTAN SYSTEM TO BE ON BOARD
BUT THIS IS THE MOST PRUDE
COURSE OF ACTION BECAUSE YOU
DON'T WANT A ACTUAL SYSTEM OUT
THERE THAT ISN'T PICKING UP THE
CASES AS IT SHOULD.
I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY A
REALLY GOOD VALIDATION APPROACH.
IN TERMS OF, OF COURSE, AS YOU
HEARD FROM CHIEF MEDICAL
OFFICERS OF BOTH OF THOSE
PROVINCES AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, THERE'S NO EXACT RIGHT
PATHWAY DOWN THIS SLOPE AND INTO
THE NEW REALITIES OF LIVING WITH
COVID-19.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT HAS TO BE
CAUTIOUS AND WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY
LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS.
SOME OF THE CRITERIA IS PUB
ACCOMPLISHED LOOKING AT CASES
COMING DOWN SO IF YOU SEE CASES
COMING BACK UP AGAIN, YOU HAVE
TO RE-EVALUATE WHAT IS GOING ON.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THE CRITICAL
ASPECTS IS YOUR HEALTHCARE
CAPACITY AND YOUR ICU CAPACITY
SO MAKING SURE THEY'RE TRACKING
ALL OF THOSE PARAMETERS AS THEY
GO ABOUT THESE BABY STEPS AND
CAUTIOUS PATH TOWARDS THIS NEW
REA LOT OF LIVING WITH COVID-19.
EVERYONE WILL BE WATCHING VERY
CAREFULLY HAS TO WHAT HAPPENS TO
THE ACTIVITIES AND I KNOW THAT
PROVINCES ARE TRYING TO SEPARATE
OUT THE ACTUAL CLUSTERS WITHIN
CERTAIN SETTINGS LIKE LONG-TERM
CARE FROM WHAT MIGHT BE ACTUALLY
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION SO
THEY'LL TRY TO LOOK AT THE
EPIDEMIOLOGY FROM THAT
PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
>> FOLLOW-UP.
>> THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES THAT
WERE REPORTED IN QUEBEC YET, DO
YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR
THIS PROVINCE TO MOVE AHEAD ON
ITS PLANS TO REOPEN?
>> IT'S UP TO THE PROVINCE OF
QUEBEC TO LOOK AT THAT SITUATION
AND QUEBEC IS A BIG PROVINCE AND
IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME EVEN
WITHIN THE ACTUAL PROVINCE
ITSELF SO I'M CERTAIN THAT THE
DOCTOR AND THE QUEBEC
PUBLIC-HEALTH SYSTEM WILL
MONITOR THIS IN ALL DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF THE PROVINCE AND THEY
MAY NOT DO THINGS AT THE SAME
TIME FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF
QUEBEC AS WELL.
THE DETAILS ARE WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE PROVINCE.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT QUESTION,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY QUESTION --
>> Caller: [SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TEST
BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT A 60,000
TARGET AND WE ARE REACHING
30,000.
SOME PROVINCES WILL BE REOPENING
SOON AND THAT IS BEFORE WE ARE
ABLE TO CARRY OUT ENOUGH
SCREENINGS.
>> THIS IS DR. NJOO HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
IT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN FOR ALL
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SCREEN
PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR
ADMINISTRATION.
THE CAPACITY HAS INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY.
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES
ARE ALSO INCREASING CAPACITIES.
AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE.
THERE'S GOOD CAPACITY THROUGHOUT
COUNTRY TO TAKE CARE OF
DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING BASED ON
THE TESTS.
NOW, WE ARE ALSO INTRODUCING
OTHER TOOLS LIKE TESTING AT
SERVICE POINTS SOMETHING IS
HAPPENING NOW WITH SPARTAN AND
IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO MANAGE
AND RESOLVE BUT ULTIMATELY WE
HAVE THE CAPACITY.
IT'S UP TO THE PROVINCES TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS WHEN NECESSARY.
AND THEY MAY ALSO NEED TO LOOSEN
UP THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE
MEASURES.
SHOULD I REPEAT IN ENGLISH, IS
THAT OK?
>> WE'RE SAYING, YES, AT THE
PRESENT TIME THE PROVINCE AND
TERRITORIES, THEIR CAPACITY FOR
LAB TESTING, WHICH IS KEY, WILL
CONTINUE.
THEY'VE TAKEN STEPS TO INCREASE
THEIR LAB CAPACITY AND THAT
CONTINUES TO THIS DAY AND
CERTAINLY, WITHIN EACH PROVINCE
AND TERRITORY, THEY'RE MAKING
SURE THAT AS THEY MAY BE START
TO BEGIN TO REACTION CERTAIN
PUBLIC-HEALTH MEASURES THAT
CAPACITY TO RAPIDLY DETECT CASES
IS THERE.
RIGHT NOW THE CAPACITY IS BASED
ON THE MOLECULAR TEST AND IT
WILL BE THE GOLD STANDARD FOR
NOW BUT CERTAINLY, PROVINCE AND
TERRITORIES AS WELL AS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WE'RE LOOKING AT
OTHER TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY TO
BRING MORE TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR
TESTING INDIVIDUALS AND WE'VE
JUST TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE CALL
POINT OF CARE TESTING AND WE
HOPE IN THE COMING DAYS AND
WEEKS MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS IN
THE CLINICAL SENSE.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION -- THE
CLARIFICATION.
THERE'S SOMETHING I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR
TESTING, WE'RE NOT JUST DOING
ENOUGH TESTING OR WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH.
WE'RE DOING 30,000 AND THE
TARGET IS 60,000 AND MAYBE
ANOTHER ONE UNDERSTAND TAG
ENOUGH TESTING IS BEING DONE TO
OPEN THE ECONOMY WHERE AS THE
ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE OPENING
SOMEWHERE.
I WILL ANSWER AND IT'S DIFFICULT
BECAUSE WE CAN'T REALLY GIVE YOU
SPECIFIC FIGURES IT ALL DEPENDS
ON THE DEMAND.
IF PEOPLE FALL SICK, WE NEED TO
FIND OUT IF WE HAVE DIAGNOSTIC
TESTING.
IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF
TESTING EVERYONE.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO TEST SOMEONE AT THE
RIGHT TIME.
IF WE SCREEN SOMEONE WHO IS NOT
ILL, THERE IS A DANGER OF HAVING
A FALSE NEGATIVE SO IT ALL
DEPENDS ON DEMAND.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW WITHIN THE
POPULATION WITH THE SPREAD OF
THE VIRUS.
WELL, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY IN
THE COUNTRY BUT NOT ALL
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES AND
IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
FOLLOW-UP CLOSELY BECAUSE IF WE
START RELAXING SOME
PUBLIC-HEALTH MEASURES, WE NEED
A SYSTEM AND IT'S CREATING
SYSTEM TO PROPERLY, RAPIDLY
DETECT THE VIRUS IF THERE IS A
SURGE IN CASES, THAT IS REALLY
THE ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS NOT THE EXACT
FIGURES OR THE AVAILABLE TEST.
>> THANK YOU, DR. TO BE.
I'LL TURN TO THE ROOM.
STARTING WITH MARY WALSH FROM
"THE GLOBE AND MAIL."
>> WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING
YOU SO I HOPE THIS WILL WORK.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN
TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT GAP IS
CURRENTLY IN THE SUPPLY OF
P.P.E. THAT YOU ARE HOPING THIS
COUNCIL WILL FILL?
WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS MISSING
FROM THE COMPLIMENT THIS WILL
NOW HELP DO?
>> THANK YOU, I HOPE YOU CAN
HEAR ME NOW.
IS IT ANY BETTER?
THE SUPPLY COUNCIL IS NOT MEANT
TO FILL A PARTICULAR GAP IN THE
SUPPLY CHAIN PER SE BUT THE GOAL
IN ESTABLISHING THE SUPPLY
COUNCIL IS TO PROVIDE ANOTHER
LENS INTO THE POINT-TO-POINT
PROCUREMENTS WE'RE DOING FROM
START TO FINISH, FROM
MANUFACTURER TO A ARRIVAL OR
PRODUCTION IN CANADA, WHAT IS IT
THAT WE CAN BE DOING DIFFERENTLY
TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE PROPER
AND EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
PROCUREMENTS WITHIN OUR
GOVERNMENT AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
SO THE IDEA IS THAT IT IS ADDING
TO OUR EXISTING PROCESSES BY
DRAWING ON THE EXPERTISE OF
MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS FROM A
DIVERSE SET OF SECTORS SO THAT
WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT ALL THE NECESSARY
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE
THINKING ABOUT IN PROCUREMENT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF
DISTRIBUTION, WE HAVE MUCH TO
LEARN IN TERMS OF DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES.
SHOULD WE BE ADOPTING
ALTERNATIVE AND ADDITIONAL
PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN
REACH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND
PART OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH
THE SUPPLY COUNCIL WILL REVOLVE
AROUND CANADA'S INCREDIBLE
DIVERSITY AND HOW WE CAN DO
BETTER IN TERMS OF OUR
PROCUREMENT TO ENSURE THAT
EVERYONE HAS THE SUPPLIES THAT
ARE NECESSARY ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
>> WHAT IS YOUR -- WHAT ARE THE
GOVERNMENT'S FORECAST OF HOW
MUCH P.P.E. WE WILL NEED EITHER
PER NUMBER IN POPULATION OR PER
WEEK OR A MIX OF THOSE WHEN WE
REOPEN?
HOW MUCH MORE P.P.E. WILL WE
NEED WHEN WE'RE ALL TRYING TO
GET BACK TO WORK?
>> IT'S DEFINITELY TRUE THAT,
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHERE YOU
ARE, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AND THE INCREDIBLE NEEDS THAT WE
ARE FOR SEEING.
LET ME BE CLEAR, OUR FIRST
PRIORITY, AS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AT THE OPPORTUNITY CE
IS TO PROCURE P.P.E. FOR OUR
FRONT LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING
EVERYTHING SINGLE DAY AND WE'RE
PROCURING FROM INTERNATIONAL
SOURCES AND AS MINISTER BAINS
AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HARD,
DOMESTIC RETOOLING IS PART OF
THAT EQUATION.
DIVERSIFYING SUPPLY CHAINS.
IN TERMS OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE
NEEDED FOR PPE, THIS IS AN
ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT I HAVE
BEEN HAVING WITH MY PROVINCIAL
AND TERRITORIAL COUNTERPARTS AND
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
CONTINUING TO HAVE AS WE GO
THROUGH THE NEXT PHASES OF THE
PANDEMIC.
I WILL SAY THAT FROM A
PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE
PLANNING FOR A SHORT AND
LONG-TERM.
WE ARE PLANNING FOR THIS PHASE
AS WELL AS POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL
SEARCHES IN THE PANDEMIC SO THAT
WE CAN BE PREPARED FOR ALL
EVENTUALITIES.
THIS IS PROCUREMENT LIKE IT'S
NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE FOR THAT
VERY REASON.
WE NEED TO BE PLANNING FOR THE
SHORT AND THE LONG-TERM AND ALL
EVENTUALITIES.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
>> Caller: CAN YOU TELL ME THE
IMPACT OF THE SPARTAN SETBACK
IS?
IS IT PROVINCE AND TERRITORIES
THAT ORDERED THESE TEST KITS.
YOU SAID THEY TALKED ABOUT
RAMPING UP QUICKLY?
WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE?
>> THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE
TARGETED AROUND 60,000 SO WE
STILL, EVEN WITHIN THAT SCOPE
GOT ANOTHER HALFWAY TO GO.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT WE'RE DOING
30,000 A DAY SINCE YESTERDAY,
THERE'S STILL ROM FOR THEM TO
CONTINUE TO RAMP UP THE TESTING
APPROACHES.
SO, THEN THE POINT OF CARE
ACTUALLY, THE KIA JUSTMENT AND
PLANS WILL BE FOR THE RURAL AND
REMOTE COMMUNITIES.
THE CONCEPT OF USING THESE MERE
PATIENT TESTS SO WE CAN RENDER
THESE COMMUNITIES MORE
INDEPENDENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO ANY KIND OF DELAYS MIGHT IN
FACT IMPACT ON THE FACT THAT WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRANSPORT
SPECIMENS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH
EARLIER.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER SUPPLIES
OF THE POINT OF CARE SO THIS
ISN'T THE ON ONE.
I THINK IT'S, AGAIN, A DYNAMIC
PROCESS.
THERE ARE SUPPLIERS THAT ARE A
BIT MORE ESTABLISHED, IF YOU
LIKE, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT
INNOVATION SPACE WE KNOW THE
PATHWAY OF INNOVATION WILL HAVE
SOME BUMPS AND I THINK THIS IS
ONE OF THOSE BUMPS.
IT ONLY FORMS ONE PART OF THE
STRATEGY SO I THINK WE WILL
CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OTHER
SOLUTIONS TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THE IMPACT
IS MORE ON THE TIMELINESS FOR
THE REMOTE TESTING TIME.
>> Caller: HOW MANY PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES ORDERED THESE
SPARTAN KITS AND HOW MANY ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT ARE HELD BACK
BECAUSE OF THE SETBACK?
THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS?
>>
>> WE MIGHT HAVE TO GET BACK TO
THE NUMBERS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE
THEM.
I JUST KNOW THAT IT WAS THREE
PROVINCES THAT HELPED WITH THE
CLINICAL TRIALS WHICH WE WERE
INVOLVED IN AND I THINK THAT
THERE WERE 5,500 TEST KITS AS
SORT OF PART OF THAT
DISTRIBUTION.
BEYOND THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT
IT WAS ANY DISTRIBUTION AND I
DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN.
>> Caller: IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO
REFER TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
THIS SPARTAN TEST KIT AS A
RECALL.
THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF
SPARTAN BEING RAMPED UP.
WE'RE NOT EXPECTING THEM TO BE
READY IN THIS MOMENT IN ANY
CASE.
IN MY VIEW, THE ISSUES THAT YOU
ARE HIGHLIGHTING AREN'T A
RECALL, AREN'T DETECTIVE PRODUCT
AT ALL.
THE PUBLIC-HEALTH LAB SAID THEY
WILL BE USED IN RESEARCH
SETTINGS AND SPARTAN WILL
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE AND REVIEW
AND REVISE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT
IT IS PRODUCING FOR THE RAPID
TEST KITS AND THEN, AS THE
TESTING WARRANTS, THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO BE USED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
AGAIN, THIS IS PART OF THE
PROCESS OF PRODUCING NEW
TECHNOLOGY, OF PRODUCING
SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE
VERY IMPORTANT BUT IS JUST
GETTING RETOOLED AND RAMPED UP
AT THE CURRENT TIME.
>> Caller: MY FIRST QUESTION
GOES TO DR. TAM, THE PRIME
MINISTER TODAY WHEN ASKED ABOUT
THE ECONOMY'S REOPENING AND
TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE IS
DIFFERENT REALITIES AND EACH
PROVINCE, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT
THE VIRUS DOESN'T KNOW ANY
BORDERS, AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD
MANY TIMES.
THAT WOULD APPLY HERE IN CANADA
AS WELL.
SO, AS THE VARIOUS PROVINCE
REOPENS AT DIFFERENT TIMES, ARE
YOU GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT
ENTER PROVINCIAL TRAVEL REMAIN
COMPLETELY OR BECOME COMPLETELY
SHUTDOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT
DIFFERENT POCKETS DON'T POP UP
IN DIFFERENT AREAS?
>>
>> WE HAVE TO SHARE INFORMATION
IN EACH JURISDICTION AND THE
ENTER PROVINCIAL IS DONE AMONG
EACH ONE.
EVERY PROVINCE WILL BE WATCHING
ALL THE OTHER PROVINCES IN TERMS
OF WHERE THEIR STANCE IS.
FOR PROVINCES THAT HAVE VERY
MINIMAL HEALTHCARE CAPACITY THEY
WILL BE CAREFUL AND THEY'RE
STILL GOING TO BE OF COURSE
LOOKING AT THE 14-DAY ISOLATION
PERIODS FOR ANYONE COMING INSIDE
OF THE TERRITORY AND I THINK
SOME OF THAT WILL CONTINUE AS WE
SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS PEOPLE
GINGERLY GO THROUGH THE NEXT
STAGE.
SO ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE WATCHING
BUT THE ISSUE OF WHAT
PUBLIC-HEALTH SYSTEMS MIGHT DO
WITHIN THE PROVINCES, WITHIN THE
JURISDICTION, OF COURSE, FROM A
FEDERAL AND JUST MAINTAINING
SERVICES THROUGH INTERPROVINCIAL
TRANSPORT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
THE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES THAT
STILL HAVE TO OCCUR.
SO THAT WILL CONTINUE AGAIN.
>> I WILL ADD TO THAT IF IT'S
THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES AND
TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES HAVE THE
BEST OF A PULSE OF WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THEIR OWN
JURISDICTIONS.
THE ISSUE OF TRAVEL IS NOT
BETWEEN PROVINCES BUT EVEN
WITHIN PROVINCES AS WE KNOW EVEN
IN THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, THE
HOTSPOT IS MONTREAL AND OTHER
PARTS OF THE SITUATION IS
DIFFERENT.
AT ONE POINT, THEY HAD
RESTRICTIONS IN TERMS OF TRAVEL
WITHIN THE PROVINCE.
THE PRINCIPLE THEY'RE ALWAYS
LOOKING AT INCLUDING THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, IS MAINTAINING PHYSICAL
DISTANCING AND WHATEVER MEASURES
CAN BE BROUGHT TO BEAR TO
REINFORCE THAT, THAT'S WHAT
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
>> WE TALK ABOUT BUSINESSES
REOPENING AND KNOWING THERE'S AN
ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF P.P.E. AND
MASKS, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO
MAKE SURE STOP THE SPREAD, AS
PART OF TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT,
WILL EQUIPMENT BE GOING
DIRECTIONALLY TO BUSINESSES OR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WHERE WE
KNOW THERE ARE ISSUES IN THOSE
TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS?
WILL THERE BE AN ALLOCATION AR
BREAKDOWN OF WHO IS GETTING THIS
P.P.E.?
>> I THINK THE HEALTH-CARE
SYSTEM REMAINS A PRIORITY SO
THERE'S AN EXISTING AND THE
PROVINCE AND TERRITORIES TO LOOK
AT WITH NEEDS AND ALLOCATION AND
IT WILL BE DYNAMIC AND THE
CRITICAL ASPECT OF THE NEXT
STAGE IS TO ASK THE NON URGENT
HEALTH SERVICES TO COME BACK AND
LOOK AT THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
ALSO THAT, IS DONE THROUGH THE
PROVINCIAL SYSTEM AND ALSO,
MAKING SURE THEY ARE LONG-TERM
CARE AND PUBLICLY FUNDED BUT
THAT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY PROVIDE THE NECESSARY
P.P.E.
THOSE COORDINATION DISCUSSIONS
ARE DEFINITELY HAPPENING AT THE
MINISTERIAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE
THE HEALTH SYSTEMS CAN RE ADJUST
GOING FORWARD AND I THINK IN
TERMS OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, YOU
KNOW, THERE'S ON GOING
DISCUSSIONS BUT THE KEY IS THAT
ANY BUSINESS TRYING TO OPEN MUST
ALIGN WITH PUBLIC-HEALTH
INSTRUCTION AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK
AT THE PLAN FOR HOW THEY REOPEN
AND HALF OF THEM LOOKED AT BY
THE ACTUAL PUBLIC-HEALTH
AUTHORITIES AND THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE IF YOU
HAVE THE SPECKS OF THE TWO
METRES OR BARRIERS OR
ENGINEERING CRITERIA THE
BUSINESSES KNOW HOW THAT WORKS
THE MOST IN ORDER FOR THEM TO
LOOK FORWARD TO PLAN TO REOPEN
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND I
KNOW IN THAT SPACE AND A LOT OF
GUIDANCE FOR THE DIFFERENT
SECTORS WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONS
AS WELL.
THAT'S REALLY QUITE ACTIVE RIGHT
NOW AND WE MIGHT GET A LITTLE
BIT MORE OF AN IDEA UNDER WHICH
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PEOPLE ARE NOT
ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE TWO-METRE
DISTANCE AND THAT WILL GIVE US A
BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THAT SUPPLY
REQUIREMENT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
>> THANK YOU, I THINK WE HAVE
ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT QUESTION
IS FROM SAVANNAH ODD FROM NEW
BRUNSWICK NEWS.
GO AHEAD.
>> Caller: MY QUESTION IS FOR
MINISTER BAIN.
WE SEEN AN INVESTMENT IN PRIMARY
CARE AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO
IMPROVE RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS
FOR RURAL CANADIANS SO THAT THEY
CURRENT LEFT OUT OF THIS
INVESTMENT?
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH FOR THAT
QUESTION.
I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THIS ISSUE.
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
IS NO LONGER A LUXURY, IT'S
ESSENTIAL.
OUR GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THAT
WE WOULD DEAL DEVICE AND WE NEED
INVESTMENTS TO THE WHICH HELP
900 COMMUNITIES RECEIVE HIGH
SPEED CONNECTIVITY AND WE
UNVEILED, IN OUR LAST BUDGET, A
UNIVERSAL BROADBAND INITIATIVE
WORTH $1.7 BILLION AND MY
COLLEAGUE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
CONNECTIVITY IN THAT PROGRAMME
AND SHE'LL BE WORKING VERY
AGGRESSIVELY TO MOVE THAT AGENDA
FORWARD BECAUSE WE REALISE THAT
THE FOUR AND AND THIS IS A
PRIORITY FOR OUR GOVERNMENT.
>> FOLLOW-UP.
>> YES, SO, FOR MINISTER, AS WE
SEE PROVINCES MOVE FASTER
TOWARDS RECOVERY OR IN LATER
STAGES WHERE THEY'RE STARTING TO
REOPEN, I GUESS BEFORE SOME
OTHERS, WILL P.P.E. DISTRIBUTION
BE EFFECTED BY THAT SO IF A
PROVINCE IS, I GUESS, FURTHER
ALONG INTO A RECOVERY PHASE,
DOES THAT FACTOR INTO HOW P.P.E.
IS DISTRIBUTED.
I KNOW IT CURRENTLY IS
PER-CAPITA WITH SOME WIGGLE ROOM
BASED ON EMERGENCY.
COULD YOU JUST ELABORATE ON
WHETHER IT'S PART OF IT.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO SAY THAT
THE GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON A
REQUEST THAT HAS COME FROM THE
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES FOR
PURCHASES THAT THEY REQUIRE
FOREFRONT LINE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS.
AND SO AS I SAID, THAT IS THE
PRIORITY AT CURRENT TIME.
IN TERMS OF P.P.E. THAT WOULD BE
GENERALLY AVAILABLE IT'S ON
GOING DISCUSSION AND I'VE HAD
PROCESS TIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH
AROUND THE PROCUREMENT TABLE
THAT I HAVE STRUCK WITH THE
VARIOUS MINISTERS FROM THOSE
PROVINCES.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS MUCH
WORK TO BE DONE ON ESSENTIAL
SERVICES AND P.P.E. FOR
ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND AND THE
FEDERAL IS NOT THE ONLY
PURCHASER OF P.P.E. IN THE
COUNTRY.
HOSPITALS ARE PROCURING P.P.E.,
AND HEALTHCARE CENTERS
THEMSELVES ARE PROCURING P.P.E.
SO THIS IS AN ONGOING
CONVERSATION.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AND THE
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT IS INCREDIBLY
STRAINED.
THE DEMAND IS HIGH AND AND
TAKING AN APPROACH TO TO
DETERMINE THE BEST WAY FORWARD
ON THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
THIS IS THE END OF TODAY'S PRESS
CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> Vassy: THOSE ARE FEDERAL
MINISTERS NAVDEEP BAINS AND
DR. HOWARD NJOO AND TALKING
ABOUT TESTING CAPACITY IN THIS
COUNTRY, SPECIFICALLY DR. TAM
SAYS WHILE WE SET AT 23,000
TESTS A DAY RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE
HOPING TO BRING IT UP TO 60,000.
I WANT TO BRING IN DAVID
COCHRANE, WE HAVE A MINUTE AND A
HALF TO DEBRIEF ON WHAT WAS
SAID.
LET ME GET YOU ON SPARTAN
TESTING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL
DAY.
THEY DID SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS
WHAT IMPACT THE IMPEDIMENT HAS
GOING FORWARD.
>> THE SPARTAN TEST CUBE SAY
GAME CHANGER WHEN IT WAS FIRST
ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH BECAUSE IT
COULD GIVE YOU A RESULT WITHIN
AN HOUR AND YOU COULD DO IT PORT
AT BLEE.
THE KIT TESTS PROPERLY BUT THE
PROBLEMS IS THE SWABS DON'T
COLLECT THE SAMPLES TO THE
STANDARD THAT THEY WANT FOR THIS
TO BE RELIABLE PART OF CANADA'S
TESTING REGIME.
IT'S BEEN SENT BACK FOR SOME
TWEAKS AND WORKING AT SPARTAN
BIO SCIENCE AND GO THROUGH THE
APPROVAL PROCESS AGAIN.
THERE'S CONFIDENCE THIS IS A
SOLVABLE PROBLEM AND THIS WILL
COME BACKOUT.
THE DOWN SIDE OF THIS IS THAT IT
LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO BRODEN
TESTING IN RURAL AND REMOTE
PLACES OR DO INSTANT TESTS.
THE LAB CAPACITY OF THE COUNTRY
UNEFFECTED BY THIS.
THIS IS NOT A DROP IN TESTING
CAPACITY.
IT'S JUST A SLOW DOWN IN THE
ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND EXPAND
IT.
>> Vassy: WE'RE DONE.
THANK YOU, DAVID.
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR INSIGHTS
THIS AFTERNOON.
DAVID COCHRANE, THAT DOES IT FOR
OUR COVERAGE HERE, I'M VASSY
KAPELOS, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
MICHAEL SERAPIO WHO ARE WILL
CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE ON CBC
NEWS NETWORK.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: WE'RE BEING AS NIMBLE
AS WE CAN TO RESPOND TO WHAT IS
WORKING, TO WHAT PERHAPS ISN'T
WORKING.
