 
PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S 
DAILY PANDEMIC ADDRESS.
HE IS EXPECTED TO SPEAK MORE 
ABOUT EMERGENCY FOR FOR SMALL 
BUSINESSES AND POTENTIALLY 
EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 
GOVERNMENT RELIEF AND THE LOAN 
PROGRAM THAT HAD BEEN PUT ON THE
TABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
WE CAN EXPECT THAT THE CRISIS IN
CANADA'S LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
WILL ALSO BE ON THE AGENDA.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS EXPECTED 
TO SPEAK WITH PROVINCIAL AND 
TERRITORIAL LEADERS LATER 
TONIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. EASTERN.
HE SAID HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT 
THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS TO 
REMEMBER TODAY AND THIS WILL BE 
OF VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR YOU.
THE CERB, THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT, THAT MANY OF 
YOU HAVE TAPPED INTO ALREADY AND
THAT THE GOVERNMENT EXPANDED AS 
OF YESTERDAY, YOU HAVE MAYBE 
ALREADY APPLIED.
THAT WAS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 
MARCH 15 TO APRIL 11.
YOU CAN NOW APPLY FOR THE NEXT 
FOUR-WEEK PERIOD FROM APRIL 12 
TO MAY 9.
IF YOU ARE COUNTING ON THAT, 
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RE-ENROLL FOR 
THE BENEFIT EACH MONTH AND THAT 
IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT SEGMENT
OF PAYMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO 
LAST TO THE NEXT MONTH.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I 
MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE I KNOW 
MANY OF YOU ARE RELIANT ON THAT 
BENEFIT.
LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
CATHARINE CULLEN AND THE HOST OF
"POWER & POLITICS," VASSY 
KAPELOS.
APRIL 16 ALSO IS A GLUM MARKER.
I KNOW WE WILL BE ASKING ABOUT 
THIS IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
WHEN WE INITIALLY GOT THE 
MODELLING PROJECTIONS LAST WEEK,
THE SHORT-TERM TRAJECTORY THAT 
WE WERE GIVEN FOR APRIL 16 
MODELLED ABOUT 500 TO 700 DEATHS
AND NOW WE ARE OVER 1,000 
DEATHS.
WE HAVE NOT MET WHAT THAT 
PROJECTION WAS.
MODELLING HAS A LOT OF FLAWS AND
IT'S NOT A PERFECT SCIENCE.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE 
WHAT THE EXPLANATION IS FOR WHY 
THOSE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER.
IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH
THE LONG-TERM CARE SPIKES.
VASSY, I'LL GO TO YOU ABOUT WHAT
WE ARE EXPECTING FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER TODAY.
>> Vassy: AS YOU SIGNALLED 
THERE, ROSIE, LOOK FOR 
INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES.
APRIL 16 YOU MENTIONED, AS FAR 
AS PROJECTIONS, IS A DATE TO 
WATCH.
IT'S ALSO A DATE TO WATCH, FOR 
EXAMPLE, FOR BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
COULDN'T PAY THEIR APRIL RENT IN
A PROVINCE LIKE ONTARIO, WHERE 
LANDLORDS HAVE THE ABILITY AS OF
TODAY TO KICK THEM OUT BECAUSE 
OF THAT.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF 
THEM.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IS GEARED
TO THAT COMMERCIAL RENT ISSUE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS HEARD FROM 
PEOPLE ABOUT IT.
AND SPECIFICALLY THE CEBA LOAN 
THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED 
THAT WOULD BE $40,000 
INTEREST-FREE FOR A YEAR AND 
THEN $10,000 CAN BE FORGIVEN IF 
YOU PAY IT BACK BY A CERTAIN 
DATE.
IT'S RESTRICTED TO THOSE WITH A 
PAYROLL BETWEEN $50,000 AND $1 
MILLION.
THAT EXCLUDED SOME SMALLER 
BUSINESSES WHO, FOR EXAMPLE, PAY
THEMSELVES THROUGH OTHER MEANS, 
SOMETIMES DIVIDENDS OR SOMETIMES
JUST TAKE A SMALL SALARY THE TWO
OF THEM, IF IT'S A COUPLE.
AGAIN, THAT'S FROM PEOPLE WE 
HAVE HEARD FROM.
I'M WATCHING TO SEE WHETHER OR 
NOT THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE 
RELAXED AND TO WHAT DEGREE.
THE OTHER CAVEAT I WOULD ADD IS 
GIVEN THAT THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 
STILL TWO TO THREE WEEKS OFF 
FROM BEING ACCESSIBLE OR 
AVAILABLE FOR AN APPLICATION, 
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CONCERN 
FROM BUSINESSES ABOUT, A, THE 
FACT THAT TO ACCESS ANY MONEY 
THEY'LL HAVE TO TAKE ON MORE 
DEBT.
BUT B, IS THAT ENOUGH MONEY.
THINK ABOUT A RESTAURANT IN 
TORONTO, THAT $40,000 MAY GET 
ONE MONTH'S RENT MAYBE TWO OR 
THREE, BUT IT MIGHT NOT SUSTAIN 
THEM FOR THE DURATION OF HOWEVER
LONG THIS TAKES.
I'M CURIOUS TO SEE FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER WHAT ELSE THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS FOR SMALL 
BUSINESSES AND HOW THEY MIGHT 
RELAX THE CONDITIONS OR 
PREREQUISITES OF ACCESSING THIS 
EMERGENCY LOAN MONEY AND HOW 
MANY MORE PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE 
TO ACCESS IT.
>> Rosemary: SOME OF THE MICRO 
BUSINESSES.
WE TALKED TO A TATTOO STORE 
OWNER AND HE ONLY HAD ONE 
EMPLOYEE.
WOULD IT HELP HIM.
I WAS REMINDED THAT THIS 
BUSINESS ACCOUNT WAS ONLY 
LAUNCHED LAST THURSDAY.
THAT'S HOW QUICKLY TIME GOES AND
IT'S ALREADY BEING TWEAKED TO 
DEAL WITH OTHER CONCERNS.
CATHARINE, I'LL GO TO YOU ABOUT 
THE G7 LEADERS' MEETING.
IT ALREADY HAPPENED AT 8:30 THIS
MORNING.
DO WE KNOW HOW THAT WENT?
>> Catherine: WE HAVE A LOT OF 
INFORMATION FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S OFFICE.
THEY WERE SAYING THE EMPHASIS 
WAS ON GLOBAL COOPERATION, ON 
HEALTH AND COMING TOGETHER 
AROUND THE SCIENCE, REBUILDING 
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, HELP FOR 
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
I DID ASK THAT QUESTION ABOUT 
GLOBAL COOPERATION, DOES THAT 
MEAN THAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
RAISED THE QUESTION OF FUNDING 
TO THE W.H.O.?
PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT DONALD 
TRUMP SAID HE WAS PUTTING HIS 
COUNTRY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE 
W.H.O. ON PAUSE.
THAT IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF 
FUNDING FOR THE WORLD HEALTH 
ORGANIZATION, SOMEWHERE IN THE 
NEIGHBOURHOOD OF $560 MILLION 
CANADIAN THAT IS BEING PUT ON 
PAUSE WHILE THE AMERICANS REVIEW
THEIR WORK WITH THE W.H.O.
DONALD TRUMP RAISING A LOT OF 
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT 
THE W.H.O. WAS TOO SUSCEPTIBLE 
TO PRESSURE FROM CHINA.
HE IS BEING CRITICIZED IN HIS 
OWN COUNTRY ABOUT SOME OF THE 
DECISIONS HE'S MADE.
I WAS TOLD BY THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S OFFICE WHEN I ASKED 
WHETHER CANADA RAISED THE 
W.H.O., THAT IT WAS MORE BROAD 
OF A DISCUSSION.
THERE ARE REPORTS COMING OUT 
SAYING THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR, 
ANGELA MERKEL, STOOD UP FOR THE 
W.H.O.
WE WILL HEAR HOW THAT ALL PLAYED
OUT.
>> Rosemary: VASSY, I'LL GO TO 
YOU BEFORE I GO TO MY GUEST.
THIS IS A DELICATE BALANCE, 
ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 
W.H.O. AND ASKING QUESTIONS 
OBJECT CHINA AND SHARING OF 
INFORMATION MAKES A LOT OF 
SENSE.
BUT IS IT THE RIGHT TIME IN THE 
MIDST OF A PANDEMIC AND WHAT 
HAPPENS MOVING FORWARD TO THE 
W.H.O. IF PEOPLE ARE NOT 
CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAME AMOUNT.
>> Vassy: THAT'S A GREAT 
QUESTION.
I THINK IN CANADA'S CASE THERE 
IS NO DESIRE OR PRESSURE BEING 
APPLIED TO WITHDRAW FUNDING.
THERE ARE OTHER ALLIED COUNTRIES
THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE WITHDRAWING
FUNDING FROM THE W.H.O. AT THIS 
POINT IS THE RIGHT MOVE.
THAT LEADS TO A FOLLOW-UP 
QUESTION.
IF NOT THAT THEN WHAT AND SHOULD
THERE BE A GREATER AMOUNT OF 
SKEPTICISM TOWARDS THE W.H.O.
THE CRITICISM HAS BEEN ON DATA 
AND INFORMATION COMING OUT OF 
CHINA.
THERE ARE LIBERALS WHO SAY 
CERTAIN CHINESE OFFICIALS SHOULD
BE SANCTIONED OR FORMER 
AMBASSADORS WHO SAY THERE'S TOO 
MUCH AT PLAY RIGHT NOW TO GO IN 
STRONG ON CHINA, BUT AFTERWARDS 
THERE SHOULD BE A FULL 
INVESTIGATION.
THERE CAN BE ADDITIONAL 
QUESTIONS TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT
ABOUT THAT AND SCRUTINY ON WHAT 
ACTIONS THEY'RE PREPARED TO 
TAKE.
BUT AGREE, IT'S A DELICATE 
BALANCE CONSIDERING SO MUCH OF 
THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS
NEED IS DEPENDANT ON SUPPLY 
CHAINS BASED IN CHINA. 
>> Rosemary: I'M GOING TO PUT 
YOU TWO ON HOLD AND TURN TO 
ANOTHER ISSUE.
THAT IS THE OUTBREAK IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
THEY HAVE BECOME THE FOCUS OF 
THE EPICENTRE OF THIS PANDEMIC.
NEARLY HALF OF THE DEATHS HAVE 
HAPPENED IN THOSE FACILITIES.
EDENVILLE CARE HOME HAS HAD 30 
RESIDENTS DIE.
JACQUELYN MITCHELL'S MOTHER IS 
IN EDENVILLE AND SHE JOINS ME 
FROM TORONTO.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Interview: I'M DOING OKAY.
>> Rosemary: TELL ME HOW YOUR 
MOM IS DOING?
HER NAME IS LINA.
>> Interview: I INQUIRED ABOUT 
HER LAST NIGHT AND SHE AT THAT 
TIME WAS DOING WELL.
SHE HAS NOT HAD ANY OF THE COVID
SYMPTOMS, THE COUGHING OR THE 
BREATHING OR THE HIGH 
TEMPERATURES.
SO SHE'S DOING WELL.
THAT'S GOOD.
>> Rosemary: SHE'S 94 IS SHE?
>> Interview: YES, SHE IS.
>> Rosemary: SHE'S 94.
SO THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN 
OUTBREAK IN THE HOME AND 30 
PEOPLE HAVE DIED.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU OR WHAT 
ARE PEOPLE IN THE HOME TELLING 
YOU ABOUT HOW THEY'RE PROTECTING
YOUR MOM?
>> Interview: WELL, INITIALLY 
THEY TOLD US THAT ALL THE 
RESIDENTS WERE KEPT IN THEIR 
BEDS, THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER 
ALLOWED INTO THE DINING ROOM AND
THE OPEN FACILITIES.
 THERE IS A CURTAIN THAT 
SEPARATES MY MOM FROM HER 
ROOMMATE AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
SHE'S STILL IN A SEMI-PRIVATE 
ACCOMMODATION, SEPARATED BY A 
CURTAIN.
>> Rosemary: DOES THAT FEEL 
ADEQUATE TO YOU?
>> Interview: NO, IT DOES NOT.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE TWO BEDS IS NOT 6'.
SO IT'S A CURTAIN.
>> Rosemary: SHE HAS TO BE 
MOVED, IF I UNDERSTAND, FROM BED
TO WHEELCHAIR.
SO IS ANYONE GETTING HER OUT OF 
BED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE SHE 
DOESN'T GET BED SORES OR BECOME 
SICK IN THE BED.
DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S HAPPENING?
>> Interview: I DON'T KNOW FOR A
FACT.
AS YOU MENTION BED SORES, SHE 
HAS HAD THAT IN THE RECENT PAST.
I KNOW THAT THEY WERE MANAGING 
IT APPROPRIATELY.
SO I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY WORRIED 
ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING 
WE TRY AND KEEP ON TOP OF IN 
TERMS OF THAT.
>> Rosemary: HAS SHE BEEN -- AS 
YOU KNOW, THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT
IS CHANGING A LOT OF THE THINGS 
THAT ARE HAPPENING INSIDE THESE 
CARE HOMES AND ONE OF THEM IS 
TESTING.
HAS SHE BEEN TESTED FOR COVID-19
OR HAS HER ROOMMATE?
>> Interview: WELL, I DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT HER ROOMMATE 
BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT -- I HAVE
ASKED THE QUESTION IS IF YOU CAN
TELL ME THAT PERSON IS AMONG THE
53, WHATEVER THE NUMBERS ARE 
BECAUSE THEY KEEP CHANGING, 
WHETHER THAT PERSON WAS INFECTED
OR DECEASED.
MY MOM WAS TESTED YESTERDAY AND 
I CAN EXPECT RESULTS IN 48 HOURS
TO 70.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S GOOD I 
GUESS.
YOUR MOM HAS ALZHEIMER'S.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMMUNICATION 
WITH HER?
>> Interview: NO.
I LAST SAW MY MOM ON MARCH 9.
NO, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO 
COMMUNICATE WITH HER.
THE HOME DID OFFER US SKYPING OR
FACETIME OPTION, BUT BECAUSE OF 
THE NATURE OF ALZHEIMER'S, THAT 
IS NOT PRACTICAL BECAUSE SHE IS 
SOMETIMES NON-RESPONSIVE.
SHE IS MORE RESPONSIVE TO TOUCH 
OR CLOSENESS.
SHE CAN'T RELATE WITH A PHONE.
>> Rosemary: SURE.
DO YOU THINK THAT SHE IS GETTING
THE CARE THAT SHE NEEDS RIGHT 
NOW IN ORDER TO PROTECT HER FROM
THE VIRUS IF, INDEED, HER TEST 
COMES BACK NEGATIVE?
>> Interview: I DON'T WANT TO 
BASH THE HOME.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST
IN A BAD SITUATION.
BUT PERSONALLY I -- NO, I DON'T 
THINK SO.
I THINK THE NURSES, THEY'RE 
GIVING HER THE BEST ATTENTION 
THAT THEY CAN, BUT I THINK IT'S 
ALMOST I WOULD CALL PALLIATIVE 
IN THE SENSE THAT THERE'S 
NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
THEY TRY THEIR BEST.
MY MOTHER TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR TO
HAVE BREAKFAST OR TO EAT.
SHE TENDS TO POCKET HER FOOD.
WE HAD A PRIVATE PERSON IN THERE
DOING THAT FOR US AND WE WERE 
PAYING THAT PERSON PRIVATELY.
THERE IS ONE P.S.W. THAT I GUESS
MIGHT BE ASSIGNED TO I DON'T 
KNOW WHAT NUMBER OF RESIDENTS 
FOR FEEDING.
MY MOTHER CANNOT FEED HERSELF, 
SO I HAVE TO TRUST -- AND THEY 
HAVE TOLD ME THEY WOULD SAY IF 
SHE ATE WELL OR DIDN'T.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE 
ABILITY TO SIT WITH HER FOR AN 
HOUR TO MAKE SURE SHE FINISHES 
HER MEALS.
THAT'S WHY I SAY, NO, I DON'T 
THINK -- I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HER
PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND WHETHER 
SHE'S EATING WELL AND WHETHER OR
NOT OR HER NOT EATING WELL IS 
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME
TO FEED HER.
WE UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T BECAUSE
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO 
FEED.
IT'S HARD.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, IT IS HARD.
HOW -- WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE 
NUMBER OF DEATHS INSIDE THIS 
HOME AND IN OTHER HOMES, HOW 
WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT YOUR MOM?
DID YOU THINK ABOUT PULLING HER 
OUT OF THE HOME?
IS THAT EVEN AN OPTION FOR YOU?
>> Interview: WELL, THEY DID -- 
BACK AROUND APRIL THE 2ND, THEY 
DID SAY TO US IF WE WANTED TO 
BRING HER HOME, WE COULD.
BUT WE HAD TO DEMONSTRATE TO 
THEM THAT WE COULD TAKE CARE OF 
HER AT HOME, WHICH WE COULD NOT.
IT'S A FALSE CHOICE.
WE CAN'T BRING HER HOME AND THEY
CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HER -- LIKE, 
THEY CAN'T PROTECT HER FROM 
COVID.
SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
WE JUST SIT HERE AND WRING OUR 
HANDS.
IT'S HOPELESS.
IT'S OFFENSIVE HOPELESSNESS 
BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN 
DO BUT SIT AND WAIT FOR A COVID 
DIAGNOSIS.
IF SHE COMES BACK NEGATIVE 
TOMORROW, THAT'S BECAUSE SHE WAS
NEGATIVE TWO DAYS AGO.
I DON'T KNOW -- SO IT'S THIS 
SENSE OF DREAD.
>> Rosemary: WELL, I'M REALLY 
SORRY YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS.
THIS IS UNIMAGINABLE AND I KNOW 
SO MANY CANADIANS ARE 
EXPERIENCING THIS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING TO THE 
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME
MINISTER WHO IS GOING TO COME 
OUT OF HIS HOUSE IN A FEW 
MINUTES ABOUT WHAT OLDER 
CANADIANS NEED FOR HELP, WHAT 
WOULD YOU SAY?
>> Interview: I WOULD SAY OLDER 
CANADIANS NEED TO HEAR FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT THAT THERE IS A 
LONG-TERM STRATEGY.
FOR COVID, THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY
DONE.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
THE DISEASE HAS GONE THROUGH THE
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
STOPPING THE P.S.W.s FROM 
WORKING DOES NOT MITIGATE THE 
EXISTING RISK.
IT IS SO GREAT ALREADY FOR 
PEOPLE LIKE MY MOTHER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT REMOVES 
THE FACT THAT IT'S EVERYWHERE.
SO WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW
TO CONTINUE TO MITIGATE THE 
EXISTING RISK, BUT LONG TERM 
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO 
PROTECT PEOPLE LIKE MY MOTHER?
LIKE, THE WHOLE INDUSTRY, 
STARTING WITH THE HOME CARE 
BEFORE MY PARENTS WERE MOVED 
INTO A HOME, THEY HAVE THE RED 
CROSS AND OTHER COMING INTO 
HOMES DAILY TO ASSIST PEOPLE.
THAT WHOLE SYSTEM TO ME IS 
BROKEN.
I THINK WE NEED TO DECONSTRUCT 
THE THING AND REBUILD IT IN A 
WAY THAT -- 
>> Rosemary: JACQUELYN, I'M 
GOING TO GO TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
I'M WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY 
THE BEST.
I HOPE YOUR MOM DOES OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.
LET'S GO TO CANADA'S PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER 
TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS
TO DEVELOP A VACCINE, EXPAND 
TREATMENT, EXPAND TESTING AND 
ENSURE THAT CRITICAL MEDICAL 
SUPPLIES GET TO THE FRONTLINES.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THIS IS A 
GLOBAL CRISIS AND IT DEMANDS A 
GLOBAL RESPONSE.
WHILE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING TO 
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE IN OUR 
RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES, WE HAVE TO
HELP MORE VULNERABLE NATIONS BY 
PROVIDING MORE SUPPORT FOR THEIR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, DEBT RELIEF 
AND OTHER SYSTEMS.
WE WILL KEEP WORKING TOGETHER AS
PARTNERS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH 
AND SAFETY OF THOSE AROUND THE 
WORLD.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] OUR GOVERNMENT HAS 
INTRODUCED A SERIES OF MEASURES 
TO HELP PEOPLE GET THROUGH THESE
DIFFICULT TIMES BECAUSE OF THE 
PANDEMIC.
WITH THE EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY,
WE ARE ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE TO 
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A WAGE, EVEN
IF THE COMPANY THEY WORK FOR HAS
HAD TO SLOW DOWN OR COMPLETELY 
SHUT DOWN ITS ACTIVITIES.
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT, WE ARE GIVING 
$2,000 A MONTH TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
UNABLE TO EARN A LIVING BECAUSE 
OF THE VIRUS.
YESTERDAY, WE ANNOUNCED THAT WE 
WOULD BE RELAXING THE 
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO ALLOW 
MORE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THE HELP 
THAT THEY NEED.
IF YOU'RE A SEASONAL WORKER OR 
IF YOU EARN LESS THAN $1,000 PER
MONTH OR YOU RECENTLY EXHAUSTED 
YOUR EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 
BENEFITS, THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE WORKING 
WITH THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES TO TOP-UP THE WAGES 
OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO EARN 
LESS THAN $2,500 A MONTH.
CAREGIVERS AND NURSING 
ASSISTANTS AND OTHERS WHO ARE 
WORKING HARD TO MAINTAIN A 
SEMBLANCE OF NORMALITY AND WHO 
ARE DOING EXTRAORDINARY WORK CAN
BE HELPED.
THEY DESERVE NOT ONLY OUR 
RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE, BUT 
OUR SUPPORT.
TONIGHT I WILL BE DISCUSSING 
THAT WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES AT OUR
WEEKLY MEETING.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE 
CAN BETTER PROTECT OUR SENIORS 
WHO ARE IN SENIORS' RESIDENCES 
OR IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
LAST NIGHT THE MINISTER OF 
PUBLIC SAFETY, BILL BLAIR, 
RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL REQUEST 
FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF QUÉBEC TO
LEND A HAND TO HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH 
QUÉBEC TO FINALIZE AN ASSISTANCE
PLAN AND WE WILL HAVE MORE NEWS 
TO SHARE WITH YOU SOON.
I CAN TELL YOU NOW THAT WE WILL 
BE GIVING THEM EVERY POSSIBLE 
FORM OF ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING 
THE CANADIAN RED CROSS, THE 
ARMED FORCES, AND SPECIALIZED 
VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE REGISTERED 
WITH HEALTH CANADA.
WE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR 
CANADIANS IN DIFFICULTY.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT OFTEN COMES 
UP AT OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH 
THE PREMIERS IS THE SUPPLY OF 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.
I CAN CONFIRM THIS MORNING THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT HAS FINALIZED 
CONTRACTS WITH A NUMBER OF 
CANADIAN BUSINESSES, INCLUDING 
GEOMETRIC ENERGY CORPORATION OF 
CALGARY, WHICH WILL BE PROVIDING
MILLIONS OF GLOVES TO OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
LATER TODAY MINISTER ANAND WILL 
PROVIDE AN UPDATE WITH RESPECT 
TO RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WHEN IT 
COMES TO SUPPLIESES.
[end of translation] OVER THE 
PAST FEW WEEKS WE'VE ROLLED OUT 
A SERIES OF MEASURES TO GET 
PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AS THINGS EVOLVE, WE'RE HEARING 
FROM CANADIANS WHO NEED MORE 
HELP, FROM BUSINESSES WHO NEED 
MORE SUPPORT.
NO ONE SHOULD FEEL AS IF THEY'RE
ALONE IN THIS FIGHT.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS HERE TO HELP 
YOU THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING 
TIMES.
SO WHEN WE HEAR THE PROGRAM IS 
NOT REACHING AS MANY PEOPLE AS 
IT SHOULD, WE MAKE CHANGES.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE LAUNCHED THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS 
ACCOUNT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
STRUGGLING WITH CASH FLOW.
UNDER THIS PROGRAM, BANKS ARE 
OFFERING $40,000 LOANS WHICH ARE
GUARANTEED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
TO DATE, MORE THAN 195,000 LOANS
HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN 
$7.5 BILLION IN CREDIT TO SMALL-
AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES.
IT'S A START, BUT MINISTER NG 
AND OTHERS HAVE HEARD FROM 
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO COULD USE 
THIS HELP BUT WHO DON'T FIT THE 
CURRENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE 
ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO 
BE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
TODAY WE ARE EXPANDING THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS 
ACCOUNT BY DECREAING THE 
ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD.
NOW BUSINESSES WHO SPENT BETWEEN
$20,000 AND $1.5 MILLION IN 
TOTAL PAYROLL IN 2019 WILL BE 
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A LOAN 
THROUGH THE CEBA.
THAT'S BUSINESSES WHO SPENT 
BETWEEN $20,000 AND $1.5 MILLION
IN TOTAL PAYROLL IN 2019 WILL 
NOW BE ELIGIBLE.
THIS IS MONEY ENTREPRENEURS AND 
EMPLOYERS CAN USE TO COVER 
OPERATIONAL COSTS AND HELP WITH 
OTHER IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL 
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ALSO FACING 
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19, SO WE PLAN ON 
INTRODUCING THE CANADA EMERGENCY
COMMERCIAL RENT ASSISTANCE.
THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE 
SUPPORT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
WITH THEIR RENT FOR THE MONTHS 
OF APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE.
TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM, WE 
HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PROVINCES 
AND TERRITORIES AS THEY GOVERN 
RENTAL RELATIONSHIPS.
WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE DETAILS TO 
SHARE VERY SOON.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE
INTRODUCED THE EMERGENCY 
BUSINESS ACCOUNT.
UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE BANKS 
CAN OFFER GUARANTEED LOANS OF 
$40,000 TO ELIGIBLE COMPANIES TO
HELP THEM WITH THEIR CASH FLOW.
UP UNTIL NOW, MORE THAN 195,000 
LOANS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN
$7.5 BILLION IN CREDIT FOR 
SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 
COMPANIES.
THAT IS A START, BUT MINISTER NG
AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN TALKING TO 
A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS WHO NEED 
THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUT 
ARE NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR 
THE PROGRAM.
SO TODAY WE ARE EXPANDING THE 
BUSINESS ACCOUNT BY INCREASING 
AND LOWERING THE ELIGIBILITY 
THRESHOLDS.
NOW COMPANIES THAT HAVE SPENT 
BETWEEN $20,000 AND $1.5 MILLION
IN PAYROLL IN 2019 CAN APPLY TO 
RECEIVE A GUARANTEED LOAN.
THIS IS FUNDING THAT 
SUPERSTRUCTURES AND EMPLOYERS 
WILL BE ABLE TO USE TO MEET 
THEIR CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS AND
PAY OTHER EXPENSES.
FURTHERMORE, BUSINESSES AND 
COMMERCIAL BUILDING OWNERS ARE 
FACING PARTICULAR PROBLEMS 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS, THEREFORE, 
DECIDED TO INTRODUCE THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY COMMERCIAL RENT 
ASSISTANCE.
THIS MEASURE WILL PROVIDE 
SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO 
HELP THEM PAY THEIR RENT IN THE 
MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE.
TO IMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM, WE 
WILL HAVE TO COOPERATE WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
BECAUSE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
EVERYTHING RELATING TO RENT AND 
WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE DETAILS TO 
SHARE SOON.
[end of translation] OVER THE 
PAST WEEKS WE'VE HAD TO GET USED
TO THIS NEW NORMAL.
IT HAS BEEN SNOWING IN SOME 
PLACES THIS WEEK, INCLUDING HERE
IN OTTAWA, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST 
WHAT 2020 BRINGS.
WE HOPE THAT THE WEATHER WILL 
GET NICER.
AS TIME GOES ON, STAYING HOME 
AND NOT SEEING FRIENDS WILL BE 
MORE DIFFICULT.
WE'RE GOING TO MISS OUR 
COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS,
AND OUR PARENTS EVEN MORE THAN 
WE DO NOW, BUT WE HAVE TO BE 
DISCIPLINED.
WE MUST STAY THE COURSE.
WE CANNOT LET THE PROGRESS WE'VE
MADE GO TO WASTE.
ABOVE ALL, WE CANNOT PUT LIVES 
AT RISK.
LET'S KEEP FOLLOWING PUBLIC 
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS.
WASH YOUR HANDS.
STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND IF YOU DO GO OUT, BE SURE TO
STAY AT LEAST 2 METRES AWAY FROM
OTHERS.
IF WE PERSIST AND PERSEVERE, I 
KNOW THAT WE WILL PREVAIL.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR 
JOINING US.
I'M NOW HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
WE'LL NOW GO TO THE PHONE LINES 
FOR QUESTIONS, ONE QUESTION AND 
ONE FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR. 
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
THE FIRST QUESTION "THE CANADIAN
PRESS."
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] WITH 
RESPECT TO QUÉBEC'S REQUEST FOR 
ASSISTANCE, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE
ARMY AND THE RED CROSS.
HAVE YOU SENT IN THE ARMY AND 
THE RED CROSS TO HELP QUÉBEC?
>> Answer: WELL, QUÉBEC HAS 
ALREADY GIVEN US TWO REQUESTS 
FOR ASSISTANCE THAT WE WERE ABLE
TO RESPOND TO IMMEDIATELY WITH 
THE RANGERS IN INUVIK AND THE 
LOWER NORTH SHORE.
YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED A THIRD 
REQUEST FOR HELP, WHICH WE'RE 
LOOKING AT, BECAUSE IT'S A BIT 
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS NORMALLY 
ASKED OF THE C.A.F.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS 
AND TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN 
HELP QUÉBEC DURING THESE 
DIFFICULT TIMES.
AND OF COURSE I REALIZE THAT 
PEOPLE ARE WORRIED FOR THE 
HEALTH OF THEIR PARENTS AND 
OTHER SENIORS WHO ARE IN THESE 
SENIORS' HOMES AND OTHER 
FACILITIES.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO FIND 
OTHER WAYS TO HELP AND WE WILL 
BE THERE TO HELP.
BUT WE WILL NEED TO DISCUSS THIS
WITH QUÉBEC TO SEE EXACTLY HOW 
WE CAN SUPPORT THEM AND RESPOND 
TO THIS REQUEST, WHICH IS NOT 
THE USUAL TYPE OF REQUEST.
OF COURSE THIS IS NOT A USUAL 
SITUATION EITHER.
>> Question: ARE YOU SAYING IT'S
NOT USUAL BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING 
ABOUT HEALTH IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES?
>> Answer: YES.
PARTLY IT IS FOR MEDICAL HELP OR
PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL TRAINING.
OF COURSE WE DO HAVE DOCTORS IN 
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, BUT 
NOT THAT MANY.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN 
HELP.
THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE 
ONGOING.
OF COURSE WHEN THERE IS 
FLOODING, THE ARMED FORCES ARE 
THERE TO HELP OUT.
THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED TO PROVIDE 
SUPPORT IN THAT KIND OF 
SITUATION.
NOW, THIS IS A NEW SITUATION.
SO WE ARE TALKING TO QUÉBEC 
ABOUT THIS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE 
CAN SUPPORT THEM.
WE WILL BE THERE TO HELP AND WE 
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
COULD YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT
THE REQUEST FROM QUÉBEC.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HELP IN 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES?
>> Answer: WELL, THIS IS THE 
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WE 
RECEIVED YESTERDAY FROM QUÉBEC 
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AND 
WORKING WITH QUÉBEC, TO SEE HOW 
WE CAN PROVIDE THAT KIND OF HELP
IN SENIORS' HOMES AND LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES.
WE'RE REVIEWING THIS AND SEEING 
WHAT EXACTLY WE CAN DO.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
QUÉBEC TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
WE WILL BE THERE TO HELP.
>> Question: AND MY FOLLOW-UP 
QUESTION.
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON 
MONDAY?
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IS 
SCHEDULED TO START UP AGAIN ON 
MONDAY.
IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT WITH 
THE CONSERVATIVES, WHAT EXACTLY 
IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
>> Answer: WELL, OBVIOUSLY THERE
IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
WE HAVE A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY AND 
OUR INSTITUTIONS HAVE TO 
CONTINUE TO WORK, NOT IN SPITE 
OF THE CRISIS BUT BECAUSE OF THE
CRISIS.
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY DISCUSSING 
THE SITUATION WITH THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO TRY AND 
FIND A WAY TO CONTINUE TO DO THE
IMPORTANT WORK THAT IS DONE BY 
OUR INSTITUTION AND AT THE SAME 
TIME WE ARE FOLLOWING THE ADVICE
OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH 
AUTHORITIES.
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE CONCLUDING
THOSE DISCUSSIONS VERY SOON.
I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE 
DETAILS AS TO HOW THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS WILL OPERATE IN THE 
COMING WEEKS, VERY SOON.
[end of translation]. 
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION RYAN TILMAN 
"NATIONAL POST."
LINE OPEN. 
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
I'M WONDERING WHEN YOU'RE 
MEETING WITH THE PREMIERS TODAY,
ARE YOU GOING TO DISCUSS HOW TO 
PHASE THE REOPENING OF THE 
ECONOMY?
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE 
CONCERNED THAT SOME PROVINCES 
THAT ARE DOING BETTER MAY REOPEN
BEFORE OTHERS, CREATING A STRAIN
THERE.
>> Answer: I THINK ONE OF THE 
THINGS WE'VE SEEN FROM ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY FROM LEADERS AND 
CITIZENS IS A DESIRE TO KNOW 
WHEN THIS IS GOING TO BE OVER, 
HOW SOON WE WILL START GETTING 
BACK TO NORMAL LIFE.
BUT I THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS
THAT WHILE -- UNTIL WE HAVE A 
VACCINE, UNTIL WE ARE IN A PLACE
WHERE THERE IS PROPER TREATMENT,
THERE IS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF 
TESTING, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE 
ABLE TO TALK ABOUT GETTING BACK 
TO NORMAL.
WE WILL, HOPEFULLY IN THE COMING
TIME, BE ABLE TO LOOSEN CERTAIN 
RESTRICTIONS.
BUT OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND
LEADERS UNDERSTAND THAT HAS TO 
BE DONE AT THE RIGHT MOMENT AND 
VERY, VERY CAREFULLY.
IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY 
DISASTROUS FOR US TO OPEN UP TOO
EARLY OR TOO QUICKLY AND HAVE 
ANOTHER WAVE HIT US THAT COULD 
BE JUST AS BAD AS THIS ONE AND 
FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION OF
HAVING TO GO BACK INTO 
QUARANTINE THE WAY WE ARE RIGHT 
NOW AND HAVE EVERYTHING WE'VE 
DONE IN THESE PAST WEEKS BE FOR 
NOTHING.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF 
CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD ABOUT 
HOW WE REOPEN OUR ECONOMY, WHAT 
HAPPENS IN THE RIGHT ORDER, WHAT
THE SEQUENCING IS, HOW WE KEEP 
PEOPLE SAFE.
BUT WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM HAVING
THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
OF COURSE CONVERSATIONS ARE 
ONGOING NOW, BUT WE'RE MANY 
WEEKS AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO 
REOPEN OUR ECONOMY, EVEN WITH 
THE VARIATIONS OF THE LOCAL 
STATES OF THE PANDEMIC.
>> Question: IN TERMS OF THAT 
DISCUSSION, DO YOU ENVISION IT 
WILL BE BASED ON METRICS, WILL 
IT BE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF NEW
CASES OR SOME SORT OF 
METRICS-BASED APPROACH TO MAKING
THAT DECISION?
>> Answer: I THINK LOOKING AT 
WHERE WE ARE ON THE CURVE, THE 
NUMBER OF NEW CASES, THE DECLINE
IN CASES, WILL BE AN IMPORTANT 
PIECE OF IT.
I THINK WHAT IS EVEN MORE 
IMPORTANT IS THE MEASURES WE 
WILL HAVE IN PLACE TO BE 
VIGILANT, TO RESPOND IF AND WHEN
THERE ARE RESURGENCES OF THE 
VIRUS IN LOCAL POCKETS IN 
PARTICULAR AREAS.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE 
EXTREMELY VIGILANT, EXTREMELY 
PREPARED TO RESPOND QUICKLY WITH
MASSIVE TESTING, WITH CONTACT 
TRACING, WITH MEASURES THAT 
PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO KICK IN 
VERY QUICKLY IF THAT COMES.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT 
A REOPENING OF THINGS UNTIL WE 
ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE 
EXACTLY THE PLAN ON RESPONDING 
TO FUTURE RESURGENCES IN PLACE.
THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT THE 
CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING ON RIGHT
NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION, OPERATOR.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.  NEXT 
QUESTION DAVID LINDGREN, 
"REUTERS."
>> Question: ON YOUR G7 CALL, 
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID OTHERS 
SAY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP ABOUT HIS
DECISION TO SUSPEND FUNDING TO 
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION?
>> Answer: I THINK WE ALL 
RECOGNIZED ON THE CALL HOW 
IMPORTANT IT IS TO COORDINATE 
THE MEASURES ON THE PANDEMIC AND
PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO SHARE 
INFORMATION ABOUT VACCINE 
DEVELOPMENT AND TREATMENTS.
THERE IS A NEED FOR 
INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION, AND 
THE W.H.O. IS AN IMPORTANT PART 
OF THAT COLLABORATION AND 
COORDINATION.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE HAVE 
BEEN QUESTIONS ASKED, BUT AT THE
SAME TIME, IT IS REALLY 
IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY 
COORDINATED AS WE MOVE THROUGH 
THIS.
THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT CANADA IS
GOING TO DO.
>> Question: SECONDLY, PRESIDENT
TRUMP YESTERDAY SUGGESTED THAT 
THE BORDER WITH CANADA, THE 
RESTRICTIONS COULD BE LOOSENED.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON 
THAT?
>> Answer: I THINK THERE WAS A 
RECOGNITION, AS I'VE HIGHLIGHTED
MANY TIMES, THAT THE CLOSENESS, 
THE COLLABORATION, THE 
FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN CANADA AND 
THE UNITED STATES IS QUITE 
UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
THEREFORE, THE WORK THAT WE 
CONTINUE TO DO TO KEEP OUR 
CITIZENS SAFE, WHILE 
COORDINATING VERY CAREFULLY, IS 
UNLIKE OUR APPROACHES WITH OTHER
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
THERE IS A RECOGNITION THAT AS 
WE MOVE FORWARD THERE WILL BE 
SPECIAL THOUGHT GIVEN TO THIS 
RELATIONSHIP.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW 
THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT 
AMOUNT OF TIME STILL BEFORE WE 
CAN TALK ABOUT LOOSENING SUCH 
RESTRICTIONS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES 
HAVE A FRIENDSHIP THAT IS UNLIKE
ANY OTHER IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER 
AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IN
A MORE INTEGRATED FASHION THAN 
ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
THAT IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT 
POINTED OUT AND I'VE OFTEN 
POINTED IT OUT MYSELF.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE 
AND COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS.
THE REALITY IS THERE ARE STILL 
MANY WEEKS TO COME BEFORE WE CAN
TALK ABOUT RELAXING THE CURRENT 
RESTRICTIONS AT OUR BORDERS OR 
WHEN IT COMES TO PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: YOU SAID THERE 
WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
TIME I GUESS TO HAVING THIS 
BORDER DISCUSSION.
WHAT IS THE DANGER TO CANADA TO 
OPENING THAT BORDER?
>> Answer: WE ARE HAVING ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS ON BORDER ISSUES, ON
SUPPLY CHAINS WITH THE 
UNITED STATES ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE AN INTEGRATED ECONOMIC 
RELATIONSHIP AND A CLOSE 
PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE FRIENDSHIP 
WITHIN OUR COUNTRIES THAT 
ALLOWED US TO MOVE FORWARD ON 
CLOSING THE BORDERS IN A WAY 
THAT ENSURED ESSENTIAL SERVICES 
AND SUPPLIES CONTINUE TO TRAVEL.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO HELP EACH
OTHER DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT WILL BE 
TIME STILL BEFORE WE CAN LOOSEN 
THE BORDER RESTRICTIONS. 
>> Question: WHAT IS THE DANGER,
THOUGH, PRIME MINISTER?
>> Answer: WE RECOGNIZE THERE IS
A NEED TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS, 
AS EVERY COUNTRY IS DOING.
MOST COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD 
MOVED FORWARD ON RESTRICTING 
TRAVEL AND CANADA AND THE 
UNITED STATES ARE NO EXCEPTION.
>> Question: ARE YOU -- SORRY, 
IN FRENCH.
>> Answer: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] THERE ARE
MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD 
THAT HAVE LIMITED TRAVEL AND ARE
CONTROLLING THEIR BORDERS AND 
ONLY ALLOWING ESSENTIAL GOODS 
COME IN AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: ARE YOU WORRIED 
ABOUT RETALIATION FROM THE 
AMERICANS IF WE DON'T OPEN ON A 
TIMELINE THAT THEY WANT?
>> Answer: THE COORDINATION AND 
COLLABORATION BETWEEN CANADA AND
THE UNITED STATES ON THIS ISSUE 
AND ON ALL ISSUES HAS BEEN 
ENTIRELY EXEMPLARY.
THE REFLECTION THAT THE 
PRESIDENT SHARED WAS ONE OF HOW 
CLOSE WE ARE AND HOW THE STATUS 
OF THE CANADA-U.S. RELATIONSHIP 
IS DIFFERENT THAN THE STATUS OF 
RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH 
OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE 
WORLD.
THERE WAS A RECOGNITION THAT WE 
WILL DO THINGS PERHAPS 
DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER 
COUNTRIES, BUT THERE IS STILL A 
RECOGNITION THAT WE NEED TO 
CONTINUE HOLDING THE MEASURES 
THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR A GOOD
WHILE TO COME STILL.
>> Question: JANET SILVER, 
GLOBAL NEWS.
WITH PEOPLE DYING AT LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES AND FOR THOSE WITH 
DISABILITIES, WHAT IS YOUR 
GOVERNMENT PLANNING TO DO TO 
SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE 
CITIZENS, NOT ONLY NOW BUT IN 
THE WEEKS TO COME?
>> Answer: TONIGHT I WILL BE 
SPEAKING WITH THE PREMIERS AND 
WE WILL BE TALKING DIRECTLY 
ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE BETTER 
PROTECTION FOR OUR ELDERS IN 
LONG-TERM CARE.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE THE 
ANGUISH THAT FAMILIES AND, 
INDEED, OUR ELDERS ARE GOING 
THROUGH IN THIS SITUATION.
THERE IS JUST SO MUCH FEAR AND 
UNCERTAINTY.
WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF 
BEING THERE FOR THEM.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS 
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT AS WE DEAL 
WITH THIS ISSUE.
WE'RE DISCUSSING PAY TOP-UPS FOR
THOSE THAT WORK IN THOSE 
SITUATIONS BECAUSE THE 
CONDITIONS ARE GETTING MORE AND 
MORE DIFFICULT.
THERE ARE ALSO MORE REGULATIONS 
WE CAN TALK ABOUT BRINGING IN TO
DO A BETTER JOB AT PROTECTING 
OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT CANADIANS 
EXPECT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THIS EVENING WE 
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED 
TO PROTECT OUR SENIORS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE 
PARTICULAR VULNERABILITY IN 
SENIORS' HOMES.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A TERRIBLE 
THING THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING 
RIGHT NOW.
THEIR FEAR, THEIR ISOLATION, THE
UNCERTAINTY, SO WE WILL AND WE 
MUST BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.
OUR CONVERSATION THIS EVENING 
WITH THE PREMIERS WILL BE ABOUT 
HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN 
SUPPORT THE PROVINCES IN MEETING
THAT CHALLENGE, HOW WE CAN 
SUPPORT THE WORKERS IN THOSE 
FACILITIES, AND BETTER SUPPORT 
OUR SENIORS DIRECTLY.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: ABOUT QUÉBEC'S 
REQUEST FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE,
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'VE RECEIVED
A REQUEST FROM OTHER PREMIERS 
RELATING TO THE HELP FOR 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND 
WHAT SORT OF ROLE DO YOU SEE THE
MILITARY PLAYING WHEN IT COMES 
TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES?
>> Answer: WE HAVE RECEIVED 
THREE REQUESTS IN TOTAL FROM 
QUÉBEC, TWO FOR CANADIAN RANGERS
TO HELP OUT IN NORTHERN AND 
REMOTE AREAS, BOTH IN NUNAVIK 
AND BAS ST. LAURENT.
THESE REQUESTS ARE DIFFERENT 
THAN THE KINDS OF REQUESTS THAT 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USUALLY 
GETS AROUND SUPPORT FOR 
PROVINCES, WHICH IS USUALLY FOR 
THINGS LIKE FLOODS AND FOREST 
FIRES.
BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH QUÉBEC 
TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BEST 
HELP IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE 
THIS IS A SITUATION THAT IS 
UNPRECEDENTED AT MANY, MANY 
LEVELS.
WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY IS 
WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP 
AND BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.
>> Question: SALIMAH SHIVJI, CBC
NEWS.
IT IS APRIL 16 TODAY.
THAT IS THE DATE THAT YOUR 
FEDERAL MODELLING SAID THERE 
WOULD BE BETWEEN 500 AND 700 
DEATHS IN CANADA.
WE'RE AT NEARLY DOUBLE THE 
NUMBER OF DEATHS.
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE 
MODELLING AND WHAT DOES THIS 
MEAN FOR CANADIANS?
>> Answer: I THINK PEOPLE NEED 
TO UNDERSTAND THAT MODELLING IS 
A FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS US TO 
PLAN FOR DIFFERENT SCENARIOS IN 
THE FUTURE.
IT IS NOT A DECLARATION OF WHAT 
IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT A 
DISCUSSION OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN 
IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS AND
ALLOWS US TO PLAN AND PREPARE 
FOR IT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE 
SEEN OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF 
WEEKS IS A FAR-MORE SEVERE 
IMPACT ON SENIORS' RESIDENCES 
AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES 
THAN WE HAD CERTAINLY HOPED FOR 
OR MORE THAN WE FEARED.
THEREFORE, WE NEED TO TAKE MORE 
MEASURES TO PROTECT OUR SENIORS.
THAT'S WHAT I WILL BE TALKING 
WITH THE PREMIERS ABOUT TONIGHT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE MODELLING DOES 
NOT PREDICT AND DOES NOT SAY 
EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT ALLOWS US TO PREPARE FOR 
VARIOUS SCENARIOS THAT COULD 
OCCUR.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN 
RECENT WEEKS IS THAT OUR 
SENIORS' RESIDENCES HAVE BEEN 
HIT HARDER THAN WHAT WE WERE 
EXPECTING.
THAT IS WHY WE WILL BE 
ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE THIS 
EVENING WITH THE PREMIERS OF THE
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: IS THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT PREPARED FOR SOME 
FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS TO DIE
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 
AND WHAT WOULD BE THE GOVERNMENT
BE LOOKING AT TO SUPPORT FAMILY 
MEMBERS AND DEPENDANTS LEFT 
BEHIND?
>> Answer: THERE HAVE BEEN FAR 
TOO MANY DEATHS ALREADY IN 
CANADA.
THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO DO 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SLOW THE 
SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AND TO 
PROTECT OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS 
WITH P.P.E. THAT WE'RE ORDERING 
IN, WITH SUPPORT FOR THEM, FOR 
THEIR FAMILIES, AS WE GET 
THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR 
CANADIANS TO CONTINUE TO STAY 
HOME, TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS
VIRUS, TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO 
GO TO WORK EVERY DAY TO KEEP THE
REST OF US SAFE AND TO FIGHT 
THIS VIRUS ARE ABLE TO DO SO IN 
SAFETY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR 
LOVED ONES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT 
THESE HEROES.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] 
RADIO-CANADA.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE IN 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH QUÉBEC.
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT POINT.
BUT IN CONCRETE TERMS, HOW MANY 
INDIVIDUALS OR HOW MANY 
PHYSICIANS OR NURSES CAN YOU 
SEND?
I'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL 
IDEA OF WHAT COULD BE OFFERED TO
QUÉBEC.
>> Answer: WELL, AS I SAID, THIS
IS AN UNUSUAL REQUEST THAT WE 
HAVE NEVER RECEIVED BEFORE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SCENARIOS 
AND DIFFERENT WAYS OF HELPING.
WE WILL BE THERE TO HELP.
WE WANT TO HELP.
BUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT THIS 
POINT, WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT NOW.
>> Question: SO YOU DON'T HAVE 
ANY IDEA THAT IT WILL BE 50 
DOCTORS OR -- 
>> Answer: NO, NO.
WE'RE DISCUSSING THAT RIGHT NOW,
AS TO HOW WE CAN HELP.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THIS IS A VERY 
SERIOUS SITUATION, IF QUÉBEC IS 
ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
FOR GOVERNMENT.
SO WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT 
THEM, BUT WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THE
SITUATION TOGETHER.
>> Question: WHEN?
>> Answer: WELL, IN THE COMING 
HOURS AND DAYS.
WE ARE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS 
AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S URGENT.
SO WE WILL DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE SO WE CAN SEND THEM THE
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE.
[end of translation]
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA GIVING HIS 
DAILY BRIEFING IN RESPONSE TO 
THE PANDEMIC OF COVID-19.
LOTS OF NEWS IN THERE.
LET ME START BY SAYING THAT 
PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE 
SIGNIFICANT BITS OF NEWS IS THAT
QUÉBEC HAS NOW MADE A THIRD 
REQUEST TO THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT FOR SUPPORT, THIS ONE
DIRECTLY TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AS YOU HEARD THERE AT THE END, 
NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IS THAT IS 
GOING TO MEAN, BUT IT IS A THIRD
REQUEST FROM THE PROVINCE TO GET
SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, 
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE 
OUTBREAK OF THE VIRUS INSIDE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES 
VASSY KAPELOS AND THE CBC'S 
CATHARINE CULLEN TO GO THROUGH A
SUBSTANTIVE BIT OF NEWS THERE, 
IN TERMS OF THE EXPANSION OF THE
LOAN, THE G7 LEADERS' CALL, AND 
OTHER THINGS.
VASSY, DO YOU WANT TO START ON 
THE LOAN MAYBE, BECAUSE IT DID 
EXPAND THINGS QUITE A BIT.
>> Vassy: YEAH, AS I MENTIONED, 
ROSIE, THE LOAN REQUIREMENTS, 
IT'S $40,000 FOR ONE YEAR, UP TO
$10,000 FORGIVABLE IF YOU PAY IT
BY A CERTAIN DATE AND 
INTEREST-FREE IN THE FIRST YEAR.
THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN 
EXPANDED BETWEEN $20,000 AND 
$1.5 MILLION.
SO THAT WILL -- THE AIM WILL 
ENCOMPASS PARTICULARLY MORE OF 
THOSE SMALLER BUSINESSES, SOLE 
PROPRIETORSHIPS AND THINGS LIKE 
THAT.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT COVERS 
THOSE PAID WITH DIVIDENDS, BUT 
IT DOES EXPAND THE CRITERIA OF 
ELIGIBILITY AND PERHAPS MAKING 
IT AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THERE 
WAS A TOTAL OF 195,000 LOANS 
APPROVED, $7.5 BILLION IN CREDIT
SO FAR.
THAT DESCRIBES TO ME THE NEED BY
BUSINESS OWNERS.
HE SAID SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT, THE 
CREATION OF THE CANADA EMERGENCY
RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR 
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
THIS WOULD BE RECEIVING RENT AND
RECEIVING IT TO PAY PROPERTY 
OWNERS.
WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE LIKE THAT 
NON-STOP.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS BECAUSE 
OF PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION OVER 
RENT, THERE NEEDS TO BE 
COOPERATION WITH THE PROVINCES 
AND CONVERSATION WITH THE 
PROVINCES.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HASN'T 
STARTED YET OR IF IT HAS, IT IS 
PRELIMINARY.
THERE IS A TIMELINE, HOW WOULD 
THE PROGRAM WORK AND WHAT WOULD 
IT BE WORTH.
I KNOW MANY BUSINESS OWNERS ARE 
ANXIOUS ON THAT.
THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS INTERVENING TO ANY
DEGREE WHERE COMMERCIAL RENT IS 
CONCERNED, THAT IS A PROVINCIAL 
ISSUE, COULD BE SIGNIFICANT FOR 
BUSINESS OWNERS AND CERTAINLY 
SIGNALS THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED 
THE SAME KINDS OF CALLS AND 
E-MAILS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS 
THAT SO MANY BUSINESS OWNERS ARE
STRUGGLING TO PAY THAT RENT AND 
THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT BEING 
EVICTED OR THE PROPERTY OWNERS 
ARE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING THEIR 
MORTGAGES.
THAT PROPERTY RELIEF WILL BE 
SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO WATCH. 
>> Rosemary: THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, IN THE CASE OF THE 
OTHER BUSINESS LOAN AS YOU 
POINTED OUT, THEY'RE GUARANTORS 
ESSENTIALLY FOR THE LOAN.
MAYBE THAT'S A ROLE THEY COULD 
PLAY FOR THE PROVINCES WHO MAYBE
DON'T HAVE THE SAME FISCAL 
CAPACITY.
I'M THROWING THAT OUT ON THE 
TABLE AS AN OPTION.
IN THE FIRST LOAN, IT'S 
INTEREST-FREE AND YOU MIGHT GET 
SOME OF IT BACK, BUT IF YOU ARE 
GOING TO USE A COMMERCIAL RENT 
LOAN FOR THREE MONTHS AND YOUR 
RENT IS SUBSTANTIVE, IT MEANS 
BUSINESSES COULD REOPEN BUT 
THERE IS A POTENTIAL THEY COULD 
REOPEN WITH SIGNIFICANT DEBT.
THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR SMALLER
BUSINESSES AS WELL, HOW LONG 
THEY CAN CARRY THAT DEBT.
IT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KEEP 
BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES ALIVE.
>> Vassy: YES, THE DEBT ACCRUAL 
IS A BIG THING AS WELL.
IT HELPS THEM IN THE INTERIM, 
BUT YOU HEARD THE PRIME MINISTER
FIELDING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 
RESTART OF THE ECONOMY AND HOW 
INCREMENTAL AND ITERATIVE THAT 
IS GOING TO BE.
IT'S NOT LIKE IN A MONTH YOU'LL 
BE ABLE TO WALK INTO A 
RESTAURANT AND SIT THE SAME WAY 
WE DID SIX MONTHS AGO, WHICH 
MEANS IF THEY DO ACCRUE A TON 
MORE DEBT, IT'S GOOD THAT 
THERE'S NO INTEREST ON THAT FOR 
A YEAR.
THE IDEA OF PAYING IT BACK MIGHT
NOT IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES BE 
EASY, BUT IN EXTRAORDINARY 
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BECOMES A 
DIFFICULT QUESTION.
WE'VE SEEN RESTAURANTS AND 
BUSINESSES AND SPOKEN WITH THEM 
ON CBC NEWS NETWORK OFTEN WHO 
HAVE HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION TO
CLOSE THEIR DOORS.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
>> Rosemary: CATHARINE, I'LL 
TURN TO YOU ON THE QUÉBEC 
REQUEST.
THAT IS UNUSUAL.
>> Catherine: I THINK THE 
CONTEXT OF THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK PEOPLE ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY HAVE GOTTEN A SENSE OF 
HOW DIRE THE SITUATION IS IN 
QUÉBEC.
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IT'S A
PROBLEM OUTSIDE OF QUÉBEC, BUT 
PARTICULARLY IN QUÉBEC.
WE'VE HEARD THOSE HARROWING 
STORIES.
RECENTLY THE PREMIER OF QUÉBEC 
ASKED FOR 2,000 DOCTORS.
HE MADE A PUBLIC PLEA, APPEALING
TO PEOPLE'S SENSE OF DUTIES, 
THAT DOCTORS AND ALSO PEOPLE 
WITH MEDICAL TRAINING, THAT HE 
NEEDS THEM TO COME AND HELP IN 
QUÉBEC'S LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES NETWORK.
A NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE IN THOSE 
FACILITIES HAVE FALLEN ILL.
I BELIEVE THE PREMIER GAVE A 
NUMBER OF IN EXCESS OF 1,200 
PEOPLE.
OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE 
WILL COME FROM INSIDE THE 
PROVINCE.
WE'LL SEE AFTER A WAR OF WORDS 
WITH THE MEDICAL SPECIALISTS 
FEDERATION IN QUÉBEC, IT DOES 
APPEAR THAT IN EXCESS OF 1,000 
MEDICAL SPECIALISTS ARE WILLING 
TO STEP UP AND HELP, BUT 
OBVIOUSLY THE PROVINCE REACHING 
OUT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS
WELL.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THEY 
WANT TO HELP, BUT THIS IS NOT A 
REQUEST LIKE THEY HAVE HAD IN 
THE PAST, NOT LIKE THE REQUEST 
IN NORTHERN QUÉBEC OR A FLOODING
SITUATION.
THE QUESTION COMES HOW MANY 
PEOPLE CAN THEY PROVIDE, ARE 
THESE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL 
SPECIALISTS.
WHAT DOES THE WORK LOOK LIKE.
WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS 
CLOSELY TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES 
AND WHAT THAT WORK WOULD LOOK 
LIKE.
QUÉBEC IS IN DIRE STATES AND 
THAT FEEDS INTO SOMETHING THE 
PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED BY 
SALIMAH SHIVJI, WHICH IS THE 
BROADER PICTURE OF WHAT IS 
HAPPENING IN CANADA RIGHT NOW.
OF COURSE THE MODELLING AS 
SALIMAH SAID AND YOU MENTIONED 
EARLIER, ROSIE, IN TERMS OF THE 
MODELLING THAT THE GOVERNMENT 
PUT OUT, THEY EXPECTED, THEY 
SAID, BASED ON THEIR BEST 
CALCULATIONS BETWEEN 500 AND 700
DEATHS AS OF TODAY.
WE ARE IN EXCESS OF 1,000.
THE QUESTION WAS ASKED TO THE 
PRIME MINISTER OF WHY AND WHAT 
DOES THAT MEAN.
HE DIDN'T ENGAGE WHAT IT MEANT 
FOR THE PROJECTIONS GOING 
FORWARD.
HE REMINDED US, AS HE'S SAID 
MANY TIMES, THAT PROJECTIONS 
AREN'T CRYSTAL BALLS.
I THINK CANADIANS ARE CLEAR ON 
THAT.
BUT HE DID TALK ABOUT THE 
LONG-TERM CARE PIECE BEING A BIG
PART OF WHY WE SEE THE NUMBERS 
HIGHER AND SITUATION WORSE THAN 
WE EXPECTED OR HOPED OR FEARED.
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU BOTH FOR 
THAT.
I WILL COME BACK TO YOU.
I WILL POINT OUT HE WAS ASKED 
ABOUT THE W.H.O. BECAUSE HE HAD 
THAT G7 LEADERS' CALL BEFORE 
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS.
HE SAID EVERYONE RECOGNIZED THE 
NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL 
COORDINATION.
HE RECOGNIZED, THOUGH, AND THIS 
IS THE FURTHEST I'VE HEARD HIM 
GO ON THIS FRONT, THAT THERE ARE
QUESTIONS BEING ASKED -- HE 
MEANS THE QUESTIONS THE W.H.O. 
IS ASKED ABOUT CHINA, THAT 
SEEMED A SLIGHT SHIFT THAT THE 
QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED, BUT 
NOT SOMETHING CANADA WANTS TO 
GET INVOLVED IN RIGHT NOW, THAT 
THERE IS STILL A LEADERSHIP ROLE
FOR THE W.H.O.
I'LL END ON THIS AND THIS IS THE
ISSUE OF PARLIAMENT.
PARLIAMENT IS SET TO RETURN ON 
MONDAY IF THEY CANNOT REACH AN 
ALL-PARTY AGREEMENT TO SUSPEND 
OR TO FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO 
SIT.
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY COME UP 
WITH.
THE CONSERVATIVES ARE PUSHING 
VERY HARD TO HAVE A COUPLE 
SMALLER VERSIONS OF IN-HOUSE 
SITTINGS, IN-PERSON SITTINGS, 
BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S 
LOTS OF ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS
FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
LET ME BRING IN DR. SANIR SINAH.
HE IS THE HEAD OF GERIATRICS AT 
MOUNT SINAI.
>> Interview: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> Rosemary: I'LL START WITH THE
QUÉBEC REQUEST.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT 
THE SITUATION IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES IN QUÉBEC, THAT THEY 
ARE NOW REQUESTING SOME SUPPORT 
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BE 
IT THE MILITARY, THE CANADIAN 
RED CROSS, OR OTHERS?
>> Interview: IT REALLY JUST 
SPEAKS OF THE FACT THAT RIGHT 
NOW IN OUR LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE 
MANY HOMES IN CRISIS.
WE HAVE HOMES IN TORONTO, FOR 
EXAMPLE, THAT ARE SAYING THAT 
ONLY 20% OF THEIR STAFF ARE 
REPORTING TO WORK.
THAT COULD BE BECAUSE MANY HAVE 
FALLEN ILL OR FOR OTHER STAFFING
REASONS.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE STAFF 
THERE, BUT YOU HAVE THE 
RESIDENTS WHO NEED CARE, THEY 
NEED TO BE FED, BATHED, DRESSED,
THERE'S THINGS THAT NEED TO BE 
DONE, THAT DOESN'T STOP HERE.
I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CALL OUT 
THERE -- I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE 
CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPENING.
I KNOW THAT ON THURSDAY LAST 
WEEK WHEN THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
AND THE PREMIER CAME OUT AND 
ANNOUNCED THERE WERE 813 HOMES 
IN QUÉBEC OUT OF THEIR 2,000 
THAT WERE IN OUTBREAK, AT THAT 
POINT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING 
TO DEPLOY STAFF FROM HOSPITALS, 
NURSES AND DOCTORS.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE GAP 
IS, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY 
SOMETHING THAT THE PREMIER IN 
ONTARIO ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, 
THAT HE'S ASKING HOSPITALS TO 
PITCH IN BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING --
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF 
THE SAME ISSUES HAPPEN IN 
ONTARIO AS WELL. 
>> Rosemary: THIS WOULD BE 
PITCHING IN IN A DIFFERENT 
CAPACITY IN ANY WAY YOU CAN 
HELP.
EVEN IF YOU'RE A SPECIALIST, 
THAT'S THE PLEA IN QUÉBEC, 
YOU'RE NOT GOING YOUR 
SPECIALIZATION, JUST TO PITCH 
IN.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN ONTARIO IN 
TERMS OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, DO 
YOU ALREADY SEE DOCTORS BEING 
MOVED AROUND IN THAT WAY AND 
EVEN INTO LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES?
>> Interview: YEAH, WE HAVE SOME
HOMES THAT NEED MEDICAL SKILLS, 
THEY NEED A DOCTOR TO DO 
PRESCRIPTIONS OR TO ORDER 
MEDICATIONS OR TO HELP DIAGNOSE 
AND DETERMINE WHAT'S ACTUALLY 
HAPPENING.
IF THE HOME'S DOCTOR GOES SICK, 
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE PROVIDING 
THE MEDICAL CARE.
THE REAL LACK OR SHORTAGE THAT 
WE'RE SEEING, ROSIE, IS IT'S THE
NURSES AND THE PERSONAL SUPPORT 
WORKERS WHO DO A LOT OF THE 
HANDS-ON CARE.
I'M A GERIATRICIAN AND A HIGHLY 
SPECIALIZED DOCTOR, BUT THERE'S 
NOTHING BENEATH ME.
IF A RESIDENT NEEDS TO BE FED OR
DRESSED, THESE ARE ALL THINGS 
THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
RIGHT NOW THE DESPERATE PLEAS 
YOU'RE HEARING IS, WE'LL TAKE 
ANYBODY.
WE DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A BRAIN 
SURGEON OR A NURSE, WE DON'T 
CARE.
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE FED, 
CLOTHED, SUPPORTED, THEY NEED 
CARE.
THEY'RE SAYING ANYBODY WHO CAN 
DO THAT, WE'LL TAKE THAT.
>> Rosemary: I WAS TALKING TO A 
WOMAN NAMED JACQUELYN EARLIER 
ABOUT HER MOM WHO IS 94 IN A 
HOME WHERE THERE IS AN OUTBREAK.
HER MOM IS 94 AND SHARING A ROOM
AND GOT TESTED YESTERDAY.
SHE'S IN THE DARK AND 
UNDERSTANDS THAT STAFF CAN'T DO 
EVERYTHING, BUT IT WAS A 
HOPELESS SITUATION.
THAT'S HOW SHE DESCRIBED IT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO 
IS FRIGHTENED ABOUT THE 
SITUATION HER MOM IS IN?
>> Interview: MY HEART GOES OUT.
FAMILIES -- MOST IMPORTANTLY, 
YOU HAVE RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT NOT
BE GETTING CARE AND YOU HAVE 
FAMILIES WHO WORRY IF THEIR 
LOVED ONES WILL GET THE CARE 
THEY NEED.
RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ARE
DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THOUSANDS 
OF DOCTORS AND NURSES 
VOLUNTEERING AND GOING TO THESE 
PORTALS SAYING, I'M HERE AND 
READY, AND YET WE HAVE DESPERATE
PLEAS FOR HELP.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DISCONNECT
IS.
FOR DAUGHTERS LIKE THAT OUT 
THERE WHO ARE WORRIED, WE NEED 
TO DO BETTER.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY DO WE 
HAVE THESE PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING 
AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO RESOLVE 
THE ISSUES QUICKLY.
>> Rosemary: DR. SINHA, IF 
ANYTHING THIS PANDEMIC HAS 
EXPOSED FAULTS IN SYSTEMS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST FAULTS IT'S 
EXPOSED TO ME AND I'M SURE OTHER
CANADIANS IS THE WAY WE'RE 
TREATING OLDER PEOPLE IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
I'M SURE IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE 
SEIZED WITH ALL THE TIME.
WHAT COULD YOU HOPE WILL COME 
OUT OF THIS?
THIS CAN'T CONTINUE.
THIS IS A PANDEMIC THAT IS 
EXPOSING THE PROBLEMS, BUT WHAT 
WOULD YOU HOPE COULD BE IMPROVED
AS A RESULT OF THIS?
>> Interview: WHAT CONCERNS ME 
IS A NUMBER OF MY NURSING 
COLLEAGUES -- I WASN'T HERE IN 
TORONTO BACK IN 2003 AND 2004 
WHEN WE HAD THE SARS OUTBREAK.
BUT A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
ABOUT STAFFING, ABOUT HAVING 
AMPLE SUPPLIES OF P.P.E., THESE 
ARE ALL THINGS THAT WERE 
RECOMMENDED BACK IN 2004.
PEOPLE ARE NOW SAYING, EVEN THE 
FORMER ONTARIO HEALTH MINISTER 
CAME OUT ON TWITTER AND SAID, 
WHY WEREN'T THESE THINGS DONE SO
MANY YEARS LATER?
HE'S THE SAME POLITICAL STRIPE 
AS THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT IN 
POWER.
HE ASKED GOOD QUESTIONS.
IT CONCERNS ME FOR SOME REASON 
WHEN ALL WAS SETTLED AFTER SARS 
WE SAID, YEAH, WE HEAR THOSE, 
BUT FOR SOME REASON WE DIDN'T 
COMPEL OURSELVES TO DO THAT.
MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OUR SOCIETY 
DOESN'T VALUE THE OLD AS MUCH AS
WE SHOULD.
MAYBE WE DON'T VALUE THIS SECTOR
OF CARE AND OTHER PARTS.
I'M HOPING THAT EVERY CANADIAN 
OUT THERE REALIZES THAT ONE DAY 
THIS COULD BE US RECEIVING CARE 
IN THESE CENTRES.
IT PROBABLY IS A RELATIVE OF 
OURS WHO IS IN THESE HOMES.
THERE ARE 400,000 CANADIANS.
I HOPE THAT WE ALL HAVE A SENSE 
OF URGENCY, THAT WE NEED TO FIX 
THESE THINGS NOW.
BUT THAT WE ALSO ARE LEFT AFTER 
THIS WITH A SENSE THAT WE SHOULD
NOT LET HAPPEN AGAIN WHAT WE'RE 
SEEING.
ONCE THIS HORROR SHOW IS OVER, 
WE CAN PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING
AGAIN BY TAKING DECISIVE ACTION 
IF, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE 
DIDN'T DO IT AFTER SARS.
MAYBE THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH DEATHS
ALREADY THAT EVERYBODY REALIZES 
THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WAS 
NOT WORKING AND IS NOT 
ACCEPTABLE AND IT NEEDS TO 
CHANGE.
>> Rosemary: I'LL END ON THIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE GOING 
TO DISCUSS ON THE PREMIERS' CALL
WITH THE PRIME MINISTER LATER 
TODAY, I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE, IS 
A WAY TO BOOST THE SALARIES FOR 
THESE PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS.
DOES IT NOT SEEM LOGICAL THAT 
THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE VALUED 
FOR THIS CRITICAL WORK?
>> Interview: EASILY AND WHY A 
COLLEAGUE WHO IS DOING EQUALLY 
HARD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY IS 
GETTING PAID LESS OR LESS ACCESS
TO FULL-TIME WORK WITH BENEFITS,
IT BOGGLES MY MIND.
IF WE VALUE THEM AND OUR FUTURE,
WE WILL DO THIS.
>> Rosemary: DR. SAMIR SINHA, 
ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.
>>> AS WE STAND BY AND WAIT FOR 
THE FEDERAL BRIEFING WITH 
CABINET MINISTERS AND FEDERAL 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS NOW EXPANDED THAT
SMALL BUSINESS LOAN 
SUBSTANTIALLY.
IT ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF A 
COMMERCIAL RENT LOAN THAT WILL 
ALSO BE NEGOTIATED WITH THE 
PROVINCES IN THE COMING DAYS.
ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE ON CBC 
MAIN NETWORK.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WATCHING
CBC NEWS NETWORK AND  ONLINE 
AROUND THE WORLD.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
[♪♪♪] [ Please Stand By ]
>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
IF THAT CONVERSATION
MATERIALIZES IN ANYTHING FORMAL
FROM THE.
FOR EXAMPLE, HE HAS STATE TWO
DAYS AGO, WE'RE WITHHOLDING
FUNDING AND IS THERE A SOFTENING
THAT WE KNOW OF.
WE HEARD THE PRIME MINISTER WHEN
HE WAS ASKED ABOUT IT, TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND
COORDINATION AND HOW HE FEELS
THE W.H.O. IS AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THAT.
THOUGH, HE DID ACKNOWLEDGE THERE
ARE PARTS, ABOUT THE RELIANCE ON
DATA COMING OUT OF CHINA.
I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE IF THAT DOES HAVE AN
EFFECT ON THE PRESIDENT'S STANCE
AT ALL.
THOUGH HE CAME OUT FORCEFULLY
LAST NIGHT.
I WAS IN THE CHAIR HERE WHILE
THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT ABOUT MY
BORDER AND MY JAW EVEN DROPPED A
LITTLE BIT.
HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THE BORDER WE
SHARE AND RELAXING RESTRICTIONS.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED
STATES AND HE COMPLIMENTED
CANADA ON HOW IT WAS HANDLING
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 HERE AND
SAID HIS COUNTRY WAS DOING A
GOOD JOB.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE QUESTIONS
AROUND THAT, AS WELL,
SPECIFICALLY IN SOME OF THE
STATES I WOULD POINT TO THAT
BORDER.
OUR COUNTRY, MICHIGAN AND NEW
YORK CITY AND TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF CASES IN EACH OF THOSE
STATES.
AND THEN HE SAID HE WAS
EXPECTING IT TO BE ONE OF THE
BORDERS WITH A, QUOTE, EARLY
RELEASE.
HE DID NOT ATTACH A SPECIFIC
TIMELINE.
HE WAS ASKED IF HE SHARED THE
VIEW AND THE CONVERSATION ABOUT
RELAXING THE RESTRICTIONS
WOULDN'T OCCUR FOR A NUMBER OF
WEEK.
THOUGH, HE TRIED TO, I THINK,
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SENTIMENT
BEHIND THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS
ABOUT SAYING THAT IT REFLECTED
SORT OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE
RELATIONSHIP AND THE
INTERDEPENDENCE OF THE TWO
COUNTRIES.
I DIDN'T NECESSARILY GET THE
SAME IMPRESSION WHEN THE
PRESIDENT WAS TALKING.
WHAT I UNDERSTOOD WAS, THIS IS
ONE OF THE BORDERS -- THIS IS
SOMETHING OF LESS CONCERN TO HIM
THAN OTHER ISSUES IN THE COUNTRY
AND HE WOULD BE OPEN TO AN EARLY
RELEASE OF THE RESTRICTIONS.
IT'S CLEAR THIS GOVERNMENT IS
NOT ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH ON
THAT.
>> Rosemary:  KATHERINE, STAND
BY AND I'M TAKE YOU TO THE
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, CHRYSTIA
FREELAND.
>> CANADIANS HAVE BEEN DOING A
GOOD JOB AT PHYSICAL DISTANCING
AND THAT IS SAVING LIVES.
I KNOW THAT IT'S VERY HARD, BUT
TOGETHER WE NEED TO CONTINUE.
WE CAN'T STOP NOW.
WE CANNOT SQUANDER THE GAINS WE
HAVE MADE SO FAR AND ALL OF US
NEED ONLY LOOK AT OTHER
COUNTRIES WHERE WE SEE
STAGGERING CASUALTIES, HORRIFIC
SCENES AT HOSPITALS TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
FOR US AS A COUNTRY TO STAY
DISCIPLINED.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> THIS IS A MARATHON AND IT'S
NOT OVER YET.
WE ARE DOING GOOD WORK WITH
PHYSICAL DISTANCING WHICH IS
SAVING LIVES.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO SO.
WE CANNOT RELAX OUR VIGILANCE
NOW.
WE HAVE BUT TO LOOK AT OTHER
REGIONS OF THE WORLD, WHETHER
THEY ARE NEAR OR FAR OR LOSSES
ARE STAGGERING.
>> WE WILL HEAR FROM
DR. THERESA TAM, DR. HOWARD
NJOO, THE MINISTER OF SERVICES
AND PROCUREMENTS AND BY VIDEO
LINK, THE MINISTER OF FINANCE,
BILL MORNEAU AND ALSO BY VIDEO
LINK, THE MINISTER OF SMALL
BUSINESS, EXPORT PROMOTION AND
INTERNATIONAL TRADE MARY ING.
 AND
THE PRESIDENT OF THE TREASURY
BOARD.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'LL BEGIN WITH THE NUMBER OF
COVID-19 CASES IN CANADA.
THERE ARE 29,826 CASES,
INCLUDING 1,048 DEATHS.
CLOSE TO 50% OF THE DEATHS ARE
LINKED TO LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
AND 93% ARE IN PEOPLE OVER 60
YEARS OF AGE.
FOR THE LAB TESTING, WE'VE
COMPLETED TESTS NOW FOR OVER
487,000 PEOPLE.
AS CANADA CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
OUR TESTING.
AS I SAID YESTERDAY, THERE ARE
SIGNS, OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS
STARTING SEVERAL WEEKS BACK HAVE
HAD AN EFFECT TO SLOW DOWN THE
EPIDEMIC.
ASSUMING OUR STAYCATION HAS
HELPED TO MAINTAIN THIS FRIEND,,
WE NEED TO DOUBLE-DOWN IN HIGH
RISK SETTINGS.
THE MEASURE OF A SOCIETY IN HOW
IT CARES FOR ITS MOST VULNERABLE
AND THIS EPIDEMIC REVEALED THE
CHIP IN OUR ARMOR.
RESIDENCES HAVE BEEN SEVERELY
IMPACTED AND THERE OTHER GROUPS
THAT URGENTLY NEED OUR
ATTENTION, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
AND PRECARIOUS HOUSING.
NOT HAVING A HOME IS A
SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO FOLLOWING
PUBLIC HEALTH LIKE MAINTAINING
PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND HAND
HYGIENE.
RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS FOR
INFECTION CONTROL ARE IN PLACE
TO PROTECT STAFF, CLIENTS AND
GUESTS AND SHELTERS.
WITH OUR IMMEDIATE ACTION, THERE
WILL BE MORE OUTBREAKS AND
AVOIDABLE DEATHS WITH SOCIETAL
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS.
SOME MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TAKEN
ACTION TO SECURE ACCOMMODATION
TO EASE CROWDING AND FACILITATE
PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND THIS IS
A GOOD STEP FORWARD.
VOLUNTEERS ARE REACHING OUT TO
SUPPORT HOMELESS SHELTERS
INCLUDING MAKING HYGIENE KITS
AND HELPING TO SERVE AND DELIVER
MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED.
WE CANNOT CRUSH THIS CURVE
UNLESS AND UNTIL EVERYONE IS
LOOKED AFTER.
LET'S COME TOGETHER AND DO THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. TAM.
>> THANK YOU.
HERE IS A DAILY UPDATE ON THE
NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES IN
CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 29,826 CASES IN
THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING 1,048
DEATHS.
CLOSE TO 50% OF THE DEATHS ARE
LINKED TO LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
AND THEN 93% OF THE DEATHS ARE
PEOPLE OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE.
FOR THE LAND TESTING, WE'VE
COMPLETED TESTS FOR OVER 467,000
PEOPLE, 6% CONFIRMED POSITIVE.
CANADA CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
TESTING TO BETTER TRACK WHERE
THE DISEASE IS SPREADING.
AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY, THERE
ARE SIGNS THAT OUR COLLECTIVE
EFFORTS STARTING SEVERAL WEEKS
BACK HAVE HAD AN EFFECT TO SLOW
DOWN THE EPIDEMIC.
ASSUMING OUR STAYCATION HAS
HELPED TO MAINTAIN THE TREND, WE
NOW TO DOUBLE DOWN.
IF THE MEASURE OF A SOCIETY IS
IN HOW IT CARES FOR ITS MOST
VULNERABLE, THIS PANDEMIC HAS
REVEALED A CHINK IN OUR ARMOR.
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES AND
SENIOR'S RESIDENCES HAVE BEEN
SEVERELY IMPACTED.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER VULNERABLE
GROUPS THAT URGENTLY NEED OUR
ATTENTION, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
NOT HAVING A HOME IS FOLLOWING
ADVICE LIKE MAINTAINING PUBLIC
DISTANCING AND HAND HYGIENE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RESOURCES
AND SUPPORT FOR INFECTION
PREVENTION AND CONTROL ARE IN
PLACE TO PROTECT STAFF, CLIENTS
AND GUESTS IN SHELTERS.
IF WE DON'T ACT IMMEDIATELY,
THERE WILL BE MORE OUTBREAKS AND
AVOIDABLE DEATHS WITH BROADER
SOCIETAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
IMPLICATIONS.
SOME MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TAKEN
ACTION TO SECURE ADDITIONAL
ACCOMMODATIONS TO EASE CROWDING
AND FACILITATE PHYSICAL
DISTANCING.
THIS IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD.
VOLUNTEERS ARE REACHING OUT TO
SUPPORT HOMELESS SHELTERS
INCLUDING BY MAKING HYGIENE KITS
AND HELPING TO SERVE AND DELIVER
MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED.
WE CANNOT CRUSH THIS CURVE
UNLESS AND UNTIL EVERYONE IS
LOOKED AFTER.
LET'S COME TOGETHER AND DO THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> AND NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR
MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND
PROCUREMENTS.
ANITA, PLEASE.
>> BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE
TO SEND A BIG THANK YOU TO
CONQUER COVID-19 AND HALEY
WICKENHEISER WHO HAVE BEEN
DISTRIBUTING PERSONAL EQUIPMENT,
STEPPING UP FOR COMMUNITIES AND
DONATING WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND
IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
IT'S THE CANADIAN WAY AND
COMPLIMENTS OUR GOVERNMENT'S
EFFORTS TO PURCHASE VITAL
SUPPLIES FOR OUR HEALTHCARE
WORKERS.
WE ARE OPERATING IN A
HYPERCOMPETITIVE GLOBAL
ENVIRONMENT AND RESULTS IN
COMPLEX AND SOMETIMES
UNPREDICTABLE SUPPLY CHAINS.
BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS WHICH
I WILL DISCUSS TODAY.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS
TRULY A TEAM CANADA APPROACH TO
PROCUREMENT WITH ALL HANDS ON
DECK AND ALL OF THE GOVERNMENT
WORKING TOGETHER.
FURTHERMORE, I WILL BE THINK SPG
WITH MY COUNTERPARTS TOMORROW.
>> IN A MARKET CHARACTERIZED BY
HIGH DEMAND, WE ARE BUYING
EXISTING INVENTORY WHERE WE CAN
AND PLACING LARGE ORDERS TO
CREATE AND TO MAINTAIN A STEADY
STREAM OF GOODS FLOWING FROM
DIVERSE SOURCES OVER THE COMING
MONTHS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> OUR OFFICIALS ARE WORKING
CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS ON THE
GROUND WHICH INCLUDES EMPATHY
AND LOGISTIC EXPERTS TO GET
THESE SUPPLIES INTO CANADA.
>> IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE LOGISTICS CANADA BASED
ON OF MONTREAL AND WITH DELOIT
CANADA FOR RECEIVING, STORING
SERVICES AND CUSTOM'S
CLEARANCES.
CARGO JET AND AIR CANADA HAVE
STEPPED UP, AS WELL, TO BRING
HOME TO CANADA FEDERAL ORDERS,
AS WELL AS PROVISIONAL AND
TERRITORIAL BORDERS.
AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
OTHER OFFICIALS IN CHINA
INCLUDING OUR FORMIDABLE
AMBASSADOR DOMINICK VARTAN TO
NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX CAMPAIGN CN
ENVIRONMENT.
THE.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE
INVOLVED FOR GETTING THE VITAL
SUPPLIES INTO THE COUNTRY AND
INTO THE HANDS OF OUR DOCTORS,
OUR NURSES AND OUR HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS.
WHEN NEEDED AND ASFAST AS HUMAN.
>> IN ADDITION TO OUR
INTERNATIONAL BUYING EFFORTS,
CANADIAN COMPANIES HAVE
RESPONDED EN MASSE TO OUR
SUPPLIERS AND BUY AND SELL.
THROUGH THIS CALL TO ACTION, WE
HAVE SIGNED CONTRACTS WITH
SUPPLIERS LIKE GEOMETRIC ENERGY
CORPORATION BASED IN CALGARY AND
THIS COMPANY WILL PROVIDE
MILLIONS OF NITRAL GLOVES FOR
CANADA'S HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE
HAVE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE MANY
CANADIAN COMPANIES THAT ARE
RAMPING UP PRODUCTION WITH SOME
MANUFACTURERS COMPLETELY
SHIFTING THEIR PRODUCTION LINES.
>> THINKING OF CANADIAN
COMPANIES LIKE BAUER IN QUEBEC
THAT HAVE GONE FROM MAKING
HOCKEY GEAR TO MAKING FACE
CHILDSHIELDS FOR FRONT-LINE MEDL
WORKERS OR STANFIELDS THAT IS
SET TO PROVIDE US WITH 100,000
MEDICAL GOWNS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> I AM VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE
THAT WE CAN ADD ANOTHER NAME TO
THAT GROWING LIST.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA HAS
SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH IRVING
OIL WHICH HAS RETOOLED PARTS OF
ITS PRODUCTION LINE FOR
MUCH-NEEDED SANITIZER.
PRODUCTION WILL START BEING
DELIVERED OVER THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS.
>> THE GOVERNOR OF CANADA HAS
SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH IRVING
OIL WHICH PRODUCES MUCH NEEDED
SAND SANITIZER AND IRVING WILL
START DELIVERING IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS.
THIS IS A PART OF MORE THAN
20 MILLION LITERS OF HAND
SANITIZER THAT WE'VE ORDER THE,
ORDERED.THESE COMPANIES AND MANS
SERVE AS GREAT EXAMPLES OF THE
CANADIAN INGENUITY THAT WILL GET
US THROUGH THESE ORDERS.
WE HAVE CHARTERED SIX FLIGHTS
AND WE EXPECT FOUR MORE IN THE
NEXT WEEK CARRYING A VARIETY OF
GOODS FROM CHINA, INCLUDING N95
MASKS.
THESE FLIGHTS ARE, OF COURSE, IN
ADDITION TO GOODS THAT ARRIVE BY
OTHER MEANS.
AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE ORDERED
JUST UNDER 300 MILLION SURGICAL
MASKS AND APPROXIMATELY
145 MILLION AND 95 RESPIRATORS.
TODAY WE, HAVE RECEIVED 
DELIVERIES OF MORE THAN
75 MILLION SURGICAL MASKS AND
ROUGHLY 800,000 N95 MASKS WERE
DELIVERED TO THE PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES LAST WEEK AND WE
EXPECT 1.1 MILLION TO REACH THEM
THIS WEEK.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE'VE ORDERED 100,000 PAIRS
OF GLASSES AND MORE THAN
14 MILLION HAVE ARRIVED IN
CANADA.
>> UP TO 30,000 VENTILATORS WITH
CEA AND STARFISH, AND ALL THREE
ARE CANADIAN COMPANIES THAT WILL
BE MANUFACTURING THESE
LIFE-SAVING MACHINES RIGHT HERE
AT HOME.
THESE ARE ONLY SOME OF THE
SUPPLIES THAT WE HAVE ON THE WAY
AND A HANDFUL OF THE CANADIAN
COMPANIES THAT ARE RISING TO THE
CHALLENGE.
WE ARE OPERATING IN A
HYPERCOMPETITIVE MARKET AND
WHILE DEMAND FOR THESE SUPPLIES
IS GOING UP, CANADA AND
CANADIANS ARE KEEPING UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ANITA AND NOW WE
WILL HEAR FROM OUR FINANCE
MINISTER, BILL MORNEAU.
BILL, PLEASE.
>> WELL, THANKS.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
AS WE COME TOGETHER TO STOP THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19, THE
GOVERNMENT IS WORKING HARD TO
SUPPORT THE ECONOMY.
WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO LISTEN TO
THE NEED OF CANADIANS SO THAT WE
MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT.
WE KNOW MANY SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING THE
RENT, ABOUT PAYING THEIR
SUPPLIERS AND PAYING THEIR
EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE
WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM
FOR YEARS.
LAST WEEK, WE LAUNCHED THE
CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS
ACCOUNT, WHICH IS OFFERING
INTEREST-FREE LOANS OF UP TO
$40,000 TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND
TO NON-FOR-PROFITS.
25% OF THAT LOAN IS FORGIVABLE
IF IT'S PAID BACK BY THE END OF
2022.
I WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE.
TO DATE, MORE THAN 195,000 LOANS
HAS BEEN APPROVED THROUGH
CANADIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
BUT WE'VE ALSO HEARD THERE ARE
MANY SMALL BUSINESSES WHO NEED
SUPPORT BUT WHO DIDN'T QUALIFY
FOR THESE LOANS.
SO TODAY, WE'RE ANNOUNCING THAT
WE'RE EXPANDING THE ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS TO BUSINESSES THAT
HAVE BETWEEN $20,000 AND
$1.5 MILLION IN ANNUAL PAYROLL
TO APPLY.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH OUT NO
THEIR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BY
PHONE OR BY EMAIL TO FIND OUT
HOW TO ACTUALLY APPLY.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> TODAY, WE'RE ANNOUNCING WE'RE
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CANADA
BUSINESS ACCOUNTS IN ORDER TO
ALLOW BUSINESSES WHOSE ANNUAL
PAYROLL IS BETWEEN $50,000 AND
$1.59 MILLION.
COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR
INSTITUTIONS BY PHONE OR EMAIL
TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN APPLY.
>> IT WILL BE THERE TO HELP
BUSINESSES BRIDGE THROUGH HARDER
TIMES.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE HEART
OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND REPRESENT
THE HEART OF OUR COUNTRY, THAW
CAN WORK HARD AND BRING A GOOD
IDEA TO FRUITION TO PROVIDE FOR
YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT MANY ORGANIZATIONS
ARE WORRYING ABOUT THEIR RENT, A
RENT THAT'S COMING DUE.
I WANT TO START BY COMMENDING
THE LANDLORDS WHO ARE OFFERING
RELIEF TO TENANTS THAT ARE
FACING HARDSHIP.
WE NEED OUR BUSINESSES TO REMAIN
STRONG SO THAT WHEN THIS IS
OVER, THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE
GOOD TENANTS AND PILLARS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ANNOUNCING OUR INTENTION
TO INTRODUCE THE CANADIAN
EMERGENCY COMMERCIAL RENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THE PROGRAMME WILL SEEK TO
PROVIDE LOANS, INCLUDING
FORGIVABLE LOANS TO COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY OWNERS WHO PROVIDE
SMALL BUSINESSES WITH RENT
REDUCTIONS FOR APRIL, MAY AND
JUNE.
TO DO THIS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED
TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
PROVISIONAL AND TERRITORIAL
GOVERNMENTS WHO GOVERN THE
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNER TENANT
RELATIONSHIPS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES IN
THIS PROPOSAL, TO ENHANCE
SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ON THIS
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> BUSINESSES AND BUSINESSES
OWNERS ARE FACING SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES.
THEREFORE, WE'RE ANNOUNCING OUR
INTENTION TO INTRODUCE AN
EMERGENCY RENT PROGRAMME.
THIS PROGRAMME WILL OFFER LOANS
TO OWNERS WHO OFFER SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND WE'RE WORKING
WITH PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES
THAT REGULATE THE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THE RENTERS AND OWNERS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS
PROGRAMME TO ENSURE THAT
BUSINESSES SEVERELY AFFECTED BY
THE CRISIS ARE SUPPORTED AND
WILL HAVE MORE TO ANNOUNCE SOON.
>> ACROSS CANADA, WE WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
LISTEN AND WE'LL HAVE YOUR BACK
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME AND WE
ARE NOT GOING TO STOP WORKING
FOR YOU AND YOUR.
EMPLOYEES.
>> THANK YOU.S.
>> NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR
SMALL BUSINESS, MARY ING.
>> I'M GLAD TO BE JOINING ALL OF
US BY VIDEO CONFERENCE TODAY.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES
ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT IN
THIS CRISIS AND FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING WE SAID WE WOULD LIN
WOULDLISTEN IS ADAPT TO WHAT YOL
US.
WE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE GET TO
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
A FEW WEEKS AGO AS THE FINANCE
MINISTER SAID, WE LAUNCHED A
CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS
ACCOUNT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP
WITH THEIR OPERATING COSTS AND
THEIR CASHFLOW AND UNDER THAT,
SMALL BUSINESSES CAN GO TO THEIR
LOCAL BANK TO APPLY FOR AN
INTEREST-FREE $40,000 BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> TO DATE, ABOUT 195,000 LOANS
HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
>> 195,000 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
HAVE GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED,
TO KEEP UP WITH THE COSTS,
TOPPING UP YOUR EMPLOYEE'S
SALARIES AND WAGES, TO
COMPLIMENT THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT WILL MEAN
EVEN MORE BUSINESSES WILL
QUALIFY.
IT MEANS THAT YOUR FAVOURITE
RESTAURANT CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS
ON WHILE THEY SWITCH OVER TO
DELIVERY SERVICE.
IT MEANS THAT SMALL FURNITURE
STORES THAT RELY ON FOOT TRAFFIC
TO STAY AFLOAT CAN CONTINUE THE
COASTS OF THE UPKEEP OF THEIR
SPACE.
IT MEANS THAT THE LOCAL BED AND
BREAKFASTS CAN MAINTAIN THEIR
PROPERTY WHILE THEY'VE HAD TO
TEMPORARILY CLOSE THEIR DOORS.
WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT
BUSINESSES, WE HEARD THEM LOUD
AND CLEAR, THAT THEY'LL NEED
HELP PAYING THE RENT AND THAT
ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT
OPERATIONAL COSTS AND THAT'S
WHAT THEY HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH.
WE HEARD THAT THIS PROGRAMME
WILL PROVIDE LOANS AND
FORGIVABLE LOANS TO COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WILL, IN
TURN, LOWER THE RENT TO BEAR
SMALL BUSINESS TENANTS FOR THE
MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY AND JUNE.
AND, OF COURSE, WE WILL WORK
CLOSELY WITH THE PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES AND WE'LL HAVE MORE
DETAILS TO SHARE SOON.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> THIS IS ABOUT SAVING JOBS AND
KEEPING BUSINESSES GOING.
>> THIS IS ABOUT SAVING JOBS AND
KEEPING BUSINESSES GOING AND I
WANT TO ENSURE ALL SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS AND
ENTREPRENEURS OUT THERE THAT WE
ARE IN YOUR CORNER.
WE'RE LISTENING AND I WON'T REST
AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES FEEL
THE SAME WAY, UNTIL WE DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU AND I'LL PASS IT TO MY
COLLEAGUE.
>> I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR TO THE
DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SENIORS
IN QUEBEC, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
ARE IN LONG-TEM CARE FACILITIES.
WE ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THE
SITUATION THAT MANY OF THESE
SENIORS ARE CURRENTLY IN.
THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR MANY
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THOSE
FACILITIES, AS WELL.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS INDICATED
AGAIN THIS MORNING THAT THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WISHES TO
IMPROVE ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT
PROVINCES IN THESE
EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHAT'S BEING DONE AND WHAT WE
WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO ARE
EFFORTS BY THE CANADIAN RED
CROSS AND WE ARE SUPPORTING,
WHICH ARE IMPORTANT.
THERE'S ALSO HEALTH CANADA'S
EFFORTS WHICH IS ADDING ON TO
THE LIST OF VOLUNTEERS BY VOLUN.
BY IMPROVING THIS LIST OF
VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE ABLE TO ADD
ON MORE VOLUNTEERS.
THERE WAS A REQUEST MADE TO
MINISTER BILL BLAIR TO RECEIVE
HELP FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES AND DISCUSSIONS ARE
ONGOING, DECISIONS WILL
EVENTUALLY BE MADE.
WE ALSO WISH TO HIGHLIGHT HOW
MUCH WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR
WORKERS, OUR FRONT-LINE WORKERS
IN THESE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
LOCATIONS.
THAT SUPPORT IS ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL.
YESTERDAY, THE PRIME MINISTER
INDICATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF
CANADA WISHES TO HELP PROVINCES
INCLUDING QUEBEC WHO WISH TO
INCREASE SALARIES TO FRONT-LINE
WORKERS IN ESSENTIAL SECTORS OF
OUR SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WORKING WHERE OUR SENIORS ARE
LOCATED.
WE KNOW OVER THE LONG-TERM THAT
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND
WE NEED TO SUPPORT THESE
WORKERS.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM OVER THE
LONG-TERM AND THE SHORT-TERM.
THIS IS SIGNIFICANT WORK THAT WE
ARE ALL DOING TOGETHER TO
IMPROVE THE ASSISTANCE OF
CANADIANS IN PARTICULAR.
THANK YOU.
WE ARE NOW READY FOR YOUR
QUESTIONS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH.
>> THANK YOU, WHEN IT COMES TO
THE GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT
CAPACITY, WHAT RESOURCES DOES
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF QUEBEC AND HOW
MANY SOLDIERS?
HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE
AVAILABLE TO MEET QUEBEC'S
REQUESTS.
>> Answer:  THIS IS A PART OF
THE SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSIONS THAT
ARE HAPPENING BETWEEN BOTH
GOVERNMENTS.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES
IN WHICH CANADIAN FORCES COULD
BE CALLED UPON TO WORK IN CARE,
ESPECIALLY IN LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES.
EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THE
CONDITIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT
OF QUEBEC WOULD LIKE TO OFFER
WHEN IT COMES TO
RESPONSIBILITIES AND WORKING
CONDITIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.
WE KNOW THAT THE ARMED FORCES
HAVE MULTIPLE SKILLS.
AS WE WERE SAYING, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MATCH THOSE SKILLS
AND TO ENSURE WE RESPECT THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE PROVINCES.
>> Question:  HOW MANY RESOURCES
ARE BEING REQUESTED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBER?
>> Answer:  THERE ARE NUMBERS,
BUT WE ALSO HAVE WORKING
CONDITIONS AND WE ARE DISCUSSING
THOSE CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW.
THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVED A LETTER
LAST NIGHT FROM THE GOVERNMENT
OF QUEBEC TO ACCELERATE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS, WHICH INCLUDES THE
NUMBER OF WORKERS BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY THE TYPE OF WORKERS
THAT WILL BE CALLED UPON.
THIS IS A PART OF THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE ONGOING
WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC.
THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator:  THE NEXT QUESTION
IS FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question:  THANK YOU.
MINISTER ANAND, I HAVE A
QUESTION ABOUT THE SUPPLIES FOR
KNIVES.
N95S.
WE'RE HEARING FOR THE USE OF N95
MASKS WHENEVER IN CONTACT WITH
THE COVID-19 PATIENTS TO ENHANCE
PROTECTION ON FRONT LINE.
THE GOVERNMENT IS OBVIOUSLY
TRYING TO STOCK UP AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE, BUT WILL FRONT-LINE
WORKERS HAVE ENOUGH IF DEMAND
FOR N95 INCREASES BEYOND WHAT
WE'RE SEEING NOW?
>> I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED OVER JUST IN THE PAST
TWO WEEKS ALONE AROUND 2 MILLION
N95 MASKS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO
BE DELIVERED TO THE PROVINCES IN
TOTAL BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST POINT TO
DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON
NUMBERS.
BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A PICTURE
OF THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT AND
NOT SUGAR COAT IT.
WE ARE OPERATING IN AN ERA OF
HIGH-GLOBAL DEMAND AND WE MUST
WATCH THE SUPPORT FROM START TO
FINISH UNTIL THESE MASKS AND
OTHER PPE FIND THEIR WAY
DIRECTLY BACK TO CANADA AND ARE
IN A WAREHOUSE FOR DISTRIBUTION.
AND SO, MONITORING THAT SUPPLY
CHAIN FROM START TO FINISH ON
THE GROUND IN CHINA, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS A KEY PRIORITY OF
OUR MINISTRY AND OUR GOVERNMENT
AND WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE
HAVE THE SUPPLIES CANADIANS
NEED.
WE HAVE A SOLID TEAM ON THE
GROUND IN CHINA AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
AMBASSADOR BARTON, BUT WE'VE
ALSO RETAINED PRIVATE COMPANIES,
DELOITTE CANADA AND DELORAY
CANADA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY
ARE ASSISTING IN OUR EFFORTS TO
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A STEADY
SUPPLY OF MASKS AND OTHER PPE
COMING INTO CANADA.
AGAIN, THIS IS COMPLEX, BUT WE
ARE MANAGING IT UNDER THE VERY
TIGHT GLOBAL CONDITIONS.
>> Question:  I'M WONDERING IF
YOUR OFFICERS PROVIDED YOU THAT
IN LATE JANUARY?
AND WHAT WERE THEIR CONCLUSIONS
AT THE TIME?
>> I AM NOT AT LIBERTY TO GO
INTO ANY INTELLIGENCE SHARED
WITH ME AND THE GOVERNMENT AND
OTHER MINISTERS, BUT WHAT I CAN
SAY IS THAT CANADIAN
INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS AND
OFFICIALS ARE FOLLOWING AND HAVE
BEEN FOLLOWING FROM THE OUTSET
THE CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC.
THIS IS CURRENTLY THE BIGGEST
THREAT THAT CANADA FACES AND IT
IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE FOR
OUR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS AND
ANALYSTS TO BE FOLLOWING IT
CLOSELY AND THAT INTELLIGENCE IS
SHARED WITH THE GOVERNMENT, WITH
KEY MINISTERS, AND IT ABSOLUTELY
HAS AND CONTINUES TO INFORM OUR
RESPONSE.
>> Operator:  NEXT QUESTION ON
THE PHONE.
>> Question:  MY QUESTION IS FOR
DR. TAM.
LAST WEEK YOU SAID ACCORDING TO
CANADA'S PREDICTION, THERE WOULD
BE BETWEEN 500 AND 700 DEATHS BY
TODAY.
WE NOW HAVE TWICE AS MUCH.
SO MY QUESTION IS TWO-FOLD.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE
DISCREPANCY AND WHAT DOES IT
TELL US ABOUT THE CURVE WE'RE
FOLLOWING?
LAST WEEK YOU PRESENTED US WITH
FOUR SCENARIOS AND FOUR RATES OF
INFECTION, 1%, 5% AND 10%.
WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE
WERE FOLLOWING THE 1% OR 5%
CURVE.
GIVEN THE NUMBERS, WHICH CURVE
DO WE NOW SEEM TO BE FOLLOWING?
>> SO THOSE WERE PLANNING
SCENARIOS, FIRST OF ALL, BUT
LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT WHERE THE
EPIDEMIC IS AT.
WE DO KNOW, AND AS I SAID
YESTERDAY, THE ACTUAL DOUBLING
TIME FOR BOTH CASES, CONCERNED
CASES IN CANADA HAS BEEN SLOWING
DOWN.
THAT'S THE TREND.
SO YOU ARE SEEING THAT CURVE
BENDING.
THE ISSUE IN TERMS OF MODELING
OR PROJECTS DEATHS, NOT EVEN
MODELING, IS THAT THAT HAS TO
CHANGE OVER TIME AND IT
REFLECTS, I THINK, SEVERAL
DIFFERENT PHENOMENON.
AND ONE IS THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF
THE OUTBREAK ITSELF.
SO WHEN THE CASES OCCURRING IN
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, IT
RESULTS IN HIGHER FATALITY
AMONGST THE PEOPLE WHO GET THE
ILLNESS.
SO I THINK THAT IS THE CURRENT
PICTURE RIGHT NOW.
AT THE BEGINNING OF ANY
EPIDEMIC, THE CASE FATALITY WILL
BE UNDERESTIMATED AND THIS IS A
PHENOMENON OF BOTH THE TIME IT
TAKES FOR SOMEONE TO UNDERGO THE
FULL CLINICAL COURSE OF THEIR
ILLNESS TO THE FINAL OUTCOME AND
IT ACCELERATES AT A SLOWER RATE
AT THE BEGINNING.
AFTER A NUMBER OF WEEKS, THOSE
VULNERABLE AND AT HIGH RISK
WILL, UNFORTUNATELY, DIE FROM
THE ILLNESS.
SO THIS IS THE PHENOMENON, I
THINK, THAT WE'RE SEEING.
AT THE SAME TIME, IF THE
DENOMINATOR IS SLOWING DOWN,
WHEN THE GROWTH RATE IS SLOWING
DOWN AND AT THE SAME TIME AS THE
NUMBER OF DEATHS ARE GOING UP,
THAT RATIO IS GOING TO INCREASE
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
SEEING RIGHT NOW AND WE MIGHT
EXPECT THAT RATIO TO CONTINUE TO
INCREASE AS THE EPIDEMIC SLOWS
DOWN BUT ALSO, THEN, THE
POPULATION NOW BEING AFFECTED
AND THE HIGHER PROPORTION OF
DEATHS THAT WE EXPECTED TO SEE
IN THE OLDER AGE GROUP AND THOSE
WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
I THINK YOU WERE THINKING OF THE
SHORT-TERM FORECAST, THEY'RE
VERY SENSITIVE TO OUR ACTIONS,
BUT ALSO THE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND
THAT PROJECTION HAS TO CHANGE
REALLY VERY QUICKLY ON A DAILY
BASIS.
>> Question:  LAST WEEK, WE SAID
THAT THE EXPECTATION WAS MAYBE
TO HAVE 4400 DEATHS.
SO DOES THAT PREDICTION CHANGE
NOW, GIVEN THE SITUATION, HOW
THE SITUATION HAS EVOLVED OVER
THE LAST WEEK?
>> YES.
SO THE PROJECTIONS ARE LOOKING
AT A DATE AND IF YOU ACTUALLY
LOOK AT THAT PROJECTION, THE
NUMBER OF CASES PROJECTED VERY,
VERY CLOSE TO WHAT WAS
PREDICTED, FOR APRIL 16th.
EVACUEE PROJECTED THE NUMBER OF
CASES JUST BEING OVER 22,000 TO
31,000S CASES AND WE'RE NOW
CURRENTLY TRACKING IN THAT TIME
FRAME FOR THE NUMBER OF CASES.
SO THAT IS THE NUMBER OF DEATHS.
AND AS THAT RATIO INCREASES,
AGAIN, ANY NUMBER THAT I PRESENT
RIGHT NOW WILL BE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE AS THE RATIO CHANGES.
SO OUR MODELERS ARE THE LAST
LOOK, AND OUR PROJECTINGS
ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1200 AND 1620
1620DEATHS BY APRIL 21st.
SO DEPEND, ANY NUMBER I PROVIDE
YOU WILL BE SUBJECTED TO
VARIATIONS AS WE CHANGE THOSE
PROJECTIONS OVER TIME.
>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO QUESTIONS
IN THE ROOM.
>> Question:  I'M WITH THE
"GLOBE AND MAIL" AND I'M
WONDERING FOR DR. TAM OR DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER FREELAND IF YOU
CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE NUMBER OF
WAREHOUSES STOCKS SUPPLIES FROM
THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY STOCKPILE
WERE REDUCED AND WHETHER THAT
LEAD TO A REDUCTION TO THE.
 PPE
THAT WAS STOCKPILED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> SO I THINK THE CONSOLIDATION
OF WAREHOUSES ARE REFLECTION
OVER TIME THAT CHANGES IN TERMS
OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND
EQUIPMENT.
WE NOW HAVE SIX LOCATIONS FOR
OUR WAREHOUSES.
AND SO SUPPLIES, FOR EXAMPLE,
THE REGINA WAREHOUSE, WE NOTED
WAS CLOSED.
IT REFLECTS HOW GOODS OR
SUPPLIES CAN BE TRANSPORTED IN
THE DIFFERENT WAYS NOW AND MORE
RAPID WAYS COMPARED TO DECADES
AGO.
YOU NOW HAVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR
SHIPPING AND SENDING SUPPLIES IS
QUITE DIFFERENT SO THAT HAS TO
CHANGE WITH THE TIMES AND WITH
THE CONSOLIDATION OR THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
DISTRIBUTION ITSELF.
AND SO I THINK IN TERMS OF PPE,
I THINK OVER TIME THE STOCKPILE
REOCCURS WHERE WE WERE NOT USED
TO PROVIDING EXPIRED PPE TO
OTHERS.
AS WE MOVE SORT OF FORWARD,
GIVEN THIS EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE
TO OPTIMIZE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
BUT ALSO MINIMIZE, PERHAPS, THE
STOCK.
NOW THEY DO TAKE UP QUITE A BIT
OF SPACE, BUT YOU HAVE TO MANAGE
THAT AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE SORT
OF A BACK-UP, IF YOU LIKE, THAN
PERHAPS TO THE NON- STOCKPILE.
>> Question:  I HAVE ANOTHER
QUESTION FOR DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER FREELAND OR FOR
DR. TAM.
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, A
NUMBER OF WEEKS AGO GAVE A
NEARLY $1 MILLION COVID-19
RESEARCH GRANT TO THE RESEARCHER
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA TO
WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
WUHAN INSTITUTE OF VIROLOGY TO
DEVELOP A FORM OF RAPID TESTING
FOR THE VIRUS.
THE INSTITUTE IS FROM THE CENTRE
OF THE ORIGINAL OUTBREAK AND CAN
YOU EXPLAIN WHY CANADA IS
FUNDING A COLLABORATION WITH
THIS INSTITUTE AND WHAT THIS CAN
BRING TO BEAR ON THIS RESEARCH?
>> I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW IF
DR. NJOO KNOWS THE ANSWER TO
THIS QUESTION, BUT WE'LL TALK TO
OUR COLLEAGUES OR THE FUNDING
ORGANIZATION AND DETERMINE THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, THOUGH, IN GENERAL,
UNDERSTANDING THE BIOLOGY OF THE
VIRUS OR SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF
IT, THERE IS, I'M SURE, VERY
USEFUL IN DETERMINING THE WORK
THAT'S NEEDED AND I THINK,
OBVIOUSLY, ALL HANDS-ON DECK TO
RESOLVE THE ISSUES NEEDED IN
TERMS OF THE SCIENCE AND WHAT
KIND OF TESTING CAPABILITY MIGHT
BE NEEDED.
SO I CAN'T COMMENT ON THE
SPECIFIC PROJECT, BUT WE'LL GET
BACK TOW ON THAT.
BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
(QUESTION INAUDIBLE).
>> I THINK WE'LL GET BACK TOW ON
THAT.
AS I SAID, THE NATIONAL
EMERGENCY STRATEGIC STOCKPILE
WAS NOT REALLY SET UP TO BACK UP
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND THAT
IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES AND THEIR
STOCKPILE.
WE WERE MORE FOCUSED ON VERY
HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AND UNUSUAL
ORGANISMS, SUCH AS THE EBOLA
VIRUS WITH IT'S SPECIAL KIND OF
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AND THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED FOR
THAT KIND OF SETTING OR VERY,
VERY UNUSUAL PATHOGENS THAT
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES ARE
NOT ABLE TO OR DON'T REALLY HAVE
AS MUCH OF A ROLE IN FOR
PREPARING FOR THOSE VERY UNUSUAL
PATHOGENS.
>> Question:  SO WE KNOW WHAT IS
GOING ON IN SENIOR'S HOMES, IS
REPREHENSIBLE AND SENIORS NEED
HELP NOW.
THE QUESTION IS TO Mr. DUCLOUS
OR MISS FREELAND.
WHAT ARE THEY HOPING SOLDIERS
WILL DO?
HE SAID HE NEEDS EVERYTHING.
SO WOULD THEY BE SERVING MEALS,
DOING MAINTENANCE?
IF YOU COULD BE SPECIFIC BECAUSE
A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.
>> WE RECEIVED, AS THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID, WE RECEIVED LATE
LAST NIGHT A FORMAL REQUEST FROM
THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC FOR
DIRECT AID FROM THE GOVERNMENT
OF CANADA AND FROM THE CANADIAN
ARMED FORCES.
WE ARE LOOKING URGENTLY AT THAT
AND ARE LOOKING URGENTLY TO SEE
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA,
WHAT THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES,
WHAT THE CANADIAN RED CROSS CAN
DO TO HELP AND WE AGREE THAT
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY URGENT
SITUATION.
IN TERMS OF THE PRECISE TASKS,
THAT GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
PERSONNEL COULD DO EXPECT
PRECISE NUMBERS, THAT IS
SOMETHING WHICH IS BEING
DISCUSSED EVEN AS WE SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE A FIRST MINISTER'S
CALL LATER TODAY WITH THE PRIME
MINISTER AND ALL OF THE PREMIERS
AND I WILL JOIN THE PRIME
MINISTER ON THAT CALL AND
SUPPORT HIM AND I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE AS WAS ALREADY SAID,
WE ARE FULLY SEIZED OF THE
URGENCY HERE AND WE ARE WORKING
VERY HARD TO SUPPORT THE
PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, AS IS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S JOB.
WE DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS TO
OFFER AT THIS MOMENT ON
PERSONNEL OR TASKS BECAUSE THOSE
NEED TO WORKED OUT, BUT THEY ARE
BEING WORKED OUT RIGHT NOW.
>> I THINK THIS WOULD BE FOR
YOU, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE
LABOUR SHORTAGES AND THE FOOD
SUPPLY CHAIN UNLESS THAT WOULD
BE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
BUT WE KNOW SOME HAD COVID-19
OUTBREAKS AND IS THERE ANY
CONTINGENCY PLAN TO DEAL WITH
LABOUR SHORTAGES SHOULD IT GET
WORSE?
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION,
JULIE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON
AND I'VE BEEN PERSONALLY FOCUSED
ON OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH
INDUSTRY LEADERS, FOOD
PROCESSERS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART
OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN AND
FOOD SECURITY IS CLEARLY REALLY
IMPORTANT IN A CRISIS LIKE THIS.
WE ARE LUCKY IN CANADA BECAUSE
WE ARE A MAJOR FOOD EXPORTERS.
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR
FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND FOOD
PROCESSERS.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT THE
CORONAVIRUS POSES PARTICULAR
CHALLENGES TO FOOD PROCESSING
FACILITIES BECAUSE OF THE
DANGERS OF CONTAGION THERE.
AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
THE INDUSTRY TO FIND WAYS TO BE
SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THE FOOD
SUPPLY CHAIN STRONG AND WORKING.
AND I'LL ADD JUST ONE THING,
WHICH I HEARD FROM A LEADER IN
THE FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR THIS
WEEK, WHICH IS, CANADIAN FOOD
PROCESSERS ARE EXPERTS IN
DECONTAMINATION.
YOU MIGHT SAY THAT THAT IS AN
AREA OF PARTICULAR NECESSARY
FOCUS FOR THAT SECTOR.
THEY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THIS AND
THE GOVERNMENT APPRECIATES THAT
EXPERTISE AND WE'RE WORKING WITH
THEM TO BE SURE THAT THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO WORK AND THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO HAVE FOOD IN OUR
GROCERY STORES AND ON OUR TABLES
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK ALL
OF THE PEOPLE, ALL OF THE
CANADIANS WHO WORK IN THE FOOD
PROCESSING SECTOR.
THESE ARE REALLY HARD JOBS.
THEY ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL JOBS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Question:  WE'RE HEARING
ABOUT A SITUATION IN THE
OILSANDS CAMP IN NORTHERN
ALBERTA.
NOW, WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE
BEEN COVID SPREADING AT THESE
WORK CAMPS.
>> THAT IS ANOTHER GOOD
QUESTION.
AND THE WORK CAMPS ARE, OF
COURSE, IN THE AREA OF
PARTICULAR VULNERABILITY.
I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF
CONVERSATIONS WITH PREMIER
KENNEY FROM THE VERY OUTSET
ABOUT VERY THOUGHTFUL MEASURES
THAT BOTH THE PROVINCE AND
INDUSTRY ARE TAKING TO MINIMIZE
THE POSSIBLE SPREAD OF
CORONAVIRUS IN THE WORK CAMPS.
AND THAT IS AN EFFORT THAT WE
NEED TO CONTINUE.
AND WHERE THE CORONAVIRUS DOES
APPEAR, WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY
SWIFT IN CONTAINING IT.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THE PROVINCE
OF ALBERTA, THE PROVISIONAL
PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE HAS BEEN
VERY STRONG TO DATE AND I HAVE
EVERY CONFIDENCE IT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE.
>> Question:  WORKERS SOMETIMES
COME FROM OTHER PROVINCES AND
WHEN THEY LEAVE THE WORK CAMPS,
SHOULD THEY BE SELF-QUARANTINING
AT HOME?
IS THERE ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE SAFE OR WE'RE SAFE UNTIL
THERE'S A PERIOD OF TIME WE'RE
ALL CLEAR ON THAT?
>> AS YOU KNOW, MIKE, SOME
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES DO
HAVE IN PLACE SELF-ISOLATION
REQUIREMENTS FOR ANYONE COMING
INTO THE PROVINCE FROM OUTSIDE.
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES
THAT HAVE PUT THOSE IN PLACE
HAVE DONE IT FOR A GOOD REASON
AND THEY EXPECT AND I EXPECT ALL
CANADIANS TO FOLLOW THEIR VERY
IMPORTANT RULES.
>> Question:  THIS IS RACHEL
HAINES.
PRIME MINISTER SAID WE ARE STILL
WEEKS AWAY, STILL SOON TO TALK
ABOUT EASING LIKE THIS WITH
BORDERS.
WOULD CANADA BE IN A POSITION
WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW A
SUIT?
>> SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION
AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU
AND WITH CANADIANS THAT WE ARE
EVEN AS WE SPEAK, JUST OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE HAVE
BEEN ENGAGED IN PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR AMERICAN
NEIGHBOURS ABOUT THE BORDER
RESTRICTIONS.
CANADA BELIEVES THAT THE RIGHT
THING TO DO WOULD BE TO EXTEND
THOSE BORDER RESTRICTIONS.
WE JUST DISCUSSED THE
RESTRICTIONS THAT EXIST WITHIN
OUR OWN COUNTRY ON TRAVEL
BETWEEN PROVINCES.
THE NEIGHBOURLY THING TO DO
RIGHT NOW IS FOR ALL OF US TO BE
STAYING AT HOME AND TO TRAVEL
ONLY WHEN IT IS ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL.
THE WAY WE CAN BE GOOD
NEIGHBOURS TO OUR AMERICAN
FRIENDS IS BY MAINTAINING THOSE
RESTRICTIONS AND WE ARE
CURRENTLY HAVING VERY
CONSTRUCTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR AMERICAN
NEIGHBOURS ABOUT PRECISELY THAT.
>> Question:  OBVIOUSLY DONALD
TRUMP, THOUGH, HAS A REPUTATION
FOR NOT BEING SO NEIGHBOURLY
WITH CANADA AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT CANADA
WILL NOT OPEN OUR BORDER TO
AMERICANS UNTIL IT IS ABSOLUTELY
SAFE TO DO SO?
>> I CAN GUARANTEE ONE THING AND
I CAN OFFER SOME INFORMATION.
WHAT I CAN GUARANTEE IS
DECISIONS ABOUT CANADA'S BORDER
ARE TAKEN BY CANADIANS, FULL
STOCK.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO EASING THE
BORDER RESTRICTIONS OF ALL
KINDS, OUR GOVERNMENT WILL ONLY
DO THAT WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE
AND WHEN IT IS NOT A RISK TO THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CANADIANS.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED
STATES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND
SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE
BORDER, WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY
FRIENDLY, EXTREMELY NEIGHBOURLY
AND EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.
WE PUT IN PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON
NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL AT THE
BORDER IN A RECIPROCAL AND
COORDINATED WAY AND THOSE
RESTRICTIONS ARE WORKING.
WE HAVE A HUGE DECREASE IN
TRAVEL ACROSS THE BORDER AND AT
THE SAME TIME, FOOD AND MEDICAL
SUPPLIES CONTINUES.
SO THE RELATIONSHIP, IN FACT, IS
WORKING REALLY, REALLY WELL AND
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP ON WORKING
HARD TO ENSURE THAT THAT
CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER.
I'LL TURN BACK TO THE PHONE WITH
THREE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
OPERATOR.
THE NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Question:  YES, WHEN IT COMES
TO ASSISTANCE THE PRIME MINISTER
MENTIONED, THE ARMY AND RED
CROSS AND SPECIALIZED VOLUNTEERS
FROM HEALTH CANADA, COULD YOU
TELL US HOW MANY QUEBECORS ARE
ON THIS LIST AND COULD YOU
INDICATE HOW YOU PLAN TO
COORDINATE THE OFFER TO MEET
QUEBEC'S NEEDS?
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN GIVE US
EXAMPLES OF WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN
DONE.
>> Answer:  EXCELLENT QUESTION.
WORK IS BEING DONE AT MANY
LOCATIONS.
THERE'S ABOUT 30,000 VOLUNTEERS
THAT HAVE PROPOSED THEIR
SERVICES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
WEEKS ON HEALTH CANADA'S
WEBSITE.
THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE FOUND
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THEY
HAVE DIFFERENT SKILLS AND
DIFFERENT LANGUAGE SKILLS.
WORK BETWEEN HEALTH CANADA AND
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES FROM
VARIOUS PROVINCES, INCLUDING
QUEBEC, IS GOING WELL.
INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED IN
ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE
GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC CAN USE
THIS INFORMATION IN ORDER TO
SOLICIT THE EXPERTISE OF THE
VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE AVAILABLE.
VOLUNTEERS DON'T ALWAYS NEED TO
BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN A
SPECIFIC LOCATION.
PART OF THE WORK COULD BE
CONDUCTING A FOLLOW UP OF CASES
OF CONTAGION WHICH IS CONTACT
TRACING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
CONTAGIOUS, TO FOLLOW UP ON
PEOPLE THEY MAY BEEN IN CONTACT
WITH.
WE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THOSE.
PEOPLE'S SKILLS AND THIS IS
GOING WELL.
THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF
CONSIDERATION FOR THE FACT THAT
IT'S VERY USEFUL AND VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED.
>> Question:  THEY ACTED LAST
WEEK FROM THE HOSPITAL IN
MONCTON THAT THE KITS MADE IN
CHINA WERE CONTAMINATED.
WERE MEASURES TAKEN TO ENSURE
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?
IS THERE OTHER MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
FROM CHINA THAT CAN'T BE USED
BECAUSE IT DID NOT MEET HEALTH
CANADA'S CRITERIA?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
QUESTION.
THE ISSUE OF QUALITY CONTROL OF
GOODS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF
CANADA AND IN THIS CASE CHINA IS
ONE THAT WE ARE WATCHING VERY
CLOSELY.
ON THE GROUND IN CHINA, WE MAKE
SURE TO HAVE QUALITY CONTROL
CHECKS THERE AND THEN, ON THE
GRND IN CANADA, THE PUBLIC
HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA ALSO
RUNS INSPECTIONS.
AND WHERE THE GOODS ARE
UN-USEABLE, WE THEN MOVE TO A
SECONDARY OR TERCIARY SUPPLY
CHAIN AND SO, IT IS A CONSTANT
PLACE OF ATTENTION FOR OUR
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
GOODS THAT ARE GETTING OUT TO
ALL PARTS OF CANADA ARE IN GOOD
CONDITION AND IT'S SOMETHING WE
TAKE FROM POINT A TO POINT Z.
HAVING SAID THAT, IT APPEARS
THAT THERE WAS A MISHAP AND IT
IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TAKING
VERY, VERY CLOSE WATCH OVER TO
MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN
THE FUTURE AND IN TERMS OF THE
INSPECTIONS IN CANADA, IT WOULD
BE APPROPRIATE FOR DR. TAM TO
ADD ANY WORDS HERE.
>> YES, SO, WHEN YOU COUNT THE
SWABS AND THIS IS A SUPPLY
THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, SOMEONE
THAT IS A SUPPLY THAT'S ALREADY
APPROVED BY HEALTH CANADA AND
SO, SWABS CAN GO DIRECTLY AND BE
DISTRIBUTED TO THE PROVINCE AND
TERRITORIES.
WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT
ARISES, WE SUPPORT THE TESTING
AGAIN OF THOSE SWABS AND THEN
MOVING ON TO LOOKING AT
INNOVATIVE WAYS TO LOOK AT
WHETHER YOU CAN ACTUALLY
STERILIZE THEM AND THAT IS WHAT
WE WERE DOING AT AT NATIONAL
MICROBIOLOGY LAB AS WELL AS
LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT SWABS
THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT CHANNELS,
INCLUDING SOME OF THE DOMESTIC
INNOVATIVE CHANELS, AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, WE MANAGE THIS
TOGETHER WITH THE PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES VERY RAPIDLY.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> Question:  I WOULD LIKE TO
ADD THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE
SWAB, WHEN WE DISCOVERED THAT
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IMPORTS
FROM CHINA, WE WORKED VERY, VERY
QUICKLY OVER THE WEEKEND, OVER
THE EASTER WEEKEND, AND WE FOUND
OTHER SOURCES OF SWABS THAT ARE
NOW IN CANADA.
THEY HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED.
I WISH TO REASSURE CANADIANS.
WE HAVE ENOUGH SWABS RIGHT NOW
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE SWABS ARE ESSENTIAL.
>> Operator:  NEXT QUESTION,
PLEASE.
(PLEASE STAND BY)
 
>> Premier Doug Ford: AND FOR 
MOST VULNERABLE, FOR OUR 
SENIORS, OUR PARENTS, OUR 
GRANDPARENTS, HOW FAR WE GO AND 
HOW HARD WE FIGHT WILL MEAN THE 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND 
DEATH.
AND WE OWE IT TO THEM.
WE OWE IT TO THOSE WHO CANNOT 
DEFEND OURSELVES TO DO 
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER.
YESTERDAY WE ANNOUNCED OUR 
ACTION PLAN TO PROTECT OUR 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES FROM 
COVID-19.
THESE HOMES ARE TURNING INTO THE
FRONTLINE IN THE BATTLE.
YESTERDAY WE SENT IN THE 
CAVALRY.
MEDICAL SWAT TEAMS ARE BEING 
DEPLOYED TO LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
WE'RE BRINGING IN THE VERY, VERY
BEST, SPECIALISTS WHO ARE 
TRAINED IN THE DETECTION, 
PREVENTION, AND CONTAINMENT OF 
THE WORLD'S MOST DEADLIEST 
DISEASES.
THESE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BETTER 
THAN ANYONE IN OUR SYSTEM HOW 
VIRUSES LIKE COVID-19 WORK.
THEY KNOW HOW TO STOP THIS VIRUS
DEAD IN ITS TRACKS.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE.
THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OF
OUR LONG-TERM CARE HOME STAFF IS
INCREDIBLE, TRULY INCREDIBLE.
THEY CONTINUE TO PUT THE NEEDS 
OF THE COMMUNITY AHEAD OF 
THEMSELVES, BUT THEY NEED OUR 
SUPPORT.
I WANT THEM TO KNOW MORE HELP IS
ON THE WAY.
I SAID WE WOULD DO ABSOLUTELY 
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO FIGHT
THIS VIRUS.
AFTER WEEKS OF PREPARATION AND 
HARD WORK BY HOSPITAL STAFF AND 
OUR FRONTLINE HEROES, WE'VE 
ADDED OVER 2,000 ACUTE CARE AND 
CRITICAL CARE BEDS TO OUR 
HOSPITAL SYSTEM SINCE THE START 
OF THIS OUTBREAK.
AND WE'RE ON TRACK TO ADD 
ANOTHER 4,200 ACUTE CARE BEDS BY
THE END OF APRIL.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE EFFORTS 
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REDEPLOY 
RESOURCES TO OUR LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES AND OTHER PRIORITY AREAS.
LAST WEEK, I PROMISED BY TODAY 
WE'D BE TESTED 8,000 PEOPLE A 
DAY.
WELL, TODAY WE'RE AT OVER 9,000 
COVID-19 TESTS.
WE'VE HIT OUR FIRST TARGET AND 
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP RAMPING UP 
OUR EFFORTS UNTIL WE HIT 14,000 
TESTS A DAY BY THE END OF THIS 
MONTH.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPAND 
TESTING.
TESTING MORE PEOPLE AND PRIORITY
GROUPS.
WE'VE EXPANDED OUR TESTING 
GUIDELINES.
WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE TESTING 
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR SUPPORT 
THE MOST.
WE'LL BE TESTING AT HOMELESS 
SHELTERS AND WOMEN'S SHELTERS, 
HOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH 
DISABILITIES.
WE'LL BE TESTING WOMEN WHO ARE 
PREGNANT AND NEWBORNS.
PEOPLE UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY, 
DIALYSIS, AND TRANSPLANTS.
MY TOP PRIORITY IS THAT NO ONE 
IN THIS PROVINCE GETS LEFT 
BEHIND.
FOLKS, THIS SITUATION IS 
UNPRECEDENTED AND I CAN PROMISE 
YOU, WE'RE WORKING AROUND THE 
CLOCK TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO 
PROBLEMS WE HAVE NEVER FACED 
BEFORE.
WE STARTED WORKING DIRECTLY WITH
OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND, 
MUNICIPALITIES, CHARITIES, AND 
SHELTERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE 
THE RESOURCES TO KEEP THEIR 
STAFF AND RESIDENTS SAFE.
AND IN THE COMING DAYS, WE'LL 
PROVIDE MORE DETAIL AND THE NEXT
PHASE OF OUR PLAN TO FURTHER 
SUPPORT THESE COMMUNITIES.
THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING FROM
COVID-19 IMPACT EVERY PERSON IN 
THIS PROVINCE, IF IT'S A 
FINANCIAL IMPACT, MENTAL IMPACT,
PHYSICAL IMPACT, WE WILL BE 
THERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
LET ME FINISH BY SAYING THIS.
I KNOW THAT EACH AND EVERY 
FAMILY THAT HAVE LOST A LOVED 
ONE IS GRIEVING RIGHT NOW.
I GRIEVE WITH YOU.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED 
ABOUT THEIR NEXT PAYCHEQUE AND I
WORRY WITH YOU.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS 
STAYING IN THEIR HOMES AND I 
SHARE THAT ANXIETY WITH YOU.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M WORKING 
AROUND THE CLOCK.
THAT IS WHY MY STAFF IS WORKING 
AROUND THE CLOCK AND THAT IS WHY
THE ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE IS 
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
WE SWONT STOP WORKING FOR EACH 
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS THE 
PEOPLE OF ONTARIO.
THANK YOU AND I'LL PASS IT OVER 
TO MINISTER ELLIOTT.
>> THANK YOU, PREMIER, AND GOOD 
AFTERNOON.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 
OUTBREAK OF COVID-19, WE'VE BEEN
FIRM THAT THE HEALTH AND 
WELL-BEING OF OUR PEOPLE MUST BE
OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK PLANNING
FOR EVERY CONTINGENCY, PLANNING 
TO RESPOND TO ANY SCENARIO, TO 
TRULY HONOUR OUR COMMITMENT TO 
SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF 
ONTARIANS, WE HAVE AT ALL TIMES 
OPERATED UNDER THE ASSUMPTION 
THAT THE WORST WILL OCCUR AND 
HAVE PLANNED ACCORDINGLY.
WE HAVE TAKEN NOTHING FOR 
GRANTED, INCLUDING WORKING WITH 
ONTARIO'S HOSPITALS TO CREATE 
UNPRECEDENTED CAPACITY AT 
REMARKABLE SPEED.
BECAUSE OF THESE EFFORTS, 
ONTARIO HAS ADDED MORE THAN 
1,000 ACUTE CARE BEDS, WITH THE 
POTENTIAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL 
4,200 BEDS BY APRIL 30.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACUTE CARE 
BEDS NOW STANDS AT WELL OVER 
20,000.
THERE ARE NOW OVER 3,100 
CRITICAL CARE BEDS IN OUR 
HOSPITAL, NEARLY 1,500 MORE THAN
WHEN THE OUTBREAK STARTED.
2,800 OF THESE ARE EQUIPPED WITH
LIFE-SAVING VENTILATORS, UP FROM
1,300 JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS 
AGO.
THESE CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS HAVE 
BEEN ORGANIZED IN COORDINATION 
WITH PANDEMIC STAFFING PLANS TO 
ENSURE THAT EACH HOSPITAL HAS 
THE PHYSICIANS AND STAFF NEEDED 
IN CASE OF A MAJOR SURGE OF 
CASES.
AS PART OF THIS EXPANSION, WE 
ARE REDEPLOYING SURGICAL NURSING
STAFFS WHO CAN NOW WORK WITH 
MEDICAL UNITS, SHARING HIGHLY 
TRAINED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND
INTENSIVE CARE NURSING STAFF 
ACROSS UNITS, SHARING PHYSICIAN 
RESOURCES ACROSS HOSPITALS IN A 
GIVEN REGION, RECRUITING FAMILY 
DOCTORS TO COMPLETE SHIFTS 
WITHIN THE HOSPITAL, AND 
RECRUITING RETIREES, INCLUDING 
NURSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES 
PERSONNEL.
ALL TOLD, WE ARE PREPARED TO 
RESPOND TO A SURGE IN CASES, 
SHOULD IT OCCUR.
WE ARE READY TO PROTECT THE 
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF 
ONTARIANS.
BEFORE I CONCLUDE, ALLOW ME THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR 
PARTNERS ON THE FRONTLINES, THE 
ONTARIO HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, 
THE EXPERTS AT THE COVID-19 
COMMAND TABLE, AND THE 
LEADERSHIP OF ONTARIO HEALTH FOR
HELPING TO BUILD THIS NEW 
CAPACITY.
LONG BEFORE ANY OF US HEARD OF 
COVID-19, OUR GOVERNMENT 
LAUNCHED AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT TO
BREAK DOWN THE LONG-STANDING 
BARRIERS THAT HAVE FOR DECADES 
LOCKED THE EXPERTISE OF 
ONTARIO'S WORLD-CLASS HEALTH 
AGENCIES AWAY IN SILOS.
THAT PROJECT CULMINATING IN THE 
CREATION OF ONTARIO HEALTH, A 
NEW AGENCY THAT BRINGS TOGETHER 
THE COMBINED KNOWLEDGE, 
STRENGTH, AND EXPERIENCE OF UP 
TO 20 EXISTING HEALTH AGENCIES 
AND THE MANY TALENTS OF THEIR 
HIGHLY SKILLED STAFF INTO ONE 
INTEGRATED ORGANIZATION.
IN DOING SO, ONTARIO'S 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HAS BENEFITTED
IMMENSELY AS ONTARIO HEALTH HAS 
DEMONSTRATED A DEGREE OF 
RESPONSIVENESS AND SHARED 
PURPOSE NOT PREVIOUSLY 
IMAGINABLE.
INDEED, LOOKING AT THE 
SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY CREATED IN 
OUR HOSPITALS IN SUCH A SHORT 
PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S CLEAR THAT 
WE HAVE ALL BENEFITTED.
THANK YOU.
>> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HEROES 
DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
THERE ARE MANY HEROES IN 
COMMUNITIES ACROSS ONTARIO.
THESE EVERYDAY HEROES GO ABOVE 
AND BEYOND EVERY SINGLE DAY, NO 
MATTER WHAT.
THERE IS A SPECIAL TYPE OF HERO 
THAT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TODAY.
THEY'RE SUPER HEROES, IN MY 
OPINION.
THESE HEROES ARE KNOWN AS 
PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS, OR 
P.S.W.s.
TO ALL THE PERSONAL SUPPORT 
WORKERS, I'M SPEAKING DIRECTLY 
TO YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY 
HEART.
THANK YOU.
WHEN I SPEAK TO PEOPLE ABOUT 
LONG-TERM CARE IN ONTARIO, THE 
ONE THING THEY ALL HAVE IN 
COMMON IS STORIES ABOUT A 
PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER WHO 
IMPACTED THE LIFE OF THEIR LOVED
ONE IN A BIG WAY, AND I HAVE 
THOSE STORIES TOO.
AS WE CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS 
AGAINST COVID-19, WE ARE SEEING 
HOW THIS VIRUS IS UNFOLDING IN A
VICIOUS WAY ACROSS THE WORLD.
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES AROUND THE 
GLOBE ARE ON THE FRONTLINES.
YESTERDAY WE LAUNCHED OUR 
COVID-19 ACTION PLAN FOR 
PROTECTING LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
TODAY WE WANT TO PROVIDE YOU 
WITH AN UPDATE.
IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, WE HAVE 
SEEN FIVE HOSPITALS IN TORONTO 
BAND TOGETHER TO SUPPORT 38 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
THIS IS THE MODEL THAT WE WILL 
BE EXPANDING ACROSS THIS 
PROVINCE.
ISSUED GUIDANCE TO HOSPITALS TO 
TEMPORARILY STOP THE TRANSFER OF
PATIENTS TO LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES.
AND WORKED WITH PUBLIC HEALTH TO
COMPLETE RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR 
ALL 626 LONG-TERM CARE HOMES TO 
ENSURE THAT RESOURCES ARE MOST 
EFFECTIVELY DEPLOYED.
AND ISSUED NEW GUIDANCE TO 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES AND 
RETIREMENT HOMES ON USAGE OF 
MASKS.
UPDATED GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS 
REGARDING NEW LONG-TERM CARE 
HOME TESTING STRATEGY AND 
OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES TO REFLECT OUR NEW ACTION 
PLAN AND EMERGENCY ORDER, 
BUILDING ON OUR PREVIOUS 
EFFORTS.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE 
DESIGHIVE ACTION IN OUR EFFORTS 
AGAINST COVID-19 ACROSS ONTARIO.
EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.
WE WILL SPARE NO EXPENSE TO KEEP
OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN 
LONG-TERM CARE SAFE.
>> WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS.
FIRST QUESTION.
>> Operator: FIRST QUESTION 
COMES FROM LISA SHING FROM CBC.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: HI, PREMIER AND 
MINISTERS.
ON LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS ONLY 
WORKING IN ONE HOME, THAT STARTS
IN ONE WEEK AND THE MEASURE WILL
ONLY LAST FOR TWO WEEKS.
WE'RE ALSO LEARNING TEMPORARY 
WORKERS ARE STILL ABLE TO WORK 
BETWEEN DIFFERENT HOMES.
IF WE LOOK AT, SAY, 
BRITISH COLUMBIA, STOPPED 
WORKERS WORKING BETWEEN HOMES 
MUCH EARLIER BY PAYING ALL OF 
THEM FULL-TIME WAGES.
THEIR EMERGENCY MEASURES LAST 
FOR THE DURATION OF THE 
PANDEMIC.
WHY AREN'T WE GOING FURTHER TO 
GET THIS RIGHT?
AS MANY. 
>> Answer: WE'VE STARTED THIS 
THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATION OF 
THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF 
HEALTH FOUR WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
WE WANTED TO TAKE ADDITIONAL 
MEASURES AND MAKE SURE THERE WAS
MORE SAFETY FOR OUR LONG-TERM 
CARE RESIDENTS.
THAT'S WHY THE EMERGENCY ORDER 
HAS BEEN DECLARED.
FOR THE STAFF IN THE LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES AND THE OPERATORS OF 
THE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES NEED 
TIME TO ADJUST TO THIS.
SOME EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE TO 
CHOOSE, IF THEY'RE NOT ALREADY 
WORKING IN ONE HOME ONLY, THEY 
WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE.
AND THEY NEED TIME TO GIVE THEIR
EMPLOYERS THEIR DECISION.
FOR ALSO THE EMPLOYERS TO BE 
ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH STAFF.
THAT'S WHY THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER
WITH THE STAFFING STRATEGY AS 
WELL IN TERMS OF WORKERS COMING 
FROM THE HOME CARE SECTOR OR 
HOSPITALS OR OTHER SUPPORTS 
WE'VE PUT IN.
IN TERMS OF THE AGENCY WORKERS, 
WE KNOW THAT MANY HOMES HAVE 
BEEN STRUGGLING BEFORE THIS 
PANDEMIC CAME TO BE IN TERMS OF 
STAFF.
THAT'S WHAT OUR MINISTRY, THE 
MINISTRY OF LONG-TERM CARE WAS 
WORKING VERY HARD TO RESOLVE 
THAT ISSUE WHEN THIS PANDEMIC 
BROKE.
IN THE CONTEXT OF A PANDEMIC 
WHERE STAFF MAY NEED TO 
SELF-ISOLATE, WE NEEDED A GROUP 
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY
FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM 
CARE THROUGH SHORING UP THE 
CAPACITY OF STAFFING.
THAT'S WHY THE AGENCY WORKERS 
WERE NOT INCLUDED.
THEY WILL -- I SHOULD ADD THAT 
THEY MUST ADHERE TO STRICT AND 
RIGOROUS SCREENING THAT HAS TO 
BE ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT THIS WAS -- ALLOWED OUR 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES TO BE ABLE 
TO MAINTAIN THE STAFFING THAT'S 
NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY RIGHT 
NOW.
>> Question: THANKS VERY MUCH.
AND MY FOLLOW UP MORE GENERALLY 
IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOW 
SEEING OUTBREAKS IN MORE THAN 
100 LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
SO WHY DID MEASURES WE 
IMPLEMENTED WEEKS AGO, LIKE 
SCREENING, FAIL TO STOP THOSE 
INFECTIONS RIGHT OUT THE DOOR?
>> Answer: YES, AND THAT'S 
EXACTLY WHAT YOUR CHIEF MEDICAL 
OFFICER OF HEALTH IS LOOKING AT 
THE TARGETED SCREENING IN HOMES 
TO UNDERSTAND HOW ELUSIVE THIS 
COVID-19 IS AND WHO ELSE WE CAN 
DO AND WHAT OTHER TOOLS WE HAVE 
FOR THIS.
IT IS TESTING, BUT IT IS 
ASYMPTOMATIC SPREAD.
THIS HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
COVID-19 IS A NEW TYPE OF VIRUS.
TYPICALLY PANDEMICS ARE 
INFLUENZA.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S A NEW VIRUS 
WITH A NEW WAY OF SPREADING.
THIS IS A GLOBAL PHENOMENON IN 
LONG-TERM CARE ACROSS CANADA.
HIGH RATES OF MORTALITY IN THE 
OVER 80 GROUPS TO BEGIN WITH, 
WHETHER IN THE COMMUNITY OR IN 
THE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
THIS IS A GLOBAL PHENOMENON 
HIGHLY IMPACTING OUR LONG-TERM 
CARE RESIDENTS AND HOMES.
IT'S TRAGIC AND IT'S 
UNPRECEDENTED.
WE RELY ON THE ADVICE AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS AND DIRECTIVES 
OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF 
HEALTH.
THE BEST MINDS RESPONSIBLE FOR 
THE SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL 
EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION FROM 
CYNTHIA MULLIGAN FROM CITY NEWS.
>> Question: PREMIER, MY 
QUESTION IS FOR YOU TODAY.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO WEEKS SINCE
YOU RELEASED THE MODELLING 
NUMBERS WITH BEST AND WORST-CASE
SCENARIOS.
THINGS HAVE SHIFTED.
WE'RE SEEING A 6% -- WE'RE 
HOVERING AROUND A 6% INCREASE IN
CASES EVERY DAY.
WE DIDN'T HIT THE CATASTROPHIC 
I.C.U. NUMBERS.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THE NEW
MODELLING?
AND WHERE DO YOU SEE US OVERALL 
IN THIS BATTLE WHEN IT COMES TO 
THE CURVE?
>> Answer: WELL, CYNTHIA, I GIVE
ALL THE CREDIT TO THE 14.5 
MILLION PEOPLE IN ONTARIO THAT 
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, 
SELF-ISOLATION, THAT'S THE 
REASON WE'RE IN A RELATIVELY 
HALF-DECENT -- I'M NOT EVEN 
GOING TO SAY THE WORD "GOOD" 
BECAUSE THIS COULD COME BACK AND
BITE US IN THE BACK SIDE IN 10 
SECONDS.
WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS MOVING 
FORWARD.
MORE MODELLING, FROM WHAT I 
UNDERSTAND AND I'LL CONFIRM IT, 
WE'RE GOING TO BE GATHERING MORE
NUMBERS THIS WEEK.
AND HOPEFULLY SOME TIME NEXT 
WEEK THEY WILL HAVE SOME MORE 
MODELLING.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM THAT 
FIRST WITH THE COMMAND TABLE.
>> Question: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS -- AND
THIS WAS RAISED BY MY COLLEAGUE 
WITH YOU LAST FRIDAY -- THE 
PROVINCE IS NOT COLLECTING 
RACE-BASED DATA ON PEOPLE -- ON 
THE NUMBERS BEING IMPACTED BY 
COVID-19, NOR IS THE PROVINCE 
COLLECTING DATA PER POSTAL CODE.
MY QUESTION IS WHY?
SHOULDN'T WE BE LOOKING TO SEE 
IF THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES 
ARE BEING MORE HEAVILY IMPACTED?
AND THERE ARE GREATER CALLS FOR 
COLLECTION OF RACE-BASED DATA.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING THAT 
AND WHY AREN'T YOU DOING THAT?
>> Answer: NOT SO MUCH 
RACE-BASED, REGIONS.
AUTOMATICALLY WHEN WE SEE THE 
HOT SPOTS, WE CAN REDEPLOY OUR 
RESOURCES, HEALTH RESOURCES OR 
COMMUNICATION.
WE DO HAVE A MAP THAT SHOWS US 
WHERE SOME OF THE HOT SPOTS ARE 
THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.
WE'RE REDEPLOYING THE RESOURCES 
NEEDED IN THOSE AREAS, BUT ALSO 
COMMUNICATION, MAKING SURE IF WE
SEE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CASES
IN ONE AREA, WE HAVE TO PICK UP 
THE COMMUNICATION TO MAKE SURE 
PEOPLE ARE SELF-ISOLATING AND 
PRACTISING SOCIAL DISTANCING.
SO WE DO HAVE A MAP AND WE CAN 
SEE WHERE THE HOT SPOTS ARE, WE 
CAN SEE WHAT AREA CODE THEY'RE 
IN, AND WE CAN DEPLOY THE 
RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED. 
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM JAMES MORE FROM NEWS TALK 
1010.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: HI, GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. PREMIER.
COULD YOU JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT 
YOU ARE GOING TO DO TO 
SUPPLEMENT THE RENT RELIEF 
PROGRAM THAT WAS ANNOUNCED BY 
THE PRIME MINISTER?
>> Answer: SO WE'RE GOING TO BE 
ON A CONVERSATION WITH THE 
PREMIERS AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BRING THIS 
TO THE CABINET TABLE IN 
DISCUSSION AFTER THAT MEETING 
AND SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE
FOLKS THERE.
WE DO NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS I 
MENTIONED YESTERDAY.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY BRING TO THE
TABLE.
I THINK THEY DEFINITELY NEED 
SOME SUPPORT, BOTH THE 
BUSINESSES AND LANDLORDS.
>> Question: AND I KNOW IT'S 
EARLY, BUT CAN YOU GIVE US ANY 
INSIGHT INTO WHETHER SCHOOLS ARE
GOING TO GO BACK TO BEING STATUS
QUO WHEN SCHOOL STARTS UP AGAIN?
WOULD THE EXPECTATION BE THAT 
FEWER STUDENTS WOULD BE IN THE 
CLASSROOM AT A TIME?
>> Answer: WELL, I THINK THAT'S 
A LITTLE PREMATURE NOW, JAMES, 
BUT LET'S SEE WHAT THE MINISTER 
ROLLS OUT OVER THE NEXT LITTLE 
WHILE AND BASE IT ON THAT AND 
WHAT THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER 
HAS TO SAY.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM CHRISTINA TILAKIA FROM CTV 
24.
>> Question: I WANTED TO ASK YOU
ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE WAY 
TESTING DATA HAS BEEN REPORTED.
YOU SAID THE NUMBERS HAD BEEN 
MET IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF TESTS,
BUT ALSO TESTING PEOPLE.
WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD PREVIOUSLY, 
THE NUMBERS PROVIDED ON THE 
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT'S WEBSITE 
SHOWED THE NUMBER PEOPLE TESTED.
NOW IT'S THE NUMBER OF TESTS, 
MEANING SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN 
TESTED TWO OR THREE TIMES.
ARE THE NUMBERS NOW ACCURATELY 
REFLECTING WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT 
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHY THIS 
CHANGE OF THE REPORTING OF THE 
DATA?
>> Answer: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, 
THEY'RE ACCURATE NUMBERS AND I'M
GOING TO LET THE MINISTER 
EXPLAIN IT.
YOU PRETTY WELL EXPLAINS IT, 
CHRISTINA, WHERE SOME PEOPLE A 
COUPLE OF TIMES, MAYBE A WEEK 
LATER, BUT THEY SHOULD STILL 
COUNT AS A TEST.
THAT DEPENDS ON THEIR SITUATION,
BUT I'LL PASS THIS OVER TO THE 
MINISTER.
>> WELL, IN ACTUAL FACT, THIS 
DOESN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT 
IMPACT ON THE NUMBER OF TESTS 
CONDUCTED.
WE ARE UP TO 9,000 TESTS.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
TESTED MORE THAN ONE TIME ARE 
NOT SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF THE 
NUMBER.
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT 
WE'VE REALLY EXPANDED, FIRST OF 
ALL, OUR CAPACITY TO TEST.
AND WE'VE EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WE'RE TESTING IN 
DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES, FRONTLINE 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WORKING WITH
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, WORKING 
NOW WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICE 
WORKERS, WE'RE EXPANDING THAT 
CAPACITY AND THAT IS WHAT 
RELATES TO THE SIGNIFICANT 
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TESTS 
THAT ARE BEING CONDUCTED.
IT REALLY BRINGS US MORE IN LINE
WITH WHAT MOST OF THE OTHER 
PROVINCES ARE DOING AND THE WAY 
THEY'RE REPORTING, PRINCIPALLY 
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
>> Question: THANK YOU.
I'M WONDERING IF I CAN ASK ABOUT
SOMETHING YOU TALKED ABOUT 
YESTERDAY.
THAT IN 24 HOURS LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES IN THE PROVINCE WOULD HAVE
THE P.P.E.s THAT THEY NEED.
ON THE TOPIC OF P.P.E.s, DO ALL 
THE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN THE 
PROVINCE AT THIS POINT OR BY THE
END OF THE DAY TODAY, WILL THEY 
HAVE THE P.P.E.s THAT THEY NEED?
AND WHAT ABOUT A GROUP HOME LIKE
PARTICIPATION HOUSE THAT NEEDS 
P.P.E.s?
>> Answer: FIRST OF ALL, THE 
LONG-TERM CARE OVER THE WEEKENDS
WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT IN MOST 
CASES OVER 24 HOURS.
UNLESS THEY'RE NOT REPORTING IN,
WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE 
NOT DOING THAT, BUT IF THEY 
REPORT IN THEY NEED P.P.E.s, 
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT 
IMMEDIATELY FOR THEM.
AND PARTICIPATION HOUSE, A 
SIMILAR SITUATION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
EVERYONE IN PARTICIPATION HOUSE 
AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, THEY
HAVE THE PROPER P.P.E. ITEMS 
THAT THEY REQUIRE AS WELL.
SO IF THEY DON'T, MY WORD IS 
PLEASE CONTACT US AND WE'LL MAKE
SURE THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION
OVER.
A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE SINCE 
YOU'VE MENTIONED THIS, IT'S 
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL -- 
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL -- THAT ALL 
LONG-TERM CARE, SENIORS, 
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, THEY 
REPORT TO US ON THEIR USAGE, 
THEIR BURN RATE PER SE, UNTIL WE
CAN JUST MEASURING WHAT THE 
USAGE IS OUT THERE.
IT GIVES US A BETTER IDEA OF 
LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS.
ALL 626 HOMES AND RETIREMENT 
HOMES.
SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT -- SO 
IMPORTANT -- THAT WE NEED TO SEE
THE USAGE EVERY SINGLE WEEK FROM
THESE HOMES AND REPORT IN TO US.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN 
MANAGE IT PROPERLY, SEEING THEIR
OVERALL USAGE.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM MARK DOUGLAS FROM 680 NEWS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. 
>> Question: MINISTER ELLIOTT, 
YOU SAID HOSPITALS NEED TO BE 
READY FOR THE SURGE OF COVID-19.
I'M WONDERING, WHAT'S THE UPPER 
LIMIT OF HOSPITAL CAPACITY?
WILL THERE BE ANOTHER BED 
EXPANSION COMING OR MORE 
HOSPITALS FILLED?
YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN'T HAVE ONE BED
FOR EVERY COVID-19 PATIENT IN 
ONTARIO.
WHAT'S THE UPPER LIMIT HERE FOR 
ONTARIO HOSPITAL CAPACITY?
>> Answer: WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING
CAPACITY SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF
COVID-19 WAS DETECTED IN 
ONTARIO, SO WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE 
VERY QUICKLY TO INCREASE THE 
SPACES ACROSS THE PROVINCE.
SOME HOSPITALS HAVE CHOSEN TO 
INCREASE CAPACITY BY RENTING 
HOTEL SPACE.
GRAND RIVER HOSPITAL IS ONE THAT
IS PROPOSING TO DO THAT.
SOME ARE PROPOSING TO BUILD MORE
TENT HOSPITALS.
ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED AT 
JOSEPH BRANT HOSPITAL.
SOME ARE CREATING FIELD 
HOSPITALS, SOME OF THE OTHER 
UNITS ARE DOING THAT.
IT DIFFERS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF
THE PROVINCE.
WHAT WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IS HOT
SPOTS SO WE CAN INCREASE THE 
CAPACITY.
WE HAVE THE PLANS IN PLACE, THE 
TEAMS READY TO MOVE IN.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL 
CAPACITY, WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING 
THE HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY, 
THAT IS, WITH THE PORTAL THAT 
HAS BEEN OPENED TO ALLOW PEOPLE 
WITH EXPERIENCE TO COME BACK, 
RETIRED NURSES.
MEDICAL STUDENTS ARE HELPING US 
WITH CONTACT TRACING, AND OTHERS
ARE HELPING PHYSICIANS COMING TO
WORK IN OUR HOSPITALS.
WE ARE READY.
IF WE SEE A PARTICULAR PART OF 
THE PROVINCE, WE ARE READY TO 
MOVE TO INCREASE CAPACITY, BOTH 
IN TERMS OF SPACE AND HUMAN 
RESOURCES.
>> Question: THANK YOU, 
MINISTER.
JUST A FOLLOW UP AND SORRY TO 
AMEND MY EARLIER QUESTION WHERE 
I SAID YOU CAN'T HAVE A BED FOR 
EVERY COVID-19 PATIENT, IT 
ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE -- SORRY, 
THIS IS -- IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU 
ARE SUGGESTING THAT THERE COULD 
BE A BED FOR EVERY COVID-19 
PATIENT IN ONTARIO.
IS THAT FEASIBLE?
>> Answer: YES, WE ARE PLANNING 
FOR A SURGE IN CAPACITY.
WE DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE 
SOME OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE ENDED 
UP WHERE THEY HAVE RUN OUT OF 
SUPPLIES.
ONTARIO IS READY.
AS I SAID EARLIER IN MY REMARKS,
WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THE 
WORST-CASE SCENARIO AND PLANNED 
FOR THAT.
SO WE ARE READY.
WE HAVE VENTILATORS NOW FOR 
2,800.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE AUTO 
PARTS MANUFACTURERS TO BUILD 
ANOTHER 10,000 RESPIRATORS.
WE ARE STILL BUILDING OUR 
CAPACITY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVEN'T HIT THE PEAK YET, SO 
OUR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF 
HEALTH TELLS US, SO WE NEED TO 
CONTINUE TO PLAN TO BE READY AND
MAKE SURE IF WE DO HAVE A NUMBER
OF PATIENTS, A SIGNIFICANT 
INCREASE IN PATIENTS, THAT OUR 
HOSPITALS CAN ACCOMMODATE 
PATIENTS. 
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM TRAVIS DUNRASH FROM GLOBAL 
NEWS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: HI THERE, PREMIER.
PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU 
SAID THAT OTTAWA IS LOOKING AT 
THE POSSIBILITY OF SENDING IN 
MILITARY HELP TO QUÉBEC.
HAS ONTARIO ASKED FOR HELP FROM 
THE MILITARY?
IF NOT, WHY NOT?
>> Answer: WE HAVEN'T ASKED, BUT
EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.
IF WE FEEL THAT IS A REQUIREMENT
FROM THE COMMAND TABLE, THAT 
THEY NEED THEIR SUPPORT, THEY'LL
BE THERE.
WE WON'T HESITATE TO ASK FOR 
SUPPORT, NO MATTER IF IT'S EVEN 
CONTACT TRACING, AS THE MILITARY
HAS OFFERED.
SO WE WON'T HESITATE TO ASK FOR 
THE SUPPORT IF NEEDED.
>> Question: MY NEXT QUESTION IS
FOR MINISTER FULLERTON.
DR. DAVID WILLIAMS SAID 
YESTERDAY POLICIES ON LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES IS DETERMINED BY
LONG-TERM CARE.
YOU SAID NOW YOU RELYING ON THE 
ADVICE OF HIM.
IT SEEMS THE BUCK IS BEING 
PASSED FROM THE 1:00 NEWS 
CONFERENCE TO THE 3:00 NEWS 
CONFERENCE WITH HIM.
WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE CALL?
>> Answer: SO FOR THE EMERGENCY 
ORDER AT THIS TIME REQUIRING 
STAFF TO WORK AT ONLY ONE HOME, 
THAT GRADUAL TIME OVER A SPAN OF
A WEEK WAS TO ALLOW THE HOMES TO
ADAPT, SO THAT THEY WERE NOT 
LEFT WITHOUT STAFF.
SO THAT WAS A VERY, VERY 
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.
LET ME JUST CLARIFY.
THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL 
OFFICER OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC 
HEALTH, THEY HAVE A VERY 
SPECIFIC JOB TO DO.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK -- 
AND I WAS ON THE BOARD OF HEALTH
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN OTTAWA 
, SO I UNDERSTAND THIS VERY 
WELL, THEY ACT ON THE MEDICAL 
INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE, AND 
THEY WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS 
TO THE MINISTRY.
THEY ALSO ISSUE DIRECTIVES.
AS A MINISTRY OF LONG-TERM CARE,
WE HAVE LEVERS IN THERE THAT ARE
REGULATORY, AND WE CAN ADJUST 
THOSE LEVERS.
LET ME MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN 
ONTARIO KNOWS HOW CLOSE WE HAVE 
BEEN WORKING WITH THE CHIEF 
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH IN A 
TIMELY WAY TO UNDERSTAND EVERY 
MEASURE WE CAN TAKE THAT IS 
SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE-BASED.
I'M PRETTY SURE YOU WANT PEOPLE 
WHO ARE UP-TO-DATE ON ALL THE 
SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE AND THE 
POLITICIANS CAN DO THEIR 
REGULATORY WORK.
THAT'S THE DIVISION. 
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM ROB FERGUSON FROM THE 
"TORONTO STAR."
>> Andrew: AND YOU HAVE BEEN 
LISTENING -- SORRY, WE LOST THE 
SIGNAL THERE, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN 
LISTENING TO ONTARIO PREMIER, 
DOUG FORD, AS WELL AS HIS 
MINISTERS FOR LONG-TERM CARE AND
HIS HEALTH MINISTER GIVING US AN
UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN 
ONTARIO.
THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF TALK ABOUT 
RAMPING UP TESTING.
THE PREMIER SAYING 9,000 TESTS 
WERE PERFORMED YESTERDAY, AND 
THAT IS MOVING TOWARDS THE GOAL 
OF 14,000 TESTS BY THE END OF 
THE MONTH.
THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF 
CRITICISM THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH 
TESTS DONE IN ONTARIO.
THERE WERE 514 NEW COVID CASES 
IN THE
