>> Announcer: THIS IS A CBC NEWS
SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
>> Rosemary: HI, EVERYONE.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN THE 
NATION'S CAPITAL.
GLAD YOU ARE JOINING US ONCE 
AGAIN ON CBC TELEVISION, "CBC 
NEWS NETWORK" STREAMING AROUND 
THE WORLD ON OUR APP AND CBC.CA.
PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU 
WILL ADDRESS CANADIANS VERY 
SOON, A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN 
HE USUALLY DOES, EXPECTED IN 
JUST MOMENTS.
HE IS ALSO EXPECTED TODAY TO 
ANNOUNCE NEW FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS.
THEY ARE FACING A LOT OF 
COMPLICATIONS BECAUSE OF THE 
PANDEMIC.
MANY FARMERS SAY THE PLANTING 
AND GROWING SEASON ARE IN 
JEOPARDY IF THEY DON'T GET SOME 
HELP.
THE RELIEF MONEY COULD BE 
SIGNIFICANT.
I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT THE 
CANADIAN FEDERATION OF 
AGRICULTURE WAS ASKING FOR $2.6 
BILLION TO HELP MAINTAIN 
CANADA'S FOOD SECURITY, AND IT 
WOULD HELP A NUMBER OF FARMING 
SECTORS, OBVIOUSLY, INCLUDING, 
AS WE SAID, FARMING ITSELF, 
VEGETABLES, FRUITS, BUT ALSO 
MEAT PLANTS, WHICH WE KNOW HAVE 
HAD A HARD TIME, BEEF, POULTRY, 
PORK PRODUCERS AND THE FOOD 
PROCESSING SECTOR.
WE'RE ALSO COVERING DEVELOPMENTS
OF THAT FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH 
OFF THE COAST OF GREECE LAST 
WEEK THAT KILLED SIX CANADIAN 
FORCES MEMBERS.
TODAY THE FAMILY OF ONE OF THEM,
SUB-LIEUTENANT MATTHEW PYKE 
RELEASED A VERY MOVING STATEMENT
AND WE'LL SHARE SOME OF THAT 
WITH YOU IF WE HAVE THE TIME 
LATER.
I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES 
VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID 
COCHRANE.
I'M BEING TOLD WE HAVE ABOUT 30 
SECONDS, SO MAYBE WE WON'T EVEN 
TALK TO YOU.
I WILL SAY THAT AGRICULTURE 
ACCOUNTS FOR 11% OF CANADA'S 
GOODS GDP, ALMOST 10% OF OUR 
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE.
WE HAVE SO MUCH.
WE PRODUCE SO MUCH, IN FACT, 
THAT A LARGE PART OF IT IS 
EXPORTED TO OTHER PLACES.
AND IT HAS LEFT FARMERS AND 
PRODUCERS IN A VERY DIFFICULT 
SITUATION WITH A LOT OF TIMES 
TOO MUCH OF WHAT THEY PRODUCE 
AND THEN OTHER TIMES NOT KNOWING
WHAT THEY SHOULD PUT IN THE 
GROUND BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW 
IF THERE WILL BE A MARKET TO 
SELL IT WITHIN CANADA.
WE WON'T TALK TO THE TWO OF YOU.
WE'LL TALK AFTER.
HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA NOW.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
HELLO, EVERYONE.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED I WANT TO 
NOTE THAT TODAY MARKS THE 75TH 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF
THE NETHERLANDS.
ON THIS DAY WE REMEMBER THE 
CANADIANS AND NEWFOUNDLANDERS 
WHO LIBERATING THE NETHERLANDS 
FROM THE TYRANNY OF THE NAZIS.
WE ALSO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE DEEP 
BONDS THAT WERE FORGED BETWEEN 
CANADA AND THE NETHERLANDS.
WE HONOUR THE INCREDIBLE COURAGE
AND SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERANS IN
WHOM WE ARE FOREVER IN THEIR 
DEBT.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN CANADIANS 
STEP UP IN PERIODS OF CRISIS TO 
HELP EACH OTHER AND TO HELP OUR 
FRIENDS.
WE SAW IT 75 YEARS AGO ON THE 
BATTLEFIELDS OF THE SECOND WORLD
WAR, AND WE'RE SEEING IT ONCE 
AGAIN DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
THESE DAYS, EVERYONE WORKING IN 
THE FOOD INDUSTRY IS WORKING 
HARDER THAN EVER TO FILL THE 
SHELVES OF OUR GROCERY STORES.
THEY CONTINUE TO WORK LONG HOURS
TO FEED US, AND THE PANDEMIC IS 
MAKING THINGS MORE COMPLICATED 
FOR THEM.
WORKERS MUST TAKE ADDITIONAL 
MEASURES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
THEY MUST CHANGE THE WAY THEY 
WORK AND RESPECT PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
AND SINCE HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS
ARE CLOSED, MANY PRODUCERS ARE 
NOW DEALING WITH SIGNIFICANT 
SURPLUSES OF CERTAIN GOODS.
FROM THE OUTSET, WE HAVE SAID WE
WOULD BE THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO 
NEED A HAND, SO TODAY WE HAVE 
ANNOUNCING A NEW INVESTMENT OF 
MORE THAN $252 MILLION TO HELP 
THE AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY AND HELP 
IT GET THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
OF THAT AMOUNT, WE WILL BE 
ALLOCATING MORE THAN $77 MILLION
TO FOOD PROCESSORS IN ORDER TO 
PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THEIR 
WORKERS.
THIS IS MONEY THAT THEY WILL BE 
ABLE TO USE TO BUY MORE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR ADJUST 
THEIR HYGIENE PROTOCOLS, OR 
OTHER MEASURES SUCH AS PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
IT WILL ALSO ALLOW PROCESSORS TO
ADAPT THEIR PLANTS SO THAT THEY 
CAN PRODUCE MORE GOODS IN 
CANADA.
[ End of Interpretation ].
TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING MORE 
THAN $77 MILLION TO SUPPORT FOOD
PROCESSORS DURING THIS CRISIS.
THIS IS MONEY THAT THEY CAN USE 
TO PURCHASE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT FOR WORKERS, ADAPT TO 
HEALTH PROTOCOLS, AND SUPPORT 
OTHER SOCIAL DISTANCING 
MEASURES.
IT WILL ALSO HELP EXPAND OR 
ADAPT OUR PROCESSING CAPACITY TO
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CANADIAN 
PRODUCTS WE MAKE DOMESTICALLY.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
TO HELP PORK AND BEEF PRODUCERS,
WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE AGRI 
RECOVERY, A NATIONAL PROGRAM 
WITH AN ENVELOPE OF $125 MILLION
TO HELP FARMERS ADAPT TO MARKET 
CHANGES.
FARMS AND PORK PRODUCING 
BUSINESSES ARE PRODUCING THINGS 
LIKE BEEF AND BACON FOR US, AND 
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE 
ANIMALS CAN REMAIN ON THE FARM 
LONGER THAN USUAL, AND THAT IS 
COSTLY.
THE MONEY WE'RE ANNOUNCING TODAY
WILL HELP PORK AND BEEF 
PRODUCERS TO ADAPT TO THIS 
CRISIS.
THIS IS AN INITIAL INVESTMENT, 
AND IF WE HAVE TO DO MORE, WE 
WILL DO MORE.
[ End of Interpretation ].
TO HELP CATTLE AND HOG 
PRODUCERS, WE WILL LAUNCH A $125
MILLION NATIONAL AGRI RECOVERY 
INITIATIVE.
FARMS AND PROCESSING PLANTS ARE 
RAISING MORE ANIMALS THAN THE 
SYSTEM CAN PROCESS INTO THINGS 
LIKE STEAK AND BACON BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19.
FOR MANY FARMERS, THIS CRISIS 
MEANS THAT THEY HAVE TO KEEP 
ANIMALS FOR LONGER PERIODS OF 
TIME, AND THAT CAN BE EXPENSIVE.
SO WITH THIS FUNDING, WE'RE 
GIVING EXTRA HELP TO BEEF AND 
PORK PRODUCERS SO THAT THEY CAN 
ADAPT TO THIS CRISIS.
THIS IS AN INITIAL INVESTMENT, 
AND IF WE NEED TO ADD MORE, WE 
WILL.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
WITH RESPECT TO DAIRY FARMERS, 
WE INTEND TO WORK WITH ALL THE 
PARTIES IN THE HOUSE TO INCREASE
BY $200 MILLION THE CREDIT LINE 
OF THE CANADIAN DAIRY 
COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION ALREADY HAS A 
PROGRAM IN PLACE TO STORE DAIRY 
PRODUCTS.
IT STORES BUTTER AND CHEESE AND 
HAS BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 
THIS CRISIS, AND HOPES AND 
EXPECTS TO REACH ITS MAXIMUM 
CAPACITY SOON.
BY INCREASING ITS CREDIT LINE, 
WE WILL NOT WASTE FRESH PRODUCTS
AND DAIRY PRODUCERS WILL BE MORE
ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE 
CONSEQUENCES OF THIS CRISIS.
[ End of Interpretation ].
-- CLOSED, TOO MUCH OF CERTAIN 
TYPES OF FOOD LIKE MILK, BUTTER 
AND POTATOES IS BEING PRODUCED.
WHILE SOME DONATIONS HAVE BEEN 
MADE TO FOOD BANKS, WE DON'T 
HAVE THE CAPACITY RIGHT NOW TO 
REDISTRIBUTE SUCH LARGE 
QUANTITIES OF FOOD.
AND SOME PRODUCERS HAVE NO 
CHOICE BUT TO THROW OUT THEIR 
PRODUCT.
IT'S A WASTE OF FOOD AND A LOSS 
OF REVENUE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO 
WORKED SO HARD TO PRODUCE IT.
TO AVOID THIS, WE'RE LAUNCHING A
SURPLUS FOOD PURCHASE PROGRAM 
STARTING WITH A $50 MILLION 
FUND.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BUY LARGE 
QUANTITIES OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS 
AT RISK OF GOING WASTE, LIKE, 
SAY, POTATOES OR POULTRY, AND 
REDISTRIBUTE THEM TO 
ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING FOOD 
INSECURITY.
THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT OUR 
FARMERS ARE BEING COMPENSATED 
FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THAT OUR
MOST VULNERABLE HAVE ACCESS TO 
FRESH FOOD DURING THIS CRISIS.
TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE MEASURES 
REPRESENT THE $252 MILLION 
INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE
WHO KEEP OUR GROCERY STORES 
STOCKED AND OUR FAMILIES FED.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
AND IN FACT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A 
MOMENT TO THANK MINISTER BIBEAU 
FOR HER WORK ON THIS FILE.
[ End of Interpretation ].
WE KNOW THAT FARMERS STILL HAVE 
CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THIS 
PANDEMIC MEANS FOR THEIR 
INDUSTRY LONG TERM.
HAVING ENOUGH WORKERS FOR 
HARVESTING LATER IN THE SEASON, 
HAVING ENOUGH PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR 
WORKERS.
THESE ARE VALID CONCERNS, AND I 
CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE 
WORKING WITH FARMERS, 
STAKEHOLDERS AND PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES TO FIND LASTING 
SOLUTIONS.
I WANT TO CLOSE TODAY BY 
THANKING EVERY PERSON WHO WORKS 
IN OUR FOOD INDUSTRY.
PEOPLE ARE SPENDING A LOT MORE 
TIME IN THE KITCHEN COOKING FOR 
AN ELDERLY NEIGHBOUR, COOKING 
FOR THEMSELVES, DISCOVERING NEW 
RECIPES, TRYING TO MAKE 
SOURDOUGH.
THESE DAYS ESPECIALLY COOKING 
AND BAKING IS ABOUT MORE THAN 
NOURISHMENT.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT RELIEVING 
STRESS, FINDING A COMMUNITY, 
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, CREATING 
MEMORIES.
YOU HELP MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, SO 
WE'RE HERE FOR ALL OF YOU IN THE
AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY, AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE HERE FOR YOU.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
TO ALL OF YOU WORKING IN THE 
FOOD INDUSTRY, THANK YOU FOR 
EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR US.
WE ARE THERE FOR YOU, AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR 
YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [ No Interpretation ].
>> Reporter: [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
GOOD MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU, TODAY
YOU ARE THANKING ALL THE FARMERS
AND FOOD PRODUCERS, BUT THE 
CANADIAN FEDERATION OF 
AGRICULTURE WAS ASKING YOU FOR 
$2.6 BILLION IN ASSISTANCE 
BECAUSE THE CRISIS IS REALLY 
HITTING THEM HARD.
YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR THAT AMOUNT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
THIS IS AN INITIAL INVESTMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL 
CERTAINLY NEED TO BE MORE DONE 
AS THE NEEDS INCREASE, AND THIS 
IS MONEY THAT WE ARE SENDING OUT
IMMEDIATELY TO HELP OUR FARMERS 
AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, AND 
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
THEM TO ADDRESS OTHER NEEDS.
>> FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: I'D LIKE YOU TO 
COMMENT ON THE SHORT-TERM 
PROJECTIONS OF HEALTH CANADA.
ONCE AGAIN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS 
IS HIGHER THAN WHAT HEALTH 
CANADA HAD EXPECTED FOR NOW.
WHY IS CANADA TOO OPTIMISTIC 
ABOUT ITS RESULTS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
MODELLING WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IS
THERE TO GUIDE OUR DECISIONS AND
HELP US TO PREPARE FOR ANY 
EVENTUALITY.
THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A PREDICTION
OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN BUT RATHER 
A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT COULD 
HAPPEN, AND THEREFORE WE HAVE 
BEEN ABLE TO ADJUST AS THINGS 
WENT ON.
WE SAW AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE 
CURVE, BUT AS YOU SAY, THERE IS 
STILL REASON FOR CONCERN AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST OUR 
PROJECTIONS AND RESPOND AS THE 
REALITY CHANGES.
[ End of Interpretation ].
MODELLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE,
NOT AS A CRYSTAL BALL TO TELL US
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT TO 
TELL US THE RANGE OF THINGS THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN, DEPENDING ON OUR 
BEHAVIOURS, DEPENDING ON 
MEASURES BROUGHT IN.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN CONSTANTLY
UPDATING IT, CONSTANTLY MOVING 
FORWARD WITH NEW MEASURES TO 
MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO MAKE CANADIANS SAFE, 
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO JUST 
THAT.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION, 
STEPHANIE LEVITT, THE CANADIAN 
PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
WHEN YOU BRIEFED CANADIANS ABOUT
THE HELICOPTER CRASH LAST WEEK, 
DID YOU KNOW THERE WERE 
EYEWITNESSS, AND WHY DID IT TAKE
12 HOURS TO CONFIRM THAT THE 
HELICOPTER HAD CRASHED?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
MILITARY HAS VERY IMPORTANT 
PROTOCOLS IN PLACE WHEN THERE IS
A TRAGIC INCIDENT LIKE THIS 
AROUND INFORMING THE NEXT OF 
KIN, OF TALKING TO THE FAMILIES 
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE 
SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE 
GENERAL PUBLIC.
ALL THOSE PROTOCOLS WERE 
FOLLOWED.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Reporter: YEAH, AS A 
FOLLOW-UP, IN YOUR REMARKS YOU 
MADE A POINT OF THANKING 
MINISTER BIBEAU WITH REGARDS TO 
HER WORK ON AGRICULTURE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF 
FRUSTRATION COMING OUT OF THAT 
COMMUNITY, THAT THE RELATIVELY 
DELAYED RESPONSE TO THEIR 
DEMANDS AS IT COMPARES TO, LET'S
SAY MORE URBAN CONCERNS, IS A 
DIRECT REFLECTION OF THE LACK OF
SUPPORT FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT IN 
THE PRAIRIE PROVINCES.
CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?
>> WE MOVED FORWARD INITIALLY 
WITH SUPPORTS FOR WORKERS IN ALL
INDUSTRIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT, WITH THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, WITH MEASURES TO 
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, THESE 
ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT 
HAVE HAD AN IMPACT IN URBAN AND 
RURAL AREAS.
FURTHERMORE, WE'VE CONTINUED TO 
WORK WITH FARMERS AND FOOD 
PRODUCERS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY TO RESPOND TO THEIR 
NEEDS.
WE HAVE A LARGE AND VARIED 
COUNTRY IN TERMS OF THE 
CHALLENGES BEING FACED IN 
DIFFERENT REGIONS, AND WE'VE 
BEEN VERY DILIGENT ABOUT 
RESPONDING TO AGRICULTURAL 
INDUSTRY RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, INCLUDING WITH A 
SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY 
THAT'S GOING TO HELP PEOPLE 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, STEVE SCHEER, 
REUTERS, LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU, PRIME 
MINISTER, FOR TAKING MY 
QUESTION.
THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF 
AGRICULTURE HAD ASKED FOR 
SUPPORT FOR ALL FARMS.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY SEEMS 
TARGETED TO SPECIFIC SECTORS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PRODUCERS 
[INDISCERNIBLE] VEGETABLE 
INDUSTRY, THE GRAIN INDUSTRY, 
THAT ARE ALSO FACING 
[INDISCERNIBLE]. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: EVERY
STEP OF THE WAY IN THIS CRISIS 
WE'VE BEEN RESPONDING IN 
TARGETED WAYS TO THE INDUSTRIES 
THAT NEED OUR SUPPORT IN AS 
RAPID A FASHION AS WE CAN.
THE FIRST THINGS WE DID WAS PUT 
OUT BROAD-BASED SUPPORT TO 
WORKERS IN INDUSTRIES RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT COULD 
CONTINUE TO PAY THE RENT, PAY 
THEIR GROCERIES AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE WITH THE CERB, WITH NOW
THE WAGE SUBSIDY, WITH OTHER 
MEASURES TO SUPPORT SMALL 
BUSINESSES, AND WE'RE CONTINUING
TO DO JUST THAT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN SECTORS THAT 
ARE MORE PRESSING IN THEIR NEEDS
FOR SUPPORTS, BUT LIKE I SAID, 
THIS IS ONLY AN INITIAL AMOUNT 
OF SUPPORT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
FARMERS, WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND 
INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, WITH 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO 
ENSURE THAT FOOD -- OUR FOOD 
CAPACITY IN THIS COUNTRY AND 
THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK SO 
INCREDIBLY HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY
TO FEED CANADIANS GET THE 
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED THROUGH 
THIS CRISIS AND BEYOND.
>> AS A FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: AND YOU SAY THIS IS
AN INITIAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING, 
BUT THE INITIAL ASK FROM THE 
CANADIAN FEDERATION OF 
AGRICULTURE WAS $2.6 BILLION.
SPRING SEEDING IS STARTING NOW.
DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN 
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING YOU'RE 
SAYING COULD COME IS GOING TO 
SHOW UP?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE'RE
RESPONDING TO PRESSING NEEDS IN 
TERMS OF PROCESSORS, IN TERMS OF
PREDICTABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR 
FARMERS AND FOR PRODUCERS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE TO 
DO, AND WE WILL KEEP WORKING 
WITH THEM TO DETERMINE EXACTLY 
HOW WE CAN BEST HELP.
WE WILL BE THERE FOR 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS BECAUSE 
THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ALL 
CANADIANS.
THE HARD WORK THEY DO AND THE 
SUPPORT THEY GIVE US ALL NEEDS 
TO BE RESPECTED, REFLECTED ON 
AND SUSTAINABLY SUPPORTED.
[ No Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: [ Voice of 
Interpreter ].
YES, GOOD MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
MANY FRUIT AND VEGETABLE 
PRODUCERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE 
SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
FOREIGN TEMPORARY WORKERS.
WILL YOU PROVIDE SPECIFIC HELP 
TO THEM?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
I CAN SAY THAT STARTING NOW OR 
UP UNTIL NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED 
ALMOST 90% OF FOREIGN TEMPORARY 
WORKERS THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY 
BE BRINGING IN AT THIS TIME OF 
THE YEAR.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT DURING 
THE HARVESTING SEASON THERE WILL
BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FOREIGN
TEMPORARY WORKERS AND WE ARE 
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE 
INDUSTRY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN 
MEET THOSE NEEDS.
>> FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: YES.
THE FACILITIES LIKE MEAT PACKERS
ARE AREAS OF MAJOR OUTBREAK.
DO YOU INTEND TO SHUT THEM DOWN 
IF THE SITUATION DOES NOT 
IMPROVE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
MEASURES THAT WE ARE ANNOUNCING 
TODAY WILL IMPROVE THE SITUATION
IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND MEAT 
PACKING FACILITIES BY FURTHER 
PROTECTING THE EMPLOYEES.
WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO 
PROTECT THE EMPLOYEES AND ENSURE
THAT THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN 
REMAINS IN TACT, AND THAT'S 
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Reporter: THESE COMPANIES 
THAT RUN THESE MEAT PACKING 
PLANTS, THEY ARE BIG 
MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SO 
WHY IS IT UP TO THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
THEY KEEP THEIR WORKERS SAFE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
ARE, OF COURSE, SUPPORTING THE 
PROVINCES ON THEIR INITIATIVES 
TO KEEP THE WORKERS SAFE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMET IS HAPPY TO HELP 
WITH, INDEED THE RESPONSIBILITY 
IS SHARED FROM THE OWNERS AND 
OPERATORS OF THE PLANTS TO THE 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS HAPPY TO 
BE PART OF CREATING SOLUTIONS IN
THIS SITUATION WHERE WE'RE IN AN
UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS.
WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, BUT
WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE A SUPPLY 
OF FOOD FOR CANADIANS.
>> Reporter: AND A LOT OF THE 
WORKERS THAT WORK IN THESE 
PLANTS, THEY ARE NOT JUST 
WORKING IN CRAMPED CONDITIONS, 
THEY ARE LIVING IN CRAMPED 
CONDITIONS.
IS ANY OF THIS MONEY OR IS THERE
ANYTHING MORE THE GOVERNMENT CAN
DO TO HELP THEM -- TO KEEP THEM 
FROM SPREADING WORKPLACE BUT 
ALSO AT HOME?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: PART 
OF THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SENDING 
TO HELP THIS INDUSTRY AND THESE 
AREAS IS TO LOOK AT THE 
DIFFERENT WAYS THEY CAN KEEP 
THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THESE 
WORKERS SAFE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT PROVINCES 
WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT VERY 
CLOSELY, BUT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, AS ALWAYS, WILL BE 
THERE TO SUPPORT AND TO MAKE 
SURE THAT CANADIANS' FOOD SUPPLY
IS SAFE WHILE WE KEEP PEOPLE 
SAFE FROM COVID-19.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
OF COURSE THERE ARE SHARED 
RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE 
OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THESE 
FACILITIES IN THE PROVINCE, AND 
THE PROVINCES THAT HAVE CONTROL 
OVER WHAT HAPPENS THERE AS WELL.
BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL 
CERTAINLY BE THERE TO HELP 
BECAUSE THIS IS A CONCERN FOR 
ALL OF US IN TERMS OF ENSURING 
THE INTEGRITY OF THE FOOD SUPPLY
IN CANADA, AND ALSO ENSURING THE
SAFETY OF THE WORKERS AND 
AVOIDING SEEING ANY PROGRESS IN 
THE DISEASE.
>> Reporter: CAN YOU TELL US 
EXACTLY WHEN THAT MONEY WILL BE 
IN THE POCKETS OF FARMERS AND 
PROCESSORS?
BECAUSE WE'RE HEARING THAT SOME 
OF THOSE MEASURES ARE NOT READY 
TO BE IMPLEMENTED, PARTICULARLY 
THOSE FOR DAIRY PRODUCERS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FIRST
OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT 
THAT MINISTER BIBEAU HAS BEEN 
WORKING VERY HARD ON THESE 
ISSUES, AND SHE WILL BE AT THE 
PRESS CONFERENCE LATER ON TO 
TAKE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THAT.
REGARDING SUPPORT FOR DAIRY 
PRODUCERS, WE WILL BE INCREASING
THEIR CREDIT LINE.
THIS IS ONE THAT THEY'VE HAD FOR
SOME TIME, BUT IN ORDER TO DO 
THAT, WE WILL HAVE TO PASS 
LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS, SO WE WILL BE WORKING 
WITH ALL THE PARTIES IN THE 
HOUSE TO HELP OUR DAIRY 
PRODUCERS.
>> Reporter: NOW ONE OF THE 
IMPACTS OF THE CRISIS WOULD BE 
ON THE COST OF GROCERIES IN 
CANADA, AND I GUESS THAT WILL BE
SEEN IN THE COMING WEEKS AND 
MONTHS.
HAVE YOU INCLUDED SOMETHING TO 
DEAL WITH THAT?
IS THERE SOMETHING THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO HELP 
CANADIANS AND FAMILIES WHO MAY 
HAVE TROUBLE ABSORBING THOSE 
EXTRA COSTS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FROM 
THE VERY OUTSET, THIS GOVERNMENT
HAS BEEN THERE TO HELP 
CANADIANS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH 
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT OR THE WAGE SUBSIDY OR 
SPECIFIC MEASURES FOR 
COMMUNITIES AND CHARITIES.
WE WILL ALWAYS RESPOND TO THE 
NEEDS OF CANADIANS.
WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND 
HEALTHY.
AND FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 
CRISIS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN 
THERE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Referee:  -- 
>> Reporter: YOU TALKED ABOUT 
FOOD WASTE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH 
FOOD CANADIAN FARMERS WERE 
FORCED TO THROW OUT AND IS THIS 
ANNOUNCEMENT ALREADY TOO LATE 
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN 
LOST?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
KNOW WE ARE IN A AN PRT CRISIS 
AND WE HAVED TO UNPRECEDENTED 
CRISIS AND WE HAVE HAD TO 
RESPOND VERY QUICKLY.
FARMERS HAVE HAD TO DISPOSE OF 
SURPLUS PRODUCTION, BUT AT THE 
SAME TIME THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM 
WE ARE BRINGING IN AROUND 
SURPLUS FOOD THAT WILL INVEST 
$50 MILLION IN BUYING MUCH OF 
THAT SURPLUS AND ENSURING THAT 
IT DOESN'T GO TO WASTE, IT GOES 
TO COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES WHO 
ACTUALLY NEED SUPPORT IN TERMS 
OF FOOD SECURITY.
IT IS NOT A PERFECT SITUATION BY
ANY STRETCH, BUT WE ARE DOING 
WHAT WE CAN TO TRY AND MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE REWARDED FOR 
THEIR HARD WORK AND THAT OTHERS 
AREN'T GOING HUNGRY.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE'VE 
BEEN TRYING TO RESPOND TO THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION, AND WE 
HAVE SEEN SOME PRODUCERS HAVING 
TO DESTROY SOME OF THEIR 
PRODUCTS.
NOW WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS 
KIND OF WASTE HAPPENING, SO WE 
HAVE CREATED A $50 MILLION 
PROGRAM WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO 
PAY THE PRODUCERS FOR THEIR WORK
WHILE ENSURING THE FOOD SECURITY
OF ALL PEOPLE IN CANADA, 
INCLUDING THE MOST VULNERABLE.
[ End of Interpretation ].
-- FOOD EXPORTERS IN THE WORLD.
HOW BAD IS OUR BACKLOG TO GET 
THE FOOD OUT AND WHAT IS THE 
HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
COMING TO HELP THE FARMERS PLAN 
ACCORDINGLY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT 
DISRUPTIONS IN GLOBAL SUPPLY 
CHAINS.
WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO 
CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SUPPLY 
CHAINS TO OUR MAJOR MARKETS, 
PARTICULARLY THE UNITED STATES, 
BUT ALSO OTHERS AROUND THE 
WORLD, BECAUSE FOOD SECURITY IS 
A PREOCCUPATION FOR EVERYONE, 
AND CANADA IS AN IMPORTANT PART 
OF THE SOLUTION.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING
THE BEST WE CAN.
WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE 
HAVE ENOUGH FOOD FOR CANADIANS 
AS WELL, BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT 
THAT OUR EXTRAORDINARY, 
HARD-WORKING FARMERS AND 
PRODUCERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL 
INDUSTRY WILL BE UP TO THE TASK,
AND WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT 
THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
>> Reporter: PRIME MINISTER, 
EARLIER YOU SAID THAT YOUR 
GOVERNMENT WAS WORKING WITH 
FARMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO FIND
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR LABOUR 
SHORTAGES FOR FRUIT AND 
VEGETABLE PRODUCERS.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN JUST 
ELABORATE ON WHAT OPTIONS YOU'RE
LOOKING AT TO ADDRESS THOSE 
LABOUR SHORTAGES.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A NEED 
FOR EXTRA HELP WHEN IT COMES TO 
HARVESTING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
IN THE COMING MONTHS.
THAT'S WHY MINISTER BIBEAU, WHO 
WILL BE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE 
AT NOON, WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER 
YOUR QUESTIONS ON WHAT EXACTLY 
WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF 
ENSURING THAT PRODUCERS HAVE THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED.
>> Reporter: IF I COULD SWITCH 
GEARS A LITTLE BIT, YOU'RE 
ANNOUNCING MONEY TODAY FOR THE 
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS SAYING 
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET 
THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
OF COVID-19 WITHOUT SOME SORT OF
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, AND I'M 
WONDERING WHEN THERE IS AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED ON THIS 
AND IF IT WILL COME WITH ANY 
CONDITIONS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FIRST
OF ALL, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW 
PLEASED WE ARE THAT A NUMBER OF 
AIRLINES HAVE TAKEN ON THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, THE ABILITY TO REHIRE 
HARD-WORKING CANADIANS WHO 
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WORK 
BECAUSE FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN SO 
MASSIVELY REDUCED IS A GOOD 
THING FOR THEIR FAMILIES, GOOD 
THING FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND 
A GOOD THING FOR THE INDUSTRY AS
WELL, TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO 
WORK IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY 
WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONNECTED TO
THOSE JOBS THAT WILL COME BACK 
ONCE THIS PANDEMIC IS THROUGH.
AT THE SAME TIME, AS I SAID 
YESTERDAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT 
MORE SPECIFIC SECTORAL SUPPORTS 
FOR INDUSTRIES IN AREAS THAT ARE
PARTICULARLY HARD HIT BECAUSE OF
COVID-19.
I THINK OF THE TOURISM SECTOR.
WE THINK OF THE ENERGY SECTOR.
WE THINK OF THE AIRLINE 
INDUSTRY.
WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
EXPERTS AND INDUSTRY 
REPRESENTATIVES TO SEE WHAT KIND
OF SUPPORTS WE CAN DO TO ENSURE 
THAT THE SYSTEMS AND THE ECONOMY
THAT WE HAD THAT WAS FLOURISHING
BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC WILL 
CONTINUE TO DO WELL FOR ALL 
CANADIANS FOR THE COMING YEARS.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE VERY PLEASED
THAT THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY HAS 
CHOSEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY BECAUSE THAT WILL 
ALLOW PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THAT 
INDUSTRY TO KEEP THEIR JOBS AND 
GET BACK TO WORK QUICKLY ONCE 
THE CRISIS HAS ENDED.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT CERTAIN INDUSTRIES WILL 
NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH EXPERTS 
AND WITH INDUSTRY TO SEE EXACTLY
HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM SO THAT 
OUR ECONOMY THAT WAS VERY 
HEALTHY BEFORE THIS CRISIS WILL 
ALSO RETURN TO ITS FORMER STATE 
OF HEALTH, PERHAPS WITH THE SAME
STRUCTURES OR EVEN BETTER 
STRUCTURES AS BEFORE.
[ No Interpretation ]
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> Rosemary: PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA OUTSIDE HIS HOME, RIDEAU 
COTTAGE, GIVING US A BRIEFING 
TODAY ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S 
RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.
ENDING A LITTLE EARLIER THAN 
USUAL, I SHOULD TELL YOU, 
BECAUSE THE PRIME MINISTER WILL 
APPEAR AT THE COVID-19 
COMMITTEE, PARLIAMENTARY 
COMMITTEE.
THIS IS THE VIRTUAL COMMITTEE 
THAT STARTS AT NOON EASTERN, SO 
WE WILL PROBABLY DIP BACK IN TO 
HEAR SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND 
RESPONSES FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER, BUT THE HIGHLIGHT 
TODAY REALLY FOCUSED ON 
AGRICULTURAL AID FOR THE 
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, $252 
MILLION FOR THAT SECTOR.
I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT CANADA IS
THE FIFTH-LARGEST EXPORTER FOR 
AGRICULTURAL GOODS IN THE WORLD,
SO THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT 
HELPING THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY 
CHAIN BUT, INDEED, THE WORLD 
SUPPLY CHAIN FOR FOOD.
I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID COCHRANE
FOR THEIR TAKES.
SO IT WAS NOT THE AMOUNT OF 
MONEY THAT THE AGRICULTURAL 
SECTOR WAS LOOKING FOR, BUT THE 
PRIME MINISTER SEEMED TO SUGGEST
MORE TO COME, VASSY.
>> Vassy: YEAH, CERTAINLY THE 
ASK MADE OFFICIAL AT THE END OF 
LAST MONTH WAS FOR $2.6 BILLION.
THAT'S FROM THE FEDERATION OF 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
THIS FELL WELL SHORT OF THAT, 
$250 MILLION, AND YOU COULD SEE 
MANY OF THE QUESTIONS DIRECTED 
TO THE PRIME MINISTER FOCUSED ON
THAT.
THE SECTOR SO FAR HAD BEEN 
LOOKING FOR EXTRA HELP AND 
POINTING TO THE IDEA THAT OTHER 
SECTORS HAD ALREADY RECEIVED 
SOME KIND OF AID, AND THEY WERE 
KIND OF LEFT HANGING, THEY FELT,
IN THE MEANTIME.
SO THEY HAD BEEN ASKING FOR A 
NUMBER OF WEEKS, MADE THE 
OFFICIAL ASK AT THE END OF APRIL
FOR $2.6 BILLION, AS I SAID.
AS YOU MENTIONED, ROSY, THE 
PRIME MINISTER DID INDICATE THAT
THIS WAS A START BUT DIDN'T 
PROVIDE ANY DETAILS ABOUT WHAT 
FUTURE HELP MIGHT LOOK LIKE OR 
WHEN IT MIGHT ARRIVE.
JUST TO PUT SOME CONTEXT AROUND 
WHY THE HELP IS NEEDED, IT HAS 
ANOTHER BIG STORY ABOUT 
HEADLINES, AND THAT'S THE 
CARGILL MEAT PLANT.
BECAUSE OF THE DISRUPTIONS 
AROUND FOOD SUPPLY THAT INVOLVE 
A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS, 
EVERYTHING FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS TO 
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BORDER, 
IT'S BECOME REALLY DIFFICULT FOR
FARMERS TO PLAN AROUND HOW MUCH,
AS YOU SAID, THEY NEED TO PLANT 
OR CULLING CATTLE, THAT KIND OF 
THING.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SORT OF
EXTRANEOUS FACTORS THAT MAKE IT 
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT
HOW THEY GO FORWARD, AND NOT 
JUST THIS YEAR BUT BEYOND THIS 
YEAR, AND OF COURSE THAT KIND OF
INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT NOT -- 
THAT KIND OF PLANNING IS 
IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR EXTRA 
LIQUIDITY.
THEY GOT SOME OF IT.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR EXTRA AID.
THEY GOT SOME OF IT AS WELL, BUT
CERTAINLY NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT
THEY WERE HOPING FOR.
JUST TO TOUCH ON ANOTHER ISSUE 
THE PRIME MINISTER GOT A NUMBER 
OF QUESTIONS ON, THAT IS WHAT'S 
HAPPENING AT THE CARGILL MEAT 
PLANT AND ALSO AT ANOTHER PLANT 
IN BROOKS, ALBERTA.
THE CARGILL ONE IS ABOUT HALF AN
HOUR SOUTH OUTSIDE OF CALGARY, 
RATHER, HALF THE WORKERS AT 
CARGILL HAVE CONTRACTED 
COVID-19.
SOMEONE HAS DIED THERE.
THE PLANT REOPENED YESTERDAY, 
ALTHOUGH MY UNDERSTANDING FROM 
THE UNION IS FAR LESS PEOPLE 
REPORTING TO WORK THAN WOULD 
NORMALLY BE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONCERNS 
AROUND THE WAY IN WHICH THAT 
OUTBREAK WAS HANDLED BY THE 
COMPANY, BY THE PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT, AND THE ASK OF THE 
UNION IS FOR SOME SORT OF 
INTERVENTION FROM THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT.
SO FAR, AS YOU HEARD FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER'S ANSWERS, HE HAS
MADE A SORT OF DISTINGUISHMENT 
AROUND JURISDICTION, AND HE DID 
SO YESTERDAY AS WELL THAT THE 
CFIA, THE CANADIAN FOOD 
INSPECTION AGENCY IS FOCUSED ON 
THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD, BUT THE 
SAFETY OF THE WORKERS OF THE 
SITE IS SUPPOSED TO BE 
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR
THE PROVINCE ABOUT HOW THEY 
HANDLED THAT OUTBREAK.
DR. DEANNA HINSHAW, THE CHIEF 
MEDICAL OFFICER, FOR INSTANCE 
YESTERDAY SAID THEY FOCUSED TOO 
EARLY ON JUST THE SITE AND NOT 
ON COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION, BUT 
THE PROBLEM IS STILL VERY MUCH 
THERE.
THE PLANT HAS REOPENED.
WORKERS STILL -- OUR COLLEAGUE 
CAROLYN DUNN INTERVIEWED WORKERS
GOING IN.
THEY HAVE VALID CONCERNS ABOUT 
THEIR OWN SAFETY RE-ENTERING 
THAT WORKFORCE, AND IT'S UNCLEAR
TO ME EXACTLY WHAT ROLE THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED 
TO TAKE REGARDLESS AT THIS POINT
OF JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES.
>> Rosemary: QUITE RIGHT, AND I 
SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE MEAT, 
THE PROCESSING PLANT, MEAT 
PLANTS, THIS IS A PROBLEM ALSO 
IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS WHERE SOME OF THEIR MOST
CONCENTRATED OUTBREAKS ARE IN 
THE U.S. AS WELL, SO OBVIOUSLY 
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE 
SEEING IN THESE KINDS OF 
QUARTERS WHERE YOU HAVE TO WORK 
VERY TIGHTLY TOGETHER.
I'LL ALSO SAY THIS ABOUT THE 
UNITED STATES.
THEY GAVE 19 -- OFFERED FUNDING 
TO THEIR FARMERS, CLOSE TO $19 
BILLION, JUST TO GIVE YOU A 
SENSE OF PROPORTION.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A MUCH SMALLER 
COUNTRY, BUT I WILL ALSO REMIND 
PEOPLE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ADDITIONAL 
FUNDING UNDER THE FARM CREDIT 
CANADA PROGRAM, WHICH ALREADY 
EXISTS, $5 BILLION.
BUT IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE THAT 
ACTUALLY STILL HAS TO BE 
LEGISLATED, IN HIS RESPONSE.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT MONEY 
IS ACTUALLY FLOWING TO PEOPLE 
YET.
DAVID, YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> David: THEY ARE TRYING TO DO 
THREE BASIC THINGS HERE WITH 
THESE PROGRAMS.
ONE IS MONEY TO HELP FOOD 
PROCESSORS AND PRODUCERS TO 
ADAPT TO THE NEW PROTOCOLS TO 
GET THE PPE OR TO ADAPT THE 
WORKPLACE TO ALLOW FOR GREATER 
SOCIAL DISTANCING, OR IN THE 
CASE OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT 
WORK IN PLACES LIKE CARGILL THAT
MAY LIVE TOGETHER IN COMMUNAL 
LIVING TO ADAPT THE LIVING 
ARRANGEMENTS THERE.
THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST 
OBJECTIVE.
THE SECOND IS ON THE MANAGING OF
LIVESTOCK.
CARGILL, FOR EXAMPLE, WORKING TO
REDUCE CAPACITY.
THE OUTBREAK IN ITS WORKFORCE IS
THE SIZE OF THE OUTBREAK IN NOVA
SCOTIA, FOR EXAMPLE.
THIS HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FOR
CATTLE PRODUCERS AND BEEF 
PRODUCERS ON THE BREEDING AND 
FEEDING OF THEIR LIVESTOCK, 
WHICH CREATES STORAGE CAPACITY 
AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS THERE TO 
HELP THEM WITH THAT.
AND THE THIRD IS STORAGE.
THERE'S A SURPLUS OF FRENCH 
FRIES AND BUTTER AND MILK.
THERE'S LIMITED STORAGE CAPACITY
FOR THESE THINGS, SO TO HELP 
THEM WITH THAT AND BUYING UP 
SOME OF THE SURPLUS AND GIVING 
IT OUT TO AGENCIES THAT DEAL 
WITH FOOD INSECURITY.
SO IT'S REALLY THE THREE THINGS.
HEALTH PROTOCOLS, LIVESTOCK 
MANAGEMENT AND HELPING WITH 
STORAGE OR ALLEVIATING SOME OF 
THE STORAGE IMPACTS THAT THE 
INDUSTRIES ARE HAVING.
BECAUSE ALL OF THIS, ROSY, THE 
RIPPLE EFFECTS IN AN 
AGRICULTURAL PLANNING LIFE CYCLE
IS THERE'S A BUNCH OF POTATOES 
RIGHT NOW THAT ARE LARGELY THERE
BECAUSE RESTAURANTS AREN'T OPEN 
AND NOT SELLING FRENCH FRIES, 
BUT WHEN THEY DO REOPEN, WE NEED
TO ENSURE THERE ARE SUPPLIES FOR
THEM TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL 
TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
SO IF YOU'RE A FARMER, YOU GOT 
TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT 
PLANTING.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR SENSE 
OF WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO BE 
SUPPORTED AND HELPED RIGHT NOW 
AS YOU DO THESE THINGS.
THERE'S ALSO LABOUR FORCE ISSUES
WITH THIS IN TERMS OF TEMPORARY 
FOREIGN WORKERS.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYING THAT 
90% OF THE TEMPORARY FOREIGN 
WORKERS THAT THE SECTOR NEEDS 
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO THE 
COUNTRY AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S ANOTHER WAVE OF THAT 
COMING LATER WITH THE HARVESTING
SEASON, LATER IN THE YEAR, IN 
THE FALL OF THE YEAR, WHERE THEY
WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF 
THIS AGAIN.
IT'S ONE THING TO GET IT SEEDED 
AND PLANTED.
YOU GOT TO GET IT HARVESTED AND 
GET IT OUT.
THE EARLY RESPONSE IS TO HELP 
PEOPLE BUY FOOD.
NOW IT'S TO HELP PEOPLE WHO 
SUPPLY THE FOOD.
THIS IS BASICALLY A 10% DOWN 
PAYMENT ON WHAT THE SECTOR SAYS 
IT NEEDS.
>> Rosemary: GREAT, THANK YOU 
BOTH VERY MUCH.
I'LL LEAVE YOU BOTH FOR A 
MOMENT, IF I CAN.
I'LL ALSO JUST POINT OUT THAT 
PART OF THAT PACKAGE -- SORRY, 
$125 MILLION THAT WAS ANNOUNCED 
TODAY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE 
LIVESTOCK, PRODUCERS THAT HAVE 
LIVESTOCK THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP
ON THEIR LAND LONGER THAN USUAL 
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PROCESS MORE,
THE LAST TIME THAT WAS DONE IN A
SIGNIFICANT WAY WAS WITH THE 
OUTBREAK OF THAT.
SO THIS IS SORT OF WHAT THEY ARE
DEALING WITH AND THE APPROACH 
THEY ARE TAKING UNDER THE AGRI 
RECOVERY PROGRAM.
BUT LET'S GET SOME REAL-LIFE 
PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THIS MEANS 
TO PEOPLE FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS
THE STRUGGLES THAT FARMERS ARE 
FACING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE'S 
ONE OF THEM.
GREG MCKENZIE IS OWNER OF 
MCKENZIE PRODUCE IN STRATFORD, 
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
LOOK AT YOU, AND HE JOINS ME 
NOW.
YOU'RE THERE IN YOUR GREENHOUSE,
I GUESS, GREG.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> YES, THANKS VERY HAVING ME 
ON.
>> Rosemary: SO TELL ME, WHAT DO
YOU GROW AND HOW HAS YOUR 
BUSINESS BEEN GOING RIGHT NOW?
>> A MAJOR PART OF OUR BUSINESS 
IS WE GROW CABBAGE FOR THE 
[INDISCERNIBLE] INDUSTRY, AND AS
ALL RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE A 
SIGNIFICANT SHUTDOWN, WE HAVE 
SHUTDOWN OF SALES OVERNIGHT.
YOU KNOW, BASICALLY DROPPED 60% 
IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE DAYS, SO
WE ARE SITLE A LOT HEAVIER ON 
INVENTORY THAN WE NORMALLY 
WOULD, AND TO ADJUST OUR 
PLANNING SCHEDULES, THAT'S ALL 
BEEN CHANGED AROUND AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: SORRY, IT'S A 
DIFFICULT CONNECTION.
SO HOW MUCH DID YOUR SALES DROP 
OVERNIGHT?
DID YOU SAY 60%?
>> 60% WE SAW THE DROP IN THE 
SALES.
>> Rosemary: AND SO WHAT DO YOU 
DO WITH THE PRODUCE THAT YOU 
HAVE IF YOU CAN'T SELL IT?
DO YOU JUST -- TELL ME WHAT YOU 
DO WITH IT.
>> WELL, WE'RE FORTUNATE WE'RE 
ALL IN REFRIGERATED WAREHOUSES.
WE ARE ABLE TO HOLD IT, YOU 
KNOW.
IT ALL HAS A SHELF LIFE, SO AT A
CERTAIN POINT IF WE DON'T GET IT
TO MARKET, OUR WASTE IS GONNA BE
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED, AND 
AGAIN, WITH THAT MUCH PRODUCT IN
OUR WAREHOUSE, WE ARE DELAYING 
OUR EARLY PLANTING UNTIL WE 
FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO 
BE AT.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, WELL IT SEEMS
TO ME THAT THAT'S SORT OF ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR 
PRODUCERS, LIKE YOURSELF RIGHT 
NOW, IS HOW YOU PLAN THE FUTURE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHAT 
THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE?
>> WELL, FOR US I BELIEVE, AT 
LEAST OUR CABBAGE MARKET, WE 
WILL NOT BE DOING AN EARLY 
PLANTING.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN 
OVER 20 YEARS THAT THE OPERATION
HASN'T PUT AN EARLY CROP IN.
SO WE DIVERT [INDISCERNIBLE] 
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT VEGETABLES 
THAT WE PLANT OURSELVES FOR THE 
PUBLIC HERE AND FLOWERS AND 
[INDISCERNIBLE] MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT 
PROGRAM THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE 
PAST, BUT WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE
GREAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT HERE 
THAT LIKES TO GET BEHIND US AND 
COME OUT TO HELP US IN TRYING 
TIMES. 
>> Rosemary: WELL, THAT'S GREAT 
THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT.
I KNOW YOU WERE LISTENING TO THE
PRIME MINISTER THERE.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU 
THINK YOU HEARD THAT MIGHT BE 
ABLE TO HELP YOU?
>> IT'S -- AGAIN, IT'S EARLY IN 
THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
TO SEE HOW THESE PROGRAMS WILL 
BE ROLLED OUT.
I KNOW THE NUMBERS WERE QUITE 
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE 
FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE WAS 
LOOKING FOR.
AS I SAY, IT'S IN THE EARLY 
STAGES, BUT IT'S ANNOUNCED.
IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF 
TIME TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING
TO ROLL OUT.
>> Rosemary: HE DID SEEM TO 
SUGGEST THAT FOR INDUSTRIES THAT
MAY HAVE WASTE -- I MEAN FOOD 
THAT ENDS UP AS WASTE, THAT 
THERE WOULD BE SOME SORT OF 
PROGRAM WHERE THE GOVERNMENT 
WOULD BE ABLE TO BUY UP SOME OF 
THAT FOOD SO IT'S NOT WASTED AND
IT GETS SENT TO PLACES THAT NEED
IT.
AT WHAT POINT WOULD YOU NEED 
THAT PROGRAM IN TERMS OF HOW 
LONG YOUR CABBAGE WILL LAST?
>> WE'RE EXPECTING WE WILL HAVE 
PRODUCT INTO SEPTEMBER OR 
OCTOBER AT THIS RATE, WHICH 
NORMALLY WE WOULD BE SOLD OUT IN
AUGUST.
SO ONCE THE SUMMER MONTHS COME 
AND THE WARMER TEMPERATURES, IT 
DOES PUT STRESS ON 
REFRIGERATION, AND 
[INDISCERNIBLE] COSTS TO KEEP 
THOSE UNITS GOING.
WHEN THE SUMMER MONTHS HIT HERE,
THE REALITY IS GOING TO BE 
HITTING AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: HOW MANY PEOPLE DO 
YOU EMPLOY, GREG?
>> RIGHT NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE 
JUST OUR MANAGER ON WITH 
OURSELVES TRYING TO GET THINGS 
DONE.
AND IN OUR [INDISCERNIBLE] WE'RE
UP TO AROUND 55 STAFF FOR THE 
SUMMER MONTHS.
>> Rosemary: AND HOW MANY OF 
THOSE ARE USUALLY TEMPORARY 
FOREIGN WORKERS?
DO YOU HAVE SOME NOW?
WILL YOU NEED SOME?
>> WELL, LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST
TIME INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM, 
AND WE HAVE SIX HOPING TO COME 
BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR.
WE DELAYED ONE OF OUR FIRST 
WORKERS, AND WE HAVE THREE 
COMING ON THE 21ST OF THIS 
MONTH.
>> Rosemary: HOW ARE YOU HOLDING
UP?
YOU'RE THE OWNER?
I WOULD IMAGINE THIS IS ALL YOUR
INCOME FOR YOUR FAMILY.
HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP 
PERSONALLY?
>> YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A 
DIFFERENT SPRING, YOU KNOW.
COMING OFF A COUPLE OF 
CHALLENGING YEARS, YOU GOT TO BE
OPTIMISTIC, BUT YEAH, IT'S GONNA
BE A DIFFERENT YEAR FOR SURE 
RIGHT ACROSS THE INDUSTRY.
>> Rosemary: IS IT -- HOW WOULD 
YOU CHARACTERIZE IT?
IS IT ONE OF THE HARDEST YEAR 
YOU'VE HAD AS A PRODUCER?
>> WELL, '18 WASN'T VERY MUCH 
FUN FOR ANYBODY AS WELL, BUT 
THESE DIFFERENT TIMES ARE 
PUTTING IT -- STARTING OFF ON 
KIND OF THE SAME FOOT.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
BUT YOU'RE HEALTHY AND OTHERWISE
FINE. 
>> YEAH, NO, EVERYBODY HAS TO BE
FAIRLY RESILIENT HERE.
>> Rosemary: YOU SURE DO.
>> GOT TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITY 
AND FIND A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT 
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
>> Rosemary: WELL, GREG, THANK 
YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND 
MAYBE THIS WILL INSPIRE PEOPLE 
TO GO OUT AND BUY UP ALL YOUR 
CABBAGE, OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU'RE
GROWING TOO.
I HOPE WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
ANNOUNCES IS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT 
YOU AND YOUR COMPANY GOING 
FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE
TIME AND PUTTING YOURSELF OUT 
THERE IN THE GREENHOUSE.
>> OKAY.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT, NICE TO 
MEET YOU.
THAT'S GREG MACKENZIE, THE OWNER
OF MACKENZIE PRODUCE.
HE JOINS US FROM STRATFORD, 
P.E.I.
OF COURSE HE'S JUST ONE OF THE 
FARMERS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT
PRODUCERS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
SO IMPORTANT TO OUR FOOD SUPPLY,
BUT ALSO THE WORLD'S FOOD 
SUPPLY.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT POTATO 
FARMERS.
I WAS SURPRISED TODAY TO LEARN 
ABOUT MUSHROOM FARMERS WHO ARE 
LOSING ABOUT $400,000 A WEEK 
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SELL THEIR 
MUSHROOMS TO RESTAURANTS.
SO ALL OF THIS PART OF WHAT THE 
GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS
TODAY WITH $252 MILLION.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYING THAT 
IS A FIRST STEP, AND IT 
CERTAINLY SOUNDS AS THOUGH MUCH 
MORE WILL BE NEEDED AS MANY 
FARMERS ARE TRYING TO PLAN AHEAD
WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE 
IF THEY CAN'T EVEN SELL WITH 
WHAT THEY'VE GOT.
SO WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE 
ABOUT THAT STORY AS THE DAY 
UNFOLDS AND GET MORE REACTION 
FROM FARMERS ABOUT WHETHER THIS 
WILL BE ENOUGH FOR THEM.
I SHOULD TELL YOU AT NOON THE 
AGRICULTURE MINISTER WILL BE AT 
THE REGULAR DAILY BRIEFING, BUT 
NOON ALSO TODAY ON TUESDAYS IS 
THE VIRTUAL COMMITTEE, COVID 
COMMITTEE HEARING WHERE MPs CAN 
DIAL IN AND ASK QUESTIONS OF 
MINISTERS AND OF THE PRIME 
MINISTER, AND INDEED AT NOON THE
PRIME MINISTER WILL BE AT THAT 
COVID COMMITTEE VIRTUALLY AND 
WILL BE TAKING SOME QUESTIONS, 
SO WE WILL BRING PART OF THAT TO
YOU AS WELL TODAY.
WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER 
STORY, OF COURSE, THAT WE HAVE 
BEEN TRACKING THROUGHOUT THIS 
PANDEMIC, AND THAT IS THE IMPACT
ON LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BECOME 
REALLY THE TRAGIC EPICENTRE OF 
THIS STORY AND OF THIS OUTBREAK,
BOTH IN ONTARIO AND IN QUEBEC, 
IN PARTICULAR, AND OUR NEXT 
GUEST HAS FELT THAT VERY 
PERSONALLY OVER THE LAST 24 
HOURS.
SHERRY ROMANADO IS AN MP, AND 
HER AUNT, CAROLE, WAS A RESIDENT
IN ONE OF THOSE LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES IN QUEBEC, AND SHE DIED 
YESTERDAY OF COVID-19, AND THIS 
MORNING MS. ROMANADO TWEETED 
THIS: SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE 
TIRED OF PHYSICAL DISTANCING, 
REMEMBER THIS VIRUS DOESN'T PICK
AND CHOOSE AND EVERY SINGLE 
PERSON THAT IT KILLED HAD MANY 
WHO LOVED THEM, AND THAT'S HER 
RIGHT THERE WITH HER AUNT 
CAROLE, AND SHERRY ROMANADO 
JOINS ME RIGHT NOW FROM 
LONGUEUIL.
MY CONDOLENCES, FIRST OF ALL, ON
THE LOSS OF YOUR AUNT, SHERRY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Rosemary: SO TELL ME A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT CAROLE AND WHY SHE WAS
IN A LONG-TERM CARE CENTRE.
>> SO MY AUNT CAROLE ON MY DAD'S
SIDE HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM 
ALZHEIMER'S FOR A FEW YEARS AND 
WAS IN ONE OF THE CHSLDS IN 
LAVAL IN NORTHERN -- NORTH OF 
MONTREAL, AND UNFORTUNATELY 
CAUGHT COVID-19 AND PASSED AWAY 
YESTERDAY, SO IT'S REAL AND IT'S
HAPPENING.
>> Rosemary: HOW OLD WAS CAROLE,
SHERRY?
>> SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 75 IN 
NOVEMBER.
>> Rosemary: SO PRETTY YOUNG, 
REALLY.
AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE 
[INDISCERNIBLE]?
WAS THERE AN OUTBREAK?
HAD THERE BEEN MANY CASES?
OTHER DEATHS?
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT WAS 
HAPPENING INSIDE THE CENTRE?
>> SO OBVIOUSLY I'VE BEEN, YOU 
KNOW, WORKING FROM HOME, AS HAVE
PRETTY MUCH ALL OF MY 
COLLEAGUES, AND SO I WASN'T ABLE
TO VISIT HER OR GET DETAILS 
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT AS 
YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM 
WITH COVID-19 IN A LOT OF THE 
CHSLDS HERE IN QUEBEC, AS WELL 
AS IN ONTARIO.
SO THERE WILL BE A TIME TO LOOK 
INTO WHAT HAPPENED, HOW COULD WE
HAVE PREVENTED IT, BUT RIGHT NOW
WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON SAVING 
AS MANY AS PEOPLE AS WE CAN, 
PREVENTING THIS FROM SPREAD AS 
MUCH AS WE CAN, CONTINUING TO 
PRACTISE, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, AND I THINK THAT'S 
THE HARDEST THING.
LIKE ANYBODY WHO HAS LOST A 
FAMILY MEMBER RECENTLY, THE FACT
THAT YOU CAN'T GET TOGETHER, THE
FACT THAT YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, 
GRIEVE WITH YOUR LOVED ONES, IT 
MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE 
DIFFICULT, SO I'VE JUST BEEN 
KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH MY DAD 
WHO'S LOST QUITE A FEW FAMILY 
MEMBERS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, 
SO WE JUST -- YOU KNOW, TRYING 
TO STAY POSITIVE AND STAY ON THE
PHONE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, 
LIKE EVERY OTHER CANADIAN, 
RIGHT?
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER, AND I 
THINK THE REASON I WANTED TO 
TWEET THAT OUT WAS I KNOW THAT 
WITH THE NICE WEATHER PEOPLE ARE
STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE, YOU 
KNOW, ITCHY TO GET OUTSIDE, BUT 
WE REALLY NEED TO CONTINUE.
WE NEED TO HOLD THE LINE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO 
PREVENT THIS SPREAD.
I MYSELF, MY OLDEST SON IS 
ACTUALLY DEPLOYED TO THE CHSLDS 
IN MONTREAL.
HE'S A MAYBE OF THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES.
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE 
SURE FOLKS STAY SAFE, AND THAT'S
SORT OF MY BATTLE CRY FOR 
EVERYONE, IS TO STAY SAFE, STAY 
THE COURSE.
WE CAN DO THIS.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.
TRUST ME, I'M DOING THE SAME 
THING AS EVERYBODY, BUT STAY THE
COURSE.
>> Rosemary: I FORGOT YOUR 
FAMILY HAD THAT MILITARY 
CONNECTION.
SO WHAT IS YOUR SON DOING IN 
THOSE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES?
HAS HE TOLD YOU OF THE KINDS OF 
THINGS HE'S BEEN TASKED WITH 
DOING TO TRY AND HELP OUT?
>> SO MY OLDEST SON IS ACTUALLY 
AT LONG POINT IN MONTREAL 
HELPING WITH THE COORDINATION OF
THE EFFORTS ON THE GROUND HERE 
IN MONTREAL, AND SO YOU KNOW, 
LIKE I SAID, IT'S A FAMILY 
EFFORT.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
YOU HAVE LIVED THIS, BUT 
BEFORE -- WE'RE ALL SORT OF 
WATCHING THIS UNFOLD IN 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES WITH I 
THINK EVERYONE, A COLLECTIVE 
HORROR THAT THIS IS HOW WE HAVE 
LEFT OUR OLDEST CANADIANS.
WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT THIS HAS
COME TO THIS, THAT WE HAVE 
GOTTEN IN THIS POINT IN THIS?
AND HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
>> Interview: WELL, I DON'T 
THINK ANYONE ANTICIPATED A 
PANDEMIC AS THIS ONE, AND SO YOU
KNOW, THERE IS A REAL DIFFICULTY
IN TERMS OF RECRUITING FOLKS TO 
WANT TO WORK IN CERTAIN FIELDS 
HERE IN QUEBEC.
AS YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
HIT, WE WERE IN A DIFFICULT 
SITUATION WITH RESPECT TO 
RECRUITING AND A LACK OF 
MANPOWER IN CERTAIN SECTORS, SO 
I THINK IT WAS JUST PART OF A --
ALMOST A PERFECT STORM.
SO YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ONCE WE GET 
THROUGH THIS CRISIS, YOU KNOW, 
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO 
REVIEW, REFLECT, LOOK AT WHERE 
WE NEED TO BE IMPROVING AND MAKE
THOSE CHANGES SO THAT WE CAN 
MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS 
AGAIN. 
>> Rosemary: CAN YOU TELL ME 
WHAT KIND OF GAL AUNT CAROLE 
WAS?
>> OH, YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED HER,
ROSY.
SHE WAS A HOOT.
SHE COULD -- YOU KNOW, SHE WAS 
PRETTY SHORT.
SHE WAS I THINK UNDER 5 FEET, 
BUT YOU KNOW, SHE POPPED A 
WALLOP WHEN IT CAME TO CRACKING 
JOKES WITH THE FAMILY.
SHE'S GOING TO BE MISSED BY HER 
CHILDREN, KATHLEEN AND HOWIE.
I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM, 
AND HER HUSBAND IAN, AND YOU 
KNOW, WE ALL MISS HER AND 
HOPEFULLY ONE OF THESE DAYS 
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET ALL 
TOGETHER AND LAUGH ABOUT CAROLE 
AND, YOU KNOW, BRING BACK SOME 
OF THOSE GREAT MEMORIES.
>> Rosemary: WELL, MY 
CONDOLENCES SO YOUR WHOLE 
FAMILY, SHERRY.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU TALKING 
ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS SO 
IMPORTANT TO PUT SOME FACES TO 
THESE STATISTICS AND TALK ABOUT 
HOW PEOPLE ARE MANAGING, AND I 
APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT AS AN MP
AND AS A PERSON.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROSY.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, TAKE CARE.
THAT'S SHERRY ROMANADO, AN MP 
FROM LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC THERE IN 
HER HOME TALKING ABOUT THE LOSS 
OF HER AUNT CAROLE IN A 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRE IN QUEBEC.
OF COURSE THE STORY FOR SO MANY 
OF YOU, MANY CANADIANS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY, STRUGGLING WITH 
THOSE OUTBREAKS IN THOSE PLACES 
WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN VERY 
TIGHT CONDITIONS, AND ONCE THE 
PANDEMIC ENTERS, IT BECOMES VERY
DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, BUT WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE SHERRY
DID TWEET IT THIS MORNING.
AS SHE SAID, PART OF HER BATTLE 
CALL FOR CANADIANS TO DIG IN AND
KEEP PUSHING AS WE TRY TO FIGHT 
THIS THING.
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE WAITING FOR 
THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHERS TO
TALK AT THE COVID COMMITTEE, 
WHICH WILL START BACK AT NOON 
EASTERN.
AND OF COURSE THERE WILL BE THE 
REGULAR FEDERAL BRIEFING TOO, 
WHICH WE WILL JUST SORT OF 
MONITOR TODAY IN ORDER TO BRING 
YOU SOME OF THE POLITICAL BACK 
AND FORTH WHICH IS CRITICAL TO 
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY 
AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
THINKING IN TERMS OF PUBLIC 
POLICY AS WELL.
SO I'LL BRING BACK MY COLLEAGUES
VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID COCHRANE
FOR MORE ON THAT.
I DO APPRECIATE WHEN POLITICIANS
SORT OF PUT ASIDE THEIR 
POLITICAL JOBS TO TALK ABOUT HOW
THIS IS AFFECTING THEM 
PERSONALLY BECAUSE IT HAS 
AFFECTED EVERYONE PERSONALLY IN 
DIFFERENT WAYS, OF COURSE, AND 
SO APPRECIATED SHERRY COMING ON 
TO SHARE THAT WITH US.
LET'S JUST GO THROUGH MAYBE SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT 
EXPECT THE PRIME MINISTER TO BE 
ASKED ABOUT TODAY.
I WOULD IMAGINE CERB WOULD BE 
TOP OF MIND, GIVEN WHAT WE HEARD
FROM ANDREW SCHEER YESTERDAY, 
VASSY.
>> Vassy: YEAH, DEFINITELY CERB,
AND ACTUALLY JUST QUICKLY 
JUMPING OFF THE INTERVIEW YOU 
JUST DID, I THINK ONE QUESTION 
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE 
NEXT 24 OR SO HOURS WILL 
ACTUALLY REVOLVE AROUND A 
PROMISE HE MADE A FEW WEEKS AGO 
TO TOP UP THE PAY FOR PEOPLE WHO
WORK IN HOMES LIKE THE ONE AUNT 
CAROLE WAS IN, OR THAT SO MANY 
OTHERS.
AND JUST TO QUANTIFY THE ISSUE 
RIGHT NOW, THAT IT'S NOT 
ISOLATED TO ONE PART OF THE 
COUNTRY NECESSARILY, IT'S 
ESPECIALLY ACUTE IN ONTARIO AND 
QUEBEC.
IN QUEBEC, 85% OF THE DEATHS SO 
FAR, AS OF LAST WEEK, THAT ARE 
DUE TO COVID-19 HAVE OCCURRED IN
A LONG-TERM CARE OR CONTINUING 
CARE FACILITY.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT'S 79%.
SO EIGHT OUT OF EVERY TEN 
CANADIANS BASICALLY WHO ARE 
DYING BECAUSE OF COVID-19 
CONTRACTED THAT VIRUS IN ONE OF 
THESE HOMES.
SO WHEN YOU CALL IT A EPICENTRE,
THE SORT OF HORRIFIC EPICENTRE 
OF THIS VIRUS IN THIS COUNTRY, 
YOU ARE 100% RIGHT, AND THERE 
ARE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, MOST CERTAINLY GOING
FORWARD.
DIFFERENT UNIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, 
REPRESENTING THE WORKERS IN 
THESE HOMES HAVE ASKED FOR A 
COMPLETE REMODELING OF THE 
FUNDING STRUCTURE, OF EVEN THE 
LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNS THESE 
TYPES OF CARE HOMES THAT IT 
MIGHT FALL UNDER FEDERAL 
JURISDICTION RATHER THAN 
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.
YOU DO SEE A REAL PATCHWORK 
EFFECT OF POLICIES RIGHT ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
ON THE SPECIFIC PROMISE THE 
PRIME MINISTER MADE OR THE 
PLEDGE THAT HE MADE TO OFFER A 
TOP-UP FOR ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE
WORKERS IN EACH PROVINCE, SOME 
PROVINCES HAVE ALREADY GONE 
AHEAD AND DONE IT, IT WOULD -- 
PEOPLE WHO WOULD QUALIFY HAVE TO
MAKE LESS THAN $2500 A MONTH, 
AND I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE
IS SOME FRICTION AMONG THE 
PREMIERS AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
ON THIS ISSUE, ONLY BECAUSE, FOR
EXAMPLE, IN NOVA SCOTIA PREMIER 
STEVEN MacNEIL THERE IS SAYING, 
WELL, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO 
WORK IN THE SECTOR IN THOSE JOBS
ALREADY MAKE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT WOULD TAKE THEM OUT OF 
QUALIFYING FOR A TOP-UP, SO 
WE'RE ASKING THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE
MORE FLEXIBLE.
WHEN I LAST ASKED HIM WHETHER 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD 
SIGNALLED THEY WOULD BE FLEXIBLE
ON SUNDAY, HE SAID THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING, BUT 
IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE A COMMITMENT
HAD BEEN MADE.
IT HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF WEEKS 
SINCE THAT PROMISE WAS MADE.
OBVIOUSLY TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO WANT 
TO GET THAT TOP-UP OUT TO HELP 
PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY
ENTERING INTO PRETTY HIGH-RISK 
ENVIRONMENTS RIGHT NOW TO TREAT 
AND HELP AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS 
VIRUS AND WHO MIGHT CONTRACT IT 
IN THESE HOMES.
SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, FROM 
OTHER FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHERE 
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE AT AND 
IF THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY SORT
OF AGREEMENT, WIDESPREAD 
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT AND PROVINCES ON THAT
TOP-UP AND WHAT KIND OF 
FLEXIBILITY MIGHT BE BUILT INTO 
THE PROGRAM, IF ANY AT ALL.
ON THE ISSUE THAT YOU BROUGHT 
UP, THE CERB, WE DID HEAR FROM 
OTHER PROVINCIAL PREMIERS, SUCH 
AS IN MANITOBA, AND TO A LESSER 
DEGREE IN NEW BRUNSWICK, AND 
THEN ANDREW SCHEER WHO FLAGGED 
THE ISSUE THAT THEY SAY THEY ARE
HEARING ABOUT, THAT THERE MIGHT 
BE A DISINCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO 
GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE 
WAY THE CERB WORKS.
SO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN 
ACCESS IF THEY LOST THEIR JOB, 
FOR EXAMPLE, DUE TO COVID-19, 
$2,000 A MONTH FOR UP TO FOUR 
MONTHS.
THERE IS A BIT OF -- I GUESS A 
SORT OF POLITICAL CONVERSATION 
AROUND THIS AT ALL.
THE IDEA PUT FORTH THAT PEOPLE 
WOULD RATHER STAY HOME THAN -- 
AND ACCEPT THE CERB THAN GO BACK
TO WORK.
THERE ARE SOME BUSINESSES THAT 
I'VE HEARD FROM WHO ARE 
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO
REHIRE.
BUT THERE IS NO INSINUATION, FOR
EXAMPLE, FROM THOSE BUSINESSES 
THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST BEING LAZY 
AND THEY WANT TO STAY HOME.
THERE ARE GENUINE CONCERNS FROM 
PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR SAFETY GOING 
BACK TO WORK, AND THERE IS A 
GENUINE CONVERSATION I THINK TO 
BE HAD ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM 
LOOKS LIKE, WHAT FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT 
LOOKS LIKE MOVING FORWARD IN 
THIS STAGE OF REOPENING VERSUS 
WHEN EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETELY 
SHUT DOWN.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THOSE 
TALKS COULD BE HAD, BUT HE 
PROVIDED NO DETAILS ON WHAT THE 
GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT GOING 
FORWARD.
>> Rosemary: THEY ARE LOOKING AT
IT.
DAVID, I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD SOME 
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT AS 
WELL.
>> David: YEAH.
THERE'S AN ONGOING REVIEW OF 
EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT IS 
HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL 
WEEKS AND THE NEXT MONTH OR SO 
TO GET A SENSE OF WHETHER ARE 
THESE THINGS GOING TO NEED TO BE
EXTENDED?
THE CERB RUNS FOR 16 WEEKS.
WE'RE BASICALLY HALFWAY THROUGH 
THE FUNDING SUPPORT, BUT WE MAY 
NOT BE HALFWAY THROUGH THE 
PANDEMIC.
HOPEFULLY WE ARE, BUT YOU KNOW, 
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S 
NECESSARILY WHERE WE ARE, SO DO 
YOU -- WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE 
PROGRAM?
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY WHICH IS ONLY NOW 
STARTING TO PAY OUT.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE 
COMPLICATED THAN SIMPLY SAYING, 
OH, WELL, THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD 
HAVE AN INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO 
FIND WORK.
I MEAN, IN THEORY THAT IS A 
GREAT IDEA.
BUT OKAY, SOMEONE WHO'S HOME 
WITH THEIR KIDS SUDDENLY CAN GO 
BACK TO -- HAS TO GO BACK TO 
WORK, WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THE 
KIDS?
SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE CENTRES 
ARE CLOSED.
SO THERE IS A MUCH BROADER 
RIPPLE EFFECT OF ANY TWEAK TO 
ANY ONE PROGRAM AS WE'RE SEEING 
WITH THESE PROGRAMS FROM THE 
MOMENT THEY HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED 
THAT THEY HAVE -- THERE HAVE 
BEEN FITS AND STARTS AND TWEAKS 
AND MERGERS AND REVAMPS AND 
BROADENING OF CRITERIA TO HELP 
PEOPLE BECAUSE EACH DECISION 
TRIGGERS FOUR OR FIVE UNFORESEEN
RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT YOU THEN 
NEED TO MAKE OTHER DECISIONS TO 
DEAL WITH.
AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THE 
CHALLENGES WITH THINGS LIKE THE 
CERB, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A BIG
NATIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE 
STUDENT SUBSIDY PACKAGE, SAYING 
THAT THERE SHOULD BE REQUIREMENT
FOR STUDENTS TO GO LOOK FOR 
WORK.
OKAY, THAT'S GREAT, BUT STUDENTS
RUN INTO THE SAME SORT OF 
SITUATION.
EITHER THEY MIGHT HAVE A PARENT 
THEY NEED TO LOOK AFTER.
THEY COULD HAVE A CHILD.
THEY MAY HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR 
FAMILY THAT IS IMMUNE 
COMPROMISED.
SO YOU RUN INTO A WHOLE SERIES 
OF COMPLICATED FACTORS WHEN YOU 
TRY TO APPLY SIMPLISTIC FIXES TO
THINGS, AND THIS IS THE REAL 
DELICATE DANCE OF POLICY 
DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF A 
PANDEMIC, THE LIKES OF WHICH NO 
ONE HAS EVER SEEN, BECAUSE IT 
LEADS TO ALL KINDS OF UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES AND UNKNOWN 
UNKNOWABLE THINGS THAT YOU THEN 
HAVE TO RESPOND TO IN RL TIME 
WITH GREAT PUBLIC NEED PRESSING 
AT YOU TO MAKE A DECISION 
QUICKLY.
ONE OF THESE THE PRIME MINISTER 
WAS ASKED ABOUT TODAY IS 
AIRLINES, FOR EXAMPLE.
THE DISRUPTION TO THE AIRLINE 
SECTOR HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY 
CATASTROPHIC RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE WORKING ON SOME SORT OF
A SECTORAL PACKAGE TO HELP THEM.
WHAT I AM HEARING IS YOU'RE NOT 
LOOKING AT A BIG BAILOUT LIKE WE
SAW WITH THE AUTO SECTOR, BUYING
SHARES AND TAKING OVER 
GOVERNANCE AND THINGS.
RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T THINK THEY 
ARE AT THAT CRITICAL EVERYBODY 
IS GOING TO GO UNDER PHASE THAT 
WE SAW IN 2008-2009 WHICH WAS 
REALLY A FINANCIAL SECTOR CRUNCH
AND THEN RIPPLED THROUGH A BUNCH
OF OTHER SECTORS.
IT'S MORE ABOUT LONG-TERM 
BRIDGING, KEEPING MAJOR 
EMPLOYERS ALIVE TO BETTER TIMES.
THE CHALLENGE IS WHEN ARE THOSE 
BETTER TIMES?
AND COULD THEY VERY WELL END UP 
IN A SITUATION LIKE GENERAL 
MOTORS AND THE AUTO SECTOR WAS 
10, 12 YEARS AGO?
SO THERE IS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF 
POLICY DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING 
BEHIND THE SCENES, FAR BEYOND 
WHAT WE SEE FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER EVERY DAY IN THESE 
DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND YOU 
KNOW, AS WE SAW RIGHT HERE, A 
QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS IN 
AID FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR.
THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING, AND 
I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN 
A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS 
IN GOVERNMENT AID WAS A REALLY 
BIG DEAL.
NOW IT'S TUESDAY.
>> Rosemary: NOW WE'RE LIKE, 
MEH.
I WILL SAY, ON CERB, I THINK 
YOU'RE BOTH QUITE RIGHT, IT IS 
IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT HOW THIS WINDS DOWN, WHAT 
THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND INDEED HOW 
DO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT START GOING 
BACK TO WORK IN SOME CAPACITY 
BUT NEED SOME ONGOING SUPPORT 
FROM THE GOVERNMENT DO THAT, BUT
I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY ACTUAL 
EVIDENCE FROM ANDREW SCHEER OR 
ANYBODY ELSE THAT THERE ARE 
PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING "I DON'T 
WANT TO WORK, I'M GOING TO STAY 
HOME AND TAKE THIS BENEFIT."
I MEAN, VASSY, YOU HAVE HEARD 
FROM BUSINESSES WHO ARE 
CONCERNED, THAT'S FINE.
BUT I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY 
EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING 
THAT IS RAMPANT OR STARTING OR 
THAT PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN THROUGH 
CATHERINE CULLEN'S REPORTING 
SOME EVIDENCE OF FRAUD, WHICH IS
PERHAPS NOT SURPRISING THROUGH 
CERB, THAT SOME PEOPLE APPLIED 
FOR IT, GOT IT AND SHOULD NOT 
HAVE.
AND I KNOW SHE'S STILL WORKING 
ON SOME STORIES AROUND THAT, 
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT CAN'T 
CONTINUE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW WIDESPREAD THAT
IS EITHER, AND I'M NOT SURE THE 
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE
US A SENSE OF THAT ANY MORE 
EITHER.
AND OF COURSE THE OTHER PART OF 
CERB IS THAT AS THE WAGE SUBSIDY
PROGRAM RAMPS UP, AS WE SEE NOW 
IT'S COVERING 1.7 MILLION 
WORKERS, CERB WILL SLIGHTLY WIND
DOWN AS LONG AS THESE COMPANIES 
FEEL THAT THEY CAN BRING THEIR 
WORKERS BACK ON THE PAYROLL.
SO I MEAN, I GUESS I'M JUST 
SAYING IT'S AN INTERESTING 
POLITICAL CONVERSATION, BUT I'M 
NOT SURE WHAT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, 
WHERE IS THE NEXUS OF IT.
WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE THAT THIS 
IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AT THIS 
STAGE, GIVEN THAT THERE AREN'T 
REALLY ANY JOBS TO BE HAD.
SO I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW YOU 
COULD TURN DOWN A JOB IN ANY 
REAL WAY.
VASSY, I'LL JUST GET YOUR 
THOUGHTS.
>> Vassy: YEAH, JUST QUICKLY, 
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF IT FROM 
AND LESS FROM THE POLITICAL 
PERSPECTIVE, MORE FROM THE 
PREMIERS WHO I HAVE HEARD FROM 
AND PRIMARILY IN MANITOBA AND 
NEW BRUNSWICK, AND AGAIN, YOU'RE
RIGHT, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY 
PRESENTED ME WITH TEN EXAMPLES 
SO FAR, BUT THEY DO INSIST THEY 
ARE HEARING ABOUT THE CONCERN 
FROM VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT 
REPRESENT BUSINESSES.
AND IN THEIR CASE, THEIR 
ECONOMIES ARE AT THE STAGE WHERE
THERE MIGHT BE THE NEED FOR SOME
JOBS, MORE SO THAN, FOR EXAMPLE,
HERE IN ONTARIO OR PERHAPS IN 
OTHER PROVINCES THAT ARE NOT -- 
LIKE, THOSE ARE THE TWO 
PROVINCES MOST ADVANCED OR AMONG
THE TWO PROVINCES MOST ADVANCED 
WHEN IT COMES TO REOPENING THE 
ECONOMY, AND ONE OTHER THING I 
WANT TO TOUCH ON WITH THE 
FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE, SOMETHING
THAT I AM GETTING INUNDATED WITH
EMAILS ABOUT, AND THAT IS THE 
RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT SAYS IS SUPPOSED TO 
BE UP AND RUNNING FOR 
APPLICATIONS IN MID-MAY.
>> Rosemary: THE COMMERCIAL RENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
>> Vassy: COMMERCIAL RENT, I'M 
SORRY, YEAH.
THEY ARE GOING TO LEND SOME 
MONEY TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 
OWNERS IN EXCHANGE FOR THEM 
PRETTY DRASTICALLY CUTTING THE 
AMOUNT OF RENT THAT A SMALL 
BUSINESS CAN PAY.
THERE ARE SOME ISSUES I'M 
HEARING TONS ABOUT THE RELIANCE 
ON OR THE PRINCE EDWARD 
ISLANDCATION OF THE PROGRAM ON 
LANDLORDS COMPLYING.
THEY ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO AGREE 
TO TAKE A BIG CUT IN THE RENT, 
AND THERE ALSO ARE SOME CONCERNS
ABOUT THE REVENUE DECREASE THAT 
THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE TO 
SHOW.
THEY HAVE TO SHOW A 70% DECLINE.
A LOT OF RESTAURANTS REACHING 
OUT TO ME SAYING WE WERE TOLD WE
COULD DO TAKEOUT.
THE BUSINESS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR 
US TO PAY OUR RENT AND FIXED 
COSTS, BUT WE ARE JUST GETTING 
BY, AND WE STILL NEED THE HELP 
TOO.
A REAL LACK OF INFORMATION FOR A
NUMBER OF THOSE PEOPLE I'M 
HEARING FROM RIGHT NOW, FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I KNOW THE PROGRAM IS BEING 
WORKED OUT, BUT MAY 1 HAS COME 
AND GONE.
MANY LANDLORDS ALSO REACHING OUT
SAYING MY TENANTS ARE SAYING CAN
WE GIVE YOU A QUARTER OF THE 
RENT BECAUSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO
THIS PROGRAM, AND THEY CAN'T SAY
YES OR NO.
SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
ISSUE, BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE 
FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT, AND PROBABLY THE ONE
PART WE HAVE THE FEWEST DETAILS 
ON RIGHT NOW.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, I GOT TO 
LEAVE YOU BOTH, IF YOU DON'T 
MIND HERE, FOR OUR ONGOING 
SPECIAL COVERAGE ON CBC 
TELEVISION.
WE WILL BE BACK AFTER A SHORT 
BREAK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VASSY 
KAPELOS AND CBC'S DAVID 
COCHRANE.
I WILL REMIND VIEWERS IF YOU ARE
TUNING IN NOW, THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S FOCUS WAS ON AID FOR 
THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN THIS 
COUNTRY, $252 MILLION TO TRY AND
TIDE THEM OVER, BUT THE PRIME 
MINISTER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
MORE AID, MORE MONEY MAY BE 
NEEDED, AND OF COURSE WE WILL 
HAVE ONGOING COVERAGE OF THE 
PANDEMIC ON "CBC NEWS NETWORK" 
AND CBC.CA, STREAMING WHEREVER 
YOU ARE.
BUT THAT ENDS OUR COVERAGE HERE 
ON CBC TELEVISION TODAY.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU SOON.
♪
♪
>> Rosemary: HELLO AGAIN.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN 
OTTAWA.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CBC 
NEWS NETWORK" AND STREAMING ON 
THE CBC NEWS APP AND CBC.CA 
RIGHT AROUND THE WORLD.
WE ARE TRACKING THE BIG COVID-19
DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY.
AN EMERGENCY AID PACKAGE IS ON 
THE WAY FOR CANADA'S AGRICULTURE
AND FOOD INDUSTRY.
THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED 
$252 MILLION IN SUPPORT TO HELP 
FARMERS AND FOOD PROCESSORS COPE
WITH THIS UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS 
BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT 
IS IT ENOUGH?
WE WILL DISCUSS WITH OUR 
REPORTERS IN JUST A MOMENT, AND 
WE DO EXPECT ALSO TO HEAR MORE 
ON THE RELIEF PLAN FROM FEDERAL 
MINISTERS THIS HOUR, INCLUDING 
THE AGRICULTURE MINISTER, ON HOW
THIS MIGHT UNFOLD.
AND THAT, ON YOUR RIGHT, IS THE 
BEGINNING OF THE VIRTUAL COVID 
COMMITTEE THAT MEETS NOW 
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AT NOON 
EASTERN.
THIS IS THE ENLARGED SPECIAL 
COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN CRAFTED 
AND CONSTITUTED TO DEAL WITH THE
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO 
COVID-19, ALLOWING MPs AND 
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO DO A DEEP 
DIVE INTO SOME OF WHAT THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS DONE, ASK 
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, AND HOLD THE
GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT ON SOME OF
THE POLICY DECISIONS THEY ARE 
MAKING.
ON THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN 
THERE IS THE SPEAKER OF THE 
HOUSE, ANTHONY RODA, WHO IS 
SITTING SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE 
WEST BLOCK AS HE GETS READY TO 
GATHER MANY, MANY PEOPLE 
ON-LINE.
I THINK LAST TIME THIS WAS DONE 
THERE WERE 300 MPs WHO DIALLED 
IN FROM WHEREVER THEY WERE 
WORKING REMOTELY, AND THEY ARE 
DOING A MOMENT OF SILENCE RIGHT 
NOW FOR THE CRASH OF THE 
HELICOPTER IN NOVA SCOTIA.
OKAY, ON THE LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN
IS THE FEDERAL BRIEFING THAT WE 
EXPECT TODAY TO HEAR MOSTLY FROM
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
AS I SAID, THE AGRICULTURE 
MINISTER AS WELL.
SO THE VIRTUAL MEETING TAKING 
PLACE AT NOON.
WE ARE EXPECTING THE PRIME 
MINISTER TO SHOW UP THERE AND 
ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, WHICH IS 
WHY WE BRING THAT TO YOU LIVE 
TODAY.
TOMORROW, ON WEDNESDAYS, IS WHEN
THEY DO THE IN-PERSON SITTING, 
WHICH IS THE ACTUAL HOUSE OF 
COMMONS IN A REDUCED CAPACITY, A
LARGE QUESTION PERIOD FOR THAT 
TIME AS WELL WHERE THE PRIME 
MINISTER ALSO USUALLY ATTENDS, 
AS WELL AS OPPOSITION LEADERS.
BOTH OF THESE THINGS SORT OF 
GETTING GOING, AND WE WILL BRING
THEM TO YOU AS SOON AS SOMEONE 
POPS UP OTHER THAN THE SPEAKER 
OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, EVEN 
THOUGH I'M SURE HE'S SAYING VERY
INTERESTING THINGS.
I'LL BRING BECOME VASS VASSY 
KAPELOS, THE HOST OF "POWER & 
POLITICS", AND DAVID COCHRANE 
FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU.
WE ARE STANDING BY TO SEE WHAT 
KIND OF QUESTIONS THE PRIME 
MINISTER GETS.
WE EXPECT THE WAY THE 
CONSERVATIVES HAVE BEEN 
POSITIONING THEMSELVES OVER THE 
PAST NUMBER OF DAYS TO FOCUS 
AROUND CERB AND WHETHER CHANGES 
NEED TO BE BROUGHT IN OR WHETHER
THERE'S THINGS THAT NEED TO BE 
ADJUSTED GOING FORWARD, 
SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT IS 
OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT.
BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S 
SUGGESTING IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE 
BIT TOO EARLY TO DO THAT, GIVEN 
AS DAVID POINTED OUT WE'RE 
REALLY ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE 
FINANCIAL AID MEASURES, MAYBE 
NOT HALFWAY THROUGH THE 
PANDEMIC, UNFORTUNATELY.
MAYBE LET'S JUST TALK A LITTLE 
BIT ABOUT THE PROVINCES AND THE 
PACE THAT THINGS ARE GOING AT 
BECAUSE YESTERDAY MONTREAL OR 
THE QUEBEC PREMIER WAS FORCED TO
PUSH BACK SOME OPENING DATES 
AROUND MONTREAL AFTER SOME REAL 
CONCERNS FROM THEIR PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICER AND THEIR MAYOR 
ABOUT HOW READY THE CITY OF 
MONTREAL IS, AND CERTAINLY THE 
OUTBREAK IN MONTREAL DOESN'T 
REALLY APPEAR TO BE SLOWING 
DOWN.
IN FACT, IT'S MOVING INTO OTHER 
PARTS OF THE CITY IN SOME 
PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES.
AND I WONDER WHETHER THIS IS 
JUST HOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN 
THAT IF PREMIERS ARE, YOU KNOW, 
AWARE ENOUGH OF THE INFORMATION 
AND DATA THEY ARE GETTING AND 
ARE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS 
BASED ON PUBLIC HEALTH WILL 
INDEED JUST SORT OF MOVE BACK 
THEIR TIMELINES AND THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT WILL NEVER HAVE TO 
SORT OF GET UP AND WAG ITS 
FINGER AT A PROVINCE BECAUSE 
EVERYONE AGREES THAT THAT 
WOULDN'T BE THE BEST MOVE 
POLITICALLY.
IT SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED IN THE
CASE OF QUEBEC FOR NOW, AT LEAST
IN THE CASE OF MONTREAL.
BUT I FOUND IT INTERESTING 
BECAUSE NOTHING REALLY HAD TO 
HAPPEN FROM THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, AT LEAST PUBLICLY, 
IN ORDER TO GET FRANÇOIS LEGAULT
TO SHIFT HIS POSITION SLIGHTLY 
ON HOW THINGS WERE GOING TO 
UNFOLD.
VASSY?
>> Vassy: YEAH, THAT'S VERY 
TRUE, AND ACTUALLY NOW THAT YOU 
MENTION IT I WAS THINKING BACK 
TO EVERY PREMIER WE'VE SPOKEN TO
OVER THE PAST, OR LISTENED TO 
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, OR 
WEEK, AS THEY DETAIL THE 
PHASEDOUT APPROACH BY WHICH THEY
ARE GOING TO REOPEN THEIR 
ECONOMIES, AND ALL OF IT OFTEN 
COMES WITH A CAVEAT, RIGHT?
AND THE CAVEAT IS: WE ARE GOING 
TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE NUMBERS, 
AND IF WE SEE MORE EVIDENCE, FOR
EXAMPLE, OF COMMUNITY SPREAD OR 
LARGER AMOUNTS OF COMMUNITY 
SPREAD, WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO PUT
THE BRAKES ON.
BLAINE HIGGS YESTERDAY, NO NEW 
CASES IN NEW BRUNSWICK.
EVERYBODY HAS RECOVERED, AND HE 
WAS STILL VERY CAREFUL IN THE 
INTERVIEW TO SAY, IF WE SEE 
ANYTHING CHANGE, THOUGH, WE ARE 
NOT GOING TO ACCELERATE THE RATE
AT WHICH THIS REOPENS.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS 
END UP WORSE THAN WE ARE RIGHT 
NOW.
SO THERE IS, I THINK, A SHARED 
SENSE OF HESITANCY TO MOVE TOO 
QUICKLY IF THE EVIDENCE DOESN'T 
SUPPORT IT.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND THE 
PREMIER -- PREMIER HIGGS ALSO 
SAYING EVERYBODY CAN FORGET 
COMING TO NEW BRUNSWICK ANY TIME
SOON TOO BECAUSE IF WE'VE GOT 
THIS UNDER CONTROL, WHICH IT 
SEEMS THEY DO, WE DON'T WANT 
PEOPLE IMPORTING IT INTO THE 
PROVINCE EITHER, SO THAT'S 
OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE'LL 
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF
TRAVEL, EVEN DOMESTICALLY, WE'LL
BE ABLE TO DO OVER THE COURSE OF
THE SUMMER.
DAVID, YOUR THOUGHTS ON ALL OF 
THAT?
>> David: I KIND OF ASK THE 
QUESTION WHAT WOULD BONNIE HENRY
DO, YOU KNOW?
IF YOU LOOK AT BRITISH COLUMBIA 
AND THE MODELLING AND THE DATA 
THEY PUT OUT YESTERDAY, THEY 
DEAL WITH THE SAME INTERNATIONAL
BORDER RESTRICTIONS THAT EVERY 
OTHER PROVINCE IN CANADA HAS 
DEALT WITH.
THEY FOLLOW CLOSELY WHAT DR. TAM
AND THE WORLD HEALTH 
ORGANIZATION HAS SAID, AND THEY 
HAVE A BORDER WITH ONE OF THE 
FIRST HOTSPOTS IN THE UNITED 
STATES, IN WASHINGTON STATE.
BUT THEY HAVE HAD A VERY GOOD 
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN IN TALKING 
TO THE PUBLIC.
THEY ACTED QUITE DECISIVELY ON 
THINGS LIKE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
WHEN THEY HAD WHAT WAS I BELIEVE
THE FIRST OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 
IN THE SENIORS HOME IN CANADA.
AND PUT VERY SPECIFIC MEASURES 
AROUND IT AND CHANGED THE WAY 
HEALTH CARE WORKERS WORKED AND 
THE WAY LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES WERE WORKING AND 
ALLOWED TO BE VISITED.
AND HAD A RESPONSE THAT STOPPED 
THE PROBLEM WE ARE SEEING IN 
PLACES LIKE QUEBEC AND ONTARIO.
THEY STILL HAVE PROBLEMS THERE.
THEY HAVE STILL HAD DEATHS 
THERE, BUT IT IS NOT RAGING 
EPIDEMIC AND THE SORT OF THING 
WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES.
THEIR CURVE IS NOW VERY FLAT, 
AND EVEN THE DISCUSSION 
YESTERDAY OF THE POSSIBILITY OF 
NO NEW CASES BY CANADA DAY, 
WHICH IS REMARKABLE WHEN YOU 
CONSIDER THAT THEY HAVE, YOU 
KNOW, A VERY DIVERSE POPULATION 
WITH A STRONG INTERNATIONAL 
TRAVEL PROFILE IN THE MONTHS 
LEADING UP TO THIS, HIGH 
POPULATION DENSITY IN PLACES 
LIKE VANCOUVER.
THEY HAVE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB,
AND THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT 
OPENING UP THE ECONOMY TO QUITE 
THE DEGREE WE ARE SEEING IN SOME
OTHER PROVINCES.
AND I THINK THAT IS THE 
TOUCHSTONE FOR ME WHEN I LOOK AT
IT IN TERMS OF HOW BRITISH 
COLUMBIA HAS COMMUNICATED IT AND
HOW THEY'VE DEALT WITH THE 
CRISES WHEN THEY FLARED UP AND 
HOW THEY ARE MANAGING WITH THIS 
GO-SLOW APPROACH.
HENRY'S FRONT-LINE VERY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WITH SARS BACK WHEN 
THAT HAPPENED MAY BE SOMETHING 
THAT GUIDES HER ON THIS.
SHE HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD 
COMMUNICATOR.
THEY HAVE A GOOD ROBUST PUBLIC 
HEALTH AGENCY THERE, AND THEY 
HAVE DEALT WITH THIS IN PROBABLY
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS IN CANADA.
I MEAN, THE SMALLER ATLANTIC 
PROVINCES WHICH HAVE ZERO CASES,
THE POPULATION MAKEUP THERE 
CERTAINLY HELPS, THE WAY THEY 
DON'T HAVE THE BIG LARGE CITIES,
YOU KNOW, BACK IN ST. JOHN'S 
WHERE I'M FROM, IF IT HADN'T 
BEEN FOR A SINGLE CLUSTER AT A 
FUNERAL HOME AT A WAKE WHERE IT 
SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE, THE NUMBER
OF CASES IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND 
LABRADOR WOULD BE ABOUT A THIRD 
OF WHAT THEY ARE.
SO THAT WAS A BIT OF BAD LUCK.
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA IS GOOD RESPONSE AND 
GOOD PLANNING, AND I THINK THERE
ARE A LOT OF LESSONS THAT 
POLICY-MAKERS SHOULD TAKE FROM 
WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE AND TRY 
TO APPLY IT AS BEST THEY CAN TO 
THEIR LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES AS WE 
MOVE TOWARDS THIS CONVERSATION 
OF REOPENING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE,
ROSY.
EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT 
WHAT'S NEXT AND GETTING BACK TO 
NORMAL.
THERE IS STILL A TRAGEDY 
HAPPENING IN LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE ONGOING 
TRAGEDY WHERE PEOPLE ARE DYING 
ALONE AND BEING MOURNED 
REMOTELY.
AND WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT
GETTING TOO FAR OVER OUR SKIS 
AND MOVING TOWARDS GETTING 
THINGS BACK TO NORMAL WHEN 
THINGS ARE FAR FROM NORMAL IN 
SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE 
POPULATIONS IN CANADA.
>> Rosemary: AND JUST A REMINDER
THAT THE B.C. PREMIER IS 
EXPECTED TO OUTLINE SOME OF THE 
REOPENING MEASURES TOMORROW IN 
BRITISH COLUMBIA, SO THEY ARE 
MOVING, BUT YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT, 
MOVING QUITE SLOWLY.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS COVID COMMITTEE TO GET 
REALLY UNDER WAY, LET'S TAKE YOU
TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH BRIEFING 
HERE IN OTTAWA.
THAT IS DR. HOWARD NJOO, THE 
DEPUTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, 
WHO HAS BECOME ALSO A FAMILIAR 
FACE TO MANY CANADIANS.
LET'S LISTEN IN TO THIS LIVE, 
AND WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE HOUSE 
OF COMMONS COVID COMMITTEE AS 
SOON AS IT GETS UNDER WAY.
HERE WE GO.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
WE ARE SAVED FROM DEADLY 
INFECTIONS WHEN PHYSICIANS 
CLEANED THEIR HANDS BEFORE 
DELIVERING BABIES.
IN THE 20TH CENTURY, FLORENCE 
NIGHTINGALE SHOWED HOW WOUNDED 
SOLDIERS WERE SPARED FROM DEADLY
INFECTIONS THANKS TO HANDWASHING
AND OTHER HYGIENE MEASURES.
IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT ONCE 
UPON A TIME THE LIFESAVING 
PREVENTION POWER OF HANDWASHING 
WAS NOT KNOWN, ESPECIALLY 
CONSIDERING ITS ABSOLUTELY 
INTEGRAL ROLE IN PREVENTING THE 
SPREAD OF INFECTIONS TODAY.
IF I WERE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE
IS A SUPER-LOW-COST SOLUTION 
THAT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE 
EVERYBODY'S LIKELIHOOD OF 
CATCHING A WHOLE RANGE OF 
DISEASES, FROM STOMACH BUGS TO 
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT INFECTIONS,
AND EVEN DROPLET RESPIRATORY 
INFECTIONS LIKE COVID-19, WOULD 
YOU PICK A FAVOURITE TUNE AND 
SING TO YOURSELF WHILE YOU WASH 
YOUR HANDS FOR 20 SECONDS?
THAT'S ALL IT TAKES.
HANDWASHING IS SO IMPORTANT THAT
I'M KEEPING IT SHORT AND SIMPLE 
TODAY.
THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING LIKE A 
SPLASH OF WATER, A BIT OF SOAP 
AND A 20-SECOND SCRUB.
BACK OF HANDS, FRONT OF HANDS, 
BETWEEN THE FINGERS, DON'T 
FORGET YOUR THUMBS AND 
FINGERTIPS.
REPEAT OFTEN TO BEAT BACK THE 
BUGS.
IT'S A LIFESAVER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
MADAM BIBEAU?
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS ACTED 
LIKE A SHOCK WAVE IN OUR FOOD 
SUPPLY CHAIN FROM FARMS TO 
GROCERY STORES.
I ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE WORKING
VERY HARD WITH OUR PROVINCIAL, 
TERRITORIAL, INTERNATIONAL 
PARTNERS, WITH REPRESENTATIVES 
FROM THE AGRICULTURAL AND 
AGRI-FOOD SECTORS TO ENSURE THAT
CANADIANS ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO 
GOOD, FRESH, AFFORDABLE FOOD.
TODAY PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU 
ANNOUNCED ANOTHER SERIES OF 
MEASURES TO ALLOW OUR 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND FOOD 
PROCESSORS TO CONTINUE THEIR 
ESSENTIAL WORK, WHICH IS -- OR 
RATHER AND TO SAVE OUR FAMILY 
FARMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
[ End of Interpretation ].
-- INVESTMENTS TODAY ARE RELATED
TO THE IMPACTS ON OUR FARMERS.
DUE TO THE REDUCTION IN FOOD 
PROCESSING CAPACITY, AS WELL AS 
THE CLOSURE OF MANY RESTAURANTS 
AND FOOD SERVICES.
BEFORE I PROCEED WITH THE 
DETAILS OF TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECALL THAT 
THE BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT 
PROGRAMS BRING ABOUT $1.6 
BILLION EACH YEAR TO SUPPORT 
FARMERS FACING DIFFERENT TYPES 
OF CHALLENGES.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
BEFORE PRESENTING, NEW 
INVESTMENTS EARMARKED FOR THE 
AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-FOOD 
SECTORS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS 
REPRESENT EVERY YEAR 
APPROXIMATELY $1.6 BILLION OF 
ASSISTANCE TO AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCERS.
THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE COST 
SHARED, NEED TO BE IMPROVED.
THAT IS WHY, WITH MY PROVINCIAL 
AND TERRITORIAL COUNTERPARTS, WE
HAVE STARTED TO WORK ON THEM, 
AND WE STARTED THAT WORK LAST 
SUMMER.
IN ALL CASES, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO TAKE 
FULL ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING 
PROGRAMS.
OTHER INITIATIVES, SUCH AS THOSE
WE'VE ANNOUNCED TODAY, WE ARE 
ANNOUNCING TODAY, WILL MEET 
EXCEPTION AT THE NEEDS CAUSED BY
THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE AGRISTABILITY 
PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO LIMIT 
REVENUE LOSSES CAUSED, FOR 
EXAMPLE, BY A SIGNIFICANT PRICE 
DECLINE SUCH AS IS THE CASE FOR 
PORK RIGHT NOW.
ALL PRODUCERS ARE STRONGLY 
ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE PROGRAM 
AND TO IMPROVE IT WE'VE MADE THE
FOLLOWING CHANGES.
THE DEADLINE FOR ENROLMENT HAS 
BEEN PUSHED BACK TO JULY 3.
TO ACCESS MORE LIQUIDITY IN 
CERTAIN PROVINCES, IT IS 
POSSIBLE TO ASK FOR A 75% 
ADVANCE PAYMENT, NOT JUST 50%.
AND TO HELP THEM ASSESS THE 
SUPPORT THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO
OBTAIN, A CALCULATOR IS NOW 
AVAILABLE ON-LINE.
[ End of Interpretation ].
AGRISTABILITY COVERS REVENUE 
LOSSES, SUCH AS THE DECLINE OF 
HOG PRICES.
ALL FARMERS ARE STRONGLY 
ENCOURAGED TO ENROL IN THE 
PROGRAM FOR WHICH THE 
APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN 
EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 3.
WHERE THE PROVINCES HAVE ENACTED
THE CHANGES, PRODUCERS CAN NOW 
ACCESS 75% OF THEIR EXPECTED 
BENEFIT, UP FROM 50%.
AND TO HELP THEM ESTIMATE THE 
LEVEL OF SUPPORT THEY CAN GET 
FROM THIS PROGRAM, A CALCULATOR 
IS NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE.
AGRI RECOVERY COVERS 
EXTRAORDINARY COSTS FACED BY 
PRODUCERS DUE TO DISASTER.
A PROVINCE OR TERRITORY MUST 
MAKE A REQUEST TO THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT FOR THE PROGRAM TO BE
ACTIVATED, AND THE ELIGIBLE 
COSTS ARE THEN SHARED 60% BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 40% BY 
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
IT NORMALLY COVERS UP TO 70% OF 
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES.
WE ARE NOW MAKING IT UP TO 90%.
DUE TO THE UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS 
AND THE MEAT PROCESSING BACKLOG 
CAUSED BY TEMPORARY CLOSURES OR 
SLOWDOWNS OF PLANTS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE AVAILABLE 
ITS 60% CONTRIBUTION IN ALL 
PROVINCES OR TERRITORIES WHETHER
THE PROVINCE CONTRIBUTES THEIR 
SHARE OR NOT.
TWO OF OUR MAIN ANNOUNCEMENTS 
TODAY FALL UNDER THE 
AGRIRECOVERY PROGRAM.
FIRST, UP TO $50 MILLION WILL 
SERVE AS A SET ASIDE PROGRAM TO 
HELP CATTLE PRODUCERS COVER THE 
EXTRA COSTS OF KEEPING THEIR 
ANIMALS ON THE FARMS WHILE THEY 
WAIT LONGER TO BE PROCESSED.
AND UP TO ANOTHER $50 MILLION 
WILL BE ALLOCATED TO HELP PORK 
PRODUCERS COVER COSTS OF 
MANAGING THEIR HERD.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
AGRIRECOVERY OPERATES ON A -- [ 
End of Interpretation ].
>> Rosemary: OKAY, WE'RE JUST 
GOING TO PULL AWAY FROM THIS 
BRIEFING TALKING ABOUT THE $252 
MILLION THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
ANNOUNCED TODAY, BUT WE ARE 
GOING TO JOIN THE COVID 
COMMITTEE HAPPENING VIRTUALLY AT
THIS HOUR.
THERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER.
THERE ARE ABOUT 260 MPs SITTING 
IN VIRTUALLY FOR THIS COVID 
COMMITTEE, SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
LET'S LISTEN IN LIVE.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
CANADIANS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY 
WHAT HAPPENED IN NOVA SCOTIA.
MANY FAMILIES HAVE EXPERIENCED A
TRAGEDY, AND WE PROMISED THAT WE
WOULD BAN ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE 
PARTIES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN 
ARMS CONTROL, AND IT'S 
UNFORTUNATE THAT THE 
CONSERVATIVES ARE AGAINST THAT 
IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ON THE CONTRARY, NOW I 
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS SAYING.
HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF HE 
THINKS GANGS AND ORGANIZED CRIME
ARE JUST GOING TO SIMPLY HAND IN
THEIR WEAPONS?
>> THE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
IN FACT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT 
STEP, BUT IT'S A FIRST STEP.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE
TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO RESTRICT 
GUNS IN OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND 
IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN BORDER 
CONTROL AS WELL.
SO OTHER MEASURES ARE REQUIRED, 
AND I'M PLEASED TO HEAR THE 
MEMBER SPEAK ABOUT OTHER 
MEASURES, BECAUSE TOGETHER WE 
WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN 
THE HOUSE TO STRENGTHEN ARMS 
CONTROL, AND I HOPE THAT THE 
CONSERVATIVES WILL BE A POSITIVE
PART OF THAT DISCUSSION TO KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE 
CONSERVATIVE PARTY HAS ALWAYS 
CARED ABOUT PROTECTING CANADIANS
AGAINST CRIMINALS, NOT AGAINST 
THEIR OWN CITIZENS.
NOW SPEAKING OF CRIMINALS, 
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE PRIME 
MINISTER WANTED CORRECTIONAL 
SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE 
MORE EASILY MORE PRISONERS.
GIVEN THE PANDEMIC, SOME THINGS 
ARE MOVING VERY QUICKLY, BUT THE
MINISTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY SAID 
THAT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES 
WERE ONLY RELEASING PEOPLE WHO 
WERE APPROACHING THE END OF 
THEIR SENTENCE.
HOWEVER, WE'VE HEARD THAT 
DANGEROUS PRISONERS WERE 
RELEASED.
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER RESPOND?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THE PROTECTION 
OF ALL CANADIANS AND THE HEALTH 
OF ALL CANADIANS IS IMPORTANT TO
THIS GOVERNMENT, AND THAT'S WHY 
WE HAVE TAKEN ADDITIONAL STEPS 
WITHIN CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN 
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT SECURITY
GUARDS AND INMATES ARE 
PROTECTED.
WE HAVE MADE SOME RELEASES.
HOWEVER, THESE ARE VERY SPECIFIC
CASES THAT REPRESENT NO OR 
EXTREMELY LITTLE DANGER TO THE 
PUBLIC.
WE HAD TO STRIKE THE RIGHT 
BALANCE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO 
PROTECT CANADIANS, AND WE ALSO 
NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE,
THEY ARE ALL SAFE.
>> MR. PAUL-HUS.
>> SO WILL THE PRIME MINISTER 
CONFIRM THAT NO DANGEROUS 
CRIMINALS WERE RELEASED TOO 
QUICKLY IN ORDER TO AVOID THEM 
HAVING TO BE EXPOSED TO THE 
VIRUS WITHIN THE PRISONS?
>> THERE ARE RULES AND 
PRINCIPLES IN PLACE.
THEY ARE STRICTLY FOLLOWED IN 
ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE 
NO RELEASES OF PEOPLE WHO POSE A
THREAT TO SOCIETY.
>> MR. PAUL-HUS, YOU HAVE ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE CHINESE 
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN 
TRANSPARENT WITH THE REST OF THE
WORLD IN TERMS OF THE VIRUS.
AUSTRALIA ASKED FOR AN IN-DEPTH 
INVESTIGATION.
WILL CANADA BE STANDING BESIDE 
ITS FIVE EYE ALLIES AND CALL ON 
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO BE 
TRANSPARENT?
>> THE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE CONTINUE TO 
STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH 
THE FIVE EYES ALLIES, AND WE 
HAVE DONE THAT.
THEY ALL DID THAT AS WELL WITH 
RESPECT TO THOSE WHO WERE 
DETAINED IN CHINA.
WE CONTINUE TO EXPECT ALL 
ANSWERS TO ALL OUR QUESTIONS BE 
ANSWERED, AND AT THE SAME TIME 
WE WILL BE WORKING TO MAKE SURE 
THAT CANADIANS HAVE ALL THE 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED 
TO GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE PUT
BY MR. BLANCHET.
YOUR MICROPHONE, MR. BLANCHET.
>> THANK YOU.
I IMAGINE THAT I'M ON THE RIGHT 
CHANNEL.
MY APOLOGIES, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND 
MY APOLOGIES ALSO FOR NOT 
WEARING THE APPROPRIATE HEADSET.
I WAS TRAVELLING AND I DID NOT 
HAVE IT WITH ME.
FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW THERE HAVE 
BEEN DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE 
OF THE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS AND THE 
GOVERNMENT TO FIND A WAY THROUGH
COLLABORATION TO HELP SENIORS IN
QUEBEC AND CANADA.
THE TRUST OF OUR PROPOSALS HAVE 
BEEN -- THRUST OF OUR PROPOSALS 
HAVE BEEN TO TEMPORARILY 
INCREASE OLD AGE SECURITY, AND I
HATE THE TITLE OF THAT, BUT I 
THINK IT SHOULD HAVE THE WORD 
"SENIORS" IN IT, BUT REGARDLESS,
WE'D LIKE IT INCREASED BY ABOUT 
$25 A WEEK.
THAT'S $100 A MONTH, AND WE'VE 
BEEN HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS 
FOR A WHILE.
IT WAS A PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT 
FORWARD VERY EARLY ON, AND WE'D 
LIKE THIS TO BE APPROVED.
NOW PARLIAMENT STOPPED SITTING 
IN MARCH.
HERE WE ARE IN MAY, AND SENIORS 
STILL HAVE NOTHING.
THEY THEMSELVES ARE GETTING 
IMPATIENT, AND WE'VE SPENT A 
GOOD PART OF OUR DAYS RESPONDING
TO THEIR CONCERNS, AND YOU KNOW,
WHAT I'VE BEEN THINKING IS IT'S 
NOT UP TO ME TO ANSWER TO 
SENIORS.
IT'S UP TO THE PRIME MINISTER, 
AND THE QUESTION TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS THIS: WHAT ARE YOU 
DOING IN TERMS OF A SOLUTION 
THAT WILL HELP SENIORS' BUYING 
POWER IN QUEBEC AND IN CANADA IN
THE SHORT TERM?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
OBVIOUSLY SENIORS NEED OUR 
SUPPORT AND THEY NEED ACCESS TO 
SERVICES THROUGHOUT THIS 
PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS FOR INCOME 
REPLACEMENT, FOR THOSE WORKERS, 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO HAVE LOST 
THEIR JOBS, BUT WE ARE ALSO 
LOOKING AT SEVERAL MEASURES, 
INCLUDING MEASURES FOR SENIORS.
THE MOST VULNERABLE SENIORS WILL
BE SEEING THE GST REFUNDED, FOR 
EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE ALSO REDUCED BY 20% THE 
MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT THEY CAN 
WITHDRAW FROM THEIR RRIFS, AND 
WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED $9 MILLION
TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE 
SENIORS, BUT I DO ACKNOWLEDGE 
THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT CAN
BE DONE, AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE 
WORKING WITH OTHER MPs, 
INCLUDING THE MEMBERS OF THE 
BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS, TO RESPOND TO 
THOSE CONCERNS AND TO FIND THE 
BEST WAYS TO HELP SENIORS, YES, 
IN THE SHORT TERM, BECAUSE 
SENIORS ARE FACING ISSUES 
REGARDING THEIR PHYSICAL SAFETY,
THEIR HEALTH DUE TO THE 
PANDEMIC, AND ALSO DUE TO THEIR 
FINANCIAL SECURITY.
WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY IN THE 
COMING DAYS. 
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> THE PRIME MINISTER HAS SAID 
OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS THAT HE 
MAY REQUIRE THE COLLABORATION OF
OTHER PARTIES, INCLUDING THE 
BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS, ON ANOTHER 
ISSUE, AND WE ARE OPEN TO ALL 
DISCUSSIONS.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE ASK FOR 
SOMETHING, WE WANT TO SEE THAT 
SAME OPENNESS ON THEIR SIDE.
NOW THE COST OF GROCERIES HAS 
INCREASED FOR EVERYONE, AND IT 
HAS INCREASED FOR SENIORS ABOVE 
65 YEARS OLD, AND THEIR OLD AGE 
SECURITY IS MUCH LESS THAN, FOR 
EXAMPLE, WHAT STUDENTS ARE 
GETTING.
IT'S MUCH LESS THAN THE -- THAN 
CERB, AND SO WHAT I AM SEEING IS
SENIORS IN MY RIDING, SENIORS 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHO WANT
TO KNOW WHY THEY ARE NOT GETTING
ANYTHING.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY'LL 
RECEIVE SOMETHING, AND I WANT TO
BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEIR 
QUESTIONS.
WHAT WOULD THE PRIME MINISTER 
SUGGEST I SAY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
WILL BE MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN 
THE COMING DAYS TO HELP SENIORS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST 
VULNERABLE.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GROCERIES 
ARE INCREASING IN COST FOR 
EVERYONE, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED
TO DO MORE FOR SENIORS.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHETHER IT 
BE IN THE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES
OR WHETHER IT BE OTHER SENIORS 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THAT 
SENIORS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH 
HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
THERE ARE ISOLATED SENIORS.
THERE ARE SENIORS WHO ARE 
WORRIED, WORRIED ABOUT GETTING 
SICK, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE 
THEIR GRANDCHILDREN OR THEIR 
CHILDREN.
AND SO WE MUST BE THERE FOR 
THEM.
THEY ARE A GENERATION THAT 
FOUGHT FOR US, FOUGHT FOR US IN 
THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AND NOW WE
MUST FIGHT FOR THEM, FIGHT FOR 
THEM IN THEIR HOMES, AND THAT'S 
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT 
QUESTION.
MS. COLLINS.
>> HELLO, MR. SPEAKER.
EVERY DAY I HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO
ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR 
BILLS, TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR
HEAD, AND INSTEAD OF MAKING SURE
THAT CANADIANS GET THE HELP THAT
THEY NEED, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS 
CREATED COMPLICATED PROGRAMS 
THAT ARE STILL LETTING PEOPLE 
FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
IF THE PRIME MINISTER WON'T 
COMMIT TO A UNIVERSAL BENEFIT, 
WILL HE AT LEAST COMMIT TO 
REMOVING THE RESTRICTIVE 
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA THAT IS 
LEAVING THE MOST VULNERABLE 
PEOPLE BEHIND?
>> THE HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
KNEW WHEN THIS PANDEMIC HIT THAT
WE NEEDED TO HELP CANADIANS WHO 
WERE SUFFERING FROM COAST TO 
COAST TO COAST, PARTICULARLY THE
MOST VULNERABLE.
THAT IS WHY WE MOVED FORWARD 
RAPIDLY WITH THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT THAT 
HAS HELPED OVER 7 MILLION 
INDIVIDUAL CANADIANS, HAS MADE A
HUGE DIFFERENCE.
WE HAD TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY TO 
GET THIS MONEY OUT TO PEOPLE, 
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT THERE 
WERE -- THERE WAS GOING TO BE --
NEED TO BE MORE TO DO, AND 
THAT'S WHY SINCE THAT MOMENT WE 
HAVE CONTINUALLY WORKED ON -- 
>> MR. SPEAKER -- 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: -- 
REACHING OUT TO THE MOST 
VULNERABLE AND -- 
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT 
KEEPS -- 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: -- 
TARGETED APPROACHES WAS WHAT WAS
NEEDED. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE 
GOVERNMENT -- 
>> MS. COLLINS?
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT 
CONTINUES TO LEAVE PEOPLE 
BEHIND, AND I SPOKE TO A WOMAN 
IN MY RIDING WHO SHE WAS 
HOMELESS LAST YEAR, SHE RECENTLY
FOUND A JOB AND A PLACE THE 
LIVE, BUT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T 
MAKE $5,000 LAST YEAR, WHEN THE 
PANDEMIC HIT, SHE DOESN'T 
QUALIFY FOR ANY BENEFITS, AND 
SHE DOESN'T QUALIFY, BUT SHE IS 
ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEEDS IT 
THE MOST.
AND I'M WONDERING WHY THE PRIME 
MINISTER DOESN'T THINK SHE 
DESERVES OUR SUPPORT.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: OUR 
FOCUS THROUGHOUT THIS CRISIS HAS
BEEN ON HELPING THE MOST 
VULNERABLE, ON TARGETED MEASURES
THAT WILL LIFT CANADIANS OUT OF 
POVERTY, THAT WILL SUPPORT THEM.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE 
LIFTED OVER A MILLION PEOPLE OUT
OF POVERTY IN THIS COUNTRY, AND 
WE'VE CONTINUED TO PUT THE MOST 
VULNERABLE AT THE HEART OF 
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO.
WE'VE PUT SIGNIFICANT 
INVESTMENTS FORWARD TO 
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND 
FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE HELPING THE
MOST VULNERABLE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR MORE WAYS 
TO HELP EVEN MORE THAN THE 7 
MILLION CANADIANS WHO WILL 
RECEIVE THE CERB.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S MORE TO DO,
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TRYING TO 
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
>> MS. COLLINS.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THIS GOVERNMENT 
IS WEIRDLY COMMITTED TO 
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA THAT 
RESULTS IN REGULAR PEOPLE NOT 
GETTING THE SUPPORT THAT THEY 
NEED.
BUT NOT SO COMMITTED TO CRITERIA
FOR CORPORATIONS AND 
BILLIONAIRES WHO GET OUR HELP.
SO IF A COMPANY IS CHEATING THE 
PUBLIC USING OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS
TO NOT PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, 
THEY SHOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR 
GOVERNMENT BAILOUTS OR BENEFITS.
OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE POLAND AND
DENMARK AND FRANCE, HAVE MADE 
THIS COMMITMENT, AND IF THEY CAN
DO IT, SO CAN WE.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID ONE 
THING ONE DAY AND ANOTHER THE 
NEXT.
SO WILL HE COMMIT NOW THAT IF 
THE COMPANY HAS MONEY IN 
OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS THAT THEY 
WILL NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDS?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
MEASURES WE PUT FORWARD ARE 
FOCUSED ON HELPING WORKERS WHO 
LOSE THEIR JOBS, REGARDLESS OF 
THE COMPANIES THEY WORK FOR.
IT IS A SHAME TO HEAR THE NDP 
THAT USED TO BE THE PARTY OF 
WORKERS CHOOSING TO JUDGE 
WORKERS BY WHICH MULTINATIONAL 
THEY WORK FOR.
WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH A 
WAGE SUBSIDY THAT THE EMPLOYERS 
ARE OBLIGED TO PASS EVERY SINGLE
PENNY ON TO THE WORKERS.
THAT IS NOT HELP FOR THE 
COMPANIES.
THAT IS HELP FOR THE WORKERS, 
AND THAT HAS BEEN OUR FOCUS ALL 
THE WAY THROUGH.
ORDINARY CANADIANS WHO NEED 
SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE 
TO WORK BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
THAT HAS BEEN OUR PRIORITY, THAT
IS WHAT CANADIANS NEED RIGHT 
NOW.
>> MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE ONE LAST 
QUESTION.
I TAKE THAT AS A NO.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: -- 
FIGHT AGAINST TAX AVOIDANCE AND 
TAX EVASION.
WE -- 
>> MR. SPEAKER, COULD I ASK MY 
LAST QUESTION?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
>> POINT OF ORDER.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO PAUSE THE 
TIME FOR A MOMENT, AND I WANT TO
REMIND THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS 
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO STAY WITHIN
COMMITTEE RULES, WHICH STATE 
THAT THE LENGTH OF THE QUESTION 
AND THE LENGTH OF AN ANSWER 
SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME, AND I JUST WANT 
TO REMIND OUR MEMBERS OF THAT.
I'LL JUST MOVE ON TO -- I GO 
BACK TO MS. COLLINS.
SHE HAS ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT, 
AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S ABOUT HALF 
AND HALF FOR THE QUESTION AND 
THE ANSWER.
MS. COLLINS.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
MY LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT 
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, AND MY
COMMUNITY WAS FACING A CRISIS 
LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT, 
AND NOW PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ON
THE STREETS OR IN PARKS DON'T 
HAVE THE LUXURY OF FOLLOWING 
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE AND JUST 
STAYING HOME.
AND IN VICTORIA, THE PROVINCE, 
AND THE MUNICIPALITY HAVE 
STEPPED UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO 
HOUSE PEOPLE, AT LEAST FOR THE 
SHORT TERM IN LOCAL HOTELS.
WILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
RESPOND TO THIS IMMEDIATE CRISIS
INVESTMENTS IN LONG-TERM STABLE 
HOUSING?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER, IN 25 SECONDS OR LESS,
PLEASE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: YES, 
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE MOVED 
FORWARD WITH A HISTORIC NATIONAL
HOUSING STRATEGY THAT PUTS $40 
BILLION TOWARDS HOUSING, WORKING
WITH PARTNERS WE HAVE REDUCED 
POVERTY BY OVER A MILLION PEOPLE
IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT THERE IS 
MORE TO DO.
WE ARE REDUCING HOMELESSNESS BY 
HALF WITH HISTORIC INVESTMENTS, 
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT DURING 
THIS PANDEMIC THERE'S EVEN MORE 
TO DO FOR VULNERABLE CANADIANS, 
AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH 
ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT TO MAKE 
SURE THAT HAPPENS.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
>> POINT OF PRIVILEGE OR POINT 
OF ORDER.
>> YES. 
>> I'M AFRAID I DON'T HEAR THE 
FRENCH INTERPRETATION OF THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
>> I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR 
WHAT YOU SAID.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE THIS TO BE 
CHECKED BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO
HEAR THE FRENCH INTERPRETATION 
OF THE PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE 
WAS SPEAKING ENGLISH.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'LL ASK FOR THAT 
TO BE CHECKED.
>> MERCI.
[ End of Interpretation ].
>> I'M SORRY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I CAN
TRY SPEAKING ENGLISH.
I BELIEVE I WAS ON THE ENGLISH 
TAB, AS IS IMPORTANT.
ARE YOU HEARING THE TRANSLATION 
NOW?
>> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE 
ISSUE WAS.
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT TO
ALL THE MEMBERS.
I'M SPEAKING ENGLISH RIGHT NOW 
AND I'M ON THE ENGLISH BUTTON OR
ENGLISH TOGGLE AT THE BOTTOM OF 
THE SCREEN.
IT DOES CREATE A BIT OF A 
DISJOINTED WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING, 
BUT IT'S THE WAY TO GET AROUND 
SO THAT WE DO HAVE 
INTERPRETATION THAT ACTUALLY 
WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
THE NEXT QUESTION WILL GO TO THE
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, 
MR. SCHEER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. SPEAKER, AND AS THIS IS OUR 
FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO MEET IN ANY
FORM, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY 
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE
BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST 
THEIR LIVES IN THE HELICOPTER 
CRASH.
I KNOW I SPEAK FOR ALL 
PARLIAMENTARIANS WHEN I EXTEND 
OUR SYMPATHIES TO THEIR 
FAMILIES, LOVED ONES.
MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO RAISE 
WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AN ISSUE
THAT I RAISED SEVERAL TIMES 
BEFORE, AND THAT IS A GAP IN THE
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
THERE IS A COMPANY IN MY RIDING 
THAT EMPLOYS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
LAST YEAR THEY ACQUIRED ANOTHER 
COMPANY.
BOTH COMPANIES SEPARATELY WOULD 
QUALIFY FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY, 
BUT BECAUSE THE RULES THE 
GOVERNMENT DESIGNED, TOGETHER 
THEY DO NOT.
SO EVEN THOUGH COLLECTIVELY THEY
HAVE EXPERIENCED A MASSIVE DROP 
IN REVENUE AND WOULD OTHERWISE 
BE ELIGIBLE, SO FAR THEY HAVE 
BEEN ABLE TO GET CONFIRMATION 
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS
THE PROGRAM.
AND AS A RESULT, THOUSANDS OF 
JOBS ARE THREATENED.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER BE ABLE 
TO DELIVER SOME GOOD NEWS TO THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR BRANT 
TRACTOR ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THANK THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR 
HIS QUESTION AND HIS ADVOCACY 
FOR BOTH HIS COMMUNITY AND 
BUSINESSES IN HIS RIDING.
AS I TOLD HIM WHEN WE SPOKE 
DIRECTLY, FINANCE OFFICIALS HAVE
BEEN DIRECTLY IN CONTACT WITH 
THE COMPANY IN HIS RIDING.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE 
PARTICULAR ELEMENTS IN REGARD TO
THIS COMPANY THAT ARE 
CHALLENGING AROUND APPLICATIONS 
FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
BUT I KNOW FINANCE OFFICIALS ARE
WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY AND 
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO 
NEEDS THE SUBSIDY GETS IT SO 
THAT THE WORKERS IN HIS 
COMMUNITY CAN GET THE SUPPORT 
THEY NEED.
>> MR. SCHEER.
>> THE PRIME MINISTER KNOWS 
THERE ARE MANY COMPANIES ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY THAT FALL INTO THIS 
CATEGORY AS WELL, SO WE'RE 
HOPING FOR SOME GOOD NEWS.
DESPITE THE TIME AND DATE, IT IS
WELL INTO MAY NOW, AND IMPORTANT
DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE
VERY SHORT ORDER.
THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO HELP GET 
PEOPLE THROUGH THIS CRISIS THAT 
ARE ALSO CAUSING PEOPLE TO FALL 
THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THE PLAN TO HELP BUSINESSES WITH
RENTS ONLY APPLIES AFTER A 
BUSINESS HAS LOST 70% OF THEIR 
REVENUE.
AS PROVINCES START TO OPEN UP, 
MANY COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE 
FACED WITH THE VERY DIFFICULT 
DECISION OF OPERATING AT, 
PERHAPS, 35%, 45% OF REGULAR 
REVENUES, SO THEY WILL NOT BE 
ABLE TO ACCESS THESE PROGRAMS, 
AND IN MANY CASES THERE'S GOING 
TO BE A DISINCENTIVE TO REOPEN 
AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
SO WILL THE PRIME MINISTER AMEND
THESE PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE FOR 
MORE FLEXIBILITY SO THAT MORE 
AND MORE CANADIANS CAN START TO 
RETURN TO WORK IN THE WEEKS 
AHEAD?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE IN AN 
UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS, AND WE HAD
TO MOVE QUICKLY TO SUPPORT 
WORKERS, TO SUPPORT FAMILIES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THAT'S 
EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, AND WE'RE 
GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO TRY
AND RESPOND TO THE REALITY THAT 
PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES ARE FACING
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I AM EAGER TO BE FACED WITH THE 
CHALLENGE OF HOW TO EASE OFF IN 
THESE MEASURES SO THAT PEOPLE 
CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THAT 
POINT, BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET.
WE ARE STILL FOCUSED VERY MUCH 
ON GIVING THE SUPPORT TO WORKERS
AND TO FAMILIES THAT ARE SO 
NECESSARY IN THIS TIME OF 
CRISIS, AND AS DIFFERENT 
PROVINCES MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS 
REOPENING, AS WE LOOK AT 
DIFFERENT PATHS FORWARD, I KNOW 
I WOULD BE ABLE TO COUNT ON ALL 
MEMBERS IN THIS HOUSE AND INDEED
CANADIANS FROM COAST TO COAST TO
COAST TO FIGURE OUT TOGETHER 
WHAT THE BEST WAY TO MOVE 
FORWARD ON KEEPING US SAFE AND 
RESTORING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN 
THE RIGHT WAY WILL BE, AND THAT 
WILL BE GOOD TO WORK ON TOGETHER
ONCE WE GET THERE.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, 
MAYBE 30 SECOND QUESTION AND 30 
SECOND ANSWER.
MR. SCHEER?
>> MR. SPEAKER, NO ONE IS 
DISPUTING THE NEED TO MOVE 
QUICKLY.
WE ARE NOW IN MAY, THOUGH, AND 
THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN 
ANNOUNCED FOR WEEKS CANADIANS 
HAVE BEEN ACCESSING THEM, AND 
THE PROBLEMS WITH THEM HAVE BEEN
FLAGGED FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR 
WEEKS AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE AN 
ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE 
WHO ARE RECEIVING THE EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT WHO MAY HAVE 
THE OPTION TO GO BACK TO WORK 
AND WORK SOME HOURS.
THEY ARE FACED WITH A HARD CAP 
OF $1,000 A MONTH BEFORE THEY 
LOSE THE CERB.
CONSERVATIVES ARE PROPOSING A 
PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM, A MORE 
FLEXIBLE SYSTEM, WHERE PEOPLE 
WILL BE ABLE TO EARN MORE 
WITHOUT LOSING THEIR BENEFITS AS
BUSINESSES RAMP UP BUT BEFORE 
NORMAL WORKING HOURS ARE 
RESTORED.
SO AGAIN, WILL THE PRIME 
MINISTER PUT IN, BUILD IN SOME 
FLEXIBILITY TO LIFT THE 
RESTRICTIVE CEILING ON WHAT 
PEOPLE CAN EARN BEFORE LOSING 
THE BENEFITS SO THAT IT ALWAYS 
PAYS MORE TO WORK?
>> I BELIEVE THE TIMER IS 
TELLING ALL OF US THAT IT'S 
NOT -- THE TIME IS UMM -- UP, 
BUT I'LL GIVE THE PRIME MINISTER
ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO ANSWER THAT,
PLEASE. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THANK
YOU.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS GIVING SUPPORT
TO CANADIANS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY WITH MANY MEASURES.
THAT HAS BEEN OUR PRIORITY, AND 
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE WORKED ON.
I HEAR THE CONCERNS THAT THE 
CONSERVATIVE PARTY HAS AROUND 
DISINCENTIVES.
WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH 
COMMUNITIES AND WITH INDUSTRY AS
WE LOOK TO REOPEN TO MAKE SURE 
THAT PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES 
TO WORK AND ARE NOT PENALIZED 
FOR IT.
BUT OUR OVERARCHING PRIORITY WAS
ALLOWING CANADIANS TO BE 
CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO 
STAY HOME AND CARE FOR THEIR 
LOVED ONES AND BUY GROCERIES AND
PAY THEIR RENT SO WE COULD KEEP 
SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO MS. GLADU 
NOW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, SENIORS IN MY 
RIDING ARE STRUGGLING, AND WE'VE
HEARD THE PRIME MINISTER ADMIT 
THAT THEIR FIXED INCOMES, SOME 
OF THEM ARE DOWN AND RENT IS 
INCREASING AND THE PRICE OF 
GROCERIES IS INCREASING.
HE'S BEEN SAYING FOR WEEKS THAT 
IN THE COMING DAYS SOMETHING 
WOULD BE ANNOUNCED FOR SENIORS, 
AND THE FACT IS THEY RAN ON AN 
ELECTION PROMISE TO INCREASE THE
OLD AGE SECURITY.
AND SO WHICH OF THE DAYS IN THE 
COMING WEEKS WILL THEY KEEP 
THEIR PROMISE TO SENIORS?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
THE HONOURABLE MINISTER MAY HAVE
THEIR MUTE ON.
PLEASE CHECK.
>> OH, I DOUBLE CLICKED.
MY APOLOGIES.
SO LET'S START AGAIN.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
AFTER A LIFETIME OF HARD WORK, 
OF COURSE, CANADIANS DESERVE 
PEACE OF MIND WHEN IT COMES TO 
THEIR RETIREMENT SECURITY.
COVID-19 IS DEFINITELY HAVING A 
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON 
SENIORS.
THEY HAVE A GREATER NEED FOR 
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
HAPPILY, THEIR PENSIONS AND 
THEIR BENEFITS ARE STILL 
FLOWING, UNLIKE SO MANY OF THOSE
THAT HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, BUT 
IT'S STILL TOUGH.
WE HAVE INTRODUCED MEASURES IN 
THE BEGINNING OF APRIL PEOPLE 
RECEIVED A GST CREDIT, 
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENT THAT WAS 
$400 ON AVERAGE FOR SINGLE 
SENIORS AND $600 FOR COUPLES.
SO THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT HELP.
>> POINT OF ORDER, MR. SPEAKER.
>> WE HAVE A POINT OF ORDER 
COMING FROM MS. GLADU. 
>> YES, I THINK, MR. SPEAKER, 
THAT YOU HAD REMINDED US AS 
MEMBERS THAT THE AMOUNT OF TIME 
FOR THE ANSWER SHOULD BE SIMILAR
FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE 
QUESTION, SO I WOULD JUST ASK 
THE MINISTER TO KEEP TO THAT, 
AND IF I COULD GO ON TO MY 
SECOND QUESTION.
>> WE'LL GO ON TO THE SECOND 
QUESTION, AND THAT IS SOMETHING 
I WANT TO REMIND ALL THE 
HONOURABLE MEMBERS, TO KEEP 
THEIR ANSWERS AS CONCISE AS 
POSSIBLE -- OR THEIR ANSWERS, AS
WELL AS THEIR QUESTIONS, AS 
CONCISE AS POSSIBLE.
MS. GLADU. 
>> VERY GOOD.
MY RIDING IS ON THE BORDER OF 
CANADA AND THE U.S., AND WE SEE 
A NUMBER OF INCONSISTENCIES IN 
WHAT IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL 
TRAVEL IN THE U.S. AND THE 
INTERPRETATION OF DIFFERENT CBSA
AGENTS.
SO WHILE WE HAVE AMERICANING 
COMING OVER TO BUY CHEAPER 
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND TO 
FISH, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN MY 
RIDING WHO ARE TRYING TO GET 
AUDITORS OVER SO THAT THEY CAN 
BE APPROVED FOR EXPORT 
BUSINESSES BEING DECLINED.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
PURCHASED MASKS FROM CANADIAN 
PRODUCERS FOR THEIR BOATS THAT 
ARE BEING DISALLOWED.
PEOPLE TRYING TO SELL PLASMA 
INTO THE U.S. BEING DENIED.
AND SO MY QUESTION FOR THE 
MINISTER IS WHEN WILL THEY 
CLARIFY THE RULES TO THE CBSA 
AGENTS SO THAT ESSENTIAL TRAVEL 
AND TRADE AND COMMERCE, 
INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL COMMERCE, 
IS UNDERSTOOD?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE 
QUESTION.
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
VERY RIGOROUS RULES THAT HAVE 
BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED AND 
UNDERSTOOD BY CBSA TO STOP ALL 
NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL, AND THOSE 
MEASURES HAVE BEEN VERY 
SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION OF 
TRAVEL COMING INTO CANADA, AND 
AT THE SAME TIME WE RECOGNIZE 
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING 
ESSENTIAL SUPPLY ROUTES SO THAT 
GOODS AND SERVICES COULD REACH 
CANADA, THAT WE WOULD PUT 
GROCERIES ON OUR SHELF, AND WE 
ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT 
WORK THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS DO 
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.
WE HAVE PROVIDED CBSA WITH 
CLARIFICATION AND THEIR 
INTERPRETATION OF THOSE RULES 
HAS BEEN BROADLY CONSISTENT, AND
I KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD FROM A 
NUMBER OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN 
CAUCUS WITH CONCERNS ABOUT 
INDIVIDUAL CASES, AND WHEN WE 
RECEIVE THOSE INQUIRIES, WE 
FOLLOW UP IMMEDIATELY, AND I 
WANT TO ASSURE THE MEMBER WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
BUT THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING 
TO STOP NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL HAS
BEEN IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH 
AND SAFETY OF CANADIANS, AND 
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH 
THAT WORK.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MY NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH 
FULL PROPRIETOR BUSINESSES.
WE SEE MANY OF THEM THAT ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OF THE BENEFIT 
PACKAGES THAT HAVE BEEN ROLLED 
OUT, EI, CERB, THE WAGE SUBSIDY,
ET CETERA, AND SO WHAT IS THE 
GOVERNMENT GOING TO DO TO 
ADDRESS FULL PROPRIETORS THAT 
ARE CURRENTLY FOLLOWING THROUGH 
THE CRACKS?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION.
AND FIRST LET ME SAY THAT WE 
ABSOLUTELY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE 
ARE BUSINESSES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY OF ALL SIZES THAT ARE 
FINDING THIS TO BE EXTREMELY 
DIFFICULT.
THE INTENT OF THE MEASURES THAT 
WE PUT FORWARD IS OBVIOUSLY NOT 
ONLY TO GIVE INDIVIDUALS A 
BRIDGE BUT TO GIVE BUSINESSES A 
BRIDGE, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT 
WAYS THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE
CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS 
ACCOUNT HAS THE BROADEST 
POSSIBLE APPLICATION.
MORE THAN 5,000 BUSINESSES HAVE 
ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR THESE 
LOANS REPRESENTING OVER $20 
BILLION, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT 
WAYS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER THAT 
ELIGIBILITY PROCESS, RECOGNIZES 
THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE 
PROGRAM CONTINUES TO HAVE ITS 
DESIRED IMPACT AND WE'LL HAVE 
MORE TO SAY ON THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW THE NEXT QUESTION WILL GO
TO MR. ARNOLD.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND 
THIS IS MY FIRST APPEARANCE ON 
THESE, SO I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME
OKAY.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU FINE.
PLEASE PROCEED.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE'S 
FACES.
MR. SPEAKER, ON APRIL 3 THE 
FISHERIES MINISTER SAID OPENING 
DATES WOULD BE DETERMINED BY 
HARVESTERS.
SINCE THEN, THE MINISTER 
OVERRULED THE WILL OF HARVESTERS
IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND IN 
THE GULF WHO VOTED TO START 
THEIR SEASONS ON TIME.
SHE HAS ALLOWED HARVESTERS FROM 
HER OWN RIDING TO PROCEED WITH 
THEIR SEASONS AS SCHEDULED, 
GIVING THEM ACCESS TO MARKETS 
WEEKS BEFORE THEIR COMPETITORS.
THIS DOUBLE STANDARD IS SEVERELY
UNFAIR, AND ATLANTIC HARVESTERS 
ARE FURIOUS, AS WAS DEMONSTRATED
DURING A PROTEST ON THE CANSO 
CAUSEWAY YESTERDAY.
WHEN WILL THE MINISTER STOP 
ABUSING HER POSITION AND START 
RESPECTING FISH HARVESTERS BY 
OPENING UP LOBSTER FISHES AREAS 
23, 24 AND 26?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND 
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY HONOURABLE 
COLLEAGUE FOR THE QUESTION.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE MAKING 
DECISIONS AN WHEN SEASONS ARE 
OPEN.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS 
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
THEY ARE COMPLEX DECISIONS THAT 
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT IS 
NECESSARY FOR PROCESSORS TO BE 
READY FOR THE SEASON, WHAT IS 
NECESSARY FOR HARVESTERS TO BE 
READY FOR THE SEASON AS WELL AS 
SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON THE 
AREA.
WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE 
MEASURES WHEN WE MAKE THESE 
DECISIONS.
WE DO NOT MAKE THEM LIGHTLY.
THEY ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO 
MAKE, AND THE DECISIONS WE HAVE 
MADE AROUND THE GULF, ONE OF THE
MAIN THINGS WE HEARD FROM ALL OF
THOSE AREAS IS IT WAS VERY 
IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO START ANT 
SAME DATE.
THAT IS WHY THE DECISION WAS 
MADE TO START ON MAY 15.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
THE HARVESTERS OUT ON THE WATER.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 
PRODUCT THAT THEY BRING IN, AND 
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE
INDUSTRY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> EXCUSE ME, MADAM MINISTER, 
NO, THE HONOURABLE MINISTER HAD 
ANOTHER 15 SECONDS COMING TO 
HER.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE 
HONOURABLE MEMBERS NOT TO 
INTERRUPT THE PERSON WHILE THEY 
ARE SPEAKING.
I'LL DO MY BEST TO TRY TO KEEP 
IT ABOUT LEVEL.
MAYBE WHAT I'LL START DOING IS 
MUTING IF IT'S NECESSARY, BUT 
INTERRUPTING IS NOT GOING TO 
SOLVE ANYTHING.
MR. ARNOLD, I'LL LET YOU 
CONTINUE.
YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES AND 9 SECONDS
LEFT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
WEST COAST FISHING TOURISM IS A 
KEY ECONOMIC DRIVER IN BRITISH 
COLUMBIA, ESPECIALLY IN COASTAL 
COMMUNITIES.
YET THE PUBLIC FISHERY GETS NO 
RESPECT FROM THIS GOVERNMENT.
LAST YEAR THE PUBLIC FISHERY WAS
WEAKENED BY RESTRICTIONS BASED 
ON IDEOLOGY AND NOT SCIENCE.
A YEAR LATER AND THE FISHERIES 
MINISTER REFUSES TO DISCUSS 
VIABLE SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS 
TO CONSERVATIVE B.C.'S PUBLIC 
FISHERIES.
DOES THE MINISTER AND HER 
GOVERNMENT HAVE A WILL AND A 
PLAN TO SUPPORT CANADA'S WEST 
COAST FISHERIES AND THE 
COMMUNITIES THEY SUSTAIN?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER, IN 
30 SECONDS, PLEASE. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, THE FISHERY IS 
IMPORTANT IN EVERY COASTAL 
COMMUNITY.
I RECOGNIZE THE VALUE THAT IT 
HAS ON OUR ECONOMY, AS WELL AS 
WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR COASTAL 
COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO WORK 
WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES AND WITH 
THE FISHERIES TO MAKE SURE THAT 
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE 
POSSIBLY CAN TO SUPPORT THEM.
DURING THESE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
TIMES, WE'RE WORKING ON MEASURES
WITH THE FISHERY IN B.C. AS WELL
AS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST AND THE
EASTERN QUEBEC TO MAKE SURE 
WE'RE DELIVERING FOR THEM AND 
MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE 
ISSUES THAT THEY ARE HAVING ARE 
BEING ADDRESSED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
>> MR. ARNOLD.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
CANADA'S SENIORS, ESPECIALLY 
THOSE ON BASIC INCOMES, ARE 
BEING HARD HIT BY THE COVID-19 
CRISIS.
AND AS THEY FACE NEW RISING 
COSTS AND SCARCITY OF SERVICES, 
SENIORS REQUIRE ADEQUATE KIFR 
SUPPORTS, FREEDOM TO ACCESS 
THEIR SAVINGS.
WHY HAS THIS GOVERNMENT FAILED 
TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREASING 
CHALLENGES THAT SENIORS ARE 
FACING AND WILL THE GOVERNMENT 
SUPPORT CANADA'S SENIOR 
CITIZENS?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER, IN 
30 SECONDS OR LESS, PLEASE. 
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK MY HONOURABLE 
COLLEAGUE FOR THAT QUESTION, AND
I JUST WANT TO ASSURE HIM THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FOCUSED 
ON SENIORS DURING THIS 
CHALLENGING TIME.
WE HAVE PROVIDED A GST CREDIT 
SUPPLEMENT OF $400 FOR SINGLE 
SENIORS AND $600 FOR COUPLES 
FROM LOW AND MODEST-INCOME 
SENIORS.
WE HAVE ALSO ENSURED THAT THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT IS THERE FOR SENIORS 
THAT HAVE LOST INCOME DUE TO 
COVID-19.
AND SO WE'VE MADE THEM 
ELIGIBLE -- 
>> WE'LL GO BACK TO MR. ARNOLD.
MR. ARNOLD, YOU HAVE A MINUTE.
HOPEFULLY A 30 SECOND QUESTION 
AND A 30 SECOND ANSWER. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
ON APRIL 23 MY COLLEAGUES AND I 
CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO 
CREATE A PROGRAM THAT WOULD 
MATCH STUDENTS SEEKING 
EMPLOYMENT WITH EMPLOYERS IN 
CANADA'S ESSENTIAL FOOD SUPPLY 
CHAINS.
WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE TO 
MATCH STUDENTS AND OTHER 
CANADIANS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT 
WITH EMPLOYERS IN THE 
AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD 
SECTORS, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE 
FISH AND SEAFOOD SECTOR?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE DOING ALL WE 
CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE 
USING OUR EXISTING EMPLOYMENT 
PROGRAMS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
STUDENTS TO WORK AND GET WORK 
EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER.
WE KNOW, THOUGH, THAT THIS IS 
GOING TO BE REALLY TOUGH, 
ESPECIALLY IN AREAS LIKE 
AGRICULTURE.
SO WE HAVE DEDICATED STREAMS FOR
AGRICULTURE SECTOR EMPLOYERS TO 
ACCESS STUDENTS WITH HELP FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT, AND A NUMBER OF 
DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING
CANADA SUMMER JOBS, WHICH I'M 
REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE 
RESULTS OF IN THE COMING DAYS.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT 
QUESTION FROM MS. HARDER.
>> POINT OF ORDER, MR. CHAIR.
>> MS. REMPLE, YOU HAVE A POINT 
OF ORDER?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
WITH MR. ARNOLD, IT'S THE SECOND
TIME I NOTE YOU'VE THREATENED TO
CUT OFF A CONSERVATIVE 
MICROPHONE.
I'M JUST WONDERING, GIVEN THAT 
THIS ISN'T THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 
AND IT'S STRUCTURED AS A 
COMMITTEE, WHAT STANDING ORDER 
WOULD GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO CUT 
OFF A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT USING
A MUTE BUTTON?
IT SEEMS A LITTLE ADDICTORIAL.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD 
CLARIFY THAT BASED ON A STANDING
ORDER. 
>> I DON'T THINK I THREATENED TO
USE A MUTE, BUT THANK YOU FOR 
BRINGING THAT UP.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP THE RULES 
WHERE THE QUESTIONS AND THE 
ANSWERS SO THERE'S NO 
INTERRUPTIONS ON EITHER SIDE ARE
EQUAL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE 
GOING TO CONTINUE.
I DIDN'T USE THE MUTE.
I DID IT VERBALLY, AND I THINK 
THAT'S A LITTLE MORE CIVIL WAY 
OF DOING IT.
I HOPE YOU APPROVE.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO COMMENT ON
THAT.
WE'LL GO OVER TO MS. HARDER.
THANK YOU.
>> POINT OF ORDER, MR. CHAIR.
YOU ACTUALLY -- TO ME LAST WEEK 
AND MR. ARNOLD, YOU ACTUALLY DID
SUGGEST THAT YOU WERE GOING TO 
USE THE MUTE BUTTON.
>> I BELIEVE IF WE TAKE THE -- I
BELIEVE IF WE TAKE EVERYTHING 
OUT AND GO OVER THEM, BRING THE 
PAPERS WITH THE ACTUAL VERBIAGE 
ON IT WHERE I THREATENED AND 
WE'LL GO OVER IT, BUT I DON'T 
THINK THIS IS THE VENUE TO DO 
THAT IF YOU WANT TO BRING 
FORWARD A POINT OF ORDER.
I'M ALL IN FAVOUR -- 
>> WELL, IT IS.
I AM BRINGING FORWARD A POINT OF
ORDER.
>> VERY GOOD.
WE'LL LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK 
TO YOU.
>> I'M ASKING YOU TO CLARIFY -- 
>> WE'LL GO ON TO MS. HARDER.
MS. HARDER?
YOUR MICROPHONE, ARE YOU ON 
MUTE?
>> THANK YOU.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> CANADIANS HAVE OUTRIGHTLY 
EXPRESSED OUTRAGE AND 
DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVE TO PUT A
GUN BAN IN PLACE.
I'M WONDERING IF THE MINISTER 
STANDS BY HIS COMMENT THAT THESE
CHANGES WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE
TRAGEDY IN NOVA SCOTIA.
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER, IN 
15 SECONDS OR LESS, PLEASE.
>> WE HAVE HEARD FROM HEALTH 
PROFESSIONALS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS 
ORGANIZATIONS, VICTIMS' GROUPS, 
AND THE POLICE AND OUR UNIONS 
ALL VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE 
GOVERNMENT'S MEASURE TO BAN 
WEAPONS THAT HAVE NO PLACE IN 
CIVIL SOCIETY AND WERE DESIGNED 
TO KILL PEOPLE.
>> MS. HARDER?
>> IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE 
MINISTER IS MISLEADING CANADIANS
IN THAT COMMENT, BECAUSE THE 
CHIEF OF POLICE, THE ASSOCIATION
FOR THE CHIEFS OF POLICE HAVE 
SAID THAT A GUN BAN WILL DO 
NOTHING OF THE SORT, THAT IT 
ACTUALLY WILL NOT PROTECT 
CANADIANS, SO I'D BE CURIOUS, 
HOW MANY CRIMINALS WILL SEE GUNS
SEIZED BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES 
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY 
THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER. 
>> YEAH, LET'S ACTUALLY QUOTE 
WHAT THE POLICE HAVE SAID.
THE ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF 
CHIEFS OF POLICE SAY THEY 
SUPPORT A PROHIBITION ON ALL 
MILITARY-DESIGNED ASSAULT 
RIFLES.
THE CHIEF IN TORONTO SAID TAKING
MILITARY ASSAULT RIFLES OFF 
STREETS CONTRIBUTES TO PUBLIC 
SAFETY, AND THE CANADIAN 
ASSOCIATION OF POLICE CHIEFS HAS
DECLARED THAT MILITARY ASSAULT 
RIFLES ARE PRODUCED FOR THE SOLE
PURPOSE OF KILLING PEOPLE IN 
LARGE NUMBERS, AND THEY URGE 
SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS TO ENACT 
THE LEGISLATION TO BAN ALL 
MILITARY ASSAULT RIFLES. 
>> MS. HARDER.
>> SO THE ANSWER TO THAT 
QUESTION IS ZERO, ABSOLUTELY NO 
CRIMINALS WILL SEE THEIR GUNS 
SEIZED BASED ON THE LIBERALS' 
LEGISLATION THAT'S COMING 
FORWARD.
BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY GOES AFTER 
THOSE WHO LEGALLY OWN AND USE 
THEIR FIREARMS.
CAN THE PRIME MINISTER PLEASE 
TELL US WHY HE DECIDED TO GO 
AFTER LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS 
INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER CRIMINALS
WHO HAVE GOTTEN THEIR FIREARMS 
IN AN ILLEGAL MANNER AND THEN 
USED THEM TO COMMIT CRIME?
>> THE HONOURABLE MINISTER, IN 
25 SECONDS OR LESS, PLEASE.
>> YES, TO BE VERY CLEAR, THE 
ORDER-IN-COUNCIL ACTUALLY IS 
TARGETED AT WEAPONS, WEAPONS 
THAT WERE DESIGNED FOR MILITARY 
USE, AND IN THEIR DESIGN AND IN 
THEIR INTENT, TO KILL PEOPLE, 
THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN USED IN 
THIS COUNTRY, AT ÉCOLE 
POLYTECHNIQUE, IN MONCTON, AT A 
QUEBEC CITY MOSQUE, IN 
FREDERICTON, AT MAYERTHORPE, AND
MOST RECENTLY IN NOVA SCOTIA.
THESE WEAPONS HAVE NO PLACE.
THEY ARE BEING USED AND HAVE 
BEEN USED IN CANADA AND AROUND 
THE WORLD TO COMMIT MASS MURDER,
AND IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC 
SAFETY, THAT THE -- 
>> MR. CHAIR?
>> WE'LL GO ON TO MS. HARDER. 
>> THANK YOU.
NOW I UNDERSTAND -- 
>> Rosemary: OKAY, WE ARE GOING 
TO PULL AWAY FROM THIS SPECIAL 
COMMITTEE ON COVID-19, ALTHOUGH 
THERE WERE QUESTIONS ON SOME 
OTHER ISSUES AS WELL, INCLUDING 
FISHING, AND AS YOU HEARD THERE,
THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON
GUN CONTROL LAST FRIDAY.
I WILL BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS, 
THE HOST OF CBC'S "POWER & 
POLITICS", AND DAVID COCHRANE, 
AND THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF 
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS THAT 
EVERYBODY EXPERIENCES IN THEIR 
LIVES, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, SORT
OF AMUSING.
YOU COULD ALSO SEE EVERYBODY'S 
HOME OFFICES OR HOME 
BACKGROUNDS.
AND I WILL SAY A LITTLE BIT 
CHIPPY TOO, CHIPPIER THAN LAST 
WEEK, SO PERHAPS MPs ARE GETTING
THE HANDLE OF THIS VIRTUAL 
COMMITTEE BACK AND FORTH.
PRIMARILY WE WERE THERE TO HEAR 
THE QUESTIONS FROM THE LEADERS 
TO THE PRIME MINISTER, 
OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE TOOK A LITTLE 
BIT LONGER TO GET A SENSE OF 
SORT OF WHERE PEOPLE'S HEADS ARE
AT.
VASSY, WHAT PART STOOD OUT FOR 
YOU THERE?
>> Vassy: LOTS OF BACK AND 
FORTH.
THE TECHNICAL ASPECT OF IT, I 
DID FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALL DOING 
ZOOM CALLS NOW AND HALF THE TIME
I'M ON MUTE BY ACCIDENT AS WELL,
BUT CERTAINLY THERE WAS AN 
INTERESTING SORT OF QUESTION 
FROM MICHELLE REMPEL THERE ABOUT
HOW THE SPEAKER IS NAVIGATING 
THERE, AROUND THE IDEA OF 
POSSIBLY USING MUTE TO CUT 
PEOPLE OFF.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN THIS VERSUS 
WHAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING IN 
QUESTION PERIOD IS ESPECIALLY 
AROUND THE TIMING OF IT.
SO IF THE QUESTION IS 15 
SECONDS, THE ANSWER IS SUPPOSED 
TO BE 15 SECONDS, AND THAT 
BROUGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE 
DISAGREEMENT.
I DID THINK THERE WERE SOME GOOD
EXCHANGES SPECIFICALLY AROUND 
COVID-19 AND SOME OF THE HOLES 
IN THE PROGRAMS, FOR EXAMPLE.
THE BIG TOPIC OF THE PAST FEW 
DAYS GENERATED BY ANDREW SCHEER 
AROUND WHAT THE CERB PROGRAM 
LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD, AND 
HE'S GETTING SOME CRITICISM FOR 
WHAT HE BROUGHT ABOUT, BUT HIS 
QUESTION TO THE PRIME MINISTER 
TODAY ABOUT WILL IT BE AMENDED, 
WILL IT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE 
ALLEGES AT LEAST THAT IT'S 
DISINCENTIVIZING PEOPLE FROM 
WORKING, AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
SAID I DO RECOGNIZE THOSE 
CONCERNS BUT REITERATED WHAT HE 
SAID IN ANSWERS TO MEDIA 
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, IN THAT NOW 
IS NOT THE TIME HE SEES FOR 
THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES, BUT THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
NO DETAILS ON WHEN IN THE 
FUTURE, BUT KIND OVER AN 
INTERESTING EXCHANGE THERE, AND 
SOME OTHER QUESTIONS I THOUGHT 
THAT WERE IMPORTANT FOR A NUMBER
OF SENIORS WHO WE HEAR FROM 
FREQUENTLY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT 
THERE IS SOMETHING IN ADDITION 
TO THE GST CREDIT THAT HAS BEEN 
ALREADY ANNOUNCED, $400 FOR A 
SINGLE AND $600 FOR A COUPLE.
AND THE PRIME MINISTER FOR A 
NUMBER OF WEEKS NOW HAS BEEN 
PROMISING THAT MORE WILL BE 
COMING, AND THE MINISTER OF 
SENIORS SAID THE SAME TODAY.
I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE 
WHO WATCH THIS AND WHO ARE 
CONCERNED AND WHO ARE WORRIED 
ABOUT THAT HAVE ASKED WHAT THOSE
DETAILS WILL BE, SO I KNOW THEY 
ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THOSE,
AND NONE YET. 
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND THE PRIME
MINISTER I THINK SAID COMING 
DAYS.
>> Vassy: SAID THAT A FEW TIMES.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, DAVID, ABOUT 
30 SECONDS FOR YOU.
>> David: JUST A QUICK THING 
THAT STOOD OUT FOR ME IN THE 
EXCHANGE BETWEEN ANDREW SCHEER 
AND JUSTIN TRUDEAU, ANDREW 
SCHEER DEALING WITH A LOCAL 
COMPANY BRANDT TRACTOR WHICH 
PURCHASED NOWHERE TRACKS LAST 
YEAR, MERGED TWO COMPANIES INTO 
A BIGGER ONE.
INDIVIDUALLY THEY WOULD HAVE 
QUALIFIED FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
TOGETHER THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT.
THAT'S AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE
OF THE PROGRAM DESIGNED, AND THE
PRIME MINISTER SAYING IN HIS 
ANSWER WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR 
INPUT SO WE CAN TWEAK AND CHANGE
THE THINGS GOING FORWARD.
SO MAYBE SOME PARTISANSHIP THERE
IN THE EXCHANGES, BUT AT LEAST A
WILLING TO BE OPEN TO CHANGES 
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER THERE, 
AND QUITE FRANKLY THAT'S KIND OF
THE WAY THE COUNTRY HAS TO 
OPERATE RIGHT NOW. 
>> Rosemary: YEAH, I ACTUALLY 
THOUGHT THAT ANDREW SCHEER'S 
QUESTION ABOUT IF YOU'RE MAKING 
MORE THAN $1,000 A MONTH AND 
YOU'RE ON CERB, IS THERE ANY WAY
TO MAKE THAT A PROGRESSIVE 
SYSTEM WAS AN INTERESTING IDEA.
AGAIN, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING 
THE GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK AT 
GOING FORWARD.
VASSY KAPELOS TONIGHT AT 5 P.M. 
ON "POWER & POLITICS", AND DAVID
COCHRANE FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY 
BUREAU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP 
AS USUAL.
>>> OBVIOUSLY THE GOVERNMENT'S 
PRIMARY ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY 
AROUND AGRICULTURAL AID, $252 
MILLION FOR MANY OF THE SECTORS 
IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE 
STRUGGLING WITH TOO MUCH OR NOT 
KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE 
FUTURE.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A 
COMMERCIAL BREAK.
OUR COVERAGE CONTINUES HERE ON 
"CBC NEWS NETWORK" WITH ANDREW 
NICHOLS.
I'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
♪
