N
OUR WEBSITE.
WE WILL EXPECT AN UPDATE IN 15 
MINUTES' TIME.
THE REASON THE PRIME MINISTER IS
NOT ADDRESSING THE NATION 
OUTSIDE HIS HOME IS THAT HE WILL
BE INSIDE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 
AROUND 12:15 SPEAKING TO SOME 
CRITICAL WAGE SUBSIDY 
LEGISLATION.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY DAY IN OTTAWA 
AND ON PARLIAMENT HILL.
JUST OVER AN HOUR AGO, CBC NEWS 
WAS ABLE TO REPORT THAT THE 
TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT HAD, IN FACT,
REACHED A DEAL WITH OPPOSITION 
PARTIES TO PASS THE EMERGENCY 
WAGE SUBSIDY PACKAGE.
THAT VOTE WILL HAPPEN A LITTLE 
BIT LATER TODAY AS WE HEAR FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER AND LEADERS 
OF THE OPPOSITION.
LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUE 
CATHARINE CULLEN WHO BROKE THIS 
STORY ONLINE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THEY 
MANAGED TO REACH THIS AGREEMENT 
BECAUSE IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE?
>> Catherine: THIS WAS A 
NAIL-BITER FOR ANYONE FOLLOWING 
THIS CLOSELY.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT 
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
EVERYONE AGREES THIS WAGE 
SUBSIDY THAT WILL ALLOW 
CANADIANS TO RETAIN A PORTION OF
THEIR INCOME AND, THE GOVERNMENT
HOPES, KEEP THEM ATTACHED TO 
THEIR EMPLOYER AND REMAIN ON THE
PAYROLL.
WE KNOW THERE WERE NEGOTIATIONS 
GOING ON WITH ALL THE PARTIES, 
PARTICULARLY THE DISCUSSIONS 
WITH THE CONSERVATIVES SEEMED TO
BE THE LAST ONES TO REACH AN 
AGREEMENT.
BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND FROM THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES FROM THE 
LIBERALS THAT THERE IS UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO GET THIS PASSED THIS 
AFTERNOON.
IN FACT, WE EXPECT THE WHOLE 
PROCESS ONLY TO TAKE A FEW 
HOURS.
THERE WAS SOME CHANGES FROM THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES, BUT THERE IS
ANOTHER DISCUSSION THAT 
CONTINUES TO GO ON THROUGH ALL 
OF THIS.
WE HEARD ANDREW SCHEER TALK 
ABOUT IT NOT TOO LONG AGO, A 
DISCUSSION THAT'S BEEN HIVED OFF
BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME QUESTION 
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY BILL WOULD BE STOPPED 
WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE ROLE OF
PARLIAMENT.
ANDREW SCHEER SAID CLEARLY THEY 
WANT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION 
SEPARATELY AND THIS NEEDS TO BE 
FORWARD TODAY.
THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS FOR THE 
GOVERNMENT ABOUT WHY THIS WAS 
SUCH A PROCESS AND A NAIL-BITER.
OF COURSE TODAY WE ARE SEEING 
SOME DISTURBING STORIES ABOUT 
THE STATE OF SOME FACILITIES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I THINK OF ONE IN MONTREAL'S 
WEST ISLAND WHERE WE'VE HEARD OF
A COUPLE.
IT'S A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, 
SOME SENIORS THAT PASSED AWAY 
AND THE SENIORS BEING LEFT IN 
TERRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
ANOTHER STORY IN MARKHAM AREA 
AROUND TORONTO AT A FACILITY FOR
ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL 
DISABILITIES.
SOME STAFF THERE INITIALLY 
REPORTED AS A WALK-OUT.
STAFF WERE TOLD THEY COULD SELF 
QUARANTINE, BUT THERE'S NOT 
ENOUGH STAFF TO CARE.
>> Rosemary: LOTS OF CONCERN FOR
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES WHERE 
MANY, MANY DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED 
AND ALSO IN A LOCATION WHERE 
PEOPLE ARE IN A CONCENTRATED 
SPACE AND THEY CAN'T CONTAIN THE
OUTBREAK.
THE LAST TIME THE HOUSE SAT WAS 
MARCH 24, TO PASS THE CERB.
THAT STARTED TO ROLL OUT 
SEAMLESSLY BY ALL ACCOUNTS.
THIS IS A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIVE 
PACKAGE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC 
AID.
$71 BILLION IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
MAYBE WALK US THROUGH WHAT IS ON
THE TABLE NOW AND HOW THIS WILL 
HELP BUSINESSES, CATHARINE.
>> Catherine: THE IDEA IS THAT 
EMPLOYEES CAN STAY ATTACHED TO 
THEIR BUSINESSES.
THIS IS FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL 
SIZE CAN APPLY FOR THIS WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THEM MONEY,
UP TO 75% OF THE PAYROLL, AND 
THE GOVERNMENT IS ENCOURAGING 
BUSINESSES TO TOP THAT UP AND 
PAY THE FULL SALARY WITH HELP 
FROM THE GOVERNMENT, ALTHOUGH 
OFFICIALS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
IT MAY NOT BE THE CASE THAT ALL 
BUSINESSES CAN DO THAT.
THIS IS CONSIDERED BY THE 
GOVERNMENT TO BE A KEY PART OF I
WANT TO SAY KEEPING THE ECONOMY 
INTACT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S QUITE THE 
RIGHT WAY TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT 
KEEPING PEOPLE ATTACHED TO THEIR
EMPLOYERS.
WE HEARD JUSTIN TRUDEAU -- WAS 
IT EARLIER THIS WEEK?
IT'S ALL BLURRING TOGETHER.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU TALKING ABOUT 
WANTING THE ECONOMY TO COME 
ROARING BACK WHEN THIS WAS ALL 
OVER.
THAT MIGHT BE OPTIMISTIC, BUT 
CERTAINLY THE INTENT OF THIS 
WAGE SUBSIDY LEGISLATION IS TO 
TRY TO, A, KEEP PEOPLE RECEIVING
SOME KIND OF INCOME, COMPARABLE 
INCOME TO WHAT THEY'VE BEEN 
GETTING EVEN IF THEY ARE NO 
LONGER WORKING, BUT TO POSITION 
BUSINESSES TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN 
WE SEE A SLACKENING OF THESE 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING 
RESTRICTIONS.
>> Rosemary: THE CERB BECAME A 
MUCH SMALLER PORTION OF MONEY 
AND THE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM HAS
BECOME LARGER TO ENCAPSULATE 
BUSINESSES OF ALL KINDS.
AND THE GOVERNMENT LOOSENED -- 
WE SAW THEM LOOSEN THE CRITERIA 
THROUGH TIME, AS IT'S CLEAR THAT
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY CAPTURE 
EVERYBODY.
SO THEY WENT FROM HAVING TO SHOW
A 30% DROP IN REVENUE FROM MARCH
OF LAST YEAR TO NOW MAKING IT 
15% AND YOU CAN USE JANUARY, 
FEBRUARY, OR MARCH AS PROOF OF 
THAT DROP OF REVENUE.
THAT LOOSENS THE CRITERIA AND 
ALLOWS BIGGER BUSINESSES TO USE 
IT.
AIR CANADA AND WESTJET ARE GOING
TO USE IT.
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE IN 
THE HOUSE INSTEAD OF HIS DAILY 
BRIEFING AT 11:15, HE WILL 
ADDRESS CANADIANS FROM THE FLOOR
OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THE OPPOSITION LEADERS WILL ALSO
BE SPEAKING.
THEY WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE 
LEGISLATION AND MORE BROADLY TO 
THE CONCERNS THEY HAVE ABOUT HOW
THE PANDEMIC IS BEING MANAGED BY
THE GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS 
ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT ON A 
REGULAR BASIS.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE PRIME 
MINISTER IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
BECAUSE HE WAS SELF-ISOLATING 
THE LAST TIME PARLIAMENT 
RECONVENED.
AS WE WAIT TO HEAR FROM CAB 
OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS, I WANT 
TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FOR
FRONTLINE WORKERS THAT WE'RE 
TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT EVERY DAY ON
CBC.
DR. MELISSA EWAN-INNES IS A 
DR. AT THE GLENGARY HOSPITAL.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.
>> Interview: THANK YOU.
YOU TOO.
>> Rosemary: I KNOW SOMETHING 
THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND
WE HAVE HEARD THIS FROM OTHER 
NURSES AND DOCTORS ABOUT 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
YOU HAVE LAUNCHED A PETITION 
ABOUT YOUR CONCERN.
WHERE ARE THINGS NOW?
>> Interview: WE CAN SEE WE'RE 
RUNNING LOW ON PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS 
ANTICIPATED.
AT MY HOSPITAL WE'RE RUNNING LOW
ON SURGICAL MASKS, VISORS, AND 
EYE PROTECTION.
OUR PARAMEDICS DON'T HAVE ANY 
MASKS AT ALL AND OUR LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES ALSO ARE REALLY 
SHORT. 
>> Rosemary: SO WHEN YOU RAISED 
THIS WITH PROVINCIAL 
AUTHORITIES, HEALTH AUTHORITIES,
OR THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, 
WHAT IS THE RESPONSE?
>> Interview: SO WHAT THEY END 
UP TELLING US IS THAT THEY'RE 
WORKING ON IT.
ONE OF THEM SAID IT'S LIKE A 
DUCK.
WE LOOK CALM, BUT WE'RE PADDLING
MADLY UNDERNEATH.
I WAS GLAD TO SEE THEY ARE 
WORKING WITH CANADIAN BUSINESSES
TO PIVOT AND IMPORT OR GET 
DONATIONS TO TRY TO COVER THIS, 
BUT I HAVE TO SAY ON THE GROUND 
WE'RE NOT SEEING A LOT OF THE 
ACTUAL EQUIPMENT ARRIVING TO US 
AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR 
THAT.
>> Rosemary: THERE DOES SEEM TO 
BE A BIT OF A DISCONNECT BECAUSE
JUST THIS WEEK THE GOVERNMENT 
GOT MILLIONS OF MASKS, SURGICAL 
AND N95 MASKS INTO THE COUNTRY.
OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS TO BE 
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE SYSTEM 
DEPENDING ON WHO NEEDS IT.
DO YOU THINK IT HASN'T GOTTEN TO
YOU OR A LACK OF COMMUNICATION 
OF WHICH HOSPITALS ARE RUNNING 
LOW?
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROBLEM 
IS?
>> Interview: THEY HAVE STEPPED 
IT UP.
FIRST OUR HOSPITAL WAS COUNTING 
WEEKLY AND NOW THEY'RE COUNTING 
DAILY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF LAYERS.
I KNOW THAT MY HOSPITAL WON'T BE
A BIG PRIORITY BECAUSE WE'RE 
SMALL AND DON'T HAVE A LOT OF 
COVID-POSITIVE PATIENTS.
IT WILL PERCOLATE DOWN 
EVENTUALLY, BUT IF WE COULD GET 
MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT HAS
ARRIVED, WHEN AND WHERE IT'S 
GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED, THAT 
WOULD HELP US PLAN IN ADVANCE.
>> Rosemary: YOU SAID YOUR 
HOSPITAL IS SMALLER AND DOESN'T 
HAVE MANY COVID-19 PATIENTS 
RIGHT NOW.
WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS GOING 
FORWARD?
DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A 
SURGE IN YOUR HOSPITAL AND HOW 
PREPARED ARE YOU FOR THAT?
>> Interview: WE ARE EXPECTING 
IT.
OUR REGION IS IN STATE OF 
EMERGENCY.
WE KNOW THERE IS COMMUNITY 
SPREAD, SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF
TIME.
WHILE DOING OUR BEST AND WASHING
OUR HANDS AND COVERING OURSELVES
AND HOPING THAT WE WON'T GET TOO
HIGH OF VOLUMES, WE'RE ASKING 
PEOPLE TO STAY HOME AND FLATTEN 
THE CURVE IN THE MEANTIME SO WE 
DON'T HAVE TO BRACE OURSELVES 
FOR THAT RUSH.
>> Rosemary: I'VE ALSO HEARD AND
YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IT TOO ABOUT
PEOPLE STEALING STUFF FROM 
HOSPITALS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S 
HAPPENING OR IF YOU HAVE MOVED 
TO LOCK DOWN SOME OF THIS 
EQUIPMENT.
MAYBE PEOPLE IN A FEARFUL STATE 
TAKING WHAT THEY CAN GET THEIR 
HANDS ON.
>> Interview: I HAVEN'T TOUCHED 
BASE WITH THE HOSPITAL LATER 
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, BUT WE HAD 
PEOPLE STEALING HAND SANITIZER 
ON THE WALLS.
IN THOSE PLACES WHERE WE DIDN'T 
HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, THEY STOPPED 
STOCKING THEM.
THERE ISN'T HAND SANITIZER 
THERE.
AND THE MASKS AND OTHER 
EQUIPMENT ARE UNDER LOCK DOWN.
>> Rosemary: HOW WORRIED ARE YOU
ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IF YOU DON'T 
HAVE THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO 
PROTECT YOURSELF?
>> Interview: I AM CONCERNED 
BECAUSE SOME OF MY FRIENDS HAVE 
THE PERSONAL RESPIRATORS IF THEY
RUN OUT OF MASKS.
I DIDN'T GET ONE BECAUSE THEY 
RAN OUT.
I AM HOPING TO GET ONE.
IT IS NOT SAFE TO DO PROCEDURES 
KNOWING YOU COULD BE INHALING 
COVID-19.
>> Rosemary: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY 
TO CANADIANS RIGHT NOW?
IT'S THE EASTER LONG WEEKEND.
PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY 
HOME AND FOLLOW THE MESSAGES 
FROM PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO CANADIANS?
>> Interview: YES, PLEASE KEEP 
THAT UP.
I KNOW IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE YOU 
WANT TO DO EGG HUNTS AND 
EVERYTHING, BUT IF YOU CAN STAY 
THE COURSE AND ISOLATE AT HOME, 
JUST TELL YOUR FAMILY TO STAY 
HOME.
>> Rosemary: DR. MELISSA 
YUAN-INNES.
STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.
>> Interview: THANK YOU FOR 
HAVING ME.
>> Rosemary: AS WE WAIT FOR OUR 
FEDERAL UPDATE FROM CABINET 
MINISTERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS AT 11:15 TODAY, 
INSTEAD OF THE PRIME MINISTER, 
WHO WILL INSTEAD BE INSIDE THE 
HOUSE OF COMMONS AT 12:15 TO 
TALK ABOUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
LEGISLATION, I JUST WANT TO 
QUICKLY TOUCH BASE WITH MY 
COLLEAGUE KATIE SIMPSON IN 
WASHINGTON FOR AN UPDATE ON THE 
SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
KATIE, THE U.S. REPORTING MORE 
CASES THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE 
WORLD RIGHT NOW.
ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OF OPTIMISM 
OR HOPE OR THE CURVE SLOWING 
DOWN IN ANY WAY THERE?
>> Katie: THE NUMBERS OUT OF THE
UNITED STATES, ROSIE, ARE 
OBVIOUSLY STAGGERING, BUT WITHIN
THERE THERE ARE SOME LITTLE 
GLIMMERS OF HOPE, PARTICULARLY 
OUT OF NEW YORK CITY.
OF COURSE IN NEW YORK STATE 
ITSELF, THERE ARE MORE CASES 
THERE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, 
COUNTRY, STATE VERSUS COUNTRY, 
OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.
BUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR OF 
NEW YORK STATE HAS BEEN SAYING, 
ANDREW CUOMO, IS THAT THEY ARE 
STARTING TO SEE THE FLATTENING 
OF THE CURVE.
THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE LOWER 
NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.
THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE LOWERS 
NUMBERS OF PATIENTS REQUIRING 
I.C.U. SPACE AND INTUBATION.
IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS, THAT IS
A PLACE WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE 
SLOWLY STARTING TO DROP.
THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO SAYS 
PERHAPS IF THIS TREND CONTINUES 
THEY WON'T HIT THE PEAK THAT 
THEY HAD BEEN ANTICIPATING.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A SHIFTING
OF RESOURCES IN THE 
UNITED STATES.
THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK SAYING 
THEY BELIEVE THEY NOW HAVE 
ENOUGH VENTILATORS TO GET THEM 
THROUGH THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS.
THE SURGE THAT THEY WERE 
ANTICIPATING IS THERE RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC 
AND THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE 
TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.
BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THERE 
ARE SIGNS THAT PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING IS ACTUALLY STARTING 
TO WORK, AND IT'S WORKING SO 
WELL IN SOME PLACES INCLUDING 
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THEY'RE
SHIPPING VENTILATORS FROM 
CALIFORNIA, WHERE THEY SAY THEY 
DON'T HAVE THE NEED, AND ARE 
SENDING THEM TO MARYLAND.
THIS REGION IS EXPECTED TO 
BECOME A HOT SPOT.
NEW MEASURES HAVE BEEN PUT IN 
PLACE IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
GROCERY STORES HAVE BEEN -- THE 
RULES AROUND GROCERY STORES HAVE
BEEN CHANGED, YOU HAVE TO LINE 
UP OUTSIDE -- I KNOW A LOT OF 
THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN CANADA 
AS WELL.
YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK TO GO IN
THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND 
MARYLAND.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT POCKETS 
EXPECTING SURGES.
>> Rosemary: OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER
PART OF THE PANDEMIC IS COPING 
WITH THE ECONOMY AND WHEN THE 
U.S. ECONOMY STARTS TO TANK, 
THAT HAS AN EFFECT ON EVERYONE, 
PARTICULARLY ITS NEIGHBOUR.
WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT SAYING 
THESE DAYS ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE 
BACK TO WORK?
BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM LIKE HIS 
GOAL FOR THAT CHANGES PRETTY 
REGULARLY?
>> Katie: DONALD TRUMP HAS 
REPEATEDLY SAID HE WANTS TO GET 
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AS QUICKLY 
AS POSSIBLE.
HE'S CHANGED HIS TONE ON THAT.
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY WAS SOARING
BEFORE ANY OF THIS PANDEMIC 
ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES.
DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO GET BACK 
TO THAT.
IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR AND HE 
WANTS TO GET THE COUNTRY BACK UP
AND RUNNING AND THAT IS A 
PRIORITY FOR HIM.
HE'S BEEN LISTENING TO DR. BIRX 
AND DR. FAUCI WHO SAID THE VIRUS
IS GOING TO SET THE TIMELINE.
NO ONE IS GOING TO WANT TO WORK 
IF THE VIRUS IS OUT THERE.
DONALD TRUMP AT HIS NEWS 
CONFERENCE ACKNOWLEDGED IF HE 
MOVES TOO SOON, IT COULD BE BAD 
FOR THE UNITED STATES.
HE ANNOUNCED HIS TASK FORCE TO 
OPEN THE COUNTRY UP AND HOW TO 
DO THAT RESPONSE LI.
HE'S SAID THIS IS THE BIGGEST 
DECISION IN HIS LIFE ABOUT HOW 
AND WHEN TO DO THIS.
THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL DISTANCING
VOL TIRE GUIDELINES THAT ARE IN 
PLACE EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE 
MONTH.
THE BIG QUESTION IS IS THE 
PRESIDENT GOING TO EXTEND THOSE 
GUIDELINES.
HE'S DESCRIBING IT AS THE 
BIGGEST DECISION HE WILL MAKE IN
HIS LIFE.
>> Rosemary: KATIE SIMPSON 
REPORTING FROM HER HOUSE.
KATIE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
A COUPLE OF THINGS KATIE SAID 
THERE RESONATE IN THIS COUNTRY 
AS WELL.
FIRST OF ALL, THE SHIPPING OF 
EQUIPMENT WITHIN COUNTRIES TO 
HELP AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN HIT 
HEAVILY.
JUST TWO DAYS AGO ALBERTA SAID 
IT WOULD SHIP SOME VENTILATORS, 
I THINK 40 VENTILATORS, TO 
ONTARIO BECAUSE ONTARIO HAS FAR 
MORE CASES THAN ALBERTA AND 
ALBERTA IS SEEING SOME SUCCESS 
IN CONTAINING THE VIRUS.
DOUG FORD SAID THAT IS MORE THAN
WELCOME.
THERE IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN 
THE PREMIERS THAT EQUIPMENT CAN 
BE SENT OR SHARED WITH REGIONS 
WHERE THERE ARE HOT SPOTS.
THE U.S. THERE ABOVE HALF A 
MILLION CASES OF COVID-19.
JUST TO BRING YOU UP-TO-DATE ON 
THE SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY, 
WE ARE AT 22,000 CASES, AT LEAST
569 DEATHS.
THIS IS NOT ALL THE CASES OF 
COVID-19 IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE
TESTING RIGHT NOW IS FAIRLY 
LIMITED TO FRONTLINE WORKERS, 
PEOPLE SHOWING SYMPTOMS, PEOPLE 
WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM TRAVEL IN
MOST CASES, BUT MORE THAN A 
QUARTER OF THE CASES ARE NOW 
RESOLVED.
SO WHILE PEOPLE ARE DYING, AND 
MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING 
PARTICULARLY IN LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES, THERE ARE PEOPLE 
GETTING BETTER AND THAT'S 
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
AS WE HEARD FROM DR. TAM, WE 
DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE, BUT 
THERE IS STILL SOME WAY TO GO.
THIS IDEA OF WHEN RESTRICTIONS 
CAN BE LIFTED AND I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT QUÉBEC, CATHARINE, BECAUSE
WE HAVE HEARD VARIOUS THINGS 
FROM QUÉBEC ABOUT THE NOTION 
THAT THEY COULD REOPEN SCHOOL AS
SOON AS THE BEGINNING OF MAY.
THAT STRIKES ME AS VERY 
OPTIMISTIC AND I KNOW THE 
PREMIER TWEETED A LITTLE BIT 
ABOUT THAT LAST NIGHT TOO.
>> Catherine: IT DID SEEM TO BE 
PERHAPS DEFENDING OR CLARIFYING 
HIS POSITION WHEN HE FWOOETED 
LAST NIGHT SAYING ANY DECISION 
WE MAKE ABOUT COMING BACK TO 
SCHOOL WILL HAPPEN IN 
CONSULTATION WITH THE HEALTH 
AUTHORITIES.
THE PREMIER SAID THERE IS STILL 
A POSSIBILITY IN QUÉBEC OF 
GETTING STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL 
IN SOME FASHION IN THE SPRING, 
EVEN IN MAY.
THAT MAY STRIKE MANY AS A 
SURPRISE GIVEN THE STATE OF THE 
OUTBREAK IN QUÉBEC -- I HAVEN'T 
LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS RECENTLY, 
BUT CANADA'S WORST-HIT PROVINCE,
A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THE 
CASES.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME 
PARTICULARLY TROUBLING CASES, 
ONE INVOLVING THE STATE OF THE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THERE.
SO THAT DISCUSSION I THINK WILL 
BE AN ONGOING ONE.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF
OUR OFFICIALS GET ASKED ABOUT 
THAT TODAY BECAUSE THE TONE FROM
OTTAWA HAS BEEN MORE CAUTIOUS 
THAN THAT. 
>> Rosemary: OBVIOUSLY WHEN TO 
LIFT THE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE 
SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH 
OFFICIALS WILL NEED TO ADDRESS.
EVERY REGION IS AT A DIFFERENT 
PLACE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST 
COVID-19, SO THINGS MAY HAPPEN 
AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
CATHARINE, WE'LL TALK TO YOU 
AFTER THIS.
LET'S GO TO THE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER, CHRYSTIA FREELAND IN 
OTTAWA.
>> WITH THE EASTER WEEKEND 
HAVING BEGUN.
WE ALL NEED TO STAY STRONG AND 
CONTINUE PRACTISING PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
THAT'S HOW WE CAN TAKE CARE OF 
OURSELVES, OUR FAMILY, OUR 
FRIENDS, OUR NEIGHBOURS AND OUR 
WHOLE COUNTRY.
THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS WILL 
FEEL VERY DIFFERENT.
I KNOW MY FAMILY TOMORROW WILL 
BE CELEBRATING TOGETHER ON ZOOM,
BUT IT IS CRUCIAL FOR US TO 
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I KNOW THAT THIS IS
A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR.
EASTER JUST STARTED AND SAHI IS 
AROUND THE CORNER.
CANADIANS MUST CONTINUE TO 
PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING, 
STAY STRONG AND STAY AT HOME.
THIS YEAR OUR CELEBRATIONS WILL 
BE VERY DIFFERENT.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE CONTINUE
TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
BY DOING SO, WE CAN PROTECT OUR 
LOVED ONES AND OUR NEIGHBOURS.
[end of translation] CANADA'S 
CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, 
DR. THERESA TAM, DR. NJOO, PABLO
RODRIGUEZ.
DR. TAM, PLEASE.
>> BONJOUR, HELLO, EVERYONE.
I WILL BEGIN WITH THE USUAL 
UPDATE ON THE COVID-19 CASES IN 
CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 22,559 CASES, 
INCLUDING 600 DEATHS.
AGAIN, THESE NUMBERS CHANGE 
RAPIDLY OVER THE DAY AS 
PROVINCES REPORT.
FOR THE LAB TESTING, WE'VE 
COMPLETED TESTS FOR OVER 400,000
PEOPLE WITH NOW OVER 5% 
CONFIRMED POSITIVE.
AS CANADA CONTINUES TO IMPROVE 
OUR TESTING TO TRACK WHERE THE 
DISEASE IS SPREADING.
YESTERDAY I MENTIONED THAT MANY 
OF THE DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED
IN CANADA HAVE BEEN LINKED TO 
LONG-TERM CARE HOME OUTBREAKS.
WHILE WE ALL NEED TO STAY 
PHYSICALLY AWAY TO PROTECT OUR 
LOVED ONES IN THESE HIGH-RISK 
SETTINGS, WE NEED TO FIND NEW 
WAYS TO CONNECT AND SUPPORT.
CHECK TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS ARE IN
PLACE TO GET REGULAR UPDATES, TO
VOLUNTEER TO HELP FROM OUTSIDE 
OR VIRTUAL ENTERTAINMENT THAT 
CAN HELP.
I READ A QUOTE FROM MARK HILL, 
THE CHIEF OF THE SIX NATIONS 
FIRST NATION IN SASKATCHEWAN.
THE COMMUNITY IS GRIEVING THE 
LOSS OF ONE OF THEIR COMMUNITY 
MEMBERS.
HIS WORDS RESONATE.
WHEN ALL OF THIS IS OVER, WE 
WILL HOLD EACH OTHER CLOSE, BUT 
RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO SHOW 
UNIMAGINABLE STRENGTH AND MAKE 
SURE WE DO NOT LOSE ANY MORE 
LIVES.
TO SAVE LIVES, FAMILIES, 
COMMUNITIES, AND BUSINESSES 
ACROSS CANADA HAVE SHIFTED THEIR
BEHAVIOURS TO HELP BREAK THE 
CHAINS OF TRANSMISSION OF 
COVID-19.
IT IS AMAZING TO SEE GROCERY 
STORES WITH TAPE ON THE FLOOR 
MARKING THE 2-METRE SPACE AT 
WHICH PEOPLE MUST STAY APART.
SCHOOLS ARE USING TECHNOLOGY TO 
CONNECT STUDENTS BY VIRTUAL 
CLASSROOMS.
THIS LONG WEEKEND, KEEP DOING 
WHAT WE NEED TO CRUSH THE 
EPIDEMIC CURVE.
STAY HOME AND FIND WAYS TO 
CONNECT VIRTUALLY SUCH AS 
PLAYING A BOARD GAME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. TAM 
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] NOW WE WILL HEAR 
FROM DR. NJOO.
>> HELLO, I WILL BEGIN WITH AN 
UPDATE ON THE NUMBER OF 
COVID-19, THERE ARE 22,559 CASES
OF COVID-19 IN CANADA, INCLUDING
600 DEATHS.
AS FOR LAB TESTING, WE HAVE 
COMPLETED TESTS FOR OVER 400,000
PEOPLE.
NOW OVER HERE 5% HAVE BEEN 
CONFIRMED POSITIVE.
CANADA CONTINUES TO IMPROVE 
TESTING TO TRACK WHERE THE 
DISEASE IS SPREADING.
YESTERDAY WE MENTIONED THAT MANY
OF THE DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED
IN CANADA HAVE BEEN LINKED TO 
LONG-TERM CARE OUTBREAKS.
WHILE WE ALL NEED TO STAY 
PHYSICALLY AWAY TO PROTECT OUR 
LOVED ONES IN THESE SETTINGS, WE
WILL NEED TO FIND NEW WAYS TO 
CONNECT AND SUPPORT.
LET'S FIND OUT WHAT OPTIONS ARE 
AVAILABLE TO GET UPDATES TO 
VOLUNTEER TO HELP FROM THE 
OUTSIDE OR TO GIVE SUPPORT AND 
SUPPLIES.
MARK HILL, ELECTED CHIEF OF THE 
SIX NATIONS GRAND RIVER RESERVE 
IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO RECENTLY
LOST A MEMBER OF HIS COMMUNITY.
HE SAID YESTERDAY, WHEN THIS IS 
ALL OVER, WE WILL HOLD EACH 
OTHER CLOSE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE 
NEED TO SHOW UNIMAGINABLE 
STRENGTH AND DO EVERYTHING IN 
OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT
LOSE ANY LIVES.
TO SAVE LIVES, FAMILIES AND 
COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES 
ACROSS CANADA HAVE SHIFTED THEIR
BEHAVIOURS TO BREAK THE 
TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19.
IT IS AMAZING TO SEE GROCERY 
STORES WITH TAPE ON THE FLOORS 
TO MARK THE 2-METRE SPACE OF 
WHICH PEOPLE MUST STAY APART.
SCHOOLS ARE USING TECHNOLOGY TO 
CONNECT WITH STUDENTS BY A 
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM.
THIS LONG WEEKEND, LET'S KEEP 
DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO 
CRUSH THE EPIDEMIC CURVE.
STAY HOME AND FIND WAYS TO STAY 
IN TOUCH VIRTUALLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, PLAY A BOARD GAME 
WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ONLINE.
TAKE UP OUR CALL # 
staycationforthenation.
>> NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT LEADER IN THE HOUSE.
[end of translation]. 
>> OUR GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED 
BY DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN AND
LEGISLATION THAT MATCHES THE 
COUNTRY'S NEEDS.
WE HAVE COME FORWARD WITH A PLAN
FOR A WAGE SUBSIDY TO KEEP 
WORKERS CONNECTED TO THEIR JOBS.
TODAY THE HOUSE HAS BEEN 
RECALLED SO THE M.P.s CAN 
CONSIDER AND PASS THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] EARLIER THIS WEEK, 
ON MONDAY, I SENT DRAFT 
LEGISLATION OF THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
BILL TO OPPOSITION PARTIES.
THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW 
IMPORTANT COLLABORATION IS FOR 
US, COLLABORATION AND TEAM-WORK.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN IN TALKS 
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
EACH PARTY HAS VIEWS ON THE BEST
WAYS TO PROTECT CANADIANS, BUT 
WE ALL AGREE ON ONE THING, 
ACTING NOW IS ESSENTIAL.
WE MUST SUPPORT CANADIANS AND WE
WILL.
[end of translation] PARLIAMENT 
MET PREVIOUSLY TO PASS 
LEGISLATION TO HELP CANADIANS 
AFFECTED BY COVID-19.
THIS WILL BE DONE AGAIN TODAY.
ALL PARTIES IN THE HOUSE HAVE 
SETTLED ON THE WAGE SUBSIDY BILL
AND THIS SHOWS THE SUCCESS OF 
COLLABORATION.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, AS WE MOVE 
FORWARD DURING THE COVID-19 
CRISIS, OUR GOVERNMENT HAS 
FIRMLY COMMITTED TO PARLIAMENT 
ACCOUNTABILITY.
[SpeakinFrench] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE HEALTH AND 
FINANCE COMMITTEES ARE MEETING 
REGULARLY VIA TELECONFERENCE AND
THIS ALLOWS COMMITTEES TO HOLD 
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR 
ITS DECISIONS THROUGHOUT THE 
COVID-19 SITUATION.
I ALSO WROTE TO THE HOUSE 
SPEAKER TO ASK HIM TO LOOK INTO 
WAYS THAT WE CAN INNOVATE AND 
HOLD HOUSE OF COMMONS 
DELIBERATIONS IN NEW AND 
DIFFERENT WAYS, WHICH MIGHT 
INCLUDE VIRTUAL SESSIONS.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS GOT BACK TO ME VERY 
QUICKLY, SAYING THAT HIS TEAM 
HAD STARTED TO LOOK INTO 
DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
THIS IS VERY PROMISING.
THERE ARE SOME PROMISING 
AVENUES.
AND I WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES FROM
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO JOIN US IN
THIS ONGOING REFLECTION.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS HAS A 
CRUCIAL ROLE TO PLAY.
[end of translation] THESE ARE 
TRYING TIMES FOR CANADIANS.
THEY ARE LOOKING TO 
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO WORK AS TEAM
CANADA TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
WE WILL WORK ON THAT TOGETHER 
AND GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE ARE DETERMINED.
WE ARE WORKING AS A TEAM.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS 
TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PABLO.
[end of translation] BILL, 
PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING 
HERE THIS MORNING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WISH 
EVERYBODY WHO IS CELEBRATING 
WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN PERSON OR
VIRTUALLY A HAPPY HOLIDAY 
WEEKEND.
I'M VERY GLAD WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
RECONVENE PARLIAMENT TODAY IN 
ORDER TO PASS THIS EMERGENCY 
LEGISLATION.
CANADIANS HAVE COME TOGETHER IN 
EXTRAORDINARY WAYS TO SAVE LIVES
AND TO STOP THE SPREAD OF 
COVID-19, BUT AS YOU KNOW THIS 
HAS A REAL IMPACT ON OUR 
ECONOMY.
FROM THE START WE HAVE BEEN 
CLEAR THAT OUR APPROACH IS 
FIRMLY FOCUSED ON PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO 
CANADIAN WORKERS AND BUSINESSES 
THROUGHOUT THIS CRISIS.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE, LIKE 
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, FOR HOURS
EACH DAY, HEARING FROM BUSINESS 
LEADERS, UNION LEADERS, AND 
INTERESTED CANADIANS ABOUT HOW 
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS 
ARE HELPING CANADIANS TO GET 
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE 
PROGRAMS ARE SIMPLE AND EASY TO 
USE, FLEXIBLE TO THE NEEDS OF AS
MANY CANADIANS AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE DOING THIS TO ENSURE 
CANADIANS GET THE HELP THAT THEY
NEED.
THAT INCLUDES THE BUSINESS 
OWNERS WHO CREATE JOBS AND 
PROVIDE THE GOODS AND SERVICES 
THAT WE ALL RELY ON.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] SINCE THE START, 
OUR APPROACH HAS BEEN FIRMLY 
FOCUSED ON PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO 
BUSINESS LEADERS AND CANADIANS 
THROUGHOUT THIS CRISIS.
EVERY DAY I SPEND MANY HOURS ON 
THE PHONE.
I SPEAK WITH MY COLLEAGUES, 
BUSINESS LEADERS AND UNION 
LEADERS.
I HAVE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE WE
ALL WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR 
PROGRAMS WORK WELL.
WE WANT OUR PROGRAMS TO BE 
SIMPLE, EASY TO USE, AND 
FLEXIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AS
MANY CANADIANS AS POSSIBLE.
THIS APPROACH WILL ENABLE US TO 
DELIVER THE HELP THAT CANADIANS 
NEED.
[end of translation] PROPOSING 
TO SUPPORT EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE 
BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY 
COVID-19 WITH A WAGE SUBSIDY OF 
75%.
BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, AND 
CHARITIES, THEY'RE ALL ABLE TO 
APPLY FOR THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
WAGE SUBSIDY IF THEY'VE SEEN A 
15% REDUCTION IN REVENUES IN 
MARCH OR 30% REDUCTION IN 
REVENUES IN APRIL OR MAY.
BUSINESSES CAN DO THIS BY 
COMPARING THEIR REVENUES TO THE 
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR OR THE 
AVERAGE REVENUES OF JANUARY AND 
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
AND NON-PROFITS AND CHARITIES 
WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF WHETHER 
OR NOT TO INCLUDE GOVERNMENT 
CONTRIBUTIONS WHEN MAKING THEIR 
CALCULATIONS.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY WILL PROVIDE UP
TO $847 A WEEK PER EMPLOYEE FOR 
UP TO 12 WEEKS.
THIS SUPPORT SHOULD HELP 
EMPLOYERS TO KEEP THEIR 
EMPLOYEES AND, IN MANY CASES, TO
REHIRE THEM.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] TODAY I WILL TABLE 
BILL C-14, A BILL TO SUPPORT 
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
BY COVID-19.
IT IS A 75% WAGE SUBSIDY BILL.
THIS WILL HELP BUSINESSES, 
NON-PROFITS, AND CHARITIES.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IF THEY HAVE 
SEEN A 15% REVENUE LOSS THIS 
MARCH OR A 30% REVENUE LOSS IN 
APRIL OR MAY.
BUSINESSES CAN USE THE REFERENCE
PERIOD OF LAST MARCH OR JANUARY 
AND FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
NON-PROFITS OR CHARITIES WILL BE
ABLE TO INCLUDE OR NOT 
GOVERNMENT CLICKSES IN THEIR 
APPLICATIONS.
EMPLOYERS WILL BE ABLE TO 
RECEIVE UP TO $847 PER WEEK PER 
EMPLOYEE FOR UP TO 12 WEEKS.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYERS
CAN KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THE 
PAYROLL OR REHIRE EMPLOYEES.
[end of translation] OWNERS AND 
EMPLOYEES WORK TOGETHER FOR 
DECADES, SHARING IN SUCCESSES, 
SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES AND 
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IN THIS TIME OF DEEP 
UNCERTAINTY, THIS PROGRAM WILL 
PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH ASSURANCES
THAT PAYCHEQUES ARE COMING IN.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR EVERYONE TO 
WORK TOGETHER AND COME TOGETHER.
I'M CALLING ON ALL 
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO PASS THIS 
BILL SWIFTLY SO CANADIANS GET 
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED URGENTLY.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] DURING THESE VERY 
UNCERTAIN TIMES, OUR GOVERNMENT 
IS PROVIDING ASSURANCES THAT 
CHEQUES ARE ON THE WAY.
I CALL ON ALL PARLIAMENTARIANS 
TO QUICKLY ADOPT THIS BILL SO 
THAT ALL CANADIANS RECEIVE THE 
HELP THAT THEY NEED AND QUICKLY.
[end of translation] ENSURING 
ALL CANADIANS THAT ARE MAKING 
SACRIFICES TO SAVE LIVES, THAT 
WE HAVE THEIR BACKS AND THEY CAN
FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND KEEP A 
ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.
THERE CAN BE NO FURTHER DELAY.
CANADIANS ARE COUNTING ON US.
>> THANK YOU, BILL.
WE ARE READY TO ANSWER YOUR 
QUESTIONS.
>> THREE QUESTIONS ON THE PHONE,
ONE QUESTION AND ONE FOLLOW UP.
OPERATOR.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 1 IF YOU HAVE 
A QUESTION.
OUR FIRST QUESTION.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter]. 
>> Question: HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR 
MINISTERS MORNEAU AND RODRIGUEZ.
MINISTER MORNEAU, WHEN WILL THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY BE PAID OUT?
WE'VE HEARD THREE WEEKS, SIX 
WEEKS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION
REGARDING DATES?
AND, MINISTER RODRIGUEZ, WHAT'S 
IN THE BILL YOU WILL BE TABLING 
TODAY?
WHAT CONCESSIONS HAVE YOU MADE?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
QUESTION.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS URGENT.
WE NEED TO SEND OUT CHEQUES TO 
BUSINESSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 
TO HELP BUSINESSES AND THEIR 
EMPLOYEES.
THANKS TO THE BILL WE WILL BE 
TABLE TODAY, BUSINESSES WILL 
ALSO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT 
FROM BANKS AND WE SAID LAST WEEK
THAT IT MIGHT TAKE THREE TO SIX 
WEEKS FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
NOW WE'RE SAYING TWO TO FIVE 
WEEKS, BUT WE HOPE IT WILL BE 
EVEN QUICKER IF POSSIBLE.
WE ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY EVERY 
SINGLE DAY.
WE ARE WORKING HARD TO SEE JUST 
HOW SOON WE CAN GET THE MONEY 
OUT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE 
EVERYONE THAT THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
WILL BE PAID OUT IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS.
[end of translation] WE KNOW HOW
URGENT IT IS TO GET FUNDS TO 
BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN BE PAYING
THEIR EMPLOYEES.
IT'S THE REASON WHY THIS 
LEGISLATION IS SO URGENT.
WE KNOW WITH THIS LEGISLATION 
EMPLOYERS WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO 
THEIR BANKS TO GET FUNDING.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS ALLOWS US
TO MOVE FORWARD IN GETTING THE 
FUNDS OUT RAPIDLY.
A WEEK AGO WE SAID THIS WOULD 
TAKE THREE TO SIX WEEKS.
NOW THAT'S TWO TO FIVE WEEKS.
WE'RE ASPIRING TO DO THIS AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE HOPING TO BE ON THE 
SHORTER END OF THE TIME, BUT WE 
WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO 
MAKE SURE THE MONEY GETS TO 
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
>> THIS IS  -- [Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]. 
>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT CONCESSION 
BUT ABOUT TEAM-WORK.
ALL PARTIES SUPPORT THE BILL.
WE HAVE BEEN IN TALKS ALL WEEK.
WE HAVE BEEN FINDING WAYS TO 
CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE WILL BE 
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF 
COMMITTEES THAT WILL SIT DURING 
THIS TIME, INDUSTRY COMMITTEE, 
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND THE 
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AS 
WELL.
THAT COMMITTEE WILL BE TASKED 
PRIMARILY WITH STUDYING 
DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN MEET 
VIRTUALLY.
THAT COMMITTEE WILL LOOK WHAT 
OTHER COUNTRIES ARE DOING, FOR 
INSTANCE, IN ENGLAND.
THEY WILL LOOK INTO WAYS THAT 
MEMBERS CAN CONTINUE TO MEET IN 
THIS CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC.
IF THE COMMITTEE DETERMINES 
MEETING VIRTUALLY IS THE BEST 
WAY TO PROCEED, THAT'S HOW WE 
WILL PROCEED.
>> Question: FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
WHERE ARE THE NEGOTIATIONS AT AT
THIS POINT?
APRIL 20 WILL BE THE DEADLINE TO
SUSPEND THE HOUSE.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT 
WILL HAPPEN AFTER APRIL?
ALSO, DR. NJOO, IN YOUR OPINION 
FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT, IS IT 
SAFE TO HAVE MEMBERS PHYSICALLY 
SITTING IN THE HOUSE?
>> Answer: WE ARE IN CONSTANT 
COMMUNICATION WITH OUR 
COLLEAGUES AND OTHER PARTIES.
WE ARE RECALLING THE HOUSE.
SOME MEMBERS WANTED TO RECALL 
THE HOUSE FOR SEVERAL DAYS OF 
SITTING, BUT WHEN WE SIT, IT'S 
NOT JUST THE MEMBERS THAT WE 
HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
THERE ARE SECURITY AGENTS, 
TECHNICIANS, INTERPRETERS, 
POLITICAL STAFF, THOSE WHO CLEAN
THE CHAMBER, AND WE MUST 
CONSIDER ALL OF THESE PEOPLE IN 
OUR DELIBERATIONS.
>> FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT, I'D
LIKE TO REPEAT WHAT WE'VE SAID A
THOUSAND TIMES.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO 
KEEP 2 METRES APART AND PRACTICE
PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY 
SAFE.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING IS UPHELD.
FURTHERMORE, A LOT OF CLEANING 
AND SANITIZING IS CRUCIAL AS 
WELL.
>> Question: HELLO.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MINISTER 
RODRIGUEZ.
QUÉBEC MADE A SUGGESTION 
YESTERDAY.
THEY RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF 
REOPENING SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES 
AS SOON AS MAY 4.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THAT, 
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT PRIME 
MINISTER TRUDEAU SAID WE WOULD 
RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE VERY 
PROGRESSIVELY?
>> Answer: IT'S NOT UP TO ME TO 
OPINE ON DECISIONS MADE BY THE 
GOVERNMENT OF QUÉBEC.
MAYBE MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE 
TO WEIGH IN.
>> LET'S HAVE DR. NJOO ANSWER 
FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.
>> THE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND THE 
CURVE IS DIFFERENT IN EVERY 
REGION AND EVEN IN DIFFERENT 
MUNICIPALITIES.
THE GOVERNMENT OF QUÉBEC IS 
KEEPING A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THE 
SITUATION IN QUÉBEC IN EACH OF 
ITS REGIONS.
IN OTTAWA WE WITHIN THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT ARE ALWAYS STUDYING 
BEST PRACTICES AND 
EVIDENCE-BASED STUDIES WHICH 
INFORM OUR DECISION-MAKING, AND 
ALL DECISION-MAKING MUST BE 
CAUTIOUS AND JUDICIOUS.
>> Question: FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, 
ESPECIALLY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
THIS CRISIS HAS BEEN EVOLVING 
FOR WEEKS NOW.
SENIORS ARE A VERY VULNERABLE 
GROUP IN CANADA.
IS IT TIME FOR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND HELP 
PROVINCES TO BETTER HELP SENIOR 
CITIZENS?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA 
ARE PLAYING A LEADERSHIP ROLE.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ON WHICH WE SIT AS 
WELL AS OUR PROVINCIAL AND 
TERRITORIAL COUNTERPARTS.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY FOLLOWING ALL 
DEVELOPMENTS.
SENIORS AND LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES ARE ABSOLUTELY A 
PRIORITY.
IN FACT, IN OUR ADVISORY GROUP 
WE JUST DISCUSSED BEST PRACTICES
AND GUIDELINES FOR THIS 
POPULATION.
WE AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING BEST 
PRACTICES AND GUIDELINES TO THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
THEN PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
AND EVEN MUNICIPALITY S MUNICIP 
THESE GUIDELINES INTO ACTION 
BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL 
SITUATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
NEXT QUESTION.
[end of translation]. 
>> Operator: OUR NEXT QUESTION 
IS FROM MELANIE MARQUEE, "LA 
PRESSE."
GO AHEAD.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter]. 
>> Question: I HAVE A QUESTION 
FOR WHOEVER MIGHT LIKE TO 
ANSWER, EITHER MINISTER FREELAND
OR MINISTER RODRIGUEZ.
THIS MORNING WE HEARD 129 
TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS FROM 
MEXICO HAVE ARRIVED IN CANADA 
AND WERE NOT TESTED FOR 
COVID-19.
THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS FOR THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN 
AND NOT LEAVE EVERYTHING UP TO 
THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR TO 
INDUSTRY.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
QUESTION.
OUR FARMERS AND WORKERS IN THE 
AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY HAVE MADE IT 
VERY CLEAR THAT TEMPORARY 
FOREIGN WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL 
FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD 
SECURITY IN CANADA.
WE MUST ENSURE CONTINUED FOOD 
SECURITY IN CANADA, ESPECIALLY 
IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT 
ALL TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS 
ARE SUBJECT TO THE FEDERAL 
QUARANTINE ACT, AS ARE ALL 
INCOMING TRAVELLERS TO CANADA.
YESTERDAY THE RCMP MADE AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL 
WORK CLOSELY WITH ALL LOCAL 
POLICE GROUPS, INCLUDING THE 
SÛRETÉ DU QUÉBEC, QUBEC 
PROVINCIAL POLICE, THEY WILL 
WORK WITH GROUPS TO ENFORCE THE 
QUARANTINE ACT.
THE FEDERAL QUARANTINE ACT DOES 
ABSOLUTELY APPLY TO TEMPORARY 
FOREIGN WORKERS.
THAT'S ESSENTIAL.
>> Question: FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
OKAY.
SO THE TEMPORARY FOREIGN 
WORKERS, ONCE THEY ARRIVE AT A 
CANADIAN AIRPORT, ONCE THEY 
LAND, ARE THEY TESTED FOR 
COVID-19?
ARE THEY CHECKED FOR SYMPTOMS?
>> Answer: ALL INCOMING 
TRAVELLERS WHO ARRIVED IN CANADA
ARE CHECKED FOR SYMPTOMS.
IF A TRAVELLER RETURNS AND HAS 
SYMPTOMS, THAT INDIVIDUAL IS 
IMMEDIATELY QUARANTINED, BUT 
EVERYONE WHO RETURNS TO THE 
COUNTRY OR WHO ENTERS THE 
COUNTRY MUST SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14
DAYS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE 
SYMPTOMS IN THE PAST FEW DAYS 
WE'D HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE PROVINCES AS WELL AS WITH 
THE RCMP.
THE RCMP HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO 
COOPERATE AND COLLABORATE WITH 
LOCAL POLICE FORCES IN ORDER TO 
ENSURE THAT THE QUARANTINE ACT 
IS ENFORCED.
[end of translation] WHEN IT 
COMES TO TEMPORARY FOREIGN 
WORKERS, CANADIANS KNOW FROM OUR
FARMERS THAT THEIR WORK IS 
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE FOOD 
SECURITY.
THIS SEASON IS AN ESSENTIAL 
MOMENT FOR FARMERS TO BEGIN 
THEIR WORK.
TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS, LIKE 
ALL PEOPLE, CANADIAN AND 
NON-CANADIAN ALIKE, ENTERING 
CANADA FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY ARE 
SUBJECT TO MANDATORY 14-DAY 
QUARANTINE.
THE RCMP HAS ANNOUNCED, 
ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, THAT THE 
RCMP WORKING WITH LOCAL POLICE 
FORCES WOULD BE ASSISTING PUBLIC
HEALTH IN ENSURING THAT THOSE 
QUARANTINE MEASURES, WHICH ARE 
OBLIGATORY, ARE FULLY ENFORCED.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
WE'LL NOW TURN TO THE ROOM.
RACHAEL.
>> Question: RACHAEL HAINS FROM 
CTV NATIONAL NEWS.
MY QUESTIONS ARE FOR MINISTER 
FREELAND AND DR. TAM AND PERHAPS
DR. NJOO AS WELL.
BUT YOU'VE JUST BEEN SAYING IN 
RESPONSE TO MY COLLEAGUE'S 
QUESTION ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES THAT YOU WILL BE ISSUING 
GUIDELINES TO THOSE FACILITIES.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES WHERE THE STAFF WALKED OUT
IN MARKHAM.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DIRE 
CONDITIONS DESCRIBED OF 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN QUÉBEC.
ARE THESE GUIDELINES GOING TO BE
ENOUGH?
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE TO MAKE 
SURE PEOPLE KNOW THEIR LOVED 
ONES IN LONG-TERM CARE HOMES ARE
BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
>> Answer: I'LL START AND THEN 
TURN IT OVER TO DR. TAM WHO HAS 
BEEN WORKING A LOT ON THIS.
THE SITUATION IN LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES IS VERY, VERY CONCERNING, 
AND IT'S MAYBE PARTICULARLY 
CONCERNING IN THIS HOLIDAY 
WEEKEND WHEN A LOT OF US CAN'T 
SEE OUR PARENTS OR OUR 
GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
SO THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY 
IS ALTHOUGH IT IS REALLY, REALLY
HARD, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR 
NON-ESSENTIAL PEOPLE NOT TO 
ENTER THOSE LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES.
THAT IS A REAL DANGER TO THE 
PEOPLE WHO WE LOVE WHO ARE 
THERE.
WE HAVE BEEN -- WE -- IT IS 
ABSOLUTELY THE CASE THAT PEOPLE 
WHO ARE RESIDENT IN LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES ARE A PARTICULARLY 
VULNERABLE GROUP OF CANADIANS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY 
CLOSELY WITH THE PROVINCES TO 
PUT IN PLACE MEASURES TO PROTECT
THE SAFETY OF THOSE PEOPLE EVEN 
MORE.
BRITISH COLUMBIA HAS SHOWN REAL 
LEADERSHIP IN, FOR EXAMPLE, 
BANNING PEOPLE FROM WORKING IN 
MORE THAN ONE LONG-TERM CARE 
HOME AT A TIME.
AS YOU HEARD FROM DR. NJOO, IT'S
SOMETHING WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON 
AND WE WILL BE COMING OUT WITH 
GUIDELINES VERY SOON.
DR. TAM.
>> AS I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY, THIS
IS THE KEY AT-RISK POPULATION 
FOR THIS EPIDEMIC, THIS 
PANDEMIC.
SO THE GUIDELINES FOR LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES ARE PROBABLY ON OUR 
WEBSITE RIGHT NOW.
IF NOT, VERY SOON.
IT IS AN EVIDENCE-INFORMED 
GUIDANCE AND IT IS SUPPORTED BY 
ALL CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF 
HEALTH ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, 
I'LL NAME A FEW, TO ME MIGHT BE 
ONE OF THE KEY LEGACIES OF THIS 
PARTICULAR PANDEMIC, WHICH IS 
HOW DO WE ENSURE BETTER SAFETY 
AND SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS AND 
STAFF AND VISITORS IN THESE 
SETTINGS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE KEY
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GUIDANCE,
AS WE JUST SAID, INCLUDES THE 
FACT THAT VOLUNTEERS OR VISITORS
SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO 
ESSENTIAL WORK ONLY ON ESSENTIAL
IN TERMS OF, FOR EXAMPLE, 
FEEDING OR FOR VERY MUCH SOME 
COMPASSIONATE REASONS, BUT THEY 
WOULD BE VERY LIMITED FROM THAT 
PERSPECTIVE.
GIVEN THE EVIDENCE BASE ON THE 
POSSIBILITY OF TRANSMISSION FROM
ASYMPTOMATIC/PRE-SYMPTOMATIC 
PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, STAFF WHO 
MIGHT BE ENTERING FROM THE 
OUTSIDE EVEN BEFORE THEY KNOW 
THEY COULD HAVE SYMPTOMS OR 
BEING INFECTED, WE ARE 
RECOMMENDING TRAINING AND 
MONITORING THE COMPLIANCE FOR 
THE INFECTION PREVENTION CONTROL
MEASURES, WHICH INCLUDES WEARING
A MASK FOR THE DURATION OF THE 
SHIFT OR THE VISIT.
SO THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE
THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.
BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE LAYER OF 
MEASURE.
THE WHOLE WAY THAT LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES MUST SUPPORT 
SOCIAL DISTANCING, FOR EXAMPLE, 
DURING MEAL TIMES YOU CANNOT 
HAVE PEOPLE CONGREGATING.
YOU CANNOT USE COMMON ITEMS 
WITHOUT CLEANING AND PROPER 
DISINFECTING AS NEEDED.
REALLY GOOD SCREENING FOR ANY 
KINDS OF SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF 
COVID-19, WHETHER THEY BE 
VISITORS, STAFF, OR RESIDENTS.
AND AS MINISTER FREELAND HAS 
JUST SAID, ONE OF THE KEY 
RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO IDENTIFY 
STAFF WHO WORK IN MORE THAN ONE 
LOCATION AND PREVENT THIS FROM 
HAPPENING WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
I KNOW THERE ARE REALITIES AS TO
HOW THAT MIGHT ROLL OUT.
I'M REALLY HEARTENED TO SEE NOT 
JUST BRITISH COLUMBIA, BUT MANY 
OTHER PROVINCES JUST IN THE LAST
DAY OR SO ANNOUNCING SOME OF THE
STRICTER MEASURES THAT THEY'RE 
PUTTING IN PLACE TO PROTECT 
RESIDENTS OF THOSE RESIDENCES, 
OF THOSE FACILITIES.
SO THIS IS THE MOMENT TO REALLY 
STEP UP I THINK ON EVERYTHING WE
CAN DO TO PREVENT THE 
INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD IN THOSE
FACILITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> Question: I'LL JUST GO BACK 
TO MINISTER FREELAND AND DR. TAM
ON THIS AGAIN.
A LOT OF THESE GUIDELINES ARE 
BASED OFF OF THE FACT THAT 
PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO WORK 
AND WILL STILL BE IN THESE 
FACILITIES TO ACTUALLY FOLLOW 
THE GUIDELINES, BUT THAT DOESN'T
ADDRESS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE 
DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THESE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES WHERE THERE
ARE OUTBREAKS AND DOESN'T 
ADDRESS THE FACT WHERE IN DORVAL
SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WERE LEFT 
IN THEIR DIAPERS FOR DAYS OR 
AREN'T TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THAT THESE
GUIDELINES WILL BE TAKEN INTO 
EFFECT IF THERE'S NOT EVEN THE 
WORKERS THERE TO FOLLOW THEM?
>> Answer: THESE ARE INCREDIBLY 
HORRIFIC REPORTS THAT WE'VE ALL 
BEEN SEEING, REALLY 
HEART-WRENCHING SITUATIONS.
THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE COMING 
OUT, EITHER RIGHT NOW OR VERY 
SOON, ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT 
MEASURES IN HELPING TO PROTECT 
BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND 
ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE.
BOTH GROUPS ARE ENTIRELY 
DESERVING OF PROTECTION AND 
ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE IN CANADA 
NEEDS TO BE DOING MORE TO 
PROTECT THEM.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, 
DR. TAM?
>> I THINK YOU MAY HAVE SEEN 
SOME OF THE PROVINCES COMING IN 
TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO WORK IN 
THESE FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT NECESSARILY BEING PAID, FOR 
EXAMPLE.
SO SOME OF THE MEASURES, FOR 
EXAMPLE, IN B.C. IS TO ACTUALLY 
SUPPORT CARE AIDS AND OTHERS WHO
DO PROVIDE ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT 
FUNCTIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING
SUPPORTED ENOUGH TO DO SO.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE RECOMMENDATION 
TO HAVE A POSSIBLE LIMIT AND 
WORK ONLY IN A SINGLE FACILITY 
HAS REALITY CHECKS TO IT.
YOU HAVE TO PUT SUPPORTS IN 
PLACE IN ORDER FOR PEOPLE TO 
ACTUALLY FOLLOW THOSE KINDS OF 
RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT THE
PROVINCES ARE ALL VERY SEIZED 
WITH THIS ISSUE AND IT'S BOTH 
FROM A GUIDANCE AND INFECTION 
CONTROL PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO 
SUPPORT FROM AN EMPLOYMENT 
PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
ASHLEY.
>> Question: ASHLEY BURKE CBC 
NEWS.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT THESE 
LAST-MINUTE NEGOTIATIONS TO PASS
LEGISLATION DURING THIS CRISIS?
>> I'M GOING TO LET PABLO WHO 
HAS BEEN PROFOUNDLY ENGAGED IN 
THESE TALKS, HE MAY LOOK A 
LITTLE MORE TIRED TODAY THAN 
USUAL, ANSWER THAT.
>> Answer: THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE
NORMAL.
WE'RE WORKING AS TEAM CANADA AND
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT AS A 
GOVERNMENT.
WE TABLED A BILL, A VERY GOOD 
BILL.
THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY 
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE BILL 
BECAUSE IT'S FOR ALL CANADIANS.
THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS 
AROUND THE SITTING OF THE HOUSE,
THIS AND THAT.
BUT THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO 
WORK TOGETHER.
THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING 
WITH ALL THE PARTIES THROUGHOUT 
THE WEEK AND ON A REGULAR BASIS,
I HAVE TO SAY.
WE HAVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE 
ON, MAKING SURE THAT M.P.s CAN 
DO THEIR JOB, THAT PARLIAMENT 
CAN DO WHAT IT HAS TO DO, BUT 
MAYBE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE.
WE ARE ASKING CANADIANS TO BE 
CREATIVE AND TO STAY HOME.
THAT'S WHY I WROTE TO THE 
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, ASKING HIM
TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF 
VIRTUAL SITTINGS.
HE'S DOING THAT WITH HIS TEAM.
I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES FROM 
OTHER PARTIES TO WORK WITH US ON
THIS ALSO, SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE 
THINGS DIFFERENTLY A BIT SO WE 
CAN MOVE ON TOGETHER IN THIS 
DIFFERENT PERIOD OF TIME AS WE 
DO OUR JOB.
>> Question: YOU MENTIONED THERE
ARE SOME PROMISING OPTIONS ON 
THE TABLE FOR A VIRTUAL 
PARLIAMENT.
WHAT ARE THOSE OPTIONS?
WOULD YOU SAY YES TO SMALLER 
IN-PERSON SITTINGS?
WE HAVE HEARD THAT COULD TAKE UP
TO FOUR WEEKS.
>> Answer: THERE ARE SITTINGS OF
COMMITTEES.
THE COMMITTEE OF FINANCE AND 
HEALTH ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY.
WE ARE GOING TO ADD OTHER 
COMMITTEES, FOR EXAMPLE, 
INDUSTRY, HUMAN RESOURCES, 
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND ALSO 
THE PROCEDURAL COMMITTEE.
THIS ONE IS TASKED WITH 
SOMETHING EXTREMELY SPECIFIC.
THE COMMITTEE HAS TO ANALYZE HOW
WE CAN DO THIS DIFFERENTLY TO 
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS 
PANDEMIC, THE FACT THAT ON THE 
ONE HAND WE CAN'T TELL CANADIANS
TO STAY HOME BECAUSE THAT'S THE 
WAY TO FIGHT THIS AND THEN COME 
HERE EVERY DAY AND MEET.
WHEN WE COME HERE, IT'S NOT ONLY
THE M.P.s THAT COME HERE, THE 
CLEANING PEOPLE, THE SECURITY 
PEOPLE, THE TECHNICIANS, THE 
CLERKS, POLITICAL STAFF, 
INTERPRETERS.
SO IT BRINGS A LOT OF PEOPLE 
TOGETHER.
LET'S SEE IF THERE'S DIFFERENT 
WAYS TO DO THIS.
>> Question: MACKENZIE GREY FROM
CTV NEWS.
WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER 
ANNOUNCED A CHANGE TO THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, HE DISCUSSED THE IDEA 
THAT THERE WOULD BE SUPPORTS FOR
HOME CARE WORKERS WHO COULD MAKE
MORE MONEY ON THE CERB THAN 
GOING IN TO WORK.
I THINK THAT TIES INTO MY 
COLLEAGUE'S QUESTION ABOUT 
POSSIBLY STAYING AT HOME TO MAKE
MORE MONEY.
CAN YOU OUTLINE WHAT WILL BE IN 
THE BILL THAT WILL ENCOURAGE 
THOSE AT CARE HOMES TO CONTINUE 
TO GO TO WORK.
>> Answer: I THINK THE PRIME 
MINISTER IDENTIFIED CORRECTLY 
THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALL 
THE CANADIANS AND HOW WE'RE 
SUPPORTING EVERYONE.
SO IN THE WAGE SUBSIDY BILL, 
CLEARLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS 
WE'RE MAKING SURE EMPLOYERS CAN 
KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES ATTACHED TO
THEIR ENTERPRISE, BUT ALLOW THEM
TO GET FUNDS AND KEEP CONNECTED.
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT 
WILL ALLOW THOSE WHO MAY HAVE 
BEEN LAID OFF TO CONTINUE TO GET
FUNDING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP EVERY 
CANADIAN THAT FINDS THEMSELVES 
IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BECAUSE 
OF COVID-19, THAT MEANS THAT 
HOME CARE WORKERS AND ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS IN MANY CATEGORIES ARE 
PEOPLE WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO 
MAKE SURE THEY'RE CONTINUING TO 
WORK, BEING ENCOURAGED TO WORK.
THERE IS WORK THAT IS GOING ON 
RIGHT NOW THAT IS CONSIDERING 
THIS ISSUE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC 
TO RESPOND TO RIGHT NOW, BUT I 
WILL IN THE NEAR TERM HAVE 
THINGS TO RESPOND ON THAT FRONT.
>> Question: THERE IS NOTHING IN
THE BILL THAT ADDRESSES THAT 
ISSUE THE PRIME MINISTER TALKED 
ABOUT WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THE 
CHANGES TO THIS?
>> Answer: TO BE CLEAR, THE BILL
TODAY IS THE WAGE SUBSIDY BILL.
IT'S HELPING LITERALLY OF THE 19
MILLION PEOPLE WHO WORK, ROUGHLY
15 OR 14 MILLION OF THEM ARE 
ATTACHED TO EMPLOYERS.
IT'S LOOKING AT THOSE EMPLOYERS 
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY 
COVID-19.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE NEED 
TO DO.
AS YOU'VE SEEN, WE'VE BEEN 
ADDRESSING THINGS ON A DAILY 
BASIS AS WE GET THROUGH THE 
CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING.
SO THAT CONTINUES TO BE 
IMPORTANT AND WE'LL HAVE MORE TO
SAY.
[ Please Stand By ]
THAT THAT PARTICULAR LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITY.
SPEAKING OF THAT AND AS WE WAIT
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO SPEAK
AROUND 12:15 IN THE HOUSE, THESE
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE OF
PARTICULAR CONCERN, PARTICULARLY
FOR THE ELDERLY WHO ARE VERY
VULNERABLE, OBVIOUSLY IN THE
FACE OF THIS PANDEMIC, IN FACT
DR. TAM SUGGESTING THAT ONE OF
THE LEGACIES OF THE PANDEMIC MAY
BE IN TERMS OF HOW WE TREAT
PEOPLE IN LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES AND MANY FAMILIES NOW
ARE FACED WITH AN AWFULLY
DIFFICULT DECISION OF DO THEY
LEAVE PEOPLE.
OR DO THEY TAKE THEM OUT AND
TAKE CARE OF THEM THEMSELVES.
I MENTIONED EARLIER, STAFF
WALKED OUT WHEN THEY FOUND OUT
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE
CASES IN THAT HOME.
LAURA MADE THE CALL TO PULL HER
DAUGHTER EMILY OUT OF THE
RESIDENCE EARLIER THIS WEEK DUE
TO AN OUTBREAK, PARTICIPATION
FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
EMILY DEVELOPED A FEVER AND SHE
MAY BE SICK.
LAURA IS NOW CONCERNED SHE WON'T
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CARE HER
DAUGHTER NEEDS FOR LONG.
AND LAURA AND EMILY JOIN US NOW
FROM ONTARIO.
HELLO.
>> HI, HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.
>> CAN YOU SAY HI?
>> HI, EMILY.
LAURA, HOW DID YOU -- I GUESS
TELL ME HOW YOU GOT HERE.
YOU DECIDED THERE WAS NO CHOICE
FOR YOU BUT TO PULL EMILY OUT.
>> YEAH.
SO ON TUESDAY, WE GOT
NOTIFICATION THAT THERE WAS A
POSSIBLE OUTBREAK WITH A COUGH,
A FEVER AND RUNNY NOSE.
SO WE MADE THE DECISION, OUR
FAMILY MADE THE DECISION TO TAKE
EMILY OUT OF PARTICIPATION HOUSE
SO THAT WE COULD HOPEFULLY -- SO
SHE WOULDN'T GET COVID AND IF
SHE DID, THEN WE COULD CARE FOR
HER ONE ON ONE.
>> AND HOW DIFFICULT A DECISION
WAS THAT FOR YOU, BECAUSE I
IMAGINE EMILY HAD A -- HER LIFE
IS ALL IN LARGELY IN THE HOUSE,
SHE'S GOT HER ROUTINE THERE, AND
IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO TAKE ON ALL
THAT CARE NOW.
>> YEAH.
OUR HOUSE, EMILY'S BEEN LIVING
AT PARTICIPATION HOUSE FOR TWO
YEARS.
AND THE REASON WHY SHE MOVED IN
THERE WAS IT WAS GETTING HARDER
AND HARDER FOR US TO PHYSICALLY
TAKE CARE OF HER.
SO IT WAS A HARD DECISION.
BUT IT WAS ALSO AN EASY
DECISION, LIKE WE HAD TO DO IT
FOR EMILY AND THAT WAS JUST IT.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE
EQUIPMENT AN THE CARE FOR HER.
RIGHT NOW I'M ISOLATING
UPSTAIRS.
AND WITH EMILY BY ME SO I'M
DOING THE CARE ONE ON ONE FOR 24
HOURS.
>> AND WERE YOU WORKING BEFORE
THAT?
HAVE YOU HAD TO TAKE A LEAVE IN
ORDER TO PICK UP ALL THIS
ADDITIONAL CARE FOR YOUR
DAUGHTER?
>> NO.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN STAYING AT HOME
WITH EMILY, JUST BECAUSE OF THE
NATURE OF HER DISEASE, WHAT I
HAVE BEEN DOING IS A LOT OF
VOLUNTEERING.
I DO A LOT OF VOLUNTEERING IN
THE COMMUNITY AT THE CITY, AT
OUR CHILDREN'S TREATMENT CENTRE
AND OUR LOCAL SCHOOL AS WELL.
>> SO YOU DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS,
I GUESS EMILY HAD A BIT OF A
FEVER.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S DISPLAYING
ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON
RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF HER
HEALTH?
>> SO WHEN WE BROUGHT EMILY OUT
ON TUESDAY, SHE ACTUALLY HAD A
FEVER OR A LOW-GRADE FEVER OF
37.5.
AND WITH EMILY, SHE RARELY EVER
GETS SICK.
SO FOR HER TO HAVE A FEVER, EVEN
JUST A SLIGHT TEMPERATURE, MEANS
THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH
HER.
SO SHE HAD THE FEVER TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
I GAVE HER SOME TYLENOL
WEDNESDAY.
SHE FELL ASLEEP AND WOKE UP AND
THEN SHE WAS FINE.
SO I WAS JUST THINKING OH, IT'S
JUST A COLD, IT WAS JUST A COLD.
AND WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, SHE
SEEMED FINE BUT THEN THURSDAY
NIGHT IN THE MORNING AT LIKE
2:30 IN THE MORNING, SHE STARTED
SCREAMING OUT WITH A LOT OF
PAIN.
AT FIRST I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE
HAVING A SEIZURE.
I GAVE HER SEIZURE MEDICATION.
THAT DIDN'T STOP.
I WAS SO WORRIED I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT I SHOULD DO, WHERE I SHOULD
GO.
AND WE JUST KIND OF ROAD IT OUT
AND THEN AROUND 6:30 IN THE
MORNING, SHE FELL ASLEEP.
AND THEN WHEN SHE WOKE UP, SHE
DIDN'T HAVE THE FEVER.
AND SHE WAS FINE.
AND THEN WE FOUND OUT IN THE
MORNING THAT PARTICIPATION HOUSE
WAS CONFIRMED WITH COVID AND IN
TALKING TO PARTICIPATION HOUSE
AND TELLING THEM EMILY'S
SYMPTOMS, THEY AGREED THAT EMILY
MOST LIKELY DOES HAVE COVID.
>> SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND
THERE WERE ABOUT TEN RESIDENTS
THERE THAT HAD COVID AND TWO
STAFF MEMBERS.
WHAT DUNE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN STAFF WERE INFORMED AROUND
THAT?
DID PEOPLE SAY THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO WORK FROM?
WHO WAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS,
BUT WHAT I HEARD FROM ONE OF THE
SENIOR STAFF WAS THAT THEY HAD
THE MEETING AND THEY HAD TO TELL
THE STAFF AND THEN BY THE TIME
THE END OF THE MEETING, IT
WAS -- THE STAFF, THE OTHER
STAFF JUST STARTED LEAVING AND
JUST THEY JUST UP AND LEFT
EXCEPT FOR TWO SENIOR MEMBERS.
THEY WERE JUST LEFT TO THEIR OWN
TO DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS WITH
THESE VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
>> HOW IS EMILY DOING NOW?
I HAVE A SCHEDULED MEETING TO
TALK TO A NURSE ON SUNDAY, APRI 
A.M.
SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO
THAT.
PUBLIC HEALTH I HAD CALLED AND
THEY ARE ON HOLIDAY.
WE ARE IN NO-MAN'S-LAND RIGHT
NOW.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY HELP.
NO ONE IS OFFERING TO GIVE US
ANY GUIDANCE WHATSOEVER.
>> HOW IS EMILY DOING?
IS THE FEVER GONE?
ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS OR IS SHE
DOING OKAY RIGHT NOW?
>> SHE'S DOING OKAY.
IT FLUCTUATES.
LIKE RIGHT NOW SHE DOESN'T HAVE
A FEVER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LIKE
IN THE AFTERNOON SHE SEEMS TO BE
SPIKING THE FEVER AT NIGHT SHE
SEEMS TO GET MORE PAIN.
I AM TRYING TO DO THE REGIMEN
CONSISTENTLY OF TYLENOL.
AND I'VE BEEN CRUSHING THE
TYLENOL AND GIVING IT TO HER.
THE WORST IS IF LIKE WE HAVE
TO -- I HAVE TO BE WITH HER AT
NIGHT JUST TO MAKE SURE SHE
DOESN'T HAVE A SEIZURE, BECAUSE
WHEN SHE DOES GET TIRED OR HER
TEMPERATURE GOES UP, SHE IS
POTENTIAL FOR A SEIZURE.
>> SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU
CAN DO THIS IF NORMALLY SHE HAS
TWO SUPPORT WORKERS WITH HER.
OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL DO WHATEVER IT
TAKES FOR YOUR DAUGHTER BUT WHAT
DO YOU NEED?
WHAT DO YOU NEED THE GOVERNMENT
TO HEAR, WHETHER THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT OR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT?
>> THE FIRST THING IS TO HAVE
TESTING.
I'M JUST GOING ON THE ASSUMPTION
THAT SHE HAS IT.
SO WE NEED TESTING BUT I CAN'T
GO OUT AND GET TESTED.
BECAUSE EMILY CAN'T -- TO GET
HER TESTED, I HAVE TO EXPOSE MY
HUSBAND AND MY SON TO THIS IN
ORDER TO GET HER DOWNSTAIRS.
AND EVEN I CAN'T GO AND GET
TESTED BECAUSE IF I DO, I CAN'T
LEAVE EMILY BY HERSELF.
SO WE'RE STUCK UPSTAIRS HERE.
THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER
POPULATIONS THAT ARE IN THE SAME
BOAT.
I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT EMILY
HAS A FEVER OF 37.5 THAT'S NOT A
FEVER, SHE WON'T GET TESTED.
EVEN THOUGH SHE'S BEEN IN A
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY THAT HAS
CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE NEED,
LIKE, THE LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES LIKE PARTICIPATION
HOUSE, WE NEED TO HAVE THE PPES
THERE CONSTANTLY.
LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GET SICK,
THE STAFF ARE GOING TO GET
STICK.
THEY ARE GOING TO GET SICK, THEY
ARE GOING TO SPREAD IT TO THE
OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATION
BECAUSE WE NEED LIKE THE FACE
MASKS BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO
BE SALIVA, THERE'S GOING TO BE
GERMS SENDING RIGHT INTO YOUR
FACE AND A MASK, A FACE MASK
OVER THE MOUTH IS NOT GOING TO
CUT IT.
IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
>> PUBLIC HEALTH ONTARIO SAYS
THEY ARE NOT ON HOLIDAY SAY
TODAY SO THERE SHOULD BE
SOMEWHERE THERE AND SOMEONE
SHOULD BE WATCHING AND REACH OUT
TO YOU SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT
UNTIL TOMORROW.
KEEP US UP TO DATE.
I KNOW THESE ARE TRYING TIMES
AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE
DECISION YOU'VE MADE WHICH MAKES
IT EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.
>> OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY JANE HAS
REACHED OUT, AND SOMEONE IS
GOING TO HELP US WITH THE
TESTING.
>> OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
JANE THE FORMER HEALTH MINISTER
WHO'S RETURNED TO DO SOME WORK
AS A DOCTOR BECAUSE SHE IS A
TRAINED DOCTOR.
LAURA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF
ALL THIS.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE
TIME FOR IT.
AND EMILY, THANK YOU.
BYE.
>> BYE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING SO
PATIENT.
THANKS LAURA AND EMILY.
TAKE GOOD CARE.
WE ARE WISHING FOR THE BEST FOR
YOU.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS TO GET UNDERWAY, IT WILL
BE SORT OF THE REGULAR
PROCEDURAL AND POMP AND
CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THE
SPEAKERS PARADE BUT OF COURSE A
LIMITED NUMBER OF NPS INSIDE
HOUSE TO DEBATE THE WAGE SUBSIDY
LEGISLATION WHICH NOW IT APPEARS
EVERYONE HAS AGREED ON.
ALL THE PARTIES HAVE AGREED ON.
BEFORE I GET THAT COVERAGE, I
WANT TO BRING IN A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER AND HE IS A
TATTOO ARTIST AND WORKS OUT OF
HIS SHOP IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M GREAT.
THANK YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M GOOD.
SO YOU I GUESS YOU ARE NOT DOING
ANY WORK RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.
TELL ME WHAT YOUR SITUATION IS.
>> IT IS.
WE HAD A GOVERNMENT ORDER TO
CLOSE A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SO
OBVIOUSLY COMPLIED, TRY TO KEEP
EVERYBODY SAFE.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, YEAH,
THERE'S ZERO WORK GOING ON.
I DO MISS MY SHOP.
BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AS WELL.
>> DO YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES?
>> I AM MY ONLY EMPLOYEE.
I DO HAVE TWO UNDERSTUDIES
WORKING WITH ME BUT I AM A MICRO
BUSINESS.
I'M A VERY BUSINESS ARTIST, I'M
BOOKING INTO 2023 BUT RIGHT NOW
IT'S DEAD.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU?
A WAGE SUBSIDY IS NOT GOING TO
WORK.
WHAT KIND OF AID ARE YOU LOOKING
FOR OR ABLE TO GET FROM YOUR
UNDERSTANDING?
>> I'VE APPLIED TO THE CERB,
CEBA, ALSO I THINK IT'S THE
BCTRS, A RENT SUBSIDY.
BDC, THE CDEA, THE EMERGENCY
BUSINESS ACCOUNT ONE I GUESS.
SO FOR ME, THE IDEA OF A SUBSIDY
OR A WAGE SUBSIDY, YEAH, IT
DOESN'T APPLY TO ME SO I FEEL
LIKE THERE COULD BE A
POSSIBILITY OF FALLING THROUGH
THE CRACKS ON THAT ONE.
AS A MICRO BUSINESS AND I JUST
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WITH THE
GOVERNMENT'S -- AND I DO
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY ARE
DOING.
I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING
A GREAT JOB OF REALLY TRYING TO
HELP PEOPLE BUT I WANT TO
CAUTION THAT THEY DON'T FORGET
ABOUT THE SMALL GUY THAT HAS TO
SOMEHOW SURVIVE.
AND I FEEL LIKE AFTER THIS IS
ALL OVER, MANY LITTLE BUSINESSES
THAT ARE MASSAGE THERAPISTS,
HAIRDRESSER, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS,
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING
TO BE FEELING THIS AFTER THE
FACT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T
NECESSARILY THE HELP BECAUSE WE
ARE NOT A BIG BEACON OF LIGHT IN
THE CONTEXT OF WHAT CANADA IS
AND SO FORTH.
>> INITIALLY IT WAS ONLY FOR
SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSS AND
THEN THEY GREW IT BECAUSE THEY
REALED THEY NEEDED TO COVER MORE
PEOPLE.
SO THE BUSINESS LOAN PART OF IT,
THE $40,000 YOU GET ACCESS TO
MAYBE IF YOU QUALIFY, WOULD THAT
BE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO KEEP PAYING
THE RENT AND JUST MAKE SURE THE
BUSINESS IS THERE IN A FEW
MONTHS OR IS THAT NOT GOING TO
BE ENOUGH?
>> THAT WOULD GET ME THROUGH --
I FIGURE FIVE TO SIX MONTHS OF
JUST KIND OF HAVING A SURVIVAL
FUND TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WHEN
I GO BACK TO WORK THAT MY
BUSINESS IS STILL THERE.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY,
EFFORT, I LOVE MY BUSINESS, I'VE
PUT A LOT OF MONEY AND EFFORT
INTO MAKING A CLINICAL, CLEAN,
BEAUTIFUL SPOT, AND TO LOSE
THAT, AND BEYOND THAT EVEN IS
AFTER THE AFTERMATH, THERE'S A
LOAN AND A DEBT ASSOCIATED AND I
FEEL LIKE THAT'S A FOLLOW BURDEN
FOR ME TO START FROM GROUND
ZERO, HOPEFULLY STILL HAVE MY
BUSINESS BUT HAVING THAT BURDEN
OF THAT WEIGHT TO HAVE ANOTHER
LOAN, ANOTHER DEBT TO TRY AND
PAY OFF WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO
MAKE ANY MONEY RIGHT NOW.
SO I FEEL LIKE IT COULD BE A
COMPOUND PROBLEM WHERE IF I
COULD SAY ONE THING TO OUR PRIME
MINISTER, IT WOULD BE DON'T
FORGET THE SMALL, SMALL
BUSINESS, THE FIBER OF OUR
SOCIETY BUT ALLOW US TO HAVE A
SURVIVAL PLAN WHEN WE COME OUT
ON THE OTHER SIDE WE ARE NOT
BURDENED TO MAKE IT A GRANT NOT
A LOAN.
50/50, LET'S BE IN THIS
TOGETHER, LET'S MEET HALFWAY,
NOT HERE'S A NICE BIG DEBT FOR
YOU AT THE END OF IT ALL AND
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN MAKE IT BACK
AND PAY YOUR TAXES AGAIN SO
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
HAPPEN, YEAH.
>> MESSAGE RECEIVED PROBABLY
ANYWAY.
APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON AND
GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
STAY HEALTHY AND WELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
YOU PROBABLY SAW IN THE CORNER
OF YOUR SCREEN THERE THE
SPEAKERS PARADE AS THEY ENTERED
INTO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
SO WE ARE EXPECTING THIS TO --
DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW THIS
IS GOING TO UNFOLD AND HOW
QUICKLY THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AT
THIS STAGE?
>> RELATIVELY QUICKLY, I WILL
SAY.
OVER THE COURSE OF PERHAPS AN
HOUR, TWO, A LITTLE LONGER.
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO GET THE
SPECIFICS FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE
LEADER.
IN FACT I THINK WE MIGHT GET
SOME DETAILS RIGHT NOW.
>> YES, I THINK THE SPOUSE HOW
IS SPEAKER IS SPEAKING.
HERE IS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS.
>> TO SEE THE APPLICATION OF
STANDING ORDER 17 SUSPENDED FOR
THE CURRENT SITTING TO ALLOW
MEMBERS TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL
DISTANCING AND ENCOURAGE ALL
MEMBERS TO FOLLOW THIS AND OTHER
RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES
DURING TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
THEREFORE, MEMBERS TO SPEAK, AND
ADDRESS THE CHAIR MAY DO SO FROM
ANY SEAT IN THE HOUSE.
>> THE INTERPRETER:  IN ADDITION
WE WILL SUSPEND THE SITTING
EVERY 45 MINUTES FOR ONE MINUTE
TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE
SUPPORT FOR THE SITTING TO
SUBSTITUTE EACH OTHER SAFELY.
>> FINALLY I ASK THAT ALL
MEMBERS TABLING A DOCUMENT OR
MOVING A MOTION SIGN THE
DOCUMENT AND BRING IT TO THE
TABLE THEMSELVES.
>> THE INTERPRETER:  I WISH TO
INFORM THE HOUSE THAT PURSUANT
TO ORDER 283 I SENT A NOTICE
CALLING THE HOUSE TO MEET THIS
DAY AND ON THURSDAY, APRIL 9,
2020, I SENT EACH MEMBER A
MESSAGE EXPLAINING THE REASONS
FOR THIS RECALL.
I NOW LAY ON THE TABLE THE
NOTICE CALLING THE HOUSE TO
MEET.
>> GOVERNMENT HOUSE LEADER.
>> THE SPEAKER.
>> THE INTERPRETER:  MR.
SPEAKER, WE ARE GATHERED HERE
TODAY IN A TIME OF GREAT CONCERN
AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER
BEEN THROUGH BEFORE.
>> DELIVERING A MESSAGE, WE WILL
NOT LET YOU DOWN.
WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU.
WE WILL SUPPORT YOU IN THIS TIME
OF CRISIS.
SO MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE IF YOU
SEEK IT, THAT YOU WILL FIND
UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR THE
FOLLOWING MOTION.
>> THE INTERPRETER:  THAT
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STANDING
ORDER SPECIAL ORDER OR USUAL
PRACTICE OF THE HOUSE, A, THE
APPLICATION OF STANDING ORDERS
15, 17 AND 56.1 BE SUSPENDED FOR
THE CURRENT SITTING.
B, THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO
PETITIONS 431-00046 TO 431-00123
BE TABLED IMMEDIATELY AND THAT
THOSE TWO QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER
PAPER NUMBERED Q260 TO Q-308 AND
Q-310 TO Q-368 BE MADE INTO
ORDERS FOR RETURNS AND THAT THE
RETURNS BE ORDERED IMMEDIATELY.
TUESDAY MARCH 24, 2020 AND THIS
DAY SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED AS
SITTING DAYS FOR THE PURPOSES OF
STANDING ORDERS 341, 511 AND 110
AND SUBSECTION 2812 OF THE
CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE FOR
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
>> OKAY.
THIS IS THE LIBERAL HOUSE LEADER
RODRIGUEZ GOING THROUGH A LOT OF
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURAL TALK,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT BUT IN MANY
WAYS ALSO INCOMPREHENSIVEABLE TO
THE REST OF -- INCOMPREHENSIBLE
TO THE REST OF US AND CANADIANS
WHO DON'T FOLLOW IT.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE IS DOING IS
LAYING OUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO
UNFOLD TODAY AND OVER THE NEXT
FEW HOURS.
YOU CAN SEE INSIDE THE HOUSE, OF
COURSE, VERY FEW MEMBERS ARE
THERE IN THE WEST BLOCK AND THE
ONES THAT ARE THERE, FOR
INSTANCE, THE TWO MPS OVER HIS
LEFT SHOULDER, ONE FROM OTTAWA
AND ONE FROM MONTREAL ARE PEOPLE
WHO WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IN TO
PARTICIPATE IN WHAT IS APPEAR TO
HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE.
I DID SEE THE PRIME MINISTER TO
THE LEFT OF MR. RODRIGUEZ AS
WELL.
THIS WILL BE HIS FIRST TIME BACK
IN THE HOUSE IN MANY WEEKS
BECAUSE OF COURSE THE HOUSE
HASN'T BEEN SITTING BUT ALSO
BECAUSE HE WAS SELF ISOLATEING.
I'LL BRING YOU IN TO GET INTO
THE COVERAGE A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS A VERY HEAVY PROCEDURE,
NOT EVEN THING I WILL PRETEND TO
UNDERSTAND EVERY MOMENT OF.
THE THRUST OF WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN TODAY, AND WE ARE
EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER MOMENTARILY IS THE WAGE
SUBSIDY LEGISLATION WILL BECOME
LAW BY THE END OF THE DAY AND
BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO START
TAPPING INTO THAT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THEY ARE SAYING LET'S SUSPEND
THE RULES, WE ARE GOING TO DO
THINGS DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE THESE
ARE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
SOME OF THE KEY PIECES OF
INFORMATION WE HAVE GLEANED THIS
MORNING, I THINK THE THING THAT
A LOT OF CANADIANS ARE GOING TO
CARE ABOUT IF THIS IS MONEY THEY
ARE RELYING ONTO PAY THEIR BILLS
IS WHAT FINANCE MINISTER DURING
HIS CONFERENCE EARLIER, HE SAID
THIS POINT WE ARE TALKING
BETWEEN TWO TO FIVE WEEKS BEFORE
THE MONEY GOES OUT THE DOOR AND
THEY ARE HOPING THEY CAN DO THIS
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
YOU JUST HEARD RODRIGUEZ TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING
TOGETHER.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE HEARING
FROM ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES,
A VERY HEIGHTENED SENSE OF
AWARENESS THAT THEY ARE NOT
PARTICULARLY, THE CANADIANS ARE
NOT INTERESTED IN ANY SUGGESTION
THAT THERE ARE POLITICAL GAINS
BEING PLAYED RIGHT NOW, THAT
THERE'S ANY PARTISANSHIP.
AT THE SAME TIME, PARTICULARLY
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE
INTERESTED IN SHOWING CANADIANS
THEIR RELEVANCE IN ALL OF THIS,
HOW THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO
THIS DISCUSSION, THE
IMPROVEMENTS THEY HAVE SUGGESTED
TO THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
THE IMPROVEMENTS THE GOVERNMENT
HAS ACCEPTED AND THINGS THEY
STILL THINK THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD BE DOING.
THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO SHOW
THAT IT WANTS TO WORK TOGETHER
BUT THAT IT'S ALSO RESPECTING
THE IMPORTANCE OF PARLIAMENT IN
ALL OF THIS, RIGHT, THAT THERE
IS SORT OF A HEALTHY DISCUSSION
ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THESE
MEASURES ARE APPLIED TO AS MANY
CANADIANS AS POSSIBLE, ARE
HELPFUL TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE
AND THE MONEY GETS OUT THE DOOR
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> ONE OF THE CONCESSIONS
ALTHOUGH MR. RODRIGUEZ DIDN'T
WANT TO CALL IT THAT BUT ONE OF
THE COMPROMISES THE GOVERNMENT
AGREED TO IN A BID TO ALLOW FOR
MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AT A TIME
WHEN PARLIAMENT IS STILL
SUSPENDED IS THAT THREE
ADDITIONAL PARLIAMENTARY
COMMITTEES WILL BE STOOD UP TO
WORK VIRTUALLY BEYOND THE HEALTH
COMMITTEE WHICH HAD A COUPLE
MEETINGS AND THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE AND THAT WILL HELP AS
WELL.
I KNOW PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
IS NOT SOMETHING EVERYBODY IS
GLUED TO BUT THAT'S WHERE A LOT
OF DEEP SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION
AND GOVERNMENT DECISIONS HAPPEN.
AND SO IF THERE ARE NOW GOING TO
BE AS MANY AS FIVE PARLIAMENTARY
COMMITTEES WATCHING AND LOOKING
AT WHAT MEASURES ARE BEING
TAKEN, THAT WILL CERTAINLY
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS
AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY.
I'LL JUST GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THIS.
ALL THE LEADERS WILL BE GIVEN A
CHANCE TO SPEAK AND WILL
HOPEFULLY BRING THAT ALL TO YOU
OF COURSE STARTING WITH THE
PRIME MINISTER THE LEADER OF THE
OFFICIAL OPPOSITION, THE LEADER
OF THE NBP.
THE PARLIAMENTARY LEADER OF THE
GREEN PARTY HAS COME FROM THE
COAST TO BE HERE TODAY.
WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT NOT ONLY
THE BILL BUT ALSO SOME OF THE
CONCERNS THAT ANY OF THE
OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE AROUND
WHAT IS MAYBE NOT BEING DONE,
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO
BETTER.
THEN IT SHOULD MOVE INTO
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WHICH
MEANS THAT ESSENTIALLY THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS, BEFORE THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS BECOMES A COMMITTEE AND
THERE WILL BE ROUNDS OF
QUESTIONS.
WE PROBABLY WON'T COVER THAT
LIVE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
BUT WE WILL OF COURSE CONTINUE
TO MONITOR IT.
I WANTED TO MAYBE TOUCH AS WE
LISTEN AND WAIT FOR THE PRIME
MINISTER TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE
OF TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS
BECAUSE MS. FREELAND GAVE A
CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING THERE AFTER THE BLOCK
LEADER RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT IT
THIS MORNING.
>> IN A RESPONSE THE WORD THAT
CAME TO MIND IS A FRENCH WORD, A
MUSCULAR RESPONSE FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARE SAYING ANYBODY WHO
COMES INTO THE COUNTRY
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE A
CANADIAN OR TEMPORARY FOREIGN
WORKER, YOU HAVE TO
SELF QUARANTINE, SELF ISOLATE
FOR 14 DAYS.
THAT'S A REQUIREMENT NOW.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT
THAT POLICE FORCES ARE NOW
GETTING INVOLVED HERE.
THE RCMP IN ENSURING THIS TAKE S
PLACE.
ANYBODY WHO COMES IN AND IS
SYMPTOMATIC WILL IMMEDIATELY
SELF ISOLATE AND EVERYBODY IS
EXPECTED TO QUARANTINE.
THEY KNOW THE AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL, CRUCIAL
IN MANY CASES TO GETTING
CANADA'S FOOD SUPPLY INTO THE
GROCERY STORES INTO THE PLACES
WHERE CANADIANS CAN ACCESS THEM
BUT THEY KNOW THERE IS CONCERN
ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION OF
COVID-19 FROM ANYBODY COMING
FROM OUT OF COUNTRY SO TRYING TO
STRIKE THAT BALANCE TODAY.
FREELAND TALKING ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THOSING A CULTURAL
WORK -- AGRICULTURAL WORKERS BUT
ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RULES
BEING RESPECTED.
>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LONG-TERM
CARE CENTRES.
I HAD LAURA AND EMILY ON EARLIER
FROM PARTICIPATION HOUSE IN
ONTARIO WHERE THEY ARE COPING
WITH CASES OF COVID-19 AND LAURA
PULLED HER DAUGHTER OUT TO MAKE
SURE THAT SHE WAS SAFE.
BUT THE FOCUS IS ALSO, AND MORE
PARTICULARLY PERHAPS, ON
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES WITH
OLDER CANADIANS INSIDE AND
PARTICULARLY THIS CASE IN QUEBEC
WHICH WE ARE EXPECTING THE
QUEBEC PREMIER WHO IS GOING TO
TAKE THE DAY OFF TO SHOW UP AT A
PRESS CONFERENCE AT 1:00 EASTERN
TO TALK ABOUT THAT CASE WHICH IS
FAIRLY HORRIFYING.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE WAY
TO QUALIFY IT.
BUT THAT ALSO CAME UP IN THE
PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> YES AND IN FACT WE HEARD
MINISTER FREELAND SAY THE
CONDITIONS ARE HORRIFIC.
WE HAVE COVERED IT HERE AT CBC.
WE HAD AN EXCELLENT PIECE LAST
NIGHT ON THE NATIONAL.
IT CAME THROUGH FROM THE
MONTREAL GAZETTE AND I REFERENCE
THAT REPORT BECAUSE OF THE
LANGUAGE WHERE SOMEONE REFERRED
TO IT AS CONCENTRATION CAMP-LIKE
CONDITIONS WHICH IS NAUSEATING
TO SAY.
WE KNOW TWO PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN
THIS LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY,
THAT THERE ARE OTHER DEATHS
WHERE THEY ARE STILL LOOKING
INTO THE CAUSE AND THAT BY THE
DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT
WITH PEOPLE INSIDE OR STAFF
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSIDE
THEMSELVES BUT PEOPLE WERE
ESSENTIALLY PATIENTS, RESIDENTS
LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES IS THE
TERM THEY WERE USED.
THEY WERE DEHYDRATED AND LEFT IN
SOILED DIAPERS OR SHEETS FOR A
DAY IF NOT SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS ASKED
TODAY SHOULD YOU BE TAKING A
STRONGER ROLE?
DO YOU NOT NEED TO STEP IN WHEN
YOU SEE THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT
IS HAPPENING?
THE RESPONSE IS WELL, WE ARE
TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE.
THEY PUT OUT NEW GUIDELINES
TODAY.
WE HAVE SEEN IT COME OUT,
GUIDELINES THAT DETAIL ALL KINDS
OF THINGS, WHEN SCREENING IS TO
BE DONE, PROCEDURES FOR REDUCING
CONTACT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF
MEASURES, EVERYTHING FROM
CLEANING AND WHATNOT, THE
QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THAT
GOES FAR ENOUGH.
WE SHOULD SAY IN THE CASE OF
THAT ONE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY
IN MONTREAL, THE LOCAL
HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY HAS TAKEN
CONTROL OF THIS PARTICULAR
FACILITY AND ALL THE REPORTS WE
ARE GET IS THAT CONDITIONS HAVE
DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED BUT
NONETHELESS THE STORY IS
INCREDIBLY UPSETTING AND
EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT CAN
BE DONE TO PREVENT MORE
SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
>> AND OF COURSE THIS IS NOT THE
ONLY INSTANCE OF THIS.
IT STARTED EFFECTIVELY IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH AN
OUTBREAK IN A LONG-TERM CARE
CENTRE ON THE LOWER MAINLAND.
THERE'S THE TRAFFIC SITUATION
HAPPENING WHERE I'M NOT NOT
ISSUES HOW MANY DEATHS WE ARE AT
BUT A REMARKABLE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE DYING IN A SMALL
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRE.
AND SO THE IDEA THAT BETTER
GUIDELINES WOULD BE NEEDED IS
SOMETHING I THINK THAT FIRST OF
ALL THE PROVINCIAL PUBLIC HEALTH
AUTHORITIES HAVE ALL AGREED ON
BUT ONE OF THE CHANGES THEY MADE
IN B.C. WAS TO LIMIT WORKERS IN
TERMS OF HOW MANY PLACES THEY
COULD WORK, HOW MANY FACILITIES
THEY COULD GO TO.
SOMETIMES LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS
IN ORDER TO MAKE UP COMPLETE
SALARY WORK AT MULTIPLE
LOCATIONS AND OF COURSE THAT
WOULD LEAD TO THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19 SO B.C. SHUT THAT DOWN
COMPLETELY AND IS ONLY LETTING
PEOPLE WORK IN ONE LOCATION, TO
TRY AND LIMIT THAT.
OTHER PROVINCES HAVE DONE THAT
BUT SOME HAVE NOT.
>> INTERESTING TO HEAR DR. TAM
TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH
THAT BECAUSE PART OF WHAT THIS
DOES IS MAKES US REFLECT ON
WHAT'S BEING ASKED OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WORK INSIDE THESE FACILITIES
AND SHE SAID IF YOU ARE GOING TO
SAY THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD DO
YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO
SUPPORT THEM AND MY
UNDERSTANDING WAS SHE MEANT
ECONOMIC SUPPORT.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S RIGHT.
BECAUSE THEY STILL NEED TO MAKE
THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THE CHALLENGE HERE AS IT IS IN
OTHER INSTANCES IN DEALING WITH
THE PANDEMIC IS THE
JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES AROUND
THIS OBVIOUSLY HEALTHCARE
EXERCISES HEALTHCARE, MAKING
DECISIONS AROUND HEALTHCARE IS A
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION SO THE
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES WOULD BE
AS WELL.
ALL THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF
CANADA CAN DO AND ALL THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD DO IN
THIS INSTANCE IS TO PROVIDE
GUIDANCE WHICH IS WHAT THEY HAVE
DONE FOR NOW.
SO THAT ALSO A STORY WE ARE
CONTINUING TO MONITOR AND AS I
SAID, THE QUEBEC PREMIER IS
GOING TO BE PART OF THE BRIEFING
AT 1:00 WHICH GIVES YOU AN IDEA
OF HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION WAS
IN THAT ONE LONG-TERM CARE
CENTRE IN MONTREAL AND HOW
SERIOUSLY THESE THINGS HAVE TO
BE DEALT WITH QUICKLY BECAUSE
THE OTHER THING DR. TAM SAID
THAT I ALSO THOUGHT WAS
INTERESTING WAS BECAUSE OF THE
FACT THAT THIS VIRUS OBVIOUSLY,
WELL OBVIOUSLY ATTACKS PEOPLE
WHO HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS
BUT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR
SOCIETY, PARTICULARLY OLDER
CANADIANS.
ONE OF THE LEGACIES OF COVID-19
MAY BE TO MAKE SOME SUBSTANTIVE
CHANGES IN TERMS OF HOW WE TREAT
OLDER CANADIANS GOING FORWARD
AND IN THESE LONG-TERM CARE
CENTRES IT CAN'T BE JUST LIKE
THIS.
THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY TO
MOVE FORWARD AND I KNOW SO MANY
FAMILIES HAVE HAVING A HARD TIME
COPING WITH THIS.
THE PRIME MINISTER STEPPED OUT.
HE IS NOW BACK.
YOU CAN SEE HIM TO THE LEFT OF
PABLO RODRIGUEZ AND HE IS
EXPECTED TO BE THE FIRST PERSON
TO SPEAK.
LET ME JUST DIP IN TO SEE IF MRG
SOMETHING ABOUT THE BILL AT ALL.
>> FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEALING
WITH THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES
AND THE TIME PERIOD OF THE
COVID-19 SITUATION AND RECOVERY.
THAT'S IT, MR. SPEAKER.
[APPLAUSE]
 
>> THE INTERPRETER:  UNANIMOUS
CONSENT OF THE HOUSE TO MOVE THE
MOTION.
AGREED.
HEARD THE TERMS OF THE MOTION.
IS IT THE PLEASURE OF THE HOUSE
TO ADOPT THE MOTION?
CARRYIED.
PURSUANT TO ORDER MADE EARLIER
TODAY THE HOUSE WILL NOW PROCEED
TO STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS.
THE HONORABLE PRIME MINISTER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE HERE IN THIS MOMENT, IN
THIS HOUSE, AS OUR GENERATION
FACES ITS GREATEST CHALLENGE
YET.
WE ALL STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF
THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, OF ALL
THOSE CANADIANS WHO SAW OUR
NATION THROUGH DIFFICULT,
TUMULTUOUS TIMES IN OUR HISTORY.
>> THE INTERPRETER:  103 YEARS
AGO TODAY, YOUNG CANADIAN
SOLDIERS FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE
TRENCHES IN FRANCE, THOUSANDS OF
KILOMETERS FROM HOME.
THE NEXT DAY, THEY MOUNTED ON
HILL 145 AND TOOK PART IN THE
FINAL BATTLE.
TODAY ON THE EVE OF THIS SOMBER
ANNIVERSARY, WE REMEMBER THEIR
COURAGE AND SACRIFICE.
WE REMEMBER THOSE SOLDIERS WHO
SHAPED THE COUNTRY WE KNOW
TODAY.
>> 20 YEARS LATER, MANY WERE
SENT TO THE FRONT AGAIN.
ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 14,
1940, MY GRANDFATHER, THE YOUNG
NP FOR VANCOUVER NORTH, ROSE IN
HIS SEAT TO SPEAK TO THE WAR
EFFORT BUT FIRST THANKED ALL
THOSE SENIOR MEMBERS WHO ALLOWED
HIM TO SPEAK BEFORE THEM BECAUSE
HIS LEAVE FROM THE RCAF HAD
EXPIRED THAT NIGHT AND HE WAS TO
SHIP OUT SOON.
JIMMY SINCLAIR WOULD STAND THE
NEXT THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN
EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA, FAR
FROM HIS YOUNG FAMILY, FAR FROM
HIS WORK IN THIS HOUSE OF
COMMONS, AND FAR FROM HIS
CONSTITUENTS IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA.
SERVING HIS COUNTRY IN THE BEST
WAY HE KNEW HOW.
HE WOULD RETURN TO THE CHAMBER
IN EARLY 1944, A MERE FEW MONTHS
BEFORE D DAY, CONADEIANS TO
CONTINUE WITH THE SACRIFICES AND
EFFORTS REQUIRED TO WIN.
THIS IS THE YEAR WHICH WILL
DECIDE A RAPID VICTORY OR A LONG
WAR.
A YEAR WHEN OUR FIGHTING MEN
MUST BE GIVEN EVERY CONCEIVEABLE
AID AND SUPPORT AND
ENCOURAGEMENT, EVERY MAN, WOMAN
AND CHILD IN CANADA, NO MATTER
THE PERSONAL COST.
THESE WERE TRIALS THAT SHAPED
OUR COUNTRY AND MORE, OF
CITIZENS.
AND NOW, ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE
BEING TRIED.
BUT MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT A
WAR, THAT DOESN'T MAKE THIS
FIGHT ANY LESS DESTRUCTIVE, ANY
LESS DANGEROUS.
BUT THERE IS NO FRONT LINE
MARKED WITH BARBED WAR, NO
SOLDIERS TO BE DEPLOYED ACROSS
THE OCEAN, NO ENEMY COMBATANTS
TO DEFEAT.
INSTEAD, THE FRONT LINE IS
EVERYWHERE, IN OUR HOMES, IN OUR
HOSPITALS AND CARE CENTRES, IN
OUR GROCERY STORES AND
PHARMACIES, AT OUR TRUCK STOPS
AND GAS STATIONS.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THESE
PLACES ARE OUR MODERN-DAY
HEROES.
SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILY,
RISKING THEIR OWN HEALTH, THEY
HEAD TO WORK EVERY DAY SO THAT
WE CAN EAT, SO THAT WE CAN HEAL,
SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR PART.
BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF US HAS A
ROLE TO PLAY IN HELPING SHIELD
OUR COUNTRY FROM THE THREAT IT
NOW FACES.
IN HARD TIMES, COURAGE AND
STRENGTH ARE NOT DEFINED BY WHAT
WE SAY OR DO LOUDLY IN PUBLIC,
BUT BY THE ACTIONS WE TAKE
QUIETLY IN PRIVATE, LIKE STAYING
HOME.
EVEN AS WE STAND APART, WE STAND
UNITED IN OUR RESOLVE TO DO WHAT
WE MUST UNTIL COVID-19 IS
DEFEATED.
>> THE INTERPRETER:  MR.
SPEAKER, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO
ENACT THE EMERGENCY WAGE
SUBSIDY.
THIS IS THE LARGEST CANADIAN
ECONOMIC POLICY SINCE WORLD WAR
II.
THIS SUBSIDY WILL ENABLE
CANADIANS TO KEEP THEIR JOBS AND
GET A PAYCHECK DURING THIS
CRISIS.
THAT IS WHAT WE WILL BE VOTING
ON THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS SUBSIDY IS BASED ON STEPS
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO
COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF
CANADIANS LIKE LOAN GUARANTEES
TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
ONCE AGAIN, HERE IN THE HOUSE,
WE ARE CALLED UPON TO SUPPORT
THOSE IN NEED, AND I KNOW WE
WILL NOT LET THEM DOWN.
>> MR. SPEAKER, AS CANADA
CONFRONTS THIS CRISIS, WE ARE
ALL CALLED TO SERVE.
TO FIGHT FOR AND ALONGSIDE EACH
OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS, TO FIGHT
FOR SOMEONE'S MOTHER, FOR
SOMEONE'S GRANDFATHER, FOR
SOMEONE'S NEIGHBOR.
OUR JOB AS CANADIANS IS TO
UPHOLD THE DIGNITY AND SANCTITY
OF EVERY SINGLE HUMAN LIFE,
WHETHER THEY BE RICH OR POOR,
YOUNG OR OLD, AILING OR HEALTHY.
THAT IS OUR DUTY.
WITHOUT RESERVATION, WITHOUT
PAUSE, WE MUST FIGHT FOR EVERY
INCH OF GROUND AGAINST THIS
DISEASE.
WE MUST BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER
AS WE SPARE NO EFFORT TO
SAFEGUARD OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THE INTERPRETER:  OVER THE
COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, WE WILL
FACE A NUMBER OF OBSTACLES.
WE WILL GO THROUGH PERIODS OF
UNCERTAINTY, FEAR AND
UNCERTAINTY WILL CONTINUE TO BE
A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, TOGETHER, WE
WILL MOURN THE LOSS OF LOVED
ONES.
EVEN IF WE TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE
PRECAUTION, THE SITUATION MAY
GET WORSE BEFORE GETTING BETTER.
THAT IS THE SAD REALITY OUR
COUNTRY FACES.
OUR DETERMINATION TO PUT AN END
TO THIS VIRUS AND OUR COMMITMENT
TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER WILL
BE PUT TO THE TEST.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE ARE UP TO THE
CHALLENGE.
CANADIANS ARE AMONG THE MOST
FORTUNATE PEOPLE ON EARTH,
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE
YET TO OVERCOME, DESPITE THE
WRONGS WE HAVE YET TO RIGHT.
OURS IS A COUNTRY WHERE WE LOOK
OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF EACH
OTHER.
THE GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT AND
COMPASSION, THIS WAS ALIVE LONG
BEFORE THIS VIRUS REACHED OUR
SHORES, AND IT WILL SURVIVE LONG
AFTER IT'S GONE, BECAUSE IT IS
WHO WE ARE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THE INTERPRETER:  MR.
SPEAKER, OUR COUNTRY IS IN
MOURNING.
TOO MANY FAMILIES HAVE LOST A
LOVED ONE BECAUSE OF THIS
DISEASE.
ONE OF THE GREATEST CRUELTIES OF
THIS DISEASE IS THAT IT DENIES
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE
THEIR LIVES AND GRIEVE AMONG
THEIR FAMILY.
ON BEHALF OF ALL CANADIANS, I
WANT TO OFFER MY DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO HAVE
LOST SOMEONE THEY LOVE TO THIS
DISEASE.
>> HOWEVER, THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND
ALSO MARKED THE COMING OF
REBIRTH AND NEW LIFE.
EASTER IS A TIME WHERE
CHRISTIANS HONOR THE PASSION,
SACRIFICE AND RESURRECTION OF
JESUS OF NAS RHETT AND -- NAZA
ARETH AND HIS TEACHINGS OF
COMPASSION AND LOVE.
THE COVENANT OF GOD MADE WITH
THE SONS OF ABRAHAM, ISSAC AND
JACOB, SARAH, REBECCA AND LEAH
AND THE HEROISM OF MOSES WHO LED
HIS PEOPLE FROM FROM BONDAGE TO
FREEDOM.
A TIME WHEN HINDUS CELEBRATE NEW
YEAR AND THE SPRING HARVEST.
AND EVEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT
CELEBRATING, SPRING IS ALWAYS A
TIME FOR RENEWAL.
THESE MOMENT S REMIND US THAT
LOVE, COURAGE AND FORTITUDE ARE
THE ANTIDOTE TO DESPAIR.
THERE IS NO CHALLENGE WE CAN'T
OVERCOME TOGETHER.
SO LET'S MAKE A SOLEMN PROMISE
TO EACH OTHER THIS WEEK TO DO
JUST THAT.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THE INTERPRETER:  OVER THE
LONG WEEKEND, LET US MAKE A
COMMITMENT AMONG OURSELVES TO DO
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR AS
LONG AS IT TAKES.
AND HERE IN HOUSE, LET'S DO OUR
PART TO FULFILL THAT COMMITMENT.
LET'S MAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
AND COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF
THOSE IN NEED.
>> MR. SPEAKER, AS I STAND HERE
TODAY, I THINK OF THE YOUNG MEN
WHO DIED TAKING THE RISK.
I THINK OF THE GREAT ESTROGEN
RATION WHO GREW UPSIDE DOWN --
THE GREATEST GENERATION WHO DIED
DURING WORLD WAR II.
THEY SHOWED US HOW TO FIGHT FOR
WHAT WE BELIEVE AND SACRIFICE
FOR WHAT WHAT WE HOLD DEEP.
TODAY ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, THE
LAST MEMBERS OF THIS GREAT
ESTROGEN RATION LIVE IN NURSING
HOMES -- THIS
GREATEST GENERATION LIVE IN
NURSING HOMES, IN SMALL
APARTMENTS AND IN THE HOMES THEY
BUILT SO LONG AGO WITH THEIR OWN
HANDS.
THEY ARE THE ONES MOST
THREATENED BY THIS DISEASE.
THEY FOUGHT FOR US ALL THOSE
YEARS AGO.
AND TODAY WE FIGHT FOR THEM.
WE WILL SHOW OURSELVES TO BE
WORTHY THIS MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY
THEY BUILT.
AND FOR THEM, AND FOR THEIR
GRANDCHILDREN, WE WILL ENDURE,
WE WILL PERSEVERE, AND WE WILL
PREVAIL.
>> THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SPEAKER.
IT IS PERHAPS VERY FITTING THAT
WE ARE MEETING HERE ON THIS DAY,
HOLY SATURDAY.
THE DAY BETWEEN THE SADNESS OF
GOOD FRIDAY, THE DAY CHRIST
SUFFERED AND DIED FOR OUR SINS,
AND EASTER SUNDAY, THE DAY HE
ROSE AND CONQUERED DEATH.
FOR WE ARE CLEARLY IN THE MIDDLE
OF GREAT HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING,
BUT WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO LOOK
AHEAD AND HOPE.
AND TOWARDS THE END OF THE
HEALTH CRISIS WE ARE CURRENTLY
FACING.
OUR HOPE IS FOUNDED ON THE INGY
KNEWTY -- BY THE RESILIENCE OF
HUMANITY AND BY THE EXAMPLES OF
PREVIOUS THREATS WHICH WE HAVE
ALL OVERCOME.
MR. SPEAKER, THE PATH MONTH HAS
TESTED US.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO STAY AT
HOME AWAY FROM FAMILIES AND
FRIENDS.
BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES,
HOLIDAYS, RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS,
HAVE LOOKED DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE RELIED ON SKYPE OR FACE
TIME TO STAY CONNECTED INSTEAD
FAMILY DINNERS, CHURCH SERVICES
OR WEEKEND GATHERINGS.
STORES AND RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN
TOLD TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS.
AS A RESULT, ALMOST 6 MILLION
CANADIANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL
OPEN ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY
ARE GOING TO HANG ON.
>> DESPITE ALL OF OUR EFFORTS,
MORE THAN 22,000 CANADIANS HAVE
FALLEN ILL AND UNFORTUNATELY
OVER 600 CANADIANS HAVE DIED.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
WITH ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
A LOVED ONE.
IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS,
OUR ACTIONS WILL BE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
NOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS
FINALLY PRESENTED ITS
PROJECTIONS, WE KNOW WHAT TO
EXPECT.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTIVES.
AND WE MUST ACT TOGETHER AS A
NATION.
>> ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICIAL
OPPOSITION, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE CANADIANS
WHO ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.
TO THE NURSES, THE DOCTORS, THE
TRUCK DRIVERS, THE GROCERY STORE
WORKERS, CLEANERS, PHARMACISTS,
FARMERS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL
WORKERS, WE SAY THANK YOU.
TO THE PARENTS STRUGGLING WITH
SCHOOLWORK AND THEIR OWN JOBS,
WE SAY THANK YOU.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD RESPECT FOR THE
TEACHERS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED MY
LIFE, MR. SPEAKER, BUT AFTER
SPENDING THE LAST THREE WEEKS
TRYING TO KEEP MY CHILDREN UP TO
DATE WITH THEIR STUDIES, I HAVE
A NEWFOUND RESPECT AND
ADMIRATION FOR WHAT THEY DO EACH
AND EVERY DAY OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
TO THE CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES,
MOSQUES, TEMPLES, FOOD BANKS,
SHELTERS, AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS HELPING CANADIANS
DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, WE
ALSO SAY THANK YOU.
AND TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE
WORKING HARD EACH AND EVERY DAY
TO MAKE SURE THAT CANADIANS GET
THE HELP THEY URGENTLY NEED, WE
SAY THANK YOU.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THE INTERPRETER:  CANADIANS
HAVE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE SITUATION WE ARE
EXPERIENCING.
OUR ECONOMY IS AT A STANDSTILL
AND EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT
IS ANNOUNCING PROGRAMS, FUNDS
STILL AREN'T FLOWING TO
CANADIANS.
WE HAVE A DEFICIT OF
$184 BILLION.
AND YEARS OF DISCIPLINE WILL BE
NECESSARY TO GET THE CANADIAN
ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.
NEW GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
RELEASED TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
ALSO PAINT A CONCERNING PICTURE.
>> NEW GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
RELEASED TO THE HEALTH COMMITTEE
ALSO PAINT A CONCERNING PICTURE.
AS ONE REPORTER PUT IT, QUOTE,
THE DOCUMENTS SHOW A GOVERNMENT
PERSISTENTLY DOWNPLAYING THE
THREAT OF CORONAVIRUS UNTIL IT
WAS.
OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE SOUTH KOREA
AND TAIWAN RAMPED UP TESTING AND
SECURED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT EARLY
ON WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO FLATTEN
THE CURVE QUICKLY, PREVENTING
THEIR ECONOMIES FROM BEING
COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.
WE WERE TOLD FOR WEEKS THAT THE
RISK OF COVID-19 TO CANADIANS
WAS LOW.
WE NOW ASK WHY THAT RISK
ASSESSMENT SEEMED TO CHANGE
OVERNIGHT.
WHY DID THE GOVERNMENT WAIT SO
LONG TO ENFORCE TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS?
WHY WERE TRAVEL TRAVELERS NOT
ORIGINALLY SCREENED?
WHY DO WE HAVE A CRITICAL
SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL APPLIES?
WHY IS IT TAKING THE GOVERNMENT
SO LONG TO SIGN CONTRACTS WITH
COMPANIES THAT ARE OFFERING TO
PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT?
WHY ARE OTHER COUNTRIES FURTHER
AHEAD OF US WHEN IT COMES TO
TESTING AND TRACING?
THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT CANADIANS HAVE, AND THEY
DESERVE ANSWERS.
AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT MISTAKES
HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST,
CONSERVATIVES ARE FOCUSED ON
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE ON HOW
BEST TO GET CANADA THROUGH THIS
CRISIS, KEEP OUR CITIZENS
HEALTHY, AND GET OUR ECONOMY
BACK ON TRACK.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID WE NEED
TO PREPARE FOR A SECOND AND
PERHAPS A THIRD WAVE.
CANADIANS WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS
GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING TO GET
AHEAD OF THOSE WAVES.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THE INTERPRETER:  AND THIS IS
WHY THE CONSERVATIVES ARE
DEMANDING REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES
TO ASK THE PRIME MINISTER
TRUDEAU MINISTER AND THE HOUSE
OF COMMON S ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF
THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE
COVID-19 CRISIS.
WE ALSO WANT TO HOLD WEEKLY
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
WHERE NPS CAN MOVE MOTIONS, CALL
WITNESSES, AND ASK MINISTERS AND
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS QUESTIONS.
WE CANNOT MAKE FOR THIS PANDEMIC
TO END TO HOLD OUR GOVERNMENT TO
ACCOUNT.
PARLIAMENT HAS A CRUCIAL ROLE TO
PLAY RIGHT NOW.
THROUGH DEBATE, DISCUSSION, AND
REGULAR QUESTIONS FROM THE
OPPOSITION, WE WILL OBTAIN
BETTER RESULTS FOR CANADIANS.
>> PARLIAMENT HAS A VIOLATE ROLE
TO PLAY NOW -- HAS A VITAL ROLL
TO PLAY NOW.
THROUGH DEBATE AND DISCUSSION WE
WILL GET BETTER RESULTS FOR
CANADIANS.
TODAY'S EMERGENCY LEGISLATION IS
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FIRST
ANNOUNCED A 10% WAGE SUBSIDY,
CONSERVATIVES AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RAISED
CONCERNS.
OTHER COUNTRIES WERE OFFERING
FAR MORE, AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT
10% WAS JUST NOT GOING TO CUT
IT.
SO WE PUSHED FOR A SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE.
A FEW DAYS LATER, THE WAGE
SUBSIDY WAS RAISED TO 75%.
CREDIT UNIONS WEREN'T ORIGINALLY
ALLOWED TO DELIVER THE $40,000
EMERGENCY INTEREST-FREE LOANS.
THIS LEFT MANY BUSINESS OWNERS
WHO USE CREDIT UNIONS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE IN RURAL
LOCATIONS, LEFT IN THE LURCH,
MAKING ITARDER FOR THEM TO GET
THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED.
WE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO
MAKE CHANGES AND NOW CREDIT
UNIONS CAN DELIVER THESE LOANS
AS WELL.
THE NEED TO SHOW A 30% REVENUE
DECREASE TO QUALIFY FOR THE WAGE
SUBSIDY MEANT TOO MANY NEW AND
SEASONAL BUSINESSES DIDN'T
QUALIFY.
WE RAISED THIS CONCERN AND NOW
THERE IS MORE FLEXIBILITY.
AND THIS WEEK, WE ROLLED UP OUR
SLEEVES AND WORKED WITH THE
GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT
BUSINESSES HAVE THE CERTAINTY
THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR
EMPLOYEES ON THE PAYROLL.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THE INTERPRETER:  CONSERVATIV
ES HAVE BEEN PART OF TEAM CANADA
SINCE DAY ONE, OFFERING
CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS TO
IMPROVE THE GOVERNMENT'S
RESPONSE TO THIS PANDEMIC.
>> WE KNOW THERE'S STILL MORE
WORK TO DO.
CONSERVATIVES HAVE PROPOSED
MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS SUCH AS
REBATING THE GST TO SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COLLECTED
IT IN THE LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE A
MUCH-NEEDED CASH INJECTION.
WE HAVE ALSO SUGGESTED USING
LOSS OF EARNINGS, SUBSCRIPTIONS
OR ORDERS AS A WAY TO ENSURE
THAT MORE BUSINESSES QUALIFY FOR
THIS WAGE SUBSIDY.
AND WE HAVE PUT FORWARD IDEAS TO
HELP OUR ENERGY AND CHARITABLE
SECTORS LIKE INCREASING THE
CHARITABLE DONATION TAX CREDIT.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> THE INTERPRETER:  WE WANT THE
GOVERNMENT TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING
OUR SOLUTIONS SO THAT NO
CANADIANS ARE LEFT BEHIND.
THIS IS THE JOB OF TEAM CANADA.
>> WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THE
GOVERNMENT WILL LISTEN TO THE
IDEAS THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORTH
TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL CANADIANS,
MR. SPEAKER.
THAT WILL BE A TRULY TEAM CANADA
APPROACH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE HONORABLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY PAYING
TRIBUTE, RESPECTFULLY TRIBUTE,
TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE
HOUSE BUT ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO
SHOW COMPASSION FIRST AND
FOREMOST FOR SENIORS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THE DAILY
LIFE OF A SENIOR IS RIGHT NOW IN
ANY OF THE RESIDENCE MODELS THAT
WE HAVE IN QUEBEC CANADA.
THEY ARE ISOLATED FROM THEIR
LOVED ONES, THEY ARE EXPOSED TO
A DISEASE THAT COULD BE MORTAL.
WITHOUT EVEN BEING ABLE TO SEE
THEIR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN
ONE LAST TIME.
SUCH A SITUATION IS ENDLESSLY
SAD.
AND I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT
OTHER SENIORS, THOSE WHO ARE NOT
DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS,
WHO ARE SEEING THE VALUE OF
THEIR PENSION FUNDS DROPPING,
THAT ARE STILL ISOLATED OFTEN IN
REGIONS THAT ARE ALREADY
SOMEWHAT REMOTE.
THEY CAN'T SEE THEIR FAMILIES
WHO LIVE ELSEWHERE.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
THAT'S NOT THE TOPIC, BUT I ALSO
GAVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
SUGGESTIONS TO HELP THEM AS MUCH
AS WE CAN.
I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE
WORKERS WHO CANNOT WORK RIGHT
NOW.
AND FOR WHOM WE ARE GATHERED
HERE TODAY TO HELP.
I'M THINKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE
AND FOR THEM, THIS IS SUPPOSED
TO BE A JOYFUL TIME IN THEIR
LIVES AND THEIR LOCKUP AT HOME,
THEY CAN'T SEE THEIR FRIENDS
UNLESS THEY ARE ON THEIR PHONES,
WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.
AND I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE
PARENTS THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH
THE IMPATIENCE OF THEIR YOUNG
ONES.
I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO THEORETICALLY COULD CHOOSE
TO STAY HOME BUT SINCE IT IS
THEIR VOCATION, THEY GO TO WORK
DAY AFTER DAY IN OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM.
THEY ARE EXPOSED TO THIS VIRUS
BEYOND REASONABLE LEVELS AND
THEY CAN'T KEEP TWO OR THREE
METRES OF DISTANCE WHEN THEY ARE
AT WORK.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE
WORKING IN THE TRANSPORTATION
SECTOR WHO ARE WORKING CRAZY
HOURS IN UNCERTAIN CONDITIONS
AND OFTEN DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS
TO THE VERY BASIC TOOLS THAT
THEY NEED WHEN THEY ARE ON THE
ROAD TO TAKE A SHOWER OR TO EAT.
THEY DO NOT RECEIVE THE RESPECT
THAT THEIR JOB WOULD SUGGEST.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THE
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS WHO ARE
FACING PARTICULAR CHALLENGES.
I PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM AS WELL.
AND I'D LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
MY COLLEAGUES FOR WORKING WITH
ME AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE PART OF
TEAM CANADA.
THE RECENT WEEKS HAVE SHOWN, AND
I PARTICULARLY LOOK TO KNOW THAT
WE CAN WORK BETTER BY WORKING
TOGETHER SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
THIS SITUATION, DESPITE PEOPLE,
SOME PEOPLE BEING TEMPTED TO
MARK POLITICAL POINTS, WE HAVE
BEEN AS OPEN AND HONEST AS
POSSIBLE.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO ADOPT
LEGISLATION, AND OF COURSE THERE
WILL BE SOME PEOPLE HERE IN THE
HOUSE THAT WHEN TIMES GET BETTER
IT WILL BE THANKS TO THEM.
AND I THINK TODAY WE HAVE TO PUT
ALL THAT ASIDE.
IT WILL BE THANKS TO OUR GROUP
TOGETHER WITH 380 PEOPLE CHOSEN
BY ALL CANADIANS AND QUEBECERS,
ALL MEMBERS OF THIS PARLIAMENT,
OUR FMES THAT AT THE VERY HEART
OF OUR ECONOMIC FABRIC IN QUEBEC
WILL HAVE A CRUCIAL TOOL NOW.
I'M LOOKING AT THIS FROM A
WORKER ASPECT.
ON ONE HAND, THIS LEGISLATION
WILL PROTECT THEIR PURCHASING
POWER.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY WOULD
GIVE THEM, THIS WILL BENEFIT
WORKERS.
AND IT ALSO SUPPORTS OUR ECONOMY
BECAUSE AT THE VERY BASIS OF THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WILL BE INVESTING, IN
INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES, THIS
IS TO PROTECT THEIR FUTURE
INCOME AS WELL.
[PLEASE STAND BY]. 
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] BUT IT IS THE 
FEELING OF SECURITY THAT WILL 
FIGHT THE ANXIETY AND FEARS AND 
CONCERNS ABOUT OUR FUTURE.
THESE ARE ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
ROLES THAT WE ARE PLAYING.
THERE WAS COOPERATION AND WE ARE
HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT 
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT WE 
WERE BEHIND WHATEVER MEASURE, WE
WILL BE HUMBLE IN THAT RESPECT, 
START-UP COMPANIES, WELL THE 
MINISTER OF FINANCE TOOK THEM 
INTO ACCOUNT.
I APPRECIATED THAT.
THERE WERE STRONG GROWTH 
COMPANIES THAT WERE PARTICULARLY
AT RISK AND THAT WAS ADDRESSED.
THERE WERE SOCIAL COMPANIES AS 
WELL THAT ARE PARTICULARLY OF 
INTEREST TO ME AND THEY ARE ALSO
PART OF THE PROGRAM.
AND I'M HAPPY THAT THERE WAS 
THIS COMPONENT IN THE MOTION.
WE WERE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT 
S.M.E. WON'T HAVE TO HAVE 
REVENUE THAT WILL ONLY BE 
COVERED BY DEBT WHEN THEY WILL 
HAVE TO START BACK UP AGAIN, 
THEY WON'T HAVE TO PAY THIS 
BACK.
SO THE GOVERNMENT IS 
ESTABLISHING A MEASURE THAT WILL
ALLOW COMPANIES TO HAVE SOME 
SUPPORT THAT WILL NOT HAVE TO BE
REIMBURSED LATER.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS 
PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO MY HEART.
I AM GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNMENT 
FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY ADDED THIS
TO THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS AND 
THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS 
DILIGENT COOPERATION, 
COOPERATION THAT I THINK 
CANADIANS AND QUÉBECERS EXPECT 
OF US.
THEY EXPECT US TO WORK TOGETHER 
IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.
AND OF COURSE THIS IS A 
DEMOCRACY BASED ON THE LATEST 
CHOICE OF CANADIANS AND 
QUÉBECERS, WE HAVE TO KEEP AN 
EYE ON THINGS.
WE HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES THE 
TOOLS TO DO THIS.
I KNOW THIS IS PART OF WHAT 
WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME GOOD 
COMPONENTS HERE, EVEN THOUGH IN 
MY OPINION THERE ISN'T ENOUGH, 
BUT LET'S START LOOKING AT THIS 
RIGHT AWAY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO 
DEFEAT THIS VIRUS LIKE OTHERS 
HAVE AND OTHERS WILL AFTER US 
PROBABLY.
IF WE DON'T FORGET SCIENCE AND 
RESEARCH IN THIS PROCESS.
THERE ARE RESEARCH CENTRES THAT 
ARE NOT QUALIFIED RIGHT NOW FOR 
VARIOUS MEASURES AND THEY WILL 
SEE THEIR PERSONNEL GO ELSEWHERE
BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO 
STAY, THEIR JOB WON'T BE AS 
ATTRACTIVE TO THEM.
EVERY TIME WE READ NEWSPAPER 
HEADLINES, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT 
THE SCIENCE AND SEE WHAT WORKED 
WELL AND WHAT WAS DONE 
ELSEWHERE.
PEOPLE DOING SCIENCE AND 
RESEARCH RIGHT NOW, RESEARCHERS 
IN QUÉBEC NEED TO RECEIVE SOLID 
SUPPORT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY A FEW 
THINGS ABOUT THE CERB.
IT COULD BE A VICTIM OF ITS OWN 
POPULARITY ONE MIGHT SAY, BUT 
THERE WERE A FEW CRACKS THAT 
WERE SHORED UP.
FOR EXAMPLE, VOLUNTEER 
FIREFIGHTERS, FOR ARTISTS AND 
THEIR ROYALTIES.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOW 
FIXED INCLUDE THOSE RECEIVING 
DIVIDENDS IN SMALL COMPANIES.
THOSE WERE CHANGES THAT WERE 
MADE NOT JUST BY VARIOUS 
POLITICAL PARTIES BUT BY REAL 
PEOPLE.
THEY ASKED FOR THESE 
IMPROVEMENTS.
THEY SAID, WHAT ABOUT US?
PROPER DISCUSSION BROUGHT ABOUT 
SOLUTIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DISCUSSED 
THE VIRTUAL PARLIAMENT.
WE DON'T PHYSICALLY HAVE TO BE 
SITTING HERE ON THE BENCHES TO 
BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THINGS.
WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS EACH AT 
HOME WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT 
TYPES OF FORMATS, BUT WE CAN DO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO HAVE TO 
VOTE HERE, THAT THERE HAS TO BE 
A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM BECAUSE WE
HAVE RULES THAT CAN'T BE 
CHANGED.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS -- WE'VE 
TALKED ABOUT A VIRTUAL 
PARLIAMENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE SPIRIT OF 
OPENNESS, IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
WE LOOKED AT WELCOMING PEOPLE 
FROM ABROAD NOT TOO LONG AGO IN 
VARIOUS FORMS IN QUÉBEC AND 
CANADA.
MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT, I'M CONCERNED.
AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE AND 
SAID, AFTER THE KNOWLEDGE WE 
HAVE ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF 
CASES OF CORONAVIRUS THAT CAME 
FROM ABROAD, AND I STRESS WITH 
THE GREATEST RESPECT AND 
AFFECTION WITH RESPECT TO THESE 
PEOPLE, I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT 
159 MEXICAN WORKERS WHO WERE NOT
GIVEN THE COVID-19 TEST IN 
MEXICO AND WHO WERE NOT 
QUARANTINED IN MEXICO TOOK A 
PLANE, LANDED IN DORVAL THIS 
MORNING, DID NOT UNDERGO A 
COVID-19 TEST IN CANADA AND WERE
NOT QUARANTINED IN ONE OF THE 
THOUSANDS OF HOTEL ROOMS THAT 
SURROUND THE AIRPORT.
THEY WERE GIVEN TO AN 
ORGANIZATION THAT BROUGHT THEM 
IN VARIOUS REGIONS IN QUÉBEC IN 
THE NORTH AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF 
MONTREAL.
AND KNOWING THE CHARACTERISTICS 
OF THIS VIRUS AND HAVING 
STATISTICS SAYING ONE-QUARTER 
AND ONE-HALF OF PEOPLE WHO CARRY
THE VIRUS DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS 
AND TESTING SOMEONE FOR SYMPTOMS
COULD BE USELESS, ARE WE NOT 
TAKING A RISK THAT WE COULD 
EASILY ELIMINATE?
WE COMMUNICATED WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT PRIVATELY ON SEVERAL 
OCCASIONS ABOUT THIS.
I SAW WITH ALL DUE RESPECT FOR 
THE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS
INVOLVED, I HAVE AN OPEN MIND.
I WOULD LIKE TO INDICATE IF THE 
GOVERNMENT COULD SET ASIDE 
BILLIONS FOR THESE MEASURES, WE 
SHOULD BE ABLE TO INVEST TO GIVE
RURAL COMMUNITIES IN QUÉBEC AND 
CANADA CONFIDENCE.
OUR FOREIGN WORKERS SHOULD BE 
QUARANTINED AND UNDERGO A 
COVID-19 TEST.
THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SERVE 
THE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN AND THE 
WORKERS AS WELL.
THEY DON'T HAVE A NECESSARY 
EXPERTISE.
COMPANIES CAN'T SAY, OH, I'LL 
MAKE SOME ROOM FOR THESE WORKERS
IN THE BASEMENT SO THAT THEY CAN
BE QUARANTINED.
THAT'S NOT THESE PEOPLE'S 
DUTIES.
IT'S THE STATE'S DUTY.
AND IT'S UP TO THE CANADIAN 
CUSTOMS.
THE 159 WORKERS WHO ALREADY LEFT
THEIR COUNTRY, WELL WE SHOULD 
VERY QUICKLY ANNOUNCE MEASURES 
TO ISOLATE THEM WHEN THEY ARRIVE
AND GIVE THEM COVID-19 TESTS.
THIS COULD HAPPEN IN QUÉBEC AND 
CANADA -- THEN THEY WOULD BE 
ABLE TO BENEFIT OUR ECONOMY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, 
MR. SPEAKER, IN CONCLUSION, THAT
WE'RE THINKING WITH RESPECT TO 
VIGILANT COOPERATION.
I'M NOT FORMULATING ANY 
CRITICISM HERE.
WE HAVE THE DUTY TO REMAIN 
VIGILANT WITH RESPECT TO EACH 
OTHER BECAUSE EVERY DAY WE'RE 
LOOKING AT MEASURES TO SOLVE NEW
PROBLEMS THAT ARE CROPPING UP 
EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
>> WE'RE GOING TO WAIT 30 
SECOND.
WE HAVE A FEW TECHNICAL CHANGES,
PEOPLE TO CHANGE PLACES.
THANK YOU.
[end of translation]. 
>> THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR 
BURNABY SOUTH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. SPEAKER.
IN THE LAST MONTH OUR WORLD HAS 
CHANGE DRAMATICICALLY.
ON THURSDAY WE LEARNED THAT A 
MILLION CANADIANS HAVE LOST 
THEIR JOBS.
NOW, THIS IS NOT JUST A 
STATISTIC.
THESE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE NOW 
STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE 
TABLE, TO PAY FOR RENT, TO MAKE 
ENDS MEET.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS MOVED TO 
RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS, BUT IN 
MANY CASES IT'S BEEN TOO SLOW.
IN EARLY MARCH WE HAD TWO 
SUGGESTIONS.
ONE, THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD 
SEND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
TO ALL CANADIANS.
TWO, THAT WE NEED A 75% WAGE 
SUBSIDY AT LEAST, AT A MINIMUM, 
TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CAN KEEP 
THEIR JOBS AND A SUBSIDY THAT 
WILL SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND 
KEEPING WORKERS ON THE PAYROLL.
LATER TODAY WE WILL BE AND WE'VE
ALREADY SUPPORTED THE UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT MOTION, BUT WE WILL BE 
SUPPORTING THE LEGISLATION TO 
MAKE THIS WAGE SUBSIDY A 
REALITY.
BUT I WANT TO URGE THE 
GOVERNMENT THAT WHILE WE'RE HERE
IN OTTAWA, WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE 
HERE WITHOUT KNOWING AND WITHOUT
GUARANTEEING THAT ALL CANADIANS 
WHO NEED HELP GET THAT HELP.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT, 
QUITE SIMPLY, DOES NOT COVER ALL
CANADIANS WHO NEED THIS HELP.
TOO MANY CANADIANS MAY FALL 
BETWEEN THE CRACKS.
TOO MANY CANADIANS MAY FALL 
BETWEEN THE CRACKS, AS I SAID.
[end of translation] STORIES 
THAT I'VE HEARD OVER THE PAST 
WEEKS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO 
DESPERATELY NEED HELP BUT THAT 
ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THAT HELP 
BECAUSE THEY DON'T MEET THE 
CRITERIA.
I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WORKING 
MULTIPLE JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET 
WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOURS OF 
WORK AND DON'T KNOW HOW THEY 
WILL PAY FOR GROCERIES.
THEY SHOULD BE APPLYING FOR 
HELP.
I THINK ABOUT THE FREELANCE AND 
CONTRACT WORKERS WHO HAVE LOST 
MOST OF THEIR INCOME AND ARE 
MAXING OUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS TO
PAY FOR THEIR BILLS, THEY SHOULD
BE APPLYING FOR HELP.
I THINK ABOUT STUDENTS WHO 
DEPEND ON SUMMER JOBS TO PAY THE
RENT, SOME WHO WORK TO SUPPORT 
THEIR FAMILIES, NOW THEY HAVE NO
JOBS TO APPLY FOR, THEY SHOULD 
BE APPLYING FOR HELP.
ARTISTS, SELF-EMPLOYED, PEOPLE 
WHO ARE JUST ON THE MARGINS -- 
IN FACT, THERE IS SO MANY 
EXAMPLES AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS NEW 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX THE GAPS 
AND THAT WORK IS REFLECTED IN 
THE MOTION THAT WE'VE HEARD AND 
IN THE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE.
I WANT TO THANK THE PRIME 
MINISTER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF 
GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTIVE 
WAY THEY'VE WORKED WITH US.
BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM DISCOURAGES 
PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP FROM 
APPLYING BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE
SOME INCOME OR THEY DON'T MEET 
ALL THE CRITERIA.
YESTERDAY THE MINISTER CONFIRMED
THAT EVERYONE WHO APPLIES FOR 
THE CERB WILL GET IT.
SO I ASK THE PRIME MINISTER 
TODAY, ANNOUNCE THAT ALL THE 
CRITERIA WILL BE DROPPED AND 
SIMPLY TELL PEOPLE, IF YOU NEED 
HELP, APPLY FOR IT AND YOU'LL 
GET IT.
LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE AND LET'S 
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO 
NEEDS HELP KNOWS THAT THEY CAN 
APPLY FOR THAT HELP AND THAT 
THEY WILL RECEIVE IT.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THROUGH 
THIS CRISIS IS IF WE TAKE CARE 
OF EACH OTHER.
WE ARE ALL CONNECTED AND WE 
WON'T STOP FIGHTING UNTIL EVERY 
CANADIAN GETS THE HELP THEY 
NEED, PERIOD.
THERE HAVE BEEN HEROES IN THIS 
CRISIS, IN FIGHTING COVID-19.
I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE
FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ARE 
KEEPING US FED, THOSE WHO ARE 
KEEPING US HEALTHY.
IT'S SADDENING THAT THEY DON'T 
HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO 
PROTECT THEMSELVES AND PREVENT 
THE RISK OF INFECTING THEIR 
FAMILIES.
I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO MENTION 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WHO ARE 
OFTEN SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS OR 
SLEEPING IN TENTS TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF INFECTION OR THE RISK 
OF INFECTION TO THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT ALL 
WORKERS HAVE THE PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED TO STAY
SAFE.
DURING THIS CRISIS, I ALSO 
BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE 
VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO ROOM
FOR COMPANIES PROFITING OFF THE 
DESPERATION OF PEOPLE.
CREDIT CARD COMPANIES AND OTHERS
CHARGING DOUBLE-DIGIT INTEREST 
RATES NEED TO BE STOPPED.
WE NEED TO USE ALL OUR POWERS AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE 
THAT HAPPENS.
BANKS ARE CONTINUING TO CHARGE 
INTEREST, LEAVING PEOPLE WORSE 
OFF WITH A MORTGAGE DEFERRAL.
IN FACT, THEY ARE PROFITING OFF 
OF THIS CRISIS.
THE FINANCE MINISTER I KNOW HAS 
SPOKEN WITH THE BANKS, BUT 
CLEARLY SPEAKING NICELY HASN'T 
WORKED.
BANKS ARE REGULATED EXPRESSLY BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE
PREPARED TO USE THE POWERS WE 
HAVE TO ENFORCE PAUSING 
INTEREST, PUTTING A BREAK ON 
THAT.
IN FACT, WHAT WE ALSO NEED TO DO
IS PUT A PAUSE ON MORTGAGES SO 
WE CAN WORK WITH PROVINCES TO 
PUT A PAUSE ON RENT.
THIS SHOULD ALSO APPLY FOR 
COMMERCIAL RENT, WHICH WOULD 
SIGNIFICANTLY HELP OUT SMALL- 
AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES.
I KNOW IN THE COMING WEEKS WE'RE
GOING TO START TO TALK ABOUT 
WHAT A RECOVERY WOULD LOOK LIKE,
HOW PEOPLE WOULD GET BACK TO 
WORK.
AS WE DESIGNED THIS STIMULUS, I 
URGED THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT TO 
NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OF 
THE PAST.
EVERY PUBLIC DOLLAR THAT WE 
SPEND MUST GO TO WORKERS, NOT TO
C.E.O.s.
EXECUTIVE BONUSES AND SHARE 
BUY-BACKS, PROTECTING 
SHAREHOLDER PROFITS DO NOT 
SUSTAIN OR CREATE JOBS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE CAN STIMULATE 
THE ECONOMY AND MAKE CHANGES 
THAT WILL TRANSFORM OUR COUNTRY 
AND FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE CAN BUILD HOUSING.
WE CAN INVEST IN PUBLIC TRANSIT.
WE CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR 
CANADIANS TO USE RENEWAL ENERGY 
SOURCES.
WE CAN MAKE OUR HOUSES AND 
BUILDINGS AS ENERGY EFFICIENT AS
POSSIBLE.
WE CAN INVEST IN CHILD CARE 
SERVICES THAT ALL FAMILIES CAN 
AFFORD AND THAT GIVES OUR 
CHILDREN THE HIGH-QUALITY 
EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.
[end of translation] I ALSO WANT
TO TALK ABOUT INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY.
OVER THE LAST MONTH I'VE SPOKEN 
WITH LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY LEADERS 
HAVE EXPRESSED GRAVE CONCERNS 
AROUND THE LACK OF CAPACITY FOR 
THEIR COMMUNITIES TO DEAL WITH A
COVID-19 OUTBREAK.
THESE ARE COMMUNITIES AS A 
RESULT OF HISTORIC AND ONGOING 
INJUSTICE THAT ARE WITHOUT BASIC
INFRASTRUCTURE, WHERE WASHING 
ONE'S HANDS WITH CLEAN WATER IS 
NOT OFTEN POSSIBLE, WHERE 
OVERCROWDING AND THE LACK OF 
QUALITY HOUSING MEANS PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING IS ALSO NOT A 
REALITY.
WHERE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS 
SEVERELY LIMITED TO THE POINT 
WHERE THE NEAREST VENTILATOR FOR
MANY COMMUNITIES IS A FLIGHT 
AWAY.
I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT 
SOME MONEY ON THE TABLE, BUT 
I'VE HEARD TWO CONCERNS.
ONE, THAT MONEY IS INSUFFICIENT.
TWO, MANY INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO 
ACCESS THAT MONEY.
HISTORIC NEGLECT AND RACISM HAS 
PUT INDIGENOUS LIVES AT GREATER 
RISK OF THIS VIRUS.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
PARTICULARLY THE FACT THAT IN 
THE COMING WEEKS MANY OF THESE 
COMMUNITIES WILL FACE FLOODING 
AND IN THE SUMMER THEY WILL FACE
FOREST FIRES.
WE NEED A CLEAR PLAN FOR 
EVACUATION OF THESE COMMUNITIES 
AND A CLEAR STRATEGY TO MAKE 
SURE THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE 
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO RESPOND 
TO COVID-19.
INDIGENOUS LIVES MATTER AND WE 
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE 
PREPARED.
MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE IN THE 
DECISIONS.
MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE THE 
DECISIONS WE MAKE IN THE NEXT 
WEEKS AND MONTHS WILL BE SOME OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT OF OUR LIVES,
SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THAT 
ANY CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
FACED WITH.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE BELIEVE IN 
SOLIDARITY.
WE BELIEVE IN HELPING ONE 
ANOTHER.
[end of translation] WE HEAR A 
LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHEN
WILL THINGS RETURN TO NORMAL.
BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO A 
LOT BETTER THAN NORMAL.
NORMAL IS WORKERS NOT HAVING 
PAID SICK LEAVE.
NORMAL IS FAMILIES STRUGGLING ON
A MINIMUM WAGE.
NORMAL IS PEOPLE WHO ARE 
ESSENTIAL TO OUR HEALTH AND 
SAFETY NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH 
TO LIVE.
NORMAL IS A PUBLIC HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN STARVED OF 
FUNDING.
NORMAL IS A SOCIETY THAT IS 
NEITHER FAIR NOR RESILIENT.
WE CAN'T EVER GO BACK TO NORMAL.
CANADIANS ARE SHOWING THEIR 
COMPASSION.
THEY'RE SHOWING THEIR DESIRE TO 
CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WE SHOULD DEMAND THAT OF OUR 
GOVERNMENT AS WELL.
WE SHOULD DEMAND THAT THIS 
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT EMBRACE THOSE
SAME VALUES.
LET'S NOT RETURN TO THE OLD 
NORMAL.
LET'S BUILD A NEW NORMAL WHERE 
WE TAKE BETTER CARE OF EACH 
OTHER, WHERE WE HAVE A STRONG 
SOCIAL SAFETY NET THAT LIFTS US 
ALL UP TOGETHER.
LET'S BUILD A CANADA THAT IS 
FAIR AND RESILIENT.
CANADIANS ARE COUNTING ON US.
THEY'RE COUNTING ON US TO LEARN 
FROM THIS CRISIS, TO BUILD A 
BETTER CANADA FOR ALL OF US.
THANK YOU.
>> THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR 
SAANICH-GULF ISLAND.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANK YOU, 
MR. SPEAKER.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY 
RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE ON THE 
TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE 
ALGONQUIN PEOPLE.
[end of translation] TRADITIONAL
UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY.
I THANK THEM AGAIN FOR THEIR 
HOSPITALITY AND GENEROSITY.
MEEGWETCH.
I WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANK YOU TO MY 
COLLEAGUES FOR GIVING ME AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS 
VERY IMPORTANT DAY BECAUSE IT 
WAS THROUGH UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[end of translation] IT MEANS A 
LOT TO ME THAT THE GREEN PARTY 
IS RECOGNIZED IN THIS PLACE AND 
ALLOWED TO SPEAK AS WE GATHER IN
THESE ENTIRELY UNPRECEDENTED 
TIMES.
I WAS MOVED BY THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S REMARKS IN REMINDING 
US OF VIMY.
I HADN'T PLANNED TO SPEAK ABOUT 
VIMY.
I SAW MY HUSBAND WHO WAS 
DEPRESSED WALKING ABOUT.
HE WAS THINKING OF HIS 
GRANDFATHER WHO WAS 
MACHINE-GUNNED ON VICTIMIE.
HIS GRANDFATHER SURVIVED, 
OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T BE MARRIED 
TO MY HUSBAND.
HE SURVIVED, GOT BACK TO 
BRITISH COLUMBIA, AND ENDED UP 
AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE 
BRITISH COLUMBIA SUPREME COURT.
BUT THE SACRIFICES OF VIMY ARE 
NOT FORGOTTEN.
THE COURAGE AND SOLIDARITY OF 
PREVIOUS GENERATIONS IS NOT 
FORGOTTEN.
I'VE THOUGHT IN RECENT TIMES 
THAT BEING A BOOMER AND 1954 
BABY, I'M ONE OF THE LAST OF A 
GENERATION THAT REMEMBERS A TIME
OF THE KIND OF SOLIDARITY AND 
SACRIFICE, NOT THAT I LIVED 
THROUGH THE WAR OR THE 
DEPRESSION, BUT MY PARENTS DID.
SO THE FAMILY STORIES BECOME 
PART OF WHO YOU ARE.
THEY'RE IN YOUR BONES.
THE NOTION THAT GOVERNMENT STEPS
UP, THAT GOVERNMENT IS ON YOUR 
SIDE.
AND I THINK THROUGH YEARS OF 
NEO-LIBERALISM WE'VE GOT THIS 
IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT'S IN OUR 
WAY, PICKING OUR POCKETS.
I'M REALLY RELIEVED THAT IN SOME
WAYS, THE SOLIDARITY, THE SOCIAL
SOLIDARITY THAT WE WILL HAVE 
COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, 
WILL ALLOW US TO SEE, YEAH, I'M 
PART OF MY GOVERNMENT.
MY DEMOCRACY WORKS FOR ME.
I HOPE THAT CAN BE A LASTING 
LESSON.
WE ARE HERE TOGETHER IN A WAY 
THAT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH 
DEEP GRATITUDE.
IS PARLIAMENT WORKING WELL EVEN 
WHEN WE'RE AT A DISTANCE?
I WANT TO THANK THE PRIME 
MINISTER, THE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER, AND SO MANY DIFFERENT 
MINISTERS FOR THE OPENNESS TO 
HEAR OPPOSITION IDEAS AND 
CONCERN.
IF I COULD SHARE WITH CANADIANS 
WHAT THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS 
HAVE FELT LIKE, WORKING FROM 
HOME NON-STOP, 24/7.
A LOT OF CANADIANS WOULDN'T 
IMAGINE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY 
1:30 B.C. TIME, 4:30 IN OTTAWA, 
EVERY DAY INCLUDING SATURDAYS 
AND SUNDAYS, WE HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANYTHING.
NOW, IN MY MIND, THIS IS HOW THE
IDEAS HAVE BEEN WORKING.
IT'S QUITE TRUE THAT A LOT OF 
THE THINGS WE WANTED WEREN'T IN 
THE FIRST BILL IN BILL C-13.
SAYING IT SHOULDN'T BE A 10% 
WAGE SUBSIDY BUT 75%.
WE MADE THAT CASE AND INDIVIDUAL
EXAMPLES CAME FORWARD.
IT FEELS THROUGH THOSE 
QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSIONS 
DAILY, NOT ALL OF US GET OUR 
QUESTIONS IN.
I DO PRETTY WELL TO GET OUR 
QUESTIONS OUT THERE.
BUT IN MY HEAD, THIS IS HOW IT'S
BEEN WORKING.
WE RAISE A QUESTION.
WE SAY SOMETHING LIKE, WHAT 
HAPPENS RIGHT NOW BISHOP MCMENNY
JUST CONTACTED ME AND THE 
ANGLICAN CHURCH ON VANCOUVER 
ISLAND HAS SEPARATE BUSINESS 
NUMBERS, BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE 
EMPLOYER, SO THE 30% REDUCTION 
IN REVENUE COMPARED TO SOME 
OTHER REFERENCES DOESN'T WORK AT
ALL IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE.
THEN TODAY I LOOK AT THE MOST 
RECENT VERSION OF THE BILL.
 "ENTITY" IS NOW REDEFINED.
IT COVERS THAT SPECIFIC WEIRD 
EXAMPLE OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.
THERE MAY BE OTHERS WHO STUMPED 
THE FINANCE CANADA SENIOR 
OFFICIALS ON THE PHONE WITH US 
EVERY DAY, BUT WHEN I SEE THAT 
IN THE BILL, I SEE, OH, MY 
QUESTION WAS NOT ONLY A 
QUESTION, BUT IT FLAGGED AN 
ISSUE.
THIS IS WHAT I KEEP HEARING FROM
MINISTERS, KEEP TELLING US THE 
GAPS AND SENDING YOUR QUESTIONS.
THESE ARE THE EYES AND EARS ON 
THE FRONTLINE ABLE TO SAY 
NOTHING YOU'VE GOT IN PLACE 
RIGHT NOW WITH ALL DUE RESPECT 
IS WORKING FOR SMALL BUSINESS.
I'M TERRIFIED THAT A LOT OF 
SMALL BUSINESSES, SEASONAL 
BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS AND SO 
ON ARE GOING TO GO UNDER EVEN 
WITH THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
BUT THEN I PICK UP TODAY'S 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT MOTION -- 
WELL, I SAW IT BEFORE COMING 
HERE -- AND I'M RELIEVED TO SEE 
IT CALLS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO 
IMPLEMENT SHORT-TERM SUPPORT 
MEASURES FOR SMALL- AND 
MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES TO BE 
NON-REFUNDED REDUCING THE 
DEBT-RELATED FIXED COSTS.
THAT'S WHAT I KEEP HEARING FROM 
BUSINESSES, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO
PAY THEIR RENT, THE WAGE SUBSIDY
DOESN'T HELP THEM.
I'M HERE NOT TO BE JUST A 
POLLYANNA ABOUT OUR 
CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS M.P.s 
AND OPPOSITION AND SAY LOOK AT 
WHAT'S HAPPENING, IT DOESN'T 
WORK, THERE ARE TOO MANY 
STUDENTS AND OTHERS IN THE GIG 
ECONOMY THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY 
CERB, WHAT DO WE DO.
THE MEASURES NOW SAY "WITHOUT 
DELAY."
THAT LANGUAGE SUGGESTS NOT IF 
THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING WE'VE 
GOTTEN THIS PERFECT, GO AWAY.
WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MINISTER 
AFTER MINISTER IS WE'RE LEARNING
AND WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I DO KNOW 
THAT THE MINISTER OF GLOBAL 
AFFAIRS AND HIS PARLIAMENTARY 
SECRETARY HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO
ME PRETTY MUCH 24/7 FOR THE 50 
OR SO CONSTITUENTS I'VE WORKED 
TO GET HOME AND I STILL HAVE A 
DOZEN I'M WORKING ON.
THE PARLIAMENTARY KNOWS VERY 
WELL I HAVE SOMEONE STRANDED IN 
VANUATU.
THERE IS A REAL SENSE OF ALL 
HANDS ON DECK.
I WANT CANADIANS TO KNOW THAT.
THERE IS A SPIRIT OF 
NON-PARTISANSHIP, WE ARE TEAM 
CANADA AND IN THIS TOGETHER.
NOTHING EXEMPLIFIES THAT FOR ME 
MORE THAN THE NEW-FOUND BEST 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PREMIER
OF ONTARIO AND THE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
THIS SHOWS STEPPING UP TO A 
CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE'RE ALL AT 
RISK.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT BEING 
SURROUNDED BY DEATH.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WEARING OUR
MASKS.
I'VE GOT LYSOL WIPES BELOW MY 
DESK.
WE'RE CONSTANT VIGILANT.
WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AS 
CANADIANS.
THIS MUST NOT BE A MOMENT THAT 
DIVIDES US.
WE MUST REMEMBER THIS AND WORK 
DIFFERENTLY IN THE FUTURE.
YES, I WANT TO PRESS FOR 
GUARANTEED LIVABLE INCOME.
I WILL KEEP DOING THAT.
YES, I WANT TO PRESS THAT WE TOO
IN THIS PLACE AND BEFORE TOO 
LONG SEE NEW CLIMATE TARGETS 
THAT MEET THE IMPERATIVE OF A 
LOOMING DISASTER FAR GREATER 
THAN COVID-19, THREATENS TO KILL
MORE PEOPLE AND WIPE OUT 
CIVILIZATIONS.
IT CAN'T BE POSTPONED.
BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY
IS A DEEP THANK YOU FOR THE 
SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION.
THE PRIME MINISTER SPOKE OF THE 
FACT THAT THIS TIME OF COURSE IS
A SEASON OF MANY RELIGIOUS 
OBSERVANCES.
IT IS PASSOVER.
HAPPY PASSOVER TO MY JEWISH 
FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
IT IS ALSO COMING UP SOON TO 
VASAKI AND IN A FEW WEEKS 
RAMADAN TO MY ISLAMIC FRIENDS.
A PERIOD OF FASTING AND 
REFLECTION.
I'M FINISHING LENT, A PERIOD OF 
FASTING AND REFLECTION.
IT SPEAKS TO THE UNPRECEDENTED 
NATURE OF THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE 
IN, THAT AS FAR AS I'VE BEEN 
ABLE TO DETERMINE FROM RESEARCH 
AT HOME AND LOOKING THROUGH 
EVERY BIT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND 
PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY THAT I CAN
FIND, THE PARLIAMENT OF CANADA 
HAS NEVER SAT ON EASTER 
SATURDAY.
GOOD FRIDAY, PARTICULARLY IN 
PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, WAS HELD 
SACRED.
THE IDEA OF MEETING ON EASTER 
WEEKEND WOULD HAVE BEEN 
IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE, BUT HERE 
WE ARE AND WHY?
IN ABOUT -- LOOKING AT THE CLOCK
I THINK, IN ABOUT 10 HOURS IT 
WILL BE DAWN IN JERUSALEM AND 
THE FIRST MORNING LIGHT OF THAT 
SUNRISE WILL STRIKE THE WALLS OF
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCRE.
IT IS BUILT ON THE SPOT WHERE 
WE'RE TOLD THE ORIGINAL CAVE WAS
OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST 
WRAPPED AND PLACED IN A TOMB, 
THE ROCK ROLLED IN FRONT OF IT.
APPROXIMATELY 10 HOURS FROM NOW 
AT DAWN WILL BE THAT REMEMBRANCE
OF OUR STORIES AND TRADITIONS 
AND FAITH.
THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF A 
CHRISTIAN CALENDAR, THE 
RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
THE STONE WAS ROLLED BACK AND 
THOSE WHO LOVED HIM, MARY AND 
OTHERS, THOUGHT THE BODY HAD 
BEEN STOLEN AND JESUS CAME TO 
THEM DISGUISED AS A GUARD AND 
SAID, NO, HE IS RISEN.
IN THIS TIME WE ARE SURROUNDED 
BY  DEATH AND WORRIED ABOUT OUR 
MORTALITY AND WORRIED ABOUT 
THOSE WE LOVE, WE CAN THINK 
ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND 
AFTER THIS OVER RECOGNIZE THAT, 
YES, WE CAN SURVIVE.
WE CAN BREAK THE BONDS OF DEATH.
WE CAN HAVE FAITH IN EACH OTHER.
WE CAN INVEST OURSELVES IN LOVE 
FOR EACH OTHER AND OUR 
COMMUNITIES.
WE CAN REMEMBER WHAT REALLY 
MATTERS.
RIGHT NOW AS I WATCH MY 
GRANDKIDS ON ZOOM FAMILY CHATS, 
WHAT WOULD I GIVE FOR A HUG?
I WOULD LOVE TO THINK ABOUT OUR 
LIVES AS TRANSFORMED BY THIS IN 
WAYS THAT ARE PROFOUND.
AS WE RECOGNIZE THAT FOR THE 
FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE 
GOVERNMENTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD
HAVE DECIDED WITHOUT A 
HESITATION LIFE IS MORE 
IMPORTANT THAN MONEY.
WE HAVE DELIBERATELY AND 
VOLUNTARILY SHUT DOWN OUR 
ECONOMIES TO SAVE LIVES.
WE HAVE DELIBERATELY AND 
VOLUNTARILY CREATED FOR 
OURSELVES AS LAWMAKERS, IT'S 
POLICYMAKERS, THE CHALLENGE OF 
AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY BECAUSE WE 
DIDN'T HESITATE TO KNOW THAT 
SAVING LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT 
THAN MONEY.
WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, AND, 
PLEASE GOD, IT'S OVER WITH A 
MINIMUM LOSS OF LIFE IN CANADA 
AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD, 
PARTICULARLY WORRIED FOR THOSE 
COUNTRIES THAT LACK BASIC 
HEALTHCARE.
WE MUSTN'T FORGET OUR 
OBLIGATIONS TO THE POOREST OF 
THE POOR, JUST AS WE DON'T 
FORGET INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN 
CANADA AND THOSE WHO ARE MOST 
MARGINALIZED AND HOMELESS.
WHEN WE GET THROUGH THIS 
TOGETHER, LET'S REMEMBER THAT IN
THIS PANDEMIC WE DISCOVERED WHAT
REALLY MATTERS.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] PURSUANT TO ORDER 
MADE EARLIER TODAY, THE HOUSE 
SHALL NOW RESOLVE ITSELF INTO A 
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO 
CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE DEBATE, I 
WOULD LIKE TO REMIND HONOURABLE 
MEMBERS HOW THE PROCEEDINGS WILL
UNFOLD FOR THE NEXT TWO HOURS.
[end of translation] ORDER MADE 
EARLIER TODAY, DURING THE 
PROCEEDING OF THE COMMITTEE, NO 
MEMBER -- 
>> Rosemary: OKAY.
THIS IS THE END OF FORMAL 
SPEECHES.
WE HEARD FROM OF COURSE ALL OF 
THE PARTY LEADERS INSIDE THE 
HOUSE ABOUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
LEGISLATION AND NOW THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS WILL BECOME WHAT THE 
SPEAKER CALLED THERE A COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE, WHEN ESSENTIALLY 
COMMITTEE WORK GETS DONE INSIDE 
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF SOME 
QUESTIONS AND SOME ANSWERS FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT.
WHILE WE WERE DOING THAT, I JUST
WANTED TO SAY IN THE BOTTOM 
RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN THERE, YOU 
SAW THE QUÉBEC PREMIER, FRANÇOIS
LEGAULT, NOT SUPPOSED TO GIVE A 
PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, BUT HAS 
SHOWN UP TO GIVE A PRESS 
CONFERENCE, WHERE HE CONFIRMED 
THAT 31 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN A 
LONG-TERM CARE HOME OUTSIDE OF 
MONTREAL IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.
FIVE OF THOSE ARE CONFIRMED 
COVID CASES.
HERE IS ANDREW SCHEER ASKING HIS
FIRST QUESTION IN THIS COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE.
>> THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER 
TOLD THIS HOUSE THAT THEY WERE 
ALREADY "LEADING A BULK NATIONAL
PROCUREMENT EFFORT TO ENSURE 
CANADIANS HAVE THE NECESSARY 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT."
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER PLEASE 
UPDATE THIS HOUSE AS TO HOW MANY
VENTILATORS HE HAS SECURED AND 
ON WHAT DATE THEY WILL REACH 
CANADIAN HOSPITALS.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: AS WE KNOW, THERE IS A 
WORLDWIDE DEMAND FOR PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND 
VENTILATORS THAT IS THROUGH THE 
ROOF.
WE, THEREFORE, BOTH REACHED OUT 
TO SUPPLIERS OF MEDICAL PRODUCTS
THAT CANADA HAS LONG WORKED WITH
AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS 
SEEN UNPRECEDENTED EFFORTS BY 
CANADIAN INDUSTRY TO DELIVER 
VENTILATORS THAT WOULD BE MADE 
IN CANADA.
I CAN ASSURE PEOPLE THAT THE 
APPROACH IS WORKING.
WE ARE SEEING PRODUCTION OF 
VENTILATORS IN CANADA BEGIN.
IT WILL BE STILL A FEW WEEKS 
BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO ARRIVE.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE CONTINUE TO 
WORK TO PROCURE THEM FROM AROUND
THE WORLD.
>> MR. SPEAKER, ON MARCH 25 THE 
FINANCE MINISTER TOLD THE SENATE
THAT HELP FOR THE ENERGY SECTOR 
WAS COMING WITHIN "HOURS OR DAYS
AND NOT WEEKS."
IT HAS NOW BEEN TWO AND A HALF 
WEEKS SINCE THAT DATE WITH NO 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
REPORTS ARE CIRCULATING THAT A 
PROPOSAL DID, IN FACT, GO TO 
CABINET BUT THAT IT WAS 
REJECTED.
SO IS IT THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
POSITION THAT THERE WILL, IN 
FACT, BE NO HELP FOR CANADA'S 
ENERGY SECTOR AND THE TENS AND 
THOUSANDS OF CANADIANS THAT IT 
EMPLOYS?
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: WE RECOGNIZE THE TRIPLE
CHALLENGES FACED BY WORKERS IN 
THE ENERGY SECTOR RIGHT NOW THAT
HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY 
DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE IN ALBERTA,
SASKATCHEWAN, AND NEWFOUNDLAND 
AND LABRADOR.
THE LOW OIL PRICES HAVE LONG 
BEEN A CHALLENGE.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE COVID CRISIS
IN ECONOMIC TERMS HAS LED TO A 
LOWERING OF DEMAND FOR OIL, AS 
PEOPLE DON'T TRAVEL NEARLY AS 
MUCH AS NORMAL.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE HEALTH 
CRISIS HAS LET PEOPLE INTO 
ISOLATION AND REMAINING TO STAY 
HOME.
FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE 
SUFFERING FROM THIS, BUT 
PARTICULARLY THOSE IN ALBERTA IN
THE OIL SECTOR.
THAT IS WHY WE MOVED QUICKLY ON 
TWO MEASURES TO HELP AS MANY 
PEOPLE AS WE COULD ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT AND THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY AT 75%.
THERE WILL BE MORE COMING FOR 
THE OIL SECTOR AS WE DEVELOP 
SECTORAL SOLUTIONS.
>> THAT WAS THE QUADRUPLE 
CHALLENGE AND THE CANCELLING OF 
PROJECTS, IT WAS HIS PROMISE OF 
THE HELP COMING IN DAYS AND NOT 
WEEKS.
THE PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM THIS 
CRISIS ARE SUFFERING IN REAL 
TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, DOCUMENTS REVEAL IN
EARLY JANUARY MILITARY 
INTELLIGENCE BEGAN PRODUCING 
DETAILED TECHNICAL REPORTS ABOUT
THE OUTBREAK OF THE CORONAVIRUS 
IN WUHAN, CHINA.
YES OR NO QUESTION, DID THE 
PRIME MINISTER SEE THESE 
REPORTS, YES OR NO.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: MR. SPEAKER, AS MEMBERS
OF THE FIVE EYES WE WERE PRIVY 
TO SIGNIFICANT MILITARY AND 
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS ON THE 
STATUS OF THINGS HAPPENING 
AROUND THE WORLD.
THERE WERE ENOUGH FLAGS FOR US 
TO CONVENE AN INCIDENT RESPONSE 
GROUP AT THE END OF JANUARY.
WE ALSO BEGAN INCREASING 
SCREENING AT MAJOR AIRPORTS AND 
LIMITING FLIGHTS FROM WUHAN.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THESE ARE VERY 
SIMPLE YES-OR-NO QUESTIONS.
WAS THIS INFORMATION FROM THE 
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE REPORT 
SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
AGENCY OF CANADA, YES OR NO?
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: FROM THE BEGINNING, 
MR. SPEAKER, WE WORKED WITH ALL 
AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT THE 
RELEVANT INFORMATION WAS SHARED 
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.
WE NEED TO MAKE THE 
BEST-POSSIBLE DECISIONS BASED ON
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SCIENTISTS,
FROM HEALTH RESEARCHERS, FROM 
INTERNATIONAL ALLIES, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE DID.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S WAGE SUBSIDY THAT WE 
WILL BE DEBATING THROUGHOUT THE 
DAY TODAY IS A LIFELINE TO THOSE
COMPANIES WHO CAN STILL AFFORD 
TO PAY ANY WAGES AT ALL.
THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT 
NUMBER OF BUSINESSES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY WHO ARE RECEIVING NO 
REVENUE, WHO AREN'T ABLE TO PAY 
ANY WAGES AT ALL BECAUSE THEY'VE
HAD THEIR DOORS CLOSED FOR 
ALMOST A MONTH NOW.
THE CONSERVATIVES HAVE PUT 
FORWARD THE IDEA OF REBATING THE
G.S.T. TO ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES
WHO HAVE NO REVENUE AT ALL TO 
PAY SOME OF THEIR BILLS AND TO 
PAY THEIR RENT SO THEY CAN STAY 
OPEN WHEN THIS CRISIS IS OVER, 
SO THEY CAN RE-OPEN WHEN THIS 
CRISIS IS OVER.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER CONSIDER
THIS PROPOSAL TO ENSURE THERE 
ARE JOBS FOR CANADIANS TO GO 
BACK TO AT THE END OF THIS 
PANDEMIC.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN 
THIS HOUSE, WE ARE EXTREMELY 
PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL OF 
COLLABORATION, WITH INPUT FROM 
ALL PARLIAMENTARIANS AND ALL 
PARTIES AS WE LOOK TO ENSURE 
THAT WE'RE HELPING CANADIANS AS 
MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THIS 
SITUATION.
WE'VE MOVED FORWARD ON A WAGE 
SUBSIDY, WE'VE MOVED FORWARD ON 
A CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT, WE'VE MOVED FORWARD ON 
LOW-INTEREST LOANS, OF WHICH 
25%, $10,000, WILL BE FORGIVABLE
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S MORE TO DO 
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE 
TO WORK WITH ALL 
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO MAKE SURE 
WE'RE HELPING CANADIANS IN ALL 
WAYS.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANK YOU, 
MR. SPEAKER.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
IN KEEPING WITH WHAT I SAID 
BEFORE, WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS
ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE 
ARRIVAL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY 
WELCOME IN CANADA, IN QUÉBEC.  
THEY ARE TEMPORARY FOREIGN 
WORKERS, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED 
ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.
MY QUESTION TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS IN THE NEXT FEW 
HOURS BEFORE MORE TEMPORARY 
FOREIGN WORKERS ARRIVE AT DORVAL
AIRPORT IN MONTREAL, CAN STEPS 
BE TAKEN SO THAT THESE PEOPLE 
ARE QUARANTINED AT CUSTOMS 
BEFORE THEY'RE RELEASED TO GO 
ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, AND 
THIS IN THE INTEREST OF ALL 
CANADIANS?
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR 
TOP OBLIGATION IS TO PROVIDE FOR
CANADIANS' SAFETY AND SECURITY.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ARRIVE AT OUR 
BORDERS, THAT'S ESSENTIAL.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO 
ENSURE FOOD SECURITY AS WELL.
THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN IS VERY 
IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS PLAY 
AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT FOOD 
SUPPLY.
WE HAVE STRICT RULES AROUND 
QUARANTINE AND FOREIGN WORKERS 
ARRIVING IN CANADA HAVE TO BE 
ISOLATED FOR 14 DAYS IN AN 
ADEQUATE MANNER TO ENSURE THAT 
THEY DO NOT SPREAD THE COVID-19 
VIRUS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
ALL OUR PARTNERS AND ALL THE 
AUTHORITIES TO MAKE SURE ALL 
THOSE RULES ARE FOLLOWED.
>> MR. SPEAKER, IT'S POSSIBLE 
THAT THE RULES ARE INADEQUATE.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT FARMS ARE NOT
IN A POSITION TO ENSURE THE TYPE
OF QUARANTINE THAT'S NEEDED.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SYMPTOMS ARE 
NOT BEING IDENTIFIED AS 
EFFECTIVELY ON THE FARM AS THEY 
COULD BE IF THOSE TESTS WERE 
CONDUCTED BY HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RELEASED 
BY CUSTOMS CANADA AND THE 
RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AFTER 
THESE PEOPLE HAS BEEN -- 
BASICALLY THE BUCK HAS BEEN 
PASSED TO FARM OWNERS TO DO THE 
GOVERNMENT'S JOB.
SO I REPEAT MY QUESTION.
WILL STEPS BE TAKEN IN THE NEXT 
FEW HOURS TO SEE TO THIS 
SITUATION?
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: YES, MR. SPEAKER.
I SHARE MANY OF THE CONCERNS 
LISTED OPPOSITE.
WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE 
SURE WHILE MEETING THE NEEDS OF 
OUR FARMERS AND OUR FOOD SUPPLY 
CHAIN, WE DO HAVE THE CAPACITY 
AND THE CERTAINTY THAT CANADIANS
ARE KEPT SAFE AND THAT THE 
POSSIBLE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IS 
LIMITED.
I INTEND TO CONTINUE TO WORK 
WITH NOT JUST THE PROVINCES AND 
THE FARM SECTOR, BUT ALSO WITH 
MY PARTNERS IN THE OPPOSITION.
>> MR. SPEAKER, ON A COMPLETELY 
DIFFERENT NOTE, SOME MAY BE 
SURPRISED TO HEAR ME SAY THIS.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT
OF CANADA HAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO 
RE-ESTABLISHING JOBS IN THE OIL 
PATCH IN WESTERN CANADA.
I DON'T THINK THOSE PEOPLE 
SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO COMPLETELY
SACRIFICE THEIR ECONOMIC MODEL.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ANY FURTHER
EXPANSION OF THE ENERGY SECTOR, 
THAT SHOULD INVOLVE FINANCIAL 
RESOURCES THAT ARE TRANSFERRED 
TOWARD THE RENEWAL ENERGY 
SECTOR.
AGAIN, IN WESTERN CANADA WHERE 
THERE ARE SPECIFIC NEEDS.
CAN THIS SITUATION BE TAKEN AS 
AN OPPORTUNITY?
THE STATUS QUO ANTE SHOULD BE 
ESTABLISHED FOR WORKERS IN THE 
OIL PATCH, BUT SHOULD THOSE JOBS
BE SHIFTED TO RENEWAL ENTITIES?
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK 
THE MEMBER FOR HIS PERSPECTIVE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT WORKER
S AND FAMILIES GOING THROUGH A 
TOUGH TIME IN ALL INDUSTRIES ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING 
THE OIL PATCH.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE ALSO
ENGAGED IN A BATTLE AGAINST 
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE NEED TO 
FIND WAYS TO CREATE GOOD JOBS 
FOR PEOPLE IN ALBERTA AND 
ELSEWHERE WHAT WANT TO HAVE JOBS
THAT WILL LAST FOR YEARS AND 
GENERATIONS.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN THINKING, 
TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF 
ALBERTA AND OTHER COUNTRIES, 
ABOUT WAYS TO ENSURE THAT CANADA
AND ALBERTA ARE PART OF THAT 
SHIFT, THAT TRANSITION TO A 
BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
[end of translation]. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, I WANTED TO 
RAISE AGAIN THE CONCERN.
WE'VE HEARD STORIES THAT 
REPRESENT SOME OF THE MILLIONS 
OF CANADIANS THAT ARE RIGHT NOW 
FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS THAT 
CANNOT ACCESS THE CERB.
WE'VE HEARD OF PEOPLE WITH 
MULTIPLE JOBS WHO HAVE LOST LOTS
OF THAT WORK, BUT STILL GET SOME
INCOME, FREELANCE WORKERS, 
SELF-EMPLOYED, ARTISTS.
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS 
COMMITTED TO FIXING THOSE GAPS, 
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY 
STAND UP AND SAY IF ANYONE NEEDS
HELP, THEY SHOULD APPLY WHILE 
THE GOVERNMENT IS FIXING THE 
GAPS IN THE SYSTEM, BUT PEOPLE 
SHOULD APPLY WHO NEED HELP RIGHT
NOW.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: THE IMMEDIATE URGENCY 
IN THIS SITUATION WAS MAKING 
SURE THAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY WHO WERE RELIANT ON 
PAYCHEQUES TO BE ABLE TO PAY 
THEIR GROCERIES AND PAY THEIR 
RENT, PAYCHEQUES THAT SUDDENLY 
DISAPPEARED BECAUSE OF COVID-19 
GET MANITOBA QUICKLY.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID WITH THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK
THE EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC 
SERVANTS AT REVENUE CANADA, BUT 
ALSO ACROSS MINISTRIES AND 
DEPARTMENTS WHO WORKED 
INCREDIBLY HARD TO CREATE A 
MODEL THAT WOULD GET MONEY OUT 
QUICKLY TO MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS.
WE OF COURSE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE
GAPS AND ARE WORKING WITH ALL 
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO FILL THOSE 
GAPS BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO NEED 
HELP SHOULD BE GETTING IT.
>> WILL THE PRIME MINISTER JUST 
SAY TODAY REALLY CLEARLY THAT IF
YOU NEED HELP, YOU CAN APPLY 
RIGHT NOW FOR THE CERB WHILE THE
GOVERNMENT FIXES THE GAPS, BUT 
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER SAY 
CLEARLY TO ALL CANADIANS, IF YOU
NEED HELP, APPLY NOW WHILE THE 
GOVERNMENT FIXES THE PROBLEMS.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: MR. SPEAKER, WE CREATED
A PROGRAM THAT IS HELPING 
MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR 
PAYCHEQUE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
WE'VE MOVED FORWARD WITH ANOTHER
PROGRAM WE'RE DEBATING HERE 
TODAY ON WAGE SUBSIDIES FOR 
PEOPLE SO THEY CAN KEEP THEIR 
JOBS, KEEP THEIR PAYCHEQUES AT 
75% SUBSIDY FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE LINKED TO 
THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE OTHER
PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS 
WHO ALSO NEED HELP, STUDENTS, 
SENIORS, PART-TIME WORKERS, 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO NEED EXTRA
HELP TO KEEP THEIR JOBS.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON 
RIGHT NOW WITH TREMENDOUS 
COLLABORATION FROM ALL 
PARLIAMENTARIANS.
>> MR. SPEAKER, CREDIT UNIONS, 
SOME OF THEM HAVE RECENTLY 
WAIVED INTEREST RATES ENTIRELY.
0% IS WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING ON 
THEIR CREDIT CARDS, WHILE BANKS 
ARE STILL CHARGING ASTRONOMICAL 
INTEREST RATES.
THE BIG SIX BANKS IN CANADA 
REPORTED MORE THAN $46.5 BILLION
IN PROFITS LAST YEAR.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT, WILL THE 
PRIME MINISTER, USE THE FEDERAL 
POWERS TO FORCE THOSE BANKS TO 
WAIVE INTEREST RATES ENTIRELY 
DURING THIS CRISIS?
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: THE MINISTER OF FINANCE
HAS BEEN CLOSELY ENGAGED WITH 
THE BANKS OVER THESE PAST WEEKS.
WE'VE SEEN STRONG MOVEMENT BY 
THE BANKS IN TERMS OF HELPING 
PEOPLE HARD HIT FINANCIALLY 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
THEY'VE AGREED TO HELP US 
ADMINISTER THE SMALL BUSINESS 
LOAN.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE THAT
THE BANKS CAN DO AND WE'VE BEEN 
WORKING WITH BANKS AND CREDIT 
UNIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY DO MORE
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE WAY WE 
SUPPORT CANADIANS THROUGH THIS 
SITUATION WILL ENSURE THAT WE 
COME OUT OF THIS SITUATION IN 
THE BEST-POSSIBLE SHAPE, ALL OF 
US.
>> MR. SPEAKER, DURING THE 2008 
FINANCIAL CRISIS WE SAW BAILOUTS
THAT EFFECTIVELY BAILED OUT 
CORPORATIONS WHO TOOK THE MONEY,
LEFT CANADA, AND LEFT WORKERS 
HIGH AND DRY.
WORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS WHILE 
THOSE COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS
TOOK BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM 
CANADA.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT ENSURE THAT 
WE'RE GOING TO PROHIBIT ANY 
C.E.O. BONUSES AND STOCK 
BUY-BACKS IN THE COMPANIES THAT 
RECEIVE SUBSIDIES AND BAILOUTS, 
THAT THAT MONEY GOES TOWARDS 
WORKERS AND KEEPING PEOPLE 
EMPLOYED, NOT ENRICHING THE 
CORPORATION OR THE EXECUTIVES, 
BUT IT GOES WITH STRINGS 
ATTACHED TO WORKERS DIRECTLY.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: MR. SPEAKER, WE 
RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES IN 
CRISES PAST THAT HAD SOME OF THE
IMPACTS THAT THE MEMBER OPPOSITE
HAS TALKED ABOUT.
THAT IS WHY WE MADE SURE THAT 
THE BIG MEASURES WE PUT FORWARD 
ARE ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON 
CANADIANS, ON WORKERS.
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT HELPS PEOPLE WHO'VE LOST
THEIR JOB BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY MAKES SURE THAT
PEOPLE STAY CONNECTED TO THEIR 
JOBS EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN'T GET 
PAID BY THEIR EMPLOYER ANYMORE 
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY 
THEM UP TO 75% OF THEIR SALARY, 
SO THAT WHEN THIS IS THROUGH, 
CANADIANS WILL STILL HAVE 
CONNECTION TO THOSE JOBS AND OUR
ECONOMY CAN GET GOING AGAIN.
EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE HAS BEEN 
FOCUSED FIRST AND FOREMOST ON 
CANADIANS AND NOT ON 
CORPORATIONS AS A NEBULOUS 
ENTITY.
>> A YES-OR-NO QUESTION.
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE WARNED OF 
THE DEADLY CORONAVIRUS IN A 
BRIEFING TO THE GOVERNMENT IN 
EARLY JANUARY -- 
>> Rosemary: OKAY.
WE ARE GOING TO PULL AWAY NOW 
FROM THIS QUESTION-AND-ANSWER 
QUESTION BETWEEN THE M.P.s AND 
PARLIAMENTARIANS.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WATCHING
YOU CAN DO SO AT cbc.ca.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE 
DEBATE ABOUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN AGREED
UPON AND WILL BE PASSED BY THE 
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO ASK 
QUESTIONS, RATHER DETAILED 
QUESTIONS, TO THE GOVERNMENT IN 
REGARDS TO THEIR RESPONSE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
LET ME BRING IN CATHARINE CULLEN
WHO HAS BEEN WATCHING WITH ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO 
START AND THE KINDS OF 
QUESTIONS.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE 
THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS AND 
ANSWERS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO 
MONITOR THEM.
>> Catherine: AN IMPORTANT 
MOMENT FOR THE OPPOSITION PARTY 
TO ESSENTIALLY SHOW THEIR VALUE 
IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS RIGHT NOW 
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF 
PARLIAMENT AND HOLDING THE 
GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT.
I THOUGHT THERE WERE A FEW 
INTERESTING POINTS THERE, 
PARTICULARLY WHEN ANDREW SCHEER 
PRESSED THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT
WHAT WAS HAPPENING ABOUT AID TO 
THE OIL PATCH.
AT ONE POINT THE PRIME MINISTER 
SAID THERE WILL BE AID COMING AS
WE LOOK FOR SECTORAL SOLUTIONS.
MR. SCHEER RAISED THE POINT THAT
THIS IS AID TO THE OIL PATCH 
THAT WOULD BE COMING IN SOME 
TIME AND IT WAS SAID TO BE 
COMING IN HOURS OR DAYS AND NOW 
IT'S BEEN WEEKS.
THERE WAS LOTS OF QUESTIONS 
ABOUT THE OIL PATCH SPECIFICALLY
BECAUSE OF COURSE THEY'RE ALSO 
DEALING WITH ON TOP OF 
EVERYTHING ELSE THE IMPACT OF 
HISTORICALLY LOW OIL PRICES.
MORE AND MORE WE HEAR THE 
GOVERNMENT TALKING NOT ONLY 
ABOUT THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR, 
BUT ALSO AIRLINES, THE 
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
SO WE'RE WAITING TO SEE 
PRECISELY WHAT FORM THAT WOULD 
TAKE IN ADDITION TO THE KINDS OF
MEASURES WE'RE SEEING TODAY AND 
TALK ABOUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO SEE 
THE PRIME MINISTER PRESSED ON 
REPORTING BY THE CBC'S OWN 
MURRAY BREWSTER ABOUT THESE 
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS THAT CAME 
FROM A LITTLE-KNOWN PORTION OF 
THE MILITARY THAT LOOKS AT 
INTELLIGENCE THAT HAS TO DO WITH
HEALTH ISSUES.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED 
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND WE HEARD 
PIERRE POILIÈVRE ASKING, WHEN 
DID YOU GET THE INFORMATION?
WHEN DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE 
THREAT POSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS 
SPECIFICALLY FROM THIS 
INTELLIGENCE UNIT?
THE PRIME MINISTER NOT REALLY 
BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT.
HE SAID, OF COURSE WE HAVE 
ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE SHARING 
FROM OUR PARTNERS, BUT DIDN'T 
SAY SPECIFICALLY WHETHER HE 
PERSONALLY SAW THOSE REPORTS 
BECAUSE MURRAY BREWSTER'S 
REPORTING SAYS IT WOULD HAVE 
BEEN IN NATIONAL DEFENCE, BUT 
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THAT 
WOULD BE PASSED ALONG TO PUBLIC 
HEALTH.
ALSO INTERESTING JAGMEET SINGH 
TRYING TO PUSH THE N.D.P.'S 
POINT OF VIEW THAT THE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE BENEFIT SHOULD BE OPEN 
TO ALL CANADIANS.
HE TRIED TO PIN THE PRIME 
MINISTER DOWN, SAYING WHY DON'T 
YOU SAY ANYONE WHO NEEDS THIS 
HELP CAN ACCESS IT.
THE PRIME MINISTER PIVOTED AND 
SAID THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
HELP CANADIANS FURTHER.
NOT THE ANSWER MR. SINGH WAS 
LOOKING FOR.
>> Rosemary: RIGHT NOW 5.6 
MILLION CANADIANS HAVE APPLIED 
FOR THE CERB, WHICH IS 30% OF 
THE WORKFORCE.
IT IS PROBABLY GETTING TO THE 
PEOPLE PROEMS WHO DON'T HAVE A 
JOB AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN 
RETICENT TO GO DOWN THE PATH OF 
A PAYMENT TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE 
NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS IT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP, 
CATHARINE.
LET'S GO SOMEONE DIRECTLY 
WAITING FOR THIS WAGE SUBSIDY TO
BE PASSED.
MICHAEL CARMICHAEL OWNS CAR AUTO
AND HAS HAD TO LAY OFF FOUR OF 
HIS STAFF.
HE JOINS US FROM TORONTO.
>> Interview: GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> Rosemary: MICHAEL, YOU'VE 
LAID OFF HALF YOUR STAFF.
HAVE YOU INFORMED YOURSELF ABOUT
THE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM?
IS IT SOMETHING YOU MIGHT BE 
INTERESTED IN USING?
>> Interview: 100% AND I'LL TELL
YOU, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE
HEARD ABOUT IT, WE WERE VERY 
INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 
IT.
AS I SIT HERE AND WATCH THEM 
BANDY ABOUT IN THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS, THEY NEED TO MOVE ALONG
BECAUSE WE NEED IT.
>> Rosemary: HOW MANY PEOPLE 
HAVE YOU LAID OFF?
>> Interview: 26 PEOPLE OUT OF 
50.
>> Rosemary: HAS BUSINESS SHUT 
DOWN ENTIRELY?
>> Interview: WE'RE DEEMED AN 
ESSENTIAL SERVICE IN ONTARIO.
THERE'S SOME REAL CONFUSION 
AROUND WHETHER WE CAN -- WITH 
SELLING OF CARS AND TEST DRIVES 
AND SIGNING PAPERWORK.
THERE'S SOME GREY AREA THERE, 
BUT WE ARE OPEN FOR SERVICE AND 
PARTS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE FLAT 
TIRES AND DEAD BATTERIES AND 
WE'RE THERE TO DO THAT.
BUT IT IS NOT BUSINESS AS 
NORMAL.
>> Rosemary: SO IF -- PRESUMABLY
THIS IS GOING TO GET PASSED AND 
GET ROYAL ASSENT TODAY.
TODAY THE FINANCE MINISTER 
SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE MORE LIKE 
TWO TO FIVE WEEKS NOW, SO 
SHORTER THAN THEY INITIALLY 
SHOT.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HIRE 
BACK ALL THOSE PEOPLE YOU LAID 
OFF?
>> Interview: WELL, THE 
CHALLENGE WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW IS
JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT 
A LINE OF SIGHT TO GETTING 
THROUGH THIS.
LIQUIDITY AND CASH FLOW IS 
CRITICAL RIGHT NOW.
SO HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IS 
WE'VE BROUGHT BACK TWO PEOPLE, 
KNOWING THAT THAT WAGE SUBSIDY 
IS IN PROCESS.
WE ARE NOT LAYING OFF ANYBODY 
ELSE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE TRYING
TO GET AN IDEA IF WE'RE IN THIS 
FOR 18 MONTHS, AS THE PRIME 
MINISTER INDICATED AS WE LOOK AT
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WITH OR 
WITHOUT A VACCINE OR SOME SORT 
OF MEASURES TO ADDRESS THE VIRUS
ITSELF, IT'S A LONG TIME TO LOOK
FORWARD.
AS WE'RE MANAGING OUR CASH FLOW,
WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MOVES RIGHT
NOW OTHER THAN THE FIRST 
IMMEDIATE ONES WE'VE MADE.
WE'RE NOT LAYING ANY MORE OFF.
WE BROUGHT TWO THAT ARE MISSION 
CRITICAL.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY MADE A 
DIFFERENCE IN THOSE REHIRES.
>> Rosemary: IF YOU GOT UP TO 
75% FOR THE REST OF YOUR 
EMPLOYEES AND YOU COULD BRING 
THEM BACK, DO YOU SEE THE 
BENEFIT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY SAY IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THAT 
CONNECTION BETWEEN EMPLOYEE AND 
EMPLOYER?
>> Interview: 100% IT'S 
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND WE'VE 
UNDERTAKEN MEASURES ALREADY WITH
THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN LAID OFF.
WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM 
FREQUENTLY, KEEPING THEM 
UP-TO-DATE WITH THE VARIOUS 
EMPLOYMENT SUBSIDIES, THE CERB, 
AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE 
UNDERSTANDS HOW THAT WORKS.
MAINTAINING MOMENTUM IN OUR TEAM
IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
THE CHALLENGE AND THE BALANCE AS
A BUSINESS OWNER IS LOOKING 
FORWARD AT SAYING, OKAY, IF 
WE'RE IN THIS FOR 18 MONTHS WITH
OUR REVENUES DOWN OVER 60% IN 
THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF MARCH, HOW
MUCH CASH CAN WE BURN FOR HOW 
LONG?
SO IT'S A BALANCING ACT RIGHT 
NOW.
AS THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS 
BECOMES CLEAR AND WE START TO 
SEE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, 
ABSOLUTELY WE WILL BE BRINGING 
PEOPLE BACK AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
RIGHT NOW TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, 
IF WE'RE IN THIS FOR 18 MONTHS, 
TRYING TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON
CASH FLOW AND HOW MUCH WE CAN 
AFFORD TO BE INVESTING IN THAT 
OTHER 25% THAT WE WOULD BE 
PUTTING FORWARD TO BRING PEOPLE 
BACK. 
>> Rosemary: MICHAEL, I KNOW YOU
REPRESENT A LOT OF VOICES RIGHT 
NOW.
LET'S HOPE THEY GET THIS DONE 
TODAY SO THEY CAN START TO TAP 
INTO THIS FOR YOU AND YOUR 
EMPLOYEES.
>> Interview: ABSOLUTELY 
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> Rosemary: MICHAEL CARMICHAEL 
PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF UPAUTO.
>>> WE ARE EXPECTING THE FINANCE
MINISTER, BILL MORNEAU, TO 
APPEAR IN FRONT OF THE SENATE 
LATER ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM 
SENATORS.
IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, 
THIS LEGISLATION SHOULD RECEIVE 
ROYAL ASSENT TONIGHT AND THE 
FINANCE MINISTER SUGGESTED TODAY
IT COULD BE AVAILABLE TO 
EMPLOYERS IN TWO TO FIVE WEEKS.
AS THAT WAS HAPPENING AND WE 
WILL BRING YOU UP-TO-DATE ON 
THIS AFTER A SHORT COMMERCIAL, 
BUT QUÉBEC'S PREMIER DID APPEAR 
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE HE 
CONFIRMED 31 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN
THAT ONE LONG-TERM CARE HOME, 
FIVE OF THEM BECAUSE OF COVID, 
BUT THE POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED 
IN TO LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPENED IN
THAT LONG-TERM CARE HOME, THE 
PREMIER CALLING IT A CASE OF 
GROSS NEGLIGENCE.
NOW 40 LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES IN
THE PROVINCE WILL NOW BE LOOKED 
AT BY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, 
AS OF COURSE THE ELDERLY AND THE
OLDER PEOPLE IN OUR POPULATION 
CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST 
VULNERABLE IN THIS PANDEMIC.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS TAKING 
TOMORROW OFF FOR HIS BRIEFING 
AND MONDAY TO SPEND SOME TIME 
WITH HIS FAMILY.
HE WILL BE BACK AGAIN ON 
TUESDAY, SO SO WILL I.
MICHAEL SERAPIO WILL PICK UP 
YOUR COVERAGE FOR THE REST OF 
THE DAY.
