WE ARE STANDING BY, AS WE DO 
EVERY DAY ALMOST TO HEAR FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER FOR HIS DAILY
UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL RESPONSE 
TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
YESTERDAY JUSTIN TRUDEAU 
UNVEILED MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN
RESCUE MONEY FOR CANADA'S 
SLUMPING ENERGY SECTOR AND OTHER
KEY INDUSTRIES LIKE TOURISM.
TODAY WE ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR 
MORE ABOUT ADDITIONAL HELP FOR 
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES THAT MAY 
BE TAKING A DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU IS ALSO 
ADDRESSING THE NATION ON A DAY 
THAT THE CANADIAN MILITARY BEGIN
AN OPERATION TO COMBAT COVID-19.
125 PERSONNEL ARE BEING DEPLOYED
TO QUÉBEC TO ASSIST SOME 
OVERWHELMED STAFF IN THE 
PROVINCE'S LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
QUÉBEC REQUESTED THAT HAD HE 
BEEN IN AN EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE
DEADLY OUTBREAKS THAT ARE 
SWEEPING THROUGH THE FACILITIES 
ARE AND OF COURSE IN THE 
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO AS WELL.
THAT IS A SCENE YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH AT THIS STAGE, THE FRONT 
DOOR AT THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
RESIDENCE, RIDEAU COTTAGE.
WE WILL HEAR FROM HIM IN 15 
MINUTES' TIME.
I WANT TO BRING IN CATHARINE 
CULLEN WHO IS HERE TO HELP WITH 
COVERAGE.
MORE THAN HALF A MILLION TESTS 
HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND TESTING 
IS IMPORTANT TO GET A HANDLE ON 
THINGS TO ALLOW THE ECONOMY TO 
REOPEN AND RESTRICTIONS TO 
LOOSEN.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN 
ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS VIRTUALLY 
EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.
>> Catherine: THAT'S RIGHT.
HE SAYS IT'S KEY TO MOVING 
FORWARD.
ANY ATTEMPT TO REOPEN THE 
ECONOMY WILL DEPEND ON TESTING.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, 
AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE SHOULD 
SAY IS UNDER ADDED SCRUTINY, BUT
IT PUT FORWARD THIS WEEK SIX 
CRITERIA FOR ANY JURISDICTION 
THAT'S LOOKING AT MOVING FORWARD
AND WIDESPREAD TESTING WOULD BE 
A PART OF THAT.
CANADA, ACCORDING TO MANY 
EXPERTS, IS NOT AT A POINT TO 
REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
EVEN BEYOND THAT THERE IS A 
DEBATE OF LARGER JURISDICTIONS, 
NOTABLY ONTARIO, THEY ARE STILL 
TRYING TO RAMP UP TO A LEVEL 
THAT EVERYONE IS HAPPY WITH TO 
DEAL WITH THE SITUATION AS IT 
IS, LET ALONE ALLOW PEOPLE TO 
RETURN TO PEOPLE'S LIVES NOT AS 
NORMAL, NOT TO SOME SENSE OF 
NORMALCY.
>> Rosemary: B.C. IS ALREADY 
HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.
OF COURSE THEY WERE TESTING AT A
MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN OTHER 
PROVINCES AND ACCORDING TO THEIR
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, BONNIE 
HENRY, HAVE FLATTENED OUT THE 
CURVE.
THERE WAS A MOVE LAST NIGHT THAT
CAME LATE IN THE DAY BY THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO START I 
GUESS PUTTING DIFFERENT MEASURES
IN PLACE AS THINGS EASE UP.
>> Catherine: THAT'S RIGHT.
ANYONE NOW WHO ENTERS AN 
AIRPORT, ANYONE WHO IS DOING ANY
AIRLINE TRAVEL WILL NEED TO WEAR
A NON-MEDICAL MASK, A CLOTH FACE
COVERING.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEMBERS
OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEY DO 
NOT WANT PEOPLE USING THOSE 
MEDICAL MASKS, BUT MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE OUT OF 
THEIR HOUSE SEE PEOPLE WITH 
THOSE MASKS.
IF YOU'RE IN AN AIRPORT OR 
ANYWHERE YOU CANNOT MAINTAIN 
THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING, YOU 
WILL HAVE TO WEAR A FACE 
COVERING.
THAT WOULD BE GOING THROUGH 
SECURITY OR AN I.D. CHECK, 
BORDER CHECKS, GETTING ON THE 
PLANE ITSELF.
MONDAY AT NOON YOU WILL BE 
EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF 
FACE COVERING.
THERE WILL BE EXCEPTIONS FOR 
PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 2 AND 
PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES.
THIS IS FOR MOMENTS IN THE 
AIRPORT WHERE YOU WOULDN'T BE 
ABLE TO MAINTAIN SAFE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
THIS ALSO CAME WITH GUIDELINES 
FOR OTHER MODES OF 
TRANSPORTATION AS WELL.
THIS RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT 
OTHER PLACES IN SOCIETY WHERE 
PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN 
THAT 2-METRE DISTANCE AS WELL, 
ROSIE.
WE HEARD FROM DR. NJOO WEDNESDAY
IN THE BRIEFING, COULD WE SEE A 
SCENARIO WHERE THERE IS 
WIDESPREAD GUIDANCE THAT 
CANADIANS SHOULD BE OR MUST BE 
WEARING MASKS WHEN THEY GO 
OUTSIDE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE QUITE AN
EVOLUTION OVER THE COURSE OF THE
LAST FEW WEEKS.
FIRST THEY WERE SAYING, NO, THEY
DIDN'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE 
WEARING MASKS AND PEOPLE WOULD 
BE TOUCHING THEIR FACE.
NOW THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS 
ARE SAYING, IF YOU'D LIKE TO, 
YOU MAY.
AND NOW DR. NJOO SAYS THE 
SCIENCE IS EVOLVING.
>> Rosemary: NOW NEW YORK STATE 
IS SAYING YOU HAVE TO WEAR A 
MASK ON THINGS LIKE PUBLIC 
TRANSIT.
AS RESTRICTIONS ARE EASED, OTHER
MEASURES HAVE TO COME INTO PLAY.
CATHARINE, I'LL COME BACK TO YOU
SHORTLY AS WE STAND BY AND WAIT 
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER IN 
OTTAWA.
OBVIOUSLY THE CORONAVIRUS 
CONTINUES TO CLAIM LIVES IN 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
MORE THAN HALF OF THE DEATHS IN 
THIS COUNTRY HAVE OCCURRED IN 
THOSE PLACES.
BECAUSE OF THAT, SOME FAMILY 
MEMBERS ARE CHOOSING TO BRING 
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HOME.
ILENE SMYTH IS ONE OF THOSE WHO 
REMOVED HER MOTHER FROM A CARE 
HOME EARLIER THIS WEEK.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> Interview: THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: HOW IS YOUR MOTHER 
DOING, ILENE?
>> Interview: MOM'S DOING VERY 
WELL.
SHE'S OBVIOUSLY HAPPY TO BE HOME
WITH FAMILY.
IT'S A CHALLENGE.
SHE HAS DEMENTIA.
SHE'S UNABLE TO FOLLOW 
DIRECTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, SHE 
COULD POSSIBLY HAVE MOOD CHANGES
AND ALL THAT.
BUT MY HUSBAND IS HOME AS WELL.
SO BETWEEN BOTH OF US, WE'RE 
MANAGING PRETTY WELL.
>> Rosemary: GOOD MORNING.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE HOW YOU CAME 
TO THIS DECISION, WHERE YOUR 
MOM, WHO YOU MENTIONED HAS 
DEMENTIA, THAT YOUR MOTHER 
NEEDED TO COME LIVE WITH YOU FOR
A PERIOD OF TIME.
>> Interview: WELL, ABOUT THE 
THIRD WEEK IN MARCH I WAS 
READING THE NEWS AND LISTENING 
TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN 
LONG-TERM CARE AND IT BECAME 
VERY SCARY.
I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE 
DYING.
THERE WAS NO HELP.
THE PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS FOR
SCARED TO GO AND WORK AT A LOT 
OF THESE HOMES.
SO MY FEAR WAS THAT MY MOTHER 
WOULD DIE ALONE.
SHE'S UNABLE TO FOLLOW ANY SORT 
OF ISOLATION.
SO IT BECAME A NIGHTMARE FOR ME.
THEN I GOT A LETTER FROM THE 
HOME STATING THAT THEY'RE NOT 
GOING TO BE TRANSPORTING THE 
SENIORS WHO GET SICK TO THE 
HOSPITAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, A SIMILAR 
SITUATION WHO GETS THE 
VENTILATOR, I UNDERSTAND.
BUT AT THAT POINT THERE WAS -- 
YOU KNOW, THEY WERE SO LOW 
SUPPLIED WITH P.P.E., YOU KNOW, 
ESSENTIALS.
SO WHEN I HEARD FAMILIES ON TV 
AND HEARD OF FAMILIES IN A 
NIGHTMARE WHERE A PARENT WOULD 
DIE AND THEY WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW 
WHERE THE PARENT WENT.
SO THEY WERE HAVING NIGHTMARES 
ABOUT THAT.
IN THE END I MADE THE DECISION 
THAT AFTER DOING SOME CALLS TO 
THE GOVERNMENT AND FINDING OUT 
WHERE I STOOD EXACTLY TO BRING 
MY MOTHER HOME.
>> Rosemary: WERE THERE CASES OF
COVID-19 AT THE TIME IN HER 
RESIDENCE OR HAVE THERE BEEN 
SINCE?
>> Interview: NO, THERE WERE NO 
PROVEN CASES OF COVID-19, WHICH 
GAVE ME A GOOD IN TO GET MY 
MOTHER OUT.
BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE 
SITUATION WOULD BE HAD THERE 
BEEN ONE CONTRACTED THERE.
>> Rosemary: AND I BELIEVE 
YOU'RE A PART-TIME NURSE OR YOU 
WERE WORKING AS A PART-TIME 
NURSE, SO THAT GIVES YOU AN 
ADVANTAGE THAT OTHER PEOPLE 
MIGHT NOT HAVE BECAUSE IT IS A 
LOT TO TAKE ON.
HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS THAT?
>> Interview: YES, WELL I STILL 
WORK IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE IN 
BARRIE AND I DO RELIEF, BUT 
RIGHT NOW THE COUNT IS WAY DOWN.
SO I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE 
HOME.
AS WELL -- AND MY HUSBAND AS 
WELL.
SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, YOU 
KNOW, WE MADE THAT DECISION.
AND I THINK I DID MAKE IT AT THE
RIGHT TIME.
YES, SO THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE 
FOR ME.
I HAD HAD MY MOTHER PRIOR TO HER
GOING AND BEING CRISES GETTING 
ADMITTED INTO THE HOME THAT GAVE
ME AN ADVANTAGE. 
>> Rosemary: DOES IT WORRY YOU 
ABOUT HAVING TO SEND HER BACK?
BECAUSE, IF ANYTHING, THIS 
PANDEMIC HAS EXPOSED, EILEEN, 
THAT LONG-TERM CARE HOMES ARE 
OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLING DURING THIS
PANDEMIC, BUT MAY BE WE ARE NOT 
DOING ENOUGH FOR OLDER CANADIANS
ACROSS THE BOARD. 
>> Interview: WELL, THE 
GOVERNMENT COULD BE A LITTLE 
MORE LENIENT TO FAMILIES WHO 
WANT TO TAKE THEIR LOVED ONES 
HOME.
IT WAS A REAL DILEMMA FOR ME 
BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED THE ACTION
LINE, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, 
THE LADY TOLD ME THAT MY MOTHER 
WOULD LOSE HER BED, THAT SHE 
WOULD GO ON THE WAITING LIST AS 
A PRE-ADMIT, AND NOT SURE WHEN 
SHE WOULD GET BACK IN.
MY QUESTION TO HER WAS IS THE 
PRE-ADMIT OVER OR BELOW THE 
CRISES LIST?
BECAUSE I KNOW THE CRISES LIST 
IS PROBABLY IN A COUPLE 
THOUSAND.
SHE COULDN'T ANSWER THAT, BUT 
SHE DID LEAVE THE PHONE AND SCAM
BACK WITH AN ANSWER AND SAID IT 
WAS BELOW THE CRISES LIST.
AT THAT POINT I E-MAILED MY 
LOCAL M.P.P. AND VOICED MY 
CONCERN AND ALSO E-MAILED -- YOU
KNOW, A DETAILED E-MAIL.
I HEARD BACK FROM THAT OFFICE 
THREE DAYS LATER.
AND I WAS -- HE SAID HE WOULD 
PUT IT TO HIS SUPERIOR.
BUT I HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING 
SINCE.
THE LAST PHONE CALL WAS TO CCAC 
WHO DEALS WITH MOM'S PARTICULAR 
AREA.
SHE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MY 
MOTHER WOULD GO ON A RE-ADMIT 
LIST, BUT SHE WOULD BE A 
PRIORITY AT THE VERY TOP IF I 
CALL THEM IN THE 90-DAY SPAN 
FROM NOW OR THIS PAST WEEK, THEN
I WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE 
PAPERWORK SO THAT THE NEXT BED 
THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE AT THE 
HOME WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HER.
NOW, IF I GO PAST THE 90 DAYS --
AS YOU SAID, THIS MAY GO ON -- 
THEN WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR SURE.
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT, EILEEN, 
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE 
STRUGGLING WITH THESE SAME 
ISSUES AND IT WAS A DIFFICULT 
DECISION FOR YOU TO MAKE.
I CAN TELL YOUR MOM IS STILL 
VERY MUCH FULL OF LIFE AND IS 
HAPPY TO BE THERE.
I WISH YOU GOOD HEALTH AND TAKE 
CARE.
>> Interview: THANK YOU VERY 
MUCH.
>> Rosemary: EILEEN SMYTH IN 
BARRIE, ONTARIO.
IN ONTARIO THERE ARE MORE THAN 
100 LONG-TERM CARE HOMES WHO 
HAVE OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST 
ONE IN SIX HOMES.
THAT HAS BEEN THE PICTURE, NOT 
ONLY IN ONTARIO BUT DEFINITELY 
IN QUÉBEC AND TO SOME EXTENT IN 
BRITISH COLUMBIA AS WELL.
LET'S GO TO THE CBC'S MEGAN 
BATCHELOR IN VANCOUVER BECAUSE 
B.C. IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE, HAS 
FLATTENED THE CURVE, AND IS NOW 
ALREADY TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO 
REOPEN AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK 
LIKE.
>> Megan: YEAH, ROSIE, WE'RE 
SEEING DATA COMING OUT OF B.C.
AND DR. BONNIE HENRY BEING 
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT SOME 
RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING LIFTED.
WE'RE SEEING A SLOW DOWN IN THE 
INCREASE IN CASES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY IN PARTICULAR IN ONTARIO
AND IN QUÉBEC.
B.C. IS ALSO CHANGING THE WAY 
THAT IT'S DOING ITS MODELLING.
IT USED TO COMPARE THE NUMBER OF
CASES TO THOSE IN ITALY OR HUBEI
PROVINCE IN CHINA, THOSE REAL 
HOT SPOTS, THE EPICENTRES OF 
COVID-19.
NOW THEY ARE NOT COMPARING THE 
WORST-CASE SCENARIO FROM THERE, 
LOOKING AT WHAT COULD PERHAPS 
HAPPEN TO OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM 
HERE BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING TO 
SEE THIS FLATTENING OF THE 
CURVE.
NOW OFFICIALS HERE ARE STARTING 
TO DEVELOP NEW MODELS, LOOKING 
AT THE CASES THAT ARE HAPPENING 
SHORT TERM, AND PROJECTING 
THOSE, ASSUMING THERE IS NO 
CHANGE IN THE CURRENT MEASURES.
THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT 
COULD HAPPEN IF THEY START TO 
EASE SOME OF THE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS.
WE SAY THAT NOW WITH THE 
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, CONTACTS 
BETWEEN BRITISH COLUMBIANS IS 
30% OF NORMAL.
THEY DO SAY THEY COULD GO UP TO 
60% OF NORMAL AND NOT SEE A 
REEMERGENCE OF COVID-19 IN B.C.
THEY ARE STILL LOOKING AHEAD AT 
THAT SECOND WAVE THAT WE KEEP 
TALKING ABOUT.
THE OFFICIALS HERE ARE PREPARING
FOR THAT AND ADJUSTING THEIR 
MODELLING THERE.
>> Rosemary: MEGAN BATCHELOR IN 
VANCOUVER.
A DIFFERENT PICTURE ON THE WEST 
COAST.
THAT IS THE ISSUE WITH COVID-19 
IS THAT THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICER, DR. THERESA TAM, HAS 
TALKED ABOUT REGIONAL EPIDEMICS.
EVERY PROVINCE LOOKS A LITTLE 
BIT DIFFERENT.
SO EASING BACK SOME OF THE 
RESTRICTIONS WILL HAPPEN ON 
DIFFERENT TIMETABLES IN 
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY,
AND THAT WILL MAKE IT 
CHALLENGING LIKELY FOR THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHO ONLY HAS
SO MUCH SAY HOW THIS IS GOING TO
UNFOLD.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER, HE IS EXPECTED TO BE 
ON TIME.
I'LL BRING BACK MY COLLEAGUE 
CATHARINE CULLEN, BUT I MAY CUT 
YOU OFF.
YESTERDAY THE PRIME MINISTER 
MADE SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENTS 
IN TERMS OF MONEY.
ONE OF THEM WAS TO ADDRESS THE 
OIL AND GAS SECTOR, ALTHOUGH IT 
WAS IN NO WAY A BAILOUT.
THERE WAS CRITICISM IN INDUSTRY 
THAT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET 
THEM THROUGH EVERYTHING.
THE PREMIER WAS ALSO VERY 
WELCOMING TO IT, AS WERE IS MANY
MANY ENVIRONMENTALISTS.
>> Catherine: INDEED.
THEY PUT TOGETHER $1.7 BILLION 
TO DEAL WITH ORPHANED WELLS AS 
WELL AS ANOTHER CHUNK OF 
MONEY -- AND I AM WATCHING THE 
DOORWAY AS YOU ARE -- TO HELP 
THOSE IN THE OIL AND GAS 
INDUSTRY EMBRACE I GUESS I COULD
SAY NEW METHANE EMISSIONS.
THIS IS SOMETHING INDUSTRY 
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT, WHETHER
OR NOT THEY COULD DO IT.
THE GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING 
FORWARD THIS MONEY TO ASSIST 
WITH THAT.
THAT IS WHY THEY'RE GETTING THE 
THUMBS UP FROM MANY 
ENVIRONMENTALISTS, HELPING THE 
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY REACH A 
ENVIRONMENTAL BAR IS GOOD WAY TO
SPEND THE MONEY.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS THE NUMBER 
OF JOBS CREATE BY THIS.
IN THE CASES OF THE ORPHANED 
WELLS, THIS IS THOUSANDS OF JOBS
THEY ARE GOING TO CREATE.
I CAN SEE THE PRIME MINISTER. 
>> Rosemary: LET'S GO TO HIM.
HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA SPEAKING.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: I WANT TO START BY 
CONFIRMING THAT CANADA AND THE 
UNITED STATES HAVE AGREED TO 
EXTEND BY ANOTHER 30 DAYS THE 
BORDER MEASURES THAT ARE IN 
PLACE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION 
AND ONE THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER SAFE.
IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE 
EXCELLENT COLLABORATION BETWEEN 
OUR TWO COUNTRIES, AND I WANT TO
THANK MINISTER BILL BLAIR FOR 
LEADING THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
UNITED STATES.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I WANT TO BEGIN BY 
CONFIRMING THAT CANADA AND THE 
UNITED STATES HAVE AGREED TO 
EXTEND BY 30 DAYS THE CURRENT 
BORDER MEASURES.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION 
THAT WILL PROTECT CITIZENS ON 
BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER, AND I 
WANT TO THANK MINISTER BLAIR FOR
LEADING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH 
THE UNITED STATES.
[end of translation] WE'RE ALL 
HERE TODAY, BUT IT IS THE 
WEEKEND.
USUALLY A SATURDAY MORNING IN 
APRIL MEANS GETTING OUTSIDE TO 
ENJOY THE SUNSHINE.
HAVING A FRIEND OVER FOR COFFEE.
OR TAKING THE KIDS TO THE PARK.
BUT THESE AREN'T NORMAL TIMES.
WE'RE LIVING THROUGH AN 
UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC HEALTH 
EMERGENCY AND WE NEED TO KEEP 
RESPONDING ACCORDINGLY.
EVEN AS THE WEATHER GETS NICER 
AND WE START TO SEE HOPEFUL 
NEWS, WE CAN'T LET UP.
BECAUSE IF WE DO, WE COULD LOSE 
THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE.
LATER TODAY YOU MAY SEE SOME NEW
ADS WITH PEOPLE YOU KNOW LIKE 
HAYLEY WICKENHEISER AND DR. TAM.
AND THEY ARE URGING PEOPLE TO 
STAY AT HOME.
LIMIT YOUR TRIPS TO THE GROCERY 
STORE TO ONCE A WEEK.
IF YOU DO GO OUT, KEEP 2 METRES 
OF DISTANCE BETWEEN YOURSELVES.
AS YOU DO YOUR PART, KNOW THAT 
WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] LATER TODAY YOU MAY
SEE ADS SHOWING PEOPLE THAT YOU 
KNOW.
THEY WILL BE REMINDING YOU THAT 
YOU CAN SAVE LIVES BY STAYING 
HOME.
AS I'VE OFTEN SAID, EVERYONE 
MUST DO THEIR PART.
IN RECENT WEEKS, WE HAVE 
ANNOUNCED HISTORIC MEASURES TO 
HELP YOU TO GET THROUGH THIS 
CRISIS, WITH THE EMERGENCY 
BENEFIT, THE WAGE BENEFIT, AND 
THE LOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, 
WE ARE SUPPORTING MILLIONS OF 
FAMILIES AND WORKERS RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL WORK TO 
BE DONE.
THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WE NEED 
TO HELP.
SO TODAY I AM ANNOUNCING FURTHER
MEASURES TO SUPPORT CANADIANS.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOCATE 
MORE THAN $306 MILLION TO HELP 
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES.
THIS FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED 
THROUGH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 
AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF 
INDIGENOUS ASSOCIATIONS.
THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET AN 
INTEREST-FREE SHORT-TERM LOAN 
AND NON-REFUNDABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
SO THAT THEY CAN GET THROUGH 
THIS CRISIS AND REBOUND 
AFTERWARDS.
THE INVESTMENTS ANNOUNCED TODAY 
WILL HELP THOUSANDS OF 
BUSINESSES TO HOLD THE LINE 
UNTIL THINGS GET BETTER, 
INCLUDING MANY BUSINESSES THAT 
ARE LED BY INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
THESE BUSINESSES RECRUIT PEOPLE 
IN EVERY SECTOR RIGHT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THIS IS ONLY A FIRST STEP.
VERY SOON WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING 
OTHER MEASURES TO SUPPORT 
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES AND THEIR 
EMPLOYEES.
[end of translation] THIS 
MORNING I AM VERY HAPPY TO 
ANNOUNCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT 
WILL ALLOCATE MORE THAN $306 
MILLION TO GIVE INDIGENOUS 
BUSINESSES THE SUPPORT THEY 
NEED.
THIS FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED 
THROUGH ABORIGINAL FINANCIAL 
INSTITUTIONS AND ADMINISTERED BY
THE NATIONAL ABORIGINAL CAPITAL 
CORPORATIONS ASSOCIATION.
IT WILL ALLOW INDIGENOUS 
BUSINESSES TO ACCESS 
INTEREST-FREE SHORT-TERM LOANS 
SO THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO MAKE 
IT THROUGH AND REBOUND AFTER 
THIS CRISIS.
TODAY'S INVESTMENT WILL HELP 
THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES BRIDGE 
TO BETTER TIMES, INCLUDING MANY 
THAT ARE OWNED AND RUN BY 
INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
THESE BUSINESSES EMPLOY PEOPLE 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 
SMALL COMMUNITIES AND IN BIG 
CITIES ALIKE.
THEY CREATE GOOD JOBS IN A WHOLE
RANGE OF SECTORS, SO WHEN WE 
SUPPORT THEM, WE'RE SUPPORTING 
FAMILIES AND WORKERS TOO.
THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP.
WE'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY SOON ON 
THE HELP FOR INDIGENOUS 
BUSINESSES AND THE PEOPLE THAT 
RELY ON THEM.
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE AT THE
HEART OF SO MANY COMMUNITIES, 
AND THIS IS A TOUGH TIME, 
WHETHER YOU OWN A STORE, 
RESTAURANT, OR ARE PART OF THE 
HOSPITALITY SECTOR.
WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR YOU 
AND WITH INVESTMENTS LIKE THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT AND THE WAGE SUBSIDY, 
WE'RE FOCUSED ON HELPING YOU.
IT WILL GET EASIER, BUT UNTIL IT
DOES, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO 
PERSEVERE.
THAT INCLUDES ENSURING THAT OUR 
FRONTLINE WORKERS HAVE THE 
EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO
DO THEIR JOBS AND STAY SAFE.
YESTERDAY TWO PLANES FULL OF N95
MASKS AND COVERALLS ARRIVED IN 
CANADA.
MORE SHIPMENTS WILL BE COMING 
THIS WEEK AND INTO THIS WEEKEND 
WITH ADDITIONAL MEDICAL 
SUPPLIES.
I CAN ANNOUNCE WE WILL BEGIN 
RECEIVING FACE SHIELDS FROM 
TORONTO STAMP VERY SOON.
THEY'VE SHIFTED FROM THEIR USUAL
PRODUCTION OF RUBBER STAMPS AND 
I.D. BADGES AND WILL BE 
PROVIDING MILLIONS OF FACE 
SHIELDS OVER THE NEXT FEW 
MONTHS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] CANADA CONTINUES TO
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SHIPMENTS OF
INDIVIDUAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
YESTERDAY TWO PLANES ARRIVED 
FULL OF N95 MASKS AND COVERALLS 
AND MORE WILL ARRIVE OVER THE 
WEEKEND OR NEXT WEEK.
WE ARE ALL VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE 
WHEN THIS WILL BE OVER.
WE ARE ALL TO SEE A SATURDAY 
WHEN WE CAN MEET WITH FRIENDS OR
TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO A BIRTHDAY 
PARTY.
THAT TIME WILL COME, BUT ONLY IF
EVERYONE CONTINUES TO DO THEIR 
PART.
SO THIS WEEKEND, PLEASE STAY 
HOME.
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE EXPERTS' 
GUIDELINES.
TOGETHER, WE WILL GET THROUGH 
THIS.
THANK YOU.
[end of translation]. 
>> THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
WE'LL NOW GO TO THE PHONE LINES 
FOR SOME QUESTIONS.
JUST A REMINDER, IT'S ONE 
QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW UP.
OPERATOR.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS 
AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE 
CLOSURE OF THE U.S.-CANADIAN 
BORDER.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT 
HAVING ENOUGH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
AND MEDICATION.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS 
AGREEMENT INCLUDES THE SAME 
MECHANISMS IN TERMS OF TIMELINES
OR HAVE YOU IMPROVED IT?
>> Answer: NO, IT'S EXACTLY THE 
SAME MECHANISMS.
WE EXPECT THAT ESSENTIAL GOODS 
AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND OTHER 
ITEMS WILL CONTINUE TO CROSS THE
BORDER BETWEEN OUR TWO 
COUNTRIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE.
[end of translation] THE 
AGREEMENT IS THE SAME TERMS, 
JUST EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER 30 
DAYS.
IT WILL ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE 
TO GET ESSENTIAL GOODS AND 
SERVICES BACK AND FORTH ACROSS 
THE BORDER.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] FOLLOW UP.
>> Question: YES.
WITH RESPECT TO THOSE MASKS THAT
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COMING FROM 
3M, WE KNOW THAT IT WAS 
EXTREMELY COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF
THE DIRECTIVES ANNOUNCED BY 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
DID YOU NOT THINK IT WOULD BE A 
GOOD IDEA TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL
GUARANTEES SO THAT ALL THOSE 
COMPANIES PROVIDING GOWNS AND 
MASKS AND SO FORTH CAN CONTINUE 
TO PROVIDE THAT EQUIPMENT TO 
CANADA, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO RELY ON CHINA?
>> Answer: YES, IT IS VERY 
IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO 
RECEIVE ESSENTIAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD,
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES.
WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE 
TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF 3M 
SHIPMENTS, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE 
TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE U.S. 
ADMINISTRATION SO THAT WE ARE 
SURE TO RECEIVE ALL THE 
EQUIPMENT WE NEED.
>> Question: THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
MARC GARNEAU ANNOUNCED THAT 
AIRLINE TRAVELLERS WILL NOW HAVE
TO WEAR A MASK THAT COVERS THEIR
FACE.
NOW, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT 
RECOMMENDATION WILL BE EXTENDED 
TO OTHER GROUPS?
>> Answer: NOW, WITH RESPECT TO 
MINISTER GARNEAU'S ANNOUNCEMENT,
I SHOULD POINT OUT OF COURSE 
THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY 
PROHIBITING ALL NON-ESSENTIAL 
TRAVEL.
WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO START 
TRAVELLING, WHETHER THEY'RE 
WEARING A MASK OR NOT.
OF COURSE IT'S BETTER TO WEAR A 
MASK AND -- BUT WE STILL WANT 
PEOPLE TO STAY HOME.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS MEASURE 
WILL HELP PEOPLE IN SITUATIONS 
WHERE PHYSICAL DISTANCING, LIKE 
IN A PLANE, IS VERY DIFFICULT TO
ACHIEVE.
NOW, REGARDING THE MEASURES 
BEING PUT IN PLACE.
ONCE WE BEGIN TO RELAX THE 
CURRENT RESTRICTIONS, CERTAINLY 
THAT IS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION 
AND WE ARE HAVING LENGTHY 
DISCUSSIONS WITH SCIENTISTS AS 
TO WHAT THE BEST MEASURES WOULD 
BE TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF 
ALL CANADIANS.
WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT 
THAT AS THOSE DISCUSSIONS 
CONTINUE AND THAT REALITY COMES 
CLOSER.
>> Question: YES.
AS A FOLLOW-UP, MR. TRUDEAU.
WITH RESPECT TO THE AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN CANADA AND THE 
UNITED STATES ON THE ORDER, 
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH RESPECT
TO AN ASYLUM SEEKER AND THAT 
PERSON WAS SENT BACK.
NOW, HAS THAT CONDITION BEEN 
CHANGED AT ALL IN THE NEW 
AGREEMENT?
>> Answer: NO.
IT IS THE SAME AGREEMENT THAT 
HAS BEEN RENEWED FOR THE NEXT 30
DAYS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO 
ENSURE OUR VALUES AS A COUNTRY 
ARE RESPECTED.
[end of translation]. 
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION, 
THERESA WRIGHT FROM THE CANADIAN
PRESS, YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: THE CONSERVATIVES 
WANT INCREASED SITTINGS IN THE 
HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THEY ARGUE 
THAT THE DAILY BRIEFINGS DONE IN
FRONT OF THE MEDIA COULD BE DONE
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
>> Answer: FIRST OF ALL, IT'S 
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND HAS BEEN
IMPORTANT THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY 
THE CANADIAN PUBLIC GETS 
INFORMED OF MEASURES WE ARE 
PUTTING FORWARD.
WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD NEW 
MEASURES ALMOST EVERY SINGLE 
DAY, AND I THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL
THAT THE MEDIA CONTINUES TO HAVE
ACCESS TO ASKING QUESTIONS TO 
BETTER INFORM AND TO ENSURE 
CANADA IS FUNCTIONING THE WAY IT
NEEDS TO BE.
PART OF THAT JOB IN OUR 
DEMOCRACY IS ENSURING THAT THERE
IS ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH OUR 
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE 
ALSO VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON.
WE HAVE PROPOSED THAT THE HOUSE 
OF COMMONS RETURN IN SOME 
FASHION EVERY SINGLE WEEK, TO 
PERMIT ENGAGEMENT ON 
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALSO PASS 
FURTHER MEASURES TO HELP 
CANADIANS.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A SITUATION 
WHERE M.P.s ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
AND THEIR STAFF ARE WONDERING IF
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET ON 
PLANES TOMORROW AND FLY TO 
OTTAWA.
OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT SOMETHING 
FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT 
WE SHOULD WANT TO SEE HAPPENING.
RIGHT NOW ON THE BOOKS THE RULE 
IS PARLIAMENT NEEDS TO RE-OPEN 
FULLY ON MONDAY.
THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD 
IDEA, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE 
PROPOSED MEASURES GOING FORWARD 
THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING WITH THE 
OTHER PARTIES.
WE CERTAINLY HOPE WE CAN COME TO
AN AGREEMENT SO WE ALL DON'T 
HAVE TO CONVENE IN THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS ON MONDAY MORNING.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE ARE STILL IN 
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OTHER 
PARTIES.
WE HAVE PROPOSED THAT THE HOUSE 
OF COMMONS SIT EVERY WEEK TO 
ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OF 
THE GOVERNMENT AND ALSO TO BE 
ABLE TO PASS OTHER MEASURES THAT
WILL HELP CANADIANS.
THE REALITY IS THAT MONDAY 
MORNING 338 MEMBERS OF 
PARLIAMENT AND THE TEAMS ARE 
SUPPOSED TO BE IN OTTAWA.
THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN 
OTTAWA THEN SO THAT PARLIAMENT 
CAN RECONVENE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD NOT BE A 
GOOD IDEA IN THE CURRENT 
CONTEXT.
NOW WE HAVE MADE PROPOSALS TO 
ENSURE THAT WE CAN GET WORK DONE
AND KEEP OUR DEMOCRACY WORKING 
AND HEALTHY, WHILE ALSO KEEPING 
PEOPLE SAFE.
AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT THE 
OTHER PARTIES WILL AGREE WITH 
THESE PROPOSALS BECAUSE I DO 
THINK IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE 
PROBLEM IF WE ALL HAD TO RETURN 
TO PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: MANY PEOPLE ON 
SOCIAL DISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE 
SURVIVING ON LESS THAN PEOPLE 
WHO ARE GETTING THE CERB.
MANY MARGINALIZED CANADIANS WILL
SIMPLY NEVER BE ABLE TO ACCESS 
THE CERB AS IT IS STRUCTURED.
RATHER THAN CONTINUE TO TWEAK 
IT, WHY NOT JUST MAKE THE CERB 
UNIVERSAL?
>> Answer: WE MOVED VERY QUICKLY
ON REPLACING INCOME FOR PEOPLE 
WHO LOST A PAYCHEQUE BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19.
THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO WERE 
RELYING ON THAT NEXT PAYCHEQUE 
TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR RENT, TO 
BE ABLE TO PAY FOR GROCERIES, TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR 
CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS.
THIS WAS THE ABSOLUTE PRIORITY 
THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD 
QUICKLY ON.
WITH THE MOVES THAT WE WERE ABLE
TO MAKE, OVER 7.5 MILLION 
PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ALREADY 
AND THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY MANY 
MORE TO COME.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE RECOGNIZE 
THE PARTICULAR VULNERABILITY OF 
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF 
PARTICULAR GROUPS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PUT FORWARD 
SIGNIFICANT MEASURES TO TRY TO 
HELP THEM, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH 
SHELTERS AND SUPPORT FOR 
CHARITIES AND CHARITABLE 
ORGANIZATIONS, OR EXTENDING 
MEASURES SO PEOPLE WHO WORK A 
VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF HOURS A 
MONTH CAN STILL RECEIVE THE 
CERB.
THESE ARE KINDS OF THINGS WE'RE 
LOOKING AT, AND WE'RE CONTINUING
TO MOVE FORWARD TO GET THE HELP 
OUT TO PEOPLE WE NEED TO.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION ON 
THE PHONE.
>> Operator: CHRISTOPHER GUILLY,
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
YOU'VE BEEN HOLDING REGULAR 
CALLS WITH THE MINISTERS, BUT 
WHY HAVE YOU NOT REACHED OUT TO 
THE OPPOSITION IN A SIMILAR WAY 
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE 
GOVERNING IN A MINORITY 
GOVERNMENT?
>> Answer: WE HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE
AND ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH 
OPPOSITION LEADERS, BOTH ME 
DIRECTLY AND MOSTLY THROUGH 
MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS AND 
REGULAR BRIEFINGS HAPPEN FROM 
HEALTH CANADA AND OFFICIALS TO 
KEEP PEOPLE APPRISED OF THESE 
ISSUES.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE DO NEED TO KEEP OUR 
INSTITUTIONS AND OUR 
PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTIONS 
STRONG, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE 
PROPOSED PARLIAMENT COULD COME 
BACK IN A MODIFIED WAY EVERY 
SINGLE WAY TO ENSURE 
ACCOUNTABILITY, TO ENSURE WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD ON LEGISLATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VERY MUCH 
HOPING WE'RE GOING TO GET 
AGREEMENT ON FROM ALL PARTIES.
THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE 
RETURNING TO OTTAWA ON MONDAY 
MORNING WITH A FULL HOUSE OF 
COMMONS AND ALL THE STAFF 
ASSOCIATED WITH.
I THINK WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE 
THAT THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE AT 
THIS POINT.
>> A FOLLOW UP.
>> Question: SOME OF THE CHANGES
YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS MADE TO THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT FOR WORKERS, THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY INITIATIVE FOR 
BUSINESSES, AND THE RECENT 
REVISIONS REGARDING EMERGENCY 
LOANS AND COMMERCIAL RENT 
ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 
WERE PROPOSED BY THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES.
SO DO YOU NOW THINK THAT LOOPING
IN THE LEADERS COULD SAVE 
VALUABLE TIME AND GET PROGRAMS 
AND MONEY OUT THE DOOR SOONER?
>> Answer: WE HAVE BEEN LOOPING 
IN LEADERS AND OPPOSITION 
LEADERS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
INDEED, THE PROPOSALS ON 
EXPANDING, ON FILLING GAPS HAVE 
COME FROM M.P.s OF ALL PARTIES, 
INCLUDING MANY, MANY LIBERAL 
M.P.s WHO HAVE BEEN PASSING THE 
MESSAGE THROUGH.
WE KNOW THAT CANADIANS ARE 
WORKING TOGETHER IN 
UNPRECEDENTED WAYS TO FILL GAPS 
AND TO RESPOND TO THESE 
CHALLENGES.
IT IS WONDERFUL, QUITE FRANKLY, 
TO SEE SO MANY SUGGESTIONS 
COMING FORWARD.
MANY OF THEM THAT MAKE IT INTO 
TWEAKS AND IMPROVEMENTS AND 
CHANGES TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE 
DESIGNED TO HELP AS MANY 
CANADIANS AS POSSIBLE.
IT IS A GREAT SIGN OF 
COLLABORATION AND OF SOLIDARITY,
OF CANADIANS WORKING TOGETHER ON
LEANING ON EACH OTHER, ON BEING 
THERE FOR EACH OTHER, JUST LIKE 
WE'RE SEEING OUTSIDE THE 
POLITICAL WORLD AS WELL.
>> Question: TODAY YOU SAID 
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE AT THE
HEART OF SO MANY COMMUNITIES, 
BUT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE 
TERRIFIED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF 
GETTING OUT OF THIS AND HAVING 
ENORMOUS DEBT PILED ON IN THE 
FORM OF RENT DEFERRALS AND 
LOANS.
THE FEAR IS THEY WILL RUN OUT OF
MONEY A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED FINANCIAL 
AID THAT WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE 
REPAID OR DISCUSS RENT 
FORGIVENESS OR CONTROL WITH THE 
PROVINCES?
>> Answer: WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE
ISSUE OF COMMERCIAL RENT WITH 
THE PROVINCES.
I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH 
THEM ON THURSDAY EVENING WHERE 
THIS CAME UP.
WE ARE LOOKING AT IT VERY, VERY 
CLOSELY.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS 
THAT ARE WORKING THEIR WAY 
THROUGH THE SYSTEM, TALKING TO 
VARIOUS INDUSTRY GROUPS AND 
RENTERS' ASSOCIATIONS, AS WELL 
AS LOOKING AT THE PROVINCES.
THE PROVINCES HAVE JURISDICTIONS
OVER RENTS AND THE RELATIONSHIP 
BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM, WHICH
IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE VERY 
DIFFERENT REALITIES AND SYSTEMS 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WE
ALSO HAVE HEARD VERY, VERY 
CLEARLY FROM SMALL BUSINESS 
OWNERS THAT THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS 
HELPFUL, BUT FIXED COSTS ARE A 
REAL CONCERN.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE 
GOING TO HAVE MORE TO SAY ON 
SOON.
>> Question: IAN WOOD CTV NEWS.
PRIME MINISTER, B.C. HAS SEEN 
SOME SUCCESS FLATTENING THE 
CURVE AND HAS INDICATED IT MAY 
LOOK AT LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS.
YOU'VE SAID IT IS TOO SOON AND 
PROVINCES LIKE ONTARIO AND 
QUÉBEC ARE STILL IN THE THICK OF
IT.
ARE YOU CONCERNED THE DIFFERENCE
IN MESSAGING WILL ENABLE PEOPLE 
TO DISREGARD WHAT IS IN PLACE 
NOW?
ARE YOU GOING TO ALLOW THE 
PROVINCES MAKE THE DECISION ON 
RE-OPENING OR WILL THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT NEED TO GIVE THE 
GREEN LIGHT?
>> Answer: I THINK CANADIANS 
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW
HAS BEEN TOUGH BUT IS ESSENTIAL 
IN GETTING THROUGH THIS IN THE 
BEST-POSSIBLE WAY.
CANADIANS ARE REALLY WORRIED IF 
WE REOPEN TOO QUICKLY OR TOO 
SOON OR IN THE WRONG WAY, WE 
COULD FIND OURSELVES BACK IN 
THIS SITUATION A COUPLE OF 
MONTHS FROM NOW.
EVERYTHING WE WILL HAVE 
SACRIFICED DURING THESE MONTHS 
WILL HAVE BEEN FOR NAUGHT.
WE ARE BEING VERY, VERY CAREFUL 
HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AS A 
COUNTRY.
I HAVE SPOKEN EXTENSIVELY WITH 
THE PREMIERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, 
AND EVERYONE RECOGNIZES HOW 
CAUTIOUS AND CAREFUL AND 
VIGILANT WE NEED TO BE.
THERE IS A REAL DESIRE TO ENSURE
WE ARE COORDINATING OUR 
MESSAGES, OUR GUIDELINES, THE 
PRINCIPLES THAT WILL UNDERLINE 
HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT OF COURSE THE SITUATION IS 
VERY DIFFERENT RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY FROM ONE REGION TO THE 
NEXT.
THE MEASURES THEY WILL BE ABLE 
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AT 
DIFFERENT MOMENTS WILL VARY AS 
WELL.
THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT 
PART OF THE RECOVERY HERE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE 
WORKING TOGETHER, AS WE HAVE 
BEEN IN AN UNPRECEDENTED WAY 
BETWEEN PREMIERS AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPALITIES 
AND VARIOUS OTHER COMMUNITIES, 
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING 
THE RIGHT KINDS OF THINGS AND 
THAT WE'RE SENDING THE RIGHT 
MESSAGES TO CANADIANS EVERY STEP
OF THE WAY.
THE MESSAGE REMAINS WE HAVE TO 
BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL TO DO THIS 
THE RIGHT WAY IN A COORDINATED 
AND COLLABORATIVE WAY. 
>> Question: THE CANADIAN MEAT 
INDUSTRY IS SAYING IT IS FACING 
A CRISIS AS PROCESSING PLANTS 
HAVE TO SLOW OR SLOW PRODUCTION 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF 
AGRICULTURE SAID THAT YOUR 
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE 
FOOD PRODUCTION SO WE DON'T HAVE
SHORTAGES.
WE'VE HEARD THE GOVERNMENT IS 
CONSIDERING ALL OPTIONS, BUT 
WHAT ARE THEY SO THAT CANADIANS 
CAN FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL 
BE ABLE TO BUY MEAT AND FOOD IN 
THE COMING MONTHS?
>> Answer: I THINK ENSURING THE 
CONTINUED FLOW OF GROCERIES AND 
OUR FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS IS A 
PRIORITY, BUT SO IS ARRESTING 
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
SO IS ENSURING THAT WORKERS IN 
ALL INDUSTRIES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY CAN REMAIN SAFE.
GETTING THAT BALANCE RIGHT 
REQUIRES US ALL TO STEP UP VERY 
CAREFULLY BECAUSE WE NEED TO 
MAKE SURE THAT, YES, WE ARE 
CONTINUING THE FLOW OF GREAT 
CANADIAN FOOD TO PEOPLE.
INDEED, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT 
WE HAVE AS MUCH DOMESTIC FOOD 
SECURITY AND STABILITY AS WE 
POSSIBLY CAN.
THAT MEANS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 
THE SUMMER MONTHS COMING UP AND 
THE GROWING AND THE PLANTING 
SEASON NOW.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO 
MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THINGS 
THAT ARE KEEPING FARMERS, 
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, PRODUCERS,
AND TRANSFORMERS SAFE.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE VERY, VERY 
MUCH ATTENTIVE TO NOW. 
>> Question: ASHLEY BURKE, CBC 
NEWS.
HARVARD RESEARCHERS HAVE 
SUGGESTED THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE
AT LEAST 500,000 TESTS BEING 
DONE A DAY IN THE U.S. IN ORDER 
TO SAFELY REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC NUMBER OF 
TESTS THAT CANADA NEEDS TO HIT 
DAILY TO SAFELY EASE UP 
RESTRICTIONS HERE?
>> Answer: I THINK EVERY DAY WE 
ARE WORKING ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
ON BETTER COORDINATION, ON 
ACCELERATING THE PACE OF 
TESTING.
IT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT UNEVEN 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE PLACES THAT HAVE DONE 
VERY, VERY WELL.
THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT HAVE 
FACED CHALLENGES THAT THEY ARE 
BUSY OVERCOMING.
WE ARE CONFIDENT WE ARE GOING TO
SIGNIFICANTLY RAMP UP TESTING.
ALL THE PREMIERS RECOGNIZE THAT 
EXTENSIVE TESTING IS AN 
ESSENTIAL PART OF ANY PLAN TO 
LOOSEN THE CONTROLS ON PEOPLE 
AND START REOPENING OR 
RESTARTING THE ECONOMY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS VERY MUCH 
ENGAGED IN WITH THE PROVINCES, 
ENSURING THERE ARE ENOUGH TESTS,
THERE ARE ENOUGH SWABS, THERE 
ARE ENOUGH REAGENTS.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS 
THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING ON 
TOGETHER.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO MUCH MORE 
THAN WE ARE NOW AND WE ARE 
TRACKING TOWARDS DOING THAT. 
>> Question: MANY OF THE CASES 
IN CANADA HAVE COME FROM THE 
U.S.
YOU SAID THE BORDER AGREEMENT IS
GOING TO STAY IN PLACE.
IF THE U.S. LOOSENS RESTRICTIONS
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WHAT KIND
OF HEALTH THREAT DOES THAT POSE 
TO CANADIANS?
>> Answer: WE HAVE THE BORDER 
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE WHERE 
NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ACROSS THE 
BORDER WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
WE WILL TAKE THE MEASURES 
NECESSARY TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE
WHILE ENSURING THE FLOW OF OUR 
ESSENTIAL SUPPLY CHAINS ON WHICH
SO MANY CANADIANS DEPEND.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE WILL CONTINUE TO
BE VERY VIGILANT ABOUT OUR 
BORDERS AND TRAVELLING COMING 
FROM ABROAD AND WE WILL CONTINUE
AS WELL TO WORK WITH THE 
AMERICANS TO ENSURE OUR OWN 
SAFETY BY MAINTAINING THE 
CURRENT MEASURES AT THE BORDER.
AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, WE 
WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO 
PROTECT CANADIANS AND ENSURE 
THAT OUR SUPPLY CHAINS REMAIN 
OPEN.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER, I'M
WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL US 
WHAT THE IMPACT ON CANADA'S 
STOCKPILES HAS BEEN FOR P.P.E. 
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CLOSED SO 
MANY OF ITS WAREHOUSES ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
>> Answer: OVER THE PAST WEEKS 
WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON DELIVERING
P.P.E. TO THE PROVINCES, ON 
DELIVERING THE NECESSARY 
EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE THAT OUR 
FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ARE 
PUTTING THEIR LIVES FORWARD TO 
KEEP CANADIANS SAFE ARE PROPERLY
PROTECTED.
THE EFFORTS CONTINUE.
I MENTIONED TWO PLANE LOADS 
COMING IN OVER THIS WEEKEND.
MORE COMING IN OVER THE COMING 
DAYS.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE IN 
A GOOD PLACE AROUND P.P.E., AND 
WE'LL ONLY GET MORE AS MORE AND 
MORE CANADIAN PRODUCERS AND 
SUPPLIERS COME ONLINE.
IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING 
EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE, THE LEVEL 
TO WHICH CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS 
HAVE BEEN STEPPING UP TO GET 
INVOLVED.
WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE 
THAN WE WERE A NUMBER OF WEEKS 
AGO.
OF COURSE THERE IS A NEED FOR 
CONTINUED VIGILANCE AND THERE 
WILL OF COURSE BE MANY LESSONS 
LEARNED ON HOW CANADA CAN BE 
BETTER PREPARED FOR ANY FUTURE 
OUTBREAKS THAN WE WERE THIS 
TIME.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] 
RADIO-CANADA.
GOOD MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
I HAVE A RATHER SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHY ARE WE EXTENDING THE CLOSURE
OF THE BORDER WITH THE 
UNITED STATES?
IS IT BECAUSE YOU ARE CONCERNED 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY WANT TO
LIFT THE CURRENT MEASURES OR DO 
YOU THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE 
TO PROPERLY MANAGE THE PANDEMIC?
WHAT IS THE REASON?
>> Answer: WELL, WE CLOSED OUR 
BORDERS TO INTERNATIONAL 
TRAVELLERS MANY WEEKS AGO.
THAT INCLUDED PEOPLE FROM EVERY 
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
WE TOOK A FEW DAYS MORE TO DO 
THAT WITH THE UNITED STATES 
BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT
THIS COULD BE DONE IN A 
COORDINATED MANNER THAT WOULD 
ALLOW US TO KEEP OUR SUPPLY 
CHAINS OPEN.
WE WANTED TO DO IT IN 
COOPERATION WITH OUR CLOSEST 
PARTNER AND ALLY.
SO THESE MEASURES WERE 
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL IN ORDER TO 
PROTECT CANADIANS AND LIMIT THE 
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
WE WILL KEEP THEM IN PLACE IN 
RELATION TO THE UNITED STATES 
AND ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES 
AROUND THE GLOBE FOR MANY, MANY 
WEEKS TO COME.
[end of translation] WE MADE THE
DECISION A NUMBER OF WEEKS AGO 
TO CLOSE OUR BORDERS TO 
INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS.
WE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS WAS A 
SIGNIFICANT MEASURE BUT WAS AN 
IMPORTANT ONE IN ORDER TO 
PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD OF 
COVID-19 FROM COMING IN FROM 
OVERSEAS.
IT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO WHY WE ARE
NOW IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
TALKING ABOUT SEEING A 
FLATTENING OF THE CURVE, WHICH 
IS GOOD NEWS.
WE AGREED WITH THE UNITED STATES
IN THOSE MEASURES BECAUSE THESE 
ARE MEASURES WE PUT IN PLACE 
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE DID TAKE A COUPLE MORE DAYS 
TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE PROPERLY 
COORDINATED WITH OUR CLOSEST 
NEIGHBOUR AND MOST-IMPORTANT 
TRADING PARTNER.
THAT WAS EFFECTIVE IN IT BEING A
MUTUALLY AGREED UPON AND 
COORDINATED MEASURE.
WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE MEASURES,
BOTH WITH THE UNITED STATES AND 
THE WORLD, FOR WHAT IS 
UNDOUBTEDLY GOING TO BE MANY 
MORE WEEKS.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] WITH 
RESPECT TO THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH
THE OPPOSITION ABOUT PARLIAMENT,
WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN ANY 
AGREEMENT YET?
YOU'RE ABLE TO AGREE WITH THE 
UNITED STATES.
WHAT IS BLOCKING THE AGREEMENT?
CAN YOU NOT PUT SOME WATER IN 
YOUR WINE?
>> Answer: WELL, WE ARE DEALING 
WITH A SITUATION WHERE A NUMBER 
OF MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS 
PARTIES AGREE THAT WE SHOULD 
MOVE FORWARD WITH MEASURES THAT 
WILL REQUIRE OR LEAD TO A 
LIMITED PARLIAMENT EVERY WEEK, 
BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHERS THAT 
WANT A PARLIAMENT TO BE SITTING 
FOUR OR FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT 
THING TO DO.
IT'S NOT THE RIGHT BALANCE.
WE ARE PURSUING THOSE 
DISCUSSIONS NOW.
[end of translation] MANY 
PARTIES, OPPOSITION PARTIES, ARE
IN AGREEMENT THAT LIMITED 
SITTINGS EVERY WEEK ARE A GOOD 
MEASURE TO BOTH ENSURE 
ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONTINUE THE 
WORK THAT WE'RE NEEDING TO DO TO
PASS LEGISLATION FOR CANADIANS.
WE ARE OF COURSE LOOKING FORWARD
TO BEING ABLE TO SEE MORE 
VIRTUAL PARLIAMENTARY SITTINGS 
THAT WILL ALLOW M.P.s FROM ALL 
AROUND THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, BEING 
ABLE TO PARTY.
THERE IS STILL ONE PARTY THAT 
WANTS MORE THAN I THINK IS WISE 
AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN TERMS 
OF A PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH AND 
IN ENSURING WE ARE GETTING THAT 
BALANCE RIGHT IN MOVING FORWARD 
FOR PROTECTING OUR INSTITUTIONS,
BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL WE WILL GET TO
A GOOD PLACE SOON.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA ON THIS 
SATURDAY MORNING, BRIEFING 
CANADIANS ON HIS GOVERNMENT'S 
ACTIONS TO FIGHT COVID-19.
LET'S BRING IN THE CBC'S 
CATHARINE CULLEN.
CATHARINE, I'LL PICK UP WHERE 
THE PRIME MINISTER LEFT OFF.
IT IS OF INTEREST IN OTTAWA, BUT
IT SHOULD BE OF INTEREST TO 
EVERYONE.
IF NO AGREEMENT IS REACHED, 338 
PEOPLE HAVE TO GET BACK HERE FOR
MONDAY FOR PARLIAMENT TO SIT.
>> Catherine: WE KNOW WHEN WE 
LOOK AT THE TWO EXTRAORDINARY 
SITTINGS WE'VE HAD IS WHEN A 
DEAL HAS BEEN REACHED, IT'S AN 
11th HOUR THING.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE 
ENGAGED IN THIS ISSUE PEOPLE 
BITING THEIR NAILS.
THERE IS SOMETHING OF A FACE-OFF
BETWEEN HIS PARTY AND THE 
CONSERVATIVE PARTY.
THEY DO HAVE A DEAL WITH THE 
BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS AND THEY ARE 
CLOSE TO A DEAL WITH THE N.D.P.
THEY ARE REALLY AT ODDS WITH THE
CONSERVATIVES.
NOW LET'S THROW ANOTHER ELEMENT 
INTO THIS, ELIZABETH MAY, THE 
GREEN PARTY, WAS TWEETING IF 
THERE WAS SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT
THAT WOULD REQUIRE, AS SHE PUT 
IT, FREQUENT RETURN TO THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS, SHE WOULDN'T GIVE 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO THAT OR LET
THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE SHE THINKS 
IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
SHE WAS ENGAGING WITH CANDACE 
BERGEN WHO SAID SHE ESSENTIALLY 
AGREES EVERYONE HAVING TO COME 
BACK ON MONDAY WOULD BE 
IRRESPONSIBLE, NOT A GOOD IDEA.
IT WAS IMPLICIT AND NOT 
EXPLICIT, SHE WAS PUTTING THE 
RESPONSIBILITY ON THE LIBERALS.
WE NEED A DEAL TO MAKE THIS 
HAPPEN.
SHE SAID PARLIAMENT ISN'T READY 
FOR A VIRTUAL PARLIAMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HEAR FROM 
ANDREW SCHEER TIME AND TIME 
AGAIN.
THEY HAVE ASKED THE SPEAKER TO 
LOOK INTO THIS PROCESS, BUT IT 
WOULD TAKE SOME TIME.
THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL 
DIFFICULTIES THAT MAKE 
ACCOUNTABILITY CHALLENGING.
AT THE SAME TIME THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH CONCERN IS A BIG ONE.
CANDACE BERGEN -- YOU HEARD THE 
PRIME MINISTER SAYING SOME 
PARTIES WANT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS A
WEEK.
CANDACE BERGEN TWEETING WHAT 
THEY WOULD LIKE IS THEE DAYS A 
WEEK, 90-MINUTE SESSIONS, WITH A
LIMITED NUMBER OF M.P.s.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO FLAG
THAT NOBODY WANTS A SITUATION 
WHERE ALL 338 M.P.s ARE BACK.
SHE ASKS WHY THAT WOULD BE TOO 
MUCH.
I THINK WE HEARD SOME OF THAT 
ANSWER FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, 
AS HE SUGGESTED IT IS TOO MUCH 
OF A HEALTH RISK.
SO THE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE 
BEHIND THE SCENES.
NOT SURE WHETHER THE COMMENTS BY
THE PRIME MINISTER ARE GOING TO 
MOVE THE DISCUSSION ALONG.
I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO KEEP 
WATCHING OUR E-MAIL.
>> Rosemary: I THINK YOU'RE 
RIGHT.
THE OTHER BY THE OF BIG NEWS, 
THIS CONCERNS EVERYONE, THE 
CANADA-U.S. BORDER.
>> Catherine: A LOT OF CANADIANS
MAY SAY, STATUS QUO, THIS IS 
JUST ANOTHER 30-DAY EXTENSION.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH 
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING DAY IN 
AND DAY OUT WITH THE QUESTIONS 
BY THE MEDIA.
REPEATEDLY REPORTERS ASK HIM TO 
ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IS IN MANY WAYS
I THINK OBVIOUS TO A LOT OF 
CANADIANS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU 
LOOK AT NEW YORK STATE RIGHT 
YOU, THEY SAY, SIR, IS IT NOT 
APPARENT THAT THE UNITED STATES 
POSES AN ENORMOUS RISK TO US?
AND THE PRIME MINISTER DOES NOT 
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, 
HOWEVER SELF-EVIDENT THAT MAY 
BE.
I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE ON 
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S MIND, BUT THERE IS A 
QUESTION WHETHER HE WILL PROVOKE
THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE SEEN THE GOVERNMENT 
LURCHING AROUND DURING THE 
COURSE OF THIS OUTBREAK AS 
THEY'RE DEALING WITH UNEXPECTED 
NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES.
FIRST THERE WAS A REPORT OF THE 
UNITED STATES PUTTING TROOPS ON 
THE BORDER.
THEN THERE WAS DONALD TRUMP 
POSSIBLY PREVENTING 3M FROM 
SENDING THE MUCH-NEEDED N95 
MASKS TO CANADA.
I THINK IT WAS INTERESTING 
TOWARDS THE END OF THE 
CONVERSATION, ROSEMARY, THE 
PRIME MINISTER SAID SOMETHING TO
THE EFFECT OF THE DEAL WITH THE 
UNITED STATES THAT IT WOULD BE 
MANY MORE WEEKS.
THIS DEAL EXTENDS FOR ANOTHER 30
DAYS.
IT'S NOT CLEAR IF HE WAS 
SUGGESTING AN EXTENSION BEYOND 
THAT AS WELL, WHETHER THAT IS 
SOMETHING THEY WILL BE SEEKING.
SO MUCH CHANGES IN THE COURSE OF
THE DAY.
WHO KNOWS WHERE WE WILL BE IN 30
DAYS.
THE LIBERALS HAVE PUSHED THAT 
ISSUE BACK FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS.
>> Rosemary: CATHARINE, THAT'S 
GREAT.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
YOU'LL BE ON STANDBY.
THE PRIME MINISTER SPOKE OF THE 
REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A MASK WHEN 
YOU'RE GETTING ON A PLANE.
THE PRIME MINISTER MAKING IT 
CLEAR THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE 
TRAVELLING, THAT NON-ESSENTIAL 
TRAVEL SHOULDN'T BE HAPPEN, BUT 
IF YOU ARE REQUIRED FOR SOME 
REASON TO GET ON A PLANE, YOU 
ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK.
THE OTHER SUBSTANCE OF THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS THE DECISION TO
ALLOW $306 MILLION IN LOANS AND 
SOME NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENTS TO 
INDIGENOUS SMALL- AND 
MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES.
THIS IS ANOTHER SECTOR OBVIOUSLY
THAT'S BEEN HARD HIT BY 
COVID-19.
WE SAW THE GOVERNMENT TRY TO GET
MONEY TO PARTICULAR SECTORS 
YESTERDAY.
A BIT OF A CONTINUATION OF THAT 
TODAY.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE'S 
SOMETHING LIKE 6,000 INDIGENOUS 
BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
TABATHA BULL JOINS ME FROM 
TORONTO.
>> Interview: THANKS FOR HAVING 
ME.
>> Rosemary: HOW NEEDED WAS THIS
GOING TO BE?
WAS THERE A REAL DESIRE FOR 
ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR 
SPECIFICALLY INDIGENOUS 
BUSINESSES?
>> Interview: ABSOLUTELY.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY OVER 50,000 
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AND 95% OF THOSE ARE 
SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 
BUSINESSES.
IN MARCH WE SENT A LETTER TO THE
PRIME MINISTER AND THE COVID 
CABINET ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF 
OUR FRIENDS INCLUDING THE 
NATIONAL ABORIGINAL CAPITAL 
COMMISSION, WHICH THE PRIME 
MINISTER MENTIONED TODAY.
WE WANTED TO ENSURE THERE WAS A 
WAY THAT SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED
ENTERPRISES COULD ACCESS THE 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL THAT WAS 
GOING OUT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY 
EMERGENCY BUSINESS ACCOUNT.
THIS IS A MUCH-NEEDED AND 
WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT. 
>> Rosemary: THIS IS BECAUSE A 
LOT OF INDIGENOUS COMPANIES USE 
INDIGENOUS INSTITUTIONS, BANKING
INSTITUTIONS, PRIMARILY.
SO THIS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO 
THOSE, INSTEAD OF TO A 
TRADITIONAL BANK, AS YOU SAY?
>> Interview: THAT'S RIGHT.
A NUMBER OF INDIGENOUS 
BUSINESSES ARE ALSO -- ABOUT 65%
OF THEM ARE FINANCED THROUGH 
THEIR OWN PERSONAL SAVINGS OR 
LOANS.
THEY'RE NOT AN EXISTING CLIENT 
AND CEBA IS FOR EXISTING 
CLIENTS.
SO WE NEEDED ANOTHER ROUTE TO 
ACCESS THE CAPITAL AND 
LIQUIDITY.
>> Rosemary: ANOTHER THING THAT 
STRUCK ME FROM WHAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID, AND THIS IS 
SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING THROUGH 
VARIOUS SECTORS, IS THAT MANY OF
THESE BUSINESSES ARE OWNED AND 
EMPLOY INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
CAN YOU GIVE US A PICTURE OF 
THAT AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
I KNOW IT'S HIT A LOT OF SECTORS
IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.
GIVE US A PICTURE OF THAT IN 
TERMS OF INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES.
>> Interview: SO WE DEFINITELY 
SEE WOMEN MORE -- DOUBLE THE 
AMOUNT OF WOMEN ARE INNOVATING 
AND COMING INTO THE INDIGENOUS 
ENTREPRENEUR.
A LOT OF THAT HELPS FOR THEM TO 
HAVE A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE, NOT 
UNLIKE WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
A LOT OF THE SECTORS HIT 
INITIALLY WERE SECTORS WHERE YOU
WOULD HAVE A PERSONAL 
INTERACTION, SUCH AS TOURISM.
THOSE ARE SECTORS WHERE WE SEE 
HIGHER WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
WE'VE SEEN A HIGHER IMPACT ON 
INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
>> Rosemary: ARE THERE OTHER 
THINGS NEEDED?
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THIS IS 
THE FIRST STEP.
THESE POLICY DECISIONS BEING 
PUSHED OUT THE DOOR QUICKLY ARE 
SOMETIMES NOT THE FINAL VERSION.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'RE 
LOOKING FOR?
>> Interview: DEFINITELY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH 
THE GOVERNMENT ON A NUMBER OF 
THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE ALREADY 
BEEN ESTABLISHED.
I DON'T THINK IT'S INTENTIONAL, 
BUT I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF 
FACTORS IN THOSE PROGRAMS THAT 
EXCLUDES INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS AN EXAMPLE, 
ABORIGINAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
CORPORATIONS, WHO ARE A LIMITED 
PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR 
COMMUNITY, BUT EMPLOY UP TO 800 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND A NUMBER 
OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE 
CURRENTLY EXCLUDED FROM THE WAGE
SUBSIDY JUST BY THE WAY THEIR 
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP IS SET UP.
SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH 
THE GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO 
UNDERSTAND THAT.
SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES HAVE 
LAID OFF OVER HALF OF THEIR 
EMPLOYEES, AND THOSE ARE 
BUSINESSES THAT PUT BACK 
PROGRAMMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN 
ACCESS THAT WAGE SUBSIDY.
ADDITIONALLY PROCUREMENT, WE 
HAVE A NUMBER OF INDIGENOUS 
BUSINESS MEMBERS WHO ARE ABLE TO
SUPPLY P.P.E. AND ABLE TO PIVOT 
TO ENSURE WE CAN ALL FIGHT 
COVID-19 TOGETHER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF
INCENTIVES THAT WE CAN ENSURE 
THAT THOSE INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART 
OF THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, 
PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY CAN 
SUPPORT LOSS OF LIFE IN 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THAT ARE 
AT A HIGHER RISK OF THIS 
PANDEMIC. 
>> Rosemary: YOU'RE TALKING 
ABOUT COMPANIES SWITCHING THEIR 
SUPPLY CHAINS TO CREATE THINGS 
LIKE MASKS?
>> Interview: DEFINITELY.
WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF OUR 
INDIGENOUS MEMBERS WHO HAVE 
PIVOTED TO ETHANOL AND PRODUCING
HAND SANITIZER AND A NUMBER OF 
BUSINESSES TOO WHO HAVE BEEN 
ABLE TO ACCESS MASKS.
ANOTHER GREAT BUSINESS ABROFLEX 
HAS BEEN ABLE TO PIVOT TO MAKING
GOWNS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE 
BUSINESSES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY 
TO BE PART OF THE THE FEDERAL 
SUPPLY CHAIN AND ALSO TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO COMMUNITIES.
>> Rosemary: TABATHA, THANKS FOR
MAKING TIME FOR US.
>> Interview: THANKS SO MUCH.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S SUBSTANTIAL 
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AID TODAY, $306 
MILLION OF LOANS OR 
NON-REPAYABLE FUNDS TO GO TO 
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES, OF WHICH 
THERE ARE MANY ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
>>> I WANT TO GO TO QUÉBEC, TO 
GET A PICTURE OF HOW THINGS ARE 
UNFOLDING IN THAT PROVINCE, ONE 
OF THE HARDEST-HIT PLACES IN 
THIS COUNTRY.
NOT ONLY IN LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES, BUT ACROSS THE PROVINCE.
WE HAVE SEEN THE OUTBREAKS IN 
THE CENTRES HARD HIT IN THAT 
PROVINCE AS WELL AS ONTARIO.
LET'S GO TO THE CBC'S MATT 
DEMUR.
I DO KNOW THE PREMIER WAS ASKED 
YESTERDAY AND HE HAD SOME FRANK 
COMMENTS ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT 
AND THE EVALUATION OF HIS OWN 
GOVERNMENT DEALING WITH IT.
>> Reporter: REALLY WHAT WE 
HEARD YESTERDAY FROM QUÉBEC'S 
PREMIER, FRANÇOIS LEGAULT, WAS A
MEA CULPA, ABOUT HOW THE 
GOVERNMENT OF QUÉBEC HAS HANDLED
THE SITUATION OF LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES DURING THE COVID-19 
PANDEMIC, SO MUCH SO THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY ASKED FOR 
ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO GET CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES MEMBERS TO COME INTO THE 
PROVINCE AND HELP OUT IN SOME OF
THESE FACILITIES.
THAT'S GOING TO START TODAY.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE 125 ARMED 
FORCES MEMBERS DEPLOYED IN 
QUÉBEC TO HELP IN THESE 
FACILITIES.
WE HEARD FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES THAT THAT IS STARTING AT 
A SPECIFIC LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITY IN MONTREAL.
IN FACT, BY NOON PEOPLE SHOULD 
BE IN THAT FACILITY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NURSING 
OFFICERS, TECHNICIANS, AND OTHER
SUPPORT STAFF WHO ARE GOING TO 
BE GOING IN THERE TO TRY TO HELP
OUT.
PREMIER LEGAULT ESSENTIALLY SAID
THERE IS A DETERIORATING 
SITUATION IN THESE LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES.
IN FACT, MORE THAN HALF OF THE 
DEATHS REPORTED IN QUÉBEC 
ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVID-19 HAVE 
HAPPENED IN THESE LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES.
NOW, THE PREMIER SAID THAT HIS 
GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE TACKLED 
THE SITUATION IN THESE LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES SOONER, 
ESPECIALLY THE ISSUE OF CHRONIC 
UNDER STAFFING.
HE SAID BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE ACTED 
QUICKER ON TRYING TO GET HIGHER 
SALARIES IN THESE PLACES -- 
>> Rosemary: MATT, I'M SORRY, 
I'VE GOT TO LET YOU GO BECAUSE 
I'M GOING TO END THE SPECIAL ON 
THE MAIN NETWORK.
YOU CAN WATCH US ON CBC NEWS 
NETWORK.
[♪♪♪] 
[ Please Stand By ]
>> Rosemary:  THE CITY OF
TORONTO TODAY IS HOLDING SOME
TALKS ABOUT LAYING OUT A
POTENTIAL TIMELINE FOR ITS
REOPENING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS
STILL MANY WEEK AWAY FROM
ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS ALL IN THE PLANNING
STAGES.
THE PRIME MINISTER, OF COURSE,
HAS SAID THAT IT WILL BE WEEKS,
STILL, BEFORE CANADIANS WILL BE
ABLE TO GO BACK TO SOME SORT OF
SENSE OF NORMAL LIFE, EVEN IF
THAT INCLUDES GOING TO THE PARK,
FOR INSTANCE.
COVID-19 CONTINUES TO KILL
CANADIANS EVERYDAY, PARTICULARLY
AS WE KNOW IN ONTARIO AND
QUEBEC'S LONG-TERM CARE HOMES,
ABOUT HALF OF THE DEATHS IN THIS
COUNTRY ATTRIBUTED TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THOSE PLACES.
THE SEVERE OUTBREAKS AND THE
INABILITY TO CONTAIN OR MOVE
PEOPLE FROM LONG-TERM CARE
CENTRES.
AS WE WAIT FOR THIS BRIEFING TO
GET STARTED, I'LL BRING IN
CATHERINE CULLEN.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT STOOD OUT, IN
TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH, GIVEN
THE FACT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
THE FACT THINGS WERE TOUGH.
I'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU
BECAUSE I SEE THE PRESIDENT OF
THE TREASURY IS SPEAKING.
SO LET'S GO NOW TO THAT PRESS
CONFERENCE.
>> WE HAVE COMPLETED TESTS FOR
OVER 507,000 PEOPLE WITH 6%
CONFIRMED CASES.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> ON BEHALF OF DR. TAM, I'LL
BEGIN WITH THE USUAL DAILY
UPDATE ON THE NUMBER OF COVID-19
CASES IN CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 31,884 CASES
INCLUDING 1,309 DEATHS, 507
TESTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WITH
6% CONFIRMED POSITIVE.
>> DR. TAM SAYS THERE IS CAUSE
FOR CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM COMING
THROUGH THE DATA.
WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT AND KEEP
OR EYES ON ULTIMATE GOAL, WHICH
IS LIMITING THE SPREAD OF THIS
TERRIBLE VIRUS TO PROTECT OUR
FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND OUR FELLOW
CANADIANS.
SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WILL
EXPERIENCE THE EPIDEMICS SLOWING
DOWN BUT NO MATTER WHERE YOU
LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, EVERYONE
MUST REMEMBER TO CONTINUE TO DO
THE THINGS HELPING TO STOP THE
TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THIS INCLUDES
WASHING YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY,
PRACTICING PHYSICAL DISTANCING
AND STAYING HOME AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
UNLESS WE ALL REMAIN DILIGENT IN
MAINTAINING THESE GOOD, NEW
HABITS, NEW OUTBREAKS CAN BE
SPARKED ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME.
>> SOME PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY
WILL EXPERIENCE THE EPIDEMIC
SLOWING DOWN EARLIER THAN
OTHERS, BUT NO MATTER WHERE WE
LIVE IN OUR COUNTRY, EVERYONE
MUST REMEMBER TO KEEP DOING THE
THINGS THAT ARE HELPING TO SLOW
DOWN AND THEN TO STOP THE
TRANSMISSION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS INCLUDES WASHING OUR HANDS
FREQUENTLY, PHYSICAL DISTANCING
FROM ONE ANOTHER AND STAYING
HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UNLESS WE ALL REMAIN DILIGENT IN
MAINTAINING OUR NEW HABITS, NEW
OUTBREAKS CAN BE SPARKED
ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME.
REMEMBER, AS DR. TAM ALSO SAID,
THIS IS NOT A SPRINT.
THIS IS A MARATHON AND WE NEED
TO KEEP ON DOING AND KEEP DOING
THE RIGHT THINGS AND KEEP BEING
STRONG ALL TOGETHER.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS
TOGETHER.
LET'S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER
AND KEEP HOPE AND NOW, AN UPDATE
ON THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT.
AS WE KNOW, THE CANADA EMERGENCY
RESPONSE BENEFIT OR CERB IS
HELPING MILLIONS OF CANADIANS
AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
AS OF APRIL 16th, 6.4
APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN FILED FOR
A TOTAL OF 7.9 MILLION
APPLICATIONS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE
BEEN PROCESSED.
>> A QUICK UPDATE ON THE
IMPORTANT CANADA EMERGENCY
RESPONSE BENEFIT, WHICH IS
HELPING MILLIONS OF CANADIANS,
WORKERS AND FAMILIES GO THROUGH
THE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES OF
THE CRISIS.
AS OF APRIL 16th, WE HAVE
RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 7.9 MILLION
APPLICATIONS FROM 6.4 MILLION
DIFFERENT APPLICANTS.
SIX OF THESE 7.9 MILLION
APPLICATIONS, 7.6 MILLION HAVE
ALREADY BEEN TREATED.
HERE WITH ME TODAY IS MARK
MILLER, MINISTER OF INDIGENOUS
SERVICES.
ALSO WITH US TODAY IS DR. WONG.
Mr. MARK MILLER WHO IS
MINISTER OF INDIGENOUS SERVICES
AND DR. WONG, SO I WOULD FIRST
TURN TO DR. MILLER AND THEN DO
DR. WONG.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS,
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE
TAKEN MANY POSITIVE MEASURES TO
PROTECT THEIR POPULATIONS IN THE
FACE OF COVID-19 AND I WANT TO
RECOGNISE THEIR IMPORTANT WORK
AND THE STRENGTH THAT THEY'VE
SHOWN.
TO THE FIRST NATION INUIT AND
METIS LEADERS AND ELDERS, YOUR
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IS INTEGRAL
TO ENSURING WE HAVE ADVANCED
PREPAREDNESS, PLANNING AND
SUPPORTS THAT MEETS ACTUAL
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND PROTECTS THE
MOST VULNERABLE.
AS WE ARE ALL FOCUSED ON THE
PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE THAT WILL
SAVE LIVES.
IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUSLY
ANNOUNCED $305 MILLION IN
FUNDING TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE
NEEDS, AND TO HELP INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES PREPARE AND REACT TO
THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS, THIS
MORNING, THE PRIME MINISTER
ANNOUNCED $306.8 MILLION FOR
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES AS WE
RECOGNISE THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.
THESE BUSINESSES ARE THE BACK
BONES OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY AND INTEGRAL TO THE
CANADIAN ECONOMY.
WE RECOGNISE SMALLER INDIGENOUS
BUSINESSES MAY BE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
THIS UNPRECEDENTED AND UNIQUE
SITUATION AND THESE BUSINESSES
MAY AND ARE ALREADY FACING
UNIQUE CHALLENGES SUCH AS BEING
IN RURAL OR REMOTE LOCATIONS AND
HAVING LESS ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
THE EMERGENCY FUNDS ANNOUNCED
TODAY WILL BE PROVIDED TO
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES THROUGH
THE 59 ABORIGINAL FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS, ENABLING THEM TO
KEEP SUPPORTING THE THOUSANDS OF
SMALL AND MEDIUM FIRST NATIONS
INUIT AND METIS BUSINESSES, A
GREAT NUMBER RUN BY WOMEN.
IT WILL ALLOW FOR SHORT-MATERIAL
INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND
NONREPAYABLE INTEREST
CONTRIBUTIONS OFFERING
FLEXIBILITY IN SUPPORTING LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND ENSURING THEY ARE
WELL POSITIONED FOR THE RECOVERY
TO COME.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE ARE AWARE OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT MANY INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES FACE IN THE
TERRITORIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO AIR TRANSPORT NECESSARY
FOR FOOD SUPPLIES AND OTHER
ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, WE
ANNOUNCED FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF
$73 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND
NUNAVUT SO THAT THEY CAN SLOW
THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR
INDIGENOUS PARTNERS EVERYWHERE
IN CANADA TO IDENTIFY THEIR
NEEDS.
>> IN CLOSE COORDINATION TO
ENSURE SUPPLIES SUCH AS PPE,
BOTTLED WATER, HAND SANITIZER
AND TESTING ARE IN PLACE TO
PREVENT AND COMBAT THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19.
IN COLLABORATION WITH INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
ADAPT PLANS AND PROVIDE SURGE
CAPACITY AS THE SITUATION
EVOLVES.
TO DATE, WE SHIPPED 555 ORDERS
FOR PPE, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT IN REGARDS TO TESTING,
NURSING STATIONS HAVE THE
SUPPLIES TO ADMINISTER TESTS AND
WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE A
CONSISTENT SUPPLY AS NEEDS
ARISE.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE DON'T CURRENTLY KNOW HOW
MANY TESTS HAVE BEEN
ADMINISTERED OFF RESERVE FOR
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THIS IS
BECAUSE ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO
SELF-IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS
DURING A TEST, BUT I SUPPORT
COLLECTING BETTER DATA.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO COLLECT
INFORMATION ABOUT PATIENTS AND
WHETHER THEY ARE INDIGENOUS.
>> SOME OF THE GREAT WORK DONE
IN COMMUNITIES, IN A COMMUNITY
ABOUT TO OPEN A TESTING UNIT TO
INCREASE TESTING AND AWARENESS
IN THE DAYS TO COME.
AS OF APRIL 17th, THERE HAVE
BEEN 52 CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES
IN FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES ON
RESERVE AND 12 CONFIRMED CASES
IN NUNAVUT INNUIT COMMUNITIES,
AS WELL AS ONE DEATH.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY
SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO SIX
NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER.
OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE
FAMILIES, LOVED ONES AND
COMMUNITY AS THEY HEAL DURING
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
WHILE WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE LOW
NUMBER OF CASES IN THE
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES TO DATE,
WE ARE NOT TAKING AND SHOULD NOT
TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED.
THIS IS A FUNCTION OF A NUMBER
OF THINGS, NOTEFULLY REMOTENESS
OF THE COMMUNITIES AND SOME OF
THE AGGRESSIVE MEASURES TAKEN BY
THE LEADERSHIP, MEDICAL AND
POLITICAL IN COMMUNITIES
LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCE AND
BEING IN A POSITION TO WHAT'S
GONE ON ACROSS THE GLOWING.
 GLOBE.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> SPRING IS UPON US AND WITH
SPRING COMES FLOODING SEASON.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE
THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, INCLUDING
POTENTIAL FLOODING.
FOR EXAMPLE, INDIGENOUS SERVICES
CANADA GAVE $2.1 MILLION TO THE
FIRST NATION OF SESAWHAN TO
REDUCE THE RISKS OF COVID-19 AND
THE RISKS OF POSSIBLE FLOODING
IN THAT COMMUNITY.
THIS FUNDING IS BASED ON THE
DECISION THAT THEY MADE TO
ISOLATE AWAY FROM COVID-19 IN
TRADITIONAL HUNTING GROUNDS.
THIS SPRING, TWO HUNT GOOSE AND
OTHER TRADITIONAL PRACTISES AND
THIS IS A PART OF BORDER HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN
PHYSICAL DISTANCING DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND THE SITUATION OF
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE VERY
UNFORTUNATE.
THAT SAID, WE'RE HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE BECAUSE
WHEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RETURN
TO THE LAND, THAT IS A VERY
POSITIVE AND HEALTHY TYPE OF
PHYSICAL DISTANCING FOR THEM AND
PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS SO
IMPORTANT TO PREVENT THE SPREAD
OF THE VIRUS.
THIS NEW FUNDING WILL HELP TO
PURCHASE SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT,
SUCH AS TENTS.
WE ARE SUPPORTING THESE
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS
DIFFICULT TIME AND OUR CRISIS
MANAGEMENT TEAM IS CONSTANTLY IN
TOUCH WITH THE FIRST NATION TO
PLAN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
PLANS.
>> THE FIRST NATIONS WILL NOT
PROCEED WITH ELECTIONS AT THIS
TIME DUE TO THE CURRENT HEALTH
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE
GATHERINGS.
ACCORDINGLY, LAST WEEK WE
INTRODUCED THE POSTPONEMENT
REGULATIONS THAT ENABLE FIRST
NATION'S LEADERS TO CONTINUE IN
THEIR POSITIONS FOR UP TO SIX OR
12 MONTHS TO STAY FOCUSED ON
KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE.
WE'VE BEEN IN DIRECT
COMMUNICATION WHO WILL SOON BE
UNDERGOING THE PROCESS AND I
ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO UNVEIL
THEMSELVES TO THIS OPTION.
THE FINAL DECISION TO HOLD OR
POSTPONE ELECTIONS ULTIMATELY
LIES WITH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
AND WE MUST RESPECT THAT.
SHOULD COMMUNITIES DECIDE TO
PROCEED WITH ELECTIONS AS
SCHEDULED, WE STAND READY TO
PROVIDE ADVICE ON MEASURES TO
SPREAD THE VIRUS TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
ALL OF THIS BEING SAID, WE
RECOGNISE THAT MORE SUPPORT WILL
BE NEEDED.
BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN SAVE
LIVES AND WE WILL BE THERE TO
MAKE SURE NO INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY IS LEFT BEHIND.
THANK YOU.
>> DR. WONG.
>> HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN
BY HIGHLIGHTING IMPORTANT PUBLIC
HEALTH MESSAGES.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES ABOUT
PUBLIC HEALTH.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE
PHYSICAL DISTANCING SERIOUSLY,
AVOID CROWDS, GATHERINGS, AVOID
NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL, LIMIT
CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE AT
HIGH RISKS OF COMPLICATIONS,
SUCH AS THE EDERLY, THE PEOPLE
WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
ISOLATE IF SICK AND GO HOME IF
YOU ARE SICK.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRACTISE HAND
AND RESPIRATORY HYGIENE.
WE NEED TO STOP SMOKING, STOP
VAPING.
IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO
PROPERLY MANAGE OUR BLOOD
PRESSURE, DIABETES AND WEIGHT.
MAKE SURE WE CONTROL OR
CARDIOVASCULAR AND PULMONARY
DISEASES, AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SAY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. WONG AND WE
ARE NOW READY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE WILL BEGIN BY QUESTIONS THE
PHONE.
ONE QUESTION AND ONE FOLLOW-UP
PER REPORTER AND THEN WE'LL TAKE
QUESTIONS IN THE ROOM.
OVER TO YOU, OPERATOR.
>> Operator:  THE FIRST QUESTION
IS FROM RADIO-CANADA.
>> Question:  HELLO, I HAVE A
QUESTION FOR MINISTER DUCLOS.
MINISTER, WE HAVE EXTENDED THE
BORDER MEASURES WITH THE UNITED
STATES.
HAVE WE OBTAINED ANY GUARANTEES
THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE
ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM
THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT ANY
HICCUPS AT THE BORDER OR WITHOUT
ANY ISSUES WITH THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION?
>> Answer:  MINISTER DUCL
ASSOCIATION.
OS.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED.
, OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED
STATES IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS
CONTEXT AND ALL CONTEXTS.
IN THE CURRENT SITUATION, OUR
U.S.-CANADA RELATIONS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR
PARTNERS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THE BORDER AGREEMENT THAT WE
REACHED A FEW WEEKS AGO HAS BEEN
EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS.
AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THE
CONTINUED FLOW OF ESSENTIAL
SUPPLIES, FOOD, MEDICINES.
HAVE WE RECEIVED A GUARANTEE TO
THAT EFFECT?
>>  YES, AND WE ARE
CONFIDENT IN EXTENDING THIS DEAL
FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS.
AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OTHER TOPICS
WITH A VIEW OF FLOWING SUPPLIES
ACROSS THE BORDER IN BOTH
DIRECTIONS.
OUR CANADA-U.S. RELATIONS ARE
VERY IMPORTANT AND ARE VERY
POSITIVE AND WE WORK VERY HARD
TO MAINTAIN A GOOD, STRONG
RELATIONSHIP.
I WAS SAYING WHAT MOST CANADIANS
UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FRIEND AND
NEIGHBOUR IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT
IN ALL ASPECTS BUT ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL IN THE CURRENT
EMERGENCY CONTEXT.
WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE FACT
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE
THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD
ACHIEVED JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO
FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS, WHICH
ACHIEVES A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
OBJECTIVES, BUT ONE IS THE
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY TO KEEP THE
MOVEMENT OF ESSENTIAL GOODS AND
SERVICES ACROSS THE FRONTEIRS IN
BOTH WAY.
BECAUSE GOODS GO SOUTH, NORTH
AND THOSE GOODS, MEDICAL, FOOD
AND OTHER THINGS ARE FOREIGN
MAINTAIN THE SECURITY AND HEALTH
OF CANADIANS.
>> Question:  I HAVE A VERY
SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AT THE
BORDER.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED A GUARANTEES
FROM THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
THAT 3M AND OTHER AMERICAN
COMPANIES WILL BE ABLE TO EXPORT
MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT TO CANADA?
WILL WE BE ABLE TO IMPORT THESE
SUPPLIES FROM AMERICAN
COMPANIES?
HAVE YOU RECEIVED A GUARANTEE
FROM THAT EFFECT FROM THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT?
WILL WE BE ABLE TO RECEIVE
MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND ESPECIALLY
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT?
>> Answer:  MINISTER DUCLOUS.
S.
THE WORD WORD IS VIGILANT.
THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE HAVE
OBSERVED THAT ESSENTIAL GOODS
INCLUDING MEDICINE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO FLOW ACROSS THE BORDER
VERY WELL, BUT THE MOTTO IS
VIGILANCE.
YES, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS
RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO BE
PUT TO THE TEST OVER THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS.
WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT TO
ENSURE THAT OUR CANADA-U.S.
RELATIONSHIP, WHICH IS CURRENTLY
VERY STRONG, WE WILL ENSURE THAT
IT CONTINUES TO REMAIN STRONG IN
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE ESSENTIAL DISCUSSION IN
ACTION THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE
TRANSIT OF MEDICAL GOODS AND I
THINK WE FIRST MUST ADMIT THAT
THINGS ARE GOING QUITE WELL WITH
EFFORTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
FRONTIER, MEANING WE HAVE
MEDICAL GOODS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS
IN THE CURRENT CRISIS.
THIS BEING SAID, WE NEED TO BE
VIGILANT BECAUSE THAT
RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO BE
TESTED FOR THE REST OF THE
CRISIS.
WE HAVE CITIZENS ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE BORDER THAT ARE ANXIOUS,
THAT ARE IN NEED OF BEING
REASSURED AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
FELLOW GOVERNMENT IS, IS TO NOT
ONLY TO PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL
FLOW OF THOSE MEDICAL GOODS BUT
ALSO TO REASSURE CANADIANS THAT
WE WILL ALWAYS BE WORKING IN THE
RELATIONSHIP AND MOVEMENT OF
THOSE GOODS.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator:  OUR NEXT QUESTION
IS FROM TERESA WRIGHT.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question:  GOOD MORNING,
MINISTER DUCL ASSOCIATION.
OS.
YOU SAID THAT THE NUMBERS ARE
GIVING US CAUSE FOR CAUSE
ANXIOUS OPTIMISM AND CANADIANS
ARE STARTING TO SEE NUMBERS IN
THEIR PROVINCES IMPROVING AND
THEY'RE GOING TO QUESTION WHEN
WE CAN GET TO THE NEW NORMAL.
SO WHAT CAN WE TELL THEM?
>> FIRST TWO THINGS.
AT THE BROAD LEVEL, YES, THERE
IS CAUSE FOR CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM
THIS BEING SAID, WE NEED TO BE
VERY MINDFUL THAT THE
SIGNIFICANT, CONSIDERABLE AND
DIFFICULT EFFORTS THAT CANADIANS
HAVE BEEN MAKING OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS NEED TO BE MAINTAINED.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE WHAT WE
HAVE GAINED.
ALTHOUGH WE WANT TO BE
OPTIMISTIC, WE NEED TO BE
CAUTIOUS AND MAINTAIN THE CLEAR
GUIDANCE OF HEALTH CANADA,
PUBLIC HEALTH CANADA AND ALL
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS ACROSS
CANADA.
THE ABSOLUTELY GUIDANCE THAT WE
NEED TO MAINTAIN PHYSICAL
DISTANCING, WASH OUR HANDS
REGULARLY, STAY AT HOME AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE AND AVOID
NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP
MAINTAINING OUR EFFORTS BECAUSE
IF WE DIDN'T DO THAT, WE WOULD
END UP LOSING ALL OF THE GAIN
THAT WE HAVE ACQUIRED, THAT WE
HAVE MADE OVER THE LAST FEW
WEEKS.
>> Question:  THANK YOU.
MINISTER MILLER, YOU MENTIONED
THE REGULATORY CHANGES THAT YOU
MADE WITH REGARDS TO FIRST
NATION ELECTIONS ALLOWING THE
LEADERS TO CONTINUE IN THEIR
ROLES FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS, BUT
THERE ARE SOME INDIGENOUS
LEADERS SAYING THIS SHOULD HAVE
COME SOONER.
MANITOBA FIRST NATION IS GOING
AHEAD WITH AN ELECTION, I
BELIEVE TODAY.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT
THEIR SAFETY IN THIS VOTING
PROCESS AND WHY DIDN'T THESE
REGULATION CHANGES HAPPEN
SOONER?
>> THANK YOU, TERESA AND IN
REGARD TO THE FIRST NATION THAT
IS GOING AHEAD WITH THIS
ELECTION, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
IS DONE OBSERVING THE STRICTEST
HEALTH PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THAT
EVERYONE STAYS SAFE.
IT IS ULTIMATELY, AND IF YOU
RESPECT SELF-DETERMINATION, IS
ULTIMATELY THEIR DECISION TO GO
AHEAD OR NOT.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE IMMENSE
SENSITIVITY AROUND ENACTING NEW
REGULATIONS AROUND THE INDIAN
ACT WHICH IS COLONIALIST
INSTRUMENT AND AS WE MOVE BEYOND
THE INDIAN ACT, WE MUST
RECOGNISE THERE ARE CERTAIN
NATIONS THAT STILL OPERATE UNDER
IT.
IT GIVES THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO
DO THAT.
WHERE I, AS THE MINISTER OF
INDIGENOUS SERVICES, DID NOT
HAVE THAT ABILITY, IS AN
IMMENSELY DELICATE OPERATION.
IT MEANT SOME LEVEL OF
CONSULTATION TO ENSURE THAT WE
WERE GETTING IT RIGHT.
WE MOVED AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN
AND KNOWING THE MACHINERY OF
GOVERNMENT IN RESPECT OF AN
ENACTING REGULATIONS AND HOW
SLOW THAT CAN BE, I'M PROUD AT
HOW THEY MOVED AND THE RAPIDITY
IN WHICH THEY WERE PUT IN PLACE.
IT ALLOWS FOR DECISIONS TAKEN
PREVIOUSLY TO POSTPONE, TO BE
CONSIDERED VALID AND ENSURE THE
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNANCE.
I WOULD NOT SAY THERE WAS A
GOVERNANCE GAP CREATED UNDER THE
CURRENT CLAUSES OF THE INDIAN
ACT.
THERE WAS A GOVERNANCE
INCONVENIENCE IN BAND MANAGERS
THAT MAY NOT WANT TO ASSUME THE
POWER AND THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND
WHAT LEADERSHIP TOOLS WOULD BE
AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS COVID.
THE FOCUS IS ON THE HEALTH
RESPONSE AND THESE ARE OF A
TEMPORARY RELATIONS.
THEY EXPIRE AFTER A YEAR AND
SHOULD WE NEED TO REENACT THEM,
WE WILL ASSESS AT THAT TIME, BUT
THEY HAVE NARROWLY TAILORED TO
ADDRESS A VERY IMPORTANT SET OF
CIRCUMSTANCES, NAMELY TO ENSURE
THAT THERE IS LEADERSHIP,
CONTINUITY IN THE FACE OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC ALLOWING FIRST
TWO NATIONS PURSUANT TO THEIR
RIGHTS OF SELF-DETERMINATION.
SO WE MUST RESPECT THOSE
CHOICES, BUT WE'LL BE WORKING
HAND IN HAND WITH COMMUNITIES TO
ENSURE THAT THOSE ELECTORAL
DECISIONS ARE TAKEN WITH THE
MOST INFORMATION POSSIBLE AND IN
THE STRICTEST OF RESPECT OF THE
CURRENT HEALTH PROTOCOLS.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
NEXT QUESTION.
>> Question:  OUR NEXT QUESTION.
>> Question:  MELLOW.
I HAVE QUESTIONS
FOR MINISTER DUCLOS.
FOR A QUESTION ABOUT MILITARY
MEDICS BEING SENT INTO LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES IN QUEBEC AS OF
TODAY.
THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T GIVEN US
MUCH DETAIL ABOUT WHERE THEY
WILL GO.
THEY MENTIONED THE ST REGION.
COULD YOU TELL US WHERE THESE
MILITARY MEDICS ARE SENT TODAY
AND HOW MANY ARE SENT AND TO
WHICH REGIONS?
>> Answer:  MINISTER DUCL
ASSOCIATION.
OS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ACTORS IN
BOTH GOVERNMENTS WHO HAVE WORKED
HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN VERY,
VERY QUICKLY.
WE ALL RECOGNISE THE URGENCY OF
THE SITUATION THE GOVERNMENT OF
QUEBEC HAS A PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY TO HANDLE THE
SITUATION, BUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE
FOR QUICKLY STEPPING IN TO HELP
AFTER RECEIVING THE REQUEST THAT
WE RECEIVED.
125 MEDICALLY TRAINED FORCES
WILL BE DEPLOYED IN QUEBEC.
THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC WILL
MANAGE THEIR DEPLOYMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC WILL
IDENTIFY IT'S NEEDS, WHERE THE
NEEDS ARE ON THE GROUND AND THE
GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC WILL DECIDE
WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES THESE
ARMED FORCE'S MEMBERS WILL HAVE.
WE'VE HEARD IT IS SATISFIED WITH
HOW QUICKLY WE HAVE STEPPED IN
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE SENT
TO FACILITIES WHERE NEEDS ARE
PRESSING.
THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC IS
SATISFIED AND THAT SAID, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUE
TO HELP IN ANY WAY THAT IT CAN,
GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY
OF THE SITUATION.
>> Operator:  NOW A FOLLOWUP
QUESTION.
>> Question:  I'M GETTING THE
IMPRESSION YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE
THE NEEDS ARE DIRE AND MAYBE YOU
CAN ANSWER ON MINISTER FREELAND.
THERE WAS A MINISTER'S CALL WITH
THE PROVISIONAL AND TERRITORIAL
PREMIERS AND REMUNERATION OF
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WAS DISCUSSED.
HAD A DEAL BEEN REACHED WITH
PROVINCES REGARDING SALARY
POP-UPS FOR ESSENTIAL WORK
EXPERTS WHAT DECISIONS HAVE BEEN
TAKEN AND WHICH WORKERS WILL
RECEIVE THESE TOP-UPS.
>> Answer:  WE ARE STARTING TO
REALIZE IN QUEBEC AND EVERYWHERE
IN CANADA THAT MANY ESSENTIAL
WORKERS ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY
REMIXER N E.R.A. T DERICK.
REMUNERATED.
ANOTHER ELEMENT YOU MENTIONED IS
THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC
WANTS TO HELP PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES AND EVERYONE WANTS
TO HELP ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
AS MINISTER FREELAND SAID, THESE
TALKS ARE GOING WELL.
EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME WAVE
LENGTH.
NOW IT'S A MATTER OF FINDING THE
RIGHT WAYS TO ACT, THE RIGHT
WAYS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND
SALARY POP-UPS.
THERE ARE JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, OF
COURSE, WANTS TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT, BUT MUST DO SO IN SUCH
A WAY THAT THEY PROTECT THE
JURISDICTIONS.
>> Question:  B.C.'S SUCCESS IS
CREDITED WITH GOOD TRACING AND
ONTARIO SEEMS TO BE LAGGING
BEHIND.
WILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEP
IN AND MANDATE PROVINCES TO
INCREASE TESTING AND ARE YOU
CONCERNED THAT PROVINCES THAT
ARE LAGGING BEHIND WILL PULL
DOWN THOSE THAT HAVE COME AHEAD?
>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN
DESCRIBING TESTING AND TRACING
AS BEING KEY AND ACTIONS IN THE
COVID-19 PROCESS.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
DIFFERENT PROVINCES FACE
DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND IN QUEBEC AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS NOT ONLY
WILLING BUT MOST OFTEN ALWAYS
ABLE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE THAT
MAY BE HELPFUL IN THE LOCAL
CIRCUMSTANCES AND PROVIDE ANY
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AND ANY
PROCUREMENT SUPPORT WHEN IT
COMES TO MAKING EQUIPMENT AND
TESTING EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
SO WE WANT TO DO THIS AS MUCH AS
IS NEEDED AND THAT'S WHAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
>> Question:  WITH REGARD TO
THOSE THAT ARE ON OLD-AGE
SECURITY OR DISABILITY BENEFITS,
THOSE THAT HAVE A FIXED INCOME,
WHAT'S BEING DONE FOR THOSE
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE FACING
MOUNTING COSTS WITH REGARD TO
GROCERIES OR TRANSPORTATION OR
COST OF LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME
AND IS THERE ANY TALK WITH THE
PROVINCES ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT
CERB DOESN'T AFFECT THEIR
RECEIVING FEDERAL BENEFITS?
>> WELL, THAT'S MAKING ENDS NEAT
MEETIS A LARGE SOURCE OF ANXIETD
PARTICULARLY LOWER INCOME AND
THAT'S WHY WE ACTED VERY QUICKLY
PUTTING INTO PLACE MEASURES THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY
NEVER IMPLEMENTED AND PROBABLY
NEVER ENVISIONED, SUCH AS THE
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT, BUT ALSO INCREASING THE
GST TAX CREDIT, PROVIDING
SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN AND IN PARTICULAR,
FAMILIES WITH LOWER NEXTS
THROUGH THE CHILD CANADA
BENEFIT.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER KEEPS
SAYING, WE ARE WORKING IN AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION WHICH
REQUIRES CONTINUING ACTIONS AND
CONTINUING FORMS OF SUPPORT.
SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AS
THE PRIME MINISTER AGAIN SAID,
CONTINUE BEING MINDFUL OF THE
ANXIETY AND THE DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH THE
CANADIANS ARE GOING THROUGH, BUT
ALSO RENEWING AND DEVELOPING OUR
CONTINUING SUPPORT TO THOSE
CANADIANS.
>> Question:  I'M WITH CBC NEWS.
B.C. IS TALKING ABOUT, PERHAPS,
EASING UP SOME OF THE
RESTRICTIONS NEXT MONTH IS THE
NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND
CASES GO DOWN.
AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, WHAT IS THE
BAR THAT WE HAVE TO MEET IN
ORDER TO RELAX SOME OF THE
AMERICAS?
CASES?
>> THANK YOU, THAT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION AND A VERY GOOD
QUESTION WHICH DR. TAM HAD
ANSWERED REGULARLY OVER THE LAST
FEW DAYS.
AND I DON'T HAVE THE SAME
EXPERTISE AND, PERHAPS, THE
CREDIBILITY AS DR. TAM WOULD
HAVE IN RESPONDING TO THAT
IMPORTANT QUESTION.
BUT LET ME SUMMARIZE WHICH WOULD
PROBABLY SAY, IT'S AROUND NOT
ONLY THE CURVE, BUT WHERE THE
CURVE MAY BE HEADING AND IT'S
ALSO AROUND THE CAPACITY OF THE
HEALTH SYSTEM.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE NUMBER OF
DEATHS, THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY
INTENSIVE CARE UNITS THAT ARE
NEEDED AND IT'S ABOUT THE
ABILITY OF WORKERS TO BE
PROTECTED IN THE ENVIRONMENTS IN
WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORK.
IT'S ABOUT THE ABILITY OF
SECURING ENOUGH EQUIPMENT UNDER
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
BUT SINCE WE HAVE DR. WONG AND
SINCE DR. WONG IS PROBABLY A LOT
MORE CREDIBLE THAN I WOULD BE IN
THAT AREA, PERHAPS DR. WONG, YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD YOUR OWN VIEW?
>> THANK YOU.
A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT WE ALL
HAVE TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT, AS
MINISTER DUCLOS HAD JUST SAID,
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT NOT JUST THE
CURVE, WHERE IT'S GOING, BUT
ALSO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
LOCAL AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE
PROVISIONAL AND THE NATIONAL
PICTURE BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON
THE INTERFACE BETWEEN DIFFERENT
FACTORS.
ALL OF THOSE REALLY DETERMINE
HOW ONE, YOU WOULD CONSIDER,
PERHAPS, EASING SOME MEASURES IN
ONE SITUATION AND NOT EASING
SOME MEASURES IN OTHER
SITUATIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> Question:  I'M ALSO
WONDERING, HOW MANY BLUE MED
MEDICAL TENTS DOES THE
DEPARTMENT HAVE READY TO SEND TO
COMMUNITIES AND WHEN EXACTLY
WHAT THAT HAPPEN.
>> ARE YOU SPEAKING OF THE
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES?
>> EXACTLY.
>> WE HAVE THAT NUMBER AND IT
CAN BE USED FOR DIFFERENT
SOLUTIONS, WHETHER ISOLATION OR
TESTING.
IT DEPENDS ON THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY AND AS WE LOOK AT THE
PANDEMIC PLAN AND POSSIBLE
EXPANSION WHICH HASN'T OCCURRED
IN COMMUNITIES, BUT WE HAVE TO
EXAMINE AND CONSIDER THOSE
COMMUNITIES, WE WILL RAMP UP
RESOURCES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER IN STOCK
AVAILABLE IN THE PROCESS OF
BEING DEPLOYED IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ASKED FOR
THIS AND HAVE IT AS A PART OF
THEIR PANDEMIC PLAN.
I DON'T HAVE THOSE PRECISE
NUMBERS.
.IT'S A MOVING VARIABLE AS WE
RECOGNISE THERE MAY BE SURGES IN
COMMUNITIES, BUT IT'S VERY MUCH
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ASSESSING
ON THE FLY, BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER
PREPARED TO BE DEPLOYED AND HAVE
BEEN DEPLOYED IN SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES.
I'LL LET TOM ANSWER MORE
PRECISELY.
>> WITH THE MOBILE STRUCTURES,
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO EXPAND
THE CAPACITY, TO DEAL WITH
OVERCROWDING ISSUES
TEMPORARILILY, WHILE ADDRESSING
THE LONGER-TERM HOUSING
CHALLENGES, AS WELL, TRYING TO
CREATE A SAFE SPACE IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH AS
TESTING, SUCH AS TAKING THE
SWABS, SUCH AS ISOLATION, AS
WELL AS OVERFLOW, YOU KNOW, FOR
TEMPORARY MEDICAL HELP OR
NURSING HELP IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALL OF THOSE ARE A PART OF A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT WE
TAKE.
THANK YOU.
>> TURNING BACK TO THE PHONE,
OPERATOR.
>> Operator:  THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> Question:  MY QUESTION IS FOR
MINISTER DUCLOS.
YOU SPOKE ABOUT HOW THE
CANADA-U.S. RELATIONSHIP WILL BE
TESTED IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS.
WHEN TRUMP EXPRESSES IMPATIENCE
AND A STRONG DESIRE TO REOPEN
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, DOES THAT
WORRY YOU?
>> Answer:  AS AN ECONOMIST,
GIVEN THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES,
IF WE WANT TO REOPEN THE
ECONOMY, THEN WE MUST BE VERY,
VERY CAUTIOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN
IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE HAVE MADE MAJOR SACRIFICES
THESE PAST FEW WEEKS.
WE HAVE BEEN ISOLATED AND WE
HAVE FELT ANXIOUS AND WE HAVE
ALSO MADE ECONOMIC SACRIFICES.
PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
PEOPLE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY
MAKING ENDS MEET.
SO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO WEIGH
PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES AND
ECONOMIC OUTCOMES..
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND
MONTHS, WE WILL HAVE TO BE VERY,
VERY CAUTIOUS.
OF COURSE, MANY OF US ARE
ANXIOUS TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
THAT SAID, WE MUST ABSOLUTELY
FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS.
WE MUST TAKE THE NECESSARY
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES IF WE
WANT TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
FOLLOWUP QUESTION.
>> Question:  ALL RIGHT.
SO THAT WAS YOUR ECONOMIST'S
POINT OF VIEW.
NOW WHAT'S YOUR POINT OF VIEW AS
A CANADIAN, AS A CANADIAN
CITIZEN?
PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS PEOPLE
MOVING AROUND FREELY AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
COULD THAT COMPROMISE PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CANADA?
>> Answer:  MINISTER DUCL
ASSOCIATION.
OS.
NO, I'M NOT WORRIED.
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ARE
VERY TRUSTWORTHY AND MOREOVER,
OUR MUNICIPALITIES, PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES ARE DOING SUCH
AN EXCELLENT JOB WHEN IT COMES
TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SPREADING
PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGES.
I THINK WE CAN BE VERY PROUD TO
BE CANADIAN RIGHT NOW.
OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS ROBUST
AND AT SOME POINT, WE WILL
REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A
VERY SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION,
SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO ROAR BACK
AT SOME POINT AND WHEN WE WANT
TO ROAR BACK, IT WILL BE
ESSENTIAL THAT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT COOPERATE AND WORK
TOGETHER ALL WHILE RESPECTING
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES.
SO WHEN WE'RE READY TO ROAR
BACK, ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
WILL WORK TOGETHER AND WE WILL
REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
THANK YOU, MINISTER.
THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S PRESS
CONFERENCE.
>> Rosemary:  THE FEDERAL
CABINET MINISTER'S BRIEFING AND
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL'S
PREVING.
BRIEFING.
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION
IN THE CANADA RELIEF BENEFIT,
THE CERB THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE
TAPPED INTO BECAUSE YOU HAVE
LOST WORK OR LOST YOUR JOBS DUE
TO COVID-19 AND HE SAYS THERE
HAVE BEEN 7.9 MILLION
APPLICATIONS.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW
MUCH THE ECONOMY IS STRUGGLING
AND HOW MANY OF YOU ARE, TOO,
ARE TURNING TO THE GOVERNMENT
FOR SUPPORT.
CATHERINE CULLEN HAS BEEN
LISTENING ALONG WITH US AND I'M
NOT SURE IF ANYTHING ELSE STOOD
OUT FOR YOU.
WE DID GET NEW NUMBERS ON COVID
OUTBREAKS IN DIFFERENT
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
>> Reporter:  LET'S TALK ABOUT
WHAT MINISTER DUCLOS SAID WHEN
HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THE
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE
CANADA-U.S. BORDER.
I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING HE
SAID THEY'LL HAVE TO REMAIN
VIGILANT ON THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE AND DID NOTE WHILE THE
CANADA-U.S. RELATIONSHIP IS A
GOOD ONE, IT'S ONE THAT HAS BEEN
TESTED AND HE SAID IT WOULD
CONTINUE TO BE TESTED OVER THE
COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE POINT
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE
THIS NEWS CONFERENCE STARTED.
THAT THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DO
NOT WANT TO POLITICIAN ITALY SAT
A GREAT SOURCE THIS IS, AS WE
SEE THE PICTURE ACROSS THE
PROBLEMS AND TERRITORIES AND THE
PICTURE SEEMS TO CHANGE FROM
STATE TO STATE, TOO, AND A LOT
OF ATTENTION BEING PAID TO NEW
YORK CITY STATE.
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT TO
SAY IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THIS 30-DAY 30-DY
EXTENSION ON THE BORDER IS A
RELIEF TO GOVERNMENT TRYING TO
DEAL WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF
OTHER ISSUE.
WE HEARD RECURRING CONVERSATION,
ONCE AGAIN, WITH THE PRIME
MINISTER TODAY, WITH
JEAN DUCLOS, AS WELL, WHEN
CANADA CAN TALK ABOUTRESTARTING
THE ECONOMY.
IT IS VERY CLEAR THIS IS A
SITUATION THAT WILL CHANGE FROM
REGION TO REGION AND EVERYONE IS
SAYING THE WATCH WORD IS CAUTION
AND THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE
CAUTIOUSLY AND CAREFULLY.
THERE'S INCREDIBLE CONCERN ABOUT
EASING THINGS TOO QUICKLY AND
SEEING A MAJOR RESURGENCE AND
EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT EXPECTS
SOUTH OF THE BORDER BUT MORE
BROADLY INTERNATIONAL AND I
THINK SINGAPORE COMES TO MIND,
WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO RESTART
THE ECONOMY AND RESTART SOCIETY,
BUT CONCERNED THAT ONE FALSE
MOVE COULD LEAD TO A MAJOR
OUTBREAK.
I WOULD NOTE SOMETHING WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT OVER THE
COURSE OF THE PROGRAMME WHICH IS
THE SITUATION IN LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES.
WHILE THEY MAY BE IN SOME WAYS
ISOLATED FROM SOCIETY MORE
BROADLY, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY A
MAJOR SOURCE OF CONCERN RIGHT
NOW.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION,
I GUESS, WE CAN SAY, TO THE
NUMBER OF DEATHS WE'RE SEEING IN
CANADA RIGHT NOW.
>> Rosemary:  PROBABLY IT WILL
LOOK NOT ONLY DIFFERENT REGION
TO REGION, BUT PROBABLY IT WILL
LOOK DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF
SOCIETY.
VULNERABLE PEOPLE, SENIORS,
OLDER CANADIANS WILL PROBABLY BE
LIVING UNDER DIFFERENT
RESTRICTIONS THAN OTHER PEOPLE
FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE
THE ONES MOST SUSCEPTIBLE.
SO YOU CAN SEE A RAMPING DOWN OF
MEASURES AND MAYBE PARKS WILL
OPEN TO KICK AROUND A SOCCER
BALL.
BUT RESTAURANTS ONLY OPEN AT 50%
CAPACITY.
WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THAT
HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORLD AND SO THAT GIVES US SOME
INDICATIONS OF WHAT THAT MIGHT
LOOK LIKE.
DR. TAM WAS NOT THERE TODAY BUT
Mr. DUCLOS SAY THEY REMAIN
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT
THEY ARE SEEING.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK EVERYONE IS
SAYING WE CAN'T LET GO NOW
BECAUSE THEN EVERYTHING THAT
WE'VE DONE FOR PAST FOUR OR FIVE
WEEKS WILL BE LOST, POTENTIALLY.
>> Reporter:  THAT RAISES A
COUPLE OF POINTS.
ONE ABOUT TESTING AND IF I COULD
ECHO DR. TAM FOR A MINUTE AND WE
KNOW, PERHAPS, WHAT SHE MIGHT
SAY, SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD
REPEATEDLY IS THIS QUESTION OF
THE CURVE.
YES, PERHAPS, YOU'VE REACHED THE
PEAK BUT THAT'S ONLY 50% OF THE
CASES AND YOU HAVE TO BE CERTAIN
WE'VE HEARD HER SAY TIME AND
TIME AGAIN, BE MINDFUL OF WHAT
HAPPENS ON THE WAY BACK DOWN,
BECAUSE THAT IS 50% OF THE
CASES.
AGAIN, THE NEED FOR ONGOING
VIGILANCE.
WE WOULD TALK ABOUT TESTING, AS
WELL, A QUESTION ASHLEY BURKE
RAISED WHEN SPEAKING TO THE
PRIME MINISTER AND SHE POINTED
TO RESEARCH OUT OF HARVARD
UNIVERSITY WHICH SUGGESTS FOR
THE UNITED STATES TO SORT OF
OPEN THINGS BACK UP, THEY NEED
TO BE DOING SOMETHING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF HALF A MILLION
TESTS OR UPWARDS OF THAT.
ASHLEY ASKED THE PRIME MINISTER
WHETHER THERE WAS A SPECIFIC
NUMBER HE HAD BEEN ADVISED OF
FOR CANADA IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL
OF TESTING NEEDED AND HE DID NOT
CERTAINLY COME CLOSE TO ENGAGING
IN SPECIFIC NUMBERS, BUT DID SAY
THAT, TOO, IS UNEVEN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WHERE THERE ARE SOME
SOMEJURISDICTIONS DOING WELL, HS
CHOOSING WORDS CAREFULLY, SAYING
THERE ARE OTHER JURISDICTIONS
TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFORTS.
THAT IS ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
YOU TALK ABOUT KICKING AROUND
THE SOCCER BALL AND THAT'S A
NICE MENTAL IMAGE FOR US RIGHT
NOW, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE
DECISIONS, TOO, ABOUT WHAT THE
PICTURE LOOKS LIKE.
I THOUGHT WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING -- THE
DISCUSSION, I SHOULD SAY OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA,
THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT THE
PROSPECT OF OK, PERHAPS WE WOULD
REOPEN RESTAURANTS, BUT MENUS
WOULD BE DISPOSABLE AND ALL OF
THE PRECAUTIONS TAKEN.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT JUST ONE
FALSE MOVE WOULD CAUSE EVERYBODY
TO SNAP BACK, AS WELL.
SO IT'S REALLY A VERY DYNAMIC
CONVERSATION, BUT ONE THAT I
THINK PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR
ANSWERS TO, AS WELL.
>> Rosemary:  THANK YOU FOR YOUR
HELP TODAY.
>>> I WANT TO TURN TO MARIA
ALONZO, AN ER NURSE IN DOWNTOWN
VANCOUVER.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M DOING GOOD.
>> WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU,
BECAUSE YOU'VE MADE THE DECISION
THAT SOME OTHER FRONT-LINE
HEALTH WORKERS HAVE MADE AND
THAT IS YOU ARE NOT LIVING WITH
YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW TO PROTECT
THEM.
SO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
>> I JUST CHECKED ON THEM
YESTERDAY AND SO I'M OFF RIGHT
NOW.
YEAH, I'M TRYING TO SPEND TIME
WITH THEM RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY
WITH MY SON AND MY MOM.
>> BUT YOU ARE TYPICALLY STAYING
A HOTEL.
IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING?
>> SO WHAT HAPPENED, THE
HOSPITAL SUPPORT THE STAFF AND
THAT IF YOU'RE LIVING WITH YOUR
FAMILY AND YOU'RE TRAVELING FAR
TO YOUR WORK, YOU HAVE TIMES TO
STAY DURING YOUR WORK TIME AND
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE SUPPORT
THEY GIVING TO THE STAFF RIGHT
NOW.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
TELL ME HOW YOU ARE IN TERMS OF
EQUIPMENT, MASKS, GLOVES, DO YOU
HAVE ENOUGH OR IS THAT A CONCERN
FOR YOU?
AT THE MOMENT, IN THE HOSPITAL,
WE HAVE ENOUGH SO FAR AND WE
HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES FOR
PROTECTIVE MEASURES RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE THE FACE MASKS, THE N95
FACE SHIELDS AND ALL OF THE
STUFF RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES
SO FAR.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING INTO
WORK EVERYDAY BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT AS WELL AS OLDER CANADIANS,
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST
VULNERABLE ARE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS AND WE HAVE EVEN SEEN A
NUMBER OF DEATHS.
HOW WORRIED ARE YOU GOING INTO
WORK EVERYDAY.
>> WORKING IN EMERGENCY IS VERY
CHALLENGING, BUT THIS PANDEMIC
IS QUITE DIFFERENT.
SO EVERY TIME I GO TO WORK, I
ALWAYS HAVE THE FEAR THAT IT
MIGHT AFFECT MY FAMILY, YOU
KNOW.
I HAVE A FEAR THAT I MIGHT GET
INFECTED, AS WELL.
SO I JUST NEED TO BE MORE
CAREFUL AT WORK SO THAT I WILL
NOT PASS IT TO MY LOVED ONES AND
FAMILY.
>> WELL, PARTICULARLY YOUR MOM,
RIGHT, WHO IS IN HER 70S.
>> YES, MY MOM IS 72 YEARS OLD,
AND I'M VERY, VERY CAREFUL AND
VERY DOESN'T FROM HER AT THIS
TIME.
SO WE JUST NEED TO PROTECT OUR
FAMILIES, REALLY.
>> MARIA, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
YOU NEED FROM THE GOVERNMENT?
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT
WOULD BE OF HELP FOR YOU TO DO
YOUR JOB MORE EASILY?
>> I KNOW OUR COUNTRY IS DOING
THE BEST TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE
CANADIANS AND THEN AS A NURSE,
SO WE JUST ACTUALLY DOING OUR
BEST TO PROTECT OUR PATIENTS, TO
PROTECT OURSELVES, TO PROTECT
OUR FAMILIES.
BUT THEN I THINK THE GOVERNMENT
IS DOING A GOOD JOB AT THIS
TIME.
SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO WORK
TOGETHER AND WE WILL GET THROUGH
THIS PANDEMIC.
>> WELL, MARIA, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING
ALL OF THE HARD WORK FOR ALL OF
US AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S MARIA ALONZO IN
VANCOUVER.
ACROSS, ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
CANADIANS ARE TRYING TO HELP
OTHERS AFFECTED BY COVID-19.
SENATOR JIM MUNSON IS ONE OF
THOSE HELPERS.
IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU WHAT HE'S
DOING.
HE PLAYS RECREATIONAL HOCKEY
WITH A GROUP OF OLD-TIMERS AND
I'M SURE HE WON'T BE OFFENDED
WHEN I SAY THAT.
WHEN THE SEASON WAS CUT SHORT,
HIS FELLOW LEAGUE MEMBERS
DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, SENATOR.
>> JUST ANOTHER SENATOR, ROSIE,
NOT PLAYING HOCKEY.
[ Laughter ]
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THESE DAY.
SO YOU HAVE THIS LEAGUE, I GUESS
LIKE A FUN LEAGUE, A
RECREATIONAL LEAGUE.
>> WE ARE THE LEGENDS.
>> THE LEGENDS, OK.
AND IT GOT SHUT DOWN, OBVIOUSLY,
BECAUSE NO ONE IS ABLE TO DO
ANYTHING AND WHAT DID YOU GUYS
DECIDE TO DO?
>> WELL, IT WAS A UNANIMOUS
DECISION, WE GOT SHUT DOWN
BECAUSE OF COVID-19 ON MARCH
13th, FRIDAY THE 13th AND NO
MORE HOCKEY.
BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF MONEY LEFT
AND A REFUND OF $4,200.
SO OUR CHIEF ORGANIZER, WHO
THOUGHT HE'S GOING TO GET A TAX
DONATION BACK, A REFUND BACK, HE
TOPPED IT OFF TO MAKE THE $7,000
IN THE KITTY.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BLOW OUR OWN
HORNS BUT SHOW OTHER HOCKEY
TEAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHAT
THEY CAN DO.
SO $7,000 HAS GONE TO THE OTTAWA
FOOD BANK AND THE OTTAWA MISSION
HELPING THOSE WHO LIVE ON
STREETS AND NEED A SAFE BED.
SO $7,000, WE LIKE TO LOOK AT
THIS AS AN ICE HOCKEY MOVEMENT,
NOT A GRASS ROOT'S MOVEMENT, BUT
AN ICE HOCKEY MOVEMENT, AND WE
ARE ENCOURAGING OTHER TEAMS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN FIGURE SKATING CLUBS
TO DONATE MONEY TO THEIR
CHARITY, EVEN IF YOU HAVE A
CREDIT FOR NEXT YEAR.
IT'S NOT MUCH MONEY, BUT AT
LEAST IT DOES SOMETHING AND IT
SHOWS THAT FOR THE SAKE OF A FEW
MORE WINGS AND TOO MANY BEERS,
THAT WE CAN GIVE BACK TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
[ Laughter ]
>> IT'S A SMART IDEA BECAUSE,
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS THE FIRST
WAVE OF SOME SPORTS BEING SHUT
DOWN, BUT I'M NOT SURE SOCCER
AND OTHER THINGS ARE GOING TO BE
STARTING UP QUICKLY ANY TIME
SOON AND THERE MAY BE OTHER
PLACES WHERE THAT WILL WORK,
TOO.
>> WELL, OF COURSE, IT WILL.
THERE ARE OTHER NAMES WE HAVE
USED LIKE THE RUSTY BLADES AND
THAT WAS TAKEN.
SO A LOT OF US FEEL WE'RE
LEGENDS IN OUR OWN MINDS AND OUR
#HOCKEYLEGENDS HELPED.
THIS IS $7,000 AND THIS COULD
GROW TO $70,000, $700,000 ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND, PERHAPS, EVEN
THOSE SOCCER TEAMS YOU TALKED
ABOUT, THEY MAY HAVE MONEY LINED
UP TO START PRACTICING AND START
PLAYING.
WELL, THEY CAN'T RIGHT NOW, BUT
EVEN THAT MONEY, A BIT OF THAT
MONEY COULD GO A LONG WAY AND AN
INDIVIDUAL FIGURE SKATER OR
INDIVIDUAL HOCKEY PLAYER COULD
USE THE REFUND TO HELP A CHARITY
OF HIS OR HER CHOICE.
>> IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
SENATOR, I'LL ASK YOU THE OTHER
PART OF YOUR JOB QUESTION, IF
THAT'S OK.
YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE,
LOSING TRACK OF TIME, THE SENATE
DECIDED IT WOULD SUSPEND SITTING
UNTIL, I THINK, THE BEGINNING OF
JUNE.
AS YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS IS GRAPPLING WITH THAT
RIGHT NOW AND THEY HAVE YET TO
REACH AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN ON MONDAY.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> MY THOUGHTS ON THAT IS THAT
WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
OUR COMMITTEES CAN MEET
VIRTUALLY AND WE CAN PASS
LEGISLATION IF LEGISLATION COMES
TO US, BUT WE THINK IT'S
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO LIVE AND
WORK BY EXAMPLE AND WORK FROM
HOME AND THERE'S NO PLACE -- WE
SHOULD NOT BE SITTING IN THE
SENATE OF CANADA.
CANADIANS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO
STAY AT HOME.
WE CAN ALSO WORK FROM HOME AND
GET OUR JOBS DONE, WHETHER IT'S
ADVOCACY OR LEGISLATION.
SO WE HAVE POSTPONED UNTIL
JUNE 2nd.
DOESN'T MEAN OUR WORK IS NOT
DONE, BUT I THINK THAT TRAVELING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT THIS TIME
IS NOT A SMART THING TO DO.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
WE'RE STAYING HOME, WORKING AND
ENJOYING OUR FAMILIES AND WE'RE
GIVING BACK AND AS POLITICIANS,
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY,
VERY CAUTIOUS, VERY CAUTIOUS.
>> YOU PROBABLY WERE IN THE
SENATE, THOUGH, OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS TO HELP WITH THE
LEGISLATION BECAUSE YOU ARE IN
THE REGION.
AND DID IT WORK?
WERE THERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH A
LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE?
>> WE HAD 26 SENATORS THERE AND
EVERYBODY SPOKE ON THE PIECES
LEGISLATION THAT WAS BEFORE US.
AND THERE WAS PHYSICAL
DISTANCING, SIX FEET.
IT WORKED AND IT CAN WORK AGAIN,
BUT I THINK IT HAS TO BE WORKING
ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS WHEN
PIECES OF LEGISLATION COME TO US
IN THAT WAY.
I MEAN, THE THOUGHT OF HAVING A
VIRTUAL PARLIAMENT, IT CAN WORK,
BUT THAT'S ANOTHER WORK TO BE
DONE.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE CREATED
IN OUR SENATE A SOCIAL AFFAIR'S
COMMITTEE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
TO MEET AND HEAR WITNESSES, TO
TAKE ACCOUNT TO WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS DOING OR NOT DOING
AND HOW SOCIETY IS COPING.
SO WE CAN STILL SOUND AS A
SECOND THOUGHT AND LISTENING TO
CANADIAN'S CONCERNS.
>> SENATOR, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT POLITICS AND BEER LEAGUE
HOCKEY AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO
PEOPLE.
>> DON'T FORGET TO GIVE, YOU
KNOW.
STAY ON THE ICE, BUT DO IT
THROUGH MONEY.
IT'S AN ICE HOCKEY MOVEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, SENATOR.
GOOD TO SEE YOU,S ALWAYS, STAY
HEALTHY,.
>> THANKS, ROSIE, YOU, TOO.
A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT
THE U.S.-CANADA BORDER WILL
REMAIN CLOSED FOR ANOTHER 30
DAYS TO NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON AND I'LL SEE
YOU BACK HERE FOR SPECIAL
COVERAGE.
MICHAEL SERAPIO CONTINUES RIGHT
NOW.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
