E
LOANS TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
OWNERS TO REDUCE RENT BY A
MINIMUM OF 75% AND GOVERNMENTS
WOULD CHIP IN 50% OF IT.
THE LANDLORD, ANOTHER 25% AND
THE TENANT, 25%.
LET ME SHOW YOU THIS HAPPENING
AS WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME
MINISTER.
THAT IS THE SPEAKER'S PARADE
BECAUSE DEBATE INSIDE THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS RESUMES TODAY AFTER
PARTIES COULD NOT REACH AN
AGREEMENT ABOUT EXTENDING THIS
PAUSE, ESSENTIALLY, OF WHAT WAS
THE NORMAL SITTING OF THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS.
THERE WILL BE A MOTION ON HOW
THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT
THIS INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS, AS
NEEDED.
THERE'S BEEN A PROPOSAL ON THE
TABLE BY THE LIBERALS FOR A
HYBRID MODEL.
WE'LL TALK MORE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES, VASSEY KAPELOS FROM
"POWER & POLITICS" AND DAVID
COCHRAN.
I WILL ADMIT, EVEN AFTER
LISTENING THIS MORNING ABOUT WHY
WE'RE AT NOW, OTHER THAN, I
KNOW, THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE
AT QUESTION PERIOD LATER AND
THERE WILL BE A QUESTION PERIOD,
WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE HANG-UP
RIGHT NOW, VASSY, FROM WHAT YOU
CAN UNDERSTAND?
>> Vassy:  THE NUMBER OF
STATEMENTS AND PRESS CONFERENCES
FROM PARTY LEADERS, NAMELY THE
N.D.P.'S LEADER, JAGMEET SINGH,
THEY ARE OUTLINING DIFFERENT
THINGS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS FROM ABOUT A
FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HEARD THE
CONSERVATIVES DRIVING THE
NARRATIVE OR MESSAGE THEY WANTED
AN EXPANDED SENSE OF PARLIAMENT
AND A BIG RETURN OF NORMALCY.
WE'VE HAD A COMMITTEE THAT IS
FOCUSED SOLELY ON COVID-19 AND
THERE HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTABILITY
WITHIN THAT COMMITTEE AND THERE
ARE VIRTUAL SITTINGS THAT SEEM
LIKE QUESTION PERIOD DONE
VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON WITH A
NUMBER OF M.P.S ONCE A WEEK AND
THERE'S BACK AND FORTH.
M.P.S CAN QUESTION MINISTERS ON
THE ACTIONS TAKEN SO FAR WITH
COVID-19.
THE BOTTOM LINE, AND ECHOED BY
OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES IS THAT
AT THIS POINT IS NOT ENOUGH
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEY CAN'T
COMPEL A WITNESS TO TESTIFY
BEFORE A COMMITTEE AND CAN'T
TALK ABOUT ISSUES OUTSIDE OF
COVID-19 AND THAT'S WHAT THE
OPPOSITION HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR.
THE LIBERALS, INSTEAD, PROPOSE
EXPANDING THE AMOUNT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER THE
COVID-19 UMBRELLA, SO MORE OF
WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW,
BASICALLY, BUT STILL NOT A FULL
RETURN TO PARLIAMENTS, EVEN WITH
A REDUCED NUMBER OF M.P.S.
SO MORE OF A HYBRID MODEL AS YOU
POINT OUT.
WHAT'S INTEREST, AND WHAT I'M
LOOKING FOR OUT OF THE PRIME
MINISTER'S REMARKS IS CENTRED
AROUND WHAT THE N.D.P. IS
SAYING, WHICH IS, BASICALLY,
THAT WE'LL GIVE YOU OUR SUPPORT
FOR WHAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED,
WHICH WOULD BE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN, IF YOU DO WHAT WE'VE
BEEN ASKING WHEN IT COMES TO
SICK LEAVE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PREMIER
JOHN HORGAN HAS ASKED FOR, TEN
DAYS OF PAID SICK LEAVE BACKED
UP BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I'M LOOKING TO THE PRIME
MINISTER'S REMARKS TO SAY WHAT
HE SAYS ABOUT THAT AND IF THE
LIBERALS LEAN THAT WAY AND
ASKING FOR HELP, SOMETHING THE
EMPLOYMENT MINISTER COULD BE
COMING THIS WEEK SO WE'LL WATCH
FOR THAT, AS WELL.
BUT, BASICALLY, LOOKING TO SEE
IF THE LIBERALS ACQUIESCE AND IN
THE ABSENCE OF A DEAL, THERE
WOULD BE DEBATE OR A FEW M.P.S
RETURNING HERE TO OTTAWA.
THERE WILL BE SMALLER NUMBERS IN
PERSON AND WILL LOOK A BIT MORE
LIKE WHAT WE WERE USED TO SEEING
PRE-PANDEMIC-LIKE.
>> Rosemary:  WE DIDN'T HAVE
THAT UNDER THIS COVID-19
COMMITTEE AND THE REQUEST BY THE
N.D.P. OF THOSE TEN PAID SICK
LEAVE IS TO COINCIDE WITH THE
14-DAY CYCLE THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE
COVID NEEDS IN ORDER TO RUN ITS
COURSE AND IT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE
TO GET THAT PAID SICK LEAVE, IF
NEEDED.
IT'S INTERESTING, DAVID, WHAT
BECAME A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
TO PARLIAMENT, REALLY PUSHED
AGGRESSIVELY BY THE
CONSERVATIVES HAS BECOME A
NEGOTIATING TABLE FOR THE N.D.P.
WHO SAW A MOMENT THERE TO TRY TO
GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE
GOVERNMENT INSTEAD OF GOING ON
AND ON ABOUT HOW PARLIAMENT
SHOULD COME BACK.
>> David:  THE N.D.P. HAS BEEN
QUITE NEVER IN ADVANCING SOME OF
THE THINGS IT'S WANTED IN TERMS
THE EXPANSION AND FINE-TUNING
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PROGRAMMES.
IT'S DONE IT WITH CERB, WITH THE
STUDENT'S BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN
OR DISABILITIES AND THEY'RE
DOING IT HERE NOW, PICKING UP ON
THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PREMIER, JOHN
HORGAN, LOUDLY ADVOCATED AND
THERE'S A UNITY WITH JAGMEET
SINGH.
IF YOU PULL BACK FROM THE
POLITICS AND PARLIAMENT BEING
HELD HOSTAGE TO THE PARTIES, HOW
DO YOU HAVE A REOPENING AND
RETURN TO NORMAL, IF IN,
PARTICULAR, LOW-WAGE FRONTLINE
WORKERS DO NOT HAVE THE
PROTECTION OF SOME SORT OF SICK
LEAVE THAT IF THEY GET A COUGH
OR SYMPTOM THAT ALLOWS THEN TO
STAY HOME WITHOUT THE RISK OF
LOSING THEIR JOB OR FACING
ECONOMIC INSECURITY, BECAUSE IF
THEY HAD RETURNED TO WORK AND GO
OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, THEY
MIGHT LOSE ACCESS.
THIS IS A HUGE POLICY HOLE THAT
THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT.
THERE IS A REAL PATCHWORK, NEVER
MIND SICK LEAVE BUT JUST SICK
DAYS THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE
IF YOU WORK IN A NONUNIONIZED
WORK SITUATION, NEAR FROM THREEM
THREE TO FIVE DAYS, YOU CAN BE
DISMISSED OR ABSENTEEISM.
IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEALTH
EMERGENCY, THAT'S A LIBERTY
PUBLIC POLICY CONCERN THAT NEEDS
TO BE SORTED OUT IN SOME
CAPACITY.
WHETHER OR NOT PARLIAMENT NEEDS
TO BE HELD UP IN ALL OF THAT, I
DON'T KNOW.
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS ARE ASKING
FOR THIS AND, I THINK, A LOT OF
CANADIANS MAKING THE MINIMUM
WAGE AND TAKING THE MAXIMUM RISK
WOULD LIKE A LEVEL OF SECURITY
TO KNOW THAT IF THEY COME DOWN
WITH SOMETHING, THEY DO HAVE THE
ECONOMIC SECURITY TO STAY HOME
AND NOT RUN THE RISK OF
INFECTING OTHER PEOPLE OR
GETTING WORSE THEMSELVES.
>> Rosemary:  WE'LL WAIT TO HEAR
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER HAS TO
SAY ON THAT AND THAT MIGHT GIVE
US A HINT IN TERMS OF HOUSING
NEGOTIATIONS.
THEY'VE PUT ON THE ABLE TO TRY
TO DEAL WITH THE CONCERNS BIT
BY THEOPPOSITION PARTY BUT NOWHE
NEAR WHAT THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
WAS LOOKING FOR.
THEY DON'T NEED TO MAKE DEALS,
AS WE KNOW.
I'LL COME BACK TO YOU, AS WE
WAIT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO
COME OUT OF HIS HOME.
OBVIOUSLY, THE CASE NUMBERS IN
THIS COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC CONTINUE TO
BE TROUBLING.
BUT MONTREAL IS STILL THE
EPIINTER.
MONTREAL HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER
OF CONFIRMED CASES IN A CITY AND
ONE OF THE POOREST AND HALF OF
THE POPULATION ARE VISIBLE
MINORITIES.
MORE THAN 40% ARE IMMIGRANTS.
MARGORIE PROVIDES SUPPORT IN
OTHER PLACES AND JOINS ME FROM
MONTREAL AND MARGORIE, NICE TO
SEE YOU.
>> HELLO.
>> SO TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE
SEEING, WHAT YOU ARE HEARING IN
THE COMMUNITY AROUND COVID-19,
BECAUSE IT HAS HIT PORTIONS OF
MONTREAL DIFFERENTLY.
>> YES, OUR COMMUNITY, I WOULD
SAY IS VERY HARDLY STRIKED
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
LIVING IN THAT COMMUNITY WHO
WORK IN THE HEALTH FIELD.
SO THEY HELP PEOPLE IN THE
HOMES.
AND THOSE HOMES ARE VERY
INFECTED AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING THERE ARE INFECTED, TOO.
AND THEY LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH A VERY SMALL APARTMENT.
SO THEY ARE AFRAID OF BRINGING
OF VIRUS IN THEIR HOME AND THIS
IS WHAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.
>> SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
WORKING IN THE LONG-TERM CARE
CENTRES AS SUPPORT WORKERS AND
THEY GO HOME AND THERE MIGHT BE
MANY PEOPLE INSIDE ONE
APARTMENT.
IS THAT ESSENTIALLY IT?
>> THAT MEANS THEY LIVE WITH
THEIR PARENTS.
THEY LIVE WITH THEIR KIDS AND
SO, I THINK THERE'S A BIG FEAR
OF BRINGING THE VIRUS HOME AND
SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS.
>> AND WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION
OR WHAT IS THE PROVINCE DOING TO
REACH OUT TO THESE COMMUNITIES,
THESE COMMUNITIES GIVING SO MUCH
TO EVERYONE ELSE BUT STRUGGLING.
>> SOMETIMES WE OPEN TO MAKE A
FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND WHEN THEY
STOP WORKING, THEY DON'T HAVE NO
FOOD AND THINGS LIKE THIS AND WE
ARE WORKING ABOUT THE KIDS, TO
ALL OF THE KIDS TO GET SOME
COMPUTERS AND INTERNET TO
CONTINUE TO WORK AT HOME.
>> TODAY IS PART OF THE
PREMIER'S PLAN TO OPEN UP SOME
RETAIL STORES ACROSS MONTREAL
AND SOME PEOPLE AREN'T SURE THIS
IS THE RIGHT TIME.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
GOVERNMENT'S REOPENING PLAN,
GIVEN WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THESE
COMMUNITIES?
>> OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY AT
RISK.
WE DON'T SEE MORE RISK THIS WEEK
BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T GO
ON CONSIGNMENT, SO THEY HAVE TO
WORK AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE,
PROBABLY, TRANSPORTATION SINCE
THE BEGINNING AND THERE IS A
CONSIGNMENT FOR THEM AND WE
DIDN'T USE THAT CONSIGNMENT.
>> RIGHT.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE QUEBEC
GOVERNMENT HAS DONE ENOUGH FOR
THESE COMMUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE?
>> WHAT WE ARE ASKING SINCE TWO
WEEKS NOW, PRIME MINISTER
TRUDEAU AND PRIME MINISTER
LEGAULT, IF THOSE WORKERS WHO
ARE ASSYLUM SEEKERS WHO HAVE
BEEN REJECTED, WHY DON'T WE
ALLOW THEM TO USE THE FAST-TRACK
TO HAVE THEIR PERMANENT VISA.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR
THEM.
BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE MEN AND
WOMEN, THEY ARE AT RISK OF BEING
TAKEN FROM THE COUNTRY, IBM, AND
THERE ARE ASYLUM SEEKERS
REJECTED BUT THEY STILL HAVE A
WORKING PERMIT AND WORK IN THAT
FIELD.
>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
EVACUEE SEEN THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC, MARGORIE, A LOT OF THE
WEAKNESSES IN SOCIETY HAVE BEEN
FURTHER WEAKENED BY THIS AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND
POORER HAVE BEEN HIT MUCH
HARDER.
CAN I ASK FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON
THAT, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN
THIS ORGANIZATION ALL OF THE
TIME, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN STRUCK
BY?
>> WELL, WE ARE NOT STRUCK BY
THAT, BECAUSE IT JUST REVEALS TO
THE SOCIETY THAT THE WEAKEST
PART OF THE SOCIETY, WHEN THERE
IS A PANDEMIC LIKE THIS, WE HAVE
TO BE AWARE OF WHERE ARE THE
WEAKEST PART OF THE SOCIETY AND
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THEM?
WE DON'T FEAR THAT IN ALL IN
THAT SOCIETY, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE
THE WEAKEST PART, WE JUST
ABANDON THEM AND THIS IS THE
IMPRESSION IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WHEN THEY START TO DO THINGS
LIKE THAT DO NOW, TESTING AND
CLEANING AND THINGS LIKE THAT,
BUT IT'S FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS TOO
LATE.
>> I'M JUST WAITING FORT PRIME E
PRIME MINISTER TO COME OUT OF
HIS FRONT DOOR AND WHAT WOULD
YOU SAY ABOUT HIS HOMETOWN IN
PAPINEAU AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE
DOING?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT PEOPLE
ARE STRUGGLING VERY HARD AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO FEEL SOME
HUMANITARIAN ACTION ABOUT THIS,
BECAUSE WE ARE STRUGGLING VERY
HARD TO KEEP THE SOCIETY IN
HERE.
>> MARGORIE VILLEFRANCHE, THANK
YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME,
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SHE PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE
HAITIAN COMMUNITY IN MONTREAL.
>>> WE ARE WAITING FOR THE PRIME
MINISTER AND THIS IS A RESPONSE
TO SOME OF THE PICTURES AND
NUMBERS THAT WE SAW OVER THE
COURSE OF THE WEEKEND AND I'LL
BRING IN VASSY AND DAVID AS WE
WAIT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER.
PROBABLY A TWO-MINUTE WARNING.
I SHOWED THIS ON FRIDAY OR
THURSDAY AND I'LL SHOW THIS
STARTLING STATISTICS NOW TO GIVE
YOU A SENSE OF HOW THINGS ARE
GOING IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC
VERSUS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
IF I CAN PUT UP THE BOARD OF THE
NUMBER OF TESTS.
SO THESE ARE MORE THAN A
THOUSAND NEW CASES IN ONTARIO
AND IN QUEBEC AND 45 IN THE REST
OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE
PACE AT WHICH REOPENING IS
HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY AND THE STRUGGLE THAT IS
VERY REAL, STILL IN ONTARIO AND
IN QUEBEC AND, ALTHOUGH, THE
PREMIER CALLING NOW FOR ALL
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET TESTED TO
GET TESTED AND HE MADE THAT CALL
ON SUNDAY, VASSY.
IT WAS A DIFFICULT WEEKEND
BECAUSE IT WAS LOVELY OUTSIDE
AND WE SAW PEOPLE PUSHING THE
LIMITS ON WHAT WOULD BE ALLOWED
IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS, ANYWAY.
>> Vassy:  THE IMAGE THAT WAS
REALLY CIRCULATING WAS AT
TRINITY BELLWOOD'S PARK,
HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
IT, OF COURSE, RAISED THE
SPECTER OF ISSUE OF TESTING AND
THE ISSUE OF THE NUMBER OF CASES
IN BOTH MONTREAL, AS YOU JUST
POINTED OUT IN YOUR LAST
INTERVIEW AND 60% OF THE CASES
ARE IN THE GTA AND SOME ARE COME
OUT PUBLICALLY AND SAID, WE ARE
WORRIED THIS REOPENING IS
HAPPENING TOO QUICKLY.
THE IDEA BEHIND THE TESTING
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE PREMIER,
AND HE DID SIGNAL YESTERDAY MORE
PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE
TESTED AND TODAY WE'LL GET
DETAILS ON HOW THAT MIGHT ROLL
OUT.
BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE
AMOUNT OF TESTS THAT CAN BE DONE
IN ONTARIO IS 20,000 OR CLOSE TO
20,000.
ONLY A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST
MONTH HAVE THEY BEEN ANYWHERE
NEAR THAT.
IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, THEY'VE
BEEN AROUND 50%, A LITTLE LOWER
OR HIGHER AND PART OF THE REASON
IS, IT'S ONE OF THE LAST
PROVINCES TO EXPAND THE
PARAMETERS FOR THAT TESTING.
AND SO, AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW,
THERE ISN'T A GOOD PICTURE OF
THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN
ONTARIO AND, ACTUALLY, THE
ONTARIO PICTURE WE DO HAVE IS
THAT THERE ARE OVER, FOR
EXAMPLE, 400 CASES TODAY AND
MORE CASES THAN YOU WERE SEEING
EVEN ON SOME DAYS LAST WEEK AND
THAT TREND LINE IS GOING IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION FOR REOPENING
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE HEARD A
LOT OF APPREHENSION FROM
CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESSES ABOUT
THE WHOLE PROCESS.
THE BIG FEAR, OF COURSE, IS THAT
THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE SHUT DOWN
AGAIN OR YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE
FIVE STEPS BACK FOR EVERY STEP
YOU TAKE FORWARD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE KEENLY
INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PREMIER
LAYS OUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE
TESTING STRATEGY FOR ONTARIO AND
WHEN THAT CAPACITY MIGHT
ACTUALLY BE MET.
>> Rosemary:  IF WE COULD PUT UP
THAT CHART SHOWING EXACTLY WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, VASSY, THE
TREND IS VERY MUCH GOING BACK UP
AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND ANYONE
WOULD NOTE THAT SPIKE HAPPENED
AROUND THE MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND
BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE FEELING THAT
THEY NEEDED TO SEE PEOPLE AND
YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT IN TERMS OF
THE TESTING TARGET.
IN MAY, THEY'VE ONLY MET THE
TARGET TEN OUT OF 23 DAYS, THE
PROVINCE HAS, AND THAT'S LESS
THAN HALF AND, FRANKLY, NOT GOOD
ENOUGH IF WE'RE TRYING TO REOPEN
THINGS AND LET PEOPLE GO BACK TO
A NEW SENSE OF NORMAL, DAVID.
IT'S PROBLEMATIC IN QUEBEC, AS
WELL.
AND WHEN THE REST OF THE DRIVE
IS LOOKING, YOU KNOW, AT HOW
PLACES ARE DOING AND THEY SEE
TWO LARGE PROVINCES, THE MOST
POPULAR PROVINCE IN ONTARIO,
STRUGGLING STILL, IT IS
WORRISOME BECAUSE THAT MEANS
THAT ALL SORTS OF, LIKE,
INTERCOUNTRY TRAVEL AND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS BECOME POINTS OF
CONCERN, I THINK, FOR PEOPLE.
>> David:  BIG PROVINCES AND
MAJOR CITIES STRUGGLING TO DEAL
WITH THIS.
WHEN WE HEARD THE PREMIER OVER
THE WEEK SAYING GO GET TESTED
AND YOU SAW DOCTORS SAYING, NO,
IT CAN'T BE THIS WAY.
YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE A FLOOD OF
PEOPLE SHOW UP IN A MINIVAN SHOW
UP TO GET TESTED.
WE NEED A SENSE WHO IS COMING.
WE NEED THE SWABS AND TESTS
READY AND WE'LL BE OVERRUN.
YOU CAN'T PULL THE FIRE ALARM
AND SAY, GO GET TESTED.
IT NEEDS TO BE MORE STRUCTURED
THAN THAT.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS IN ONTARIO
HAS REALLY BEEN A BIT OF A
JUMBLED MESS AND YOU COMPARE IT
TO THE CLEAR COMMUNICATION FROM
BONNIE HENRY, WHO HAS BEEN ONE
OF THE STARS TO BE EMPATHETIC
AND GETS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO AND IT
HAS NOT BEEN IN GOOD WITH
ONTARIO WITH MIXED MESSAGES AND
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ALL OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES.
SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
JUST TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING
EARLIER ON SICK LEAVE.
I WAS TEXTING WITH A POLITICAL
SOURCE THROUGHOUT THIS AND I WAS
TOLD THIS WOULD BE A GOOD DAY
FOR PEOPLE AND SO, IN TERMS OF
THAT MEANS WHETHER THE PRIME
MINISTER, WHO WE WERE TOLD WILL
ADDRESS THE N.D.P. REQUESTS FOR
SICK LEAVE, IT SEEMS LIKE IT
WILL BE SOMETHING POSITIVE.
THE INDICATIONS ARE, AS WE'RE
SAYING, THIS IS A PUBLIC POLICY
CHOICE FOR THIS GOVERNMENT
DEALING WITH THESE PARTIES TO
DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION TO
MAKE.
THE CHALLENGE IN ALL OF THIS,
YOU HAVE TO GET THE PROBLEMS ON
BOARD BECAUSE MANY OF THE JOBS
FALL WITHIN PROVISIONAL
JURISDICTIONS.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION
AND THIS SEEMS LIKE AN EASY ONE
TO COME TO A CONCLUSION ON.
BRITISH COLUMBIA HAS BEEN
PUSHING THIS QUITE HARD,
ESPECIALLY IF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WILL PONY UP WITH THE
MONEY ON THIS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> Rosemary:  I WOULD IMAGINE
THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD DO.
THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD
COME FROM.
IT'S COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE'RE
EXPECTING THE PRIME MINISTER TO
TALK ABOUT THE RENT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMME THAT OPENS UP TODAY.
IT'S MORE COMPLICATED WHEN IT'S
A SPLIT JURISDICTION OR THERE'S
AN OVERLAP IN JURISDICTION FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME
UP WITH SOMETHING THEY CAN GET
ALL OF THE PROVINCES TO THEN
SIGN ON TO.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF, HERE IS A
PILE OF MONEY, BUT SAYING, WE
WILL USE THIS MONEY FOR THIS
THING RATHER THAN JUST GETTING
THE MONEY AND DOING WHATEVER
THEY WANT.
SO IT'S MORE COMPLICATED AND
I'MING INTERESTED TO SEE IF THIS
IS GOOD NEWS, AS YOUR SOURCE
SAYS, IF THERE'S PROVISIONAL BUY
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA WHO HAS BEEN
VOCAL SAYING WHAT THEY WANT TO
HEAR.
BUT THAT WOULD ALSO, THEN -- AND
WE'LL SEE WHAT HE SAYS.
BUT VASSY, I WOULD WONDER WHAT
THE CONSERVATIVE'S MESSAGE IS,
WHAT THEY TAKE FROM THAT?
BECAUSE I WOULD IMAGINE THEY
WOULD BE UPSET AND GET MORE TIME
TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE PRIME
MINISTER BUT YOU COULD VIEW THAT
AS A POLITICAL GAMBLE THAT IS
LOST FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.
>> Vassy:  YES, IT WILL DEPEND
ON WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS
IN THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.
IS THERE AN AGREEMENT FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO WHAT
JAGMEET SINGH IS SAYING AND IF
SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THE LIBERALS
WILL PASS THEIR MOTION AND THEIR
VERSION OF PARLIAMENT WILL
CONTINUE.
THE ASK FROM THE CONSERVATIVES
HAS BEEN DIFFERENT AND HAS BEEN
FOR AN EXPANDED AMOUNT OF TIME
IN PARLIAMENTS AND,
SPECIFICALLY, AND THE KINDS OF
SUBJECT THEY CAN TALK ABOUT
BEYOND COVID-19 AND THIS IS
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY'VE
ASKED FOR.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE REACTION
WILL BE BUT IT'S SOMETHING THEY
WERE PUSHING HARD FOR LAST WEEK.
>> Rosemary:  IT CERTAINLY IS
EASIER TO FIND A DEAL WHEN YOU
HAVE A BUNCH OF PARTIES ON THE
PROGRESSIVE SIDE.
HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF
CANADA.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WET
AGAINST COVID-19.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE
SITUATION REMAINS VERY SERIOUS.
WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.
AS WE MOVE INTO THE SUMMER,
WE'LL HAVE TO KEEP ADJUSTING OUR
ROUTINES.
OUR CITIES WILL HAVE TO ADJUST
AND CHANGE AND OUR APPROACH WILL
HAVE TO BE TAILORED TO EAST
COMMUNITY.
THAT MEANS THE RULES AND PUBLIC
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'RE
ASKED TO FOLLOW MAY BE DIFFERENT
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE.
AND THAT CAN BE CONFUSING.
BUT RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
ONE THING WILL STAY THE SAME.
EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO
THEMSELVES
AND TO PEOPLE AROUND THEM.
SO KEEP PRACTICING PHYSICAL
DISTANCING.
THIS IS HOW WE PROTECT
OURSELVES, PROTECT OUR LOVED
ONES AND PROTECT THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
MOVING FORWARD WITH REOPENING
MUST HAPPENING GRADUALLY AND
CAREFULLY.
AND THE RIGHT SAFEGUARDS MUST BE
IN PLACE, INCLUDING TESTING AND
CONTACT TRACING.
THIS IS KEY TO KEEPING US SAFE
AND KEEPING THE SITUATION UNDER
CONTROL.
WHAT REOPENING MEANS FOR YOU AND
FOR YOUR FAMILY WILL BE
DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE.
JUST TAKE THE REALITIES FACING
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
SOME WERE READY TO OPEN THEIR
DOORS AS SOON AS THEY GET THE
GREEN LIGHT IT'S SAFE TO DO SO,
BUT FOR MANY MORE, GETTING BACK
ON THEIR FEET WILL BE A
CHALLENGE AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CONCERNS IS PAYING RENT.
THAT'S WHY WE CREATED THE CANADA
EMERGENCY COMMERCIAL RENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME.
THIS BENEFIT WILL PROVIDE
FORGIVABLE LOANS TO LANDLORDS SO
THEY CAN LOWER RENT BY 75% FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES HIT HARDEST BY
COVID-19.
AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO
NONPROFIT AND CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATIONS.
AS OF 8:00 THIS MORNING,
APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW OPENED.
IF YOU'RE A LANDLORD WITH UP TO
TEN ELIGIBLE TENANTS AND YOU'RE
LOCATED IN THE ATLANTIC, B.C.,
ALBERTA OR QUEBEC, YOU CAN APPLY
TODAY AT CMHC.CA.
FOR LANDLORDS IN MANITOBA,
SASKATCHEWAN, ONTARIO AND THE
TERRITORIES WHO HAVE UP TO TEN
ELIGIBLE TENANTS, TOMORROW IS
YOUR DAY TO APPLY.
LANDLORDS WITH MORE THAN TENANTS
WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY LATER THIS
WEEK.
TO BUSINESS OWNERS, MAKE SURE
YOU'RE HOLDING UP YOUR END OF
THE BARGAIN, AS WELL.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY, WHICH WE'RE
EXTENDING THROUGH THE SUMMER CAN
HELP YOU REHIRE YOUR WORKERS.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND
TOGETHER IS HOW WE'LL GET
THROUGH IT.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> PROPERTY OWNERS CAN APPLY ON
THE WEBSITE OF THE CANADA
HOUSING CORPORATION TO RECEIVE
THE EMERGENCY COMMERCIAL RENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME.
FOR OWNERS WITH UP TO TEN
ELIGIBLE TENANTS IN QUEBEC,
BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA OR THE
ATLANTIC, YOU ARE ABLE TO APPLY
TODAY.
TOMORROW OWNERS IN MANITOBA,
SASKATCHEWAN, ONTARIO AND THE
TERRITORIES WILL BE ABLE TO
APPLY AND OWNERS WITH MORE THAN
TEN TENANTS WILL BE ABLE TO
APPLY LATER THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE INTRODUCED A NUMBER OF
PROGRAMMES FOR BUSINESSES AND WE
FIND OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM.
TODAY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE
ARE LAUNCHING A PHONE LINE WITH
THE CANADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THIS
UNCERTAIN TIME.
ENTREPRENEURS AND VULNERABLE
SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDING
CHARITIES AND NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO
RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE OF AN
ACCOUNTANT OR FINANCIAL ADVISER
BY CALLING THE RESILIENCY HELP
DESK AT (866)989-1080 AND THIS
INITIALTIVE IS PARTICULARLY
ADDRESSED TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT
MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL
ADVICE.
IN ORDER TO TAKE OFF PRESSURE
DURING THE TAX SYSTEM, WE'RE
PUSHING BACK THE DEADLINE FOR
SOME TAX RETURNS AND IF YOU HAVE
TO FILE A TRUST T3 RETURN IN
JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST, NOW YOU
WILL HAVE UNTIL 
SEPTEMBER 1st TO FILE THOSE
RETURNS.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  HAD
PROSPERITY AND GROWTH IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
TO COME OUT OF THIS CRISIS, OUR
COUNTRY NEEDS WORKERS, PEOPLE
LIKE YOU MORE THAN EVER.
OUR GOVERNMENT KNOWS THAT AND WE
KNOW THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE
TREATED FAIRLY ON THE JOB.
THIS IS SOMETHING I SPOKE WITH
THE LEADER OF THE N.D.P.,
JAGMEET SINGH, ABOUT YESTERDAY.
NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN TAKING A DAY OFF WORK
DUE TO ILLNESS OR BEING ABLE TO
PAY THEIR BILLS.
JUST LIKE NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN STAYING HOME WITH
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS OR BEING ABLE
TO AFFORD RENT OR GROCERIES.
THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT WILL
CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
PROVINCES WITHOUT DELAY ON
ENSURING THAT AS WE ENTER THE
RECOVERY PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC,
EVERY WORKER IN CANADA WHO NEEDS
IT HAS ACCESS TO TEN DAYS OF
PAID SICK LEAVE A YEAR.
AND WE'LL ALSO CONSIDER OTHER
MECHANISMS FOR THE LONGER TERM,
TO SUPPORT WORKERS WITH SICK
LEAVE.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN TAKING SICK LEAVE OR
PAYING THEIR BILLS, JUST LIKE
NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN STAYING AT HOME BECAUSE
THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
OR BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT
OR THEIR GROCERIES AND THAT'S
WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS CONTINUING
ITS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
PROVINCES TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE
BEGIN THE RECOVERY, EVERY
INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO
TEN PAID DAYS SICK LEAVE A YEAR.
WE WILL ALSO BE LOOKING AT OTHER
LONGER-TERM MECHANISMS TO
SUPPORT WORKERS WHO NEED SICK
LEAVE.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  LAN
PARLIAMENT AS WE CONTINUE MOVING
FORWARD WITH OUR PLAN TO GET THE
CANADIANS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED,
WHETHER YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER OR
EMPLOYEE, WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU CAN FOCUS ON WHAT
MATTERS MOST.
, GETTING WANTING TO
WORK SAFETY, ADAPTING TO NEW
REALITIES AND KEEPING YOURSELF
AND OTHERS SAFE.
YOU WILL DRIVE OUR RECOVERY AND
AS YOU DO, WE'LL BE IN YOUR
CORNER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
MERCI.
>> Operator:  MERCI AND THE
FIRST QUESTION IS FROM THE
"GLOBE AND MAIL."
THE LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question:  GOOD MORNING,
PRIME MINISTER.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPLANATION TO
CANADIANS TODAY ABOUT WHY YOUR
WEALTHY POLITICAL PARTY IS
ACCEPTING TAXPAYER MONEY DURING
THIS CRISIS THIS THE FORM OF THE
WAGE SUBSIDY?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
KNOW FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
DEPEND ON THE JOBS THAT THEY DO
TO PAY GROCERIES, PAY FOR THE
RENT AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT IN
PLACE A WAGE SUBSIDY THAT IS
AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESSES,
LARGE BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS AND
CHARITIES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE
LAID OFF.
THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THE ECONOMY BOUNCING BACK AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
>> Operator:  FOLLOW-UP.
>> Question:  WHEN YOUR
GOVERNMENT CREATED THE WAGE
SUBSIDY CRITERIA, DID YOU
INCLUDE THE APPEARS OF YOUR OWN
WOULD BE APPLYING FOR
ASSISTANCE?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
KNOW FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IT
WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE
THAT PEOPLE COULD KEEP THEIR
JOBS WHETHER THEY WORK IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR WHETHER THEY WORK
FOR NONPROFITS OR CHARITIES TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR ECONOMY CAN ROAR BACK AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ONCE WE'RE
THROUGH THE CRISIS PHASE OF THAT
PANDEMIC.
THAT'S WHAT WE ENSURED WAS THIS
PLACE RIGHT ACROSS THE ECONOMY
AND WE ENCOURAGED ECONOMIES TO
TAKE ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS THE
BEST WAY TO KEEP A LINK BETWEEN
WORKERS AND THE JOB THEY DO TO
ENSURE OUR ECONOMY COMES BACK
WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> Question:  JUST TO COME BACK
TO WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PROBLEMS
ABOUT TEN DAYS OF PAY SICK LEAVE
PER YEAR, CAN YOU TELL US HOW
THIS COULD WORK AND WHAT WILL
THE BILL BE FOR THAT.
?WOULD IT BE EMPLOYERS PAYING TE
BILL?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  THG
ASKED AND WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE PROVINCES TO TALK ABOUT
THAT.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A CRISIS
WHERE COMPANIES AND EMPLOYERS DO
NOT HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF
FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY, SO DURING
THIS CRISIS, GOVERNMENTS WILL
HAVE TO TAKE ON MORE OF THE
RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL HAVE
TO THINK ABOUT OVER THE LONGER
TERM IS THAT WHEN WE COME OUT OF
THIS CRISIS, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD
IDEA TO ENSURE THAT ALL WORKERS,
WHATEVER THEIR JOB MAY BE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, HAVE ACCESS TO PAID
SICK LEAVE AND WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR
ON THAT, AS WELL.
BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE DISCUSSING
THIS WITH THE PROVINCES BECAUSE
THIS IS A SHARED AREA OF
JURISDICTION.
>> Operator:  FOLLOW-UP.
>> Question:  SO YOU MIGHT BRING
THAT IN AND WHEN COULD IT START,
THIS SUMMER, FOR EXAMPLE?
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO COMMENT ON
THE SUBSIDIES BEING USED BY THE
LIBERAL PARTY AND OTHER
POLITICAL PARTIES.
PEOPLE ARE PERPLEXED ABOUT THIS.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THIS?
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE
IDEA OF THE LIBERAL PARTY AND
OTHER PARTIES USING THIS
EMERGENCY PROGRAMME?
THAT'S THE QUESTION.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WIT
QUESTION, WE'RE LOOKING AT A
SITUATION, WHERE IN OCTOBER OR
NOVEMBER, WHEN PEOPLE START TO
GET COLDS AND THE WINTER IS
TAKING HOLD, WE DON'T WANT TO
SEE PEOPLE SUDDENLY SHOWING
SYMPTOMS THAT COULD BE COVID-19
AND HAVING TO SAY, WELL, SHOULD
I HIDE MY SYMPTOMS FROM MY
EMPLOYER BECAUSE IF THEY STAY
HOME, THEY'RE GOING TO USE THEIR
PAYCHEQUE AND NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR GROCERIES.
AND WE KNOW PARTICULARLY IN THIS
SITUATION, ENSURING THAT IN THE
COMING MONTHS, WHEN THE RECOVERY
HAS TAKEN HOLD, WE WILL HAVE
THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY AND BE
ABLE TO ENSURE THE PEOPLE WHO
SHOW SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 WILL
HAVE THE CHOICE OF STAYING HOME
IN ORDER NOT TO SPREAD COVID TO
OTHERS AND THAT'S THE WORK WE
HAVE TO DO TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD.
ON YOUR SECOND QUESTION, THE
WAGE SUBSIDY IS THERE TO ALLOW
PEOPLE TO KEEP THAT CONNECTION
TO THEIR JOB, WHETHER THEY'RE
WORKING FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY OR
A CHARITY OR ANOTHER TYPE OF
ORGANIZATION.
SO IF PEOPLE DEPEND ON THEIR JOB
AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO
KEEP THAT JOB AND BE ABLE TO GO
BACK WHEN THE ECONOMY HAS
RECOVERED, WELL, THAT'S WHY WE
BROUGHT IN THE WAGE SUBSIDY AND
MADE IT AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES
BUT ALSO TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZES
CHARITIES.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> GOOD MORNING, Mr. TRUDEAU,
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE ON THAT
SECOND TOPIC, PARTICULAR THE
WAGE SUBSIDY USE BID YOUR PARTYY
AND THE OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN WELL THOUGHT
OF BY OTHER CANADIANS.
NOW Mr. MacKAY AND Mr. OH
Mr. O'TOOLE SAY THAT'S NOT
RIGHT.
YOU AND THE LIBERAL PARTIES ARE
USING THIS AND YOU'RE THE
LIBERAL PARTY LEADER.
DO YOU THINK THE LIBERAL PARTY
SHOULD NOT BE USING THAT
SUBSIDY?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  ,WA
LEADERSHIP RACE, IN THE
CONSERVATIVE PARTY, THERE ARE
CANDIDATES THAT WILL BE MAKING
VARIOUS PROPOSALS AND I DO NOT
GENERALLY COMMENT ON INTERNAL
DEBATES IN OTHER PARTIES.
NOW WE INTRODUCED THE WAGE
SUBSIDY IN ORDER TO HELP
WORKERS, WORKERS IN PRIVATE
COMPANIES OR IN WORKING FOR
NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS.
THEIR FAMILIES DEPEND ON THEIR
CHEQUES AND IN ORDER FOR THE
RECOVERY TO BE STRONG, WE NEED
PEOPLE TO KEEP THAT JOB
ATTACHMENT SO THAT THEY CAN GO
BACK TO THEIR JOBS WHEN WE'VE
RECOVERED AND THAT'S WHY WE
CREATED IT.
>> Question:  WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO
COMMENT THAT BUT AS THE LIBERAL
LEADER OF CANADA, WHETHER YOU
WANT THEM TO NOT MAKE USE OF
THAT SUBSIDY AND WHAT DO YOU
THINK THE CANADIANS WHO THINK
YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
YOUR COFFERS AND YOU'RE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF A FEDERAL WAGE
SUBSIDY FOR COMPANIES THAT HAVE
NO MONEY.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  THE
COUNTRY WHO DEPEND ON THAT JOB,
WHO DEPEND ON THEIR JOB AND
THEIR SALARY TO HELP THEIR
FAMILY AND PAY FOR THEIR
GROCERIES AND RENT.
AND WE MADE THE DECISION TO
ENSURE THAT WAIVE SUBSIDY WOULD
BE ACCESSIBLE TO BUSINESSES AND
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT IS THE DECISION THAT WILL
ALLOW THE ECONOMY TO COME BACK
STRONG AFTERWARDS AND I BELIEVE
IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION
BECAUSE WE MUST BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT CANADIANS WHATEVER
ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY THEY
WORK FOR.
>> Operator:  LAST QUESTION ON
THE PHONE.
>> Question:  THANK YOU.
FROM STEPHANIE LIVITIZ, THE
CANADIAN PRESS, THE LINE IS
OPEN.
>> Question:  GOOD MORNING,
PRIME MINISTER.
YOUR GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS
PROVISIONAL AND LOCAL ONES
ASKING CANADIANS TO MAKE BIG
SACRIFICES TO CURB THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19 TO GIVE THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM TIME TO GET READY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT PROCUREMENT
DATA, IT SAYS YOU HAVE OBTAINED
6% TO 23% AS THE GOODS YOU SET
OUT TO BUY.
SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE
CONFIDENCE THAT THE SYSTEM IS,
IN FACT, READY FOR A POTENTIAL
SECOND WAVE.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WEF
PPE INTO CANADA OVER THE PAST
WEEKS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO
RECEIVE FLIGHTS ALMOST EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
THE AMOUNT OF PPE WE'RE
PROCURING FROM INTERNATIONAL
SOURCES CONTINUES TO INCREASE.
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE
RAMPING UP DOMESTIC PRODUCTION
LIKE MASKS AND GOWNS AND
VENTILATORS, THE KINDS OF THINGS
THAT ARE ACTUALLY NECESSARY TO
HANDLE THAT SECOND WAVE.
WE KNOW THERE'S LOTS MORE TO DO,
BUT WE HAVE BEEN DELIVERING ON
THE NEEDS WE'RE SEEING RIGHT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING] WE KNOW
THAT THE RECOVERY WILL DEPEND ON
HAVING THE NECESSARY PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT FOR WORKERS ON THE
FRONTLINE, BUT ALSO WORKERS IN
OTHER INDUSTRIES AND THAT'S WHY
WE ARE PURSUING OUR EFFORTS TO
BRING IN AND PROCURE THE
NECESSARY PPE.
WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SOME 40
FLIGHTS OF PPE AND WE WILL BE
RECEIVING MORE EQUIPMENT SOON
AND WE ARE ALSO RAMPING UP OUR
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION CAPACITY SO
THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT FOR A POTENTIAL SECOND
WAVE.
>> Question:  THE FOLLOW-UP ON
DIFFERENT TOPICS.
THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
ASKED BOTH YOU AND THE
TREASURYBOARD TO SEND A MESSAGET
THEY NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE
DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WHY HAVE
YOU NOT DELIVERED SUCH A
MESSAGE?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WED
OPENNESS WITH THIS GOVERNMENT
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND
EVERY ANNOUNCEMENT I MAKE, WITH
EVERY ANNOUNCEMENT THE MINISTERS
MAKE ON HELP FOR CANADIANS,
WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT ON THE
INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
BUT WE RECOGNISE THERE'S ALWAYS
MORE TO DO IN TERMS OF OPENNESS
AND TRANSPARENCY AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
WITH CANADIANS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW FUNDAMENTALLY
THERE'S AN ISSUE OF TRUST AND OF
CONFIDENCE.
IF CANADIANS CAN CONTINUE TO
HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR
GOVERNMENT IS WORKING HARD FOR
THEM, THEY WILL KNOW THAT
CONTINUING TO FOLLOW PUBLIC
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS,
CONTINUING TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE SUPPORT AS WE MOVE
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC WILL LEAVE
US ALL BETTER OFF AS WE BEGIN TO
RECOVER.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> WE KNOW OPENNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY ARE IMPORTANT TO
KEEP PUBLIC TRUST.
WHEN THEY KNOW THEIR GOVERNMENTS
ARE BEING OPEN WITH THEM AND
OPENLY TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING
THEY'RE DOING, THEY WILL HAVE
CONFIDENCE, NOT ONLY IN THEIR
FUTURE BUT THAT THE SYSTEM WILL
BE THERE TO PROTECT THEM AND
THEN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY WILL
BE THAT MUCH EASIER.
>> Question:  YOU SAID IN YOUR
STATEMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS
CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
PROVINCES ON PAID SICK LEAVE.
WHERE DO THOSE TALKS STAND?
DO YOU THINK ALL OF THE OF THE
PROVINCES ARE ON BOARD WITH THIS
AND HOW DO YOU SEE A NATIONAL
SYSTEM FOR SICK LEAVE?
HOW DO YOU SEE THAT WORKING?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  SIT
UP A NUMBER OF WEEKS AGO ON OUR
FIRST MINISTER'S CALL BY
Mr. HORGAN THAT POINTED OUT
WHEN THE FALL COMES AND FLU
SEASON COMES UP, WE DON'T WANT
PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP A SNIFFLE,
WELL, THEY SHOULD NOT GO INTO
WORK BUT CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO GO
INTO WORK AND THEREFORE, THE
RISKS CONTRIBUTING TO A SECOND
WAVE COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHY A NUMBER OF PREMIERS
HAVE AGREED WE DO NEED TO LOOK
AT WAYS OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE
WHO BEGIN TO EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS OF
COVID-19, TO ABLE TO STAY HOME
FOR A DAY OR TWO, FOR THE TIME
NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO GET
THEMSELVES TESTED AND POSSIBLY
TREATED.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WILL BE
ESSENTIAL IN OUR RECOVERY IF WE
ARE TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19.
THE MECHANISMS ARE CHALLENGING
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO WORK
WITH THE PROVINCES.
WE'VE PUT FORWARD A NUMBER OF
MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF
COVID-19 BUT THE CANADA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT IS
DOLED OUT IN CHUNKS OF FOUR
WEEKS AND WE RECOGNISE THERE IS
A NEED FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF
TIME, SO DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
PROVINCES AROUND PAID SICK
LEAVE, TALKING ABOUT TEN DAYS
OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR,
COULD BE SIGNIFICANT HELP AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE AGREED TO LEAD
WITH THE PROVINCES.
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING] A COUPLE
OF WEEKS AGO, PREMIER HORGAN OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA POINTED OUT IT
WOULD BE IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY
IN THE FALL, WHEN THE FLU SEASON
STARTS, THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
BE ABLE TO STAY HOME AND NOT
FEEL OBLIGATED TO GO TO WORK
BECAUSE THEY NEED PAWN.
 MONEY.
SO THE IDEA OF PROVIDING SICK
LEAVE, UP TO TEN DAYS OF PAID
SICK LEAVE A YEAR WILL REQUIRE
THAT WE WORK WITH THE PROVINCES.
A COUPLE OF PROVINCES ARE
INTERESTED BECAUSE THEY REALIZE
THAT IT COULD BE A PROBLEM IF
PEOPLE FEEL FORCED TO GO BACK TO
WORK EVEN IF THEY'RE ILL.
SO THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT
IS ONGOING AND THE MECHANISMS
WILL HAVE TO BE WORKED ON WITH
THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT CAN
WORK.
>> Question:  YOU'RE PROMISING
FEDERAL SUPPORT LAST WEEK.
HAVE ANY PROVINCES TAKEN YOU UP
ON THAT AND HOW FAST DO WE GET
TESTING NUMBERS UP AND CONTACT
TRACING NUMBERS UP?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  ONE
OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE SEEING
RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE LABORATORY
CAPACITY IS SIGNIFICANT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY TO RAMP UP TESTING
IN A LARGE WAY.
WE NEED TO IMPROVE UPTAKE AND WE
NEED TO ENSURE A RELIABLE SWABS
AND REAGENTS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
ELEMENTS OF THE RAMPING UP OF
TESTING.
WE'VE SEEN PROVINCES WORK CLOSE
WITH US TO RAMP UP THEIR
IMMEDIATE TESTING CAPACITY OR
ELSE SOLIDIFY THEIR SURGE
CAPACITY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE
NUMBERS MAY BE UNDER CONTROL IN
THEIR REGIONS RIGHT NOW, THEY
RECOGNISE THAT IF A SECOND WAVE
HITS, THEY NEED TO RESPOND
QUICKLY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
ENSURING THEY'LL ABLE TO DO.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> WE KNOW TESTING AND CONTACT
TRACING ARE ESSENTIAL TO
REOPENING THE ECONOMY AND THAT'S
WHY WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
VARIOUS PROBLEMS TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE THE NECESSARY CAPACITY,
INCLUDING IN OUR LABORATORIES
BUT IN TERMS OF PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND THE
ABILITY TO DO THE TESTING.
NOW SOME PROVINCES CURRENTLY
HAVE THE VIRUS UNDER CONTROL,
BUT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO
RESPOND QUICKLY IF THERE'S A
RESURGENCE OF THE VIRUS AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING
THEN.
>> Question:  I'M WITH GLOBAL
NEWS.
I'M WONDERING HOW CONCERNED YOU
MAY BE WITH THE MIXED MESSAGES
OF WEARING MASKS, THE VIRUS
ITSELF AND WITH BUSINESSES
REOPENING AND THING REOPENING,
ESPECIALLY LIKE REGARDS TO
TORONTO, TRINITY BELLWOOD PARK.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  I
THINK CANADIANS HAVE
DEMONSTRATED OVER THESE PAST TWO
MONTHS JUST HOW SERIOUS WE ALL
ARE ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE SLOW
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, THAT WE
GET THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL.
I THINK IT IS NATURAL AS WE
BEGIN TO SEE THE ECONOMY
REOPENING, FOR PEOPLE TO BE
CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IT IS THEY
CAN DO AND WHAT IT IS THEY
SHOULDN'T DO.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO IMPRESS UPON PEOPLE
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SMART
DECISIONS OF WEARING A MASK
WHERE PHYSICAL DISTANCE IS
IMPOSSIBLE, OF ENSURING THAT AT
ALL TIMES YOU'RE KEEPING TWO
METRES APART FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
THERE WILL NEED TO BE
ADJUSTMENTS MOVING FORWARD.
DIFFERENT CITIES MAY HAVE TO
BRING IN DIFFERENT RULES TO MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN.
BUT ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO BE IN
THIS TOGETHER.
WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FRONTLINE
WORKERS SAFE AND WE DO NOT WANT
TO SEE A RESURGENCE OF THE VIRUS
AND WE DO NOT WANT OUR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS OVERLOADED.
WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED AS
CANADIANS WE CAN DO THIS AND WE
HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT BECAUSE
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THROUGHOUT
THE COMING MONTHS.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> WE KNOW THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
IN A GOOD SITUATION AS A COUNTRY
BECAUSE CANADIANS FOLLOWED THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY HAVE
BEEN KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE OF
TWO METRES FROM OTHERS AND HAVE
STAYED HOME.
AS THE ECONOMY STARTS TO REOPEN
AND THE WEATHER IS GETTING
BETTER, PEOPLE WILL WANT TO DO
MORE, BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO BE
VERY CAREFUL AND CONTINUE TO
KEEP TWO METRE'S DISTANCE FROM
OTHERS.
SOME MUNICIPALITIES AND SOME
LOCATIONS WILL HAVE TO ADJUST
THEIR RULES TO ENSURE THAT WE
DON'T SEE A RESURGENCE OF
COVID-19.
BUT I KNOW THAT CANADIANS WANT
TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THEY
WANT TO PROTECT THEIR FRIENDS
AND THEIR LOVED ONES AND ARE
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
SO WE WILL ALL HAVE TO REMAIN
VERY VIGILANT AND FOLLOW THE
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE AND KEEP
OURSELVES AND OTHERS HEALTHY.
>> Question:  GIVEN CHINA'S
PROPOSED NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS
ON HONG KONG, OTHER THAN VOICING
CONCERNS, WHAT CAN CANADA DO
PRACTICALLY TO ENCOURAGE THE
PROTECTION OF DEMOCRATIC
FREEDOMS IN HONG KONG?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WEG
STATEMENT WITH A NUMBER OF OUR
ALLIES OF REAL CONCERN FOR THE
SITUATION IN HONG KONG.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF HONG
KONG, INCLUDING 300,000
CANADIANS, WHO REALLY WANT TO
SEE THE ONE COUNTRY, TWO
SYSTEMS' APPROACH TO HONG KONG
AND CHINA CONTINUE.
IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ENGAGE
IN CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH CITIZENS OF HONG KONG, TO
ENSURE THAT WE DEESCALATE THE
TENSIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
A PATH FOR PROSPERITY IN A WAY
THAT THE CITIZENS OF HONG KONG
EXPECT.
>> Question:  PRIME MINISTER,
LAST FRIDAY, THE U.K. GOVERNMENT
SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FURTHER
REVIEWING HUAWEI'S INVOLVEMENT
IN THE NETWORK AND PHASING IT
OUT BY 2023, LEAVING CANADA, THE
LAST OF THE FIVE EYES, TO MAKE A
DECISION ON HUAWEI'S
INVOLVEMENT.
ARE YOU STILL CONSIDERING THEIR
INVOLVEMENT IN THE 5G NETWORK
AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A
DECISION?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  ON
THIS DECISION, WE HAVE BEEN
TAKING ADVICE FROM OUR SECURITY
OFFICIALS AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THEM TO ENSURE WHAT
IS THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD FOR
CANADA AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH OUR ALLIES AND WATCHING
WHAT THEY DO TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE ALL DOING THE THINGS
NECESSARY TO BOTH CREATE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND
GROWTH FOR OUR COUNTRY WHILE
MAKING SURE THAT SAFETY AND
SECURITY OF OR INFRASTRUCTURES,
OUR BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE ARE
TANTAMOUNT.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WITH
RESPECT TO THE 5G NETWORK AND
MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR
THE COUNTRY AND FOR CANADIANS
AND FOR OUR INSTITUTIONS, OF
COURSE, IN ON CONSULTATION WITH
OUR ALLIES.
>> Question:  GIVEN THE FOCUS ON
CORONAVIRUS, HOW WILL YOUR
GOVERNMENT ADVANCE LEGISLATION
ON GUN CONTROL OR ASSISTED DYING
WHICH IS UP FOR A COURT-ORDERED
REVIEW?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  OBS
THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT ON
IMPORTANT NONCOVID PRIORITIES.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IN PARLIAMENT,
THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON THIS
CRISIS THAT HAS TAKEN OVER
ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF
CANADIAN'S LIVES AND OF OUR
ECONOMY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO
ADDRESS THE NEEDS THAT CANADIANS
FACE BOTH THROUGH THIS HEALTH
CRISIS AND INTO THE ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES AS WE BEGIN TO
RECOVER FROM THIS COVID-19
CRISIS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
PARLIAMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS
THAT FUNCTION WELL AND THAT'S
WHAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO
DEMONSTRATE.
[TRANSLATOR SPEAKING]
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT CONTINUES
TO WORK ON MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES
NOT CONNECTED TO COVID-19, BUT
THE PRIORITY IN PARLIAMENT AND
CANADIANS IS REALLY TO ENSURE
THAT OUR RESPONSE TO THIS
CRISIS, WHETHER IT'S IN TERMS OF
HEALTHCARE OR IN TERMS OF OUR
POTENTIAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY,
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF
DEBATE TO BE HAD ON THAT AND
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
DO AND EMPHASIZE IN PARLIAMENT.
I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO THE
TEN-DAYS OF PAID SICK LEAVE.
>> Question:  WOULD IT BE ONLY
IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS AFRAID THAT
THEY MIGHT HAVE COVID OR
INFECTED OR TESTS POSITIVE FOR
COVID?
AND ALSO, WHAT ABOUT THE BILL,
WILL THAT PROBABLY BE SHARED
WITH THE PROVINCES AND HOW MUCH
DO YOU THINK IT WILL COST THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WEE
ONGOING AT THIS TIME WITH THE
PROVINCES, BUT THE CONCEPT IS
REALLY QUITE SIMPLE.
IF SOMEONE SHOWS SYMPTOMS OF THE
FLU OR COVID-19 AND DOESN'T KNOW
WHICH ONE IT IS, THAT PERSON
SHOULD NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO GO
TO WORK IN ORDER TO SUPPORT
THEIR FAMILY.
WE WANT TO REMOVE THAT VECTOR OF
TRANSMISSION THAT WILL OCCUR IF
PEOPLE IN JOBS, PARTICULARLY IN
LOW-PAID JOBS, FEEL THAT THEY
HAVE GO TO WORK EVEN THOUGH THEY
HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.
AND IT'S A CHALLENGE, NOT JUST A
THEORETICAL CHALLENGE FOR A
SOCIETY THAT HAS TO LOOK AFTER
THE MOST VULNERABLE, BUT IT IS
ACTUALLY A CONCRETE CHALLENGE IN
THE MIDST OF THIS CRISIS.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GO BACK
TO WORK WHEN THEY'RE SICK.
AND IN ORDER TO PREVENT THAT
FROM HAPPENING, WE'RE PREPARED
TO WORK WITH THE PROVINCES TO
PUT IN PLACE THE PAID SICK LEAVE
PROGRAMME.
AS FOR THE BILL, THE COST, WELL,
WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT AND
TO DETERMINE THAT, BUT THE
PURPOSE IS VERY CLEAR.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL
FORCED TO GO INTO WORK IF THEY
HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.
BUT IF SOMEONE HAS AN INJURY ON
THE LEG, FOR EXAMPLE, IT
WOULDN'T APPLY.
WHAT ABOUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
ARE YOU AWARE OF THE NEGATIVE
IMPACT OR THE NEGATIVE
CONNOTATION THAT THIS HAS ON
CANADIANS WHEN THEY SEE THAT
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE USING THIS
SUBSIDY?
DO YOU REALIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE
VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS?
?
THERE ARE BUSINESSES OUT THERE,
SMALL AND LARGE AND NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES ALL
EMPLOYING CANADIANS AND THOSE
CANADIANS DEPEND ON THEIR
PAYCHEQUES TO SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES AND GO AND GET THEIR
GROCERIES.
SO WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR
ECONOMY CAN RECOVER AND
THEREFORE, WE INTRODUCED A WAGE
SUBSIDY TO HELP WORKERS FROM ALL
DIFFERENT TYPES OF INDUSTRIES SO
THAT THE ECONOMY CAN COME BACK
STRONG AFTERWARDS.
SO THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR
CANADIANS THAT THERE BE A STRONG
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND THE WAGE'S
SUBSIDY IS A PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:  WE
HAVE PUT IN PLACE A SYSTEM TO
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY
CONNECTED TO THEIR JOBS AND SO
THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND PAY
THEIR BILLS WHILE CONTINUING TO
WORK FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT
OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE TO LAY
PEOPLE OFF.
IT'S THERE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
IT'S THERE FOR BIG BUSINESSES
AND IT'S THERE FOR NONPROFITS.
IT'S THERE FOR THE CHARITABLE
SECTOR AND THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE
ECONOMY TO COME BACK AND THAT'S
WHY WE PUT IN PLACE THE WAGE
SUBSIDY.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> Rosemary:  THAT IS THE PRIME
MINISTER OF CANADA ON THIS
MONDAY MORNING, IN CASE YOU'RE
STILL REGISTERING DAYS OF THE
WEEK AS I AM.
[ Laughter ]
>> Rosemary:  A SIGNIFICANT
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRIME
MINISTER AROUND PAID SICK LEAVE
AFTER A NEGOTIATION, I GUESS, IS
THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT BETWEEN
THE BOSTON AND THE N.D.P.
I'LL BRING BACK VASSY AND DADE D
FOR SOME ANALYSIS.
IT'S A COMMITMENT BY OTTAWA TO
DO THIS, BUT A LOT YET TO BE
WORKED OUT WITH THE PROVINCES
YET, VASSY.
>> Vassy:  YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE
WAY THE LIBERALS AND THE WAY THE
PRIME MINISTER FRAMED THAT
COMMITMENT AND IT COULD BE
UNEQUIVOCAL QUESTION, WE'RE
DOING THIS, IT WILL HAPPEN AS
THIS DATE.
IT WASN'T THAT BUT AS CLOSE TO
POLITICAL SPEAK AS YOU CAN GET
TO THAT.
THIS IS AS WE WERE DISCUSSING
PREVIOUS TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S
REMARKS, SOMETHING THE N.D.P.
PUT FORTH, THAT THE N.D.P. WANTS
TEN DAYS AND HE REFERENCED
JAGMEET SINGH AND THEIR
DISCUSSION IS THAT HE WILL PUSH
FORWARD WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE PROVINCES ON THAT.
HE WAS LATER ASKED, OK, WHERE DO
THOSE DISCUSSIONS SIT?
WILL YOU SPLIT THE BILL?
WHICH PREMIERS DO SUPPORT IT?
AND WE KNOW JOHN HORGAN, HE, IN
FACT, HAS BEEN CALLING FOR AT
LEAST A FEW WEEKS NOW FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
THE PRIME MINISTER DIDN'T NAME
OTHER PREMIERS.
MY GUESS IS THE ANSWER TO THE
SECOND QUESTION IF THE BILL WILL
BE SPLIT OR IT WILL BE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRIMARILY
PAYING, WE'LL HAVE AN IMPACT ON
HOW THEY DECIDE OR THEY'RE
FACING A MASSIVE CASH CRUNCH.
A SIGNIFICANT WIN, I THINK YOU
CAN SAY, FOR THE N.D.P.
SECONDLY WHAT THEY SAID WAS
CANADIANS FOR DISABILITIES.
WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE
PRIME MINISTER TO THAT EFFECT,
BUT THE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT
RIGHT NOW IN THE EVENTUAL QUOTE
COULD BE A WAYS OFF AND THERE'S
TIME FOR MOVEMENT ON THAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO FLAG
IS THE WAIVE SUBSIDY, THE
ANSWERS THE PRIME MINISTER GAVE
WHERE SUBSIDY IS CONCERNED.
THIS WAS PUT FORTH A NUMBER OF
MONTHS AGO, NOT A HUGE UPTAKE
BUT FOR EMPLOYERS OF ALL SIZES,
INCLUDING EMPLOYERS TO SUBSIDIZE
WAGES, UP TO 75% OF THEIR WAGES.
IT WAS REVEALED FOUR POLITICAL
PARTIES, INCLUDING THE LIBERALS
AND CONSERVATIVES, THE N.D.P.
AND GREEN PARTY ARE USING IT TO
PAY THEIR WORKER.
THE PRIME MINISTER GOT A NUMBER
OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, ABOUT
WERE WHETHER OR NOT THEY
DESIGNED THE PROGRAMME KNOWING
THEY WOULD APPLY AND THE ONLY
ANSWER THAT HE GAVE WAS THE
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME, IT'S
VERY MUCH DIRECTED KEEPING
CANADIANS EMPLOYED AND MAKING
SURE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO
BENEFIT FROM IT.
SO THE FOCUS HAS BEEN THE WORKER
AND THE BENEFIT TO THEM.
WHERE HE DIDN'T ANSWER, THOUGH,
WAS ON THOSE QUESTIONS, WERE YOU
AWARE WHEN YOU DESIGNED THE
PROGRAMME YOU WOULD BENEFIT FROM
IT?
MY INBOX HAS BEEN FULL OF PEOPLE
STRUGGLING TO ACCESS THE
PROGRAMMES, WHO HAVE FALLEN
BETWEEN THE CRACKS AND UPSET IN
THE CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERAL
CASES THAT THOSE TWO PARTIES
WHICH DID RAISE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, THINK, 21 MILLION FOR
THE LIBERALS IN 2019 AND
30 MILLION FOR THE CONSERVATIVES
IN 2019, THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING
TO ACCESS THESE PROGRAMMES WHEN
THEY COULD USE SOME OF THAT
WARCHEST.
I THINK MY GUESS IS DEBATE, THE
BLOCK LEADER, THE BLANCHET HAS
BEEN CRITICAL.
HE PROVIDED REASONING FOR THE
PROGRAMMING BUT DIDN'T EXPLAIN
WHY HE FELT HIS PARTY SHOULD
BENEFIT FROM IT.
>> Rosemary:  NO, HE DIDN'T AT
ALL, REALLY.
>> Rosemary:  SO MANY OF THE
PARTIES ARE USING IT.
THE BLOC IS NOT USING IT WHICH
ALLOWS Mr. BLANCHET TO FIRE
OPENLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE
OTHER PARTIES.
ON THE SICK LEAVE, ONLY
EMPLOYEES IN QUEBEC AND P.E.I.
AND THOSE UNDER THE CANADA
LABOUR CODE HAVE SOME SORT OF
PAID SICK LEAVE AND IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT EXISTS WIDELY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE IDEA
THAT YOU WOULD GET TEN DAYS OF
PAID SICK LEAVE IF YOU HAD A
CONCERN YOU HAD COVID OR
COVID-LIKE SYMPTOMS AND WORK OFD
ABOUT GOING INTO WORK, THAT
COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO
PEOPLE IF THEY CAN GET THIS
SORTED OUT, DAVID.
THAT'S WHERE THE ISSUE LIES NOW.
>> David:  IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
PRESENT-DAY SITUATION.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE ORIGIN
STORY OF THIS, AS THE PRIME
MINISTER TELLS US, THE
POSSIBILITY OF THE A SECOND
WAVE.
THE IDEA OF PREPARING FOR THE
SECOND WAVE MAY SEEM A LONG WAY
OFF, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT AT
THIS POINT IN TIME FROM THE
ORDERING OF EQUIPMENT TO THE
STOCKPILING OF SUPPLIES TO THE
CREATION AND DRAFTING OF SUPPORT
PROGRAMMES THAT WILL BE NEEDED
TO MINIMIZE ANY POTENTIAL SECOND
WAVE IMPACT.
HORGAN ASKED IF THERE'S AN OPEN
LETTER FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
FROM THE BUSINESS GROUPS ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE MAJOR
ONES IN ONTARIO AND BRITISH
COLUMBIA, IN PARTICULAR, AND
THIS IS SOMETHING THE PRIME
MINISTER SAYS SHOULD THEY GET TO
AN AGREEMENT, AND WELL BE IT TO
THE PREMIER WHO STANDS IN THE
WAY OF PAID SICK LEAVE IN A
PANDEMIC, THIS COULD LAST BEYOND
THE COVID-19 AGES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THEY LOOK AT
AS THE CREATION OF A NEW
NATIONAL SOCIAL PROGRAMME OF
SOME SORT AS WE SEEM TO BE
CREATES EVERY TWO TO THREE WEEKS
NOW.
IT'S SOMETHING THE PRIME
MINISTER HAS PUT SQUARELY ON THE
TABLE.
SO WE WILL GET REACTION FROM THE
PROVINCES AND THE CHAIR OF THE
COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION, WHICH
IS THE ORGANIZATION OF
PROVISIONAL AND TERRITORIAL
PREMIERS THAT MEETS EVERY YEAR
AND COORDINATES BEFORE THEY SIT
DOWN FOR THE TELECONFERENCE THEY
DO, TYPICALLY, EVERY THURSDAY
NIGHT DURING THIS PANDEMIC, TO
SEE EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE ON
THIS.
I KNOW THAT THE FINANCIAL
ABILITY OF SOME PROVINCES IS NOT
THE SAME AS THE OTHERS, RIGHT?
LIKE THE ABILITY OF PAYING FOR
BIG PROGRAMMES, PROVINCES LIKE
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR WHICH
ARE REALLY STRUGGLING
FINANCIALLY, THEY MAY BE LIMITED
ON THIS.
SO WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THIS, I
WOULD SUSPECT TO MAKE IT AS
UNIFORM THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO DO THE
HEAVY FINANCIAL LIFTING.
>> Rosemary:  IF YOU LOOK AT THE
COMMERCIAL RENT PROGRAMME, THEY
ASK FOR 25% BUY-IN FROM THE
PROVINCES AND WE'LL SEE IF
PROVINCES CAN PONY UP THAT MUCH
AND IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MUCH THIS
WOULD COST.
I'LL JUST REMIND VIEWERS
WATCHING US ON "CBC NEWS
NETWORK," YOU'RE WATCHING THE
DAILY PANDEMIC UPDATE.
WE JUST HEARD FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER AND IN A FEW MOMENT'S
TIME WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
FEDERAL CABINET MINISTERS ON THE
PICTURE NATIONALLY IN THIS
COUNTRY OF HOW WE'RE DOING WITH
THE PANDEMIC.
(PLEASE STAND BY).
AND LAST TIME WE TALKED SHE WAS 
THINKING ABOUT RE-OPENING AND 
HOW THAT WOULD ALL WORK.
WE WANDED TO BRIDGESING YOU 
BACK BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY 
COMMERCIAL RENT IS PROBABLY 
YOUR BIGGEST EXPENSE, I WOULD 
IMAGINE.
AND I WONDER, HAVING TWO 
STORES, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE 
TO DO AND WHAT YOUR LANDLORD 
HAS TOLD YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING 
ME BACK, ROSY.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THE CECRA HAS BEEN A 
CHALLENGE FOR ME PERSONALLY AND 
PROBABLY A LOT OF OTHER 
BUSINESS OWNERS.
THE REASON IS THAT ULTIMATELY 
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE 
BIG OHSER ISSUE WITH IT IS THAT 
ULTIMATELY THE SMALL BUSINESS 
OWNER IS KIND OF HAS TO WAIT 
FOR THE LANDLORD TO APPLY AND 
TO AGREE TO BE PART OF THE 
PROGRAMME BEFORE GETTING ANY 
TYPE OF BENEFIT OR SUBSIDY PAID.
SO, IT'S REALLY COMPLETELY OUT 
OF OUR HANDS.
SO, WHEN IT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED 
ALMOST A MONTH AGO, BEFORE THE 
MAY RENT WAS DUE, I PERSONALLY 
CONTACTED BOTH MY LANDLORDS.
I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO 
THEM.
NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAVE FULLY 
COMMITED TO WANT TO PARTICIPATE 
IN THE PROGRAMME FOR VARIOUS 
REASONS.
THE BIGGEST COMMENT THAT I GET 
IS THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE RED 
TAPE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
AND I GUESS FROM THEIR POINT OF 
VIEW, THERE'S NO REAL INCENTIVE.
IF THEY SIGN UP FOR THIS 
PROGRAMME, THEY'RE GOING TO 
LOSE 25% RENT THAT THEY HAVE TO 
PAY FOR.
AND THEN THE SMALL BUSINESS 
OWNER WOULD PAY 25%, WHICH 
WOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT, 
OBVIOUSLY, FOR ME AND FOR OTHER 
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
BUT IT'S REALLY OUT OF OUR 
HANDS.
SO, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALMOST 
TO THE POINT OF BEGGING MY 
LANDLORDS WERE EXTREMELY 
HUMILIATING IN MY CASE.
I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO THAT 
BEFORE.
AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT 
THEY'LL PARTICIPATE.
RENT IS DUE IN ANOTHER WEEK.
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE 
RELYING ON SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP 
US.
IT'S NOT EASY.
>> Rosemary: SO HOW HAVE YOU 
PAID THE RENT?
CAN I ASK?
IN THE PAST, I GUESS THERE'S 
PROBABLY BEEN TWO RENT PAYMENTS.
HOW HAVE YOU PAID THE RENT?
>> THE FIRST ONE IN APRIL.
I WENT INTO MY PERSONAL LINE OF 
CREDIT TO PAY THE RENT.
OBVIOUSLY WE WERE MANDATED 
CLOSED.
THERE WAS NO INCOME COMING IN 
AT ALL.
LIKE ZERO.
AND SO FOR APRIL I WENT INTO MY 
OWN PERSONAL LINE OF CREDIT AND 
THEN WHEN MAY CAME AROUND, I 
COULD HAVE DONE THAT AS WELL.
BUT PART OF ME IS LIKE WHY AM I 
GOING TO KEEP PUTTING MYSELF 
INTO PERSONAL DEBT WHEN I WOULD 
LIKE TO WORK WITH MY LANDLORDS 
IN THIS PROGRAMME THAT SEEMS 
LIKE IT WOULD BE A WAY TO SHARE 
SOME OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED 
WITH THE CLOSURES.
INSTEAD OF IT ALL BEING ON THE 
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER'S 
SHOULDER, IT WOULD BE, I THINK, 
FAIR TO SPLIT IT BETWEEN 
LANDLORDS AND MAYBE THE BANKS.
SO I DON'T KNOW.
SOMEONE.
I FEEL FRUSTRATED THAT IT'S 
JUST US WHO ARE SHOULDER AGO 
LOT OF THIS.
-- SHOULDERING A LOT OF THIS.
SO, I DIDN'T PAY MY MAY RENT AS 
A RESULT.
I FELT IF I PAID APRIL AND I 
PAY MAY, THERE IS NOT MUCH 
INCENTIVE.
THE LEVERAGE IS GONE.
THERE'S NO INCENTIVE FOR THEM 
TO PARTICIPATE.
SO, THAT'S WHERE I STAND.
>> Rosemary: THE LAST TIME I 
TALKED TO THE FINANCE MINISTER 
MAYBE A WEEK AGO OR SO ABOUT 
THIS ISSUE, AND I HAD THE SAME 
QUESTION -- WHY WOULD A 
LANDLORD BOTHER DOING THIS?
AND HIS ANSWER IS, I THINK YOU 
DEMONSTRATE IT WELL.
HIS ANSWER IS YOU CAN EITHER 
HAVE NO RENT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU 
DID IN MAY OR YOU CAN BE 
GUARANTEED 75% OF THE RENT, 
PART OF IT BACKED BY THE 
GOVERNMENT AND PART OF IT BY 
THE TENANT.
WHEN YOU'VE MADE THAT CASE TO 
YOUR LANDLORDS OR IF YOU MAKE 
THAT CASE, WHAT IS THE RESPONSE?
BECAUSE AT LEAST -- IF YOU 
DIDN'T PAY IN MAY, AT LEAST 
THEY GET 75% IN JUNE.
IS THAT NOT APPEALING TO THEM?
>> I WOULD THINK SO.
[LAUGHTER]
FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, I WOULD 
THINK SO.
YONS.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK THE MAIN 
COMMENTS I'VE GOTTEN, AND AGAIN 
EACH SMALL BUSINESS OWNER -- 
EACH SMALL BUSINESS IS VERY 
INDIVIDUAL.
RIGHT?
SO THE COMMUNICATION WITH 
LANDLORDS IS ALSO VERY 
INDIVIDUAL.
FOR ME, PERSONALLY, ONE OF MY 
LANDLORDS SAID I HAVE A BUNCH 
OF VARIOUS COMMERCIAL 
PROPERTIES.
I'M OVERWHELMED WITH EVERYTHING 
RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE ARE LEAVING AND HANDING 
IN KEYS, CLOTHING.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO LOOK 
INTO THIS, TO APPLY FOR IT, TO 
DO ANYTHING.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
THE OTHER ONE ISLIKE WE SOLD 
OUR BUILDING AS OF JULY 1 AND 
WE'RE ALMOST ON OUR WAY OUT.
WE ALSO AREN'T INTERESTED.
THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH 
REASONS FOR THEM NOT TO DO IT 
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FEELING 
THE PIFRJS RIGHT NOW, MAYBE.
I DON'T KNOW.
-- PINCH RIGHT NOW, MAYBE.
I DON'T KNOW.
THE SAME WAY WE ARE.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
IF THEY DON'T BUY INTO THIS, 
YOU HAVE ANOTHER MONTH'S RENT 
DUE NOT LONG FROM NOW.
HAVE YOU ALREADY TURNED YOUR 
MIND AS TO WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN 
FOR YOU?
>> OF COURSE.
THIS WEEKEND I HAVE TO MAKE THE 
DREADED PHONE CALL AGAIN AND 
SAY I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO 
PAY JUNE'S RENT.
AS OF TODAY, IN MONTREAL, WE'RE 
ALLOWED TO BE RE-OPENING OUR 
STORES.
I MADE THE CHOICE NOT TO, FOR 
VARIOUS REASONS.
BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS EVEN IF 
WE DID OPEN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN I 
HAVE AN ONLINE STORE THAT HAS 
GENERATED A LITTLE BIT OF SALES 
AND MY CLIENTS HAVE BEEN 
FANTASTIC ABOUT CALLING IN 
ORDERS.
BUT IT IS STILL WELL BELOW 
WHERE WE NORMALLY ARE THIS TIME 
OF YEAR.
AS WE HEAD INTO JUNE, EVEN IF 
WE CAN RE-OPEN WHICH I'M HOPING 
TO DO AT ONE OF MY LOCATIONS 
THIS WEEK, THE ISSUE IS WILL 
THE CLIENTS COME BACK?
JUNE AND JULY ARE OUR BUSIEST 
MONTHS.
WE WON'T BE IN THAT SITUATION, 
I DON'T THINK, THAT WE'VE BEEN 
PAST.
AGAIN, THERE IS STILL GOING TO 
BE CRUNCH.
WHEN WE RE-OPEN, THEN THERE IS 
EMPLOYEE COSTS, ALTHOUGH THE 
SUBSIDY IS IN PLACE, WHICH IS 
GREAT.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
IT IS STILL GOING TO BE A 
CRUNCH.
IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT.
AND I CAN SAY FOR MYSELF 
PERSONALLY, WE'RE ALL MAXED OUT 
BUSINESS-WISE ON OUR LOANS.
WE CAME OFF OUR SLOW SEASON.
SO OUR BUSINESS LINES ARE MAXED 
WHICH IS WHY I'VE HAD TO USE 
PERSONAL MONEY.
BUT THAT WILL ONLY BRING YOU SO 
FAR.
ANJA KEEP PUTTING MY OWN 
PERSONAL FINANCIAL SITUATION ON 
THE LINE CONTINUOUSLY.
SO, I THINK IN ALL REALITY 
THERE WILL BE NO RENT PAYMENT 
IN JUNE AND HOPEFULLY I CAN USE 
THAT AS SOME LEVERAGE FOR THEM 
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMME.
NOW THAT I'S OPEN, AGAIN HOW 
LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM TO 
GET THE MONEY, YOU KNOW?
SO WI DON'T REALLY KNOW RIGHT 
NOW.
>> Rosemary: IS THERE ANY 
CHANCE YOU CAN GET EVICTED IF 
YOU CONTINUE NOT TO PAY OR HAS 
THAT BEEN ON PAUSE IN MONTREAL?
>> I THINK -- NO, IT HASN'T 
BEEN ON PAUSE BY THE PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE.
IN EVERY LEASE AGREEMENT, IT 
ALWAYS SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF 
YOU DON'T MAKE A RENT PAYMENT, 
THEY HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF 
DAYS THEY CAN NOTIFY YOU.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A CERTAIN 
NUMBER OF DAYS TO PAY THE RENT.
LUCKILY I HAVE BEEN IN A 
SITUATION, BOTH MY LANDLORDS 
HAVE, AS OF MAY, THEY WERE 
PRETTY UNDERSTANDING TO THE 
SITUATION.
SO I DID NOT RECEIVE THAT 
LETTER.
IF I DO RECEIVE THAT LETTER, 
THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU 
KNOW, LOOK WHERE I STAND AND 
MAKE SOME DECISIONS.
BECAUSE THE OTHER THING WITH 
THE COMMERCIAL LEASE IS THAT 
WHEN WE SIGN IT, IT'S NOT LIKE 
A PERSONAL LEASE.
WHEN WE SIGN IT, WE HAVE TO 
GIVE ALL KINDS OF GUARANTEES 
PERSONALLY.
SO, YOU CAN'T JUST WALK AWAY, 
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TWO YEARS LEFT 
ON ONE OF MY LEASES.
I'M LEGALLY ON THE HOOK SO TO 
SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE 
PAYMENTS UP UNTIL THE END OF 
THE LEASE.
SO, YEAH.
SO, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO 
CONSIDER.
>> Rosemary: DEBBIE, WE BROUGHT 
YOU BACK BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY 
GOOD AT EXPRESSING THE CONCERNS 
THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE 
STRUGGLING WITH.
SO I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT THERE 
IS OTHER PEOPLE LIKE YOU ALSO 
WORRIED AND WE WILL TRY TO, YOU 
KNOW, KEEP PUSHING THE 
GOVERNMENT TO GET SOME CLEAR 
ANSWERS FOR YOU.
I HOPE THE LANDLORDS ARE 
UNDERSTANDING IN THE NEXT WEEK 
OR SO.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ROSIE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> Rosemary: OK.
WE'LL CHECK BACK IN  A NEW 
WEEKS AND SEE HOW IT IS GOING.
OK.
WE ARE WAITING, AS I SAID, TO 
BRING YOU THE FEDERAL BRIEFING 
WITH CABINET MINISTERS AND 
FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS 
TRYING TO QUICKLY SQUEEZE IN 
ANOTHER PERSON HERE BECAUSE 
WE'RE GOING STAY IN MONTREAL.
BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD THERE FROM 
DEBBIE, THERE ARE MANY STORES 
THAT ARE ALLOWED TO RE-OPEN 
TODAY.
AND DEBORAH ARBECK IS THE HOST 
OF CBC MONTREAL.
STORES CAN OPEN.
NOT EVERYONE IS, BUT THERE ARE 
SOME STORES STARTING TO OPEN 
THERE.
>> YEAH,  ROSEMARY, SHOPPING AS 
USUAL IS NOT WHAT WE'LL 
EXPERIENCE.
BUT MONTREAL IS BASICALLY OPEN 
FOR BUSINESS AGAIN.
IT'S CERTAINLY NO BLACK FRIDAY 
ATMOSPHERE OUT THERE.
PEOPLE ARE LINING UP.
THEY HAVE LONG LINE-UPS IN MANY 
CASES AHEAD OF THEM.
IN STORES IN THE CITY.
THE ONLY STORES THAT YOU CAN 
ACCESS RIGHT NOW ARE STORES 
THAT HAVE AN EXTERIOR ACCESS.
SO CERTAINLY YOU CANNOT GO TO 
THE MALL UNLESS THERE IS A 
STORE AT THE MALL THAT HAS AN 
EXTERIOR ENTRANCE.
ONCE PEOPLE GET INSIDE AT 
REDUCED NUMBER -- SOME STORES 
ARE ONLY ALLOWING ONE PERSON IN 
AT A TIME.
THEY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A 
SALES PERSON AS THEY DO THEIR 
SHOPPING.
THERE ARE STICKERS ON THE FLOOR 
TELLING SHOPPER WHICH IS 
DIRECTION TO GO IN.
THERE'S PLEXTY GLASS AT THE 
COUNTERS.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH 
STAFF AND CUSTOMERS WEAR MASKS 
AS THEY ARE SHOPPING.
SO FAR THIS MORNING WHAT WE'RE 
HEARING IS THAT ABOUT HALF OF 
CUSTOMERS THAT OUR REPORTERS 
HAVE BEEN SEEING ARE WEARING 
THOSE MASKS.
CERTAINLY SHOPPERS ARE HAPPY TO 
BE BACK IN THE STORES BUT ONE 
OF THE BIG ITEMS SEEMS TO BE 
RUNNING SHOES.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A RUN ON 
RUNNING SHOES RIGHT NOW.
IT KIND OF MAKES SENSE, 
ACTUALLY.
BECAUSE SO MANY RUNNERS ARE OUT 
ON THE STREETS OF MONTREAL 
THESE DAYS.
>> Rosemary: OK.
MONTREAL IS MY FAVOURITE 
SHOPPING TOWN, BUT I'M NOT 
COMING ANYTIME SOON.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> Rosemary: I'M GOING BRING 
YOU TO THE FEDERAL BRIEFING NOW.
DR. TERESA TAM IS SPEAKING.
THERE'S LISTEN IN.
-- LET'S LISTEN IN.
>> IN THE PAST WEEK, WE HAVE 
BEEN TESTING AN AVERAGE OF 
22300 PEOPLE DAILY.
THESE NUMBERS CHANGE QUICKLY 
AND ARE UPDATED REGULARLY ON 
CANADA.CA/CORONAVIRUS.
THIS WEEK IS PARAMEDIC SERVICES 
WEEK.
AND QUITE FITTINGLY, THIS 
YEAR'S THEME IS PANDEMIC: 
PARAMEDICS ON THE FRONTLINE.
I THINK MOST OF US ARE AWARE OF 
THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF 
PARAMEDICS IN OUR HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM.
AS FIRST RESPONDERS PROVIDING 
LIFE-SAVING PREHOSPITAL CARE 
DURING TIMES OF GREAT URGENCY.
THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE 
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT ROLE 
PARAMEDICS PLAY ON THE 
FRONTLINES OF THE HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM DURING A CRISIS OF THE 
SCALE OF COVID-19.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERSTATE 
THE LIFE SAVING IMPORTANCE OF 
OUR PARAMEDICAL SERVICES.
PARAMEDICS RESPOND TO ALL 
MANNER OF EMERGENCIES FROM 
ATTENDING THE SAO *EFN OF AN 
ACCIDENT TO PROVIDING 
LIFE-SAVING CARE DURING ACUTE 
HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH 
EMERGENCIES.
PAR MED I BELIEVES HAVE BEEN 
INSTRUMENTAL ON THE FRONT LINES 
OF THE OPIOID CRISIS AND NOW 
THE COVID-19 CRISIS AS WELL.
PARAMEDICS NOT ONLY PROVIDE 
THEIR EXPERTISE AND ONE-ON-ONE 
HUMAN CONNECTION, BUT THEY ALSO 
FORGE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 
WITH ORGANISATIONS TO PROMOTE 
PATIENT CARE AND IMPROVE HEALTH 
IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I RECENTLY LEARNED OF AN 
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMME THAT WAS 
SPEARHEADED BY PARAMEDICKS IN 
RENFREW COUNTY, A RURAL AREA 
OUTSIDE OF OTTAWA.
IT IS A JOINT EFFORT OF 
PARTNERS ACROSS THE HEALTH 
SYSTEM TO PRESERVE HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM CAPACITY WHILE AT THE 
SAME TIME ENSURING THAT PEOPLE 
RECEIVE THE CARE THEY NEED.
SO, A VIRTUAL TRIAGE OF 
ASSESSMENT CENTRES, PATIENTS 
CAN BE LINKED WITH A HEALTH 
CARE PROVIDER AND PROVIDED WITH 
AN APPOINTMENT.
IF AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT IS 
REQUIRED, A PARAMEDIC CAN BE 
DISPATCHED TO MAKE A HOUSE 
CALLFUL THIS IS A WONDERFUL 
EXAMPLE OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM 
COMING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT 
NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.
AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANT 
ROLE THAT PARAMEDICS PLAY IN 
LINKING COMMUNITIES TO HEALTH 
CARE SETTINGS.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW 
PARAMEDICS CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH 
AND WELL-BEING ACROSS THE 
HEALTH SYSTEM AND IN OUR 
COMMUNITIES IN INNOVATIVE WAYS.
THIS WEEK IS A GREAT 
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE AND 
GIVE AN EXTRA SHOUT-OUT TO 
PARAMEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS 
ACROSS CANADA.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
>> MERCI.
DR. NAJOO?
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: GOOD 
AFTERNOON.
AS USUAL, I WILL START WITH THE 
LATEST NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN 
CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 85103 CASES, 
INCLUDING 6453 DEATHS AND 44219 
PEOPLE RECOVERED, ABOUT 52% 
WE HAVE NOW TESTED IN CANADA 
OVER 1,479,000 PEOPLE WITH 
ABOUT 5% OF THEM BEING POSITIVE.
WE ARE NOW TESTING AN AVERAGE 
OF 22,000 PEOPLE PER DAY OVER 
THE PAST WEEK.
THESE NUMBERS CHANGE QUICKLY 
AND ARE UPDATED REGULARLY ON 
CANADA.CA/CORONAVIRUS.
THIS WEEK IS PARAMEDIC SERVICES 
WEEK AND QUITE FITTINGLY THIS 
YEAR'S THEME IS PANDEMIC: 
PARAMEDICS ON THE FRONTLINE.
I THINK MOST OF US ARE AWARE OF 
THE IMPORTANCE OF PARAMEDICKS 
IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS 
PROVIDING PREHOSPITAL CARE 
DURING TIMES OF GREATEST 
URGENCY.
THIS WICK IS AN A OPPORTUNITY 
TO FURTHER RECOGNIZE THE 
BREADTH AND DEPTH OF PARAMEDIC 
EXPERTISE.
THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE 
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT ROLE 
PARAMEDICS PLAY ON THE 
FRONTLINES OF THE HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM DURING A CRISIS ON THE 
SCALE OF COVID-19.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERSTATE 
THE LIFE SAVING IMPORTANCE OF 
OUR PARAMEDICAL SERVICES.
PARAMEDICS HAVE ALSO BEEN 
INSTRUMENTAL ON THE FRONTLINES 
OF OPIOID CRISIS AND NOW THE 
COVID-19 CRISIS AS WELL.
PARAMEDICS NOT ONLY PROVIDE 
THEIR EXPERTISE AND ONE-ON-ONE 
HUMAN CONNECTION, BUT THEY 
FORGE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 
WITH THE ORGANISATIONS TO 
PROMOTE PAISHLGT  -- PATIENT 
CARE AND TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN 
OUR COMMUNITIES.
I RECENTLY LEARNED OF AN 
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMME THAT WAS 
SPEARHEADED BY PARAMEDICSS IN 
RENFREW COUNTY, A RURAL AREA 
WEST OF OTTAWA.
IT IS A JOINT EFFORT OF 
PARTNERS ACROSS THE HEALTH 
SYSTEM TO PRESERVE HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM CAPACITY WHILE AT THE 
SAME TIME, ENSURING THAT PEOPLE 
RECEIVE THE CARE THEY NEED.
THROUGH A VIRTUAL TRIAAGE 
ASSESSMENT CENTRE, PATIENTS CAN 
BE LINKED WITH A HEALTH CARE 
PROVIDER AND PROVIDED WITH AN 
APPOINTMENT.
IF AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT IS 
REQUIRED, A PARAMEDIC CAN BE 
DISPATCHED TO MAKE A HOUSE CALL.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF 
THE HEALTH SYSTEM COMING 
TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE 
IS LEFT BEHIND AND HIGHLIGHTS 
THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT 
PARAMEDICS PLAY IN LINKING 
COMMUNITIES TO HEALTH CARE 
SETTINGS.
THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW 
PARAMEDICS CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH 
AND WELL-BEING ACROSS THE 
HEALTH SYSTEM AND IN OUR 
COMMUNITIES AND INNOVATIVE WAYS.
THIS WEEK IS A GREAT 
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE AND 
GIVE AN EXTRA SHOUT-OUT TO 
PARAMEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS 
ACROSS CANADA.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DR. NJOO.
MARY?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
BONJOUR.
FIVE MILLION CANADIANS ARE 
EMPLOYED BY A SMALL BUSINESS 
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
TO THE ENTREPRENEURS WHO RUN 
THESE BUSINESSES, YOU ARE THE 
KEY TO ENSURING MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS CAN GET BACK TO WORK 
AS WE TAKE THE GRADUAL STEPS 
TOWARDS RESTARTING OUR ECONOMY.
YOU ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR 
COMMUNITIES AND THAT IS WHY 
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
RIGHT NOW, THE SMALLEST AND THE 
MOST VULNERABLE BUSINESSES ARE 
FACING ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES 
WHEN I COMES TO ACCESSING 
TAILORED FINANCIAL PLANNING 
ADVICE.
TODAY WE ARE LAUNCHING THE 
BUSINESS RESILIENCE SERVICE IN 
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CANADIAN 
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, A FREE 
HOTLINE OPERATED BY 125 
BUSINESS ADVISERS FROM THE 
CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL 
ACCOUNTANTS OF CANADA.
THIS SERVICE PROVIDES CANADIAN 
BUSINESS OWNERS, INCLUDING 
PEOPLE WHO RUN CHARITIES AND 
NOT-FOR-PROFITS WITH CUSTOMIZED 
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE WHO WOULDN'T 
OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
FROM NAVIGATING TAX REGULATIONS 
AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS TO 
PLANNING THEIR PATHS TO 
RECOVERY.
AGAIN, THIS SERVICE IS MEANT 
FOR VULNERABLE SMALL BUSINESSES 
WITH PRESSING FINANCIAL NEEDS 
AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO MAY 
OTHERWISE HAVE DIFFICULTY 
ACCESSING TAILORED FINANCIAL 
ADVICE.
YOU CAN NOW CALL TOLL-FREE, 
866-989-1080.
THIS IS AVAILABLE SEVEN DAYS A 
WEEK FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT 
ALL BUSINESSES ARE SUPPORTED 
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THROUGH 
THIS CRISIS.
SKH *K LEADS ME TO ANOTHER 
BUSINESS SUPPORT LAUNCH.
AS YOU HEARD, APPLICATIONS FOR 
THE CANADA EMERGENCY COMMERCIAL 
RENT ASSISTANCE ARE NOW 
AVAILABLE AT CMHC.CA.
TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS AS 
EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, WE ARE 
STAGGERING THE APPLICATIONS.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: 
TODAY IS OPEN TO PROPERTY 
OWNERS WITH UP TO 10 TENANTS IN 
ATLANTIC CANADA BRITISH 
COLUMBIA, ALBERTA AND A QUEBEC 
AND OPEN THURSDAY FOR THOSE 
WITH OVER 10 TENANTS.
>> TOMORROW IS OPEN TO 
LANDLORDS WITH UP TO 10 TENANTS 
IN MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN, 
ONTARIO AND THE TERRITORIES.
AND WEDNESDAY IS OPEN TO THOSE 
WITH OVER 10 TENANTS AND THEN 
ON FRIDAY, IT'S OPEN TO ALL 
LANDLORDS ACROSS CANADA.
WE EXPECT THE MONEY TO FLOW 
STARTING NEXT WEEK.
WHILE RENT FALLS UNDER 
PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, WE 
HAVE STEMMED UP TO PARTNER WITH 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO 
REDUCE RENT BY 75% FOR 
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED 
SEVERE HARDSHIP.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAMME, IF YOU 
ARE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OR 
ENTREPRENEUR, YOU WILL ONLY 
HAVE TO PAY 25% OF YOUR RENT 
WHILE WE COVER 50% IN 
FORGIVABLE LOAN TO YOUR 
LANDLORD.
IF YOU'RE A LANDLORD OR 
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWN WEATHER 
A SMALL BUSINESS TENANT 
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAMME, 
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO STEP UP AND 
TO WORK WITH US AND YOUR TENANT 
TO APPLY.
GIVEN THESE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES 
THAT WE ARE FINDING OURSELVES, 
YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE 
CANADA COMMERCIAL RENT 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME WILL HELP 
OUR BUSINESSES, OUR WORKERS AND 
OUR ECONOMY.
AND THIS THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT 
DOING THE RIGHT THING.
IT IS ALSO MAKING FINANCIAL 
SENSE FOR YOU AS A LAND LORD.
BECAUSE IF YOUR TENANT DECLARES 
BANKRUPTCY AND IS EVICTED YOU 
WILL LOSE ALL THE STEADY STREAM 
OF INCOME YOU DEPEND ON AND YOU 
WOULD FACE ADDITIONAL COSTS 
WHILE YOU SEARCH FOR NEW 
TENANTS.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD THIS BEFORE, 
BUT IT REMAINS TRUE, WE'RE ALL 
IN THIS TOGETHER.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: AND 
IT IS IN ALL OF OUR BEST 
INTERESTS TO WORK TOGETHER SO 
WE ALL CAN GET THROUGH THIS.
>> WE'LL KEEP WORKING HARD TO 
SUPPORT ALL CANADIANS AS WE 
BEGIN TO RESTART OUR ECONOMY.
WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK EVERY STEP 
ALONG THE WAY.
WE'RE GOING KEEP DOING THIS.
MERCI BEAUCOUP.
THANK YOU.
>> MERCI BEAUCOUP, MARY.
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: 
THANK YOU, MARY, FOR 
SUMMARIZING TWO SIGNIFICANT 
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THIS MORNING.
THE FIRST ABOUT THE EMERGENCY 
COMMERCIAL RENT ASSISTANCE FOR 
THE ATLANTIC, FOR BRITISH 
COLUMBIA, QUEBEC, AND OTHER 
REGIONS.
THEY CAN SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS 
IN ORDER TO HELP SMALL 
BUSINESSES WHO ARE GOING 
THROUGH EXTREMELY CHALLENGING 
TIMES.
SECOND THING FOR GOOD NEWS, 
WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO 
ENSURE PAID SICK LEAVE WORKERS 
FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WE KNOW IT WILL CAUSE A LOT OF 
INSECURITY AND EMPLOYERS WILL 
HAVE TO DO ALL THAT THEY CAN TO 
PROTECT THEIR HEALTH, THAT OF 
THEIR FAMILIES AND THE HEALTH 
OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.
THIS PAID SICK LEAVE WILL ALSO 
ALLOW WORKERS TO WORK WITH 
THEIR EMPLOYERS SO THAT THEY 
DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN 
PROTECTING THEIR OWN HEALTH AND 
BUYING GROCERIES.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO 
CONGRATULATE THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT FOR THIS, BUT ALSO 
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND 
THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS THAT WORKED HARD TO 
PUSH THIS ISSUE FORWARD.
THAT SAID, WE ARE GOING TO BE 
PLEASED TO ANSWER YOUR 
QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. MINISTER.
>> WE'LL START WITH THE ROOM TO 
GIVE FOLKS MORE TIME ON THE 
PHONE.
JULIE?
>> Reporter: I'M JUST WONDERING 
HOW YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO 
CANADIANS THAT YOU'RE ALLOWING 
EMPLOYEES OF THE LIBERAL PARTY 
TO TAP INTO THE WAGE SUBSIDY, 
ALTHOUGH YOU FUND RAISE 
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.
AND MUNICIPALITIES, FOR 
EXAMPLE, WHO HAVE HAD TO LAY 
OFF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAN'T 
TAP INTO IT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION.
NOW THE ABSOLUTE PRIORITY OF 
THE GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK A 
PRIORITY SHARED BY MOST 
CANADIANS, IS TO SUPPORT THOSE 
WORKERS AND THOSE FAMILIES THAT 
ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH THE VERY 
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE 
ARE LIVING THROUGH IN THE LAST 
FEW WEEKS.
THAT IS WHY WORKERS NEED THAT 
SUPPORT.
WHOEVER THEY MAY WORK FOR.
WHETHER IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS, 
A LARGER BUSINESS, AND THAT IS 
WHY WE BELIEVE THAT THIS 
SUPPORT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
IT IS GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES 
OF FOCUSING ON PEOPLE AND 
HELPING EVERYONE GO THROUGH THE 
CRISIS.
>> Reporter: AS I SAID, 
MUNICIPALITIES CAN'T TAP INTO 
IT.
NAO NORTH 
-- NAHEED NENSHI OF CALGARY 
SAID HE WISH HE COULD.
ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE IT?
>> YOUR VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION 
ON MUNICIPALITIES IS ABSOLUTELY 
RELEVANTFUL .
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, 
DID ANNOUNCE EITHER THROUGH THE 
PRIME MINISTER OR THROUGH THE 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER A REAL 
WAY TO WORK WITH PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIS TO SEE HOW WE CAN 
SUPPORT THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF 
MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES, BUT 
THAT NEEDS OBVIOUSLY TO BE DONE 
IN COLLABORATION AND WITH THE 
FULL SUPPORT OF PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES.
>> Reporter: SO, NOT A WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
OK.
>> Reporter: MINISTER DUCLOS, 
SAME QUESTION.
HOW DO YOU THINK IT LOOKS TO 
CANADIANS TO SEE POLITICAL 
PARTIES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A 
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMME THAT YOU 
PUT FORWARD?
>> I WOULD PERHAPS EXTEND MY 
EARLIER QUESTION, REMEMBERING 
-- REMINDING EVERYONE, AGAIN, 
THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FOCUSED 
ON WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE HAD JUST A FEW WEEKS 
AGO A STATISTICS CANADA REPORT 
SAYING THAT ALMOST SIX MILLION 
CANADIANS HAVE EITHER LOST 
THEIR JOB AND ALL OF THEIR 
INCOME OR MOST OF THEIR INCOME.
SO, THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE VERY 
DIFFICULT FOR WORKERS AND 
FAMILIES AND THAT IS WHIS THE 
WAGE -- THE EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDIES WAS PUT INTO PLACE.
NOW THAT PROGRAMME, AS ALL 
PROGRAMMES ARE PUT INTO PLACE 
IN RELATIVELY RAPID TIME 
PERIOD, COME WITH CONDITIONS.
AND RESTRICTIONS.
AND OBLIGATIONS FOR 
TRANSPARENCY.
AND THESE OBLIGATIONS AND 
RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO ALL 
BUSINESSES.
>> Reporter: RIGHT.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I ASKED 
YOU.
I ASKED YOU HOW DO YOU THINK IT 
LOOKS TO CANADIANS FOR 
POLITICAL PARTIES TO ACCEPT THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY, WHEN AS MY 
COLLEAGUE POINTEDED OUT, 
MUNICIPALITIES CAN'T DO THAT 
AND SOME COMPANIES ARE GOING 
UNDER.
EVEN WITH THESE PROGRAMMES IN 
PLACE.
SO, HOW DOES IT LOOK TO 
CANADIANS, DO YOU THINK, A 
POLITICAL PARTY ACCEPTING A 
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMME THAT YOU 
PUT FORWARD?
>> I BELIEVE MOST CANADIANS 
KNOW SOMEONE, EITHER IN THEIR 
FAMILY OR IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR 
A FRIEND THAT HAS LOST HIS OR 
HER JOB IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS 
AND WHEN WE GO THROUGH THESE 
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, WE 
NEED TO LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER 
AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES IN ALL 
CASES INDEPENDENTLY OF THE 
CONTROL OF THOSE PARTICULAR 
WORKERS HAVE LED TO THE LOSS OF 
THAT JOB AND THAT INCOME.
SO, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY 
FOR THIS GOVERNMENT TOE LOOK 
AFTER EVERYONE.
AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN TO -- INTO 
DISCUSSIONS THAT MIGHT LEAD 
CANADIANS TO FEEL LESS 
IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS.
I THINK EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT 
IN THIS PARTICULAR CRISIS AND 
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED, 
ACCORDING TO RULES AND 
REGULATION THAT ARE TRANSPARENT 
AND APPLY TO EVERYONE.
>> Reporter: [INAUDIBLE] 
POLITICAL PARTY HAVING TO LOOK 
AT LAYING OFF STAFF WITHOUT THE 
WAGE SUBSIDIES?
>> I CANNOT SPEAK FOR ANY 
PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION.
WHAT I CAN DO, HOWEVER, IS TO 
SPEAK FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF 
CANADIANS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT 
THIS CRISIS IS VERY DIFFICULT 
FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF WORKERS 
AND FAMILIES.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER, ONE 
QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP.
WE'LL GO TO THE PHONE.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE 
PRESS STAR 1 ON YOUR TELEPHONE 
KEY PAD.
[Speaking French] 
THE  FIRST QUESTION, PLEASE GO 
AHEAD.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: THE 
FIRST QUESTION FOR MINISTER 
DUCLOS.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT ON PAID SICK LEAVE 
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU 
SBOENLD TO NEGOTIATE WITH 
PROVINCES.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE 
FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE 
CANADIAN LABOUR CODE WHICH HAS 
THREE PAID SICK DAYS.
WOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
LIKE TO CHANGE ITS LABOUR CODE 
IN ORDER TO ENSURE 10 PAID SICK 
LEAVE DAYS IN THE FUTURE?
ANSWER -- THE ANSWER IS YES.
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WILL 
HAVE TO WORK WITH COMPANIES 
UNDER ITS JURISDICTION.
EVEN IF A LOT OF EMPLOYEES ARE 
UNDER PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION, 
MORE THAN 70% OF PEOPLE WORK 
UNDER PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.
BUT IF WE'RE INVITING PROVINCES 
TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, WELL, WE NEED TO 
HELP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO 
DO ITS JOB AS WELL.
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION -- 
CAN YOU TELL ME IF THE TIMELINE 
IS THE SAME FOR PROVINCES?
MR. TRUDEAU THIS MORNING TALKED 
ABOUT HOPING TO REACH AN 
AGREEMENT BY THIS FALL.
SO THAT THERE ARE PAID SICK 
DAYS FOR PEOPLE IN THE FALL.
WILL YOU BE CHANGING THE LABOUR 
CODE BY THE FALL AT THE FEDERAL 
LEVEL?
MR. TRUDEAU ALSO SAID THAT A 
LOT OF PROVINCES AGREE WITH THE 
IDEA OF HAVING 10 GUARANTEED 
PAID SICK LEAVE DAYS.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT QUEBEC?
ANSWER -- THESE ARE TWO 
SEPARATE QUESTIONS.
SO, WHETHER IT BE FOR 
PROVINCIAL OR FEDERAL WORKERS, 
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO 
TAKE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO 
WORK WITH UNIONS, WITH 
COMPANIES, FEDERAL COMPANIES 
AND SO THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE 
DONE QUICKLY.
BUT THEY WILL ALSO NEED TO 
RESPECT THEIR PARTNERS AND FOR 
PROVINCES, WELL I THINK IT WILL 
BE THE PROVINCE -- UP TO THE 
PROVINCES TO ANSWER THIS 
QUESTION.
THROUGHOUT CANADA, WE NEED TO 
RECOGNIZE THAT THE COMING 
MONTHS ARE GOING TO BE 
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
WORKERS SOMETIMES NEED TO 
CHOOSE BETWEEN PROTECTING THEIR 
HEALTH AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE 
ENDS MEET.
AND WE WANT TO AVOID SUCH A 
SITUATIONFUL WE WANT TO AVOID 
THAT A WORKER WOULD MAKE THE 
WRONG DECISION TO GO BACK TO 
WORK, EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT 
HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS.
THEY'RE PUTING THEIR OWN HEALTH 
AT RISK, BUT ALSO PUTTING THEIR 
COLLEAGUE'S HEALTH AT RISK.
AND SO THEIR COMPANY IS ALSO AT 
RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO 
MAINTAIN ITS ACTIVITIES.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO REACT 
QUICKLY, BUT WE NEED TO DO 
THINGS RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. MINISTER.
NEXT QUESTION, OPERATOR.
>> Operator: MERCI, THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM STEPHANIE 
LEAVITT OF THE CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOUR LINE IS NOW OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
OR GOOD AFTERNOON, I GUESS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY 
QUESTION.
IT'S FOR DR. TAM.
THE POINT, YOU KNOW, ALL ALONG 
HERE OF SHUTTING DOWN THE 
ECONOMY, GETTING PEOPLE TO STAY 
HOME AND FLATTEN THIS CURVE WAS 
TO BUY TIME FOR THE HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM TO GET READY.
AND I JUST WONDER WHAT YOUR 
ASSESSMENT IS OF HOW READY THE 
SYSTEM ACTUALLY IS.
SHOULD THERE BE A SECOND WAVE?
AND I KNOW THERE'S PROVINCIAL 
AND LOCAL DIFFERENCES HERE.
BUT JUST BROADLY SPEAKING, WHAT 
DO YOU THINK?
IS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM READY?
>> SO I THINK WE DO HAVE TO 
PREPARE FOR, YOU KNOW, 
POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER WAVE AND 
WE ALWAYS SHOULD PREPARE FOR 
THE FACT THAT THEY -- THE 
SECOND WAVE COULD EVEN BE WORSE 
THAN THE FIRST WAVE SO THAT IS 
A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
SO, WE KNOW THAT WITH 
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS WE DID NOT 
EXCEED THE HEALTH SYSTEM 
CAPACITY TO COPE WITH THIS 
INITIAL WAVE, THIS FIRST WAVE.
SO, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY BEING A 
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO 
THAT.
BUT WE GOT TO KEEP GOING TO 
INCREASE CAPACITY.
I KNOW WE HAVEN'T EXCEED OUR 
I.C.U. CAPACITY BUT PROVINCES 
ARE CONTINUING TO RAMP UP 
INCLUDING VENT LAYS TOER AND 
OTHER SUPPLIES.
BUT ALSO, OF COURSE, AS A 
EVERYBODY KNOWS, KEEP GOING ON 
THE RAMPING UP OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, SHOULD 
WE GET MORE PATIENTS AS WELL.
ALSO, GENERALLY I WOULD SAY 
HAVING LEARNED PERHAPS HOW 
PEOPLE HAVE CAPITALIZED ON 
VIRTUAL CARE, ETC., YOU KNOW, 
KEEP GOING ON SOME OF THOSE 
EFFORTS THAT HAVE WORKED.
BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE SIMILAR 
APPROACHES SHOULD BE CONTINUE 
SOD THAT YOU LEAVE ENOUGH 
HEALTH SYSTEM CAPACITY.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THE KEY 
FEATURES OF THE CURRENT 
PANDEMIC IS THE LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES AND SENIORS.
SO, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS 
MORE WORK TO BE DONE IN THE 
AREA.
SOME OF THE LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES OR SENIOR LIVING AREAS 
HAVEN'T, AS YET, COMPLETE 
EXTINGUISHED THEIR OUTBREAKS.
SO, THAT ALSO TELLS US THAT WE 
HAVE TO JUST KEEP GOING WITH 
THOSE CAPACITIES AS WELL AS THE 
CAPACITIES FOR INFECTION 
PREVENTION CONTROL IN SOME OF 
THESE HIGHER RISK CENTRES 
INCLUDING SHELTERS AND 
LONG-TERM RESIDENCES.
WE NEED TO KEEP GOING WITH SOME 
OF THESE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENTS 
AND THAT GOES ALONG WITH LAB 
TESTING AS WELL.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO PROCURE AND 
INCLUDING RAMPING UP DOMESTIC 
CAPACITY FOR SOME OF OUR 
LABORATORY REQUIREMENTS.
>> FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: YEAH.
THANK YOU.
MY FOLLOW-UP IS FOR MINISTER 
DUCLOS AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU 
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND 
TRANSPARENCY DURING COVID-19.
AND THE REPORT TODAY IS 
RECOMMENDING MORE OF IT, 
FRANKLY.
WHY AREN'T MINISTRIES RELEASING 
MORE INFORMATION PROACTIVELY?
THERE IS A LOT OF DELAYS TO 
ACCESS INFORMATION REQUESTS.
WHAT STEPS ARE YOU TAKING TO 
REALLY MAKE SURE CANADIANS ARE 
GETTING A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT 
IS GOING ON WITH GOVERNMENT AT 
THE MOMENT?
>> WELL, WHAT YOU SEE IS 
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
IN PARTICULAR, IN THE CONTEXT 
OF THIS CRISIS, WE NEED 
TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS.
CANADIANS NEED INFORMATION AND 
I WOULD SIGNAL THAT YOU 
JOURNALISTS ARE IMPORTANT 
PLAYERS, IMPORTANT ACTORS IN 
MAKING CANADIANS FEEL INFORMED 
AND RE-ASSURED IN MANY 
INSTANCES.
AND THAT IS WHAT PUBLIC 
SERVANTS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO 
FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
NOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS 
NOT EASY, CERTAINLY NOT EASY 
FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS TO  PROVIDE 
THAT LEVEL OF INFORMATION IN 
CURRENT CON TWR *EX THEY FACE 
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL 
CHALLENGES.
BUT I REMINDED MY COLLEAGUES 
AND THE SECRETARY OF THE 
TREASURY IN MAKING SURE THAT 
WHATEVER IS POSSIBLE IS DONE IN 
THE CURRENT CONTEXT.
WHAT I WOULD ALSO ADD IS THAT 
WITH THE INFORMATION 
COMMISSIONER IS LOOKING FORWARD 
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN -- 
WHAT WE CAN DO IS, FOR 
INSTANCE, MORE PROACTIVE 
DEVELOPMENT, DISSEMINATION OF 
INFORMATION, BEING MORE 
PROACTIVE AS OPPOSED TO 
REACTIVE AND ALSO TO FOCUS ON 
TECHNOLOGY.
WE ARE LEARNING IN THIS CRISIS 
THE IMPORTANCE AND THE 
USEFULNESS OF TECHNOLOGY AND 
HOW IT CAN PERHAPS LEAD TO 
BETTER WAYS OF.
DOING THINGS IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: YES, 
I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING 
EMERGENCY RENT ASSISTANCE SINCE 
THE PORTAL WAS OPENED THIS 
MORNING AT 8:00 A.M., HOW MANY 
REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SENT IN SO 
FAR?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE 
OPENING UP THE PORTAL IN PHASES 
TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF 
PROVINCES TODAY AND TOMORROW 
WITH LANDLORDS THAT HAVE MORE 
THAN 10 TENANTS AND THEN OPEN 
TO EVERYONE ON FRIDAY.
WE ARE GOING TO MONITOR THE 
TAKE-UP OF THIS AND, AS I SAID 
AS WELL, THE IMPORTANCE AND THE 
FOCUS OF THIS CANADIAN 
COMMERCIAL RENT ASSISTANCE IS 
TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES 
THAT HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT 
DURING THIS TIME.
SO THAT THEY CAN MANAGE THROUGH 
THIS PERIOD AND GET ON THAT 
ROAD TO RECOVERY AND RESTART.
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: 
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS FOR 
MINISTER DUCLOS REGARDING THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY USE BY THE LIBERAL 
PARTY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO 
HELP WORKERS REGARDLESS OF WHO 
THEY WORK FOR.
BUT CANADIANS KNOW THAT THE 
LIBERALS AND THE CONSERVATIVES 
HAVE HEALTHY BUDGETS.
WHAT MESSAGE IS THIS SENDING TO 
CANADIANS WHEN COMPANIES ARE 
STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR 
EMPLOYEES?
WHAT MESSAGE DOES IT SEND THAT 
TRADITIONAL PARTIES THAT HAVE 
ENOUGH FUNDING MAY HAVE ACCESS 
TO THE ASSISTANCE WHEN OTHERS 
HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY ACCESSING 
IT?
WHAT MESSAGE IS THIS SENDING?
ANSWER -- THANK YOU.
THE MESSAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN 
SENDING FROM THE BEGINING IS 
THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT WORKERS.
AND THE WAGE SUBSIDY WAS 
CREATED FOR THAT.
THERE IS A SOLID AND VERY CLEAR 
CRITERIA THAT ENSURES THAT THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY IS GIVEN TO 
WORKERS.
IF A COMPANY USES THIS FOR 
SOMETHING OTHER THAN WAGES, 
THEN THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT 
CONSEQUENCES.
225% FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY, 
WHICH NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO 
WORKERS.
CANADIAN WORKERS AND FAMILIES 
ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH 
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIMES AND 
THAT IS WHY THIS SUBSIDY WAS 
CREATED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL 
COMPANIES RESPECT THE RULES 
REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE.
THANK YOU, MR. MINISTER.
>> JULIE, I THINK YOU HAD 
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
>> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENS IN 
TERMS OF THE DISASTER THAT IS 
-- CONTINUES TO BE UNDER WAY IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES AND 
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT RIVERA, 
WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST 
CHAINS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING, DOES IT 
-- I BELIEVE THAT IT IS STILL 
UNDER A PUBLIC SECTOR 
INVESTMENT BOARD, WHICH REPORTS 
TO YOU.
RIGHT?
FOR TREASURY BOARD?
SO I'M WONDERING HAVE YOU HAD 
DIRECT TALKS WITH RIVERA ABOUT 
APPROVING ITS CONDITIONS 
CONSIDERING THAT IT HAS A 
MASSIVE LAWSUIT AGAINST IT AND 
ALL THE DEATHS FROM COVID.
>> THANK YOU.
WELL, THERE ARE TWO THINGS.
ONE, WHICH I CANNOT COMMENT ON, 
WHICH IS THE PARTICULAR 
CIRCUMSTANCES AND DETAILS OF A 
LAWSUIT OR A CLASS-ACTION THAT 
WILL BE, OF COURSE, 
INAPPROPRIATE FOR A MINISTER TO 
COMMENT ON.
BUT I CAN SAY, HOWEVER, IS THAT 
-- AND AS YOU ALL KNOW AS WELL, 
AND WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, IS 
THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY SADDENED 
BY THE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES 
IN WHICH MANY OF OUR SENIORS 
HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH IN THE 
LAST FEW WEEKS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS REQUIRES A 
LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS 
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE 
ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT 
RESPONSIBILITY AND JURISDICTION 
OF PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
SO ALTHOUGH WE ARE MINDFUL OF 
THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE WORKING 
RESPECTFULLY, WE HAVE SIGNALED 
A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE WANT 
TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO 
SUPPORT THE WORK OF PROVINCES 
AND TERRITORIES IN MANAGING 
HEALTH SECTOR.
>> Reporter: THE PUBLIC SECTOR 
INVESTMENT BOARD REPORTS TO YOU 
EVERY YEAR.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE MORE 
DILIGENT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON 
IN THESE HOMES, REGARDLESS OF 
THE LAWSUITS?
>> WELL, I THINK WE WILL BE 
CERTAINLY MORE MINDFUL OF THE 
IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR 
SENIORS AND WE'LL USE ALL THE 
TOOLS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO 
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTERS.
[Speaking French].
THAT IS IT FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU, EVEN.
-- THANK YOU, EVERYONEFUL
>> Rosemary: OK.
AND THAT IS IT IN OTTAWA FOR 
TODAY.
OK.
THAT IS THE FEDERAL BRIEFING 
HERE IN OTTAWA FOR TODAY.
MINISTER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
TREASURY BOARD LEADING THE 
BRIEFING TODAY WITH PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND THE 
MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS, 
MARY NG, HIGHLIGHTING THE 
COMMERCIAL RENT PROGRAMME, 
WHICH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT 
EARLIER TODAY WHICH OPENED OVER 
THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
FOR DIFFERENT PROVINCES AND 
DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS.
LOTS OF QUESTIONS THERE ABOUT 
AGAIN, THE WAGE SUBSIDY AND THE 
USE OF THE WAGE SUBSIDY BY 
POLITICAL PARTIES WITH THE 
EXCEPTION OF THE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS.
AND QUESTIONS AS WELL ABOUT 
THIS PAID SICK LEAVE PROPOSAL 
THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAS PUT 
ON THE TABLE WITH THE HELP OF 
THE N.D.P. TO TALK TO PROVINCES 
ABOUT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS 
AND DAVID COCHRANE.
FINISHED A LITTLE QUICKER THAN 
I EXPECTED THERE.
THAT'S OK.
I'M SURE WE HAVE LOTS TO TALK 
ABOUT.
LET'S START WITH -- LET'S START 
WITH THE SICK LEAVE BECAUSE I 
DO THINK THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE 
WILL BE INTERESTED IN THAT AND 
IT IS A PAID SICK LEAVE.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PAID 
SICK LEAVE IN YOUR PROVINCE OR 
YOU DON'T HAVE ONE AT YOUR 
WORK, THIS WOULD ALLOW YOU TO 
POTENTIALLY TAP INTO 10 DAYS OF 
PAID SICK LEAVE IF THEY CAN GET 
ALL THEIR DUCKS ALIGNED HERE, 
VASSY , AND GET THE PROVINCES 
ALL ON BOARD.
>> Vassy: AND THAT IS GOING TO 
BE KEY AND WHAT WE'LL BE 
WATCHING FOR IN ANY 
NEGOTIATIONS THAT ENSUE.
AS YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT, 
UNLESS YOU LIVE -- I THINK IT 
IS JUST P.E.I. AND QUEBEC -- 
THEY HAVE PROVINCIALLY MANDAYED 
PAID SICK LEAVE.
IT IS NOT A LOT, I THINK IT IS 
ONE OR TWO DAYS.
OTHERWISE, IF YOU ARE COVERED 
BY YOUR WORK AGREEMENT OR 
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT, YOU MAY 
HAVE SOME PAID SICK DAYS A WELL 
BUT THERE ISN'T ANY FEDERALLY 
MANDATED OR CO-ORDINATED 
PROGRAMME AND WHAT THE FEDERAL 
LIBERALS HAVE DECIDED TO DO, 
AFTER BEING ASKED TO BY BOTH 
THE PREMIER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 
AS WELL AS THE NEW DEMOCRATIC 
PARTY LED BY JAGMEET SINGH S 
PURSUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH 
THE PROVINCES AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID A LITTLE BIT 
EARLIER THAT THERE ISN'T 
EXACTLY A DEFINITE TIMELINE ON 
HOW THAT TAKES PLACE OR A 
DECISION ON WHO PAYS FOR WHAT.
THOUGH I WOULD IMAGINE IF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LEADING 
IT THAT LIKELY THEY WILL BE 
PAYING FAR LOT OF IT.
AND THAT THERE ARE SOME 
PREMIERS THAT ALREADY SUPPORT 
IT.
WE KNOW OF PREMIER HORGAN OR 
THE OTHER PREMEESER.
MY GUESS THAT DEPENDS ON WHO'S 
FOOTING THE BILL AT THE END OF 
THIS.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF 
POLICY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
COMING UP WITH AND I DON'T JUST 
MEAN THE LIBERALS IN THIS CASE, 
BUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 
N.D.P.
WHAT THE N.D.P. DID WAS 
PREDICATE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE 
MOTION THAT THE LIBERALS HAD 
PUT FORWARD OVER THE WEEKEND 
ABOUT HOW THEY ENVISION 
PARLIAMENT PROCEEDING OVER THE 
NEXT NUMBER OF MONTHS AND MY 
SOURCES IN THE GOVERNMENT SAY 
THAT NOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT'S 
HAPPENED NOW WITH THE N.D.P., 
THEY DO EXPECT A VOTE AS EARLY 
AS TOMORROW OR BY TOMORROW ON 
THE MOTION GOING AHEAD.
AND THAT SORT OF SETS OUT THE 
DESIGN OF PARLIAMENT.
THE N.D.P. SAID IF YOU WANT US 
TO BE ON BROERDS WITH, THIS YOU 
HAVE TO MOVE AHEAD ON 10 DAYS 
OF PAID SICK LEAVE.
AND THIS IS, AS DAVID AND YOU 
HAVE BOTH OUTLINED, VERY 
SIGNIFICANT AS WE GET INTO THE 
PROCESS OF RE-OPENING ECONOMIES.
AND ESPECIALLY AS WE FACE THE 
PROSPECT OF A SECOND WAVE OR A 
THIRD OR A FOURTH, ALBEIT 
SMALLER WAVE, IN THE FUTURE.
OR SMALLER WAVES IN THE FUTURE.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO 
ARE LOWER PAID WHO ARE MORE 
LIKELY TO NOT HAVE ANY COVERED 
OR PAID SICK LEAVE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF THEY 
HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS, 
THE BIGGEST PUBLIC HEALTH THING 
THAT YOU CAN DO IS STAY HOME.
AND MANY ARE UNABLE TO DO SO 
BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THEY WOULD 
BE FORFEITING THEIR PAY SO THIS 
IS DESIGNED TO MITIGATE SOME OF 
THAT RISK.
NOW AS YOU SAID, IT IS ALL 
ABOUT GETTING THEIR DUCKS IN A 
ROW.
HOW FAST CAN THEY GET SOMETHING 
LIKE THIS DONE.
I WOULD POINT TO THE EXAMPLES 
OF THE COMMERCIAL RENT 
PROGRAMME THAT WE HEARD ABOUT 
TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL IT 
WILL BE.
BUT IT IS A JOINT 
FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL ENDEAVOUR 
AS, FOR EXAMPLE, TOPPING UP 
WAGESING FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
AND JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES 
CERTAINLY MAY DELAY THE 
CONVERSATION A BIT, BUT DIDN'T 
PREVENT SOMETHING FROM 
HAPPENING.
SO, I DON'T SEE WHY THERE 
COULDN'T BE IN THIS CASE, 
EITHER.
>> Rosemary: AND IF THE TARGET 
ISN'T UNTIL AFTER SUMMER ANYWAY.
MAYBE IF IT'S TO DEAL WITH THE 
SECOND WAVE.
ALTHOUGH IT DOES RAISE AN 
INTERESTING OTHER QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, THE WAGE SUBSIDY, THE 
EMERGENCY RELIEF BENEFIT, THOSE 
ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN 
UNDERSTAND ARE JUST FOR NOW.
MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE 
COMPLICATED TO ROLL BACK PAID 
SICK LEAVE.
YOU KNOW, BEYOND COVID.
LIKE MAYBE THIS IS JUST 
SOMETHING THAT BECOMES PART OF 
PUBLIC POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST 
WOULD BE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DANGERS 
OF THAT WOULD BE.
BUT IT IS AN INTERESTING 
THOUGHT THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE 
PUBLIC POLICY PIECES THAT MIGHT 
BE POTENTIALLY A LEG IS SI OF 
THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT'S 
CONNECTED TO IT.
BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO A BROADER 
QUESTION OF SICK LEAVE IN THIS 
COUNTRY AND WHO GETS ACCESS TO 
PAID LEAVE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO 
WILDLY SPECULATE WITH ME.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Vassy: AND ACTUALLY I THINK 
THAT IS THE QUESTION FOR THE 
ESSENTIAL WORKER TOP-UP.
RIGHT?
AND I REMEMBER THE GOVERNMENT 
BEING ASKED THAT AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENTS WHICH SOME OF WHOM 
SORT OF MOVED AHEAD OF THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TOPPED 
UP WAGES FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS 
T. PROVINCES DECIDE WHO GETS 
THE EXTRA PAY, BUT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO 
IT.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER, SO IT WAS 
FOR 16 WEEKS.
AT THE END OF FOUR MONTHS, ALL 
OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE WE'RE NOT 
IN THE ACUTE PHASE OF THIS 
PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES DON'T 
DESERVE EXTRA MONEY?
HOW DO YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY 
FOR THIS FINITE AMOUNT OF TIME 
YOU CAN TAKE PAID SICK LEAVE OR 
YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, GET PAID 
MORE FOR TAKE ON SUCH RISK BUT 
SIX MONTHS FROM NOW YOU ARE NOT 
ENTITLED TO THAT.
IT IS A MORE DIFFICULT THING TO 
DO AS COMPARED TO THE CERB OR 
WAGE SUBSIDY, FOR EXAMPLE.
ONCE YOU'RE HIRED BACK WITH 
EMPLOYMENT, YOU PROBABLY DON'T 
NEED THAT.
THAT'S AN EASIER LINE TO DRAW.
WHEN IT COMES TO PAID SICK 
LEAVE OR JUST HEY, FOR 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, IT IS A 
HARDER THING TO CLAW BACK.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
AND MAYBE IT IS NOT WORTH 
CLAWING BACK, TOO.
THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT 
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY WILL 
HAVE TO HAVE.
DAVID, SPEAKING OF WHICH 
SUBSIDY, THERE WERE AGAIN 
QUESTIONS ABOUT POLITICAL 
PARTY'S VIEWS WITH THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY AND TO BE CLEAR, I'VE 
ALREADY HAD SOME E-MAILS OF 
PEOPLE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
BUT THEY DID MEET THE CRITERIA 
FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
IT'S WHETHER YOU THINK A 
POLITICAL PARTY SHOULD HAVE 
ACCESS TO THAT, I GUESS, IS THE 
QUESTION.
AND JEAN YVES DUCLOS SAYS 
EVERYBODY IS THE SAME.
EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE WOULD 
AGREE WITH THAT.
BUT THAT IS THE PERSPECTIVE 
THAT HE PUT FORWARD.
>> David: INTERESTING THE 
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 
GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT PROGRAMMES 
HAVE GONE FROM WHY AREN'T YOU 
HELPING MORE PEOPLE TO WHY ARE 
YOU HELPING "THOSE" PEOPLE AND 
PEOPLE ARE UPSET THAT THE BIG, 
RICH PARTIS WHO FUND RAISE 
QUITE WOEL, THE LIBERALS AND 
THE CONSERVATIVES, ARE GETTING 
THIS BUT ALSO PROVINCIAL 
PARTIES.
JASON KENNEY'S UNITED 
CONSERVATIVE PARTY IS APPLYING 
FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY IN ALBERTA.
A COUPLE OF THING ON THIS.
THEY HAVE MADE THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE, EXEMPT TO 
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, WHICH IS A 
TENSION POINT WITH MUNICIPAL 
WORKERS BEING IN SUCH DIRE 
STRAITS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF 
THE CONVERSATION ABOUT A LARGER 
FINANCIAL PACKAGE BEING 
REQUIRED FOR CITIES AND TOWNS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THEY'VE TRIED NOT TO SINGLE 
PEOPLE OUT.
WHICH IS WHY THEY'VE KEPT 
BROADENING THE CRITERIA OF THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY TO CAPTURE AS MANY 
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
YOU CAN MAKE THE POLITICAL 
ARGUMENT THEY SHOULD HAVE 
EXCLUDED POLITICAL PARTIES FROM 
THIS SO THAT THE LIBERAL WHO 
ARE ROLLING OUT THIS PROGRAMME 
SEEM TO BE BENEFITING THE PARTY 
APPARATUS WHICH SUPPORTS THEM 
IN THEIR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES 
WHICH IS A LEGITIMATE POINT OF 
VIEW FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS.
I SUPPOSE YOU COULD ALSO ARGUE 
IF YOU EXCLUDE A POLITICAL 
PARTY, MAYBE THE LIBERALS AND 
THE CONSERVATIVES COULD RIDE IT 
OUT BUT YOU FORCE THE NEW 
DEMOCRATS AND THE GREENS INTO A 
POSITION OF NEAR UTTER 
BANKRUPTCY AND POLITICAL 
DESTITUTION.
THE BLOC IS TAKING THE EASY, 
MORAL HIGH GROUND HERE SAYING 
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY OF 
THIS MONEY.
EASY TO DO WHEN YOU'RE REALLY A 
PROVINCIAL PARTY THAT OPERATES 
IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS.
BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE BIG 
NATIONAL PARTY APPARATUS THAT 
THE OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES 
HAVE THAT NEED TO BE SUPPORTED.
THEY MOSTLY RUN ON THEIR 
CONSTITUENCY STAFF AND WHATEVER 
THEY GREAT THEIR PARLIAMENTARY 
ALLOTMENT FOR HAVING A CERTAIN 
NUMBER OF M.P.s IN THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS.
THE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN THAT ONE 
JOB IS JUST LIKE ANOTHER JOB.
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE LIBERAL 
PARTY AND CONSERVATIVE PARTY 
ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN PEOPLE 
WHO WORK AT SUNCOR WHO ARE 
GETTING MONEY RIGHT NOW THROUGH 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY OR THE TORONTO 
BLUE JAYS, YOU COULD HAVE AN 
ARGUMENT ABOUT WHETHER 
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS SHOULD BE 
GETTING A SUBSIDY IN THIS.
NOT THE HEADLINE, I THINK 
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THERE.
BUT, AGAIN, WHEN EVERYBODY IS 
LINING UP FOR THE SAME LEVEL OF 
ASSISTANCE, IT IS NOT LIKE WHEN 
WE SEE THE QUESTION PERIOD 
TODAY, ANDREW SCHEER IS GOING 
TO BE LEADING OFF DEMANDING 
THAT THEY CUT THE SUBSIDY, 
ALTHOUGH ERIN O'TOOLE AND PETER 
MacKAY, THE FRONTRUNNERS FOR 
HIS JOB, SAY THEY SHOULD PAY IT 
BACK.
>> Rosemary: AND I BECOMES 
DIFFICULT AS OUR COLLEAGUE 
AARON WHERRY, REMEMBER HIM?
HE IS STILL TWEETING AND HE 
MADE A GOOD POINT THAT IF YOU 
START LOOKING AT THE CRITERIA 
LIKE THIS, LIKE IN A VALUES OR 
IDEOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW, HOW 
DO YOU SET THAT CRITERIA UP FOR 
EVERYONE ELSE AND MAYBE THEN IT 
GETS A LITTLE BIT MESSY FOR 
EVERYONE TO BE DETERMINING.
ANYWAY, WE'LL SEE --
>> Vassy: CAN I JUMP IN FOR ONE 
QUICK ?EKD
>> Rosemary: OF COURSE.
>> Vassy: I THINK THERE IS 
TOTALLY A DEBATE TO BE HAD 
AROUND THE MERITS AND I 
UNDERSTAND THE DISCUSSIONS FOR 
AND AGAINST THAT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS I HAVE 
INTERVIEWED AARON SHEER AND 
JAGMEET SINGH MULTIPLE TIMES 
WHEN THEY WERE PUSHING FOR WHAT 
MADE SENSE, WHICH WAS AN 
INCREASE TO THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
HERE'S WHY IT NEEDS TO HELP OUT 
MORE PEOPLE.
AT NO TIME DID ANY OF THEM SAY 
OH, BY THE WAY, MY OWN PARTY 
WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS.
>> Rosemary: NO, THAT IS TRUE.
>> Vassy: AND IT IS THE WAY IN 
WHICH THIS ALL CAME ABOUT.
THE N.D.P.  ENDED UP BEING THE 
MOST FORT RIGHT, BUT EVEN THEN 
IT WASN'T LIKE ANYONE OUTLINED 
THIS AT THE BEGINNING.
BY THE WAY ALSO WE THINK THIS 
COULD WORK FOR US.
I THINK IF CANADIANS FELT LIKE 
THEY WERE BEING MORE 
TRANSPARENT, THE DISCUSSION 
RIGHT NOW MIGHT BE A BIT 
DIFFERENT.
>> Rosemary: YOU'RE PROBABLY 
RIGHT.
OK.
LY TELL PEOPLE THAT THERE WILL 
BE A QUESTION PERIOD TODAY AT 
2:15 AND PHIL, MY TRUSTY 
PRODUCER, TELLS US IT IS THE 
FIRST QUESTION PERIOD IN 75 
DAYS, SINCE MARCH 12.
I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE COVERAGE 
OF THAT ON CBC NEWS NETWORK AND 
cbc.ca.
THANK YOU, VASSY KAPELOS AND 
DAVID COCHRANE.
YOU CAN WATCH VASSY ON "POWER & 
POLITICS" AT 5:00 P.M. EASTERN.
THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST 
COUPLE OF HOURS, THERE ARE 
ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH TESTING 
IN ONTARIO.
TAN PROVINCE HAS BEEN TRYING TO 
MAKE A PUSH TO DO MORE.
PREMIER DOUG FORD IS URGING 
ONTARIANS TO GET TESTED EVEN IF 
THEY DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS.
WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM THE 
PREMIER AND HIS OFFICIALS TODAY 
ON THAT.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, 
THOUGH, IN MESSAGE AING AS THE 
PROVINCE GETS READY TO RELEASE 
THIS NEW STRATEGY.
DR. LAWRENCE LOWE JOINS ME NOW, 
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 
THE REGION OF PEEL.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> NICE TO BE ON.
>> Rosemary: I'M GOING TO START 
WITH JUST WHAT I SEE AS A SORT 
OF WORRYING TREND IN ONTARIO.
AND THAT IS THE NUMBERS DON'T 
SEEM TO BE GOING DOWN ANYMORE.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT 
THAT?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT IS A 
CONCERN.
YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT IS A 
RECOGNITION THAT ACROSS THE 
PROVINCE, WE'RE REALLY STARTING 
TO SEE MULTIPLE PICTURES IN 
DIFFERENT REGIONS, SPECIFIC TO 
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN PEEL WE DO 
KNOW THAT WE HAVE STARTED TO 
SEE OUR SEVEN-DAY MOVING 
AVERAGE OF NEW CASES INCREASE.
AND WE ARE ALSO STARTING TO 
SEE, YOU KNOW, ONGOING 
TRANSMISSION IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHICH CERTAINLY IS GIVING US 
PAUSE AS THE PROVINCE CONTINUES 
TO RE-OPEN.
AT LEAST IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S 
CLEAR THAT THE PICTURE IS 
MOVING OUT OF STEP WITH SORT OF 
THE PHASED RE-OPENINGS THAT 
HAVE OCCURRED SO FAR.
>> Rosemary: IN THE BRIEFING 
TODAY WITH THE NUMBERS, THE 
BROAD PROVINCIAL NUMBERS IN 
ONTARIO, THEY DID SAY THAT 
THERE ARE 61 NOW WHAT THEY CALL 
OUTBREAKS.
THOSE WOULD BE THINGS, YES, 
ASSOCIATED WITH CONGREGANT 
LIVING, HOSPITALS, BUT THINGS 
LIKE BARBECUES AND FAMILY 
GATHERINGS.
HOW MUCH OF A CONCERN IS THAT 
IN YOUR REGION, THAT THIS IS, 
BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, INCREASED 
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.
PEOPLE STARTING TO NOT FOLLOW 
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT REALLY 
SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR PEOPLE, 
ESPECIALLY AS THE RE-OPENING 
CONTINUES TO OCCUR, TO REMEMBER 
THAT THEY NEED TO REMAIN 
PHYSICALLY DISTANCE AND 
PRACTICING GOOD HAND HYGIENE.
I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES 
WE HAVE IN THE REGION OF SPIEL 
THAT OUR EMPLOYMENT PROFILE, 
MANY OF OUR WORKPLACES AND 
OFFICES ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE 
CAN'T WORK REMOTELY AND IF YOU 
THINK ABOUT WAREHOUSING, 
MANUFACTURING, THOSE KIND OF 
EMPLOYMENT PIECES AND IT REALLY 
-- IT'S REALLY THE IDEA THAT 
THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, COVID-19 
IS STILL CIRCULATING IN OUR 
COMMUNITY.
AND THINGS ARE FAR FROM 
RETURNING BACK TO NORMAL.
IT IS A MATTER OF MAKING SURE 
THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL TAKING 
THE SAME PRECAUTIONS THAT WE 
HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT OVER 
THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> Rosemary: SO, WHAT SHOULD 
ONTARIO DO?
WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS THEN AS 
WE MOVE AHEAD WITH RE-OPENING?
ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THE NEXT 
PHASE LINED UP FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT YET.
WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS AROUND 
RE-OPENING GIVEN THESE NUMBERS?
>> I THINK I ACTUALLY REALLY DO 
WELCOME THE RECENT LOOSENING OF 
RESTRICTIONS AROUND TESTING.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO 
THINK IN A WHOLESOME WAY AROUND 
PEOPLE WHO MAY NEED TO BE 
TESTED IN OUR REGION AND I 
THINK IT ALLOW US TO COME UP 
WITH A BIT OF A STRATEGY TO 
TARGET WHERE WE'RE SEEING THOSE 
OUTBREAKS IN CERTAIN WORKPLACES 
AND SECTORS, IN CERTAIN 
NEIGHBOURHOODS OR AMONGST 
CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY 
WHERE WE CAN REALLY MAKE SURE 
WE GET IN THERE.
BECAUSE I THINK THE IMPORTANT 
THING TO REMEMBER, YOU 
MENTIONED THE TESTING NUMBERS 
BEING DOWN.
THE BIG SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE 
THAT WE'RE TESTING SMART WHERE 
WE OUGHT TO BE TESTING AND MAKE 
SURE THAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING AND 
INTERRUPTING CHANGE OF 
TRANSMISSION.
>> Rosemary: ONCE YOU GET MORE 
PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF 
VOLUNTARILY SHOWING UP TO BE 
TESTED AND GET A SENSE OF WHERE 
IT IS, WHAT DO YOU DO AS A 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL THEN TO 
SORT OF QUASH THAT SPARK OF THE 
VIRUS?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO IT BASICALLY COMES BACK TO 
IT'S THE FUNCTION OF TESTING 
THE, TRACING, ISOLATING AND 
TREATING, RIGHT?
SO WHEN ONCE WE'VE GOTTEN A 
POSITIVE CORONAVIRUS TEST, 
PUBLIC HEALTH AS ALWAYS FOLLOWS 
UP WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL TO 
DETERMINE WHERE THEY MAY HAVE 
ACQUIRED THE DISEASE FROM AND 
ALSO TO DETERMINE WHO THEY MAY 
HAVE PASSED IT ON TO.
AS CONTACTS.
AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY BREAD 
AND BUTTER PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND SO THROUGH CONTACT TRACING, 
MAKING SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS 
ARE ISOLATED, WE ACTUALLY DO 
NOONING TRY TO STAMP OUT THE 
ISOLATION.
BUT IT REALLY BEGINS WITH THE 
TEST AND REALLY BEGINS WITH 
TESTING AMONGST POPULATIONS, 
AMONGST PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK 
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY -- 
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY 
CHAINS OF TRANSMISSION THERE.
>> Rosemary: OBVIOUSLY IT IS A 
DIFFERENT PICTURE THAN THE REST 
OF THE COUNTRY.
307B8 SECONDS.
BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO 
ONTARIANS, THEY HAD A LOVELY 
WEEKEND OF GOOD WEATHER AND 
SOME PEOPLE MAY BE PUSHING THE 
ENVELOPE A LITTLE BIT ON THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE.
>> I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY, YOU 
KNOW, THE COVID-19 IS STILL 
VERY MUCH A THREAT IN PEEL 
REGION AND A, YOU KNOW, 
THROUGHOUT OTHER PARTS OF THE 
PROVINCE AND IT'S A MATTER OF 
MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR 
DISTANCE, AVOID CROWDS AND 
CONGREGATING, WASH OUR HANDS.
WE IN PUBLIC HEALTH WILL DO OUR 
PART WITH THE TESTING AND 
TRACING AND WORKING WITH OUR 
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS.
>> Rosemary: OK.
SO GOOD OF YOU TO TAKE THE TIME.
THAT IS DR. LAWRENCE LOH FOR 
THE REGION OF PEEL.
AS WE KNOW, WE ARE EXPECTING 
MORE DETAILS TODAY ABOUT THAT 
TESTING STRATEGY FROM THE 
PREMIER.
THERE YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT 
HAND SIDE.
AND QUEBEC ALSO AN UPDATE 
COMING AT 1:00 P.M. AS THOUGH 
TWO PROVINCES CONTINUE TO 
STRUGLE WITH MORE CASES.
ANDREW NICHOLS WILL CONTINUE 
OUR COVERAGE HERE ON CBC NEWS 
NETWORK.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
