GLAD YOU'RE JOINING US.
WE ARE, AS WE HAVE COME TO GET 
USED TO, WAITING TO HEAR FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER, JUSTIN 
TRUDEAU, EVERY TIME EVERY DAY AT
THIS TIME.
WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR MORE ON 
THE PAYROLL SUBSIDY.
WE ARE ALSO HEARING TODAY THAT 
THE NUMBER OF CANADIANS WHO HAVE
ASKED FOR EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 
HAS GONE UP TO MORE THAN 1.6 
MILLION PEOPLE IN THE LAST NINE 
TO 10 DAYS.
THAT IS MORE APPLICANTS FOR 
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SINCE 
STATSCAN BEGAN TAKING THAT DATA 
IN MORE THAN 70 YEARS OR SO AGO.
THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE 
NEED CANADIANS HAVE AS THE 
GOVERNMENT TRIES TO FIGHT THE 
PANDEMIC FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
PERSPECTIVE AND STABILIZE THE 
ECONOMY WHICH IS STARTING TO 
MELT DOWN AS PEOPLE ARE LAID OFF
AND FORCED TO WORK FROM HOME.
WE ALSO KNOW FROM A HEALTH 
PERSPECTIVE, DR. THERESA TAM, 
THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER 
IN THIS COUNTRY, TELLING US THAT
THIS WEEK IS A CRITICAL WEEK IN 
TERMS OF SEEING WHETHER 
CANADIANS' EFFORTS OF PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING ARE MAKING A 
DIFFERENCE AND WHETHER WE CAN 
FLATTEN THE CURVE.
LET'S BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS, 
THE HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS" 
AND DAVID COCHRANE.
VASSY, I'LL START WITH YOU.
WE KNOW MONDAY HAD BEEN THE DAY 
THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO GIVE 
MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS SMALL- 
AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS AID.
>> Vassy: THIS IS A FEW DAYS 
INTO THE ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
A LOT OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED
BUSINESS OWNERS ANXIOUS TO FIND 
OUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO QUALIFY 
BECAUSE THOSE DETAILS HAVE NOT 
BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WILL 
BE A FEW DETAILS PROVIDED TODAY,
BUT THE BULK OF THOSE DETAILS 
WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW.
I THINK THE PRIMARY QUESTIONS ON
WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE QUALIFY 
INCLUDES THINGS LIKE DO I HAVE 
TO BE INCORPORATED, CAN I BE A 
PARTNERSHIP.
IS THERE GOING TO BE A CAP IN 
THE LAST ITERATION OF THIS, THE 
10% WAGE SUBSIDY, THERE WAS A 
CAP PER EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE.
THE INDEPENDENT FEDERATION OF 
BUSINESSES SAYS THAT A CAP WOULD
NOT BE HELPFUL IN THIS INSTANCE.
THAT WOULD INCREASE THE COST OF 
THE PROGRAM, BUT THEY'RE SAYING 
THE CASH NEEDS TO COME QUICKLY 
AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN UPPER
LIMIT FOR THE EMPLOYER, MAYBE 
THE EMPLOYEE, BUT NOT THE 
EMPLOYER.
ALL THOSE SIGNIFICANT AND 
IMPORTANT DETAILS HAVE TO COME.
I'M NOT ANTICIPATING ALL OF THEM
WILL COME FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
THE BULK OF THEM WILL COME 
TOMORROW.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO HEAR FROM 
THE DEFENCE MINISTER LATER ON AS
WELL AS THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE
STAFF TALKING ABOUT THE 
MILITARY'S POSTURE AND 
POSITIONING IN ALL OF THIS, AND 
NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY'RE CALLING
THE MILITARY IN PER SE, THERE IS
ALSO FOREST FIRE SEASON AND 
FLOODING SEASON COMING UP.
WE'RE EXPECTING THE DETAILS ON 
THAT FROM GENERAL VANCE.
BUT I'M TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER 
WILL MENTION THE MILITARY IN 
CANADA'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AS
WELL AS ALL THE OTHER THINGS 
GOING ON.
>> Rosemary: A FEW DETAILS THERE
FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 
BUSINESSES, BUT NOT EVERYTHING.
IT IS COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE 
LOTS OF DETAILS, BUT WE WILL SEE
HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN GET THAT 
SORTED OUT.
JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE AN UPDATE ON
TESTING IN THIS COUNTRY, MORE 
THAN 210,000 TESTS HAVE BEEN 
COMPLETED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
OF COURSE TESTING SO CRITICAL TO
INVESTIGATING, ISOLATING CASES, 
TRACING CONTACTS SO YOU CAN SEE 
WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE 
COMMUNITIES.
I DO HAVE A GRAPH FOLLOWING SOME
REPORTING DONE BY MY COLLEAGUE 
MIKE CRAWLEY AROUND THE I.C.U. 
CAPACITIES.
HE CONFIRMED THAT CONFIRMED OR 
SUSPECTED COVID-19 CASES NOW 
ACCOUNT FOR ONE IN FOUR PATIENTS
IN ONTARIO.
NOW, THERE'S STILL CAPACITY IN 
THE HOSPITALS, BUT IT DOES SHOW 
A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, IT SHOWS THAT 
ONTARIO, AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR 
SCREEN THERE, IS TESTING A 
SMALLER PROPORTION OF ITS 
POPULATION VERSUS THE OTHER 
PROVINCES, QUEBEC, B.C., AND 
ALBERTA.
THAT MIGHT BE TROUBLING, GIVEN 
THAT WE ARE EXPECTING THIS WEEK 
TO BE SO CRITICAL FOR THAT.
LET ME BRING IN -- WE'RE TRYING 
TO GET SET UP.
I'LL BRING IN DAVID COCHRANE AND
WE'LL KEEP GOING ON THAT FRONT.
AT NOON TODAY THE GOVERNMENT IS 
PUTTING STRICTER MEASURES AROUND
DOMESTIC TRAVEL, EITHER BY RAIL 
OR AIR.
>> David: YEAH, THEY'RE ASKING 
AIRLINES AND PASSENGER TRAIN 
COMPANIES TO DO A SCREENING OF 
THEIR PASSENGERS, ASKING THEM --
WHETHER THEY'RE SYMPTOMATIC OR 
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND IF THEY 
ARE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE 
REFUSED ENTRY TO THE PLANE OR 
THE TRAIN.
THIS IS A CRITICAL WEEK IN WHAT 
THE DATA WILL TELL US.
THIS IS WHAT DR. THERESA TAM, 
THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER 
FOR THE COUNTRY TOLD US.
WHEN WE GET THE LAG OF SNOWBIRDS
AND SPRING BREAKERS THAT ARE 
COMING BACK TO CANADA, AND ALSO 
WE'RE GOING TO GET A SENSE OF 
HOW WELL THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING
AND LOCKDOWN MEASURES THAT WERE 
IMPLEMENTING AROUND THE SAME 
TIME THAT PEOPLE WERE COMING 
BACK MAY HAVE DONE TO SLOW OR 
FLATTEN THE NUMBER OF CASES.
THE ENTIRE OBJECTIVE OF ALL OF 
THESE MEASURES IS TO FLATTEN THE
CURVE.
I SUSPECT THERE WILL BE SOME 
CONCERN THAT THE RETURN OF 
NEARLY 1 MILLION CANADIANS OUT 
OF THE COUNTRY BACK TO CANADA, 
COINCIDING WITH THE ECONOMIC 
LOCKDOWN OF THINGS WE HAVE SEEN 
COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A 
PROBLEM OR THEY COULD COLLIDE 
WITH EACH OTHER.
THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT COULD
SHOW UP IN THE NUMBERS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A CRITICAL WEEK
GETTING AN IDEA OF WHERE CANADA 
IS ON THESE THINGS BECAUSE OF 
THE TWO TIMELINES THAT WE'RE 
WORKING WITH ON EXTREME PHYSICAL
DISTANCING AND THE RETURN OF 
PEOPLE.
JUST COMING BACK TO TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 
THAT WANT TO STAY IN OPERATION 
THROUGHOUT THIS, WHETHER YOUR 
LOCAL CORNER STORE, PHARMACY, 
GROCERY STORE.
NOT THE BIG CHAINS LIKE LOBLAWS,
BUT SMALLER PLACES.
SOME OF THEM IT COULD MEAN THE 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAYING OPEN 
OR GOING UNDER.
AND THE BEST DESCRIPTION I HEARD
WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE 
CANADIAN ECONOMY OUTSIDE OF THE 
OIL SECTOR CAME FROM A CARLETON 
PROFESSOR SAYING ESSENTIALLY THE
CANADIAN AND THE WORLD ECONOMY 
IS IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA.
IT'S BEEN PUT UNDER TO STOP THE 
SPREAD OF ADDITIONAL HARM.
THE MEASURES WE'RE DOING NOW ARE
MEANT TO SUSTAIN IT THROUGH THIS
PERIOD AND HELP IT COME BACK TO 
FULL STRENGTH ONCE THE COMA 
PERIOD IS OVER.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE
THERE.
APOLOGIES FOR THE TECHNICAL 
ISSUES.
IT WAS THAT I COULDN'T HEAR 
ANYTHING.
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER IN ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES 
OR SO.
LET ME BRING IN A GUEST AND THAT
IS DAVID MCMILLAN, A RESTAURANT 
OWNER OF JOE BEEFS, A VERY CHEF 
AND RESTAURANT OTHER THAN IN 
MONTREAL.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> Interview: THANK YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> Rosemary: I'M GOOD.
I WANTED TO GET YOU ON BECAUSE 
OF SOME STARK NUMBERS ON YOUR 
INSTAGRAM AND THAT IS BECAUSE 
700,000 PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT
AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY LOST 
THEIR JOBS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Interview: I'M DOING GOOD.
THERE'S ABOUT 1.2 MILLION 
WORKING IN THE RESTAURANT 
INDUSTRY, ARGUABLY MORE.
LAST WEEK 700,000 PEOPLE GOT 
THEIR WALKING PAPERS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO 
DEALING WITH ISSUES RELATED TO 
THIS, MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS 
GOOD.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE 
TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTAURANT 
WORKERS, BUT RESTAURANTS WORK 
WITH ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITY MANY
OF BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL 
FARMS, CHEESE, WINE MAKERS, THE 
WHOLE GAMUT.
>> Rosemary: YOUR RESTAURANT HAS
BEEN AROUND AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL.
IS IT HITTING YOU DIFFERENTLY 
THAN A SMALLER, NEWER 
RESTAURANT?
>> Interview: ABSOLUTELY.
JOE BEEF IS 15 YEARS OLD AND 
DOES FAIRLY WELL.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A WAR 
CHEST, NOT MUCH AFTER 15 YEARS.
WE COULD WEATHER A COUPLE OF 
MONTHS MAYBE, BUT I HAVE FRIENDS
MESSAGING ME WHO OPENED A WEEK 
BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
A GRAND OPENING AND CLOSING.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE $300,000
IN RENOVATION FEES WHO HAD TO 
CLOSE FIVE DAYS AFTER THEY 
RE-OPENED FROM RENOVATING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HOT
WATER.
>> Rosemary: WHAT ABOUT THE WAGE
SUBSIDY THAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED 
LAST WEEK, 75% OF WAGES FOR 
COMPANIES?
I KNOW YOU'VE HAD TO LAYOFF SOME
OF YOUR PEOPLE, BUT IF YOU 
BROUGHT THEM BACK ON THE 
PAYROLL, WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH TO
COVER WHAT THEY NEED?
WOULD THAT WORK FOR YOU?
>> Interview: IT MAY.
WE STILL HAVE TO READ THE FINE 
PRINT.
MY BUSINESS PARTNER IS DOING HER
DUE DILIGENCE TODAY READING 
THROUGH THIS, TODAY AND 
TOMORROW.
THERE IS FINE PRINT.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW 
EXACTLY THAT WORKS.
I CAN PUT EVERYBODY BACK ON 
PAYROLL IF THE GOVERNMENT SAYS 
SO, BUT EVENTUALLY FOUR WEEKS 
FROM NOW I WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE
PAYROLL.
SO WE HAVE TO STUDY ALL OF THAT 
AND ALL OF THE FINE PRINT VERY 
CAREFULLY. 
>> Rosemary: THEY ALSO HAVE PUT 
SOME LOANS IN PLACE.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S 
SOMETHING YOU DO PERSONALLY WITH
A CREDIT LINE.
>> Interview: YEAH, SURE, BUT 
GETTING IN DEBT DURING THIS IS 
ABSOLUTELY NOT OUR IDEAL 
SCENARIO.
I DON'T WANT ANY LOANS TO BE 
HONEST.
I'D LIKE UTILITIES TO CALM DOWN,
I WOULD LIKE BELL TO STEP OFF, 
HYDRO QUÉBEC AND UTILITIES TO 
STEP OFF.
I'M GOING TO WRITE OFF A MONTH 
HERE.
I MIGHT WRITE OFF TWO MONTHS.
I EXPECT EVERYBODY TO WRITE OFF 
DOWN THE CHAIN TWO MONTHS FOR 
THIS TO WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE TRUE 
NATURE OF BIG BUSINESS COMING 
SOON.
>> Rosemary: WHAT WORRIES YOU 
ABOUT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY 
SORT OF ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND 
IN THE UNITED STATES?
YOU HEAR SOME REALLY SAD STORIES
ABOUT EVEN BIG RESTAURANTS AND 
BIG CHEFS HAVING TO CLOSE 
THINGS.
>> Interview: IT'S EXACTLY JUST 
THAT.
THE NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS IS A 
VERY OLD, HISTORICAL BUSINESS OF
FEEDING PEOPLE AND RESTORING 
PEOPLE IN SMALL ROOMS AND 
GROUPS.
NOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IF THE 
NEW REALITY IS THAT WE CAN'T SIT
MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN DINING ROOMS 
IN CLOSE CONFINES, WE'LL HAVE TO
COMPLETELY CHANGE THE WAY THAT 
WE PRACTICE OUR BUSINESS.
IT'S VERY SPECIAL.
I DON'T EVEN SEE LIGHT AT THE 
END OF THE TUNNEL, TO BE HONEST,
THAT I CAN SIT 40 PEOPLE IN A 20
FOOT BY 20 FOOT DINING ROOM IN 
THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS DOESN'T 
SOUND REALISTIC TO ME.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A
HARD LOOK INTERNALLY AT HOW WE 
WORK AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
>> Rosemary: ARE YOU WORRIED 
ABOUT YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR 
BUSINESS?
>> Interview: ABSOLUTELY.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS
17 YEARS OLD.
I'M GOING TO BE 50 NEXT YEAR.
I'VE GIVEN MY WHOLE LIFE TO THE 
RESTAURANT BUSINESS.
I LOVE IT.
I ENJOY IT.
YEAH, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE WE'RE
JUST HAEMORRHAGING MONEY.
THERE'S NOTHING TO -- IT COULD 
BE THE END, YOU KNOW.
BUT THAT'S FINE.
CHIN UP.
I'LL BUY GROCERIES.
I'LL HELP OUT.
[ LAUGHTER ]. 
>> Interview: I COULD CRY ABOUT 
IT.
I HAD A GOOD RUN.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK TO IT,
STAY POSITIVE.
I'VE HAD A WONDERFUL CAREER AND 
A GREAT RUN.
IF THAT'S IT, SO BE IT.
I JUST MAKE SURE THAT MY KIDS 
ARE HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND MY 
LOVED ONES ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
CHIN UP.
>> Rosemary: ARE YOU -- I'LL 
JUST END ON THIS, AND I LIKE THE
EXPRESSION "CHIN UP."
I USE IT A LOT TOO.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE COOKING
AT HOME AND POSTING ON INSTAGRAM
AND TWITTER.
ARE YOU DOING THAT AND DOING 
SOMETHING THAT BRINGS YOU HOPE 
AND JOY AT HOME?
>> Interview: YEAH, WE'RE 
COOKING FAMILY MEALS AND 
OVERCOOKING AND SHARING FOODS.
SHARING WITH FRIENDS IN THE 
IMMEDIATE QUARANTINE CIRCLE.
HAVING A GREAT TIME WATCHING 
SOCIAL MEDIA.
LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING SOUR 
DOUGH BREAD.
LOTS OF PASTAS.
LOTS OF PEOPLE SHARING FANCY 
WINES THEY'RE DRINKING.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS FUN, LOTS OF 
LIVE INSTAGRAM VIDEOS.
IT'S NEAT.
WE NEED A -- THANK GOD FOR 
SOCIAL MEDIA.
AT LEAST WE HAVE A CONNECTION 
WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT 
THEY'RE UP TO.
>> Rosemary: LISTEN, I HOPE IT'S
NOT THE END FOR YOU AND OTHER 
RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 
BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME 
OF THE STARK NUMBERS YOU PUT ON 
INSTAGRAM, 700,000 PEOPLE LOSING
THEIR JOBS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
DAVE, THANKS.
I HOPE I GET BACK TO EAT YOUR 
LOBSTER SPAGHETTI.
>> Interview: THANKS.
>> Rosemary: THAT WAS DAVE 
MCMILLAN, THE OWNER OF JOE BEEF.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER, WE WILL BRING BACK 
VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID 
COCHRANE.
VASSY, I'LL GO TO YOU.
YOU SEE DAVE TALKING ABOUT 
KEEPING HIS CHIN UP AND TRYING 
TO PUT A GOOD FACE ON, BUT THERE
ARE ALREADY PEOPLE CONTEMPLATING
TWO MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, I 
DON'T KNOW IF I CAN COME BACK, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
IS THERE A BIG SHIFT IN MANY 
INDUSTRIES, BUT PARTICULARLY THE
HOSPITALITY ONE?
>> Vassy: YEAH, IT DOES 
DEFINITELY DEPEND ON THE 
INDUSTRY.
I THINK ANYBODY WHO RUNS THEIR 
OWN BUSINESS -- I COME FROM A 
FAMILY OF PEOPLE WHO DO -- IS 
VERY MUCH RIGHT NOW WORRIED 
ABOUT STAYING OPEN.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY 
TO DRAW REVENUE, TO BRING IN ANY
REVENUE, VERY QUICKLY YOUR 
RESERVES START TO LEAVE YOU.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THE POTENTIAL
FOR THIS WAGE SUBSIDY, THIS 
INCREASED 75% WAGE SUBSIDY IS 
HUGELY KEY.
I HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACH 
OUT TO ME ON FRIDAY SAYING IF 
THE DETAILS ARE OKAY AND I 
QUALIFY, I CAN KEEP MY EMPLOYEES
ON THE PAYROLL FOR THE NEXT TWO 
OR THREE MONTHS IF I HAVE TO.
IT IS SUBSTANTIAL.
AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT AND 
THE SIGNIFICANT POINT WE'VE BEEN
HIGHLIGHTING ALL MORNING AND 
THAT OUR VIEWERS NEED TO KNOW, 
WE NEED SOME VERY CLEAR SIGNALS 
FROM THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT WHO 
WILL QUALIFY AND WILL SOMEONE 
LIKE THE ONE YOU JUST SPOKE TO, 
THE OWNER OF JOE BEEF, WILL THEY
BE ABLE TO QUALIFY, WILL THE 
OWNERS OF A SALON QUALIFY.
NOT ALL BUSINESSES ARE RUN THE 
SAME, SOME ARE INCORPORATED OR 
PARTNERSHIPS, SOME ARE NOT.
SO I THINK THOSE DETAILS ARE 
GOING TO BE HUGELY SIGNIFICANT.
I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS 
SIGNALLED SO FAR IS THAT IT WILL
BE BROAD.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SIGNAL WITH THE
C.R.B. AS WELL.
THE IDEA IS TO CATCH A BIG SWATH
OF PEOPLE.
IT WILL HAVE TO MATCH UP WITH 
THE RHETORIC AND JUDGE IT BASED 
ON THAT AND SEE HOW MANY 
BUSINESSES QUALIFY.
IF THE PRIME MINISTER CAN COME 
OUT AND PROVIDE AN OVERALL COST 
OF THE PROGRAM, THAT WILL GIVE 
US AN IDEA OF HOW BIG A SWATH 
THIS AIMS TO CATCH.
THAT IS SOMETHING I'M PAYING 
ATTENTION TO AND LOOKING FOR 
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE 
SPEAKS ANY MOMENT NOW.
>> Rosemary: I THINK IT'S FAIR 
TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
TRYING TO FIRE HOSE AS MUCH OF 
BUSINESSES AS THEY CAN.
IT WOULD BE TO THEIR BENEFIT AND
TO THE BENEFIT OF THE ECONOMY TO
CATCH AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY 
CAN, AS YOU POINT OUT THERE, 
VASSY.
I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, AS WE 
HEARD FROM DAVE, AS WE HEAD INTO
THE END OF THIS MONTH AND INTO 
APRIL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE 
TO START NOT PAYING RENTS ON 
THEIR COMMERCIAL LEASES AND NOT 
PAYING BILLS AND KEEP THINGS 
GOING.
YOU CAN SEE THAT AS YOU WALK 
AROUND NEIGHBOURHOODS IN THIS 
CITY AND ELSEWHERE, PLACES BEING
SHUTTERED.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PRESSURE OF 
WHAT IS THERE, BUT THE QUESTION 
OF HOW QUICKLY CAN THEY GET IT 
TO PEOPLE.
>> Vassy: EXACTLY.
CASH IS GOING TO BE KING HERE, 
LIKE IT IS NORMALLY, BUT THE 
C.R.B. GOING TO THE C.R.A. 
SYSTEM, WILL THE MONEY BE ONLINE
OR WHAT FORM.
THOSE ARE THE DETAILS THAT 
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE GETTING HELP
THROUGH THIS REALLY NEED TO 
KNOW. 
>> Rosemary: A REMINDER TO 
PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY MIGHT 
QUALIFY FOR THE CANADIAN 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT, THE 
GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT PORTAL WILL
BE OPEN A WEEK TODAY, SO THAT'S 
APRIL 6.
THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY 
MADE A GOOD SUGGESTION FOR 
PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, 
THAT YOU GO TO THE CANADA 
REVENUE AGENCY, GO TO MY SOURCE,
AND OPEN AN ACCOUNT FOR YOURSELF
AND CHOOSE DIRECT DEPOSIT.
SO THAT ONCE THE MONEY STARTS 
FLOWING, YOU CAN GET THAT AS 
FAST AS POSSIBLE.
THAT WAS THE ADVICE FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY.
YOU WILL HAVE TO WEEK A WEEK TO 
APPLY AND WAIT 10 DAYS TO GET 
THE MONEY.
IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE 1.7 MILLION
PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR 
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OVER THE 
PAST FIVE TO 10 DAYS, THAT'S 
FINE, THAT'S IN THERE.
IF YOU APPLIED FOR THE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE BENEFIT, YOU'LL 
AUTOMATICALLY GET TRANSFERRED 
INTO THAT.
I'LL GO BACK TO DAVID AS WE WAIT
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER WHO IS A 
COUPLE MINUTES LATE.
>> David: YEAH, I THINK THERE IS
A MORE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE FOR 
SMALL BUSINESSES.
EVEN IF THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 
BROAD AND VAST, A LOT OF 
BUSINESSES AREN'T ALLOWED TO 
OPERATE.
IF YOU CAN OPERATE AND GET A 
REVENUE STREAM GOING IN AND YOU 
CAN USE THIS WAGE SUBSIDY, 
THAT'S HELPFUL.
BUT IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS 
OR A TOY STORE THAT'S BEEN 
CLOSED BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED A
NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS, YOU HAVE
TO DIP INTO CASH RESERVES AND 
SAVINGS TO PAY PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY THESE BENEFITS ARE SO
IMPORTANT.
IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
AND YOU CAN'T OPERATE AT ALL, 
LIKE A DAYCARE, YOU CAN FURLOUGH
YOUR WORKERS AND THEY KEEP 
WHATEVER WAGES THEY HAVE, BUT 
THEN THEY GET THE C.R.B. FROM 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT'S HOW THESE THINGS WORK IN 
CONCERT THAT IS GOING TO HELP 
BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES IN THE 
WAY THEY OPERATE.
DAVE MCMILLAN IN JOE BEEF HAS A 
PECULIAR SITUATION.
THEY HAVE NO DRIVE-THRU WINDOW.
THAT IS A NICE SIT-DOWN 
RESTAURANT.
THEY HAVE THE EXTRA CHALLENGE 
THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO 
OPERATE IN THE WAY THEY NORMALLY
OPERATE.
A WAGE SUBSIDY, UNLESS THEY 
TOTALLY RETOOL TO BECOME 
PRIMARILY TAKEOUT, WHICH THEY 
COULD DO, THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 
NOT GOING TO BE THE SOLUTION.
NOBODY IS GOING TO COME OUT OF 
THIS WHOLE OR COMPLETELY INTACT.
THE GOAL HAS TO BE TO 
MITIGATE -- IT'S ALL ABOUT LOSS 
MITIGATION AND DAMAGE MITIGATION
TO TRY TO CONTAIN IT AS MUCH AS 
POSSIBLE.
I THOUGHT THE MOST TELLING THING
HE SAID WAS WE ARE GOING TO SEE 
THE TRUE NATURE OF BIG BUSINESS 
COMING SOON, AS FAR AS CALLING 
RENT IN AND MORTGAGE AND 
INSURANCE AND CANCELLING 
UTILITIES.
WE'VE SEEN THAT ONE-QUARTER OF 
SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY
DON'T HAVE THEIR APRIL RENT AND 
MORTGAGE.
AS WE'RE WAITING FOR THE AID 
PACKAGES, MOST OF THEM HAVE LOST
THEIR MARCH REVENUE AND PREPAID 
THOSE COSTS.
THE ECONOMIC CONTAGION OF THIS 
IS REALLY QUITE SEVERE AND 
REALLY, LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS
ARE DESIGNED TO GET US THROUGH 
THIS SOCIAL DISTANCING AND 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING CRISIS 
PERIOD, THERE IS GOING TO BE A 
LARGER CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO 
HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT THE
REBUILDING AND RESTRUCTURING OF 
THINGS ONCE THIS IS OVER IN 
TERMS OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 
FINANCES, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT 
FINANCES AND SMALL- AND 
MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES AND THE 
LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES HIT LIKE 
AIRLINES, TOURISM, AND THE OIL 
PATCH.
THE REBUILDING, THE 
PHYSIOTHERAPY PART OF THIS, BACK
TO MEDICINE, THAT IS GOING TO BE
A SIGNIFICANT AND VASTLY 
IMPORTANT TASK THE GOVERNMENT 
HAS AHEAD OF IT.
>> Rosemary: WE GOT THE 
TWO-MINUTE WARNING.
I'M GOING TO BRING IN DR. ISAAC 
BOGOCH.
HE IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE 
SPECIALIST AT TORONTO GENERAL 
HOSPITAL.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION AFTER 
HEARING DR. TAM ABOUT WHY THIS 
WEEK IS SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF
GETTING A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE 
AT AND HOW WE'RE DOING.
>> Isaac Bogoch: WE KNOW 
WE'VE -- 
>> Rosemary: DR. BOGOCH, I'M 
SORRY, THE PRIME MINISTER IS 
EARLY.
I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE.
TO FIGHT COVID-19, WE ARE ASKING
EVERYONE TO STAY HOME AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE, BUT THESE 
RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE HAD THE 
EFFECT OF SLOWING DOWN BUSINESS 
ACTIVITY.
SOME ARE EVEN HAD TO SHUT DOWN 
AND THAT'S CONCERNING NOT ONLY 
FOR BUSINESS PEOPLE, BUT FOR 
YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO NEED THEIR 
PAYCHEQUE IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR
NEEDS.
WE THEREFORE INTRODUCED A PLAN 
IN THREE POINTS TO PROTECT JOBS 
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LAID 
OFF, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING 
BUSINESSES WHO ARE HAVING 
PROBLEMS WITH CASH FLOW.
WE KNOW FOR MANY PEOPLE THEIR 
MAJOR CONCERN IS TO ENSURE THAT 
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A 
SALARY.
WE, THEREFORE, ANNOUNCED A WAGE 
SUBSIDY LAST WEEK TO ENCOURAGE 
EMPLOYERS TO KEEP THEIR 
EMPLOYEES ON PAYROLL.
[End of Translation] WE 
ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNMENT 
WOULD SUBSIDYIZE UP TO 70% OF 
WAGES FOR QUALIFYING BUSINESSES.
WE KNOW WHAT BUSINESSES ARE 
GOING THROUGH.
OVER THE PAST WEEKS, YOU'VE HAD 
TO GET CREATIVE TO KEEP MONEY 
COMING IN.
IN SOME CASES, YOU'VE HAD TO 
MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION OF 
LETTING YOUR EMPLOYEES GO.
FOR PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH THIS 
TOUGH TIME AND FOR THE ECONOMY 
TO REBOUND, PEOPLE HAVE TO KEEP 
THEIR JOBS.
SO WE ANNOUNCED THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY.
I SAID LAST WEEK THAT WE WOULD 
HAVE MORE DETAILS TO SHARE, AND 
THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WANT TO
TALK WITH YOU ABOUT TODAY.
IF YOUR BUSINESS' REVENUES HAVE 
DECREASED BY AT LEAST 30% 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19, YOU WILL BE
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS SUBSIDY.
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE
WILL NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR 
NOT YOU GET THIS SUPPORT.
IT WILL APPLY TO NON-PROFIT 
ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES, AS 
WELL AS COMPANIES BOTH BIG AND 
SMALL.
THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT 
PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING PAID 
WHETHER THEY WORK FOR A BUSINESS
THAT EMPLOYEES 10 PEOPLE OR 
1,000 PEOPLE.
SO HERE'S WHAT THIS MEANS FOR 
WORKERS.
IF YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT 
HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19, 
THE GOVERNMENT WILL COVER UP TO 
75% OF YOUR SALARY ON THE FIRST 
$58,700 THAT YOU EARN.
THAT MEANS UP TO $847 A WEEK.
AS I MENTIONED ON FRIDAY, THIS 
WILL BE BACKDATED TO MARCH 15.
THIS SUBSIDY WILL MAKE A REAL 
DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIVES AND 
HELP EVERYONE AFFECTED, BRIDGE 
TO BETTER TIMES.
IN QUÉBEC IT'S GOING TO HELP 
TRUCKING AND LOGISTICS COMPANY 
STAY IN BUSINESS SO THEY CAN 
MOVE ESSENTIALS LIKE FOOD AND 
TOILET PAPER.
IN CALGARY IT WILL GIVE 
BREATHING ROOM TO THE BENGE HAIR
SALON THAT HAD TO CLOSE.
MINISTER MORNEAU AND MINISTER NG
ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THE 
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS EXPLAINING 
THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THIS 
MEASURE.
ON THAT NOTE, I WANT TO THANK 
THE PUBLIC SERVICE WHO IS 
WORKING AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO GET 
THIS DONE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] BUSINESSES THAT 
SHOW THAT THEIR REVENUES HAVE 
GONE DOWN BY AT LEAST 30% WILL 
BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY
ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WILL NOT
DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY.
THE SUBSIDY WILL APPLY TO 
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND 
CHARITIES, AS WELL AS TO 
COMPANIES BIG AND SMALL.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BE 
PAID WHETHER THEY'RE WORKING FOR
A BUSINESS THAT HAS 10 EMPLOYEES
OR 1,000 EMPLOYEES.
SO IF THE BUSINESS FOR WHICH YOU
WORK HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY 
COVID-19, THE GOVERNMENT 
MR. COVER UP TO 75% OF YOUR 
SALARY ON THE FIRST $58,700 THAT
YOU EARN.
THAT MEANS $847 PER WEEK -- UP 
TO $847 PER WEEK.
AS I SAID LAST WEEK, THAT 
SUBSIDY WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO 
MARCH 15.
MINISTERS NG AND MORNEAU ARE 
WORKING VERY HARD TO PROVIDE 
MORE DETAILS TO COMPANIES AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IN THAT REGARD, I WANT TO THANK 
THE ENTIRE PUBLIC SERVICE THAT 
IS WORKING 24/7 TO FINALIZE THE 
DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION ON 
THIS.
[End of Translation] ABOUT YOU, 
ABOUT HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU HAVE 
MONEY TO BUY GROCERIES RIGHT NOW
AND A JOB TO COME BACK TO LATER,
ONCE WE'RE THROUGH THIS.
EVERY BUSINESS OF EVERY SIZE IS 
HAVING TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT 
DECISIONS BECAUSE OF COVID-19, 
AND THAT'S WHY THE NUMBER OF 
EMPLOYEES IS NOT THE ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA WE'VE CHOSEN.
THIS IS IN LINE WITH BEST 
PRACTICES WE'VE OBSERVED IN 
OTHER COUNTRIES.
THAT SAID, I WANT TO OFFER A 
WORD OF CAUTION TO BUSINESSES.
WE ARE TRUSTING YOU TO DO THE 
RIGHT THING.
IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY THE
REMAINING 25% THAT'S NOT COVERED
BY THE SUBSIDY, PLEASE DO SO.
AND IF YOU THINK THIS IS A 
SYSTEM YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
OR GAME, DON'T.
THERE WILL BE SERIOUS 
CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO DO.
THIS UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION 
CALLS FOR UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
IT CALLS FOR GOOD FAITH AND 
TRUST BETWEEN EVERYONE INVOLVED.
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER AND 
THAT'S WHY OUR GOVERNMENT IS 
STEPPING UP TO HELP ALL 
EMPLOYERS KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES.
FOR THIS TO WORK, EVERYONE HAS 
TO DO THEIR PART.
EVERY DOLLAR OF THIS SHOULD GO 
TO WORKERS.
YOU SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO 
TOP-UP THEIR WAGES AND EVERY 
EFFORT TO HIRE BACK THOSE 
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF 
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF
COVID-19.
THAT'S WHY WE SET UP A 
COMPREHENSIVE THREE-POINT PLAN 
TO SUPPORT EVERYONE ACROSS THE 
ECONOMY, WEATHER THE STORM, AND 
COME ROARING BACK.
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDY, WE'RE PROTECTING JOBS.
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT, WE'RE HELPING 
THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS.
AND WITH THE LOANS FOR 
BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES, WE'RE 
HELPING THOSE WHO NEED IT ACCESS
CREDIT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I WOULD LIKE TO 
SPEAK DIRECTLY TO BUSINESSES FOR
A MINUTE.
WE TRUST YOU TO DO THE RIGHT 
THING.
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PAY THE 25% 
THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, PLEASE DO.
IF YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM, DO NOT 
DO THAT.
THERE WILL BE SERIOUS 
CONSEQUENCES FOR ANYONE WHO 
TRIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED 
SITUATION AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE
TO TAKE UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
THIS CRISIS IS CALLING ON US ALL
TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH.
WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT, AND
THAT IS WHY OUR GOVERNMENT WANTS
TO HELP ALL EMPLOYERS TO KEEP 
THEIR EMPLOYEES.
BUT IN ORDER FOR OUR STRATEGY TO
WORK, EVERYONE HAS TO DO HIS OR 
HER SHARE.
EVERY DOLLAR IS INTENDED FOR 
EMPLOYEES.
YOU MUST DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN 
TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR WAGES AND 
REHIRE ANY WORKERS WHO WERE LAID
OFF IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
WE HAVE A PLAN, A THREE-POINT 
PLAN TO HELP THE ECONOMY TO 
REBOUND.
FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, WE 
HAVE THE CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB OR IF YOU 
ARE SELF-EMPLOYED, THE NEW 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH 
CASH FLOW, WE HAVE ANNOUNCED A 
NUMBER OF MEASURES TO HELP YOU.
AND IN ADDITION, TO GIVE YOU 
MORE TIME TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENTS 
AND PAY WHAT YOU NEED TO PAY, WE
HAVE POSTPONED THE PAYMENT UNTIL
JUNE THE PAYMENT OF DUTIES ON 
IMPORTS AND G.S.T. PAYMENTS.
[End of Translation] OUR TOP 
PRIORITY IS TO GET YOU THE HELP 
NEEDED.
TO DO THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS 
READY FOR EVERY SCENARIO.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, 
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES HAVE 
BEEN GEARING UP TO SUPPORT OUR 
EFFORTS AND COMMUNITIES AS WE 
FIGHT COVID-19.
OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM 
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR 
CANADIANS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED,
AND PANDEMIC IS NO EXCEPTION.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] FOR THE TIME BEING,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS 
RECEIVED NO REQUEST FROM THE 
PROVINCES TO HAVE THE ARMY 
RESPOND, BUT IF THAT WERE TO 
CHANGE, THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES WOULD BE PREPARED TO 
ANSWER THE CALL AS THEY HAVE 
DONE THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, 
WHETHER TO BRING MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT 
OR TO HELP OUT WITH FOREST FIRES
OR FLOODING, OUR MEN AND WOMEN 
IN UNIFORM ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR 
YOU.
THEY HAVE A PLAN TO SUPPORT OUR 
COMMUNITIES DURING THIS 
DIFFICULT PERIOD.
AT NOON A NUMBER OF MINISTERS 
AND THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE 
STAFF WILL HOLD A MEDIA BRIEFING
TO SAY MORE ABOUT THIS.
WE WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT 
EMERGENCY PLANNING WITH THE 
PREMIERS OF THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES AT OUR NEXT VIRTUAL 
MEETING.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY 
TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES FOR THEIR 
WORK AND THEIR SERVICE.
YOU ARE ALWAYS READY TO STEP UP,
AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE 
EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US.
[End of Translation] I KNOW 
WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
DAYS WHEN THINGS ARE BACK TO 
NORMAL, BUT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, 
WE NEED TO KEEP TAKING THE RIGHT
STEPS TODAY.
IT MEANS FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU KNOW THE DRILL.
STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN.
KEEP AT LEAST 2 METRES FROM EACH
OTHER.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP DOING 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE 
WORKERS ARE GETTING PAID AND 
COMPANIES ARE SUPPORTED.
THE MEASURES WE'VE ANNOUNCED 
WILL HELP DO JUST THAT AND 
ENSURE THAT OUR ECONOMY IS WELL 
POSITIONED TO RECOVER FROM THIS.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME
RIGHT NOW ALL TOGETHER, BUT YOU 
KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS YOUR 
BACK.
AND AS ALWAYS, IF WE NEED TO DO 
MORE, WE WILL DO MORE.
I WANT TO CLOSE THIS MORNING BY 
THANKING ALL FIRST RESPONDERS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE DOING
AN INCREDIBLE JOB FOR ALL 
CANADIANS.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, FIRST 
RESPONDERS, CUSTODIAL STAFF, 
FARMERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK ALONG 
THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
THANK YOU.
GOING TO WORK RIGHT NOW IS 
STRESSFUL AND I KNOW YOU'RE 
WORRIED, BUT WE'RE DOING 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP YOU 
SAFE.
YOU ARE DOING ESSENTIAL WORK AND
WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH.
AS ALWAYS, CANADA AND CANADIANS 
WILL GET THROUGH THIS BY LEANING
ON EACH OTHER AND EVERYONE DOING
THEIR PART.
MERCI BEAUCOUP.
>> THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM 
RYAN SILTY, "NATIONAL POST."
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
I'M WONDERING WITH THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE 
RIGHT NOW AS TO WHAT THAT WILL 
COST THE TREASURY, WHAT THE 
OVERALL COST OF THAT WILL BE?
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: WE HAVE BEEN MAKING 
CHANGES TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING
OVER THE PAST DAYS AND WEEKS.
THESE COSTS KEEP CLIMBING, BUT I
CAN ASSURE PEOPLE THAT OUR FOCUS
RIGHT NOW IS ON MAKING SURE THAT
CANADIANS KEEP THEIR JOBS, EVEN 
IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING ON THEM 
RIGHT NOW AND KEEP THEIR 
PAYCHEQUES ROLLING IN, THAT 
PEOPLE WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS GET 
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
AND THAT THERE IS CREDIT TO 
ACCESS FOR COMPANIES AND 
BUSINESSES WHO NEED TO BRIDGE 
THROUGH IN THE COMING WEEKS.
OUR FOCUS IS ON MAKING SURE THAT
CANADIANS ARE SAFE NOW AND THAT 
OUR ECONOMY CAN BOUNCE BACK 
STRONGLY AFTER THIS TIME OF SLOW
DOWN, OF STOPPAGE, IS DONE.
FORTUNATELY, CANADA HAS TAKEN 
RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS OVER THE 
PAST MANY YEARS TO HAVE ONE OF 
THE BEST BALANCE SHEETS IN THE 
G7.
WE HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE MONEY ASIDE FOR A RAINY 
DAY.
WELL, IT'S RAINING, AND WE ARE 
NOW ABLE TO INVEST IN CANADIANS,
TO SUPPORT CANADIANS, AS WE MAKE
THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS NEEDED 
TO GET THROUGH THIS AND TO COME 
BACK STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.
>> Question: BUT DO YOU EVEN 
HAVE A BALLPARK ESTIMATE, IS 
THIS GOING TO BE IN THE TENS OF 
BILLIONS OR HUNDREDS OF 
BILLIONS?
>> Answer: THE FINANCE MINISTER 
WILL BE ADDRESSING CANADIANS 
TOMORROW WITH MANY MORE DETAILS,
INCLUDING DETAILED COSTINGS AND 
EXPECTATIONS.
RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS ON 
CREATING A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING
TO HELP CANADIANS KEEP THEIR 
JOBS, STAY IN THEIR JOBS, EVEN 
IF THEY'RE STAYING AT HOME SO WE
CAN ALL DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO
DO TO KEEP OURSELVES SAFE, TO 
KEEP OUR FAMILIES SAFE, TO KEEP 
OUR HEALTH WORKERS SAFE, AND TO 
KEEP ALL CANADIANS SAFE.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] RIGHT NOW, WE ARE 
FOCUSED ON COMING THROUGH THIS 
DIFFICULT SITUATION AND IN ORDER
TO DO THAT, WE NEED CANADIANS TO
STAY HOME AND FOLLOW THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS IN ORDER TO 
FOLLOW THE SITUATION.
WE KNOW THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT 
FOR BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROVIDING 
THEM A WAGE SUBSIDY SO THAT THEY
CAN KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THE 
PAYROLL DURING THIS DIFFICULT 
TIME SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK 
AND RECOVER QUICKLY AT THE END 
OF THIS.
THAT IS OUR PRIORITY.
FOR MORE DETAILS, THE MINISTER 
OF FINANCE AND THE MINISTER OF 
SMALL BUSINESS WILL BE AVAILABLE
TOMORROW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO 
REASSURE EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE
WILL BE THERE FOR THEM.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING, PRIME MINISTER.
I UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS WILL BE
COMING, BUT WHEN WILL THIS 
SUBSIDY BE PAID TO EMPLOYEES?
>> Answer: RIGHT NOW WE ARE 
WORKING TO FINALIZE THOSE 
DETAILS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
FOR C.R.A., IT'S ABOUT ENSURING 
THAT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT CAN GET TO PEOPLE AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I CAN ALSO SAY NOW TO 
ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS 
PEOPLE AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT 
THIS HELP WILL BE GETTING TO 
THEM SOON.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RE-HIRE 
THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEY 
WILL GET PAID THROUGH THE CREDIT
FACILITY THAT WE MADE AVAILABLE 
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO PROVIDE A WAGE SUBSIDY 
OF UP TO 75% IF YOU'RE AFFECTED 
BY COVID-19.
SO WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO 
GET THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR IN 
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
IN THE MEANTIME, YOU HAVE ACCESS
TO CREDIT WHICH WILL ALLOW YOU 
TO MOVE FORWARD.
KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE
THERE TO HELP YOU AND TO HELP 
YOUR EMPLOYEES.
>> Question: ON ANOTHER TOPIC, 
THE UNITED STATES PROVIDED SOME 
VERY STRIKING FIGURES ABOUT WHAT
IS THERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT SOME 
SCENARIOS.
DO YOU THINK CANADA IS FOLLOWING
THE U.S. TRAJECTORY AT THIS 
TIME?
>> Answer: WELL, I THINK I WOULD
SAY WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY ON THE
SAME TRAJECTORY.
WE ARE QUICKER TO GET THE 
SCREENING DONE AND I THINK WE 
WOULD HAVE MORE SUCCESS IN 
GETTING PEOPLE TO SELF-ISOLATE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE WILL SEE
WHAT THE CLEAR SITUATION IS IN 
THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO BASED ON 
WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IN THE 
LAST WEEK AND THEN WE WILL KNOW 
WHETHER THAT IS BEARING FRUIT.
EVERYTHING IS BASED ON THE 
DECISIONS PEOPLE HAVE MADE AND 
CONTINUE TO MAKE.
I AM PROUD OF THE WAY CANADIANS 
HAVE RALLIED AND CONTINUE TO 
ABIDE BY THE GUIDELINES.
AND I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND WE 
ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE 
A DIRECT IMPACT ON CANADA'S 
ABILITY TO COME OUT OF THIS.
I'M VERY PROUD TODAY TO BE 
CANADIAN.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
NOW, THE TRANS MOUNTAIN 
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS CONTINUING.
IT ALLOW BELONGS TO THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE SOME INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE WORRIED 
ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THOSE 
WORKERS.
I'M WONDERING AS OWNER OF T.M.X.
WHY YOU DON'T STOP THAT 
CONSTRUCTION WORK.
>> Answer: THAT'S A GOOD 
QUESTION.
A NUMBER OF DECISIONS ARE BEING 
TAKEN RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
ABOUT WHETHER SOME WORKERS ARE 
ESSENTIAL OR NOT OR WHETHER 
CERTAIN TYPES OF WORK SHOULD 
CONTINUE OR NOT.
I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THAT 
TO GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER 
TOMORROW.
>> Question: AND SINCE YOU DON'T
SEEM TO HAVE THE ANSWER NOW, I 
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WITH RESPECT 
TO TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU SAY
THERE WILL BE SERIOUS 
CONSEQUENCES FOR BUSINESSES THAT
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SUBSIDY.
WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO WARN
PEOPLE?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A 
RISK THAT THIS WILL BE LIKE AN 
OPEN BAR THAT PEOPLE WILL 
EXPLOIT?
>> Answer: NO, I DON'T THINK IT 
WILL BE A PROGRAM THAT WILL BE 
EASILY EXPLOITED.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED PARAMETERS FOR
COMPANIES IN TERMS OF KEEPING 
PEOPLE ON THE PAYROLL OR 
BRINGING THEM BACK IN IF THEY 
WERE LAID OFF.
BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND WHEN THE 
PRIORITY IS TO GIVE HELP TO AS 
MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, YOU DO HAVE
TO ACT QUICKLY AND TRUST IS 
REQUIRED IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
YOU HAVE TO TRUST PEOPLE TO DO 
THE RIGHT THING AND NOT TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
BUT I WANT TO ENSURE EVERYONE WE
WILL HAVE THE MEASURES AND 
SYSTEMS IN PLACE IN THE WEEKS TO
COME TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO 
ABUSE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF THERE IS 
ABUSE, THERE WILL BE SEVERE 
CONSEQUENCES FOR ANYONE WHO 
TRIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 
SYSTEM AND, THEREFORE, TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF CANADIANS DURING 
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THE NEXT QUESTION BRIAN LILY 
"TORONTO SUN."
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER, I'M
WONDERING WITH THE ECONOMIC 
HARDSHIP THAT SO MANY CANADIANS 
ARE FACING EVEN ONCE THIS WAGE 
SUBSIDY KICKS IN, HAVE YOU OR 
OTHER M.P.s THOUGHT OF FOREGOING
YOUR RAISE THAT KICKS IN ON 
APRIL 1 OR PAUSING THE CARBON 
TAX THAT IS SET TO GO UP BY 50% 
ON APRIL 1?
>> Answer: THE PRICE ON 
POLLUTION HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS 
TO PUT MORE MONEY IN HOUSEHOLDS'
POCKETS, MORE MONEY IN THE 
POCKETS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, 
WHILE WE'RE DOING WHAT IS 
NECESSARY TO FIGHT POLLUTION AND
PROTECT OUR PLANET.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING 
TO CONTINUE TO DO BECAUSE WE 
KNOW WE NEED TO DO THINGS TO 
MAKE SURE WE'RE BOTH SUPPORTING 
FAMILIES THROUGH ORDINARY TIMES 
AND THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND 
MOVING FORWARD ON CONTINUING THE
FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, 
WHICH REMAINS EVEN AT A TIME OF 
IMMEDIATE CRISIS AND PANDEMIC.
IN REGARDS TO SALARIES, I 
HAVEN'T HEARD THE PARLIAMENT OF 
CANADA HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS,
BUT I'M SURE THEY WILL REFLECT 
ON IT NOW THAT YOU'VE ASKED THE 
QUESTION.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WITH RESPECT TO A 
PRICE ON POLLUTION, WE 
INTRODUCED THAT PROGRAM IN ORDER
TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO FAMILIES 
AND MORE MONEY TO THE MIDDLE 
CLASS THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST 
THEM BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S 
IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, 
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FIGHTING 
CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: THE TRAVEL 
SCREENING MEASURES THAT YOU 
TALKED ABOUT ON SATURDAY, YOU 
HAD PREVIOUSLY DISMISSED THOSE 
FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS.
YOU DISMISSED CALLS FOR BANNING 
TRAVEL EARLIER ON, EVEN JUST 
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU 
EVENTUALLY DID.
AT THAT POINT, MOST OF THE CASES
OF COVID-19 WERE TRAVELLERS 
COMING INTO CANADA.
NOW IT'S 63% COMMUNITY SPREAD.
DO YOU REGRET NOT ACTING SOONER 
ON TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AT 
AIRPORTS FOR FLIGHTS FROM 
INTERNATIONAL HOT SPOTS?
>> Answer: I THINK THERE'S GOING
TO BE LOTS OF ANALYSES AROUND 
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN.
OUR FOCUS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY 
WAS DOING WHAT WAS NECESSARY 
EVERY MOMENT BASED ON THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF EXPERTS, 
BASED ON SCIENCE, AND DOING WHAT
WE CAN TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN AN 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GET 
THINGS PERFECTLY RIGHT, BUT 
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE 
COMMITTED TO DOING THINGS THE 
BEST WE CAN AND FIGURING OUT 
WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T AND 
MOVING FORWARD IN A WAY THAT IS 
NIMBLE AND FOCUSED ON HELPING 
CANADIANS INSOMUCH AS A 
GOVERNMENT CAN BE NIMBLE AND 
AGILE.
I THINK WE'VE DEMONSTRATED WE'RE
GOING TO STAY FOCUSED ON 
CANADIANS AND DOING THE RIGHT 
THINGS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
>> Question: JULIE VAN DUSEN, 
CBC.
HOW CAN YOU GET AN ACCURATE 
PICTURE OF COVID WITHOUT A LOT 
MORE TESTING, ESPECIALLY THOSE 
WORKING IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES 
WHO MAY BE OUT THERE WITHOUT 
SYMPTOMS AND SPREADING THE VIRUS
AND NOT EVEN KNOWING IT?
>> Answer: OVER THE PAST FEW 
WEEKS WE'VE BEEN RAMPING UP OUR 
TESTING CAPACITIES AND THAT 
CONTINUES, BOTH WITH MORE TESTS,
BETTER TESTS, DIFFERENT KINDS OF
TESTS, WITH TESTS THAT RETURN 
RESULTS MORE QUICKLY.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE AN 
ESSENTIAL PART OF MANAGING THE 
SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AND INDEED
REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THIS 
DISEASE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO RAMP UP OUR 
TESTING EFFORTS, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME THE MEASURES AROUND 
SELF-ISOLATION THAT HAVE BEEN 
PUT IN PLACE ARE ALSO GOING TO 
BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE FOR 
KEEPING PEOPLE AT HOME.
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS 
OF COVID-19, SELF-ISOLATE.
TAKE MEASURES TO NOT SPREAD.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET A TEST 
BACK IMMEDIATELY OR TESTED RIGHT
AWAY, YOU CAN TAKE MEASURES 
THROUGH SELF-ISOLATING YOURSELF 
THAT WILL PREVENT THE SPREAD.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL GET 
MORE AND MORE MEASURES TO TEST 
MORE ACCURATELY, TEST MORE 
RAPIDLY, GET THOSE RESULTS BACK,
AND KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
RIGHT NOW THESE SELF-ISOLATION 
MEASURES ARE AN EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT THING WHILE WE RAMP UP
OUR TESTING CAPACITIES.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE UNDERSTAND THAT 
MASSIVE SCREENING IS IMPORTANT 
IN ORDER TO COME THROUGH THIS, 
AND THAT'S WHY EVERY DAY AND 
EVERY WEEK WE HAVE BEEN 
SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING OUR 
TESTING CAPACITY AND THE NUMBER 
OF TESTS THAT ARE CARRIED OUT.
THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO UP 
BECAUSE WE NEED TO MANAGE THAT 
CRISIS IN THE NEXT WEEKS AND 
MONTHS WITH A LOT MORE TESTING, 
AS OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE DONE.
BUT FOR THE TIME BEING, AND 
THAT'S WHY SELF-ISOLATION IS SO 
IMPORTANT, IF YOU DON'T FEEL 
WELL OR IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, 
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU 
SELF-ISOLATE AND NOT WAIT FOR A 
POSITIVE RESULT TO TAKE THIS 
ACTION.
YOU HAVE TO SELF-ISOLATE 
IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR 
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AND PREVENT
THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: WHERE DO YOU STAND 
ON THE ENERGY SECTOR AND WILL 
THERE BE HELP FOR THE ENERGY 
SECTOR.
AND WITH CANADIAN OIL OPENING UP
AT LESS THAN $5 A BARREL, WILL 
THERE BE HELP FOR THE ENERGY 
SECTOR AND, IF SO, WHEN?
>> Answer: FIRST OF ALL, THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY WE HELPED WILL HELP
COMPANIES LARGE AND SMALL ACROSS
ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.
THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO 
ENSURING WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS 
THAT THEY WILL GET THROUGH THE 
COMING WEEKS.
THERE ARE CERTAIN INDUSTRIES 
THAT HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HARD 
HIT BY BOTH THE DROP IN OIL 
PRICES AND THE COVID-19 
CHALLENGE, WHETHER AIRLINES, OIL
AND GAS, TOURISM.
THERE ARE AREAS WE WILL HAVE TO 
DO MORE, AND AS I SAID FROM THE 
VERY BEGINNING, WE WILL BE DOING
MORE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE WHAT 
WE DID WITH THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
ANNOUNCEMENT WILL HELP MANY 
EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY 
COVID-19, BUT THERE ARE ALSO 
PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES THAT WILL 
BE MORE HARD HIT THAN OTHERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE AIRLINE 
INDUSTRY, THE OIL INDUSTRY, THE 
TOURISM SECTOR.
THERE WE WILL NEED TO DO MORE 
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN 
DO THAT.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: WHY ISN'T THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASING 
THEIR MODELLING NUMBERS?
IN ADDITION, WHAT ABOUT 
PREDICTIONS THERE COULD BE A 
SECOND AND THIRD WAVE?
IF YOU COULD ANSWER IN FRENCH, 
PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
>> Answer: WE WILL CONTINUE TO 
RELEASE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE 
IN AS ACCURATE AS  -- A WAY AS 
POSSIBLE TO SEE WHERE WE'RE 
GOING AND HOW WE'RE DOING.
WE RECOGNIZE WHAT'S GOING TO 
HAPPEN IN A FEW WEEKS OR A MONTH
AND MONTHS FROM NOW DEPENDS ON 
HOW PEOPLE ARE BEHAVING TODAY.
WITH THE BUILT-IN LAG IN 
COVID-19 OF TWO WEEKS, WITH THE 
DELAYS OF GETTING TEST RESULTS 
AND FROM GETTING RESULTS FROM 
PROVINCES, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S 
NOT ALWAYS AN ACCURATE PICTURE 
TODAY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP 
MODELLING THE DIFFERENT 
SCENARIOS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND 
CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE TO 
CANADIANS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS 
THAT THEY ABIDE BY THE RULES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES 
SET FORTH BY PUBLIC HEALTH 
AGENCY OF CANADA.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE KNOW THAT IT'S 
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE 
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO FIGHT COVID-19 AND 
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE 
INFORMATION AS IT COMES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE WE 
HAVE MODELS THAT WILL PREDICT 
WHAT WILL HAPPEN BASED ON 
PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOUR TODAY AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT A RANGE
OF SCENARIOS AND KEEP CANADIANS 
INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: TODAY NEW SCREENING
MEASURES ARE COMING IN PLACE FOR
AIRLINES AND TRAINS.
I'M WONDERING, MANY OF THESE 
PEOPLE WHO ARE CONDUCTING THESE 
TESTS TO SCREEN PASSENGERS FOR 
COVID-19 ARE NOT MEDICAL 
PROFESSIONALS.
HOW ARE THEY EXPECTED TO 
ADEQUATELY DO THEIR JOB AND WHAT
TYPE OF TRAINING AND PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT WILL THESE PEOPLE 
HAVE?
>> Answer: THE FUNDAMENTAL 
PRINCIPLE WE HAVE PUT FORWARD IS
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF 
COVID-19, IF YOU FEEL YOU MIGHT 
HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, STAY 
HOME, SELF-ISOLATE, DON'T GO 
OUTSIDE, DON'T TRAVEL.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF ALL
CANADIANS.
THESE MEASURES WE'VE BROUGHT IN 
FOR AIRLINES AND RAILWAYS IS AN 
ADDITIONAL MEASURE, AN 
ADDITIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND 
EXPECTATION THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SYMPTOMS OF A COLD OR OF 
COVID-19 WILL NOT TRAVEL.
THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND
IT'S SOMETHING THAT, LIKE SO 
MANY OF THESE MEASURES WE PUT IN
PLACE, IS GOING TO RELY ON 
PEOPLE STEPPING UP, DOING WHAT 
IS RIGHT, AND NOT TRAVELLING IF 
THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.
>> Question: LAST WEEK THE 
BUSINESS LOAN OF -- EXCUSE ME, 
FROM THE BANK OF CANADA -- MANY 
PUBS AND BARS AND CANNABIS 
INDUSTRY BUSINESSES ARE 
WONDERING WHY THEY DON'T QUALIFY
FOR THAT EXTENDED LINE OF 
CREDIT.
>> Answer: WHAT WE ARE PUTTING 
FORTH IS LOANS FOR BUSINESSES 
WHO HAVE HAD TO OR ARE ABOUT TO 
LAYOFF THEIR WORKERS.
NOW THEY CAN KEEP THEIR WORKERS 
ON THE PAYROLL AT 75% OR MORE IF
THEY CAN TOP IT UP OF THEIR 
SALARIES, SO THAT WHEN WE ARE 
THROUGH THIS, THEY CAN PICK UP 
AGAIN WHERE WE LEFT OFF AND GET 
OUR ECONOMY ROARING BACK.
THAT IS OUR FOCUS NOW.
IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO CREDIT, 
THERE ARE MANY MECHANISMS OUT 
THERE FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL 
DIFFERENT SIZES TO ACCESS 
CREDIT.  FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, 
THERE IS THE $40,000 LOAN, OF 
WHICH $10,000 WILL NOT HAVE TO 
BE REPAID IF THEY MEET CERTAIN 
CONDITIONS.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE'RE 
DOING OUT THERE WITH 
LOW-INTEREST OR NO-INTEREST 
LOANS TO HELP BUSINESSES GET 
THROUGH THIS.
BUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY AND THE 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT FOR 
THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS WILL 
BE THERE TO MAKE SURE WE COME 
THROUGH THIS STRONGLY.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] I'D LIKE 
TO COME BACK TO THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES.
IN SOME CASES THEY ARE USING THE
ARMY TO USE OR PRODUCE MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT.
YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF 
SCENARIOS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO 
KNOW EXACTLY WHY WE MIGHT NEED 
THE ARMY AND UNDER WHAT MEDICAL 
SCENARIO THEY COULD BE HELPFUL.
>> Answer: THE MINISTER OF 
DEFENCE WILL BE AT A PRESS 
CONFERENCE LATER AND CAN GIVE 
YOU DETAILS ON THAT.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN 
THERE TO HELP CANADIANS AND 
COMMUNITIES IN DIFFICULTY, 
WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE OF 
FLOODING OR OTHER EMERGENCIES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME 
SCENARIOS UNDER WHICH THEY COULD
HELP AND WE KNOW THAT THE ARMY 
COULD DO A LARGE NUMBER OF 
THINGS.
WE WILL ASK FOR HELP TO WORK 
WITH THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES IF THERE IS A 
REQUEST, BUT THE POINT IS 
THEY'RE THERE IF WE NEED THEM.
>> Question: NOW, YOU SAY PEOPLE
WILL RECEIVE SEVERE PENALTIES IF
THEY ABUSE THE SYSTEM.
HOW WILL YOU KNOW AND HOW WILL 
YOU PENALIZE THEM?
>> Answer: WELL, WE'LL BE 
PUTTING IN PLACE A SYSTEM IN THE
COMING WEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THIS
WAGE SUBSIDY DOES GET TO 
BUSINESSES AND THE MONEY GETS TO
THOSE COMPANIES WHO TRULY NEED 
IT.
IF THERE ARE COMPANIES OR 
INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE 
OF THE PROGRAM, THERE WILL BE 
SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.
WE'RE AT A TIME WHEN CANADIANS 
HAVE TO TRUST EACH OTHER AND BE 
ABLE TO RELY ON EACH OTHER.
PEOPLE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A 
CRISIS TO PUT MONEY IN THEIR OWN
POCKETS WILL SEE STIFF 
CONSEQUENCES ON THE PART OF OUR 
SOCIETY, BUT ALSO ON THE PART OF
THE GOVERNMENT.
WE'LL MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT 
TOMORROW.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: IT'S NEARLY APRIL 1
AND CANADA'S SMALLEST BUSINESSES
ARE WONDERING HOW TO PAY RENT.
THEIR WORKERS ARE COVERED BY 
MEASURES YOU'VE ANNOUNCED, BUT 
THE BUSINESS OWNERS CAN'T TAKE 
ON MORE DEBT, EVEN INTEREST-FREE
LOANS.
IS RENT REALLY ON THE TABLE FOR 
THEM?
>> Answer: WE KNOW THAT A 
SIGNIFICANT PART OF BUSINESS 
EXPENSES ARE AROUND PAYROLL AND 
OUR FOCUS IS ON SUPPORTING 
WORKERS AND SUPPORTING CANADIANS
SO THEY CAN STAY HOME, SO THEY 
CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE 
THINGS WE NEED TO TO GET THROUGH
THIS AS QUICKLY AND AS WELL AS 
WE POSSIBLY CAN.
OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON THIS 
WAGE SUBSIDY OF 75% FOR 
EMPLOYERS WHO NEED IT.
THAT WILL GIVE CANADIAN WORKERS 
UP TO $847 A WEEK, DEPENDING ON 
WHAT THEIR SALARY IS.
THESE ARE MEASURES THAT WILL 
MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN RELIEF
FOR BUSINESSES, IN RELIEF FOR 
WORKERS, IN ENSURING OUR 
CAPACITY TO BOUNCE BACK, TO RUSH
BACK STRONGLY WHEN THIS IS ALL 
THROUGH.
THAT IS OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW.
AS I'VE SAID, THESE ARE MEASURES
WE'RE DOING NOW.
WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK AT, 
ARE THERE MORE THINGS WE NEED TO
DO.
ARE THERE OTHER WAYS WE CAN AND 
MUST HELP PEOPLE GET THROUGH 
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND 
LISTEN TO PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE WE
COME THROUGH THIS AS STRONG AS 
POSSIBLE AND GET OUT THE OTHER 
SIDE AS STRONGLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA WITH HIS 
DAILY UPDATE ON HOW HIS 
GOVERNMENT IS DEALING WITH THE 
PANDEMIC, COVID-19.
SOME DETAILS TODAY, FIRST, THAT 
WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT ACTUALLY
TOMORROW ABOUT HELP FOR 
BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE 
GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK DECIDED TO 
INCREASE THE AVAILABLE WAGE 
SUBSIDY IT HAD PREVIOUSLY 
ANNOUNCED ALL THE WAY UP TO 75%.
WELL, THE BIG CHANGE IN WHAT WE 
HEARD FROM THE PRIME MINISTER 
TODAY IS THAT IT WILL NOW APPLY 
TO COMPANIES BIG AND SMALL.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY 
EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE.
IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY TO KEEP YOUR EMPLOYEES 
ON THE PAYROLL AND PAY THEM UP 
TO 75% AND -- RATHER, HAVE THE 
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZE THEM UP TO 
75%, THEY WILL DO THAT.
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DOES NOT
MATTER.
AND IMPORTANTLY, AND I KNOW THIS
IS SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE HAVE 
BEEN ASKING ABOUT, IT DOES APPLY
TO NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND CHARITIES.
THEY CAN ALSO USE THIS WAGE 
SUBSIDY MOVING FORWARD.
THOSE DETAILS ARE COMING 
TOMORROW.
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU HERE ON
CBC TELEVISION.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE NOON 
COVERAGE, WE'RE ON CBC NEWS 
NETWORK AND ON cbc.ca.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
SEE YOU BACK TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
[♪♪♪] 
>> Rosemary: WELCOME BACK TO OUR
ONGOING CBC NEWS SPECIAL.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN 
OTTAWA.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CBC 
NEWS NETWORK AND STREAMING 
AROUND THE WORLD ON cbc.ca.
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS WE WILL 
HEAR FROM FEDERAL OFFICIALS ON 
THE PANDEMIC.
WE ARE WAITING TO SEE IF THESE 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING MEASURES WE 
ARE TAKING ARE REALLY GOING TO 
PAY OFF.
THERE IS A HOPE AND A DESIRE 
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT 
THEY WILL.
THEY HAVE SEEN SOME GLIMMERS OF 
HOPE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, FOR 
INSTANCE.
TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM CANADA'S
TOP SOLDIER, THE CHIEF OF THE 
DEFENCE STAFF, TO TALK ABOUT 
POSSIBLE MILITARY INVOLVEMENT.
THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED 
THAT, BUT HE SAID WE WILL WAIT 
TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE 
INVOLVEMENT.
WE HAVE VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID 
COCHRANE JOINING US.
VASSY, TO ME, THE BIGGEST DEAL 
IS THAT IT NOW APPLIES 
EVERYWHERE BIG AND SMALL.
YOU CAN TAP INTO THIS IF YOU 
THINK IT CAN HELP.
>> Vassy: THE WAY I READ THAT, 
AND IF IT CHANGES TOMORROW, 
CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, IT 
SOUNDS LIKE THERE WILL NOT BE A 
CAP PER EMPLOYER.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE HUGE 
QUESTIONS THAT SELF-EMPLOYED AND
SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 
BUSINESSES HAD.
BEFORE THERE WAS A CAP.
THAT MEANS THIS APPLIES, AS YOU 
RIGHTLY POINTED OUT, ROSIE, NOT 
ONLY TO RESTAURANTS THAT 
EMPLOYEE 20 OR 30 PEOPLE, BUT 
COULD BE AN EMPLOYER THAT 
EMPLOYEES 1,000 PEOPLE.
THE SPECIFICS HERE, THERE ARE A 
FEW THE PRIME MINISTER GAVE, 
THAT ARE RELEVANT.
UP TO 75% OF YOUR SALARY ON THE 
FIRST $58,700 THAT YOU EARN.
IT WILL BE UP TO $847.
THIS APPLIES TO BIG AND SMALL 
BUSINESSES.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THERE IS 
AN OVERALL CAP.
THE OVERALL COST OF THE PROGRAM 
WILL PROBABLY BE LARGE, BUT I 
THINK THAT HEADLINE IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF 
BUSINESSES WILL BE PAYING 
ATTENTION TO.
THE OTHER THING HE MENTIONED WAS
30%, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- YOUR
REVENUES HAVE TO HAVE DECLINED 
BY 30% COMPARED TO PRIOR TO THE 
START OF THIS PANDEMIC.
SO THE GRANULAR DETAILS THERE AS
WELL, WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME 
YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER TIME 
PERIOD WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
BUT REALLY THE BIG NEWS HERE IS 
THAT IT WILL APPLY TO SMALL AND 
MEDIUM AND LARGE-SIZED 
BUSINESSES. 
>> Rosemary: AND THAT 
NON-PROFITS AND CHARITIES 
BECAUSE MANY OF THEM HAD BEEN 
ASKING FOR HELP.
DAVID, ONE OF THE THINGS THE 
PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED ABOUT 
BUT DIDN'T GIVE AN ANSWER OTHER 
THAN TO SAY WE'LL SEE.
A LOT OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS 
THAT ARE E-MAILING ME SAYING 
THAT'S NICE, BUT I WON'T BE ABLE
TO PAY RENT TOMORROW OR IN TWO 
DAYS.
I CAN BRING ALL THESE EMPLOYEES 
BACK ON THE PAYROLL OR KEEP THEM
ON THE PAYROLL, BUT IF THERE'S 
NO BUSINESS TO COME BACK TO, I'M
NOT SURE HOW THAT HELPS ME. 
>> David: THERE'S A COUPLE OF 
THINGS.
RENT RELIEF IS A PROVINCIAL 
ISSUE.
THE RENTAL MARKETS ARE 
CONTROLLED PROVINCIALLY.
THAT'S SOMETHING VARIOUS 
PROVINCES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO 
TAKE MEASURES ON WHEN RENT IS 
BEING FURLOUGHED, FOR LACK OF A 
BETTER WORD.
I THINK THE VIEW OF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW IS THE 
$40,000 INTEREST-FREE CREDIT 
LINES BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO 
SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT'S WHAT 
YOU CAN USE TO PAY YOUR RENT.
I HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY 
ON THE WAGE SUBSIDY, SOME 
DETAILS FROM GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS 
GOING ON.
THE $847 A WEEK UP TO THAT 
AMOUNT.
THAT IS FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE YOU 
HAVE WHETHER YOU ARE OPEN ARE 
NOT.
THE SALARY CAP OF $58,700, THAT 
NUMBER WASN'T PLUCKED OUT OF 
THIN AIR.
THAT IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 
EARNINGS THAT QUALIFY UNDER 
C.P.P. AS PENSIONABLE INCOME.
THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE GONE WITH 
THAT NUMBER.
YOU WILL GET UP TO $847 A WEEK 
FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES WHETHER OR 
NOT YOUR OPEN.
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.
THE 25% TOP-UP IS NOT A 
REQUIREMENT, BUT DO IT IF YOU 
CAN.
THE TWO EXAMPLES USED, A 
TRUCKING COMPANY IN QUÉBEC, THEY
WOULD HAVE A REVENUE STREAM AND 
THEY COULD DO IT.
THE SALON SHUT DOWN IN CALGARY 
CANNOT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SHUT
DOWN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS.
THE COST OF THIS IS GOING TO BE 
STAGGERING BECAUSE THEY ARE 
ESSENTIALLY UNDERWRITING THE 
FIRST 0.75 ON EVERY DOLLAR FOR 
EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE COUNTRY.
IN TERMS OF THE TEST AND THE 
CONSEQUENCES THAT HE TALKED 
ABOUT, THE 30% REVENUE DROP, 
THAT WILL BE ASSESSED AFTER THE 
FACT.
IF YOU ARE FOUND TO HAVE NOT HAD
A 30% REVENUE DROP, THERE WILL 
BE A REPAYMENT REQUIREMENT OF 
SOME FORM.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A TOTAL 
AMOUNT, IF IT COMES IN AT 27.5 
AND YOU THINK IT'S 30.
THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DEAL
WITH IT.
EVERY BUSINESS, TAKE DAYCARES IN
THIS CITY, I'VE GOT A KID IN 
DAYCARE.
THAT DAYCARE IS SHUT DOWN RIGHT 
NOW.
THERE IS NO REVENUE COMING IN.
THE OWNER OF THAT DAYCARE WILL 
QUALIFY FOR A 75% WAGE SUBSIDY.
THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR EMPLOYER
AND THE MINUTE ALL OF THIS IS 
LIFTED, THEY CAN GO BACK TO WORK
WITHOUT HAVING TO REAPPLY AFTER 
BEING LAID OFF.
IT MAINTAINS THAT RELATIONSHIP 
AND PUTS A FINANCIAL FLOOR UNDER
THE PAYROLLS OF BASICALLY EVERY 
COMPANY AND NON-PROFIT IN THE 
COUNTRY DEPENDING ON HOW THIS 
WILL APPLY.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO COME BACK 
QUICKER.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALSO ABOUT 
TOO, PREPARING EVERYBODY FOR THE
TIME WHEN ALL OF THESE EXTREME 
MEASURES ARE OVER AND THINGS CAN
COME BACK.
LIKE WE'VE SEEN FROM THE 
C.E.R.V. IS THE POLICY WILL BE 
PAY FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS 
LATER.
THEY WILL DEAL WITH PAYMENTS, 
REPAYMENTS, AND FRAUD AFTER THE 
FACT.
>> Rosemary: INTERESTING REALLY 
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE DID HEAR 
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER -- IT 
HASN'T BEEN THE CASE SO MUCH 
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
BENEFIT, IT'S THE PRIORITY TO 
GET THE MONEY OUT TO PEOPLE AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT HERE 
THE PRIME MINISTER CALLING FOR 
GOOD FAITH AND TRUST FOR ALL 
INVOLVED AND TELLING BUSINESSES,
DON'T BOTHER TRYING TO TAKE THIS
BECAUSE WE WILL GET YOU.
>> David: THIS IS A VERY BIG 
CARROT SO IT NEEDS TO BE BACKED 
UP BY A BIG STICK.
>> Rosemary: I'M GOING TO LEAVE 
YOU TWO.
I'M GOING TO BRING BACK 
DR. ISAAC BOGOCH.
I CUT HIM OFF BUT IT WAS FOR THE
PRIME MINISTER.
WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE PRIME
MINISTER, DOCTOR, ABOUT WHY THIS
WEEK IS SO IMPORTANT.
GIVE US YOUR SENSE OF WHY IT IS 
IMPORTANT TO WATCH FROM A PUBLIC
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.
>> Isaac Bogoch: CERTAINLY THIS 
WEEK WE WILL SEE IF THE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING OR PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING MEASURES ARE PAYING 
OFF.
THERE ARE SHREDS OF EVIDENCE 
FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT MAYBE
THEY'RE GOING TO START TO SEE A 
REDUCED NUMBER OF NEW CASES PER 
DAY.
LET'S SEE IF THAT PANS OUT OVER 
TIME.
WE REALLY START TO SEE THAT PICK
UP IN ONTARIO.
THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE 
THERE WAS CERTAINLY A GREATER 
NUMBER OF CASES IN ONTARIO DAY 
BY DAY.
QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE TO 
FLATTEN THE CURVE HERE TO 
PREVENT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 
FROM GETTING OVERWHELMED.
>> Rosemary: WELL, I HAVE TO 
Y
SAY, THE AMOUNT OF TESTING IN 
ONTARIO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 
THE BACKLOG OR THE NUMBER OF 
TESTS, SEEMS WORRYING BECAUSE IT
WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE 
ARE MORE CASES THAN WE KNOW 
ABOUT.
B.C., QUEBEC, AND ALBERTA ARE 
TESTING PEOPLE PROPORTIONALLY 
MANY MORE.
ONTARIO SAYS IT'S HOPING TO DO 
5,000 A DAY BY EARLY THIS WEEK, 
SURGING INTO APRIL.
WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THIS SORT 
OF TESTING IN ONTARIO IS, 
PERHAPS, TROUBLING BECAUSE IT 
DOESN'T GIVE US A REALLY GOOD 
PICTURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING?
>> Isaac Bogoch: 100%, I AGREE 
WITH YOU 100%.
WE NEED TO BE DOING BETTER.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE 
SCALING BACK ON TESTING.
IT'S NICE TO HEAR THAT FOR 
APRIL, BUT WE NEED THAT TODAY.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE 
TRUE BURDEN OF INFECTION, BOTH 
HERE IN ONTARIO AND ELSEWHERE IN
CANADA.
YOU'VE SEEN PLACES LIKE ALBERTA 
AND BRITISH COLUMBIA LEAD THE 
WAY, AND QUÉBEC IS PICKING UP 
SPEED, BUT IT HAS TO BE BETTER 
IN ONTARIO. 
>> Rosemary: WHAT IS THE 
REASONING?
IS IT THAT THEY'RE LIMITING IT 
TO A PARTICULAR SECTION OF 
PEOPLE, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
OLDER PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE THAT 
HAVE BEEN ABROAD?
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING WHY 
THE TESTING ISN'T HAPPENING?
>> Isaac Bogoch: I THINK THERE'S
SEVERAL ISSUES.
CERTAINLY THERE WAS LAB CAPACITY
ISSUES WHICH WE HEARD ABOUT THIS
BACKLOG WHICH IS SLOWLY GETTING 
RESOLVED AND I THINK THERE WAS 
NOW ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHERE WE'VE
HEARD FROM THE MINISTER OF 
HEALTH REDUCING THE BUREAUCRATIC
HURDLES TO GET TESTING KITS 
ALLOWED IN CANADA.
I THINK WE WILL SEE AN EXPLOSION
OF TESTS IN ONTARIO.
MY CONCERN IS THE DELAY.
THIS IS A CRUCIAL WEEK AND LAST 
WEEK AND THE WEEK AHEAD ARE SUCH
PIVOTAL POINTS HERE.
WE NEED ALL THE DATA WE CAN 
FIND.
THIS HELPS GUIDE THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH RESPONSE AND CLINICAL 
MANAGEMENT.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS ONE OF THE
MAIN OR MULTIPLE PILLARS OF 
EPIDEMIOLOGY MANAGEMENT.
YOU CAN'T FIGHT BLINDLY.
IF WE REALLY DO START TO EXPAND 
TO 5,000 A DAY AND HOPEFULLY 
MORE THAN THAT, I THINK WE WILL 
BE IN A BETTER POSITION IN PONT.
>> Rosemary: DR. BOGOCH, I'M 
GOING TO CUT YOU OFF FOR THE 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.
HERE IS THE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
I KNOW THAT IT IS HARD, BUT WE 
ALL MUST STAY STRONG AND STAY AT
HOME UNLESS WE ARE DOING 
ESSENTIAL WORK LIKE STOCKING THE
SHELVES IN OUR GROCERY STORES, 
LIKE WORKING ON THE FRONTLINES 
OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
OF COURSE YOU CAN GO FOR A WALK 
OR A RUN, BUT MAINTAIN YOUR 
DISTANCE WHILE YOU DO IT AND 
WASH YOUR HANDS, PLEASE, WHEN 
YOU GET HOME.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THIS IS A CRITICAL 
WEEK IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE 
VIRUS.
CANADIANS MUST PRACTICE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING AND PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
WE MUST REMAIN STRONG AND STAY 
HOME UNLESS YOU'RE AN ESSENTIAL 
WORKER, SUCH AS FILLING GROCERY 
SHELVES OR WORKING IN THE 
HEALTHCARE FIELD.
YOU CAN GO OUT FOR A WALK.
YOU CAN GO RUNNING, BUT STAY 
APART FROM OTHERS AND WASH YOUR 
HANDS AS SOON AS YOU GET HOME.
I KNOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO 
DO, BUT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS.
[End of Translation] TODAY YOU 
WILL HEAR FROM DR. TAM, THE 
MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, 
HARJIT SAJJAN.
PABLO RODRIGUEZ, OUR MINISTER OF
HEALTH PATTY HAJDU, GENERAL 
VANCE, DR. NJOO.
WE ARE TRYING TO SPREAD 
OURSELVES OUT WHICH IS WHY YOU 
DON'T SEE THEM AT THE PODIUM, 
BUT THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR 
QUESTIONS.
DR. TAM.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
IN CANADA THERE ARE 6,671 CASES,
INCLUDING 66 DEATHS.
IN ADDITION, AT ANY POINT IN 
TIME THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE
UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR 
9
COVID-19.
THEY ARE AWAITING LAB RESULTS OR
NOT YET TESTING.
EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING OF 
CASES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT 
DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE ARE NO 
CASES OR NO EXPOSURES WAITING TO
HAPPEN.
WE NOW HAVE COMPLETED TESTS FOR 
OVER 220,000 PEOPLE IN CANADA, 
WITH ABOUT 3% OF THE PEOPLE 
CONFIRMED AS POSITIVE AND OVER 
93% CONFIRMED AS NEGATIVE.
SO OF THE OVER 6,000 CASES THAT 
WE KNOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW, 
APPROXIMATELY 7% ARE REQUIRING 
HOSPITALIZATION AND 3% ARE 
CRITICALLY ILL, WITH 1% HAVING 
BEEN FATAL.
THIS IS DATA FOR WHAT IS 
HAPPENING IN REAL TIME SO WE CAN
EXPECT THESE RATES TO FLUCTUATE 
AS AND WHEN THE PROVINCES REPORT
NEW INFORMATION.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THERE HAVE BEEN 
REPORTS OF CASES IN COMMUNITIES 
THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK OF SEVERE 
OUTCOMES OF COVID-19.
NOTABLY, THE FIRST CASE OF 
COVID-19 WAS REPORTED IN NUNAVIK
IN NORTHERN QUÉBEC THIS PAST 
WEEKEND.
IN ADDITION, THERE CONTINUE TO 
BE OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES LEADING TO 
DEVASTATING OUTCOMES.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE CRUCIAL 
TO PREVENT THE ACCELERATION OF 
SPREAD IN ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENTS,
WHERE PERSONS WITH UNDERLYING 
MEDICAL CONDITIONS RESIDE.
PREVENTION IS A KEY PART OF OUR 
PANDEMIC RESPONSE.
[End of Translation] THERE HAVE 
BEEN REPORTS OF CASES IN 
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AT HIGH 
RISK OF SEVERE OUTCOMES OF 
COVID-19.
NOTABLY, THE FIRST CASE OF 
COVID-19 WAS REPORTED IN NUNAVIK
IN NORTHERN QUÉBEC THIS PAST 
WEEKEND.
IN ADDITION, THERE CONTINUE TO 
BE OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES, LEADING TO 
DEVASTATING OUTCOMES.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO PREVENT THE 
ACCELERATION OF SPREAD IN 
ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENTS WHERE 
PERSONS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL 
CONDITIONS RESIDE AND IT IS A 
KEY PART OF OUR PANDEMIC 
RESPONSE.
WITH THE WARM WEATHER PRO 
TEMPORING, I WANT TO REITERATE 
MY MESSAGE FROM YESTERDAY.
OUR KEY MESSAGE IS ON RETURNING 
TRAVELLERS AND PROTECTING THOSE 
IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
FOR TRAVELLERS RETURNING FROM 
OUTSIDE OF CANADA, SNOWBIRDS, 
MARCH BREAK VACATIONERS, AND 
OTHERS, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE
THE RIGHT ACTION TO PROTECT ALL 
CANADIANS, HEAD DIRECTLY HOME, 
DO NOT STOP FOR GROCERIES OR 
OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, USE 
THE PHONE TO ORDER WHAT YOU 
NEED, BUT DO NOT GO OUT INTO 
PUBLIC SPACES.
ONCE HOME, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO 
BE THERE AND QUARANTINE 
YOURSELF.
LIKE, SOME IMPORTANT 
OBSERVANCERS ARE COMING UP, 
INCLUDING EASTER, PASSOVER, 
RAMADAN.
NOW IS THE TIME WHEN ALL 
ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN 
VIRTUALLY.
PREPARE AHEAD TO CONNECT THROUGH
SOCIAL MEDIA AND OVER THE PHONE 
AND INTERNET.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. TAM.
NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM THE 
MINISTER OF DEFENCE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WHEN CANADA NEEDS THEIR ARMED 
FORCES, THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE.
IT SHOWS THAT IN TIMES OF GREAT 
DIFFICULTY, CANADIANS NEVER FACE
HARDSHIP ALONE.
THEY FOUGHT FOR CANADIAN VALUES 
DURING THE GREAT WARS, HAVE BEEN
THERE FOR OUR FRIENDS AND 
PARTNERS IN THE PACIFIC AND 
UKRAINE AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 
COMMUNITIES LIKE NEWFOUNDLAND 
THIS YEAR AND FOR FLOODS IN 
QUÉBEC AND ONTARIO OR FOREST 
FIRES LIKE THOSE THAT HIT 
ALBERTA AND B.C. IN PREVIOUS 
YEARS.
WE DEVELOPED OUR DEFENCE POLICY,
STRONG, SECURE, ENGAGED, IN 
ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR ARMED 
FORCES TO BE PREPARED AND 
EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE 
CHALLENGES THAT LAY AHEAD.
NOW, DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED 
TIMES, THOSE WHO WEAR THE 
UNIFORM WILL BE THERE FOR 
CANADIANS WHEN CALLED UPON.
THAT IS WHY WE TOOK 
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES EARLY TO 
ENSURE THAT THE FORCES REMAINED 
READY.
IT IS WHY EARLY IN THIS CRISIS 
THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF 
DIRECTED MANY OF THEM TO ENGAGE 
IN PHYSICAL DISTANCING, TO STAY 
HOME AND TO BE HEALTHY AND READY
TO RESPOND.
FROM THE BEGINNING, THE CANADIAN
ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN PART OF 
THE WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT EFFORT 
IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
WE ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN IN 
UNIFORM ASSISTING BRINGING 
CANADIANS HOME FROM CHINA AND 
JAPAN TO C.F.B. TRENTON.
OVER THE PAST WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN
IN CONTACT WITH MY INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERS AND COLLEAGUES TO LEARN
FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES.
WITH THAT INFORMATION AND 
LOOKING AT THE POSSIBLE NEEDS 
ACROSS CANADA, I DIRECTED THE 
CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF TO 
DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW 
US TO SUPPORT A DOMESTIC 
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 BASED 
AROUND THREE PRIORITIES.
TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO SPLO 
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, TO 
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE 
COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA, TO 
ASSIST OUR PROVINCIAL AND 
TERRITORIAL PARTNERS WITH 
LOGISTICS, INCLUDING DIRECTLY 
SUPPORTING MUNICIPALITIES IF 
NEEDED.
AND I ALSO WANT TO STRESS THAT 
THIS RESPONSE TO COVID-19 WOULD 
OCCUR WHILE STILL MAINTAINING 
OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO 
POSSIBLE FLOODING OR FOREST 
FIRES.
BASED ON THIS GUIDANCE, THE 
CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF HAS 
DEVELOPED A PLAN THAT WOULD SEE 
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 
MOBILIZING UP TO 24,000 REGULAR 
AND RESERVE MEMBERS ACROSS THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES TO SUPPORT
THESE EFFORTS.
THE CANADIAN ARMY HAVE READIED 
10,000 MEMBERS ACROSS CANADA.
THEY CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN
PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT 
AND DELIVERING SUPPLIES.
THEY WILL BE READY TO RESPOND TO
SUPPORT CANADIANS, NO MATTER 
WHERE THEY LIVE.
ALSO MADE AVAILABLE, RESERVISTS 
AND CANADIAN RANGERS ARE BEING 
BROUGHT INTO FULL-TIME SERVICE 
AND WILL BE PART OF AN 
INTEGRATED CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
RESPONSE.
THESE FLEXIBLE TEAMS ARE CAPABLE
OF OPERATING AS LOCAL RESPONSE 
FORCES TO ASSIST WITH 
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE, WELLNESS 
CHECKS, NATURAL DISASTER 
RESPONSE, AND OTHER TASKS AS 
REQUIRED.
I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT 
PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS GIVEN 
TO INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AND 
ARCTIC COMMUNITIES.
THIS -- THESE NEEDS DIRECTED OUR
PLANNING.
THAT IS WHY OVER 50 CANADIAN 
RANGER PATROLS WILL BE AVAILABLE
TO ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF 
THE NEEDS OF THE NORTHERN, 
REMOTE, AND INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES AND WE WILL BE READY
TO RESPOND AS REQUIRED.
OUR ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE HAS
ALL NECESSARY CAPABILITIES AND 
PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT A 
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT SUPPORT THE 
EFFORTS AGAINST COVID-19.
THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY ARE ALSO
READY TO RESPOND ON SHORT NOTICE
TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES WHO MIGHT
NEED A HELPING HAND.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS 
PLAN TO HELP SUPPORT CANADIANS, 
NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, WHEN,
AND WHERE IT IS NEEDED.
THOUGH WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED 
ANY FORMAL REQUESTS FOR 
ASSISTANCE, THE TEAM AT THE 
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE 
AND I CONTINUE TO WORM WITH 
MINISTER BLAIR AND PUBLIC SAFETY
CANADA SO WE ARE READY WHEN 
CALLED UPON.
WE WILL PROVIDE LOCAL COMMANDERS
THE AUTHORITY TO BE FLEXIBLE IN 
OUR ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT 
LOCAL NEEDS ARE MET QUICKLY.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES REMAIN 
READY TO HELP CANADIANS DURING 
THESE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES,
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENSURING 
THAT THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 
WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT 
COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE IMPACTED
BY SPRING FLOODING AND FOREST 
FIRES.
THE DECISION THAT WE MADE EARLY 
HAS MADE SURE THAT THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES IS HEALTH AND 
STANDS READY TO SERVE.
WE WILL BE READY TO TAKE STRONG 
PRECAUTIONS SO THAT THE MEN AND 
WOMEN WHO SERVE WILL STAY 
HEALTHY AND BE READY TO HELP.
THE PLAN WE HAVE DONE WILL ALLOW
YOUR FORCES TO RESPOND TO 
COVID-19 AT HOME AND TO PROTECT 
COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY NATURAL 
DISASTERS, WHILE ALLOWING US TO 
CONTINUE THE WORK WE DO WITH OUR
ALLIES AND PARTNERS TO SUPPORT 
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.
WE WILL BE THERE.
WE ARE READY TO HELP.
NO MATTER HOW CHALLENGING THE 
CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN CALLED UPON,
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ARE 
READY TO SERVE.
TO ALL OUR CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> NOW I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR TO 
THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE LEADER, 
PABLO RODRIGUEZ.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] OUR MESSAGE IS THAT
WE ARE READY AND WE HAVE ASKED 
THE ARMED FORCES TO ESTABLISH A 
MOBILIZATION PLAN SO THAT THEY 
CAN BE PREPARED TO GO WHERE 
NEEDED AND QUICKLY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 24,000 
MEMBERS OF REGULAR OR RESERVE 
MEMBERS, WHETHER IN THE ROYAL 
CANADIAN AIR FORCE, THE ROYAL 
CANADIAN NAVY, AND OUR 
INTERVENTION PLAN, IF REQUIRED, 
WOULD BE BASED ON THREE 
PRIORITIES.
FIRST OF ALL, TO SLOW THE SPEED 
OF SPREADING OF COVID-19, 
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE 
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE 
COUNTRY, AND TO HELP OUR F.P.T. 
PARTNERS IN THE AREA OF 
LOGISTICS AND, SPECIFICALLY, 
SUPPORTING MUNICIPALITIES 
CONCRETELY.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE OUR 
HELICOPTERS TO SUPPORT ISOLATED 
COMMUNITIES, WHETHER THEY BE 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT 
PROVINCES AND MUNICIPALITIES 
DIRECTLY IN THEIR EFFORTS.
WE COULD ALSO HELP WITH 
LOGISTICS, TRANSPORTATION OF 
MATERIAL, HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT WHERE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES WOULD 
NEED HELP.
WE KNOW THAT THE WORK COULD BE 
RELATED TO SOMETHING ELSE.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOODS 
AND FOREST FIRES, OUR TROOPS 
WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT 
SUPPORT, BUT ALSO HAVING THE 
CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT 
AGAINST CORONAVIRUS.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, AS THE 
MINISTER SAID, WE ARE NOT 
PLANNING TO DEPLOY OUR FORCES AT
THIS POINT.
WE HAVE DAILY CONTACT WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
FOR NOW NO PREMIER HAS ASKED US 
TO DEPLOY OUR TROOPS.
IT IS FUNDAMENTAL THAT WE 
CONTINUE TO DISCUSS AND EXCHANGE
AND COLLABORATE WITH THE 
PROVINCES.
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE 
SAYING TODAY IS THAT WE ARE 
READY TO INTERVENE IF A PREMIER 
ASKS US OFFICIALLY TO DO SO.
THE PLANNING THAT THE ARMED 
FORCES HAS DONE WILL ALLOW THEM 
TO DEPLOY QUICKLY TO HELP 
CANADIANS WHO NEED THAT HELP AND
WILL BE THERE FOR ALL CANADIANS,
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE.
WE WON'T FORGET ANYBODY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PABLO.
[End of Translation]. 
>> WE'LL START WITH QUESTIONS 
FROM THE PHONE.
OPERATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
MERCI.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE 
PRESS STAR 1 ON YOUR TELEPHONE 
KEY PAD.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] HELLO.
MY QUESTION IS FOR YOU, MADAM 
FREELAND.
I KNOW THAT DETAILS WILL BE 
FORTHCOMING TOMORROW FROM 
MR. MORNEAU, BUT COULD YOU 
INDICATE WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS 
CHANGED VIEW, DECIDING THAT THIS
WAGE SUBSIDY WOULD NOT BE 
LIMITED TO S.M.E.s, BUT WOULD 
APPLY TO ALL COMPANIES?
>> Answer: WE HAVEN'T CHANGED A 
VIEW.
ALL WE'VE DONE IS CLARIFY THE 
DETAILS.
AND THE DETAILS WE'VE 
ESTABLISHED ARE NECESSARY AND 
CORRECT FOR THE CANADIAN 
ECONOMY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT CORONAVIRUS 
AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 
CORONAVIRUS DOES NOT MAKE ANY 
DISTINCTION BETWEEN LARGE 
COMPANIES, SMALL COMPANIES, OR 
MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES.
THE IDEA OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO 
HELP ALL CANADIAN BUSINESSES TO 
CONSERVE JOBS.
WE KNOW THAT BUSINESSES WANT TO 
MAINTAIN THEIR WORKFORCE AND WE 
KNOW THAT FOR CANADIANS WHO HAVE
WORK AT THIS POINT, IT'S MUCH 
BETTER TO HAVE THAT WORK 
AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THAT'S WHY WE ESTABLISHED THIS 
HUGE ECONOMIC PROGRAM TO HELP 
EMPLOYERS TO CONSERVE THEIR 
BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO TO CONSERVE
JOBS FOR THEIR WORKERS.
THIS PROGRAM IS A VERY GOOD 
ADDITION TO THE PROGRAM WE 
ALREADY ANNOUNCED.
THAT IS THE PROGRAM TO HELP 
CANADIANS WHO DO NOT HAVE A JOB,
WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB, OR WHO 
CANNOT WORK BECAUSE OF 
CORONAVIRUS.
WITH THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, WE HAVE
ONE PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE WHO 
CANNOT WORK AND WE HAVE ANOTHER 
PROGRAM TO HELP COMPANIES TO 
MAINTAIN THE JOBS OF THEIR 
WORKERS.
THAT'S TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT IN
THIS CONTEXT.
FURTHER TO THAT, WE HAVE ALSO 
HELPED COMPANIES AND THE ECONOMY
BY PROVIDING A GREAT AMOUNT OF 
FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
THANK YOU.
>> Question: SECOND QUESTION.
THE QUESTION IS PERHAPS FOR 
MR. RODRIGUEZ OR PERHAPS 
MR. SAJJAN COULD ANSWER THAT.
IN RELATION TO THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES AND YOUR CAPACITY 
TO DEPLOY THEM, THERE'S A 
COMMUNITY, AN INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITY, NABITIBI, THAT SENT A
LETTER ASKING THE ARMY TO COME, 
IN ORDER TO ENSURE A STATE OF 
EMERGENCY.
THEY WANT TO CLOSE OFF THEIR 
TERRITORY.
ARE YOU TAKING UP THAT REQUEST 
BY OTHER COMMUNITIES OR SHOULD 
IT GO BEFORE A PREMIER OF A 
PROVINCE FIRST?
[End of Translation] DO YOU WANT
ME TO TRANSLATE?
>> Answer: WE'VE GOT 
TRANSLATION.
WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH MANY REMOTE
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF HAS 
BEEN PLANNING KIND OF EARLY 
MEASURES OF WHAT WE CAN DO.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE'S ALSO 
STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN EARLY 
ON, NOT JUST WITH THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES, BUT ALSO WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
SO WE'RE TAKING EVERY REQUEST 
VERY SERIOUSLY.
I WANT TO REMIND THAT THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IS A 
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT RESPONSE.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT A CONCERN 
THAT COMES UP, WE LOOK AT ALL 
THE THINGS IN OUR TOOLBOX, DOWN 
TO THE MUNICIPALITY, SO WE CAN 
ENSURE THE RIGHT RESPONSE IS 
THERE SO CANADIANS IMPACTED WILL
BE LOOKED AFTER.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 
BILL CURRY FROM "THE GLOBE AND 
MAIL".
>> Question: THANK YOU.
MY QUESTION IS FOR MS. FREELAND.
IN TERMS OF LARGE COMPANIES AND 
FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS, IS THE 
GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING DIRECTOR 
OWNERSHIP STAKES, LIKE WE SAW 
WITH THE AUTO SECTOR IN 2009.
WILL THERE BE ANYTHING IN TERMS 
OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND IS
THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED ABOUT 
FOREIGN TAKEOVERS OF COMPANIES 
DURING THIS PERIOD?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION, BILL.
I THINK AS YOU PROBABLY EXPECT, 
I AM NOT TODAY GOING TO PRE-EMPT
FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I WILL SAY TO YOU, AND I WOULD 
LIKE TO ASSURE ALL CANADIANS, 
THAT WE VERY MUCH UNDERSTAND 
THAT PARTICULAR SECTORS OF THE 
ECONOMY, WHETHER IT IS TOURISM 
AND AVIATION OR THE ENERGY 
SECTOR, ARE FACING PARTICULAR 
STRAINS BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF
THE CORONAVIRUS, BOTH IN CANADA 
AND WORLDWIDE.
WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT AND 
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE 
DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON.
>> ONE FOLLOW-UP.
>> Question: YES, ON ANOTHER 
TOPIC.
SINCE THE SERVICE CANADA OFFICES
SHUT DOWN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE NOT ABLE TO
REACH AN OFFICIAL ON A PHONE TO 
ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET HELP IN 
PERSON AS TRYING TO GET E.I.
IS THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO 
RE-OPEN THESE OFFICES?
HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THIS 
PROBLEM?
>> Answer: OF COURSE IT'S VERY 
IMPORTANT FOR CANADIANS TO HAVE 
ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT 
PROGRAMS WE'VE PUT IN PLACE OVER
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WE 
ARE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE 
CANADIANS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO 
THOSE PROGRAMS, EVEN AS WE ARE 
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT AND MINDFUL OF 
THE NEED TO BE MAINTAINING 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN OUR DAILY
LIVES AND THE NEED TO ENSURE 
THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE 
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ARE ALSO 
SAFE AS THEY DO THEIR WORK.
I KNOW THAT IT IS HARD FOR ALL 
OF US, WHETHER IT IS IN THE 
DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS 
OR WHETHER IT IS, AS DR. TAM WAS
DESCRIBING FOR RETURNING 
SNOWBIRDS, TO NOT GO TO THE 
GROCERY STORE AND TO FIGURE OUT 
HOW TO ORDER THEIR GROCERIES 
ONLINE OR OVER THE PHONE.
IT IS NOT EASY TO OPERATE IN AN 
ECONOMY AND IN A SOCIETY WHERE 
WE ALL HAVE TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL
DISTANCING, BUT IT'S WHAT WE 
HAVE TO DO.
I DO WANT TO SAY TO ALL THE 
CANADIANS WHO NEED ACCESS TO 
THESE PROGRAMS, WE GET IT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PUT THESE 
PROGRAMS IN PLACE.
I REALLY APOLOGIZE SINCERELY FOR
SOME OF THE KINKS IN THE 
DELIVERY OF THESE PROGRAMS, BUT 
I WANT TO ASSURE PEOPLE WE ARE 
WORKING 24/7 TO GET SUPPORT OUT 
TO CANADIANS.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH FROM THE 
"TORONTO STAR."
>> Question: I WONDER IF YOU 
COULD SPEAK MORE SPECIFICALLY 
ABOUT THE TYPE OF HELP THAT THE 
MILITARY MIGHT BE ABLE TO 
PROVIDE.
IN THE U.S. WE'RE SEEING THE 
MILITARY THERE PROVIDE FIELD 
HOSPITALS, MILITARY ENGINEERS TO
HELP RE-ENGINEER CIVILIAN SPACES
TO MAKESHIFT HOSPITALS.
I'M WONDERING PRACTICALLY WHAT 
WE COULD SEE IF THE HELP FOR 
PROVINCES CAME.
>> Answer: SPEAKING WITH 
SECRETARY ESPER ON A NUMBER OF 
THE LAST FEW DAYS ON WHAT 
THEY'VE BEEN DOING, BUT IT'S 
ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND, EVERY 
SITUATION IS GOING TO BE VERY 
DIFFERENT HERE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MAKING SURE 
THAT WE HAVE A FORCE THAT WE'RE 
ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE VARIOUS 
NEEDS.
WE ARE THE LAST RESORT WHEN IT 
COMES TO PROVIDING SUPPORT.
SO THE COMPOSITION THAT WE HAVE 
CREATED AND THE PRIORITIES THAT 
WE HAVE SET OUT IS MAKING SURE 
WE ARE FLEXIBLE AND MAKING SURE 
WE CAN RESPOND DIRECTLY, WHETHER
THERE IS A SURGE IN THE NEED, 
WHETHER IT'S A NORTHERN 
COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS DIRECT 
SUPPORT, WHETHER IT'S A 
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.
SO THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF 
SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS THE CANADIAN
ARMED FORCES TO RESPOND.
THE CHIEF IS GOING TO GO INTO A 
FEW DETAILS OF IT, BUT JUST KEEP
IN MIND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO 
RESPOND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH 
PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE 
NORTH AND THE ARCTIC.
CHIEF.
>> THANKS, MINISTER.
IF I COULD START OFF, I WOULD 
LIKE TO SAY AND OFFER 
CONDOLENCES TO PEOPLE SUFFERING.
ON BEHALF OF THE ARMED FORCES, 
IT'S A TOUGH TIME.
WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR A LONG 
TIME FOR THIS.
WE HAVE GOOD PLANS IN PLACE.
WE HAVE THE TROOPS SEQUESTERED, 
STAYING AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE 
SO WE CAN MOUNT MANY PEOPLE IF 
WE NEED TO.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO 
RESPOND EITHER WITH SPECIALIST 
CAPABILITIES, LIKE MEDICAL, 
LOGISTICS, ENGINEERING FOR A 
SHORT-DURATION EVENT OR FOR 
LONGER-DURATION EVENTS, 
DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE 
PROVINCES.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT 
SIGNIFICANT RESPONSES.
IN THE EVENT THAT COMMUNITIES 
START TO SUFFER MULTIPLE EVENTS,
INCLUDING FLOODS, FOREST FIRES 
INSIDE A COVID ENVIRONMENT, 
WHERE THE ARMED FORCES WILL BE 
ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE NECESSARY 
SUPPORT TO CRITICAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE, LOGISTICS, AS 
WELL AS SOME MEDICAL SUPPORT.
IT'S SCALEABLE, BRUCE, DEPENDING
ON THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM.
THANK YOU.
>> BRUCE, ONE FOLLOW-UP?
OKAY.
WE'LL TURN TO THE ROOM FOR THREE
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO BACK ON 
THE PHONE.
>> Question: THIS IS A QUESTION 
FOR YOU AND MS. HAJDU IF YOU 
WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR 
THOUGHTS.
DR. TAM, A FEW DAYS AGO YOU SAID
A WELL PERSON DOES NOT NEED TO 
WEAR A MASK, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A
LOOK AT COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DONE
QUITE WELL, CHINA, TAIWAN, AND 
OTHERS, THE CULTURE IS TO WEAR 
MASKS.
IS CANADA TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO 
WEAR MASKS BECAUSE WE ARE 
WORRIED ABOUT A SHORTAGE AND WE 
WANT TO MAKE SURE DOCTORS AND 
OTHER FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS 
HAVE THEM?
>> Answer: I THINK THERE'S TWO 
SEPARATE REASONS.
FOR SURE, ABSOLUTELY, WE WANT TO
PROTECT OUR FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS.
PRIORITIZING SUPPLY IN THAT 
SETTING IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT 
AVENUES TO PROCURE.
FOR THE PUBLIC, I THINK THE 
CURRENT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE WE 
ARE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE, OF 
COURSE WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE IF WE 
FIND ANY NEW EVIDENCE, BUT I 
THINK THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IS
IF YOU ARE SICK, PUT ON A MASK 
TO PREVENT THOSE DROPLETS FROM 
FLYING IN ANY SPACE AS PERHAPS 
YOU'RE GOING TO A CLINIC OR 
HAVING TO MOVE YOURSELF AROUND 
THE COMMUNITY FOR ESSENTIAL 
NEEDS.
PUTTING A MASK ON AN 
ASYMPTOMATIC PERSON IS NOT 
BENEFICIAL OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE 
NOT INFECTED.
IF YOU HAVE A CLOSE CONTACT OF A
CASE AND UNDER CERTAIN 
CIRCUMSTANCES, ESPECIALLY -- YOU
WOULD ALSO BE IN SELF-ISOLATION 
IF YOU WERE IN CLOSE CONTACT OF 
A CASE AND YOU ALSO NEED TO MOVE
FOR ANY ESSENTIAL REASON, THAT'S
PERHAPS ANOTHER SITUATION.
WHAT WE WORRY ABOUT IS ACTUALLY 
THE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE ASPECTS 
OF WEARING MASKS, WHERE PEOPLE 
ARE NOT PROTECTING THEIR EYES OR
OTHER ASPECTS OF WHERE THE VIRUS
COULD ENTER YOUR BODY, AND THAT 
GIVES YOU A FALSE SENSE OF 
CONFIDENCE.
BUT ALSO IT INCREASES THE 
TOUCHING OF YOUR FACE IF YOU 
THINK ABOUT IT.
IF YOU'VE GOT A MASK AROUND YOUR
FACE, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T HELP 
IT BECAUSE YOU'RE TOUCHING PARTS
OF YOUR FACE.
THE OTHER THING IS THE OUTSIDE 
OF THE MASK COULD BE 
CONTAMINATED AS WELL.
THE KEY IS HAND WASHING.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU'RE 
DOING, HAND WASHING IS KEY.
EVEN IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING, WE
FIND THAT IT'S REMOVING PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT CAN 
ACTUALLY LEAD TO INFECTION.
IF PEOPLE TRY TO USE THESE 
MEASURES, THEY HAVE TO BE 
REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL AND WASH 
THEIR HANDS.
WE'RE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE 
POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
>> Question: 
[ Indiscernible ] -- EXPECT TO 
GET MORE ACCURATE TESTING.
YOU'VE SAID RIGHT NOW THAT 93 
WAS THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE DEEMED TO BE NEGATIVE.
CAN YOU TELL US THE ACCURACY OF 
THE TESTING.
AND WHAT IS THE ACCURACY LEVEL, 
IS THERE A NUMBER WE CAN KNOW?
>> Answer: THE TESTS AVAILABLE 
AT THE PRESENT TIME ARE WHAT WE 
CALL REAL-TIME P.C.R.
THEY HAVE BEEN VALIDATED BY THE 
NATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY LAB.
SO THESE TESTS ARE HIGHLY 
PERFORMING, BUT OF COURSE WHEN 
YOU'RE TAKING A SWAB OF SOMEONE,
THEN -- AND SENDING IT IN TO THE
LAB, ET CETERA, THERE'S MULTIPLE
COMPONENTS.
ONE IS YOU'VE GOT TO TEST THE 
RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME.
IF YOU TEST SOMEONE TOO EARLY, 
YOU MAY NOT ACTUALLY GET A 
POSITIVE SAMPLE, YOU MAY HAVE TO
RETEST.
THE METHODOLOGY AND HOW WELL YOU
SWAB THAT SAMPLE MAY COME INTO 
PLAY AS WELL.
THERE'S CLINICAL JUDGMENT 
WHETHER SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE 
TESTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT THE ACTUAL P.C.R. TEST IS 
VERY SPECIFIC AND IT'S QUITE 
SENSITIVE.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
>> Question: TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
TESTING, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU 
ON THE NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY IN 
ONTARIO WE'RE HEARING OF 
RATIONING OF TESTS, LONG WAITS 
TO GET RESULTS.
WE'RE HEARING THE I.C.U. NUMBERS
MAY BE UNDERREPORTED.
DOES IT CONCERN YOU THAT ONTARIO
IS TESTING PEOPLE AT A MUCH 
LOWER RATE PER 1,000 PEOPLE THAN
OTHER PROVINCES?
>> Answer: SO I THINK THE 
COLLECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL IS
TO INCREASE TESTING FOR SURE.
SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT 
WE CAN RIGHT NOW TO INCREASE THE
CAPACITY OF TESTING IN CANADA.
FOR SURE, THOUGH, IF YOU 
ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS 
OF PEOPLE TESTED PER CAPITA, 
CANADA IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PER
CAPITA TESTING COUNTRIES IN THE 
WORLD.
BUT WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE NEED
TO BE SUPPORTING JURISDICTIONS 
TO GET BEING THROUGH ANY SORT OF
RATE-LIMITING STEPS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING IN 
TERMS OF UPPING THE CAPACITIES 
OF PROVINCIAL LABS, BUT ALSO 
THESE NEW DIAGNOSTICS THAT HAVE 
BEEN MENTIONED BY MINISTER HAJDU
AND OTHERS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT THE  N.M.L. 
LOOKING AT THESE NEW TESTING 
METHODS TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE 
VALIDATED AND IF THEY ARE 
ACCURATE AND PERFORM WELL, WE 
ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THOSE.
I KNOW AUTHORITIES IN ONTARIO 
ARE TRYING VERY HARD FOR SURE TO
PROVIDE THOSE TESTS.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT 
HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS ARE 
PRIORITIZED FOR SURE.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE TESTING 
PATIENTS IN I.C.U., HOSPITAL 
PATIENTS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, ALL 
OF THOSE MUCH-HIGHER-RISK 
SITUATIONS.
PROVINCES KNOW THAT THEY ARE 
PRIORITIZING ALL OF THOSE 
OPTIONS.
>> Question: JUST TO CLARIFY, 
HOW TO NORTHERN AND FIRST 
NATIONS COMMUNITIES ASK FOR 
ASSISTANCE?
AND ALSO, IS THE ARMED FORCES 
PREPARED TO HELP NEIGHBOURHOODS 
SUCH AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN 
QUÉBEC RIGHT NOW WITH 
QUARANTINES?
>> Answer: WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE
DIRECT SUPPORT INTO NORTHERN 
COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE A VERY 
GOOD PROCESS IN PLACE.
OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS, WE'VE 
BEEN RESPONDING TO FLOODS AND 
FIRES AND EVACUATION FOR CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES, BUT THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES ARE THERE TO 
RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCIES AND 
WE HAVE CONTINGENCIES IN PLACE.
WE HAVE A GOOD PROCESS IN PLACE.
WE HAVE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 
LEADERSHIP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY THROUGH OUR CANADIAN 
RANGERS.
THROUGH THE TERRITORIES, WE'RE 
ABLE TO HAVE AN ONGOING DIALOGUE
WITH THE -- WITH PUBLIC SAFETY 
AND THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.
THIS IS NOT DONE IN A SEQUENCE.
THIS IS DONE ALL AT ONCE SO WE 
HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING EARLY 
ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE SO WE CAN 
GET READY TO RESPOND WITH THE 
RIGHT RESOURCES.
IF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ARE
NEEDED, WE CAN RESPOND.
>> Question: 
[ Indiscernible ] -- 
>> Answer: WHEN IT COMES TO 
QUARANTINE, WE HAVE TO BE 
MINDFUL THAT THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES IS PART OF THE WIDER 
GOVERNMENT RESOURCE.
WHEN IT COMES TO QUARANTINE, WE 
HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT BASED 
ON THE RIGHT EXPERT HEALTH 
ADVICE AND THE RIGHT OFFICIALS.
THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE ON 
WHAT'S ACTUALLY REQUIRED.
YES, WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT, BUT
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE 
PROVIDING THE RIGHT SUPPORT.
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IT 
COULD VARY ON VARIOUS THINGS 
THAT WE COULD PROVIDE, WHETHER 
QUARANTINE, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, 
MEDICAL SUPPORT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON EACH
UNIQUE NEED THAT'S THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT 
OUR COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND 
HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE
TO RESPOND QUICKLY AS WELL.
>> Question: MINISTER SAJJAN OR 
GENERAL VANCE.
I'M WONDERING HOW DO WE KNOW WE 
HAVE ENOUGH TROOPS TO HANDLE 
THIS SITUATION?
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'VE DONE 
BEFORE.
HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT WE 
CAN RESPOND AT THIS TIME?
>> Answer: WHEN IT COMES TO 
HISTORICALLY, THE CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE AT
TIME OF NEED.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS -- 
EVEN THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED 
TIME.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN THIS TYPE OF 
CRISIS BEFORE, BUT THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES, WITH THE 
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH, 
WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS.
BECAUSE ONE, THE FRONT-END 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO FIRST 
RESPONDERS FROM POLICE, FIRE, 
PARAMEDICS, THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES HAVE ALWAYS WORKED 
TOGETHER ON VARIOUS OTHER 
CHALLENGES.
THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.
WE WILL PUT THE SUPPORT AND WE 
HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND 
LEADERSHIP TO PLAN FOR THE LONG 
TERM.
>> Question: BECAUSE THE WORLD 
STILL GOES ON, HOW ARE WE STILL 
ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR 
INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS WHILE 
ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IS 
HAPPENING?
>> Answer: IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
KEEP IN MIND, THE REST OF THE 
WORLD IS ALSO DEALING WITH A 
COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT.
I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MY 
COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE WORLD 
AND I HAVE A NUMBER OF PHONE 
CALLS TODAY AS WELL.
WE'RE LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER 
AND LOOKING AT THE CURRENT 
MISSIONS THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER 
IT'S THE WORK THAT WE DO AT 
NATO, IN THE UKRAINE, IN THE 
MIDDLE EAST.
WE'RE MAKING MINOR ADJUSTMENTS 
BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 
ENVIRONMENT.
THE CAPACITY-BUILDING THAT WE 
USED TO DO IS NOT HAPPENING 
BECAUSE IN CERTAIN AREAS LIKE 
UKRAINE, WE CAN'T DO CAPACITY 
BUILDING FOR THIS REASON.
WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE FORCE
IS PROTECTED AS WELL.
AND WE'RE ALSO VERY MINDFUL THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT ANY ADVERSARIES
THAT MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
SITUATION.
WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT AND 
WE'RE TAKING THE RIGHT MEASURES.
THIS IS WHAT -- WHEN YOU'VE BEEN
OPERATING IN A VERY CLOSE 
MULTI-LATERAL ENVIRONMENT, 
SOMETHING THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER HAS EMPHASIZED GREATLY,
AND THROUGH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS 
WE'RE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE 
VARIOUS THREATS.
>> WE'LL TURN TO THE PHONE FOR 
THREE LAST QUESTIONS.
OPERATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE NEXT QUESTION 
IS FROM "LE DEVOIR."
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Question: MY QUESTION IS FOR 
YOU, MADAM FREELAND.
I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO 
LAST FRIDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS 
POSSIBILITY THAT THE 
UNITED STATES MIGHT DEPORT 
REFUGEES THAT WE WOULD HAVE SENT
BACK TO THEM SINCE THE BORDER IS
CLOSED TO IMMIGRANTS.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD 
GIVE US AN UPDATE AS TO THE 
URGENT DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU 
REFERRED TO.
SO DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE IN 
RELATION TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS?
DID YOU OBTAIN GUARANTEES FROM 
THE AMERICANS RELATING TO THAT?
IN TERMS OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE 
BEEN SENT BACK TO THE 
UNITED STATES AS OF THE 20th OF 
MARCH, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE 
GONE BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES OF 
ORIGIN?
>> Answer: THANK YOU VERY MUCH 
FOR YOUR QUESTION.
AS I SAID ON FRIDAY LAST, IT IS 
AN ISSUE THAT IS OF TREMENDOUS 
CONCERN TO CANADA.
MYSELF AND MINISTER BLAIR AND 
OUR AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON 
HAVE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS 
RELATING TO THAT ISSUE AND THE 
DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING.
>> Question: SO I UNDERSTAND 
THAT IT'S NOT SETTLED, BUT ARE 
YOU AWARE OF CASES WHERE PEOPLE 
WERE REALLY SENT BACK TO THE 
UNITED STATES AND THEN WERE 
SUBSEQUENTLY DEPORTED OR IS THIS
A THEORETICAL CONCERN?
>> Answer: THIS IS ONE OF THE 
QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING 
RIGHT NOW.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 
JORJE BARRERA FROM CBC.
>> Question: MINISTER FREELAND, 
THERE'S BEEN SOME FIRST NATIONS 
LEADERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE 
SOUTHERN CHIEFS ORGANIZATION IN 
MANITOBA, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE 
HUMAN DOCTORS COME IN TO HELP 
DEAL WITH THE POTENTIAL 
OUTBREAKS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
I'M JUST WONDERING HOW YOUR 
GOVERNMENT FEELS ABOUT THIS 
REQUEST.
>> Answer: OUR GOVERNMENT HAS 
EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THE 
EXCELLENCE OF THE CANADIAN 
MEDICAL SYSTEM, IN THE 
EXCELLENCE OF CANADIAN 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HEARING OVER 
THE PAST FEW DAYS A LOT FROM 
MARC MILLER, THE MINISTER 
CHARGED WITH INDIGENOUS 
SERVICES, AND HE HAS BEEN 
EMPHASIZING THE EXTENT TO WHICH 
THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE 
PARTICULAR VULNERABILITIES 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FACE.
SO I HAVE HUGE FAITH AND TRUST 
IN CANADIAN FRONTLINE MEDICAL 
WORKERS.
THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND 
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO 
THAT.
I WONDER IF DR. TAM WANTS TO SAY
ANY MORE ABOUT OUR MEDICAL 
WORKERS.
>> SO I'VE CERTAINLY WORKED VERY
CLOSELY WITH THE CHIEF MEDICAL 
OFFICER OF INDIGENOUS SERVICES 
CANADA.
IF THERE ARE ANY REQUESTS OR 
NEEDS, THERE ARE MECHANISMS IN 
PLACE.
WE ALSO HAVE MECHANISMS FOR 
MUTUAL AID BETWEEN DIFFERENT 
JURISDICTIONS.
SHOULD THAT BE REQUIRED, THAT 
CAN ALSO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH 
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF 
CANADA.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
FOLLOW-UP.
>> Question: WHAT I'M HEARING IS
THROUGH THE MUTUAL AID IT IS 
POSSIBLE TO BRING IN CUBAN 
DOCTORS IF PARTICULAR FIRST 
NATIONS WANT THAT HELP.
THERE IS REPORTS OF DOCTORS 
BEING PULLED OUT TO DEAL WITH 
OTHER REGIONS.
I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A 
POSSIBILITY ON THE TABLE RIGHT 
NOW?
>> Answer: LET ME JUST SAY AND 
BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE VERY 
CONFIDENT THAT CANADA'S 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WHICH IS 
STAFFED BY OUTSTANDING 
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, HAS 
THE CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH THIS 
EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGE.
OUR JOB AS A GOVERNMENT IS TO 
WORK VERY HARD TO PROVIDE OUR 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WITH ALL OF 
THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO TAKE 
CARE OF CANADIANS, INDIGENOUS 
AND NON-INDIGENOUS.
WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE 
PARTICULAR CHALLENGES VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES FACE.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
NEXT QUESTION ON THE PHONE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM EMILIE
BERGERON.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] YES, 
HELLO.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE 
POSSIBILITY OF RELYING ON THE 
EMERGENCIES ACT.
SEVERAL WEEKS HAVE GONE BY WHERE
ONE IS STUDYING THAT, AND I 
WONDER WHERE ONE'S THOUGHTS ARE 
IN TERMS OF USING THE 
EMERGENCIES ACT OR NOT.
>> Answer: AS THE PRIME MINISTER
SAID THE OTHER DAY, THERE IS 
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT IS 
EXCLUDED OR OFF THE TABLE AT 
THIS POINT, BUT IT'S NOT ON THE 
TABLE AT THIS POINT.
THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS ON A DAILY
BASIS WITH THE VARIOUS 
PROVINCES, AND WE ARE CONFIDENT 
THAT THE PROVINCES THROUGH THE 
TOOLS AND THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE
CARRYING OUT THEIR WORK.
I MUST UNDERSCORE THE EXCELLENT 
WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN 
QUÉBEC.
SO IT'S A TOOL THAT'S PART OF 
THE TOOLBOX, BUT IT'S NOT 
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT 
RIGHT NOW.
>> Question: THANK YOU.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBLE 
INTERVENTION OF THE ARMED 
FORCES, IS THERE AN ORDER 
FIREFIGHTER PRIORITY THAT'S BEEN
ESTABLISHED?
FOR INSTANCE, INTERVENE IN ONE 
PROVINCE FIRST RELATIVE TO 
ANOTHER?
[End of Translation]. 
>> Answer: NO, THERE IS NO 
PRIORITY SET.
THIS WILL BE BASED ON THE NEEDS 
ON THE GROUND.
THE ASSESSMENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD SYSTEM IN 
PLACE, BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS 
EXPERIENCE, TO TRIAGE THE RIGHT 
REQUESTS AND MAKING SURE THE 
RIGHT SUPPORT IS PROVIDED.
HAVING SAID THIS, WE ALSO HAD TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAN THAT 
GENERAL VANCE HAS PUT TOGETHER 
FOR THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 
ALLOWS US TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE TO
BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO MULTIPLE 
AREAS IF NEEDED.
BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO 
COMMUNITIES, WHILE AILMENT BEING
ABLE TO RESPOND TO FLOODS AND 
FIRES IF NEED BE, AND AT THE 
SAME TIME BEING ABLE TO RESPOND 
TO NORTHERN COMMUNITIES AND 
ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IF 
REQUIRED.
THERE IS NO PRIORITY PER SE, BUT
WILL BE BASED ON THE EXPERT 
ADVICE FROM OUR OFFICIALS.
>> THAT'S IT FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS OUR DAILY FEDERAL 
BRIEFING FROM CABINET MINISTERS 
AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT WE 
HADN'T HEARD YET WAS THE 
INVOLVEMENT OF CANADA'S MILITARY
INSIDE OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAD SEEN MEMOS AND REPORTS ON
HOW THEY WERE PREPARING.
WE GOT MORE DETAILS ON THAT 
TODAY.
LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUE THE
HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS," 
VASSY KAPELOS, AND DAVID 
COCHRANE.
I'LL START WITH YOU, VASSY.
UP TO 24,000 REGULAR AND RESERVE
FORCES PREPARED TO HELP IF 
NEEDED.
>> Vassy: YEAH, AS DESCRIBED BY 
THE DEFENCE MINISTER, HARJIT 
SAJJAN, ROSIE, HE BASICALLY 
TASKED THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE 
STAFF, GENERAL VANCE, TO COME UP
WITH A PLAN.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THAT 
INCLUDES, YOU'RE RIGHT, 24,000 
EITHER REGULAR OR RESERVE FORCE 
MEMBERS AT THE READY.
THAT WILL DEPEND ON -- "AT THE 
READY," WHAT I MEAN IS THAT WILL
DEPEND ON THE NEED.
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER OUTLINED
AND MINISTER SAJJAN REITERATED, 
NO PROVINCE HAS ASKED FOR HELP, 
BUT THEY ARE READY TO ASSIST.
I WILL GO OVER THE THREE AREAS 
THEY COULD BECOME INVOLVED IN.
THE FIRST IS PREVENTING THE 
SPREAD OF COVID-19.
HE SPECIFIED PEOPLE WHO COULD 
HELP IN ENGINEERING OR MEDICAL 
SUPPLIES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
SPECIALTIES IN THE ARMY THAT 
COULD BE LENT OUT TO SUPPORT IN 
THOSE TASKS.
ALSO TO SUPPORT PROVINCES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES IF THERE IS A 
NEED FOR MITIGATION, FOR 
EXAMPLE, TO HELP WITH 
COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT NEED THE 
HELP, THEN THAT WILL BE PART OF 
THE TASK AS WELL.
THE THIRD IS TO ASSIST 
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
I HEARD THE MINISTER SPECIFY THE
NORTH AND THE ARCTIC AS 
POTENTIAL FOR THAT.
WE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, A NUMBER 
OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE
NORTH ARE VERY, VERY 
UNDERSTAFFED WHEN IT COMES TO 
MEDICAL STAFF AND LOTS OF SUPPLY
ISSUES AS WELL UP THERE.
SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THERE 
IS GOING TO BE A NEED FOR THE 
MILITARY IN THAT CAPACITY AS 
WELL.
NOT A LOT OF DETAILS ABOUT HOW 
THE PROCESS WILL WORK EXACTLY, 
BUT I THINK THE MESSAGE TODAY 
SEEMED TO BE, OKAY, WE HAVE THIS
PLAN READY.
IF WE NEED TO, WE CAN RESPOND IF
WE ARE CALLED.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD 
HIGHLIGHT THAT THEY POINTED OUT 
IS THAT IF THERE ARE FLOODS, 
WHICH THAT'S THE SEASON WE'RE IN
RIGHT NOW IN A NUMBER OF PARTS 
OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING WHERE 
WE ARE, IF THERE ARE FOREST 
FIRES, A PLAN IS IN PLACE THAT 
THE MILITARY WILL STILL BE ABLE 
TO RESPOND TO THAT AND HELP IN 
THOSE EFFORTS AS WE SAW LAST 
YEAR IN BOTH INSTANCES WITH 
FIRES AND FLOODS, WHILE STILL 
BEING ABLE TO LEND THEMSELVES TO
WHERE THE NEEDS ARE TO COMBAT 
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
THAT WAS THE OVERARCHING THEME 
BEHIND TODAY.
WE WILL HAVE TO SEE THE 
THRESHOLD TO WHICH THE MILITARY 
IS APPLIED, BUT THIS WAS THE 
BROAD STROKES OF IT. 
>> Rosemary: IT'S INTERESTING 
THAT GENERAL VANCE SAID TROOPS 
HAD BEEN SEQUESTERED TO KEEP 
THEM HEALTHY.
I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF 
LEFT, DAVID.
IF YOU WANT TO WRAP-UP ON THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY QUESTION.
>> David: THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 
THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC RESPONSE 
THE GOVERNMENT HAS HAD TO 
COVID-19.
IF YOUR REVENUE DROPS BY 30%, 
YOU QUALIFY FOR A WAGE SUBSIDY 
UP TO 75% PER EMPLOYEE 
RETROACTIVE TO MARCH 15.
THERE WILL BE POST-PAYMENT 
COMPLIANCE MEASURES.
IF YOU'RE FOUND TO HAVE NOT 
NEEDED THIS OR HAD THE REVENUE 
DROP AS SEVERE A BENCHMARK, 
THERE WILL BE A REPAYMENT 
OPTION.
IF YOU'RE RIPPING OFF THE 
GOVERNMENT, THERE WILL BE 
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
IT APPLIES TO SMALL, MEDIUM, 
LARGE, NOT-FOR-PROFITS, AND 
CHARITIES.
THEY ARE PUTTING A FINANCIAL 
FLOOR UNDER EVERYBODY SO THE 
MINUTE THIS PASSES WE CAN GO 
BACK TO LIFE AND START THE 
ECONOMIC RECOVERY THEY ARE 
HOPING WILL BE THERE.
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU, DAVID, 
AND VASSY.
YOU CAN CHECK VASSY ON HER SHOW,
"POWER & POLITICS" AND DAVID 
WILL BE ON "THE NATIONAL."
A REMINDER, AS OF NOON TODAY, AN
HOUR AGO, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO 
GET ON A PLAIN OR A TRAIN WITH 
SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, YOU WILL 
BE PREVENTED FROM DOING THAT.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
STAY WITH CBC NEWS NETWORK FOR 
UP TO THE MINUTE INFORMATION AND
UPDATES SOME PROVINCIAL LEADERS 
WILL BRING YOU ALL THE LATEST 
AND THE HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO ARE
WORKING HARD TO CONTROL THE 
PANDEMIC.
I'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
TAKE CARE.
[♪♪♪]
