CONFIRMED, THE CANADIAN FORCES 
HELICOPTER OVERSEAS IN THE 
WATERS BETWEEN GREECE AND ITALY,
AND THE DEATH ALSO NOW CONFIRMED
OF A CANADIAN CREW MEMBER ON 
THAT CHOPPER.
SHE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 
SUB-LIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH OF NOVA SCOTIA.
WE NOW KNOW THERE ARE SIX 
CANADIANS ON BOARD, ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH THE FIRST CONFIRMED 
VICTIM.
THE PRIME MINISTER, PRIME 
MINISTER TRUDEAU, WILL BE 
ACCOMPANIED TODAY BY THE 
MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, 
HARJIT SAJJAN.
DEPUTY MINISTER OF NATIONAL 
DEFENCE AS WELL.
SO A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT 
PERSPECTIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF 
THAT CRASH THAT HAPPENED 
OVERNIGHT OFF THE SHORE OF 
GREECE.
I'M SURE THE PRIME MINISTER WILL
TAKE OTHER QUESTIONS AS WELL.
THERE IS A LOT ON THE GO IN THE 
NATION'S CAPITAL TODAY, BOTH A 
CABINET MEETING, THE PRIME 
MINISTER EXPECTED TO HAVE A CALL
WITH PREMIERS AND TERRITORIAL 
LEADERS.
THERE IS TALK THAT MAJOR GUN 
RESTRICTIONS COULD COME INTO 
EFFECT TOMORROW.
SO MANY, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS 
AS WELL AS OF COURSE THE REGULAR
PANDEMIC BRIEFING WHICH WILL 
HAPPEN AT NOON AND ANY ONGOING 
QUESTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE FOR THE 
PRIME MINISTER ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS THE RUMOUR, WE WILL SEE 
THE PRIME MINISTER NOT OUTSIDE 
OF HIS HOME, RIDEAU COTTAGE 
TODAY, BUT BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A 
BUSY DAY, AND LIKELY BECAUSE OF 
THE CABINET MEETING, THE PRIME 
MINISTER WILL MAKE AN AEARANCE
THERE IN THE WEST BLOCK AT 11:15
EASTERN.
LOTS OF HELP IN MY COVERAGE OF 
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS 
TODAY.
TO JOIN ME, THIS CBC'S MURRAY 
BREWSTER WHO IS OUR DEFENCE -- 
SENIOR DEFENCE WRITER FOR CBC 
NEWS.
HE IS HERE.
DAVID COCHRANE OF CBC AND VASSY 
KAPELOS OF "POWER & POLITICS".
ALL OF THESE SMART INDIVIDUALS 
WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW AND
BREAK DOWN WHAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER HAS TO SAY.
I'M GOING TO START WITH MURRAY 
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN 
TALKING TO A LOT OF SOURCES AT 
THIS STAGE, MURRAY, IN THE 
CANADIAN MILITARY AND SOURCES AT
NATO.
WHAT'S THE LATEST ON WHAT YOU'RE
HEARING?
>> WHAT WE CAN CONFIRM, ROSY, IS
THAT SIX CANADIANS ARE AMONG THE
VICTIMS.
THERE WERE ONLY SIX PEOPLE ON 
THE HELICOPTER.
WE CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE WERE 
FOUR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL 
CANADIAN AIR FORCE AND TWO 
MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN 
NAVY.
NOW A CYCLONE HELICOPTER IS AN 
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE 
HELICOPTER, USUALLY CARRYING 
FOUR CREW MEMBERS.
THOSE ARE QUESTIONS WE'LL HAVE 
TO BE ASKING INCLUDE WHY THERE 
WERE TWO NAVAL PERSONNEL ABOARD 
THAT HELICOPTER AT THE TIME.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE HAS HAS 
BEEN ONE CONFIRMED VICTIM NAMED 
AND NAMED BY THEIR FAMILY.
MOST OF THE INFORMATION THAT 
WE'VE BEEN GETTING HAS BEEN 
COMING FROM NATO AND NATO 
SOURCES ABOUT THE INCIDENT, 
INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE 
HELICOPTER IS MISSING, A SEARCH 
AND RESCUE OPERATION WAS UNDER 
WAY, AND EVEN THAT THE 
HELICOPTER HAD CRASHED.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE 
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE 
HAS ONLY INDICATED AT LEAST 
FORMALLY THAT ONE OF THE 
HELICOPTERS HAD DISAPPEARED AND 
THAT THEY HAD NOTIFIED FAMILY.
SO THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO 
BE SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT 
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT KNEW ABOUT 
THE INCIDENT.
WE CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE 
AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN IN THE AIR 
EARLY EVENING, AND IT WAS LIKELY
INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF 
TRAINING ACTIVITY.
THAT IS PERHAPS TRAINING FOR 
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE.
IT WAS WITH A NATO TASK GROUP 
THAT PATROLS AS PART OF 
DETERRENCE AGAINST RUSSIAN 
AGGRESSION.
>> Rosemary: SOME OF THE OTHER 
TOUGH QUESTIONS WE CAN EXPECT 
TOO, MURRAY, WOULD BE AROUND THE
STATE OF THE HELICOPTER ITSELF.
OBVIOUSLY VERY, VERY EARLY 
STAGES OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT 
HAPPENED, BUT THESE CYCLONES ARE
MILITARIZED VERSIONS OF 
SIKORSKYS AND HAVE NOT BEEN 
WITHOUT THEIR PROBLEMS.
>> EXACTLY.
NOW THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE 
DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS MOSTLY.
WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE 
SERVICE HISTORY OF THE 
HELICOPTER AT THE MOMENT.
IT'S ONLY BEEN IN SERVICE WITH 
ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE FOR 
ABOUT TWO YEARS, BUT WHAT WE DO 
KNOW IS THAT IT TOOK ABOUT A 
DOZEN YEARS FOR SIKORSKY TO BE 
ABLE TO FULLY MILITARIZE THE 
HELICOPTER.
MILITARIZE MEANS HARDENING THE 
AIRFRAME, PUTTING IN PERHAPS 
MORE POWERFUL ENGINES THAT ARE 
ABLE TO HANDLE THE EXTRA WEIGHT 
OF THE HELICOPTER BECAUSE OF ALL
OF ITS ELECTRONIC GEAR THAT HAS 
GONE ON.
IT WAS A VERY TORTURED PROCESS 
IN TERMS OF GETTING THIS 
HELICOPTER INTO SERVICE.
AT ONE POINT THE AUDITOR 
GENERAL, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, 
ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO NOW, 
CRITICIZED THE PROGRAM FOR 
ITS -- FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME IT
WAS TAKING TO GET INTO SERVICE 
BUT ALSO THE COST OVERRUNS THAT 
TOOK PLACE, AND I MEAN, AT ONE 
POINT THE FORMER CONSERVATIVE 
GOVERNMENT LOOKED AT POSSIBLY 
SCRAPPING THIS PARTICULAR 
PROGRAM AND GOING WITH PERHAPS 
MORE OFF-THE-SHELF VERSION OF A 
HELICOPTER BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY 
AGREEING TO MILITARIZE ONE 
HELICOPTER IS ALMOST LIKE TRYING
TO BUILD A NEW HELICOPTER FROM 
SCRATCH.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE 
PROBLEMS THAT THEY FACED.
IN TERMS OF THE AIRCRAFT 
SERVICEABILITY, THE AIR FORCE 
HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE 
AIRCRAFT.
WE DO KNOW THAT IT WAS INVOLVED 
IN ONE INCIDENT, ONE SHIPBOARD 
INCIDENT WHILE -- IN THE PACIFIC
OCEAN LAST YEAR.
THE HELICOPTER WAS GOING TO LAND
ON THE CANADIAN RENTED SUPPLY 
SHIP ASTRIX WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED 
A HARD LANDING.
BASICALLY SMACKED INTO THE DECK.
SO THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH
IT, BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE 
INDICATED THIS KIND OF TRAGEDY.
>> Rosemary: MM-HM.
AND AGAIN, OF COURSE, WE DON'T 
KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF 
EXACTLY WHAT UNFOLDED OVER THE 
COURSE OF THE PAST 12 HOURS OR 
SO, BUT THOSE WILL BE SOME OF 
THE THINGS THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY
COME UP FOR THE MINISTER, THE 
PRIME MINISTER AND THE CHIEF OF 
THE DEFENCE STAFF.
MURRAY, I'LL GET YOU TO STAND BY
FOR A MOMENT AS I BRING IN VASSY
KAPELOS.
I KNOW YOU WERE CHASING THIS 
STORY LAST NIGHT, INTO THE WEE 
HOURS AS WELL, ABOUT WHAT YOU 
MIGHT HAVE LEARNED OR WHAT 
PEOPLE WERE TELLING YOU AS THE 
STORY DEVELOPED LAST NIGHT.
>> Vassy: I MEAN, AS MURRAY 
POINTED OUT, I THINK THE MOST 
IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT FACT FOR
US TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS 
THAT SIX CANADIANS WERE INVOLVED
IN THIS.
IT'S NOT SURPRISING, CONSIDERING
IT IS A CANADIAN HELICOPTER, SO 
IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE A CANADIAN 
CREW.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM SPEAKING 
WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, GREECE'S 
AMBASSADOR TO CANADA IS THERE IS
A LOT LESS -- EVEN THOUGH THIS 
WAS TOTALLY WITHIN NORMAL 
DUTIES, THIS WAS A VERY ROUTINE 
APPARENTLY OPERATION AT THE 
TIME, BECAUSE OF COVID-19 
RESTRICTIONS AND BECAUSE OF THE 
SORT OF ON-SET OF COVID-19, 
CREWS WERE KEPT SMALLER AND THEY
WERE ALSO KEPT TO, AS MUCH AS 
POSSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 
NATO MISSION, TO STAY WITHIN 
SORT OF ONE COUNTRY.
THAT'S PART OF THIS AS THIS 
EVOLVES, BASICALLY.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD POINT 
OUT AND WHAT I LEARNED FROM 
GREECE'S AMBASSADOR IS THAT THE 
SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION THAT 
IS ONGOING RIGHT NOW WILL TAKE 
PLACE OVER 72 HOURS.
THAT'S ALSO PRETTY NORMAL.
THE CRASH ITSELF HAPPENED, AS 
MURRAY POINTED OUT, IN THE EARLY
EVENING.
IT WAS NOT PITCH BLACK AT THE 
TIME, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
A COUPLE OF SOURCES HAVE POINTED
OUT TO ME, JUST BECAUSE OF -- 
THAT IT WAS IN GREECE, IT WAS 
NOT SORT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE 
NIGHT.
THE VISION WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY,
AND MURRAY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT
THE WEATHER AND SO DID THE GREEK
AMBASSADOR AT THE TIME WAS NOT, 
YOU KNOW, AN IMPEDIMENT AT ALL.
SO AS YOU POINT OUT, ROSY, THERE
ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT 
WHAT HAPPENED.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT 
INVESTIGATION IS AT THE EARLIEST
POSSIBLE STAGES, OBVIOUSLY, 
BECAUSE THE SEARCH AND RESCUE 
MISSION IS ONGOING RIGHT NOW.
THE OTHER THING, WHERE THAT 
MISSION IS CONCERNED, IS THAT 
THIS HAPPENED IN INTERNATIONAL 
WATERS, AND THE SORT OF BODY 
THAT GOVERNS OR THAT IS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AREA IS 
ACTUALLY BASED IN ITALY, SO 
THERE ARE A LOT OF ITALIAN 
VESSELS AS WELL AS HELICOPTERS 
HELPING WITH THE SEARCH AND 
RESCUE MISSION RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THAT GREECE HAS OFFERED 
TO PROVIDE ANY OF THOSE -- ANY 
OF THAT EQUIPMENT AS WELL TO 
TAKE PART IN THE SEARCH, BUT 
THAT'S WHERE THINGS STAND AT THE
MOMENT.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, AND OF COURSE
WE'RE STANDING BY TO HEAR WHAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER, HIS MINISTER
OF DEFENCE AND THE CHIEF OF THE 
DEFENCE STAFF HAVE TO SAY.
JUST A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION 
ABOUT THE ONE IDENTIFIED VICTIM 
AT THIS STAGE, I BELIEVE SOME 
DEBRIS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED AND 
REPORTS ALSO THAT A BODY HAS 
BEEN SPOTTED AS THE SEARCH AND 
RECOVERY PERIOD CONTINUES, BUT 
SUB-LIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH WAS A MARINE SYSTEM 
ENGINEERING OFFICER IN THE NAVY.
SHE WAS 23 YEARS OLD.
SHE GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL 
MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA IN 
2008, AND BY A STRANGE TWIST OF 
FATE, SHE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF 
THE BAGPIPERS ON HMCS 
FREDERICTON THAT PERFORMED FOR 
THE RAMPAGE THAT KILLED 22 
PEOPLE IN NOVA SCOTIA.
SHE, HERSELF, IS FROM THERE.
SO A DIFFICULT DAY ON A WHOLE 
OTHER FRONT.
DAVID, I'M GOING TO BRING YOU IN
TO TALK ABOUT OTHER TOPICS THAT 
MIGHT COME UP.
THERE'S ABBIGAIL COWBROUGH.
I'M JUST GOING TO LET HER PLAY 
FOR A MINUTE MAYBE.
(BAGPIPING). 
(BAGPIPING). 
♪
>> Rosemary: OKAY, AND THAT IS 
SUB-LIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH PERFORMING ON HMCS 
FREDERICTON, JUST ONE OF THE 
LIVES LOST IN THAT CRASH.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT 
THAT IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES' 
TIME.
DAVID, I DO WANT TO TALK TO YOU 
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE 
OTHER TOPICS THE PRIME MINISTER 
WILL LIKELY GET QUESTIONS ABOUT.
GUN RESTRICTIONS IS ONE OF THEM 
BECAUSE WE DO EXPECT AS EARLY AS
TOMORROW, PERHAPS AN 
INTRODUCTION OF GUN PROHIBITION,
AND THAT IS HAPPENING -- I MEAN,
IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY, 
BUT CERTAINLY THE URGENCY AFTER 
THE SHOOTING IN NOVA SCOTIA 
MIGHT BE MORE PRESSING BECAUSE 
OF THAT AND THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT
BE ACTING BECAUSE OF THAT 
URGENCY NOW TOO.
>> David: YEAH, IT'S -- IT'S 
SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD 
SIGNALLED BACK IN THE WINTER 
CABINET RETREAT IN WINNIPEG THAT
THEY WERE GOING TO DO, LIKELY 
THROUGH REGULATION, AN 
ORDER-IN-COUNCIL, NOT 
LEGISLATION THAT IS REQUIRED TO 
GO TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, BUT 
SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO 
THROUGH REGULATIONS WITH CABINET
APPROVAL AND WITH CABINET 
SCHEDULED TO MEET TODAY, I 
SUSPECT -- THEY DON'T SHARE THE 
CABINET AGENDA WITH US, BUT THIS
WILL BE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE 
AGENDA.
AND TO SUMMARIZE THE REPORTING, 
FIRST IN "THE GLOBE AND MAIL", 
THEN OUR COLLEAGUES AT 
RADIO-CANADA AND JEAN PAUL 
TASKER HAS AN ARTICLE UP ON OUR 
WEBSITE, BILL BLAIR, THE PUBLIC 
SAFETY MINISTER HAS DRAWN UP A 
LIST OF FIREARMS HE RECOMMENDS 
TO BE BANNED IN CANADA.
TRUDEAU IS REVIEWING THE LIST.
IT'S AN EXTENSIVE LIST, M14 
RIFLES, BERETTA, STORM CARBINES 
AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF WEAPONS 
WHICH ENORMOUS FIRE POWER AND 
DEADLY POTENTIAL.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE HANDGUNS.
THEY NEED TO LEGISLATE THAT, AND
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO THERE IS 
NEW POWERS ON HANDGUNS TO GIVE 
MUNICIPALITIES THE POWER TO 
ENACT THEIR OWN RESTRICTIONS ON 
HANDGUNS.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WERE 
PROMISED DURING THE ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN.
IT WAS A CORE PART OF THEIR 
PUBLIC SAFETY PITCH, IN 
PARTICULAR TO VOTERS IN THE 905 
REGION AND PLACES LIKE THE LOWER
MAINLAND OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.
THEY HAD INTENDED TO MOVE ON 
THIS, OR SO THEY TELL US, BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC STRUCK, BUT THAT 
CHANGED PLANS AND PERHAPS THE 
MASSACRE IN NOVA SCOTIA GAVE 
THEM SOME URGENCY TO ACT ON 
THIS.
SO I SUSPECT THE PRIME MINISTER 
WILL BE ASKED ABOUT THIS TODAY.
THOUGH, ROSY, I SHOULD TELL YOU 
THAT THEY ARE STICKING WITH THE 
LIMITED FORMAT OF QUESTIONS THAT
WE NORMALLY SEE WHEN THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS OUTSIDE RIDEAU 
COTTAGE, DESPITE THE FACT HE IS 
NOW IN THE WEST BLOCK WITH THE 
DEFENCE MINISTER AND THE CHIEF 
OF THE DEFENCE STAFF WITH 
FOLLOW-UPS WITH REPORTERS ON THE
PHONE AND FOUR QUESTIONS FROM 
REPORTERS IN THE ROOM, AND THAT 
WILL BE THE EXTENT OF IT.
AND WITH THIS -- YOU KNOW, THIS 
LATEST TRAGEDY, 2020 HAS BEEN A 
TERRIBLE YEAR IN CANADA.
IT STARTED WITH THE IRANIAN 
PLANE BEING SHOT DOWN KILLING 
HUNDREDS, A PANDEMIC THAT HAS 
KILLED THOUSANDS, A MASSACRE IN 
NOVA SCOTIA THAT HAS KILLED 
DOZENS AND NOW A HELICOPTER 
CRASH THAT HAS KILLED SIX MORE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE WILL 
GET TO THESE OTHER TOPICS 
BECAUSE OF THE MORE URGENT 
IMMEDIATE FOCUS OF THE FACT 
THAT, AS MURRAY TELLS US, SIX 
CANADIAN SOLDIERS ARE MISSING 
AND PRESUMED DEAD.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, QUITE RIGHT.
AND YOU'RE ALSO RIGHT TO SAY 
THAT THE GUN RESTRICTIONS, OR 
THE PROHIBITIONS, WHAT IS ON THE
TABLE IS LIKELY TO GO IN FRONT 
OF CABINET TODAY, IF IT HASN'T 
ALREADY, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE IT 
WILL GET DISCUSSED ONE LAST 
TIME, AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING 
ABOUT SOME OF THE REPORTING OUR 
COLLEAGUE DID WAS THAT THE 
CHOICE OF WEAPONS THAT YOU 
TALKED ABOUT THERE, TO BE 
PROHIBITED, IN THE DESCRIPTION 
OF THOSE WEAPONS THEY ALSO 
INCLUDED WHERE THEY HAD BEEN 
USED.
SO THE 15 FOR INSTANCE AT SANDY 
HOOK THAT USED THE POLYTECHNIQUE
WEAPON IS ON THAT LIST, DAWSON 
COLLEGE WEAPON IS ON THAT LIST.
SO IT WAS AN INTERESTING SORT OF
POLITICAL FRAMING AROUND THOSE 
WEAPONS BECAUSE, OF COURSE, 
THERE ARE GUN RIGHTS OWNERS AND 
ACTIVISTS WHO DON'T BELIEVE THAT
ASSAULT WEAPONS OF THIS KIND 
SHOULD BE RESTRICTED FOR 
LEGALLY -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO 
FOLLOW THE LAW AROUND GUNS.
AND THERE WILL BE OBVIOUSLY A 
LOT OF DEBATE AROUND THIS ISSUE,
AND IF IT CAN HAPPEN JUST 
THROUGH REGULATION RATHER THAN 
LEGISLATION, THAT ALSO -- A 
POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, ISSUE FOR 
THE GOVERNMENT, THAT IT WILL 
HAVE TO CONTEND WITH AT SOME 
POINT.
>> David: AND ROSY, IF I COULD 
JUST ADD, I'M TOLD THAT ONE OF 
THE WEAPONS THAT ARE BELIEVED TO
BE USED IN THE NOVA SCOTIA 
TRAGEDY ARE COVERED, IS COVERED 
BY THIS CLASSIFICATION OF 
WEAPONS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO 
BAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS ADDED 
POST-NOVA SCOTIA OR HAPPENED TO 
BE ON THE LIST THAT THEY DRAFTED
UP EARLIER, BUT IT WILL COVER AT
LEAST ONE OF THE WEAPONS 
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN USED.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
NOTE.
AND THE OTHER WEAPONS -- SOME OF
THE OTHER WEAPONS WE BELIEVE 
WERE OBTAINED THROUGH THE UNITED
STATES, AND I WOULD IMAGINE IN A
LEGAL FASHION, THE RCMP ARE 
LOOKING AT THAT.
WE ARE STANDING BY TO BRING YOU 
TO THAT ROOM THERE IN THE WEST 
BLOCK THAT HAS BECOME FAMILIAR 
TO YOU JUST BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THESE REGULAR BRIEFINGS ON 
COVID-19 ARE HELD.
TODAY, THOUGH, THE ATTENTION 
TURNING TO, AS DAVID SAID, JUST 
ANOTHER TRAGEDY IN WHAT HAS BEEN
A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR FOR THIS 
COUNTRY.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF 
THAT WITH THIS CRASH OF THE 
CYCLONE HELICOPTER OFF THE COAST
OF GREECE.
IT WAS INVOLVED IN A NATO 
MISSION, AND MURRAY AND VASSY 
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT 
ALL SIX PEOPLE ON BOARD WERE 
CANADIANS.
AND WE DO HAVE IDENTIFIED ONE OF
THE VICTIMS AT THIS STAGE.
I'LL GO BACK TO MURRAY AS WE'RE 
WAITING.
MURRAY, I MAY INTERRUPT YOU, BUT
I'LL JUST BRING YOU BACK.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE
MAY NEED TO KEEP IN MIND HERE, 
MAYBE YOU COULD JUST TELL US A 
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE NATO 
MISSION ITSELF.
AS VASSY SAID, THIS WAS SORT OF 
A REGULAR TRAINING MISSION.
IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING 
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
YOU KNOW, I GUESS ACCIDENTS CAN 
HAPPEN, BUT MAYBE YOU COULD JUST
BRING US UP TO SPEED ON WHAT 
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING OVER 
THERE AT ALL.
>> WELL, THE NATO MISSION IS A 
DETERRENCE MISSION.
IT'S MEANT TO KEEP RUSSIA IN 
CHECK IN EASTERN EUROPE, AND 
NATO HAS TWO TASK GROUPS, NAVAL 
TASK GROUPS, AND ONE OF THEM 
PATROLS THE MEDITERRANEAN, AND 
CANADA REGULARLY CONTRIBUTES TO 
THAT PARTICULAR MISSION.
IN FACT, IT'S COMMANDED THAT 
TASK GROUP A NUMBER OF MONTHS 
AGO.
AND WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING IS 
THEY WOULD BE TRAINING FOR 
ANTI-SUBMARINE ACTIVITY, 
TRACKING RUSSIAN SUBMARINE 
ACTIVITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
TENSIONS HAVE BEEN HEIGHTENED 
WITH RUSSIA, THERE HAS BEEN AN 
ENORMOUS INCREASE IN SUBMARINE 
ACTIVITY BY RUSSIA, NOT ONLY IN 
THE NORTH ATLANTIC, BUT AS WELL 
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
SO PART OF THIS WOULD BE FOR THE
HELICOPTER TO BE KEEPING TABS ON
ANY POTENTIAL RUSSIAN SUBMARINES
THAT MIGHT BE SHADOWING THEM, 
AND PART OF THE TRAINING 
EXERCISE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE 
CYCLONE THAT MAKES IT UNIQUE IS 
THE ELECTRONICS THAT ARE INSIDE.
IT IS ESSENTIALLILY A FLYING 
iPOD, IF I CAN PUT IT THAT WAY, 
IN TERMS OF ITS ABILITY TO BE 
ABLE TO TRACK OBJECTS AND DO 
SURVEILLANCE.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE SELLING 
FEATURES FOR IT, SO THIS COULD 
VERY WELL HAVE BEEN PART OF THE 
TRAINING THAT WAS TAKING PLACE.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IN 
MY MIND, ASIDE FROM WHAT VASSY 
HAD MENTIONED ABOUT THE COVID-19
RESTRICTIONS AND RESTRICTING 
CREW SIZE ON MISSIONS IS WHAT 
WERE TWO NAVAL TECHNICIANS DOING
ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE 
TIME.
AND SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF 
THE THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE 
BEEN ENGAGED IN, BUT WE'LL HAVE 
TO SEE BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE 
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN
VERY FORTHCOMING ABOUT THIS.
>> Rosemary: MAYBE I'LL JUST GET
YOU TO, YOU KNOW, SPEAK A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
IT DOES SOUND LIKE THE MAJORITY 
OF INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED, 
AT LEAST ON THE RECORD, 
CERTAINLY, HAS COME FROM NATO 
AND FROM THE GREEK AMBASSADOR TO
VASSY.
WHAT WOULD BE THE -- WOULD IT BE
CONTACTING NEXT OF KIN?
WOULD IT BE CONCERN AROUND 
PRIVACY?
WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON WHY WE 
WOULD BE GETTING MORE 
INFORMATION FROM ELSEWHERE?
>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE PART OF 
IT, BECAUSE IN MANY RESPECTS 
THIS IS VERY MUCH LIKE SOME OF 
THE WORST DAYS IN AFGHANISTAN 
BECAUSE THE CANADIAN MILITARY 
AND THE CANADIAN PUBLIC HAVE 
SEEN TRAINING ACCIDENTS WHERE 
ONE OR TWO MEMBERS OF THE 
MILITARY, CF-18 PILOT WAS KILLED
IN A CRASH A COUPLE OF YEARS 
AGO.
WE HAD A SEARCH AND RESCUE 
TECHNICIAN WHO DIED, BUT IT'S 
VERY UNUSUAL FOR A TRAINING 
ACCIDENT OR SOME KIND OF 
ACCIDENT TO TAKE THE LIVES OF 
SIX PEOPLE ALL AT ONCE.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD SOMETHING 
LIKE THIS I SUGGEST WOULD HAVE 
BEEN SOME OF THE DARKEST DAYS IN
AFGHANISTAN WHEN THERE WERE 
ROADSIDE BOMBS TAKING OUT ENTIRE
ARMOURED VEHICLES.
SO THERE WAS A STRICT PROTOCOL 
THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN TERMS 
OF NOTIFICATION OF FAMILIES AND 
NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN, AS 
THEY CALLED IT IN AFGHANISTAN.
THERE WAS AN EMBARGO PLACED UPON
THE INFORMATION, AN EMBARGO 
PLACED UPON THE INCIDENT.
THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE PLAYED
INTO THE DELAY OF GETTING THE 
INFORMATION OUT TO THE CANADIAN 
PUBLIC AS TO WHAT HAPPENED.
BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE 
QUESTIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO 
ASK THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE 
STAFF.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, MURRAY, THANK
YOU FOR THAT.
MURRAY WILL STAND BY AS WELL TO 
HELP US WITH OUR COVERAGE AFTER 
SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS GET 
ASKED.
JUST AGAIN SHOW YOU THE ROOM, WE
ARE EXPECTING THE PRIME MINISTER
TODAY SOON, WE ARE TOLD, WITHIN 
THE NEXT THREE MINUTES OR SO.
TODAY HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED, 
THOUGH, BY HIS MINISTER OF 
NATIONAL DEFENCE, HARJIT SAJJAN,
THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF, 
JONATHAN VANCE, TO UPDATE US ON 
WHAT WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS 
NATO TRADING MISSION GONE SO 
TERRIBLY WRONG WITH SIX 
CANADIANS ON-BOARD.
I JUST WANT TO BRING YOU UP TO 
SPEED ON A COUPLE OF OTHER 
THINGS, THOUGH, THAT HAVE 
HAPPENED OVERNIGHT THAT ARE NOT 
UNIMPORTANT AS WELL, AND THAT IS
THE STUDENT AID LEGISLATION THAT
WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT YESTERDAY,
THAT $9 BILLION PACKAGE THAT THE
PROPOSED TO HELP MANY STUDENTS 
IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE 
STRUGGLING, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO 
FIND WORK, WORRY ABOUT HOW 
THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR TUITION
MOVING FORWARD.
THAT LEGISLATION DID, IN FACT, 
PASS THE HOUSE OF COMMONS LAST 
NIGHT, WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO THE 
SENATE LATER THIS AFTERNOON, 
EXPECTED TO GET ROYAL ASSENT 
FAIRLY QUICKLY.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF 
CONCESSIONS MADE BY THE 
GOVERNMENT AFTER SOME PUSHING 
BACK BY OPPOSITION PARTIES, THE 
NDP IN PARTICULAR WANTED THE 
AMOUNT OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF 
BENEFIT FOR STUDENTS TO BE 
INCREASED UP TO $2,000, WHAT THE
CERB IS, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE 
DEPENDENTS OR DISABILITIES.
THAT HAPPENED.
AND THE CONSERVATIVES PUSHED 
HARD FOR SOME SORT OF MEASURE 
THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE STUDENTS 
TO WORK IF THEY COULD FIND 
EMPLOYMENT IN SOME OF THE 
PLACES, THE FRONT-LINE WORK, FOR
INSTANCE, THAT WE KNOW IS SO 
BADLY NEEDED, WHETHER IT BE 
FARMING OR GROCERY STORES OR 
CONTACT TRACING, ALL THE THINGS 
THAT ARE STILL HAPPENING RIGHT 
NOW.
SO THE GOVERNMENT, AS WELL, 
CONCEDED ON THAT POINT AND WILL 
SET UP A SORT OF JOB BANK 
SITUATION WHERE STUDENTS WHO 
WANT ACCESS TO THE BENEFIT ALSO 
HAVE TO SORT OF REGISTER IN THE 
JOB BANK TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE, 
IN FACT, LOOKING FOR A JOB IF 
ONE BECOMES AVAILABLE.
SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY FOR 
STUDENTS, AND THAT SHOULD START 
TO UNFOLD PRETTY RAPIDLY.
THESE PROGRAMS DO UNFOLD PRETTY 
RAPIDLY, BUT OF COURSE IT'S NOT 
GOING TO BE THE FOCUS OF THE 
PRIME MINISTER'S CONVERSATION 
TODAY.
HE HAS A BUSY DAY AS WELL.
NOT ONLY WITH THIS BRIEFING 
FOCUSED ON THE ACCIDENT BUT ALSO
A CABINET MEETING LATER, A 
PREMIER AND TERRITORIAL 
MINISTERS CALL WHICH I'M SURE 
WILL VERY MUCH BE FOCUSED ON THE
REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY.
AND THEN POTENTIALLY AS DAVID 
AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS 
PROHIBITION OF GUNS COMING 
TOMORROW.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER, I'LL BRING BACK VASSY 
IF I CAN.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT PART OF THAT 
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I 
DID WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FACT 
THAT THE LEGISLATION ACTUALLY 
MOVED FORWARD BECAUSE SOMETIMES 
WE -- YOU KNOW, THE STORY IS 
WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON 
RIGHT NOW IN THE NEWS CYCLE THAT
WE LOSE TRACK OF THEM, BUT THAT 
IS HAPPENING AND IT'S IMPORTANT 
FOR STUDENTS TO REALIZE THAT 
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF CHANGES 
THERE, BUT THAT IT IS MOVING 
FORWARD.
>> Vassy: -- AID PACKAGE, AND 
YOU'RE RIGHT, MY UNDERSTANDING 
IS THE APPLICATIONS FOR IT WILL 
OPEN WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, 
AND IT WILL MOVE VERY MUCH LIKE 
THE CERB, SO IF YOU HAVE A CRA 
ACCOUNT, THE MONEY WILL GO INTO 
YOUR ACCOUNT VERY QUICKLY AFTER 
YOUR APPLICATION IS APPROVED.
I THINK THE ONE THING I WOULD 
TOUCH ON OUT OF THAT IS WE ARE 
ALSO GETTING A PICTURE FROM THE 
PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET WATCHDOG 
TODAY OF JUST HOW HUGE THE 
FISCAL IMPACT OF EVERYTHING THAT
HAS GONE ON OVER THE LAST SIX 
WEEKS WILL BE INCLUDING THE 
MEASURES ANNOUNCED BY THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO FAR AS FAR
AS FINANCIAL AID GOES.
THEY ARE LOOKING AT A DEFICIT OF
MORE THAN $250 BILLION.
THE DEBT IN A FEW YEARS WILL 
HIT, BECAUSE OF ALL THIS, NOT 
JUST WHAT THEIR SPENDING BUT THE
DECREASED AMOUNT THEY ARE TAKING
IN, DEPLETED REVENUES AS WELL, 
THE DEBT WILL HIT NEARLY A 
TRILLION DOLLARS, AND THAT'S 
JUST AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE 
SITUATION AS IT STANDS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMIC 
RECOVERY WILL LOOK LIKE, HOW 
SLOW IT MIGHT BE, THE CONTINUED 
EFFECT ON BUSINESSES, ON 
CONSUMERS AS, YOU KNOW, YOU 
CAN'T JUST TURN A KEY AND OPEN 
THINGS UP AGAIN.
SO JUST SORT OF A REVISED, 
REFRESHED LOOK AT HOW THE 
MAGNITUDE OF ALL OF THIS.
I KNOW SO MANY OF US THINKING 
ABOUT THAT AS, YOU KNOW, WE GO 
THROUGH LIVING THIS AND LIVING 
THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING 
MEASURES.
THERE'S SORT OF, LIKE, A BIRD'S 
EYE VIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT'S 
GOING ON, AND I THINK THE 
CONTRACTION OF THE ECONOMY IS 
ABOUT 12%, THEY ARE 
ANTICIPATING, WHICH IS THE 
BIGGEST ON RECORD EVER SINCE 
THEY STARTED KEEPING TRACK OF 
THIS IN 1961.
SO HARD TO UNDERSCORE HOW BIG A 
DEAL THIS ALL IS.
I KNOW WE'RE ALL LIVING THAT, 
BUT CERTAINLY THAT IS NEW 
INFORMATION AS WELL TODAY.
>> Rosemary: I SHOULD CORRECT 
MYSELF ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.
THE SENATE SITS TOMORROW, IN 
FACT.
I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE I KNOW 
SOME SENATORS ARE COMING BACK 
TODAY, BUT IT WILL SIT TOMORROW 
IN ORDER TO PASS THAT 
LEGISLATION.
AND AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE 
ECONOMIC PART OF THIS, BECAUSE 
OBVIOUSLY IF YOU FORCE PEOPLE TO
STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND NOT 
PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY, THE 
ECONOMY CONTRACTS SUBSTANTIVELY,
AND TODAY THERE WERE NEW JOB 
NUMBERS RELEASED FROM THE UNITED
STATES, 30 MILLION AMERICANS NOW
WITHOUT WORK, THAT HAS HAPPENED 
JUST OVER THE COURSE OF SIX 
WEEKS, JUST A STUNNING NUMBER.
IN THIS COUNTRY WE KNOW THAT 
THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL NUMBER OF
APPLICANTS JUST OVER 7 MILLION 
FOR THE CERB, BUT WE DO KNOW 
THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 
UNEMPLOYED IS LARGER THAN THAT.
OF COURSE THIS IS THE SAME WEEK 
THAT BUSINESSES ARE NOW ABLE TO 
TAP INTO THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAM AS AN ATTEMPT FOR 
BUSINESSES TO TRY TO GET SOME 
EMPLOYEES BACK ON THE PAYROLL, 
WHICH WILL, OF COURSE, THEN 
DECREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 
APPLYING FOR THE EMERGENCY 
RELIEF BENEFIT.
WE'RE ABOUT TWO MINUTES AWAY 
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER COMING 
OUT THERE TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
DIFFERENTLY THAN USUAL BECAUSE 
IT IS A DIFFERENT TOPIC.
AND ALSO BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT ON
THE GO TODAY.
HE IS AT WEST BLOCK TODAY.
HE HAS BEEN MOSTLY WORKING OUT 
OF HIS HOME, AS YOU KNOW WELL, 
AS MANY OF YOU ARE AS WELL.
BUT TODAY BECAUSE OF THE CABINET
MEETING AND OTHER THINGS HE WILL
BE AT THIS ROOM WHERE WE 
NORMALLY HAVE THE PANDEMIC 
BRIEFING.
THAT BRIEFING WILL STILL HAPPEN 
AT NOON EASTERN WITH OTHER 
CABINET MINISTERS AND PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS, SO WE WILL GET
STILL AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION
OF THE PANDEMIC WHICH HAS NOW IN
THIS COUNTRY PASSED SORT OF A 
DIRE MARKER, MORE THAN 3,000 
PEOPLE NOW DEAD IN THIS COUNTRY,
AND AS WE KNOW SO MANY OF THEM 
RELATED TO THOSE LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES.
SO THAT BRIEFING, THAT 
INFORMATION STILL TO COME AT 
NOON MOSTLY, BUT WE WOULD EXPECT
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE 
QUESTIONS TO THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE MINISTER OF THE DEFENCE 
STAFF, CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE 
STAFF ABOUT THIS DOWNING OF A 
HELICOPTER OFF THE COAST OF 
GREECE, A HELICOPTER THAT WAS 
BASED ON HMCS FREDERICTON.
AS WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING, SIX 
CANADIANS ON BOARD, AND ONE 
CONFIRMED VICTIM OF THAT CRASH 
NOW, SUB-LIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH, WHO WAS A MARINE 
SYSTEM ENGINEERING OFFICER IN 
THE NAVY.
SHE WAS 23.
SHE GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL 
MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA IN 
2018, AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN 
SOME NOTES FROM HER FATHER ON 
FACEBOOK, AND WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE 
CONFIRMED THAT WITH HER FAMILY 
MEMBERS.
HER FATHER, SHANE COWBOROUGH 
SAYING THAT HE LOST HIS OLDEST 
DAUGHTER IN THE CRASH, THAT 
THERE ARE NO WORDS, AND YOU HAVE
MADE ME FOREVER PROUD.
SHE TOO ALSO A TRIBUTE MADE TO 
ABBIGAIL BY HER LOCAL CHURCH.
SHE PARTICIPATED THERE AS WELL, 
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT SHE PLAYED
THE BAGPIPES, AND SHE DID THAT 
ON BOARD THE HMCS FREDERICTON 
NOT TOO LONG AGO TO HONOUR THOSE
WHO WERE KILLED IN THE SHOOTING 
RAMPAGE IN NOVA SCOTIA JUST A 
WEEK AGO.
JUST A LOT OF SADNESS RIGHT NOW.
SO WE WILL GET SOME MORE DETAILS
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER AS SOON 
AS HE EMERGES HERE WITH HIS 
MINISTER AND CHIEF OF THE 
DEFENCE STAFF.
I'LL GO BACK TO MURRAY, IF I 
CAN, UNLESS I SEE SOME 
MOVEMENT -- OH, I DO SEE SOME 
MOVEMENT, SO WHY DON'T WE GO 
INSIDE THE WEST BLOCK THERE TO 
GET AN UPDATE AND PERHAPS MORE 
DETAILS ABOUT HOW THIS ACCIDENT 
MAY HAVE UNFOLDED, AND MORE OF 
THE PEOPLE ON BOARD.
THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA, 
HARJIT SAJJAN, THE MINISTER OF 
NATIONAL DEFENCE, AND THE CHIEF 
OF THE DEFENCE STAFF.
LET'S LISTEN IN LIVE.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: GOOD 
MORNING, EVERYONE.
[ End of Interpretation ].
YESTERDAY A ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY 
HELICOPTER ON A NATO MISSION 
CARRYING SIX MEMBERS OF THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES WENT DOWN 
WITH ALL HANDS IN THE IONIAN SEA
OFF THE COAST OF GREECE.
THEY WERE FLYING FROM HMCS 
FREDERICTON, HOME PORT OF 
HALIFAX, AS PART OF OPERATION 
REASSURANCE.
ONE CASUALTY WAS RECOVERED AND 
FIVE ARE MISSING.
ALL OF THEM ARE HEROES.
EACH OF THEM WILL LEAVE A VOID 
THAT CANNOT BE FILLED.
ON BEHALF OF ALL CANADIANS, I 
WANT TO OFFER MY DEEPEST SUPPORT
TO THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR 
FRIENDS, THEIR SHIPMATES AND 
THEIR FELLOW CAS MEMBERS.
THIS IS ANOTHER VERY HARD DAY 
FOR HALIFAX, FOR NOVA SCOTIA AND
FOR OUR ARMED FORCES FAMILIES.
I SPOKE TO NATO 
SECRETARY-GENERAL STOLTENBERG 
EARLIER THIS MORNING WHO OFFERS 
SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IN THE 
TIMES TO COME.
IN THE COMING DAYS, THERE WILL 
BE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS
TRAGEDY OCCURRED, AND I CAN 
ASSURE YOU WE WILL GET ANSWERS 
IN DUE COURSE.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
YESTERDAY A HELICOPTER OF THE 
ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY WENT DOWN 
CARRYING SIX MEMBERS OF THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IN THE 
IONIAN SEA OFF OF THE COAST OF 
GREECE.
SIX OF THIS FRIGATE WAS PART OF 
THE HMCS OPERATION REASSURANCE 
MISSION, AND THERE WAS ONE 
CASUALTY RECOVERED AND FIVE 
PEOPLE MISSING.
THEY ARE ALL HEROES.
ON BEHALF OF ALL CANADIANS, I 
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY SUPPORT 
TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND TO
THE MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES, TO THE PEOPLE OF 
HALIFAX AND TO THE PEOPLE OF 
NOVA SCOTIA.
WE ARE WITH YOU.
[ End of Interpretation ].
-- IN A SEASON OF GRIEF, A TIME 
OF HARDSHIP, HEARTBREAK AND LOSS
FOR SO MANY CANADIANS, THE MEN 
AND WOMEN OF THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES STAND TALL, BEARING THE 
MAPLE LEAF ON THEIR SHOULDERS, 
THEY ARE KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD 
AS BEACONS OF CIVILITY, 
COMPASSION AND COURAGE.
WHETHER COMBATTING TERRORISM, 
SUPPORTING OUR ALLIES OR PEACE 
OPERATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, 
THEY DO WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO, 
STEP TOWARDS DANGER SO THE REST 
OF US CAN STAY SAFE.
OPERATION REASSURANCE IS CANADA 
AT ITS BEST, BOLSTERING SECURITY
AND STABILITY IN CENTRAL AND 
EASTERN EUROPE.
HERE AT HOME WE TURN TO THE 
FORCES AND TIMES OF FLOOD, FIRE 
OR OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS.
THEY NEVER SAY NO.
THEY ALWAYS PUT THEIR SHOULDERS 
TO THE WHEEL.
AND NOW, AS WE BATTLE THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES ARE ON THE FRONT 
LINES IN OUR SENIORS HOMES 
HELPING TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR 
OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.
EVEN AS UP TO 915 SOLDIERS ARE 
DEPLOYED ON OPERATION 
REASSURANCE IN EUROPE, 
REINFORCING NATO'S COLLECTIVE 
DEFENCE, THE CAF WILL SOON HAVE 
MORE THAN 500 SERVING IN 13 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN AND
AROUND MONTREAL.
AND MORE WILL GO IN AS THEY ARE 
PREPARED FOR THIS WORK.
EARLIER THIS WEEK CAF TEAMS WERE
DEPLOYED TO ASSIST IN FIVE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN 
ONTARIO.
THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKING DAY AND
NIGHT HELPING TO PROTECT OUR 
PARENTS, OUR UNCLES, OUR AUNTS 
AND OUR GRANDPARENTS.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
AT THIS TIME OF GRIEF, THE WOMEN
AND THE MEN OF THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES KEEP THEIR HEADS 
HIGH, PROUDLY BEARING THE MAPLE 
LEAF.
THEY ARE RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE AS
MODELS OF CIVILITY, COMPASSION 
AND COURAGE.
WHETHER THEY ARE CALLED TO 
COMBAT TERRORISM, TO STAND 
ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS AND 
ALLIES, OR DURING PEACE 
OPERATIONS, THEY DO WHAT THEY 
ARE USED TO DOING.
THEY STEP TOWARDS DANGER TO 
ENSURE OUR SECURITY.
WE TURN TO THEM IN CANADA WHEN 
THERE IS A FLOOD, A FOREST FIRE 
OR ANOTHER NATURAL DISASTER.
THEY NEVER SAY NO.
THEY ARE ALWAYS READY.
AND NOW, AS WE'RE FACING A 
PANDEMIC, THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES ARE ONCE AGAIN HERE FOR 
US.
THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR 
SENIORS.
THEY ARE HELPING OUT AT SENIORS 
HOMES.
915 SOLDIERS ARE CURRENTLY 
PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION 
REASSURANCE AND SOON THERE WILL 
BE MORE THAN 500 MEMBERS OF THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN 
MONTREAL, AND OTHERS WILL JOIN 
THEM SOON.
EARLIER THIS WEEK MEMBERS OF THE
CAF WERE DEPLOYED IN FIVE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN 
ONTARIO.
OUR MEMBERS WORK DAY AND NIGHT 
TO PROTECT OUR PARENTS, OUR 
AUNTS AND UNCLES AND 
GRANDPARENTS.
THEY DESERVE OUR RECOGNITION.
[ End of Interpretation ].
WHETHER AT HOME OR ABROAD, THE 
WOMEN AND MEN OF THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES ARE THE HAND OF OUR
INTENTIONS, THE CONCRETE 
EXPRESSION OF OUR VALOUR AND 
VALUES AS CANADIANS.
AND SO WE STAND WITH THEM AND WE
HOLD OUT HOPE TO FIND THE 
MISSING.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR 
JOINING US.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO 
MINISTER SAJJAN, GENERAL VANCE, 
AND DEPUTY MINISTER THOMAS.
>> THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER HAS SAID, 
YESTERDAY WE LOST CONTACT WITH A
CH148 CYCLONE HELICOPTER 
DEPLOYED ON-BOARD HMCS 
FREDERICTON.
THE HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN 
AN ACCIDENT WHILE IT WAS 
PARTICIPATING IN NATO ALLIED 
EXERCISES AS PART OF OPERATION 
REASSURANCE OFF THE COAST OF 
GREECE IN THE IONIAN SEA.
SINCE YESTERDAY, I'VE HAD A 
NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF NATO.
WE REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH ITALY,
GREECE, THE UNITED STATES AND 
TURKEY, WHO ARE ASSISTING US IN 
THE SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS TO
HELP US FIND THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES MEMBERS WHO WERE ON THE 
HELICOPTER.
THROUGH THE NIGHT AND DAY SHIPS,
AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS WERE 
ENGAGED IN SEARCH AND RESCUE 
EFFORTS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OUR ALLIES 
FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS.
AS OF THIS MORNING, THIS IS WHAT
WE CURRENTLY KNOW.
THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT IS 
UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
WE CAN CONFIRM THE DEATH OF ONE 
MEMBER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN 
NAVY.
SEARCH EFFORTS ARE STILL ONGOING
FOR THE REMAINING FIVE MISSING 
MEMBERS.
WE HAVE RECOVERED THE FLIGHT 
DATA AND VOICE RECORDERS FROM 
THE HELICOPTER.
A CANADIAN ARMED FORCES FLIGHT 
SAFETY TEAM IS DEPARTING TODAY 
TO BEGIN THEIR WORK TO FIND 
ANSWERS FOR THE FAMILIES AND 
LOVED ONES.
AND THE FAMILIES AND MEMBERS ON 
THE HELICOPTER HAVE BEEN -- THE 
FAMILIES OF THE MEMBERS ON THE 
HELICOPTER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED 
BY THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.
THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF 
IS MAKING SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE
KEPT UP TO DATE WITH INFORMATION
ON THEIR LOVED ONES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ALL 
SUPPORT TO THE FAMILIES WHO ARE 
AFFECTED BY THIS.
AS WE RECEIVE NEW INFORMATION, 
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, THE 
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE 
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE 
CANADIANS AS SOON AS IT IS 
APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.
I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN WITH 
PARLIAMENTARY COLLEAGUES FROM 
THE CONSERVATIVE, BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS
AND NDP TO PROVIDE INFORMATION 
ON THE SITUATION, AND I WILL BE 
UPDATING THEM LATER TODAY.
OUR GOVERNMENT, THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES, THE DEPARTMENT OF 
NATIONAL DEFENCE AND ALL OF 
CANADA ARE WITH THE FAMILIES AND
LOVED ONES OF THE CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES MEMBERS WHO WERE ON THAT 
HELICOPTER.
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES MEMBERS 
COME FROM ACROSS CANADA TO SERVE
THEIR COUNTRY, BUT I KNOW THAT 
FOR THE COMMUNITY IN HALIFAX 
NOVA SCOTIA WHERE HMCS 
FREDERICTON AND WHERE THE CREW 
OF THIS CYCLONE HELICOPTER IS 
BASED, THIS INCIDENT IMPACTS 
THEM IN A PROFOUND WAY.
ALL OF OUR CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
MEMBERS SERVE OUR COUNTRY WITH 
DIGNITY AND COURAGE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR WOMEN 
AND MEN OF THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES FOR THE WORK THEY DO ON 
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS TO 
SUPPORT PEACE AND SECURITY 
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND THEIR EFFORTS HERE AT HOME 
DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES 
IN SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS TO 
STOP AND SLOW THE SPREAD OF 
COVID-19.
THIS SELFLESS SERVICE BY THE 
WOMEN AND MEN OF THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES IS WHAT OUR 
MILITARY IS KNOWN FOR.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THE
WORK THEY DO TO KEEP CANADIANS 
SAFE.
AND WE WILL BE THERE FOR THE 
FAMILIES, THE FRIENDS AND LOVED 
ONES DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
THANK YOU.
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT 
OVER TO GENERAL VANCE.
>> THANKS, MINISTER, PRIME 
MINISTER, GOOD MORNING, BONJOUR.
HMCS FREDERICTON AND ITS CYCLONE
HELICOPTER WERE DEPLOYED ON 
OPERATION REASSURANCE IN SUPPORT
OF NATO ASSURANCE AND DETERRENCE
MEASURES.
APPROXIMATELY 240 MEMBERS LEFT 
CANADA IN JANUARY 2020.
THEY HAD JUST MARKED THEIR 100TH
DAY ON OPERATIONS AND WERE DUE 
TO RETURN TO CANADA IN JULY.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
THE HMCS FREDERICTON WAS 
DEPLOYED AS PART OF A 
REASSURANCE MISSION TO DO 
ASSURANCE FOR NATO.
THERE WERE 240 MEMBERS WHO LEFT 
CANADA IN JANUARY, AND THEY HAD 
JUST SPENT THEIR 100TH DAY 
PARTICIPATING IN THE OPERATION 
AND THEY WERE EXPECTED TO COME 
BACK TO THE COUNTRY IN JULY.
[ End of Interpretation ].
-- TO TELL YOU THAT THE BODY OF 
SUB-LIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH, MARINE SYSTEMS 
ENGINEERING OFFICER, HAS BEEN 
RECOVERED, AND FIVE CREW MEMBERS
REMAIN MISSING.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
IT IS WITH DEEP SORROW THAT I 
ANNOUNCE THAT THE BODY OF
SUB-LIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH WAS FOUND AND FIVE 
MEMBERS OF THE TEAM ARE STILL 
MISSING.
[ End of Interpretation ].
WE ARE NOT NAMING THE MISSING AT
THIS POINT OUT OF SENSITIVITY 
FOR FAMILY.
TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND 
SHIPMATES OF SUB-LIEUTENANT 
ABBIGAIL COWBROUGH, OUR THOUGHTS
AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU DURING 
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
TO THOSE OF YOU IN AGONY 
AWAITING THE WORD ON THE FATE OF
THEIR MISSING LOVED ONES, WE 
STAND WITH YOU AND ARE SEARCHING
AS HARD AS WE CAN.
THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE 
THE PAIN THAT YOU FEEL RIGHT 
NOW, NOR ARE THERE ANY WORDS 
THAT CAN EASE IT.
PLEASE KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AND 
CLEARLY THE COUNTRY IS WITH YOU.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
TO THE FAMILY OF SUB-LIEUTENANT 
ABBIGAIL COWBROUGH AND HER 
FRIENDS, HER COLLEAGUES, I OFFER
MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PAIN YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW, AND 
THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT CAN 
RELIEVE THIS.
HOWEVER, KNOW THAT ALL OF THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AND CANADA
ARE BEHIND YOU.
[ End of Interpretation ].
-- EASTERN EUROPEAN TIME THE 
HELICOPTER AIR DETACHMENT CALL 
SIGN STALKER TOOK OFF FROM HMCS 
FREDERICTON DURING A NATO 
EXERCISE OFF THE COAST OF 
GREECE.
HMCS FREDERICTON WAS WORKING 
ALONGSIDE AN ITALIAN AND TURKISH
SHIP UNDER STANDING MARITIME 
NATO GROUP 2 AND WAS CONDUCTING 
SERIALS.
THE HELICOPTER HAD CONDUCTED 
FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND WAS 
RETURNING TO THE SHIP.
AT APPROXIMATELY 6:52 P.M., THE 
SHIP LOST CONTACT WITH AIRCREW, 
AND A FEW MINUTES LATER FLARES 
WERE SPOTTED IN THE WATER.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
AT 6:52 THE CALL SIGN STALKER 
WAS PARTICIPATING IN A NATO 
OPERATION.
AND THE HMCS FREDERICTON WAS 
DECIDE AN ITALIAN AND TURKISH 
VESSEL.
THE CYCLONE HELICOPTER WAS DOING
AIR MISSIONS AND WAS RETURNING 
BACK TO THE VESSEL.
AROUND 6:52 P.M. THE SHIP LOST 
CONTACT WITH THE HELICOPTER CREW
AND A FEW MINUTES LATER FLARES 
WERE SEEN IN THE WATER.
[ End of Interpretation ].
SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS WERE 
IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED WITH EVERY 
AVAILABLE RESOURCE FROM 
FREDERICTON AND MEMBERS OF 
SMNG2.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR ALLIES, 
ESPECIALLY ITALY, TURKEY AND THE
UNITED STATES FOR THEIR 
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT AND 
CONTINUED SUPPORT DURING THIS 
DIFFICULT TIME.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
OPERATIONS FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE
WERE IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED WITH 
ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND ALSO
THOSE OF THE PERMANENT AND 
SECOND NATO MISSION.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR ALLIES, 
NOTABLY THOSE OF NATO, ITALY, 
TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES, 
FOR THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT 
DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
[ End of Interpretation ].
AS OF THIS MORNING, THE COCKPIT 
VOICE RECORDER AND FLIGHT DATA 
RECORDER HAVE BEEN RECOVERED.
AN AIRCRAFT IS BEING DISPATCHED 
TO COLLECT THOSE RECORDERS AND 
BRING THEM TO THE NATIONAL 
RESEARCH COUNCIL FOR ANALYSIS.
A FLIGHT SAFETY INVESTIGATION 
TEAM -- A FLIGHT SAFETY 
INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED
AND A FLIGHT SAFETY ACCIDENT 
INVESTIGATION TEAM SIMILAR TO 
WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY 
BOARD WOULD DISPATCH WILL DEPART
CANADA TODAY OR TOMORROW TO 
INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES 
SURROUNDING THIS TERRIBLE 
ACCIDENT.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
AS OF THIS MORNING, THE FLIGHT 
DATA AND VOICE RECORDERS WERE 
RECOVERED.
A FLIGHT IS BEING SENT TO 
RECOVER THESE RECORDINGS AND TO 
BRING THEM TO THE NATIONAL 
RESEARCH CENTRE IN CANADA FOR 
ANALYSIS.
AN INVESTIGATION FOR FLIGHT 
SECURITY WAS LAUNCHED, AND A 
SAFETY INVESTIGATION TEAM, 
SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT THE 
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 
WOULD DISPATCH, WILL BE LEAVING 
CANADA TODAY OR PERHAPS TOMORROW
TO INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES
AROUND THIS TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
[ End of Interpretation ].
FOR NOW, HMCS FREDERICTON AND 
OUR ALLIES CONTINUE TO SEARCH 
THE AREA.
A SUPPORT TEAM IS EN ROUTE TO 
HELP WITH LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
FOR THE TIME BEING, HMCS 
FREDERICTON CONTINUES ITS SEARCH
FOR THE MISSING MEMBERS.
A SUPPORT TEAM IS EN ROUTE TO 
HELP OUR PERSONNEL WITH 
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT.
[ End of Interpretation ].
THIS IS A TIME OF AGONY FOR ALL 
FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND FELLOW 
CREW MEMBERS.
THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN 
SENDING YOUR SHIPMATES OVER THE 
HORIZON AND LOSING CONTACT.
WE HAVE CONTACTED ALL NEXT OF 
KIN.
WE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH ALL OF
THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES WE CAN
TO HELP THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT 
TIME.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS AN 
AGONY FOR FAMILY AND FELLOW CREW
MEMBERS.
THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN TO 
LOSE CONTACT WITH A CREW MEMBER.
WE CONTACTED ALL NEXT OF KIN OF 
THE VICTIMS, AND WE WILL PROVIDE
THEM WITH ALL THE POSSIBLE 
SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO HELP 
THEM GET THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT 
TIME.
[ End of Interpretation ].
I AM VERY PROUD OF OUR BRAVE 
SAILORS AND AVE.IATORS DEPLOYED 
ON OPERATION REASSURANCE AND THE
WORK THAT CANADA'S MILITARY 
PERSONNEL DO EVERY DAY FOR 
GLOBAL SECURITY AND TO HELP 
THEIR FELLOW CANADIANS AT HOME.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
I AM SO PROUD OF OUR BRAVE 
SAILORS AND AVIATORS THAT ARE 
DEPLOYED AS PART OF THIS 
OPERATION REASSURANCE, AND THEY 
WORK EVERY DAY TO ENSURE GLOBAL 
SAFETY AND TO HELP CANADIANS.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
 -- MY THOUGHTS, ALL OF OUR 
THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
THANK YOU.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> THANK YOU, GENERAL VANCE.
PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER, AS A 
NAVAL VETERAN, THE DAUGHTER OF A
NAVAL OFFICER AND THE WIFE OF A 
NAVAL OFFICER, THIS TRAGEDY HITS
HOME FOR ME ESPECIALLY HARD AS I
KNOW IT DOES FOR SO MANY MEMBERS
OF OUR WIDER DEFENCE TEAM.
WE KNOW THAT ALL CANADIANS 
EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES 
TO THE ENTIRE CREW OF HMCS 
FREDERICTON WHO SERVE SHOULDER 
TO SHOULDER WITH THEIR LOST 
SHIPMATES.
AS DEPUTY MINISTER OF NATIONAL 
DEFENCE, I AND THE ENTIRE 
DEFENCE TEAM, STAND READY TO 
SUPPORT THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE,
THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF, 
AND ALL OF THOSE IMPACTED BY 
THIS TRULY DIFFICULT TIME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND WE
WILL NOW TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY MINISTER.
WE'LL GO TO THE PHONES FIRST.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
FIRST QUESTION, BILL CURRY, "THE
GLOBE AND MAIL".
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: YES, I THINK A 
QUESTION FOR GENERAL VANCE.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT 
SUB-LIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH, WHY SHE WAS ON THAT 
HELICOPTER SINCE WE'RE 
UNDERSTANDING SHE'S NOT A NORMAL
MEMBER OF THAT CREW.
>> THANKS, BILL.
ALL OF THE DETAILS SURROUNDING 
WHY SHE AND ONE OTHER WERE ON 
THE AIRCRAFT WILL BE RELEASED AS
WE GET THROUGH THE 
INVESTIGATION.
IT WOULD BE PREMATURE FOR ME 
RIGHT NOW TO DESCRIBE ANYTHING 
BEYOND THE FACTS THAT WE HAVE 
RIGHT NOW AND THAT I'VE GIVEN 
YOU.
SUFFICE TO SAY SHE WAS 
AUTHORIZED TO BE ON THE 
HELICOPTER, AND FURTHER DETAILS 
ABOUT HER, HER FAMILY AND 
ANYTHING PERTAINING TO HER WILL 
BE RELEASED FORMALLY LATER WHEN 
WE CAN CONFIRM ALL OF THE 
DETAILS.
THANK YOU.
>> Reporter: AND THEN FOR THE 
PRIME MINISTER, IF YOU DON'T 
MIND A QUESTION ON ANOTHER 
TOPIC.
THE PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICER
RELEASED A REPORT THIS MORNING 
SAYING THAT THE FEDERAL DEFICIT 
COULD REACH $252 BILLION AND 
THAT IT COULD CLIMB HIGHER IF 
THE CURRENT PROGRAMS ARE 
EXTENDED OR IF THE GOVERNMENT 
APPROVES FISCAL STIMULUS 
MEASURES WHEN THE ECONOMY 
RECOVERS.
SO AT WHAT POINT DO YOU REACH 
THE LIMIT OF WHAT OTTAWA CAN 
AFFORD IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 
AND HOW WILL YOUR GOVERNMENT 
DEAL WITH THE NEW DEBT ONCE THIS
CRISIS IS OVER?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: RIGHT
NOW WE ARE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING
FAMILIES THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
WE NEED CANADIANS TO STAY HOME.
WE NEED CANADIANS TO TAKE THE 
MEASURES THAT WILL PROTECT 
THEMSELVES, THEIR LOVED ONES, 
THEIR NEIGHBOURS AND OUR HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEMS, AND THAT'S WHY WE 
HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE ARE 
SENDING HELP TO THE MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO
NEED THAT HELP, WHETHER IT'S 
THROUGH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT OR THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY, OR OTHER
MEASURES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT 
CANADIANS TO GET THROUGH THIS IN
THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY SO THAT 
OUR ECONOMY CAN COME ROARING 
BACK AFTERWARDS.
OUR FOCUS IS ON WHAT WE NEED TO 
DO NOW TO GET THROUGH THIS.
I HAVE TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE IN 
CANADIANS' ABILITY TO KEEP GOING
AND TO COME BACK STRONGER THAN 
EVER AFTER THIS.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
OUR PRIORITY IN THE CURRENT 
SITUATION IS TO HELP THE 
FAMILIES AND TO SUPPORT 
CANADIANS WHO NEED THIS SO THAT 
WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, 
NAMELY TO STAY AT HOME, TO BE 
THERE FOR EACH OTHER, TO PREVENT
COVID-19 FROM TAKING TOO MANY 
LIVES, AND FROM OVERLY IMPACTING
OUR HEALTH SYSTEM.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE 
THERE FOR CANADIANS AND 
CANADIANS WILL CONTINUE TO BE 
THERE FOR EACH OTHER, FOR THEIR 
NEIGHBOURS, FOR OUR WORKERS ON 
THE FRONT LINES OF THE HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEM, AND I'M VERY 
CONFIDENT IN OUR CAPACITY TO 
BOUNCE BACK AFTERWARDS BECAUSE 
OF THE DECISIONS AND THE ACTIONS
WE'RE TAKING NOW AS CANADIANS.
>> IN OTTAWA, WE DON'T HAVE 
DETAILS RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE 
VARIOUS MEMBERS THAT WERE ON THE
HELICOPTER, INCLUDING ABBIGAIL 
COWBROUGH.
WE WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS AFTER 
WE CONDUCT OUR INVESTIGATION, 
AND WE WILL GIVE YOU PRECISE 
DETAILS THEN.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Operator: THANK YOU, MERCI.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
MARIE BASTILLE FROM "LE DEVOIR",
NEXT QUESTION. 
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
TO FOLLOW UP ON THE QUESTION 
THAT BILL ASKED ABOUT THE PBO'S 
REPORT THIS MORNING, WE'VE SEEN 
NOW THAT THE DEBT-TO-GDP RATIO 
IS NOW 49%, AND I REALIZE YOU'RE
INSISTING THAT WE HAVE TO DO 
WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP 
CANADIANS, BUT PEOPLE ARE 
STARTING TO WONDER HOW DO YOU --
ARE YOU PLANNING WHAT WILL 
HAPPEN NEXT TO GET A GRIP ON OUR
FINANCES.
ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT A 
SPECIFIC TAX OR A WAY TO PAY 
BACK THIS MONEY ONCE THIS CRISIS
IS OVER?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FIRST
WE'RE REMAINING FOCUSED ON THIS 
CRISIS RIGHT NOW.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT, YES, WE HAVE 
TO HELP CANADIANS, BUT WE ALSO 
HAVE TO INVEST TO ENSURE THAT AN
ECONOMIC RECOVERY WILL BE 
POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THAT IS WHY WE'VE MADE THE 
NECESSARY INVESTMENT TO HELP 
FAMILIES.
YES, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS 
AN ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WILL BE 
TOUGH, THAT IS TOUGH RIGHT NOW 
FOR MANY PEOPLE, AND IT WILL 
LAST FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD.
BUT AT EVERY STAGE WE HAVE TO 
ENSURE THAT THE ECONOMIC 
RECOVERY WILL BE POSSIBLE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE KEPT PEOPLE 
WITH TIES TO THEIR EMPLOYERS 
THROUGH THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
WE'VE PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR 
PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE
TO PAY THEIR RENT.
WE'VE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR 
COMPANIES SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP 
CASH RESERVES AND PAY THEIR 
EMPLOYEES AND KEEP THEIR 
EMPLOYEES -- AND ENSURE OUR 
ECONOMIC HEALTH.
THIS IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE'LL 
BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS 
CRISIS IN GOOD SHAPE AND TO BE 
ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY IS AS STRONG AS 
POSSIBLE.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Reporter: I UNDERSTAND, BUT 
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT DOESN'T
REALLY ANSWER MY QUESTION ABOUT 
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GAIN A GRIP
ON THE ECONOMY?
DO YOU HAVE ANY MEASURES IN MIND
WITH RESPECT TO AUSTERITY, 
TAXES, OR ARE YOU EXPECTING TO 
RUN UP DEFICITS OF HUNDREDS OF 
BILLIONS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: OF 
COURSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO 
THINK ABOUT THIS, BUT FOR THE 
TIME BEING WE ARE FOCUSED ON 
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW TO HELP 
CANADIANS TO GET THROUGH THIS 
CRISIS.
WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE HAD ONE OF 
THE BEST DEBT-TO-GDP RATIOS IN 
THE G7.
THERE ARE MANY ECONOMIES 
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT WE 
COMPARE OURSELVES TO, AND WE ARE
IN A GOOD BUDGETARY POSITION TO 
BE ABLE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY 
INVESTMENTS TO HELP PEOPLE NOW, 
BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO REBOUND 
AFTERWARDS.
CANADIANS ARE EXTRAORDINARY 
PEOPLE AND OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE 
STRONG, OUR ECONOMY IS STRONG 
DURING NORMAL TIMES, BUT WE'LL 
ALSO BE ABLE TO SHOW GREAT 
HEALTH.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING MEASURES 
IN DUE TIME THAT WE'LL HAVE TO 
TAKE DEPENDING ON HOW THIS 
PANDEMIC UNFOLDS.
[ End of Interpretation ].
OBVIOUSLY OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW 
NEEDS TO BE ON HOW WE GET 
THROUGH RIGHT NOW, TO SUPPORT 
CANADIANS, TO SUPPORT WORKERS 
WHO'VE LOST THEIR PAYCHEQUES, TO
SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO NEED TO 
TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT 
THEMSELVES AND TO PROTECT OUR 
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
AT THE SAME TIME, OUR 
INVESTMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN 
FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WHEN
WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE ECONOMY 
BACK UP AND RUNNING, IT WILL BE 
DONE QUICKLY AND STRONGLY.
THAT'S WHY INVESTMENTS LIKE THE 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY OR THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS 
ACCOUNT ARE THERE TO ENSURE THAT
BUSINESSES, THAT OUR ECONOMY ARE
ABLE TO HOLD THROUGH THIS 
DIFFICULT TIME AND COME ROARING 
BACK AFTERWARDS.
CANADIANS ARE STRONG AND 
RESILIENT PEOPLE, AND OUR 
ECONOMY WAS IN GREAT SHAPE 
BEFORE GOING INTO THIS.
WE HAD ONE OF THE LOWEST 
DEBT-TO-GDP RATIOS OF MOST OF 
OUR COMPARABLE COUNTRIES, AND 
THAT LEFT US IN A GREAT 
SITUATION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE
NECESSARY INVESTMENTS TO SEE US 
THROUGH THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
THERE WILL BE TIME AFTER THIS IS
ALL DONE, AS WE FIGURE OUT HOW 
EXACTLY THIS UNFOLDS, WHERE WE 
WILL HAVE TO MAKE NEXT DECISIONS
ON HOW THAT RECOVERY LOOKS, BUT 
RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS ON 
GETTING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER AS
A COUNTRY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, ANGELA DUNN, THE 
CHRONICLE HERALD.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: HI, THERE.
I'M WONDERING -- I DON'T KNOW 
WHO THE BEST TO ANSWER THIS 
QUESTION, PERHAPS VANCE, BUT I'M
WONDERING IF THERE'S BEEN ANY 
CONSIDERATION OF GROUNDING THE 
REST OF THE CYCLONE FLEET 
BECAUSE OF THIS.
LIKE, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THAT?
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE PUT THE FLEET ACROSS 
CANADA AND OVERSEAS CLEARLY IN 
AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE.
IT'S NOT A GROUNDING.
IT'S AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE UNTIL 
THE FLIGHT SAFETY TEAM CAN 
DETERMINE THE NEXT STEPS.
WE WILL TRY TO GET BACK TO 
BUSINESS WITH THOSE HELICOPTERS 
AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT WE 
HAVE TO RULE OUT THAT THERE'S A 
FLEET-WIDE PROBLEM, AND WE'RE 
GOING TO DO THAT AS QUICKLY AS 
WE CAN.
>> Reporter: JUST A FOLLOW-UP 
QUESTION.
I'M WONDERING, YOU MENTIONED 
THAT THERE WAS SOME FLARE 
SPOTTED, BUT WAS THERE ANY SORT 
OF MAYDAY CALL ISSUED?
CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION 
ABOUT THAT?
>> RIGHT.
HONESTLY, I HAVE TO WAIT, AS DO 
WE ALL, FOR ANY DETAILS TO COME 
FROM THE FLIGHT RECORDERS, VOICE
AND DATA FLIGHT RECORDERS.
ANYTHING WE HAVE RIGHT NOW HAS 
BEEN PASSED IN THE HEAT OF THE 
MOMENT.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT IS KNOWN, 
AND I HAVE.
AS FAR AS ANY FURTHER DETAILS, 
THEY WILL HAVE TO COME AS A 
RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
DETAILS, ALL DETAILS WILL BE 
COMING WITH RESPECT TO THIS 
HELICOPTER AFTER THE 
INVESTIGATION IS CONDUCTED.
I FORGET YOUR OTHER QUESTION.
OH, YES, ALL THE HELICOPTERS 
THAT ARE CF148 ARE ON AN 
OPERATIONAL PAUSE.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE FLIGHT 
SAFETY TEAM TO DETERMINE IF 
THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THESE 
HELICOPTERS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE 
OPERATIONS AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
NEXT QUESTION, EMILY BERGERON.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR GENERAL
VANCE.
CAN YOU SPECIFY WHAT OPERATIONAL
PAUSE MEANS?
IN TERMS OF GROUNDING THESE 
HELICOPTERS?
>> I THINK I UNDERSTOOD YOUR 
QUESTION.
AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE IS 
ESTABLISHED BY THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES FOR TWO REASONS, 
MAINLY.
ONE, TO ALLOW THE MEMBERS OF 
THIS COMMUNITY TO HAVE A MOMENT 
TO THINK ABOUT THEIR CREW 
MEMBER.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
THIS IS A RATHER SMALL 
COMMUNITY, AND A CLOSE 
COMMUNITY.
THEY LOST A MEMBER OF THEIR 
COMMUNITY, AND IT'S HARD FOR 
THEM.
SECOND, WE HAVE TO ELIMINATE, 
RULE OUT ANY PROBLEMS, SO IT IS 
A PAUSE THAT IS TEMPORARY TO 
ALLOW THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 
TO LOOK AT THIS QUICKLY.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS FOR 
MR. TRUDEAU.
ON ANOTHER TOPIC.
YESTERDAY AT THE HOUSE YOU 
WEREN'T EXACTLY CLEAR ABOUT YOUR
INTENTIONS IN TERMS OF COMPANIES
THAT BENEFIT FROM TAX HAVENS, SO
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THIS.
WILL THESE COMPANIES BE ABLE TO 
GET THE WAGE SUBSIDY OR NOT?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE'VE
ALWAYS FOUGHT ABOUT TAX EVASION 
AND AVOIDANCE.
WE HAVE WORKED IN UNPRECEDENTED 
MEASURES WITH THE CRA TO ENSURE 
THAT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR 
ANY COMPANY THAT SEEKS TO NOT 
PAY ITS FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 
APPLY THE CONSEQUENCES DURING 
THIS CRISIS AND THE PANDEMIC.
OUR PRIORITY IS ALWAYS CANADIAN 
WORKERS WHO NEED SUPPORT AT THIS
TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE 
GOING TO DO.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> GOOD MORNING.
GENERAL VANCE, CONDOLENCES ON 
THE LOSS OF YOUR MEMBERS.
COULD YOU GIVE US ANY MORE 
DETAILS?
I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID THE 
RECORDERS WERE RECOVERED.
SO HAVE YOU RECOVERED THE 
WRECKAGE OF THE CHOPPER AS WELL?
AND I JUST WONDER IF NOT WHAT IS
THE CHALLENGE PRESENTING YOU IN 
THOSE WATERS?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE 
CONDOLENCES.
[ Please Stand By ]
>> WHAT ARE KINDS AROUND THIS
HELICOPTER WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO
BE STATE-OF THE-ART.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS
ABOUT THE HELICOPTER.
THE COMMANDER OF THE RCF, AS FOR
THIS OPERATIONAL PAUSE, HE'S THE
AIR WORTHINESS AUTHORITY FOR THE
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AND IT'S
HIS DECISION TO DO THAT FOR THE
TWO REASONS I DESCRIBED.
ONE SIMPLY TO THE TEAMS WHO FLY,
THE SMALL COMMUNITY AND THE
OTHERS TO RULE OUT ANYTHING
IMMEDIATE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF TO RESUME
OPERATIONS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN
THIS FLEET OF HELICOPTERS.
THEY ARE STATE-OF-THE-ART,
CAPACITY FOR FIND BE SUBMARINES
AND THE ELECTRONICS ON BOARD ARE
TOP CLASS WORLD-WIDE AND SO WE
HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THIS
FLEET.
AND THIS OPERATIONAL PAUSE WAS
IMPLEMENTED BY THE AIR FORCE
COMMANDER TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S
NO OBVIOUS ISSUE TO GROUND THE
FLEET.
MINISTER, I WOULD LIKE TO GO
BACK TO THE PBLS REPORT, YOU
SAID YOU REMAINED FOCUSED ON THE
CRISIS AND YOU'LL THINK ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT LATER.
BUT IN TERMS OF INCREASING
TAXES, IS IT SOMETHING YOU'VE
RULED OUT OR A POSSIBILITY?
>> Answer:  WE'RE NOT THINKING
ABOUT THAT AT ALL RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE GREAT TRUST IN THE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND IN THE
ABILITY OF CANADIANS TO RESUME
ECONOMIC.
WE ARE GOING TO BE GET OUT OF
THIS CRISIS.
WE HAVE GREAT TRUST IN OUR
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY.
CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT
THE NATURE OF THE MISSION.
WAS THERE A CONTACT UNDER THE
OPERATION WHEN THE TROOPS
RETURNED TO HMCS FREDRICTON?
WERE THE PLAYERS AUTOMATIC OR
WERE THEY MANUALLY ENGAGED?
DID THE CREWS SEND A DISTRESS
SIGNAL?
>> Answer:  IT'S RATHER
TECHNICAL AND I'LL ANSWER IN
ENGLISH, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
>> OPERATION REASSURANCE IS AN
ASSURANCE AND DETERRENCE
MEASURE, MEANING THE ALLIANCE
HAS PUT ON THE GROUND
CAPABILITIES TO TELL RUSSIA, ANY
ADVERSARIES TO NOT INTERFERE
WITH SECURITY, NORTH ATLANTIC
SECURITY AND IT'S ALSO TO ASSURE
ALLIES THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER AND CANADA HAS BEEN
PRESENT, PARTICULARLY AT THE
MARITIME MISSION WITHOUT FAIL.
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE
MARITIME, THE STANDING MARITIME
GROUP WAS CONDUCTING TRAINING
AND NOT CONDUCTING SURVEILLANCE
OR PARTICULARLY TARGETED
OPERATIONS ON ANY PARTICULAR
VESSEL, ADVERSARY OR OTHERWISE,
THERE WAS NO, FROM WHAT I CAN
TELL -- WE CAN'T RULE ANYTHING
OUT BUT I'M CERTAIN FROM A
MILITARY OPERATION THIS WAS NOT
A FUNCTION OF CONTACT OR
SHOOT-DOWN.
I WANTED TO MAKE THAT ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR.
AND I JUST LOST THE THREAD.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM WHAT I
WAS BRIEFED, THAT THE FLARES
WOULD GO AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IT
DITCHED.
THAT WILL BE DETERMINED MORE
FULLY BY THE FLIGHT SAFETY
INVESTIGATION.
MERCI.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PRIME MINISTER, CAN I -- THIS
IS TOM PERRY WITH CBC.
CAN I ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER
MATTER.
EVACUEE SEEN A LIST OF
ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS YOUR
GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING
BANNING AND CAN I ASK WHY THIS
LIST, WHY NOT OTHER WEAPONS?
AND THE TIMING.
IS THIS BECAUSE OF THE NOVA
SCOTIA SHOOTING?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
HAVE LONG BEEN COMMITTED TO
STRENGTHENING GUN CONTROL IN
THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING BANNING
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.
THERE IS NO NEED IN CANADA FOR
GUNS ASSIGNED TO KILL THE
LARGEST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE
SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME.
THAT WAS THE COMMITMENT WE MADE
IN THE LAST ELECTION AND THIS IS
SOMETHING ON WHICH THERE'S A
LARGE CONSENSUS BY CANADIANS WHO
WANT TO SEE LESS VIOLENCE AND
FEWER DEATHS FROM GUN VIOLENCE
IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND WE WERE READY, ALMOST READY
TO GO ON MEASURES TO DO JUST
THAT WHEN PARLIAMENT SUSPENDED
BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND WE WILL
HAVE MORE TO SAY ON THIS WHEN WE
MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AROUND WHAT
WE'RE DOING TO STRENGTHEN GUN
CONTROL IN THE COMING DAYS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE HAVE MADE A FIRM
COMMITMENT TO CANADIANS TO BAN
MILITARY ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS,
BECAUSE IF CANADA, THERE'S NO
ROOM FOR WEAPONS THAT WERE MADE
TO KILL A LARGE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE.
THERE WAS A CONSENSUS ACROSS
CANADA THAT WE HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT
CANADIANS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES
FROM GUN VIOLENCE.
AND WE'VE COMMITTED TO DO
EXACTLY THAT.
WE WERE ALMOST READY TO ANNOUNCE
MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN GUN
CONTROL WHEN THE PARLIAMENT WAS
SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC AND WE WILL BE MAKING
ANNOUNCEMENTS IN DAYS TO COME
AND WE'LL GIVE MORE DETAILS ON
THIS, THEN.
>> LAST QUESTION.
>> PRIME MINISTER, JANET SILVER,
GLOBAL NEWS.
JUST TO SWITCH TOPICS, IF YOU
WILL.
WERE YOU OR ANYONE IN YOUR
GOVERNMENT AWARE BACK IN JANUARY
THAT CHINA HAD ENGAGED IN THE
GLOBAL EFFORT TO PROCURE PPE AND
HAVE THOSE SENT BACK TO CHINA?
AND IF YOU OR ANYONE IN YOUR
GOVERNMENT KNEW ABOUT THIS, WHY
DIDN'T YOU TRY TO STOP IT?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  AS
OF JANUARY 2nd, OUR CHIEF
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER CONVENED A
GROUP OF PROVISIONAL PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICERS TO ADVISE THAT
THERE WERE REPORTS OF A NEW
VIRUS PRESENT IN CHINA.
OUR INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WERE
TRACKING AND AWARE OF THE ISSUES
AND WE GOT REGULAR UPDATES
THROUGH THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
FURTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD.
>> THANK YOU, THAT CONCLUDES
TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
>> THAT IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF
CANADA, AS WELL AS HIS MINISTER
OF NATIONAL DEFENSE.
THAT WAS GENERAL JONATHAN VANCE
TALKING ABOUT THE CRASH WHERE
SIX CANADIANS WERE ON BOARD
DURING NATO TRAINING COMMISSION,
ONE CONFIRMED DEAD, BUT THE
SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION FOR
INFORMATION, FOR DEBRIS AND FOR
THE BODIES OF THE FIVE THAT ARE
MISSING CONTINUES.
I WANT TO BRING IN MY COLLEAUGES
IN JUST A MOMENT TO GO THROUGH
THE VARIOUS DETAILS THAT WE
FOUND THERE, BUT FIRST, I WANT
TO GO TO BRENDA WHO IS THE
GRANDMOTHER OF SUBLIEUTENANT
ABIGAIL -- I THINK WE'RE STILL
GETTING AUDIO WORKING.
BRENDA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN
HEAR ME.
IT'S ROSEMARY BARTON.
>> YES, I CAN, GOOD MORNING.
>> Rosemary:  MY DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR
ENTIRE FAMILY.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME.
>> WHAT WAS ABIGAIL LIKE?
SHE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN, OBVIOUSLY
VERY FOCUSED AND WHAT KIND OF
GAL WAS SHE?
>> SHE WAS JUST UNLIMITED
ENERGY.
SHE HAD LONG, LUXURIOUS RED HAIR
AND SHE WAS A TEMPEST IN A
TEAPOT.
[ Laughter ]
>> SOUNDS LIKE MY KIND OF GAL.
>> SHE DEFINITELY WOULD BE YOUR
KIND OF GAL.
[ Laughter ]
>> WHAT BROUGHT HER TO THE NAVY?
WHY DID SHE GET INVOLVED?
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A FAMILY
INVOLVED IN THE CANADIAN FORCES
OR IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST.
>> NOT REALLY, HER MOM AND HER
SECOND HUSBAND MOVED TO
PETERBOROUGH AND ABIGAIL HAS
THREE BROTHERS, SIMON, AUGUST
AND SEBASTIAN AND WHEN THEY
MOVED TO PETERBOROUGH, TANYA
DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO PUT
THEM INTO CADETS AND SHE KNEW,
BASICALLY, SHE WOULD NEVER BE
ABLE TO AFFORD TO SEND THEM TO
UNIVERSITY AND SHE REALLY HOPED
THAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE THE
MILITARY AS A CAREER.
AND SO, THEY GOT IN THE CADETS
AND ABBY REALIZED FROM THAT THAT
SHE COULD HAVE A VERY GOOD
CAREER IN THE CANADIAN MILITARY.
SO SHE GRADUATED A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO FROM RMC IN KINGSTON
AND WAS POSTED TO DARTMOUTH AS A
SUBLIEUTENANT IN THE NAVY UPON
GRADUATION.
SO IT WAS BASICALLY THE STORY OF
JOIN THE NAVY AND SEE THE WORLD.
THIS DEPLOYMENT WAS ACTUALLY HER
THIRD IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
REGION AND SHE LOVED THE SEA.
SHE LOVED NAVY.
SHE JUST LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT
IT.
>> AND SHE HAD BEEN ON THIS
MISSION, GENERAL VANCE SAID,
ABOUT 100 DAYS, THEY HAD BEEN
AWAY AND EXPECTED BACK IN JULY.
WHAT WAS SHE DOING AND TELLING
YOU HER DAYS WERE LIKE OVER
THERE DURING THIS MISSION?
>> ACTUALLY, I HAD -- I'M GOING
TO TAKE ONE SECOND HERE AND PULL
UP MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH
HER BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME EXACTLY
WHAT HER DAYS WERE LIKE.
SHE SAID I'M GOING TO READ IT TO
YOU.
I'M ENJOYING MYSELF HERE.
MY DAY CONSISTS OF AN
EARLY-MORNING RUN, WORK-OUT,
STUDYING, LEARNING WORKING ON
EQUIPMENT BECAUSE SHE WAS AN
ENGINEER AND EATING MEALS AND
SNACKS AND READING A GOOD BOOK
BEFORE BED.
SO AT THIS POINT, THEY WERE TOLD
THAT THEY COULDN'T STOP AND THE
PORTS AND GET OFF THE SHIP.
SO THE ONE THING SHE LOVED,
BECAUSE ABBY LOVED FOOD ABOVE
EVERYTHING ELSE, AND SHE JUST
LOVED THE PORT STOPS AND
LITERALLY GOT TO SEE THE WORLD.
>> SO SHE WAS THE BIG SISTER TO
THREE BROTHERS AND HAVE YOU
TALKED TO THEM TODAY?
HAVE YOU TALKED TO HER MOTHER
AND FATHER?
AND CAN YOU GIVE ME A SENSE OF
HOW PEOPLE WERE DOING?
>> WE GOT THE CALL LAST NIGHT
FROM HER ELDEST BROTHER, SIMON,
WHO IS 22, AND HE'S IN THE ARMY
RESERVES.
AND THE YOUNGER SON IS ALSO IN
THE ARMY RESERVES.
SO THEY GOT A VISIT BY THREE
OFFICERS IN MILITARY UNIFORM.
SO THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT --
THEY LIVE IN TORONTO, AND THEY
KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT SOMETHING
TRAGIC HAD HAPPENED.
SO SIMON CALLED ME AND SAID,
GRANDMA, CAN WE COME OVER.
I SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T, BECAUSE
ME AND GRANDPA ARE ISOLATED AND
WE HAVEN'T SEEN FAMILY FOR A
LONG TIME.
WE GOT OUR GROCERIES DROPPED OFF
ON THE VERANDA AND HE SAID,
GRANDMA, WE NEED TO SEE YOU,
ABBEY DIED AND WE NEED TO COME
OVER.
SO WE TALKED FOR HOURS AND
SHARED OUR STORIES.
>> AND HOW ARE PEOPLE DOING?
I CAN'T IMAGINE IN THE MIDST OF
EVERYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
ALL GOING THROUGH, NOW HAVING
THIS?
>> IT'S TRAGIC AND EVERYBODY
THAT I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WILL SAY
THAT A CHILD SHOULD NEVER BE
TAKEN BEFORE AND ELDER AND IT'S
BACKWARDS AND IT'S SO HURTFUL
AND WE'RE ALL IN SO MUCH PAIN.
SHE WAS JUST -- SHE WAS A RAY OF
LIGHT.
EVERYTHING THAT SHE DID, SHE WAS
SO PASSIONATE ABOUT AND SHE WAS
JUST -- WHETHER SHE PLAYED HER
PIPES OR WALKED IN A ROOM, SHE
WAS JUST A PRESENCE.
AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS CAN SEE
HER FACEBOOK POSTINGS AND THE
FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING MESSAGES
UP, BUT SHE TOUCHED LIVES
EVERYWHERE.
>> WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER MOST
ABOUT, BRENDA, AS YOUR
GRANDDAUGHTER?
I WENT AWAY TO DO MY DEGREES AND
ABBEY WAS ABOUT FIVE AND I CAME
HOME FROM BEING AWAY FOR A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AND SHE JUST
BOUNCED IN THE HOUSE WITH HER
CURLS JUST ALL AFLUTTER AND RAN
INTO MY ARMS AND SHE SAID,
GRANDMA, I WISH YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S GO ON YOUR BIG BED AND
READ A GOOD BOOK!
BUT THAT'S JUST WHO SHE WAS AND
IT JUST CONTINUED HER WHOLE
LIFE.
SHE JUST WAS A FORCE, ABSOLUTE
FORCE.
NOW SHE PLAYED IN MANY MILITARY
BANDS AND SHE WAS A REALLY
WELL-KNOWN PIPER, AS WELL.
SO IT WAS ONE OF HER HOBBIES AND
SOMETHING THAT SHE DID EXTREMELY
WELL.
>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN THE
SHOOTING HAPPENED IN NOVA SCOTIA
AND WE ALL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT
HERE AGAIN IS BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC, YOU WON'T REALLY BE
ABLE TO HAVE A MEMORIAL FOR
ABBIGAIL, A FUNERAL FOR ABBIGAIL
AND I WONDER IF YOU'VE GIVEN
THAT THOUGHT AND HOW MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF
THAT.
>> YEAH, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT.
.AT THIS POINT, WHEN WE WERE
TALKING LAST NIGHT, ALTHOUGH THE
MILITARY HAD STOPPED IN TO TALK
TO ABBI'S GAD AND HER OLDER
BROTHER, THEY COULDN'T GIVE ANY
INFORMATION ON EVEN WHEN THE
BODY MIGHT BE SENT BACK AND
THERE MIGHT BE SOME RESTRICTIONS
BECAUSE OF COVID.
SO THAT ALSO IS A CONCERN.
AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW.
THEY WERE HOPING TO GET MORE
DETAILS TODAY AND THEY HAD BEEN
ASSIGNED AN OFFICER TO BE WITH
THEM 24/7 UNTIL SOME OF THE
INFORMATION COMES FORWARD AND
THEY CAN SETTLE IN A LITTLE BIT
AND KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP WILL
BE.
>> SHE WAS THIS THE NAVY, BUT
SHE WAS ON THIS HELICOPTER.
DID YOU KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO BE
ON THE HELICOPTER?
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THAT
WORK WOULD HAVE BEEN?
>> NO, NOT AT ALL.
NO IDEA.
NO IDEA.
I JUST EVEN READ THIS MORNING
THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ASSIGNED
TO THE HMCS FREDRICTON AND SO, I
REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR
MANOEUVR OR PURPOSE WAS.
>> THE FACT THAT SHE WAS IN THE
MILITARY AND LOST HER LIFE ON
THIS TRAINING MISSION, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN TO YOU THAT SHE
SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR, FOR
SOMETHING HER COUNTRY ASKED HER
TO DO?
>> IT'S THE KIND OF GIRL SHE
WAS.
SHE WAS A VERY PRINCIPLED YOUNG
WOMAN AND IF CALLED TO DUTY, SHE
WOULD TAKE THE CALL.
>> WELL, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T KNOW
HER.
SHE DOES SOUND REMARKABLE.
>> SHE REALLY, REALLY WAS.
>> BRENDA, EVERYONE IN THE
COUNTRY IS THINKING ABOUT YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW AND
WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST AND
>> THANK YOU, AND I WANT TO
EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE
OTHER FAMILIES.
IT'S PAINFUL, BUT AT LEAST WE
KNOW ABBI WAS FOUND AND WE CAN
START TO GRIEVE.
THE OTHER FAMILIES MUST BE JUST
IN DEVASTATED STATES.
>> YEAH, BRENDA, I KNOW IT'S NOT
EASY TO TALK, BUT IMPORTANT FOR
US TO GET TO KNOW YOUR
GRANDDAUGHTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ROSEMARY.
>> THAT WAS THE GRANDMOTHER OF
SUBLIEUTENANT ABBIGAILCOWBROUGH.
LET'S BRING BACK MY COLLEAGUES
AND JUST TO BRING BACK SOME OF
THE DETAILS OF WHAT WE LEARNED
OF ACCIDENT.
I'LL START WITH YOU, MURRAY,
ABOUT WHAT STOOD OUT THERE IN
TERMS OF NEW INFORMATION THAT
MAY HAVE BROUGHT YOU ANY SORT OF
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE
KNOW NOW.
>> THE REFERENCE THAT GENERAL
VANCE MADE TO THE ACCIDENT SITE,
THE 3,000 FEET OF WATER, THAT
REALLY STRUCK ME, BECAUSE THAT'S
APPROXIMATELY 10,000 FEET AND
THAT'S VERY DEAL.
HE ALSO MADE REFERENCE TO THE
DEBRIS FIELD BEING SPREAD OVER A
WIDE AREA.
ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T SAY IT,
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR NOW TO US,
BASED ON THOSE STATEMENTS, THAT
THIS IS WHY THERE'S NOT BEEN
MUCH CLARITY IN TERMS OF WHAT
HAPPENED AND IN TERMS OF HOW
MANY VICTIMS THERE POTENTIALLY
MIGHT BE AND IT ALSO EXPLAINS
WHY THEY WERE SO CAREFUL TO SAY
WE HAVE ONE DEAD, BUT FIVE
MISSING.
SO I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT
THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A LONG
RESCUE/RECOVERY OPERATION.
THEY WEREN'T VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT
WHETHER THIS IS A SEARCH AND
RESCUE OR WHETHER THIS IS A
SEARCH AND RECOVERY, BECAUSE
THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, BUT
THAT'S THE MAIN THING THAT LEPT
OUT AT ME RIGHT AWAY.
>> THEY FOUND THE COCKPIT
RECORDING, THE BLACK BOX AND A
TEAM THAT WOULD DO THE TSBS WORK
AND THEY, OBVIOUSLY, HAVE
SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT MIGHT HAVE
HAPPENED.
I'LL JUST GET YOU, MURRAY,
BEFORE I GET EVERYONE ELSE IN,
TO WEIGH IN ON THE FACT THAT THE
FLEET HAS BEEN PAUSED, PUT ON AN
OPERATIONAL PAUSE AND IT DIDN'T
SOUND LIKE GENERAL VANCE WAS
OVERLY CONCERNED AT THIS STAGE
WITH THE AIRCRAFT ITSELF.
>> WELL, GENERAL VANCE WAS VERY
SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF HIS SUPPORT
FOR THE AIRCRAFT AND HE SAID
THAT HE'S NOT HAD ANY CONCERNS
ABOUT IT AND THERE WERE A LOT OF
THINGS OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD US
OVER THE YEARS, ABOUT HOW GOOD
IT IS IN TERMS OF THE ITS
ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO STOP
SUBMARINES AND WHAT A QUANTUM
LEAP FORWARD IT IS COMPARED TO
THE SEA KINGS.
HE WAS VERY CAREFUL, THOUGH,
ABOUT ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ANY IDEA
OF WHETHER THIS COULD HAVE BEEN
MECHANICAL IN ANY WAY.
AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE
AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING AND HAD BEEN
ALREADY ON A MISSION, WAS ON ITS
WAY BACK, THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT
BIT OF INFORMATION AND THAT
MEANS EVERYTHING HAD BEEN
PERFORMING NORMALLY AND THERE
WERE PROBLEMS UP UNTIL A VERY
SUDDEN INCIDENT OF SOME KIND.
AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS A
LARGE DEBRIS FIELD INDICATES
THAT NOT ONLY THE AIRCRAFT HIT
THE OCEAN HARD, BUT IT BROKE
APART.
SO THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE
INVESTIGATION IN PARTICULAR KIND
OF DIFFICULT, TIME CONSUMING AND
COMPLICATED.
>> AND WE DON'T KNOW AND HE WAS
ASKED CLEARLY WHETHER THERE WAS
A MAY-DAY CALL AND HE DIDN'T
WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD AT
THIS STAGE.
FLARES WERE SPOTTED BUT WOULD
HAVE GONE OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN
THE HELICOPTER WENT DOWN, HE
SAID.
SO AGAIN, NOT A LOT OF
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THAT MIGHT
HAVE UNFOLDED.
I'LL KEEP YOU THERE AND BRING IN
VASSEY KAPELOS ON THE HELICOPTER
PART, WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU IN
TERMS OF THE VERY EARLY HOURS OF
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
HAPPENED AS THEY CONTINUE TO
SEARCH IN THAT, AS MURRAY SAID,
A LARGE DEBRIS FIELD.
>> Vassy:  THE SIZE OF THE
DEBRIS FIELD STOOD OUT TO ME.
AS FAR AS THE INVESTIGATION
GOES, WE DO KNOW VIA GENERAL
VANCE THAT BOTH RECORDERS, THE
COCKPIT AND THE FLIGHT DATA
RECORDER HAVE BEEN RECOVERED AND
ARE COMING BACK TO CANADA AND
WILL BE ANALYZED AT THE NATIONAL
RESEARCH CENTRE.
AS WELL, THERE IS A TEAM FROM
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES HEADED
OVER THERE TO ASSIST IN THE
INVESTIGATION.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS, AT
LEAST THE BEGINNING OF A VERY
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND THE
FACT THAT THE DATA IS THERE
LENDS ITSELF TO THE IDEA THAT
THERE WILL BE A CONCLUSION
REACHED AT THE END OF THE
INVESTIGATION VERSUS SO MANY
OTHER INSTANCES, NOT NECESSARILY
PERTAINING TO THE MILITARY, BUT
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRASHES WHERE
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT DATA
AVAILABLE, NOR IS IT IN THE
HANDS OF CANADIAN INVESTIGATORS.
SO THAT REALLY STRUCK ME.
ALSO SOME MURRAY MENTIONED I
WANTED TO PICK UP ON, HOW
ROUTINE THE EXERCISE WAS.
GENERAL VANCE WAS CAREFUL TO
POINT OUT THIS WAS JUST A
TRAINING EXERCISE AND NO
EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, NO EVIDENCE
OF QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SHOOT-DOWN
AND IT WAS AT 6:52, THEY WERE
HEADED BACK WHEN CONTACT WAS
LOST.
AND THEN JUST A FEW MOMENTS
LATER, THEY SAW THOSE FLARES.
SO THAT GIVES US AN INDICATION
OF SOMETHING HAPPENED, RIGHT,
SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND ALSO,
ON THE QUESTION OF THE FLEET,
VERY CAREFUL TO SAY THEY'RE NOT
GROUNDING THE FLEET, THAT THIS
WAS AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE AND
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE, OF
COURSE, THE ENTIRE FLEET IS OK,
BUT HE WAS EXPLICIT WHEN HE WAS
ASKED BY OUR COLLEAGUE AT THE 
TORONTO STAR , DO YOU HAVE
CONFIDENCE, ARE YOU CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS FLEET AND HE SAID, I
DO NOT HAVE CONCERNS.
I DON'T HAVE A LACK OF
CONFIDENCE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL AWAIT THE
OUTCOME OF THAT INVESTIGATION
BUT SIGNIFICANT THE FLEET IS ON
OPERATIONAL PAUSE RIGHT NOW.
>> I'LL ALSO JUST ADD WE KNOW
THERE WERE 240 MEMBERS ON THE
HNCS FREDRICTON, ON THEIR 100
DAY OR SO OF OPERATION AND THAT
MISSION WAS SLATED TO END IN
JANUARY AND RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE
DEALING WITH THE DEVASTATING
SITUATION FOR THE WHOLE CREW
THAT IS THERE.
DAVID, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT
TO WEIGH IN AS WE COME TO THE
END OF OUR COVERAGE ON CBC
TELEVISION BUT ANYTHING YOU
PICKED YOU ON AS NEEDING FURTHER
ANALYSIS OR TALKING ABOUT.
>> David:  THE THING THAT
STRIKES ME IS THE TERRIBLE IRONY
OF THE FORCES TO DEAL WITH THE
TRAGEDY HERE IN CANADA, IN
PARTICULAR IN THE LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE DAY.
IN ONTARIO AND IN QUEBEC, MORE
THAN 500 SOLDIERS ARE GOING TO
BE DEPLOYED IN THE LONG-TERM
CARE HOMES IN QUEBEC AND HOW
MUCH WE RELY ON THE ARMED FORCES
IN THESE TIMES OF GREAT NATIONAL
URGENCY RIGHT NOW WITH THE
MEDICAL CRISIS GOING ON, BUT
EVEN EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN THEY
WENT TO St. JOHN'S TO DIG
EVERYBODY OUT FROM THE SNOW
STORM.
FOR THEM TO HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO
HELP AND NOW DEAL WITH THIS.
LIKE I SAID, 2020 HAS BEEN A
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE YEAR.
>> DEFINITELY TOUGH FOR THE
WHOLE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP WITH
THE COVERAGE ON CBC TELEVISION
AND I'LL BE BACK TO YOU AS WE
END THIS SPECIAL.
AND I'LL BRING EVERYONE UP TO
DATE ON WHAT WE KNOW AFTER THAT
PRESS CONFERENCE FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER, THE MINISTER OF
NATIONAL DEFENSE IS THE CHIEF OF
THE DEFENSE STAFF.
WE KNOW THAT FIVE CANADIANS ARE
STILL MISSING AT THIS HOUR, THAT
ONE CANADIAN SUBLIEUTENANT
ABBIGAIL COWBOROUGH WAS A PART
OF THAT.
THEY HAVE RECOVERED MUCH OF THE
DATA THEY'LL NEED TO BETTER
UPSET WHAT WENT WRONG IN THIS
CYCLONE HELICOPTER, BUT THE
DEBRIS FIELD IS LARGE AND SO,
THE DATA WILL HELP CERTAINLY,
BUT THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM THAT
IS OVER THERE RIGHT NOW ASS
RECOVERY AND SEARCH MISSION
CONTINUES OR RESCUE MISSION
CONTINUES, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT
TO TRY TO PUT THOSE PIECES
TOGETHER AS THEY TRY TO
UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT HAPPENED
WITH THIS HELICOPTER.
THE HELICOPTER FLEET ITSELF HAS
BEEN PUT ON AN OPERATIONAL PAUSE
RIGHT NOW, NOT BECAUSE GENERAL
VANCE SAYS HE HAS ANY LACK OF
CONFIDENCE IN THOSE HELICOPTERS,
BUT THE HEAD OF THE AIRFORCE
DOES THIS, IN PART, BECAUSE OF
THE TRAGEDY THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE
A PART OF THE AIRFORCE ARE
DEALING WITH AND TO MAKE SURE
THIS IS NOT A FLEET-WIDE PROBLEM
AND A ONE-OFF ACCIDENT, IF YOU
WILL.
I WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT THEY
EXPECT TO BRING US MORE
INFORMATION, OBVIOUSLY, AS
EVENTS UNFOLD.
THEY DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOW
THIS UNFOLDED, JUST THAT THE
HELICOPTER WAS COMING BACK FROM
A TRAINING MISSION AND THEY MADE
CLEAR IT WAS A TRAINING MISSION
AND THAT FLARES WERE SPOTTED,
FLARES THAT WOULD HAVE GONE OFF
AUTOMATICALLY.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW, REALLY, HOW
MUCH OF THIS UNFOLDED AS OF YET.
I'LL JUST ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO
BRENDA, THE GRANDMOTHER OF
SUBLIEUTENANT ABBIGAIL.
SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT A
SENSE OF WHO HER GRANDDAUGHTER
WAS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT ENDS OUR COVERAGE FOR NOW
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE
PANDEMIC COMING UP ON "CBC NEWS
NETWORK" AND CBC.CA.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
>> Rosemary:  WELCOME BACK.
WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS AND
TAKE YOU BACK TO OUR ONGOING
COVERAGE OF THE PANDEMIC,
COVID-19.
THIS IS CANADA'S CHIEF PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICER, DR. THERESA TAM,
GIVING US UN-UPDATE.
>> HELPING TO GET SUPPLIES TO
THE FRONTLINES.
CONQUER COVID BEGAN UNTIL IT
PICKED UP STEAM FROM TWO OF
CANADA'S BIG NAMES, OLYMPIC AND
HOCKEY LEGEND.
ANOTHER OLYMPIAN HAS JUST
RECEIVED HER MEDICAL DEGREE LAST
WEEK AND HEADED STRAIGHT TO WORK
TO HELP IN LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
IN QUEBEC AS THEY BEAR THE BRUNT
OF THIS PANDEMIC.
THESE CANADIANS EXEMPLIFY WHAT
IT TAKES TO GET DOWN THIS
MOUNTAIN, THE GRIT OF AN
OLYMPIAN WITH A CAN-DO ATTITUDE
AND A READINESS TO HELP OTHERS.
TO ALL CANADIANS WHO ARE
HELPING, THANK YOU, MERCI.
>> THANK YOU, DR. TAM.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> I GIVE THE FLOOR TO
Mr. HOWARD NJOO.
AS USUAL, I WILL START WITH THE
LATEST NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN
CANADA.
AND THERE ARE NOW 52,057
CONFIRMED CASES INCLUDE THE
FIRST CASE IN NUNAVUT.
THERE ARE ALSO 3,082 DEATHS.
TO DATE, LABS ACROSS CANADA HAVE
TESTED OVER 800,000 PEOPLE FOR
COVID-19 WITH ABOUT 7% OF THESE
TESTING POSITIVE.
THIS WEEK THINGS HAVE BEEN A
LITTLE FLAT JUST LIKE THE
COVID-19 CURVE AND THIS IS
EXCITED WHAT IT MEANS FOR
GETTING OUT OF OUR HOUSES.
THOSE AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WE
HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS GOING DOWN
THE SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC CURVE.
IT WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT EASIER
IF THIS WAS A WELL-TRODDEN PATH
WITH MANY WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE
US.
BUT WE ARE LARGELY NEW
EXPLORERS, SO WE'LL NEED TO CURB
OUR ENTHUSIASM AND TIGHTEN THE
SAFETY ROAPS FOR THE WAY DOWN.
ALREADY ON THIS PATH, WE'VE SEEN
WORRISOME TRANSMISSION EVENTS
EMERGING.
HAVING LEARNED A LESSON ABOUT
VULNERABILITIES IN LONG-TERM
CARE HOMES, WE'RE NOW TACKLING
INTRODUCTIONS AND SPREAD AND
CERTAIN WORK SETTINGS AND
CONGREGATE HOUSING.
TO RAISE OUR SPIRITS AND KEEP US
GOING, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A
COUPLE OF THE MANY EXPIRING
EXAMPLES OF CANADIAN WHO'S ARE
JOINING THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND SOME ARE HELPING TO GET
NEEDED SUPPLIES TO THE
FRONTLINES.
WHILE OTHERS ARE JOINING THE
FRONTLINES THEMSELVES WHERE
POSSIBLE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
MANY OF THESE EFFORTS HAVE
STARTED AS GRASS ROOT
INITIATIVES BY EVERYDAY
CANADIANS USING THEIR SKILLS,
CREATIVITY AND GENEROSITY TO
HELP IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.
A GREAT EXAMPLE IS CONQUER COVID
AND THAT BEGAN LIKE THE LITTLE
ENGINE THAT COULD IN ONE
FAMILY'S HOME IN MARKHAM,
ONTARIO, UNTIL IT PICKED UP
STEAM FROM TWO OF CANADA'S BIG
NAMES.
OLYMPIAN AND HOCKEY LEGEND
HAYLEY WICKENHEISER AND ACTOR
BRIAN REYNOLDS JOINED FORCES
WITH CONQUER COVID TO PROVIDE
PPE FOR OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
ANOTHER OLYMPIAN, JOANIE
ROCHETTE, HAVING RECEIVED HER
MEDICAL DEGREE LAST WEEK IS
HEADING TO LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
TO HELP.
AND THESE CANADIANS EXEMPLIFY
WHAT IT TAKES TO GET DOWN THIS
MOUNTAIN AND THE PRECISION AND
GRIT OF AN OLYMPIAN WITH A
CAN-DO ATTITUDE AND READINESS TO
HELP OTHERS, WE THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. NJOO.
WE'LL HEAR FROM MARC MILLER.
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> AS OF APRIL 29, THERE HAVE
BEEN 129 COVID CASES ON RESERVE
AND 16 CONFIRMED CASES IN THE
NUNAVUT COMMUNITIES.
AS STATED BY DR. TAM AND NJOO,
THIS BRINGS THE FIRST CASE IN
PONDLET.
WE WILL BE GIVING THIS OUR FULL
ATTENTION AND MAXIMUM
CONTAINMENT EFFORTS ARE
UNDERTAKEN.
TO DATE, OVER $690 MILLION IN
FUNDING HAS BEEN DIRECTLY
ALLOCATED BY INDIGENOUS SERVICES
TOWARDS THE HEALTH RESPONSE TO
COVID-19.
THIS INCLUDES ACTIVITIES
UNDERTAKEN DIRECTLY BY THE
DEPARTMENT, SUCH AS PROCUREMENT
OF SUPPLIES AND NURSING
SERVICES, AS WELL AS
PREPAREDNESS MEASURES UNDERTAKEN
BY COMMUNITIES.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> INDIGENOUS SERVICE'S CANADA
CONTINUES AND WILL CONTINUE TO
KEEP INDIVIDUAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT
FOR FIRST NATIONS AND SUPPLIES.
THIS IS FOR HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE TAKING
CARE OF PATIENTS SICK WITH
COVID-19.
TO DATE, WE HAVE SENT SEVERAL
ORDERS OF PPE AND SURGICAL MASKS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM DURING
THIS PANDEMIC AND WE CONTINUE TO
RAPIDLY RESPOND TO DEMAND WITHIN
24 HOURS.
THIS PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING
COMMUNITIES IN MANY WAYS.
WHETHER THERE ARE CASES OR NOT
OR CLOSE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES,
PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES
EXPERIENCING DISTRESS, ANXIETY
AND UNCERTAINTY.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY THE CASE
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGHER RISK
OR THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE
WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK.
THESE ARE REAL AND
UNDERSTANDABLE REACTIONS.
AND THERE ARE MENTAL WELLNESS
SUPPORTS TO HELP.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSCORE
MANY ARE ADAPTING TO RESPECT THE
REQUIREMENT FOR PHYSICAL
DISTANCING AND SHOULD CONTINUE
TO DO SO.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR CASE, WE
HAVE INCREASED THE CRISIS
INTERVENTION COUNCILLORS ON
SHIFT AT THE HELP-LINE RECEIVING
MORE THAN 100 CALLS AND CHATS A
WEEK.
THE HELP-LINE IS AVAILABLE FOR
IMMEDIATE, CULTURALLY SAFE
SUPPORT FOR FIRST NATION'S INUIT
AND METIS 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN
DAYS A WEEK AND THE NUMBER IS
(855)242-3310.
ONLINE CHAT IS
HOPEFORWELLNESS.CA.
IN ENGLISH AND IN FRENCH AND
UPON REQUEST IN CREE, OJIBWE AND
NUNAVUT.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> THE FUNDING WAS PAID TO THE
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY FUNDS
INCLUDING 15 MILLION FOR URBAN
POPULATIONS.
AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS ALSO SENT
TO SUPPORT SHELTERS THAT OFFER
ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO WOMEN AND
CHILDREN THAT ARE FLEEING
VIOLENCE ON THE RESERVES.
WE'VE ANNOUNCED SUPPORT FOR
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND FOR
POST SECONDARY STUDENTS, I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THAT MORE SUPPORT
WILL BE NECESSARY AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
COMMUNITIES AT EVERY STEP OF THE
PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET
THEIR NEEDS.
IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE TO
ANYONE WHO KNOWS SOMEONE WHO HAS
WORN THE UNIFORM THAT TODAY OUR
NATION GRIEVES AND IN THE FACE
OF UNCERTAINTY, THE MEMBERS THE
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ARE
STEPPING UP TO HELP THOSE MOST
IN NEED.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE
PREPARED TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE FOR CANADA AND THAT IS
JUST A SMALL WINDOW INTO THE
CHARACTER OF THESE PEOPLE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE SEEN
RANGERS AND CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES MEMBERS STEP UP WHERE
CANADIANS NEED IT MOST.
IN OUR LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES, IN AREAS WITH ACUTE
RESOURCE NEEDS AND IN REMOTE
AREAS THE COUNTRY.
THEY'VE DONE THIS UNFAILINGLY
AND WITH A LEVEL OF GRACE AND
PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE HAVE
COME TO EXPECT FROM THE CANADIAN
ARMED FORCES.
TODAY THEY DO SO WITH HEAVY
HEARTS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT SENIORS IN
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES ARE
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THIS
VIRUS AND THEIR HEALTH AND
SAFETY ARE UTMOST PRIORITY.
WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE
SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND WE RECOGNISE THE
TRAGIC EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN
QUEBEC LONG-TERM CARE HOMES AND
THAT IS WHY WE'VE PROVIDED
SUPPORT TO THESE INSTITUTIONS
THAT ARE AFFECTED BY COVID-19
COVID-19.THANKS TO THE USE OF TE
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, THE
RED-CROSS AND RESOURCES HAVE
BEEN MOBILIZED TO HELP QUEBEC
GET THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME.
WE ALSO DO THIS WHEN AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION THREATENS
OUR CITIZENS.
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES DO
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP
THOSE IN NEED.
TO DATE, ROUGHLY 500 MEDICAL
PERSONNEL AND CIF SUPPORT
MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN QUEBEC.
THIS WILL HELP DOCTORS AND
NURSES LOCALLY TO ENSURE THAT
THEY CAN MANAGE PATIENTS AND
PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO THOSE WHO
ARE IN LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES.
WE WILL ALSO HELP WITH THE
COORDINATION OF NURSING AND
LOGISTIC'S NEEDS AND PROVIDE
INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION FOR THOSE
WHO WORK IN LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES.
MOREOVER, ROUGHLY 160 CANADIAN
RANGERS EMPLOYED IN NUNAVUT WILL
PROVIDE GENERAL AND LOGISTICAL
REPORT LOCALLY BY CREATING
MOBILE CLINICS AND BY GUIDING
THE LOCAL POPULATION.
IT WILL BE THE WORK AND PARTNERS
WITH INNUIT AND METIS AND AS
THEY DISCUSS THE EASING OF
RESTRICTIONS, WE WILL BE
EXTREMELY VIGILANT.
BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE
FLATTENING THE CURVE AND WE'LL
CONTINUE THIS TOGETHER WITH WORK
IN ALL COMMUNITIES, SECURE IN
THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE WILL ALL
KEEP OUR FELLOW CITIZENS SAFE.
BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE
SAVING LIVES.
THANK YOU, MERCI.
>> OK, THANK YOU, MARC.
AND NOW I GIVE THE FLOOR TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE TREASURE
REPORT, Mr. DUCLOS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE
VICTIMS THE TERRIBLE CRASH OF
THE HELICOPTER THAT TOOK PLACE
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND
LIKE THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
SAID, OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU
DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT AND
PAINFUL TIME.
TALKING ABOUT COMMITMENT AT THE
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, I WOULD
LIKE TO QUICKLY TALK ABOUT THE
DEPLOYMENT AND THE WORK OF THE
CHS IN LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN
QUEBEC WHERE THERE'S ALSO A
TRAGIC SITUATION THAT AFFECTS
THOUSANDS OF VULNERABLE SENIORS.
AND 125 MEDICAL TECHNICIANS WERE
DEPLOYED IN FIVE CARE HOMES
AFTER THE REQUEST THAT THE
QUEBEC GOVERNMENT MADE ON
APRIL 23rd.
IN RECENT DAYS, WE HAVE SEEN THE
DEPLOYMENT OF 320 OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IN
EIGHT LONG-TERM TRADITIONAL CARE
HOMES, TO TOTAL OF NEARLY 500
MEMBERS IN TOTAL AND ROUGHLY 550
SOON.
WE ALSO EXPECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF
MANY CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IN
SEVEN OTHER LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
IN QUEBEC AND THIS WILL GIVE US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE
MEMBERS OF THE CAF AND ALSO THE
MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS
INSTITUTIONS AND LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES FOR THEIR VERY STRONG WORK
THAT IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED AND
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE
OFFICIALS OF ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT THAT ALLOW US TO
COOPERATE TOGETHER TO PROVIDE
SERVICES AND TO SUPPORT SENIORS
WHO SO NEED THIS CARE.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE NOW READY TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER AND AS USUAL, WE'LL
START ON THE PHONE WITH THREE
QUESTIONS, ONE QUESTION, ONE
FOLLOWUP.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Operator:  THE FIRST QUESTION
IS FROM AGENT QMI.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question:  HELLO, MY QUESTION
IS FOR Mr. DUCLOS.
IT IS ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE
PROVIDED BY THE SENIOR ON FORCES
AND LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
YOU'VE SAID THAT THERE WILL BE
CARE PROVIDED TO EIGHT NEW CARE
HOMES AND CAN WE GET AN I.D. OF
WHICH LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND HOW
MANY PERSONNEL WILL BE SENT PER
INSTITUTION AND WHAT WILL BE
DONE EXACTLY?
>> Answer:  THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTION.
THERE ARE FIVE, EIGHT AND SEVEN
NUMBERS AND SO THERE ARE 125
MEMBERS THAT WERE DEPLOYED AND
EIGHT ADDITIONAL LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES THAT RECEIVED NUMBERS FOR
A TOTAL OF 550 MEMBERS THAT WILL
BE DEPLOYED VERY SOON IN THESE
CARE HOMES AND THERE ARE SOME
MEMBERS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE
AND WE EXPECT THE DEPLOYMENT TO
BE COMPLETED BY MAY 11th.
THEY ARE CHANGING AND THIS IS IN
DONE IN COOPERATION WITH THE
QUEBEC GOVERNMENT AND IN TERMS
OF THE NUMBER OF QUEBEC CARE
HOMES, THIS WILL BE COMMUNICATED
VERY SHORTLY.
 AND SEPARATELY.
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
>> Question:  IN TERMS OF THESE
TEAMS OF PERSONNEL, YOU'VE
MENTIONED NURSES AND MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS AND HOW MANY
MILITARY PERSONNEL HAVE TRAINING
IN MEDICINE VERSUS THOSE WHO
AREN'T TRAINED, WHO ARE JUST
THERE TO SERVE MEALS, FOR
EXAMPLE?
S.
>> Answer:  IN TERMS OF THAT,
THAT'S MORE TECHNICAL ON THE
HEALTH SIDE AND I WILL GIVE THE
FLOOR TO DR. NJOO.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU GENERALLY IS
THAT THERE IS A KEY BALANCE
BETWEEN MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
AND SUPPORT RESPONSIBILITIES TO
OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE
THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR
THESE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES SO
THE KING OF ARMED FORS ARE WELL
EQUIPPED TO DO THESE ACTIVITIES.
AND WE DO RECOGNISE THAT WHAT
TESTS ARE DONE DEPENDS ON THE
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN
QUESTION.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT
Mr. DUCLOS HAS JUST SAID.
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES WITH
THEIR PERSONNEL AND, OBVIOUSLY,
THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY SKILLS
AND THE NEEDS ARE CHANGING AND
WE'RE WORKING IN COOPERATION
WITH THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT FOR
THESE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
WE HAVE TO EXAMINE WHAT THE
NEEDS ARE AND WE WILL BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERY PERSON CAN
DO.
IN TERMS OF DOCTORS, THERE MAY
BE SKILLS FOR THEM AND
ACTIVITIES THAT MEET THEIR
QUALIFICATIONS, BUT THE
SITUATION IS EVOLVING AND WE'LL
HAVE MORE DETAILS IN COMING
DAYS.
>> Operator:  THE NEXT QUESTION
IS FROM RYAN FROM NATIONAL POST
AND YOUR LINE IS OPEN AND YOU
MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR QUESTION.
>> Question:  YEAH, HI THERE.
I'M ASKING THE COMMERCIAL RENT
SUBSIDY PROGRAMME, HEARING
CONCERNS FROM BUSINESSES THAT
THEY HAVE TO SHOW A 70%
REDUCTION IN REVENUE AS COMPARED
TO THE 30% REDUCTION IN REVENUE
FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY AND I'M
WONDERING WHY THIS 70% WAS SET.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
AS WE KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
BE REMINDED OF HIS PART OF A
BROAD PACKAGE TO SUPPORT THE
ECONOMY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR
WORKERS THROUGH THE VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION.
THESE MEASURES ARE EMERGENCY
MEASURES AND THERE TO HELP
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS IN THEIR
SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT
IS THE CASE WITH OTHER MEASURES
AND THERE ARE CRITERIA SO THAT
WE CAN ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES TO
THOSE MOST IN NEED AND THESE
CRITERIA BOTH TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEEDS BUT
THE ABILITY OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO BE HELPFUL IN THE
MANNER IN WHICH IT IS
COMPLIMENTARY TO THE WORK OF
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CONTEXT, AS
YOU WELL KNOW, THE AGREEMENTS
WERE NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT IN
ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMME
BECAUSE REGULATIONS AROUND RENT,
REGULATIONS AROUND THE OPERATION
OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORDERS AND
RENTERS, THAT'S ALL GUIDED AND
ENFORCED BY PROBLEMS AND
TERRITORIES.
THAT'S WHY THOSE RULES WERE
DESIGNED WITH PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES AND WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED IN COLLABORATION AND
IN SUPPORT OF THE TERRITORIES.
FIRST, INDEED, WE CAME TO A
QUICK AGREEMENT ON THE BEST WAY
TO JOIN FORCED AND IMPLEMENT
SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES, IN PARTICULAR.
AND THE CONTEXT OF THE VERY
SEVERE PRESSURES THAT THEY ARE
FACING IN THE CRISIS AND SECOND,
THAT ONGOING WORK, WE ARE
REQUIRED THE COLLABORATION OF
THE BANKING SECTOR BECAUSE IT'S
BEEN IDENTIFIED AS KEY.
THAT'S WHY THOSE PARAMETERS WERE
SPECIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT AND
IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
THE NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Operator:  THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Question:  GOOD AFTERNOON,
Mr. DUCLOS.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
THIS CERB, YOUR GOVERNMENT
REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
OPPOSITION YESTERDAY TO DO
CERTAIN THINGS FOR STUDENTS AND
MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
WILL THERE BE A DELAY IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CERB FOR
STUDENTS?
>> Answer:  THANK YOU FOR
REMINDING EVERYONE THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES
YESTERDAY.
WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY WAS THAT
ALL PARTIES REALIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF HELPING OUR
STUDENTS.
I WAS A TEACHER FOR MANY YEARS
AND I WAS ALSO A STUDENT MYSELF
BEFORE THAT AND I KNOW HOW AN
ECONOMIC CRISIS CAN HAVE VERY
SERIOUS EFFECTS ON STUDENTS, NOT
ONLY DURING THE TIME WHEN THEY
STUDY, BECAUSE OFTEN, THEY
WONDER IF IT'S WORTH CONTINUING
THEIR STUDIES, WHICH IS A
SERIOUS SITUATION FOR THEM AND
OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, BUT
ALSO, WHEN THEY GET OUT OF THEIR
STUDIES, WHEN THEY WANT TO TAKE
ON A JOB, THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
THEM, EVEN THIS THE VERY LONGER
TERM.
SO YESTERDAY'S RESULTS WERE VERY
IMPORTANT.
THE SENATE, IF I UNDERSTAND
CORRECTLY, WILL SOON RATIFY THIS
LEGISLATION AND THIS WILL BRING
US TO THE NEXT STEP.
WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT THE NEXT
STEP WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY,
NAMELY, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW
STUDENTS TO RECEIVE THE CERB AND
WE SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN COUNT ON
THE SKILLS AND THE COMMITMENTS
OF THE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN CANADA
TO RAPIDLY IMPLEMENT THIS
PROGRAMME FOR STUDENTS AND THERE
ARE 7 MILLION RECIPIENTS OF THIS
CERB AND MANY CANADIANS THAT
WERE SKEPTICAL ABOUT OUR ABILITY
TO OFFER SUCH A SIZEABLE
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME SO QUICKLY,
WELL, THEY'VE NOW SEEN WE'RE
ABLE TO DO THIS.
A FOLLOWUP.
MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE
REGULATIONS THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO
ADJUST, WILL THAT DELAY THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CERB?
AND DO YOU HAVE A FIGURE ABOUT
THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR WAGE
SUBSIDIES FROM COMPANIES AND DO
YOU SEE THIS AS AN INDICATION
THAT PEOPLE ARE TURNING AWAY
FROM THIS CERB AND ASKING FOR
THE WAGE SUBSIDY?
>> Answer:  YOU'VE ASKED A LOT
OF GOOD QUESTIONS AND IT'S HARD
TO ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT ARE ASKED.
IN TERMS OF THE REGULATIONS, THE
NEW SPECIFICATIONS THAT WERE
MADE YESTERDAY WILL ALLOW US TO
RAPIDLY INCORPORATE REGULATIONS
TO IMPLEMENT THE CERB FOR
STUDENTS.
AND IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION,
REPEAT IT ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE.
COULD YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION,
PLEASE.
YOU HAD THREE OTHER QUESTIONS, I
THINK.
THEY WERE ALL CONNECTED TO EACH
OTHER.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT COMPANIES
CONTINUE TO PAY THEIR WORKERS SO
THAT WORKERS CAN CONTINUE TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR THE ECONOMY WHEN
IT STARTS UP AGAIN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MINISTER
AND WE'LL TAKE A QUESTION FROM
THE ROOM.
I KNOW THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF
HEALTH IN OTTAWA IS ENGAGED WITH
THE COMMUNITY AND I DON'T KNOW
THE SPECIFICS OF SET-UP, BUT I
THINK THAT QUESTION IS BEST LEFT
TO HER, BUT, OF COURSE, I
CERTAINLY RECOGNISED HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS FOR FAMILIES NOT
SEEING THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES AND I THINK
OUR COLLECTIVE ADVICE IS TO JUST
DO THAT SAFELY.
A CANADIAN WORKER FROM PEEL HAS
DIED AND THEY SAY MANY OF HER
WORKERS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND DO NOT
HAVE THE STEPS TO KEEP THEM
SAFE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO ARE
NOT PROTECTING THEM ADEQUATELY
AND ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY
PROVINCES OR MULTIPLES FACING
ANY DIRECT SHORTAGES RIGHT NOW
WITH PPE?
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT OUR TEAMS
ARE WORKING, YOU KNOW, EVERYDAY
TO LOOK AND FORECAST ANY NEEDS
FROM THE DIFFERENT PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES AND SO THAT PPE CAN
BE ALLOCATED?
I CAN'T COMMENT ON SPECIFIC
DISTRIBUTION TO ANSWER THE
FRONT-LINE, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE
ALL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE
TO PROTECT ARE FRONT-LINE.
>> WE'LL PULL AWAY FROM THIS
FEDERAL BRIEFING ON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO
COVID-19, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND A COUPLE OF
THINGS OF NOTE.
I WOULD SAY 129 CASES HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED ON FIRST NATION'S
RESERVES IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE
FIRST CASE
AND THE FIRST CASE HAD BEEN IN
POND INLET.
IT HAD BEEN CASE-FREE UNTIL NOW
THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS FOR ASSAULT
WEAPONS IN IN COUNTRY.
THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO EXPECTED
TO HAVE A CALL WITH PREMIER AND
TERRITORIAL LEADERS LATER TODAY
BECAUSE THESE CALLS ARE
HAPPENING ON A WEEKLY BASIS, IN
LARGE PART, TO TALK WERE THE
REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY WHICH,
AS YOU KNOW, IS HAPPENING AT A
DIFFERENT PACE.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO ANDREW
NICHOLS.
>> Andrew:  THIS IS CBC NEWS
NETWORK AND WE ARE FOLLOWING
THAT STORY.
A NUMBER OF BREAKING AND
DEVELOPING STORIES FOR YOU
TODAY.
