 
MINISTER TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST 
REALLY DIRECT SUPPORT FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES TODAY.
THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR IT 
FOR MANY WEEKS, AND THE PANDEMIC
HAS PROVEN EXTREMELY COSTLY TO 
CITIES.
MUNICIPAL LEADERS HAVE BEEN 
ASKING FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 
TO $15 BILLION OVER THE COURSE 
OF THE NEXT NUMBER OF MONTHS, 
AND THEY SAY RESIDENTS ARE 
DEPENDING ON THE SERVICES THAT 
CITIES PROVIDE MORE THAN EVER 
NOW.
THE REVENUES THAT THEY GET, AS 
YOU CAN IMAGINE, PUBLIC TRANSIT,
FOR INSTANCE, HAS ALL BUT DRIED 
UP DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
WE ARE AWAITING TO HEAR FROM THE
PRIME MINISTER ON THAT.
I WILL BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS 
AND DAVID COCHRANE.
GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN 
ASKED FOR FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS.
WE'VE HEARD FROM BASICALLY ALL 
THE MAYORS OF BIG CITIES, 
CERTAINLY, VASSY, TALKING ABOUT 
HOW DESPERATE CITIES ARE GIVEN 
THAT THEY HAVE LITTLE ABILITY TO
BE ABLE TO RAISE MORE MONEY AND 
ARE TAKING A SIGNIFICANT HIT, 
WHETHER IT BE PUBLIC TRANSIT OR 
OTHER THINGS.
>> Vassy: YEAH, DESPERATE IS THE
PERFECT WORD TO USE, THE PERFECT
DESCRIPTOR, ROSIE.
RIGHT FROM I WAS SAY MAYBE TWO 
WEEKS INTO THIS PANDEMIC, SO 
RIGHT AT THE OUTSET OF APRIL, 
MAYORS FROM CITIES OF ALL SIZES,
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, ESPECIALLY BIG
CITIES, WERE SOUNDING AN ALARM.
I WANT TO PUT FORWARD SOME 
NUMBERS THAT HELP CONTEXTUALIZE 
I THINK HOW BIG OF A CITY CITIES
ARE TAKING.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THEIR REVENUE 
SOURCES ARE PROPERTY TAXES AND 
USER FEES, AND CERTAINLY USER 
FEES HAVE DRIED COMPLETELY UP.
TORONTO IS LOSING ACCORDING TO 
ITS MAYOR $65 MILLION A WEEK.
VANCOUVER WILL BE SHORT ANYWHERE
FROM 110 MILLION TO $330 MILLION
THIS YEAR.
EDMONTON EXPECTS TO LOSE UP TO 
$260 MILLION.
CALGARY IS LOSING $15 MILLION A 
WEEK.
THEY HAVE ALSO MADE A LOT OF 
CORRESPONDING LAYOFFS.
IN EDMONTON, FOR EXAMPLE, MORE 
THAN 4,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LAID
OFF.
CALGARY HAS LAID OFF 1800 
PEOPLE.
TORONTO WON'T HIRE MORE THAN 
5,000 SEASONAL WORKERS THAT 
OPERATE A LOT OF THE PARKS AND 
DAY CAMPS, ALTHOUGH SOME ARE 
GOING FORWARD.
THEY ANTICIPATE THAT 5,000 
PEOPLE WON'T GET THEIR JOBS 
BACK.
BASICALLY THEIR MESSAGE IS THIS 
IS GOING TO GET A LOT WORSE 
BEFORE IT GETS BETTER, AND THEIR
ASK FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
HAS BEEN, IN A WAY, NOT TO 
CIRCUMVENT BUT TO SORT OF 
COMPLEMENT, I GUESS, WHAT THE 
PROVINCES MAY BE ABLE TO DO 
UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, 
AND THAT IS HELP THEM OUT WITH A
CASH INJECTION.
REMEMBER CITIES FOR THE MOST 
PART LEGALLY CANNOT RUN A 
DEFICIT.
AND THAT PUTS THEM IN A REAL 
BIND.
THEY WOULD NORMALLY BE GOING TO 
THE PROVINCES FOR HELP, BUT THE 
PROVINCES, OF COURSE, ARE 
EXTREMELY CASH STRAPPED DUE TO 
THE HELP THAT THEY ARE OFFERING 
FRTS PANDEMIC, SO THEY ARE TURG 
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND 
THE FIGURE YOU OUT OUT THERE, 
THE NUMBER IS NEEDED AS AN 
EMERGENCY FUND TO HELP THEM WITH
THEIR ABILITY TO PAY EMPLOYEES, 
OPERATING COSTS BASICALLY.
THAT'S THE THING THEY NEED RIGHT
NOW.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS 
ANNOUNCEMENT IS THE FIRST PART 
IS HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
CHARACTERIZING IT TO ME OF WHAT 
THEY MAY ANNOUNCE FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES, BUT TODAY IT 
WON'T BE THE DIRECT OPERATING 
HELP.
INSTEAD IT WILL BE ABOUT 
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT WILL 
RISE A WHOLE HOST OF QUESTIONS.
WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT 
THE DETAILS ARE.
FROM THE MAYORS THAT I'VE SPOKEN
TO, AND I KNOW YOU'LL BE 
SPEAKING TO SOME AS WELL, THEY 
ARE WORRIED ABOUT OPERATING 
COSTS RIGHT NOW THAT'S THEIR 
PRIMARY FOCUS.
I'M SURE THEY WILL WELCOME NEWS 
ON INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY AS THEY 
ALWAYS WOULD, BUT HOW MUCH THAT 
WOULD HELP THEM IN THEIR CURRENT
PREDICTMENT IS THEIR BIG 
QUESTION.
>> Rosemary: AND IF IT IS MONEY 
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, IS THE 
SUGGESTION THEN FROM OTTAWA 
WE'RE GIVING YOU INFRASTRUCTURE 
MONEY SO YOU USE THE MONEY THAT 
WE WOULD HAVE USED FOR THIS TO 
USE FOR OPERATING COSTS.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT,
BUT I WONDER IF THAT WILL BE THE
SUGGESTION THAT WE GET FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
AND DAVID, IT IS, AS VASSY SAID,
USER FEES, CERTAINLY TRANSIT 
FEES THAT YOU WOULD MAKE A LOT 
OF MONEY OFF OF, BUT THE 
FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES HAS ALSO SAID, 
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO 
AREN'T ABLE TO PAY THEIR 
PROPERTY TAXES EVEN.
SO ALL SOURCES OF REVENUE ARE 
UNDER SOME PRESSURE HERE FOR 
CITIES.
>> David: YEAH, ESPECIALLY IN 
THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR WITH THE 
ECONOMY ESSENTIALLY ON TOTAL 
SHUT DOWN.
I DON'T THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING 
TO HEAR FROM THE PRIME MINISTER 
IS GOING TO SATISFY ALL OF THE 
DEMANDS OUT THERE.
THE WAY AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS
IS ESSENTIALLY A CASH ADVANCE ON
THE MONEY THEY NORMALLY GET 
THROUGH THE GST COMPONENT 
TRANSFER, THE GAS TAX TRANSFER, 
EXCUSE ME, AND INSTEAD OF 
GETTING IT PAID OUT OVER A 
PERIOD OF TIME, WE'RE GOING TO 
GET IT ALL AT ONCE.
BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY NOT NEW 
MONEY.
THAT'S A CASH ADVANCE ON MONEY 
THEY KNEW WAS COMING FOR A 
SPECIFIC PURPOSE BUT THEY'RE 
GOING TO GET IT EARLY, 
PRESUMABLY TO HELP WITH BRIDGING
THROUGH BETTER TIMES AS THIS 
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BIG PICTURE
ON THE NON-INDIVIDUAL BAILOUTS.
DIRECT CASH IS GOING TO FAMILIES
AND PEOPLE AND MORE CREDIT AND 
CASH ADVANCE AND LIQUIDITY GOING
TO GOVERNMENT AND COMPANIES IN 
TERMS OF THE AID PACKAGES COMING
OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT.
SO REALLY THIS HAS TO BE SEEN AS
A FIRST STEP DOWN PAYMENT ON A 
LARGER AID PACKAGE FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES, WHICH I DON'T 
THINK WILL SEE THE FULL SIZE AND
SCALE OF UNTIL THERE'S 
MULTI-LEVEL NEGOTIATIONS, THEY 
FIGURE OUT HOW THE ECONOMY CAN 
REOPEN AND GET A CLEAR SENSE OF 
JUST WHAT THE FISCAL DAMAGE OF 
THIS PANDEMIC WILL BE.
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS THE BANK
OF CANADA, IT IS ESSENTIALLY 
BANK ROLLING CANADA IN A 
SIGNIFICANT WAY RIGHT NOW.
AS WE GET TOWARDS THE END OF 
THIS, THERE WILL BE A RECKONING 
TO HELP THE MORE FINANCIALLY 
VULNERABLE PROVINCES, IN 
PARTICULAR, AND MUNICIPALITIES 
WHO HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY 
HAMMERED.
I THINK THAT'S THE POLICY 
ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.
I THINK THE PRIME MINISTER WILL 
HAVE TO SPEAK ON THE DELICATE 
SUBJECT OF RACE WHEN YOU LOOK AT
WHAT'S HAPPENING SOUTH OF THE 
BORDER, THE PROTESTS WE SAW IN 
TORONTO OVER THE WEEKEND BECAUSE
OF THE INVESTIGATION THERE 
THAT'S HAPPENING INVOLVING THE 
DEATH OF A YOUNG WOMAN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S 
UNAVOIDABLE FOR A NATIONAL 
POLITICAL LEADER, I THINK, AND I
SUSPECT THE PRIME MINISTER -- HE
DID ADDRESS IT I BELIEVE ON 
FRIDAY.
HE BROUGHT IT UP AT THE END 
SAYING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT 
THIS.
WELL, THE CIRCUMSTANCE ON MONDAY
MORNING IS FAR MORE SEVERE THAN 
IT WAS ON FRIDAY BASED ON A VERY
EVENTFUL WEEKEND SOUTH OF THE 
BORDER AND HERE IN CANADA.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HEAR 
SOMETHING FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER ON THAT FOR SURE.
>> Rosemary: QUITE RIGHT.
AND THAT WILL LEAD ME TO MY NEXT
INTERVIEW.
THE MINISTER OF FAMILIES, 
CHILDREN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,
WHEN HE WAS MINISTER OF 
IMMIGRATION HE RAISED SOME 
CONCERNS, AND HAS SINCE, OVER 
RACIAL PROFILING.
HE CONTINUES TO DO THAT TODAY, 
AND HE'S ACTUALLY SPOKEN HIMSELF
ABOUT SOME OF HIS OWN 
EXPERIENCES AS A REFUGEE WHEN HE
FIRST ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MINISTER, 
THANKS FOR MAKING THE TIME.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Rosemary: SO LET'S JUST TALK 
MAYBE ABOUT YOUR REACTION TO 
WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE 
COURSE OF THE PAST THREE OR FOUR
DAYS, THE PROTESTS CERTAINLY 
SOMETIMES THAT HAVE TURNED QUITE
VIOLENT AT NIGHT IN THE UNITED 
STATES, AND SOME SIGNS OF THAT 
TOO IN MONTREAL OVER THE 
WEEKEND.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK OUR GOVERNMENT 
WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THE RIGHTS 
OF CANADIANS TO FREEDOM OF 
EXPRESSION.
WE SUPPORT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO 
EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
WHILE ALSO PROTECTING THE 
CANADIANS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE 
TOUGH TIMES.
THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT PEOPLE 
HAVE IN TERMS OF HAVING THEIR 
STORIES BEING HEARD, THEIR LIVED
REALITY -- I MEAN, IT IS REALLY 
IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COUNTRY TO
RECOGNIZE THAT ANTI-BLACK RACISM
IS A REALITY FOR MANY, MANY 
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND 
THE FACT THAT SHOULD BE 
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TALK 
ABOUT, THAT WE SHOULD PUT ON THE
TABLE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY 
WAY THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS THESE 
ISSUES.
YOU CAN'T ADDRESS AN ISSUE 
WITHOUT [INDISCERNIBLE] LIVED 
REALITY.
>> Rosemary: YOU YOURSELF HAVE 
THREE YOUNG BOYS, AND YOU HAVE 
PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN ABOUT SOME OF 
YOUR EXPERIENCES.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT 
ABOUT THEM, WHAT YOU HAVE 
EXPERIENCED AS RACISM OR 
MICROAGGRESSIONS?
>> I THINK SADLY THIS IS 
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY 
FAMILIAR TO MANY BLACK CANADIANS
THAT I PERSONALLY KNOW, AND MANY
THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME OVER
THE YEARS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NEW 
TO US, BEING FOLLOWED AROUND IN 
A STORE, BEING RACIALLY PROFILED
WHILE DRIVING A CAR.
THESE ARE VERY, VERY COMMON 
EXPERIENCES, UNFORTUNATELY, AND 
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IN THE
MEANTIME THERE SIMPLY IS NOT -- 
THERE IS SIMPLY [INDISCERNIBLE] 
TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE OF GOOD 
FAITH WHO ARE FRIENDS OF BLACK 
CANADIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 
AND SO WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY 
AND MY REACTION TO WHAT IS 
HAPPENING BOTH IN THE UNITED 
STATES BUT ALSO TO A CERTAIN 
EXTENT IN CANADA IS THAT THIS IS
A LIVED REALITY FOR MANY OF US.
AND ANTI-BLACK RACISM, 
ESPECIALLY THE SYSTEMIC KIND, 
HOLDS MANY, MANY OF OUR FELLOW 
CANADIANS BACK, AND WE NEED TO 
DEAL WITH IT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR 
COMMUNITY FULLY PARTICIPATE IN 
CANADIAN SOCIETY.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME 
DON'T EVEN WANT TO SEE AS PART 
OF THE CANADIAN FABRIC AND THEY 
SEE IT AS AN AMERICAN REALITY, 
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE
DO HAVE AN ISSUE, AND BY AND 
LARGE CANADA HAS AND CONTINUES 
TO BE A VERY GENEROUS COUNTRY, A
COUNTRY THAT WELCOMES NEWCOMERS,
A COUNTRY THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO 
ACHIEVE ANY DREAM THAT THEY 
ASPIRE TO.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE -- 
WE NEED TO DO, AND ONE OF THOSE 
AMONG MANY IS ANTI-BLACK RACISM,
AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS 
GOVERNMENTS ALONE CANNOT DO IT.
I MEAN, GOVERNMENT HAS A MAJOR 
ROLE TO PLAY IN PUSHING FORWARD 
POLICIES THAT BRING PEOPLE UP, 
THAT MOVE TOWARDS FULL INCLUSION
OF ALL OUR CITIZENS, INCLUDING 
MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, 
BUT WE ALL NEED TO DO OUR PART, 
WHETHER YOU'RE A CEO, WHETHER 
YOU'RE TEACHER OR A POLICE 
OFFICER.
WE NEED TO PRACTISE EMPATHY AND 
TRUE INCLUSION.
WE DO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT 
CANADA IS A DIVERSE COUNTRY, BUT
WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE IT AN 
INCLUSIVE COUNTRY, AND THE ONLY 
WAY TO DO THAT IS TO INCLUDE 
EVERYONE, AND TO ALSO 
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIVED REALITY OF
IT.
>> Rosemary: I'M GLAD YOU 
BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF THIS 
COUNTRY VERSUS THE UNITED 
STATES.
OBVIOUSLY THE SITUATIONS ARE 
DIFFERENT, BUT DO YOU BELIEVE 
THAT THIS COUNTRY IS, I DON'T 
KNOW, MAYBE NOT HAVING ENOUGH OF
A CONVERSATION AROUND RACE?
MAYBE DISMISSING THE ISSUE 
ENTIRELY IN SOME CASES OR 
SUGGESTING THAT CANADA DOESN'T 
HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS THE 
UNITED STATES SO WE DON'T NEED 
TO TALK ABOUT THEM?
DO YOU FEEL THAT AT ALL?
>> THAT'S PRECISELY IT.
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
I THINK THE POINT IS TO HAVE 
THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT 
IS THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS 
WHICH CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT 
CONVERSATIONS, BUT IT IS THROUGH
THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE CAN 
HAVE BREAKTHROUGHS, THAT WE CAN 
ACTUALLY HEAR THE PAIN AND THE 
FRUSTRATION OF MANY, MANY 
MEMBERS OF OUR FELLOW CANADIAN 
CITIZENS, AND SO THOSE FOLKS 
WILL TELL US, AND THEY WILL SHOW
US THEIR LIVED REALITY.
BUT WE CAN ONLY DO THAT IF WE'RE
OPEN TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO THE POINT I WAS MAKING IN MY 
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS OVER THE 
LAST COUPLE OF DAYS IS THAT WE 
NEED TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR 
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT THE 
REALITY OF BLACK YOUTH IN OUR 
URBAN CENTRES, FOR EXAMPLE.
THE REALITY THAT THEY GO THROUGH
IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH 
POLICE, THE REALITY THAT THEY GO
THROUGH IN THE JOB MARKET AND 
THE HOUSING MARKET.
THINGS THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY 
EXPERIENCED, BUT I THINK THE 
POINT IS ONCE WE CREATE THAT 
SPACE AND WE HAVE THOSE 
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, THEN WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND THAT WILL ONLY MAKE CANADA 
AN EVEN BETTER COUNTRY THAN IT 
ALREADY IS.
IT WON'T TAKE AWAY FROM US, 
AND -- HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
I'VE SEEN SOME PUSHBACK EVEN 
FROM SOME PUBLIC OFFICIALS, A 
GENTLEMAN WHO WAS THE FOUNDING 
CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED 
CONSERVATIVE PARTY.
IN ALBERTA HE PUSHED BACK AND 
SAID DON'T BRING THIS ISSUE 
ACROSS THE BORDER.
[INDISCERNIBLE] THIS IS 
SOMETHING THAT IS REAL FOR MANY,
MANY CANADIANS, AND THE FACT 
THAT IT IS A LIVED REALITY FOR 
MANY CANADIANS SHOULD CONCERN 
ALL OF US AND SHOULD THEN FORCE 
US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT 
WILL LEAD TO REAL SOLUTIONS.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, IT IS HARD, 
YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS.
I AGREE, AND IT'S HARD TO KNOW 
WHAT TO DO AS WELL.
JUST A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE 
YOUR BOSS, THE PRIME MINISTER, 
COMES OUT, MINISTER.
YOU HAVE THREE YOUNG KIDS, SO I 
DON'T KNOW HOW AWARE THEY ARE OF
WHAT HAS HAPPENED, BUT WHAT ARE 
YOU SAYING TO THEM RIGHT NOW, 
YOU KNOW, WATCHING THE VIDEO OF 
GEORGE FLOYD BEING KILLED BY A 
POLICE OFFICER IS SO DEEPLY 
DISTURBING.
HOW DO YOU HAVE ANY CONVERSATION
ABOUT ANY OF THAT WITH YOUR 
KIDS?
>> BEFORE WE EVEN HAVE THAT 
CONVERSATION I THINK YOU NEED TO
PROCESS IT YOURSELF.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO MANY OF 
MY FRIENDS WHO ARE REALLY HAVING
A DIFFICULT TIME PROCESSING 
THOSE IMAGES.
I MEAN, THIS WAS A SLOW MOTION 
DEATH RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, OF 
AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE HANDS OF A 
POLICE OFFICER.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY HARD TO DEAL
WITH THAT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE 
OF LOOKING AT THOSE IMAGES.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN I 
TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULT 
CONVERSATIONS, I SERIOUSLY MEAN 
IT.
I MEAN, I PUBLICLY INVITE 
THAT -- TO CALL ME SO THAT HE 
CAN HEAR FROM ME AND MANY OTHERS
ON THE REALITY OF ANTI-BLACK 
RACISM IN CANADA, THAT THIS IS 
NOT SOMETHING THAT IS BEING 
BROUGHT OVER THE BORDER.
THIS IS AS CANADIAN AS ANYTHING 
ELSE.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
EDUCATION AND TALKING ABOUT TRUE
INCLUSION AND PUTTING FORWARD 
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT 
IMMEDIATELY INCLUDE PEOPLE WOULD
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE 
LIVES OF EVERYONE.
BUT IT STARTS FROM THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS, AND IT STARTS 
FROM THE WILLINGNESS TO 
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMETHING IS 
REAL THAT IS REAL FOR SO MANY 
CANADIAN CITIZENS. 
>> Rosemary: DOES IT MAKE YOU 
WORRIED FOR YOUR CHILDREN, 
THOUGH?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK IT IS -- FOR THOSE OF US
IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, IN 
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY, WE 
HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE 
CAN TO ENSURE THAT THE NEXT 
GENERATION DOES NOT HAVE TO 
ENDURE THE DAILY 
MICROAGGRESSIONS AND OTHER 
PROFILING THAT HAPPENS TO TOO 
MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK IF WE CAN MOVE THE 
NEEDLE FORWARD, I THINK THAT'S 
SOMETHING THAT EACH AND EVERY 
ONE OF US SHOULD ASPIRE TO.
IT SHOULDN'T JUST FALL TO 
MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CANADIAN 
COMMUNITY.
IT SHOULD BE A RESPONSIBILITY 
FOR ALL OF US, BECAUSE IF SOME 
OF -- IF SOME MEMBERS OF OUR 
COMMUNITY ARE BEING 
MARGINALIZED, IT SHOULD CONCERN 
ALL OF US.
>> Rosemary: HOW DO YOU DO THAT 
AT THE CABINET TABLE, MINISTER?
THIS WILL BE MY LAST QUESTION.
YOU ARE A MINORITY AT THE 
CABINET TABLE IN MANY WAYS TOO.
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S VERY 
REFRESHING BECAUSE WHEN THE 
PRIME MINISTER -- WE HAVE NEVER 
STOPPED HAVING THAT 
CONVERSATION, AND I KNOW THAT HE
IS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE 
HEAD ON TODAY, AND I'M VERY 
HEARTENED BY THAT.
SECONDLY, I MUST SAY THAT AMONG 
THE CABINET TABLE AND IN OUR 
CAUCUS WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, I 
HAVE FELT NOTHING BUT A 
WELCOMING OF THOSE -- OF THE 
DESIRE TO HAVE THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS, OF THE DESIRE TO 
CONTINUALLY PUSH OURSELVES TO DO
BETTER.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO BE 
DONE TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE 
SOCIETY, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR 
BLACK CANADIANS.
THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS AROUND 
HOW DO WE DO BETTER WITH 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND OTHER 
VULNERABLE GROUPS, AND I HAVE 
FOUND THAT OUR TEAM COLLECTIVELY
HAS HAD THE OPENNESS AND THE 
WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE 
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S A JOURNEY.
IT'S A MARATHON.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE 
FIXED OVERNIGHT WITH ONE POLICY 
OR ONE CONVERSATION, BUT WE GOT 
TO KEEP AT IT.
>> Rosemary: YEP.
MINISTER, GOOD OF YOU TO MAKE 
THE TIME AND TO OPEN UP THAT 
DOOR TO THAT DIFFICULT 
CONVERSATION SO MANY OF US ARE 
TRYING TO HAVE OVER THE COURSE 
OF THE PAST FEW DAYS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S THE MINISTER
OF FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT.
HE WAS HERE IN OTTAWA.
>>> OKAY, WE ARE STANDING BY TO 
WAIT FOR MINISTER'S BOSS, THE 
PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA.
HE WILL BE COMING OUT HIS FRONT 
DOOR SHORTLY.
THIS WILL BE REALLY HIS FIRST 
TIME SINCE I WOULD SAY AN 
ESCALATION OR A SPREAD OF THESE 
PROTESTS AND RALLIES HAS TAKEN 
PLACE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES 
OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND, 
AND CERTAINLY INTO CANADA AS 
WELL, INTO MAJOR CITIES IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
WE'VE SEEN SOME PEOPLE COMING 
TOGETHER TO TRY AND RAISE 
AWARENESS OF ISSUES AROUND RACE 
AND POLICING IN THIS COUNTRY AS 
WELL AS IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND AS YOU HEARD FROM THE 
MINISTER, THE PRIME MINISTER IS 
SET TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE 
ISSUES IN HIS REMARKS TODAY.
MAYBE I'LL BRING IN VASSY 
BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET YOUR 
PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.
I KNOW YOU WERE HOSTING ON 
FRIDAY, AND HE DID TALK ABOUT IT
A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE SITUATION 
HAS EVEN CHANGED SINCE FRIDAY.
>> Vassy: CERTAINLY NOT TO THE 
LEVEL THAT IT IS RIGHT NOW, OR 
AT LEAST WE WERE NOT WITNESSING 
EXACTLY WHAT WE DID WITNESS OVER
THE WEEKEND, AND AT THE END OF 
THE PRESS CONFERENCE, I'M 
CONFIDENT THE PRIME MINISTER 
WILL TALK A LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU 
JUST HEARD THE MINISTER OUTLINE,
AND WHILE WE ARE WATCHING THIS 
UNFOLD SOUTH OF THE BORDER, IT 
IS VERY PRESENT AND REAL FOR SO 
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY AND 
NOT JUST SOUTH OF THE BORDER AND
IT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND 
DISCUSSED MORE AND WITH MORE 
FREQUENCY.
I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HEAR 
SOMETHING SIMILAR FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER TODAY.
I'M NOT SURE IN THE WAY OF -- 
BUT I THOUGHT ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
WERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY 
INTERESTING TO HEAR IT FROM THE 
MINISTER'S PERSPECTIVE AND I CAN
ONLY IMAGINE JAGMEET SINGH WHO 
IS LEADER OF THE NDP ADDRESSED 
IT TODAY, TALKED ABOUT HIS OWN 
LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND AS WELL, I
THINK MAIN ISSUE I WALK AWAY 
FROM LISTENING TO BOTH OF THEM 
IS, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS 
POSSIBLE, ALL THE TIME, 
ACTUALLY, WE SHOULD NOT BE 
DISMISSING THE IDEA THAT IT IS 
VERY PRESENT HERE, JUST BECAUSE 
WE ARE NOT WATCHING THAT VIDEO 
AT THIS JUNCTURE TAKE PLACE HERE
IN CANADA DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT 
ISN'T THE REALITY THAT SO MANY 
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY FACE DAY 
IN AND DAY OUT, AND YOU'RE RIGHT
TO POINT OUT THAT EXAMPLE IN 
TORONTO WHERE THE FAMILY OF THAT
YOUNG WOMAN IS CONCERNED ABOUT 
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, AND IF 
RACE WAS A MOTIVATING FACTOR.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONCLUSIONS,
BUT THOSE QUESTIONS AT THIS 
POINT ARE VERY MUCH BEING 
RAISED, AND THIS HAPPENED IN THE
MIDDLE OF LAST WEEK IN TORONTO.
SO CERTAINLY I WALK AWAY 
THINKING TO MYSELF A LOT ABOUT 
THE PRESENCE OF THAT ISSUE RIGHT
NOW FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS 
COUNTRY, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
HEARING ECHOED BY POLITICIANS 
VERY FREQUENTLY AT THIS POINT AS
WELL.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND CERTAINLY
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE 
COURSE OF THE PAST COUPLE OF 
MONTHS NOW HOW ISSUES ARE OFTEN 
EXACERBATED DURING THE PANDEMIC,
AND PROBLEMS THAT WERE -- THAT 
EXISTED AND WE ALL MAYBE WERE 
AWARE OF HAVE BEEN LAID BARE IN 
A DIFFERENT WAY.
I ONLY MAKE THAT POINT BECAUSE 
IN THE CASE OF GEORGE FLOYD HE 
HAD BEEN LAID OFF BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC AT A RESTAURANT.
SO THESE STORIES ARE 
INTERTWINED, AND PEOPLE ARE 
FEELING FRUSTRATED.
JAGMEET SINGH, ONE OF THE THINGS
HE BROUGHT UP THIS MORNING WAS A
NEED FOR MORE DATA AROUND RACE 
WHEN IT COMES TO THE PANDEMIC.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT
COLLECTING SYSTEMICALLY IN THIS 
COUNTRY, SO WE DON'T HAVE A 
REALLY GOOD PICTURE OF HOW IT IS
AFFECTING MINORITY POPULATIONS 
OR BLACK POPULATIONS IN THIS 
COUNTRY IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
WE HAVE A BIT OF A PICTURE ON 
THE ISLAND OF MONTREAL, BUT WE 
CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE 
PICTURE.
WE HAVE A BIT OF A PICTURE IN 
TORONTO, BUT THAT TOO SORT OF 
SHOWS THAT IF YOU DON'T PAY 
ATTENTION TO HOW IT'S AFFECTING 
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, YOU'RE 
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO ADDRESS 
SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS DIRECTLY,
AND SOME OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY
ARE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE IT'S 
POORER OR THEY ARE HAVING A 
HARDER TIME OR THERE'S MORE 
PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER, AND 
THOSE THINGS TOO HELP YOU 
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS 
OF RACISM, DAVID.
IT'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS I 
JUST THREW AT YOU, BUT I DO 
THINK THE PANDEMIC AND RACE AND 
THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE 
UNITED STATES ARE CONNECTED.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT 
PROTESTING ARE OUT OF WORK 
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, AND 
THEY FEEL DEVALUED AND THEY ARE 
WORRIED ABOUT THINGS AND ALL 
THESE THINGS START TO BECOME, 
YOU KNOW, JUST A REALLY SAD 
REALITY FOR MANY PEOPLE.
>> David: YEAH, THERE IS AN 
UNWAVERING INEQUALITY ACROSS 
SOCIETY, AND FIRST I'M GOING TO 
ACKNOWLEDGE, MIDDLE AGED MIDDLE 
CLASS WHITE GUY WHO GREW UP IN 
ST. JOHN'S, I CANNOT SPEAK TO 
THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF ANY 
RACIALIZED CANADIAN AND PLEASE 
DO NOT TAKE OF ANYTHING OF WHAT 
I'M ABOUT TO SAY AS AN ATTEMPT 
TO DO THAT.
BUT THERE IS AN INEQUALITY THAT 
MOST OF US WHO ARE PRIVILEGED 
AND COMFORTABLE CAN IGNORE IN 
NORMAL TIMES BECAUSE WE GO ABOUT
OUR DAILY LIVES AND THINGS ARE 
FINE, AND IT DOESN'T INTRUDE 
INTO OUR CONSCIOUSNESS IN A 
SIGNIFICANT WAY.
THE PANDEMIC HAS DISRUPTED 
EVERYBODY'S DAILY LIFE, AND AS 
YOU SAID, LAID BARE A LOT OF 
ONGOING FESTERING ISSUES IN 
SOCIETY FROM THE TREATMENT OF 
THE POOR TO THE AGED.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH BLACK 
AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR RIGHT 
NOW IN THE UNITED STATES, AND 
IT'S COMING AT A TIME WHEN 
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOCKED DOWN, 
ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE.
THERE'S A HEALTH CARE 
VULNERABILITY IN THE UNITED 
STATES THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN 
CANADA TO THE SAME DEGREE 
BECAUSE OF THE PRIVATE COOPERATE
NATURE OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
AND PEOPLE BEING UNABLE TO 
AFFORD CARE OR BEING DENIED 
CARE, AND THEN A SEQUENCE OF 
DEATHS.
BECAUSE THERE WAS THE YOUNG AB 
RE KID IN GEORGIA WHO WAS HUNTED
DOWN, ALLEGEDLY, WE'VE SEEN THE 
VIDEOTAPE BECAUSE HE WAS GOING 
FOR A JOG IN A NEIGHBOURHOOD.
I WAS WATCHING CNN LAST NIGHT 
AND THEY DID ABOUT A FIVE-MINUTE
SEQUENCE OF ALL THE COP KILLINGS
OF UNARMED PREDOMINANTLY BLACK 
MEN OVER THE LAST SERIES OF 
YEARS, AND WHEN YOU STACK THEM 
ALL TOGETHER, IT REALLY 
REINFORCES HOW SIGNIFICANT THE 
PROBLEM IS.
SO THE PRIME MINISTER IS GOING 
TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS IN SOME 
WAY WHEN HE COMES OUT.
I WILL SAY HE HAS HIS OWN 
CHALLENGES ON THIS PARTICULAR 
TOPIC, ROSIE.
I WAS ON THE PLANE WITH HIM THE 
NIGHT THE PICTURES OF HIM IN 
BLACK FACE AND BROWN FACE 
SURFACED DURING THE ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN, AND WE HAD TO SHOUT A 
BUNCH OF UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS
AT THE PRIME MINISTER, THE 
LIBERAL CANDIDATE AT THE TIME, 
AND I SUSPECT THAT HAS BEEN 
SOMETHING THAT HAS SURFACED ON 
SOCIAL MEDIA OVER THE WEEKEND AS
HE MADE HIS COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT 
WAS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED 
STATES ON FRIDAY.
AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY TRY TO 
ADDRESS IT AGAIN BECAUSE WHILE 
IT'S HAPPENING SOUTH OF THE 
BORDER, IT SEEPS INTO THIS 
COUNTRY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF 
PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING IT WITH 
A LOT MORE PERSONAL REACTION 
THAN YOU OR I ARE ABLE TO HAVE 
IN WATCHING SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
BUT UNDOUBTEDLY IT'S -- WHAT WE 
SAW IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING AND
TERRIFYING TO THE POINT THAT I 
CAN'T HAVE THE TV ON AROUND MY 
KIDS.
THEY ARE TOO YOUNG FOR THAT KIND
OF THING.
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER'S GOING 
TO SAY AND HOW IT'S RECEIVED, 
I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO
GO.
IT IS AN ISSUE THAT CANADA HAS 
TO CONFRONT.
THE FIRST NATIONS ISSUE IN 
CANADA IS CERTAINLY A GREAT SCAR
ON THE COUNTRY.
THANKFUL WE HAVE NOT YET HAD 
KIND OF VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING 
IN THE UNITED STATES AND 
HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T COME TO 
THAT IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE WE 
CAN FIND A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE 
PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE.
>> Rosemary: THE PRIME MINISTER 
WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO 
ADDRESS WHAT WE ARE SEEING SOUTH
OF THE BORDER WHILE RECOGNIZING 
THAT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS EXIST 
HERE.
WE ARE AT VERY LEAST NOT SEEING 
RIGHT NOW THE CONFRONTATIONS 
BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND POLICE, 
WHICH ARE CREATING VERY VIOLENT 
EPISODES IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO THAT -- 
>> David: AND ROSIE, AT LEAST 
HE'S WILLING TO COME OUT AND 
SPEAK TO IT AND ADDRESS IT.
>> Rosemary: I WAS GOING TO SAY 
THAT, YES.
>> David: THERE IS A REAL 
ABSENCE RIGHT NOW AT THE TOP OF 
THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM IN THE 
UNITED STATES.
THE NATIONAL MORAL LEADERSHIP IN
A TIME LIKE THIS, IT'S MORE 
AGITATION THAN CALMING RIGHT 
NOW, AND TO THE POINT, WHEN THE 
MAYOR OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST 
CITIES IN THE U.S., IN ATLANTA, 
WITH VERY LARGE BLACK 
POPULATION, WHEN THE MAYOR OF 
THAT COMMUNITY IS SAYING JUST 
STAY QUIET TO THE PRESIDENT, 
THAT SPEAKS TO A REAL PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, THE CONTRAST IS QUITE 
STARK.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, THE PRESIDENT
ONLY REACTING ON TWITTER THROUGH
THE WEEKEND AND HAS YET TO 
ADDRESS THE NATION, EVEN THOUGH 
SOME OF HIS ADVISORS, ACCORDING 
TO THE "NEW YORK TIMES", HAS 
SUGGESTED THAT HE MAKE SOME SORT
OF PUBLIC STATEMENT.
THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED, AND LAST 
NIGHT THE LIGHTS OF THE WHITE 
HOUSE WERE TURNED OUT AS THE 
PROTESTS TURNED VIOLENT DOWN 
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
THE MAJOR POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT 
TODAY FROM THE PRIME MINISTER IS
ABOUT FUNDING FOR MUNICIPALITIES
THAT ARE FEELING UNDER PRESSURE 
RIGHT NOW.
HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: GOOD 
MORNING.
I WANT TO START BY ADDRESSING 
THE ISSUE THAT'S UNFOLDING SOUTH
OF THE BORDER, WHICH IS ALSO 
HAVING AN IMPACT HERE AT HOME.
FOR FAR TOO MANY CANADIANS THE 
IMAGES AND STORIES COMING OUT OF
THE U.S. ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR.
AS A COUNTRY, WE CAN'T PRETEND 
THAT RACISM DOESN'T EXIST HERE.
ANTI-BLACK RACISM IS REAL.
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS IS REAL, AND 
SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION IS REAL,
AND THEY HAPPEN HERE IN CANADA.
OVER THE WEEKEND WE SAW 
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHER 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO JOIN 
PEACEFUL PROTESTS AGAINST 
ANTI-BLACK RACISM.
BY STANDING TOGETHER AND 
DENOUNCING THE FEW WHO WOULD TRY
TO DERAIL THESE DEMONSTRATIONS, 
CANADIANS ARE SENDING THE 
MESSAGE THAT THEY WILL NEVER 
TOLERATE INJUSTICE.
THE YOUNG BLACK CANADIANS, I 
HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE 
ANXIOUS AND ANGRY, WHEN YOU SAY 
THAT THIS BRINGS BACK PAINFUL 
EXPERIENCES OF RACISM THAT 
YOU'VE FACED.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM 
LISTENING AND THAT YOUR 
GOVERNMENT WILL ALWAYS STAND 
WITH YOU.
TOGETHER WE WILL KEEP TAKING 
MEANINGFUL ACTION TO FIGHT 
RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION IN 
EVERY FORM.
THE STATUS QUO WHERE PEOPLE FACE
VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF THE COLOUR 
OF THEIR SKIN IS UNACCEPTABLE.
NO PARENT SHOULD HAVE TO ONCE 
AGAIN EXPLAIN TO THEIR KIDS THAT
THEY OR THEIR FRIENDS MIGHT FACE
RACISM.
IT IS TIME, IT IS PAST TIME FOR 
THIS TO CHANGE.
AS LEADERS AND ALLIES, WE MUST 
DO THE HARD WORK NEEDED TO 
LISTEN AND LEARN.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS 
SAFE AND RESPECTED.
THAT INCLUDES JOURNALISTS WHO 
NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR WORK
ON THE FRONT LINES TO EXPOSE THE
TRUTH AND TELL THE STORIES WE 
NEED TO HEAR, AND WE MUST AS 
CANADIANS ALWAYS KEEP WORKING 
TOGETHER TO BUILD A FAIRER, 
BETTER, MORE EQUITABLE COUNTRY 
FOR ALL.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
FOR FAR TOO MANY CANADIANS, WHAT
IS HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE BORDER AT THIS TIME IS 
FAMILIAR TO THEM.
ANTI-BLACK RACISM, SYSTEMIC 
DISCRIMINATION, INJUSTICE, THEY 
ARE ALSO PRESENT IN OUR COUNTRY.
OVER THE WEEKEND WE SAW 
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RIGHT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY DEMONSTRATING 
PEACEFULLY TO STAND UP AGAINST 
RACISM BY FORMING A COMMON FRONT
AND DENOUNCING THOSE WHO ALWAYS 
TRY TO DISRUPT THESE 
DEMONSTRATIONS, CANADIANS ARE 
SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT THEY 
WILL NOT TOLERATE INJUSTICE.
SO NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK 
DIRECTLY TO YOUNG BLACK 
CANADIANS.
I HEAR YOU.
I HEAR YOUR CONCERN, YOUR ANGER,
YOUR PAIN.
I HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SAY THAT 
THIS BRINGS BACK PAINFUL 
EXPERIENCES OF RACISM AND 
DISCRIMINATION.
I'M LISTENING TO YOU, AND OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS THERE FOR YOU.
AND WE ARE TAKING ACTION TO 
COMBAT RACISM AND HATE IN ALL 
ITS FORMS.
THE STATUS QUO WHERE YOUNG 
PEOPLE FACE VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF 
THE COLOUR OF THEIR SKIN IS 
UNACCEPTABLE.
NO PARENT SHOULD HAVE TO ONCE 
AGAIN EXPLAIN TO THEIR CHILDREN 
THAT THEY OR THEIR FRIENDS COULD
FACE RACISM.
AS LEADERS AND ALLIES, WE HAVE 
TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE 
AND TREATED WITH RESPECT.
OF COURSE, THAT INCLUDES 
JOURNALISTS, WHO MUST BE ABLE TO
DO THEIR WORK ON THE GROUND TO 
EXPOSE THE TRUTH AND TELL THE 
STORIES THAT WE HAVE TO HEAR.
AND AS CANADIANS, WE MUST 
CONTINUE TO BUILD A BETTER 
COUNTRY, A MORE EQUAL AND FAIRER
COUNTRY FOR ALL.
[ End of Interpretation ]
IT HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT 
SPRING FOR MANY PEOPLE, AND 
ALTHOUGH THE PATH FORWARD WON'T 
BE EASY, THINGS WILL GET BETTER.
OVER THE LAST MONTH WE'VE 
STARTED TO SEE PROMISING SIGNS 
THAT THE CURVE IS FLATTENING IN 
CANADA.
NOW THE SITUATION REMAINS VERY 
SERIOUS, BUT THE MORE WE CAN 
CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS,
THE MORE WE CAN BEGIN 
RE-STARTING.
IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, 
THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING.
IN OTHERS, WHERE THE SITUATION 
REMAINS MORE UNCERTAIN, STEPS 
ARE BEING TAKEN MORE SLOWLY.
EVERY PROVINCE AND TERRITORY 
WILL HAVE ITS OWN APPROACH, BUT 
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH 
RE-STARTING THE ECONOMY, WE MUST
KEEP WORKING TOGETHER.
ON THURSDAY, AS PART OF OUR 
WEEKLY CALL, I SPOKE TO THE 
PREMIERS ABOUT COLLABORATION ON 
THE PATH AHEAD.
I'M WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM, 
JUST LIKE WITH MAYORS AND OTHER 
LEADERS, ON WHAT THIS APPROACH 
SHOULD INCLUDE, BECAUSE THERE 
ARE A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT
WILL REQUIRE US TO TAKE ACTION 
TOGETHER.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, TO KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE, TO GIVE 
BUSINESSES THE CONFIDENCE TO 
REOPEN THEIR DOORS, AND PEOPLE 
THE CONFIDENCE TO WALK THROUGH 
THOSE DOORS, WE NEED TO 
COOPERATE ON COUNTRY-WIDE 
TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING.
ON THIS FRONT, WE'RE MAKING GOOD
PROGRESS.
AT THE SAME TIME, OUR GOVERNMENT
IS READY TO BE A PARTNER FOR THE
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES IN 
SUPPORTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE, 
SECURING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, AND WORKING ON CHILD 
CARE, TO NAME A FEW.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE READY TO 
BE A PARTNER IN A SAFE, 
EFFECTIVE RE-START OF THE 
ECONOMY.
AND TODAY WE'RE DEMONSTRATING A 
FIRST STEP FORWARD WITH SUPPORT 
FOR MUNICIPALITIES AS THEY FACE 
A CASH CRUNCH.
FROM TESTING CLINICS TO PROGRAMS
FOR SENIORS, CITIES AND TOWNS 
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
SO IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THEY HAVE 
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, WE WILL
MAKE AVAILABLE $2.2 BILLION FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COMING 
WEEKS THROUGH THEIR YEARLY 
FEDERAL SUPPORT WITH THE GAS TAX
FUND.
NORMALLY MUNICIPALITIES RECEIVE 
THESE PAYMENTS IN TWO 
INSTALMENTS, BUT WE KNOW THAT 
CITIES AND TOWNS NEED THIS MONEY
RIGHT AWAY AS THEY DEAL WITH 
COVID-19.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE MAKING THE FULL
2020-21 PAYMENT AVAILABLE NOW.
MINISTER McKENNA HAS SENT 
LETTERS TO ALL OF HER PROVINCIAL
AND TERRITORIAL COUNTERPARTS TO 
OUTLINE HOW THIS ACCELERATED 
PROCESS WILL WORK, BUT HERE'S 
THE BOTTOM LINE.
THIS IS STRONG SUPPORT TO KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE AND OUR 
COMMUNITIES STRONG.
AND IT'S SUPPORT THAT WILL GIVE 
BUSINESSES THE CONFIDENCE TO 
REOPEN, GETTING HARD-WORKING 
CANADIANS BACK ON THE JOB.
THIS IS A START.
WE KNOW THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE 
TO SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES AND TO
SUPPORT THE ENTIRE REOPENING 
PROCESS.
IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS TO COME, 
WE'LL KEEP WORKING WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES ON 
THIS AND ON A WHOLE RANGE OF 
OTHER MEASURES.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
MORE THAN EVER WE WILL HAVE TO 
WORK TOGETHER TO RE-START OUR 
ECONOMY.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL, THEREFORE, 
CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH ITS
PARTNERS TO WEATHER THIS CRISIS,
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO 
CONTACT TRACING AND TESTING.
WE ARE ALSO PREPARED TO HELP THE
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
PROTECT VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, 
SECURE MORE P.P.E. AND TO FOCUS 
ON ISSUES SUCH AS CHILD CARE.
WE ARE READY TO WORK TOGETHER TO
ENSURE THAT THE RECOVERY CAN BE 
A SAFE ONE FOR EVERYONE, AND 
THAT'S WHY TODAY WE ARE TAKING A
FIRST STEP TOWARDS THAT GOAL BY 
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE 
MUNICIPALITIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY
EXPERIENCING LIQUIDITY PROBLEMS.
TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING THAT WE 
WILL GRANT $2.2 BILLION TO 
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COMING 
WEEKS THROUGH THE FEDERAL GAS 
TAX FUND.
NORMALLY THE MUNICIPALITIES 
RECEIVE THOSE PAYMENTS TWICE IN 
THE YEAR, BUT THIS IS MONEY THEY
NEED NOW, TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
SO THERE WILL BE A SINGLE 
PAYMENT FOR 2021 THAT WILL BE 
PROVIDED NOW.
MINISTER McKENNA HAS ALREADY 
SENT LETTERS TO HER COUNTERPARTS
IN THE PROVINCE AND TERRITORIES 
TO EXPLAIN THIS ACCELERATED 
PROCESS.
BUT THIS IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER.
WE ARE MAKING THIS INVESTMENT TO
ALLOW THE MUNICIPALITIES TO 
CONTINUE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF
CANADIANS.
WE ARE SUPPORTING SERVICES THAT 
WILL HELP BUSINESSES TO REOPEN 
AND PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER 
WAYS OF SUPPORTING THE VITAL 
WORK THAT THE CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES ARE DOING ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
OF COURSE THERE IS STILL MUCH TO
DO SO THAT WE CAN START UP OUR 
REGULAR ACTIVITIES SO THAT 
BUSINESSES REOPEN THEIR DOORS 
AND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN RETURN TO
WORK.
BUT I KNOW THAT TOGETHER WE WILL
MAKE IT.
THANK YOU.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
WE'LL GO TO THE PHONE FOR SOME 
QUESTIONS.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[No Interpretation]
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: THANK YOU, GOOD 
MORNING, PRIME MINISTER.
WITH RESPECT TO THE 
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST RACISM, 
YOU SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A 
POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO THAT 
CHALLENGE?
NOW THERE WAS TOTAL HAVOC IN 
MONTREAL, AND THINGS SEEMED TO 
BE DEGENERATING HERE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
I CAN TELL YOU THAT FOR SOME 
TIME NOW CANADIANS HAVE REALIZED
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO 
COUNTER RACISM AND TO MAKE SURE 
THAT ALL FAMILIES FEEL RESPECTED
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING FOR 
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IT'S FOR HERE AS WELL, AND 
THAT'S WHY FOR FIVE YEARS NOW 
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN 
INVESTING A LOT OF MONEY IN 
VARIOUS WAYS TO HELP 
ORGANIZATIONS, BLACK COMMUNITY 
ORGANIZATIONS, SO THAT WE'VE 
INVESTED IN STATISTICS CANADA AS
WELL IN ORDER TO COLLECT MORE 
DATA AND DEVELOP A TRULY 
CANADIAN STRATEGY AGAINST 
RACISM.
BUT WE KNOW THERE'S MORE TO BE 
DONE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
MORE, HAND IN HAND, WITH THE 
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HARD HIT BY
DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE THE 
ALLIES OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND 
ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, AND ALL 
CANADIANS.
NOW WITH RESPECT TO THE 
DEMONSTRATORS, OR RATHER WITH 
RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE WHO 
DISRUPTED THE DEMONSTRATION AND 
CAUSED HAVOC, WE CONDEMN THEM.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THE RIGHT OF 
ALL CANADIANS TO PEACEFULLY 
DEMONSTRATE IN CANADA, AND IT IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT BE THE
CASE IN OUR COUNTRY.
[ End of Interpretation ]
WE NEED TO DO BETTER IN CANADA.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO KNOW THAT
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE MADE STRIDES
FORWARD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST 
RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION, 
RACISM STILL EXISTS IN CANADA.
ANTI-BLACK RACISM, SYSTEMIC 
DISCRIMINATION, UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
ARE LIVED REALITIES EVERY DAY 
FOR MILLIONS OF CANADIANS.
WE NEED TO STAND BESIDE THEM.
WE NEED TO BE ALLIES.
WE NEED TO WORK IN OUR DAILY 
LIVES TO COUNTER DISCRIMINATION,
RACISM AND INTOLERANCE.
AS A GOVERNMENT, WE'VE MADE MANY
INVESTMENTS OVER THE PAST FIVE 
YEARS, WHETHER IT'S ON COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS RUN BY RACIALIZED 
COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S ON 
STATISTICS CANADA DOING A BETTER
JOB AT COLLECTING DISAGGREGATED 
DATA, WHETHER IT'S INVESTMENTS 
IN ANTI-BLACK RACISM STRATEGIES 
OR ANTI-RACISM STRATEGIES IN 
GENERAL, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS 
MORE TO DO, AND ULTIMATELY WE 
NEED TO DO IT TOGETHER AS 
CANADIANS AND BE BETTER ALLIES.
AS FOR THOSE WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE 
OF THESE PEACEFUL PROTESTS TO DO
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO 
COMMUNITIES AND STORES, AS WE 
SAW IN MONTREAL, WE HAVE TO 
CONDEMN THOSE ACTIONS STRONGLY.
THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE 
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WHO WERE 
STANDING UP FOR VERY REAL ISSUES
IN CANADA.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEACEFUL PROTEST IS ALWAYS 
ABLE TO HAPPEN IN CANADA.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: WITH RESPECT TO THE
MONEY FOR MUNICIPALITIES, THIS 
IS NOT NEW MONEY.
IT'S JUST AN EARLY PAYMENT UNDER
THE FUND.
BUT THEY ARE ASKING FOR AT LEAST
$10 BILLION IN ORDER TO FUND 
DIRECT SERVICES TO THE 
POPULATION THAT THEY HAVE TO 
DELIVER NOW.
WILL THEY GET THE MONEY OR WILL 
THEY HAVE TO INCREASE THEIR 
PROPERTY TAXES IN ORDER TO 
PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
ARE ADVANCING MONEY THAT WOULD 
HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THEM IN ANY 
CASE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, BUT WE
RECOGNIZE THERE IS A NEED NOW 
FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT MONEY.
AND THE FACT IS WE NEED TO DO 
MORE AND WE WILL DO MORE, BUT IN
ORDER TO DO MORE, WE HAVE TO 
WORK WITH THE PROVINCES BECAUSE 
THE MUNICIPALITIES FALL WITHIN 
THEIR JURISDICTION.
WE WILL BE THERE TO INVEST, BUT 
IT HAS TO BE DONE WHILE 
RESPECTING THEIR JURISDICTION 
AND WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
[ End of Interpretation ]
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST A -- 
AN INITIAL MEASURE THAT BRINGS 
FORWARD MONEY THAT THE CITIES 
WERE GOING TO GET SIX MONTHS 
FROM NOW ANYWAY, BUT THERE IS A 
NEED RIGHT NOW FOR LIQUIDITY, 
FOR SUPPORT AS THEY DEAL WITH 
THIS COVID CRISIS.
BUT YES, WE NEED TO DO MORE AND 
WE WILL DO MORE.
BUT DOING MORE NEEDS TO HAPPEN 
HAND IN HAND WITH THE PROVINCES 
WHO HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE 
MUNICIPALITIES, BUT I CAN ASSURE
YOU IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
PREMIERS AND IN OUR 
CONVERSATIONS GOING FORWARD THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE THERE
TO WORK WITH THE PROVINCES TO 
SUPPORT THE TOWNS AND CITIES 
THAT WE ALL LIVE IN.
>> Operator: THANK YOU, MERCI, 
NEXT QUESTION, JANICE DIXON, 
"THE GLOBE AND MAIL".
LINE OPEN. 
>> Reporter: HI, PRIME MINISTER.
I'M WONDERING WHEN WILL YOUR 
GOVERNMENT MANDATE THE 
COLLECTION OF RACE-BASED DATA IN
CONNECTION TO COVID-19 
SPECIFICALLY, AND MORE BROADLY 
ACROSS CANADIAN SOCIETY.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 
OVER THE PAST YEARS SO THAT 
STATISTICS CANADA CAN DO A 
BETTER JOB OF COLLECTING 
DISAGGREGATED DATA.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BE 
ABLE TO SEE THE CLEARER DETAILS 
ON WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE, WHO 
IS BEING AFFECTED BY VARIOUS 
THINGS IN SOCIETY.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE 
KNOW, AND IT'S BEEN -- IT'S 
TRADITIONALLY BEEN SOMETHING 
DIFFICULT TO DO, SO WE ARE 
MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
IN REGARDS TO COVID-19 DATA, WE 
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE 
PROVINCES FROM THE BEGINNING TO 
TRY AND GET BETTER GRANULARITY, 
BETTER DETAILS AROUND THE DATA, 
WHETHER IT'S AS SIMPLE AS AGE 
AND GENDER OR MUCH MORE COMPLEX 
DATA, WE NEED TO PULL THAT 
TOGETHER AND A DATA STRATEGY HAS
BEEN PART OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN 
TALKING ON WITH THE PROVINCES 
BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO 
COMPARE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ONE 
PROVINCE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING 
NEXT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE 
ALL COLLECTING DATA THE SAME WAY
AND IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS 
POSSIBLE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT 
PART OF THE PATH FORWARD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW WE 
HAVE BEEN INVESTING IN DATA 
COLLECTION BY STATISTICS CANADA 
IN ORDER TO BETTER DETERMINE THE
DIFFERENCES AND IN ORDER TO 
BETTER RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES
THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES ARE 
FACING.
NOW WITH RESPECT TO COVID-19, 
FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS WE'VE ALSO
BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES 
SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A DATA 
COLLECTION STRATEGY SO THAT WE 
CAN BETTER COMPARE DATA FROM 
VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY 
WITH CANADIANS STARTING TO 
TRAVEL.
THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT.
BUT ALSO MORE DATA ON THE 
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MORE 
AFFECTED BY COVID-19.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: YES, AND ON THE G7 
MEETING, DONALD TRUMP HAS SAID 
IT WILL BE POSTPONED TO THE 
FALL.
ARE YOU PLANNING ON ATTENDING?
AND DO YOU SUPPORT THE U.S. 
PROPOSAL TO EXPAND THE GROUP TO 
INCLUDE RUSSIA?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
HAVE -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS 
BEEN WORKING WITH THE UNITED 
STATES TO COORDINATE WHEN WE CAN
HOLD THIS IMPORTANT G7 MEETING.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP 
HOLDING THESE MEETINGS AND 
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE 
COORDINATING INTERNATIONALLY IN 
THIS TIME OF CRISIS.
RUSSIA WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE G7 
AFTER IT INVADED CRIMEA A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO, AND ITS CONTINUED 
DISRESPECT AND FLAUNTING OF 
INTERNATIONAL RULES AND NORMS IS
WHY IT REMAINS OUTSIDE OF THE G7
AND WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN OUT.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE 
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TOGETHER AS
COUNTRIES AND AS WORLD LEADERS 
TO TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE 
CRISIS AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS 
AND TO WORK TOGETHER, AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE 
AMERICANS ON THE DETAILS OF THE 
G7 MEETING, BUT RUSSIA WAS 
EXCLUDED FROM THE G7 BECAUSE OF 
ITS INVASION OF UKRAINE, AND 
RUSSIA CONTINUES TO COMPLETELY 
FLAUNT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS 
AND NORMS, SO IT WOULD NOT BE 
ACCEPTABLE FOR RUSSIA TO GET 
BACK INTO THE G7.
[No Interpretation]
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER, WITH RESPECT TO THE 
LETTERS TO THE MUNICIPALITIES, 
YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU ARE 
GIVING THEM $2.2 BILLION, BUT 
THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES HAS ASKED FOR $10
BILLION, SO DO YOU THINK THAT 
THEY WILL SEE THAT AS BEING 
ADEQUATE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
WE RESPECT PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION AS SET OUT IN OUR 
CONSTITUTION.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE 
PROVINCES TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST
WAY OF HELPING MUNICIPALITIES, 
BUT EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T FALL 
WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION, WE HAVE
MONEY TO HELP THE 
MUNICIPALITIES.
WE ARE NOW GIVING THEM THAT 
LIQUIDITY, AND IT WON'T BE 
ENOUGH.
THERE WILL BE MORE NEEDED, AND 
WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE 
MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE WILL BE 
WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES AND 
HOPE THAT THE PROVINCES WILL BE 
GOOD PARTNERS WITH THE 
MUNICIPALITIES AND THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT.
>> Reporter: NOW WHAT ABOUT THE 
REQUESTS BEING MADE BY THE 
PROVINCES?
YOU SAY THAT THIS IS JUST A 
FIRST STEP.
WHAT FORM COULD THE NEXT TYPES 
OF SUPPORT TAKE?
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT 
SPECIFICALLY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
WE WILL BE TALKING TO THE 
PROVINCES ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO 
HELP THE MUNICIPALITIES.
WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT 
ARE HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH 
TRANSIT.
THEY NEED TO ADD MORE BUSES AND 
MORE CARS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO
KEEP A PROPER DISTANCE FROM 
OTHERS, AND THIS IS BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19, OF COURSE.
THEY ARE IN A CASH CRUNCH RIGHT 
NOW, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE 
LOOKING AT THIS WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND WE WILL ALL BE 
WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> ONE MORE QUESTION ON THE 
PHONE.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION, THE CANADIAN 
PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
YOU HAVE ALREADY TOUCHED ON 
THIS, BUT A MONTH AGO 
MUNICIPALITIES' TRANSIT REVENUES
HAD DROPPED DRASTICALLY, 
DRAINING THEIR COFFERS.
BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS POLICING 
AND GARBAGE COLLECTION ARE AT 
RISK.
WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG TO 
REMEDY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER TO 
MUNICIPALITIES, AS BEST AS WE 
COULD, OVER THE PAST YEARS IN 
VARIOUS SITUATIONS, IN VARIOUS 
CRISES, INCLUDING THROUGH THE 
GAS TAX TRANSFER.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT OUR CITIES
AND TOWNS ARE TO THE SUCCESS OF 
CANADIANS, THE SUCCESS OF OUR 
COUNTRY'S ECONOMY.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE WORKING WITH 
THE PROVINCES ON FIGURING OUT 
WAYS THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN BE 
HELPED.
WE RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION THAT
SAYS THAT IT IS TO PROVINCES TO 
MANAGE AND FUND MUNICIPALITIES, 
BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE 
LOOKED FOR WAYS WHERE WE CAN 
MAKE DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING 
THROUGH THE GAS TAX TRANSFER.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE 
MOVED FORWARD TODAY SO WE CAN 
GIVE MORE MONEY MORE QUICKLY TO 
THE CITIES, BUT WE NEED TO DO 
MORE, AND ON THAT, WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND ENCOURAGE THE 
PROVINCES TO STEP UP IN HELPING 
CITIES.
>> FOLLOW-UP, JIM?
>> Reporter: IN CANADA, THE 
LEGACY OF RACISM AGAINST 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WEIGHS 
HEAVILY, AS YOU KNOW.
AND NOW THE PANDEMIC HAS DELAYED
FEDERAL RESPONSES TO IMPORTANT 
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT AREA.
IS THERE A DANGER THAT SOME OF 
THESE FEDERAL RESPONSES WILL 
SIMPLY SLIP AWAY GIVEN OTHER 
PRESSURES AND PRIORITIES NOW? 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: NO 
RELATIONSHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT 
TO MY GOVERNMENT THAN THE ONE 
WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
WE HAVE TAKEN SIGNIFICANT STEPS 
TOWARDS RECONCILIATION OVER 
THESE PAST FIVE YEARS, BUT THERE
IS MUCH MORE TO DO.
WE ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP 
WITH INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP, WITH
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, WITH 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACROSS THIS 
COUNTRY.
RIGHT NOW IN THIS CHALLENGE 
AROUND COVID MANY OF OUR PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS ARE VERY MUCH 
FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THEIR 
COMMUNITIES.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE 
STRATEGY TO FIGHT GENDER-BASED 
VIOLENCE AND RESPOND TO THE 
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS 
WOMEN AND GIRLS INQUIRY, BUT THE
WORK IS AFFECTED BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19, BUT IT REMAINS A 
PRIORITY NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR
ALL CANADIANS THAT WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, SIR, 
"NATIONAL POST".
YOU'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS MORNING
THAT THE MONEY YOU'RE GIVING TO 
MUNICIPALITIES IS EFFECTIVELY AN
ADVANCE.
IT FALLS WELL SHORT OF THEIR 
NEEDS.
WE'RE SEEING CITIES CUT TRANSIT 
SERVICE.
WE'RE SEEING THEM LAY PEOPLE 
OFF.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE 
CONCERNED THAT GOING FORWARD 
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS 
SERVICES IN CITIES, ESPECIALLY 
FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE WHO NEED 
IT TO GET TO WORK AT GROCERY 
STORES AND LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I'M 
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUNDING
LEVEL FOR CITIES, ABOUT THE 
SERVICES THAT CITIES OFFER TO 
PEOPLE, TO CANADIANS, ESSENTIAL 
SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S OBVIOUSLY
POLICE AND FIRE, BUT ALSO, YOU 
KNOW, FRONT-LINE COMMUNITY 
WORKERS, DAYCARE WORKERS, 
COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSISTANTS, 
HEALTH WORKERS.
THERE'S A RANGE OF SERVICES 
OFFERED BY CITIES THAT ARE AT 
DANGER OF DISAPPEARING.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING WHAT WE 
CAN UNILATERALLY IN ADVANCING 
THE MONEY FORWARD, BUT WE NEED 
TO WORK WITH THE PROVINCES ON 
THIS.
CITIES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE PROVINCES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO WORK WITH THE 
PROVINCES, TO SUPPORT, TO HELP 
FLOW MONEY, BUT THE PROVINCES 
NEED TO STEP UP AS WELL, AND 
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING 
RIGHT NOW.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A MAJOR 
CONCERN IN TERMS OF SERVICES FOR
CANADIANS PROVIDED BY 
MUNICIPALITIES AND TOWNS, AND 
WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT 
FIRE SERVICES OR POLICE, BUT 
COMMUNITY SERVICES, CHILD CARE 
SERVICES, A PRESENCE ON THE 
GROUND, AND OFTEN IT'S THE TOWNS
AND CITIES THAT ARE THREATENED 
WITHOUT ENOUGH MONEY.
SO WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN 
TO ENSURE THAT WE FLOW THAT 
MONEY TO THEM.
WE HAVE ADVANCED THE PAYMENT 
NOW, BUT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION 
TO WORK RESPECTFULLY WITH THE 
PROVINCES, AND WE WILL DO THAT.
BUT WE NEED THE PROVINCES TO BE 
THERE WITH US AS WELL TO HELP 
THE MUNICIPALITIES.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: -- SEVERAL TIMES 
THIS MORNING, AND THE PROVINCE 
DID PROVINCIAL PREMIERS ON YOUR 
CALL LAST THURSDAY OBJECT TO THE
NOTION OF YOU GIVING MONEY 
DIRECTLY TO CITIES?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED THE 
CONSTITUTION IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK PREMIERS AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAVE ALWAYS 
UNDERSTOOD WE CAN WORK TOGETHER 
ON LOTS OF AREAS THAT CROSS 
JURISDICTIONS, AND WE WILL 
ALWAYS DO THAT IN A RESPECTFUL 
WAY, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP FOR 
THE CANADIANS WHO REGARDLESS OF 
THE ORDER OF GOVERNMENT WE ALL 
COLLECTIVELY SERVE.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: RADIO-CANADA.
YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE WORK 
CARRIED OUT BY THE PROVINCES.
CAN YOU TELL US WHERE THE 
BLOCKAGE IS?
IS IT THE PROVINCES THAT ARE 
DRAGGING THEIR FEET, AND CAN YOU
BE MORE SPECIFIC?
DO THEY NOT WANT YOU TO BE 
IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON THEM?
BUT THEY'VE MADE THAT REQUEST A 
LONG TIME AGO, OVER A MONTH AND 
A HALF AGO.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE'RE
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE 
PROVINCES ON THIS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROVINCES 
THAT ARE DEALING WITH VARIOUS 
CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH 
COVID-19, AND THERE ARE 
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERVENING 
IN THEIR AREA OF JURISDICTION, 
BUT WE ARE RESPECTFUL OF THEIR 
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND WE 
UNDERSTAND THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HAS A BIT MORE FISCAL
LATITUDE THAN THE PROVINCES, AND
THUS WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT 
THAT WE BE THERE TO PROVIDE 
SUPPORT SO THAT OUR ECONOMY CAN 
REOPEN SAFELY IN THE CITIES AND 
TOWNS OF THIS COUNTRY. 
>> Reporter: NOW WITH RESPECT TO
THE TENSIONS IN THE UNITED 
STATES, WE'RE SEEING THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S COMMENTS HAVE 
NOT EASED PEOPLE'S ANXIETY.
QUITE THE OPPOSITE SINCE THIS 
BEGAN.
ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL
SIMPLY EXACERBATE THE SITUATION?
AND HOW SHOULD A WORLD LEADER 
INTERVENE OR RESPOND IN A 
SITUATION SUCH AS THAT?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER 
COUNTRIES, BUT IN CANADA WE MUST
COME TOGETHER, AND WHETHER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL OR 
MUNICIPAL OR PROVINCIAL LEADERS,
WE HAVE TO BE THERE TO LISTEN 
AND UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH 
WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN RECENT 
YEARS, IN RECENT DECADES, 
THERE'S STILL A LOT THAT NEEDS 
TO BE DONE.
AND WE MUST BE THE ALLIES OF 
MINORITY COMMUNITIES, SO WE WILL
BE THERE FOR THEM.
THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE 
PRIME MINISTER OF THE COUNTRY, 
TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL CAN WORK 
TOGETHER.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: TOM PERRY WITH CBC.
YOU'RE TALKING TO BLACK 
CANADIANS TODAY.
YOU HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR THIS 
MANY TIMES, BUT YOU DID WEAR 
BLACK FACE AS A YOUNGER MAN.
DO YOU THINK THAT IN ANY WAY 
DIMINISHES YOUR ABILITY TO 
PROVIDE MORAL LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE OR DO YOU THINK WE'RE 
STILL CARRYING THAT BAGGAGE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO 
PLAY.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THINGS IN OUR 
LIVES OR DONE THINGS IN OUR 
LIVES THAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM
AND DO SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER 
FROM.
I HAVE SPOKEN MANY TIMES ABOUT 
HOW DEEPLY I REGRET MY ACTIONS 
THAT HURT MANY, MANY PEOPLE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO
FOCUS ON DOING BETTER EVERY 
SINGLE DAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT 
WE DID OR HADN'T DONE IN OUR 
PAST.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER THROUGH
THIS.
WE NEED TO KEEP STANDING UP FOR 
EACH OTHER.
WE NEED TO BE THERE TO SAY THAT 
EVERY DAY WE CAN DO BETTER AS A 
COUNTRY, AS A WORLD, AND I WILL 
BE PART OF THAT.
I WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ALLY TO
MINORITY COMMUNITIES, TO 
RACIALIZED COMMUNITIES ACROSS 
THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE 
WORLD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
WE HAVE A DUTY TO ALL TRY AND 
MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO 
THE WORLD, AND I REGRET THE 
CHOICES I MADE A LONG TIME AGO, 
AND I HAVE EXPRESSED DEEP 
CONCERN ABOUT THAT AND 
APOLOGIZED FOR IT.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT EVERY 
SINGLE DAY WE HAVE TO ACT TO 
ENSURE THAT THINGS GET BETTER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.
THAT'S WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS 
DOING, AND THAT'S WHAT ALL 
CANADIANS WANT TO DO TO CREATE A
BETTER WORLD FOR THEIR CHILDREN 
AND GRANDCHILDREN.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: JUST SO I'M CLEAR, 
IF VLADIMIR PUTIN IS INVITED TO 
THIS MEETING, WILL YOU TAKE 
PART?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THERE
ARE STILL MANY DISCUSSIONS TO BE
HAD ON WHAT, WHERE, HOW THIS 
MEETING IS GOING TO GO ON.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OPPORTUNITIES
TO GATHER TOGETHER WITH VARIOUS 
WORLD LEADERS.
YOU KNOW, THE G20 IS A FORUM IN 
WHICH WE REGULARLY HAVE 
EXCHANGES ACROSS VARIOUS 
COUNTRIES THAT WE DON'T 
NECESSARILY HAVE GREAT RELATIONS
WITH, BUT THE G7 HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A PLACE FOR FRANK CONVERSATIONS 
AMONGST ALLIES AND FRIENDS WHO 
SHARE SO MUCH, AND THAT'S 
CERTAINLY WHAT I'M HOPING TO 
CONTINUE TO SEE.
>> Reporter: BRIAN MULLEN, 
GLOBAL NEWS.
PRIME MINISTER, A FOLLOW-UP ON 
COLLECTING NATIONAL DATA ABOUT 
HOW COVID-19 IS IMPACTING PEOPLE
ALONG SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC LINES.
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHEN THIS 
NATIONAL DATA MIGHT BE 
AVAILABLE, AND EXPLAIN HOW 
SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL DETERMINANTS 
LIKE RACE ARE ON A PERSON'S 
VULNERABILITY DURING THIS 
OUTBREAK.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
TO USE A VERY CLEAR EXAMPLE, ON 
THE CLOSING IN ON 100,000 CASES 
OF COVID WE'VE HAD IN THIS 
COUNTRY TO DATE, WE DON'T EVEN 
HAVE AGE DATA FOR A LARGE 
PORTION OF THAT.
CERTAINLY IN THE EARLY DAYS 
COLLECTION OF DATA WAS DONE IN A
VERY DISPARATE WAY ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, AND COLLATING ALL THAT 
DATA WHILE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO
RAMP UP TO THIS CRISIS WAS 
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
WE NEED TO DO MUCH BETTER THAN 
THAT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE 
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE 
PROVINCES TO ESTABLISH A 
STRATEGY ON DATA COLLECTING THAT
WILL LOOK AT DISAGGREGATED DATA,
WILL DO A BETTER WAY OF BRINGING
TOGETHER DATA THAT CAN BE 
COMPARED AND COLLATED ACROSS 
JURISDICTIONS SO THAT WE HAVE A 
BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING 
ON.
THESE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO 
KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT 
COVID DOESN'T HIT EVERYONE THE 
SAME WAY.
OBVIOUSLY AGE RANGES ARE REAL, 
BUT RACIALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE 
LIVING THIS VERY DIFFERENTLY 
THAN OTHERS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY 
VULNERABLE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
CAN BECOME MORE VULNERABLE TO 
COVID-19.
THAT'S WHY HAVING ACCURATE 
PICTURES OF HOW PEOPLE ARE BEING
AFFECTED BY THIS AND THEREFORE 
HOW WE CAN AND SHOULD HELP THEM 
IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT 
FOR GOING FORWARD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING PUBLIC 
HEALTH AGENCIES HAVE BEEN 
WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY AND 
RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS, AND 
INITIALLY IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT 
TO GET COMPREHENSIVE DATA 
BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE WORKING VERY
QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE
SITUATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE TENS OF 
THOUSANDS OF COVID CASES IN THIS
COUNTRY, AND YET WE ARE NOT 
AWARE OF THE AGES OF THE PEOPLE 
IN MANY CASES.
AND THAT IS A DATA ELEMENT THAT 
IS VERY SIMPLE TO COLLECT.
NOW FOR MORE COMPLEX DATA 
ELEMENTS, WE NEED TO COORDINATE 
OUR EFFORTS AS LEVELS OF 
GOVERNMENT SO THAT WE CAN 
ESTABLISH PROPER COMPARISONS AND
SEE WHO IS MORE AFFECTED.
MINORITY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE 
ALREADY VULNERABLE ARE MORE 
AFFECTED BY COVID-19.
WE KNOW THAT ANECDOTALLY.
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE CONCRETE 
DATA IN ORDER TO BETTER 
UNDERSTAND AND PROVIDE BETTER 
SUPPORT.
[ End of Interpretation ]
CTV NATIONAL NEWS.
PRIME MINISTER, TODAY YOU'VE 
TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF 
MORE FINANCIAL HELP OR OTHER 
ASSISTANCE FOR MUNICIPALITIES, 
IN ADDITION TO TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
BUT I'M WONDERING WHY NOT JUST 
BRING FORWARD SOME OF THOSE 
SUGGESTIONS NOW.
THERE ARE MANY MAYORS THAT ARE 
VERY PRE-OCCUPIED WITH THE 
FUTURE OF THEIR FISCAL 
SITUATION, THEY ARE CONSIDERING 
CUTTING ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
WHY NOT DELIVER THEM SOME 
CERTAINTY TODAY WITH THESE OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU'RE TEASING FOR
LATER IN THE WEEK OR NEXT WEEK?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
BECAUSE FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS 
WILL REQUIRE A 
COOPERATION/PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
PROVINCES WHO HAVE JURISDICTION 
OVER MUNICIPAL FUNDING.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE 
PROVINCES ON THIS, WHICH IS 
SOMETHING WE ARE DOING AND HAVE 
BEEN DOING FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS 
NOW.
MERCI BEAUCOUP.
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT, THAT IS 
THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA ON 
THIS MONDAY GIVING HIS REGULAR 
BRIEFING TO CANADIANS ON THE 
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO 
COVID-19, BUT ALSO ADDRESSING 
THE MANY PROTESTS AND RALLIES 
THAT WE SAW ACROSS THE UNITED 
STATES YESTERDAY AND THROUGH THE
WEEKEND, SORRY, AND A COUPLE 
HERE IN CANADA AS WELL IN SOME 
OF OUR MAJOR CITIES SAYING THAT 
FOR FAR TOO MANY CANADIANS, 
IMAGES AND STORIES COMING OUT OF
THE U.S. ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR, 
ANTI-BLACKRACISM IS REAL AND IT 
HAPPENS HERE IN CANADA.
THE POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT MANY 
MUNICIPALITIES HAVE BEEN WAITING
FOR.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO 
FORWARD, ADVANCE MONEY, $2.2 
BILLION IN THE GAS TAX RELIEF TO
MUNICIPALITIES AS A ONE-TIME 
PAYOUT INSTEAD OF OVER TWO 
PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES HAD BEEN ASKED 
FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO $15 
BILLION.
THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO MADE IT 
CLEAR THIS WAS A FIRST STEP IN 
HELPING CITIES, AND THE REST 
WOULD HAVE TO COME AFTER 
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE 
PROVINCES.
SO LET'S GET SOME REACTION NOW 
FROM LEADERS OF TWO OF CANADA'S 
MAJOR CITIES ABOUT THIS 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
BRIAN BOWMAN IS THE MAYOR OF 
WINNIPEG AND KENNEDY STEWART IS 
THE MAYOR OF VANCOUVER.
GOOD OF YOU TO MAKE THE TIME, 
GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING. 
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> Rosemary: I KNOW YOU'VE BOTH 
BEEN HIT PRETTY HARD BY ALL OF 
THIS.
YOU'VE BOTH HAD TO LAY OFF 
PEOPLE IN THE MUNICIPALITY.
YOU'VE BOTH OBVIOUSLY FELT THE 
EFFECTS OF FEWER TRANSIT USERS 
AS WELL.
THAT'S ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE 
YOU GET A LOT OF MONEY.
SO LET'S JUST GET YOUR REACTION 
TO THIS ADVANCE OF MONEY, I 
GUESS THAT YOU KNEW WAS COMING, 
BUT IT'S JUST GOING TO COME ALL 
AT ONCE.
LET'S START WITH YOU, MAYOR 
STEWART.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY 
THE FIRST CHIP ON THE TABLE IN 
THIS POKER GAME BETWEEN THE 
FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENTS FOR FUNDING FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES, SO IT'S A 
WELCOME FIRST STEP, AND PROBABLY
MORE WELCOME WAS THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S COMMENTS THAT HE'S 
OPEN TO PROVIDING MORE FUNDING.
THIS, HOWEVER, IS JUST AN 
ADVANCE ON CAPITAL FUNDS.
IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR 
OPERATING BUDGETS.
WE'RE LOSING UP TO $300 MILLION 
THIS YEAR, HAD TO LAY OFF 1800 
PEOPLE ALREADY.
YOU KNOW, PREPARED TO LAY OFF 
MORE IF WE HAVE TO JUST BECAUSE 
OF LOSSES IN REVENUES.
SO YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAINT 
SIGNAL, BUT IT'S A SIGNAL WE'LL 
TAKE AT THE MOMENT, BUT THERE'S 
MORE NEEDED. 
>> Rosemary: OKAY, MAYOR BOWMAN,
HOW ABOUT FOR THE CITY OF 
WINNIPEG?
THIS WILL OBVIOUSLY MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE, BUT I IMAGINE THAT 
BECAUSE IT IS MONEY YOU WERE 
EXPECTING IT WILL ONLY DO SO 
MUCH.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, ADVANING IT IS
OBVIOUSLY WELCOMED AND I WOULD 
ECHO THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS.
HERE IN WINNIPEG THIS WILL 
ADVANCE ABOUT $22 MILLION THAT 
WE'VE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR IN 
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT IT WILL 
HELP US WITH CASH FLOW.
I THINK WHAT I'LL SAY IS 
CONSISTENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A 
GOOD FIRST STEP.
OBVIOUSLY THERE IS MORE WORK FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, MUNICIPALITIES FOR 
DECADES HAVE BEEN DELIVERING 
SERVICES WITH ONE HAND TIED 
BEHIND THEIR BACKS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE TOOLS 
OR THE MODELS THAT OTHER LEVELS 
OF GOVERNMENT HAVE, BUT THE 
EXPECTATION FROM OUR RESIDENTS 
CONTINUES TO GROW, AND WHAT 
COVID HAS DONE IS TIED THE OTHER
HAND BEHIND OUR BACK.
WE NEED SOME FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
IN HOW WE FUND CITIES ACROSS 
CANADA IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO 
POSITION FOR A NEW NORM THAT 
ISN'T WORSE THAN THE OLD NORM.
>> Rosemary: SO THIS IS REALLY 
THE ONLY THING I THINK THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE 
DONE ON ITS OWN BECAUSE YOU ARE 
SORT OF -- YOU ARE OF THE 
PROVINCES.
YOU'RE IN THEIR JURISDICTION.
WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION, THEN, 
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT 
PROVINCES SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT 
NOW TO ASK FOR MORE FROM OTTAWA?
BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM THAT 
THERE'S A BIT OF A BLOCKAGE 
THERE, MAYOR STEWART.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE DO HAVE TO 
WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA OUR PROVINCE
ALSO HAD A GOOD FIRST STEP AS 
THEY PROVIDED SOME DIRECT 
FUNDING FOR OUR TRANSIT.
BUT THAT'S ONLY GOING TO CARRY 
US TO ABOUT SEPTEMBER.
AND THESE TWO SENIOR GOVERNMENTS
HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND DECIDE WHAT
DO THEY WANT THEIR CITIES TO 
LOOK LIKE.
I MEAN, OUR ECONOMY, THE WHOLE 
NATIONAL ECONOMY, RUNS THROUGH 
CITIES, BASICALLY, AND IF WE 
DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO APPROVE 
PERMITS, TO DO BUILDING 
INSPECTIONS, TO GET THE 
ENGINEERS AND THE CONSTRUCTION 
TEAMS GOING, THEN THE WHOLE 
ECONOMY JUST KIND OF CREEPS TO A
STOP.
SO YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE 
INCLUDED IN THESE TALKS, BUT 
THEY NEED TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE 
GOING TO GET IN IN TERMS OF 
OPERATING AND LET US KNOW SOON 
BECAUSE WE'RE DOING OUR 
2020-2021 BUDGETS RIGHT NOW AND 
HAVE TO MAKE SOME PRETTY SERIOUS
DECISIONS ABOUT PROPERTY TAX 
LEVELS AND THOSE TYPES OF 
THINGS, AND CAN'T WAIT MUCH 
LONGER FOR AN ANSWER.
>> Rosemary: AND IF PROPERTY 
TAXES IS THE ONLY OTHER PLACE 
YOU CAN GET MONEY, MAYOR BOWMAN,
I IMAGINE THAT'S PROBLEMATIC 
TOO.
THE FCM HAS SAID SOME PEOPLE 
CAN'T PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXINGS
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO 
EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.
HOW REALISTIC IS IT THAT YOU 
COULD EVEN INCREASE PROPERTY 
TAXES?
>> THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL 
PROBLEM WITH HOW MUNICIPALITIES 
ARE FUNDED.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT A SMART FORM OF
TAXATION, AND IF YOU WANT TO 
HELP SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
RECOVERY, YOU DON'T DO IT BY 
DOUBLING DOWN ON THE TAX BURDEN 
OF PROPERTY OWNERS AND 
BUSINESSES.
YOU DO IT WITH PROGRESSIVE FORMS
OF TAXATION, LIKE THEY HAVE AT 
OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND 
YOU DO IT IN A WAY IN WHICH THE 
FOCUS ON MUNICIPAL COUNCILS IS 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB 
CREATION.
AND SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
I MEAN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
HAS A LOT OF MONEY.
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HAS 
THE POWERS TO MAKE STRUCTURE 
CHANGES FOR MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY ALSO DO HAVE A LOT MORE 
FINANCIAL TOOLS THEY CAN BORROW,
UNLIKE MUNICIPALITIES CAN.
WE'RE PROHIBITED FROM BORROWING 
FOR OUR OPERATING BUDGETS.
WE HAVE BALANCE BUDGET 
LEGISLATION WHICH IN OUR CASE IS
BALANCE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
I WOULD AGREE, THESE OTHER TWO 
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT NEED TO 
COORDINATE IN A WAY THAT IS 
UNPRECEDENTED AND RISES TO THE 
OCCASION AND THE NEED RIGHT NOW 
IN A PANDEMIC.
>> Rosemary: JUST SO I 
UNDERSTAND CLEARLY, I'LL GO BACK
TO YOU, MAYOR STEWART, WE'RE 
GOING TO HEAR FROM MINISTER 
McKENNA SHORTLY, BUT THIS MONEY 
CAN'T ACTUALLY BE USED FOR 
OPERATING COSTS?
IS THAT ACCURATE?
IT HAS TO BE USED FOR CAPITAL 
COSTS?
>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.
IT HAS TO BE FOR CAPITAL AND 
IT'S ALREADY CAPITAL THAT WE 
WERE GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON 
ANYWAY.
THE PROBLEM IS WITH OUR CITIES 
IS THAT WE DO REQUIRE SOME 
OPERATING MONIES IN ORDER TO 
MAKE THE CAPITAL MONIES FLOW 
THROUGH.
SO WE STILL HAVE TO PAY OUR 
ENGINEERS IF WE'RE GOING TO 
BUILD NEW TRANSIT PROJECTS, AND 
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT INITIAL
OPERATING MONEY, THEN THAT MONEY
JUST SITS IN ACCOUNTS.
WE CAN'T USE IT RIGHT AWAY TO 
KICK START THE ECONOMY.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, SO BEFORE I 
LET YOU GO, BECAUSE MINISTERS 
ARE GOING TO POP UP SHORTLY, BUT
CAN YOU BOTH SORT OF PAINT A 
PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR 
CITY, WHAT KIND OF CHOICES 
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE IF 
YOU DON'T GET MORE?
AND CERTAINLY IT SEEMS LIKE THE 
PRIME MINISTER WANTS TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION, BUT IF MORE IS NOT
FORTHCOMING, WHAT HAPPENS TO 
SOME OF THE VERY REAL THINGS 
THAT PEOPLE NEED IN YOUR CITIES?
MAYOR BOWMAN?
>> YEAH, IT'S NOT A PROSPECT WE 
WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH 
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES, CLEAN,
SAFE DRINKING WATER, FIRST 
RESPONDERS THERE WHEN YOU NEED 
THEM.
YOU KNOW, THE MUNICIPAL 
GOVERNMENTS DON'T PROVIDE 
NICE-TO-HAVES.
IT'S MUST HAVE-HAVES FOR 
CANADIANS, AND THE MAJORITY OF 
CANADIANS LIVE IN CANADIAN 
CITIES.
FOR US WE CAN WEATHER THE STORM 
UNTIL ABOUT THE END OF AUGUST, 
AND THEN AFTER THAT AS WE 
PREPARE OUR ANNUAL 2021 UPDATE, 
WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME 
FUNDAMENTAL CHOICES BETWEEN 
SERVICES AND INCREASING THE TAX 
OF PROPERTY OWNERS, NEITHER OF 
WHICH SHOULD HELP WITH AN 
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR 
WINNIPEGGERS AND FOR CANADIANS.
>> Rosemary: MAYOR STEWART, SAME
QUESTION TO YOU.
>> YEAH, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME FOR
US.
WE HAVE LAID OFF 1800 OF OUR 
10,000 EMPLOYEES.
OUR UNIONS HERE HAVE BEEN GREAT,
SO WE HAVE MADE SOME 
ARRANGEMENTS THAT WOULD STOP 
FURTHER LAYOFFS UNTIL ABOUT THE 
END OF AUGUST, BUT COME 
SEPTEMBER WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN 
THE SITUATION, AND IT IS -- 
YOU'RE RIGHT, I MEAN, WE HAVE --
NOW WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT 
FRONT-LINE SERVICES.
WE HAVE ALREADY ASKED THE POLICE
TO TAKE A 1% CUT ON THEIR BUDGET
AND FIRE TOO.
HOW FAR ARE THEY GOING TO LET US
RAMP DOWN IS THE QUESTION TO THE
PROVINCES AND THE FEDS.
IT WILL TAKE US THAT MUCH LONGER
TO GET BACK UP AND RUNNING AND 
GET THE ECONOMY FIRING ON ALL 
CYLINDERS.
SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT CHOICE FOR 
THEM.
>> Rosemary: I SAID IT WAS THE 
LAST QUESTION, BUT I WILL 
QUICKLY JUST ASK YOU, WOULD THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE IF YOU WERE ABLE TO 
TAP INTO THAT?
THEY CERTAINLY HAVEN'T MADE THAT
CHANGE YET.
WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR 
YOU, MAYOR STEWART?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
ANY OF THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, 
LIKE NONE OF THEM APPLY TO 
MUNICIPALITIES, IF THEY STARTED 
TO STRETCH THOSE OUT TO 
MUNICIPALITIES, THAT WOULD HELP 
A LOT: AND WE COULD TAKE A SLICE
OF THE SALES TAX TOO, THAT WOULD
BE GREAT.
>> Rosemary: MAYOR BOWMAN?
>> I WOULD ECHO THAT.
THAT'S A SMARTER FORM OF 
TAXATION BECAUSE WE GET IN THE 
GAME WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC 
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S MORE PROGRESSIVE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF DISCUSSION WE
NEED TO BE HAVING.
WE ALL NEED TO RISE TO THE 
OCCASION TO LOOK AT SOME 
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES SO THAT THE 
NEW NORM DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE 
OLD NORM WITH A LOT LESS DOLLARS
FOR FRONT-LINE ESSENTIAL 
SERVICES THAT MUNICIPALITIES 
PROVIDE.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, I'LL LEAVE IT
THERE, MAYORS.
WINNIPEG MAYOR BROWN BOWMAN, MY 
TOME HOUN.
HOPE TO GET THERE THIS SUMMER.
DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO 
HAPPEN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH, GENTLEMEN.
APPRECIATE YOU WEIGHING IN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU.
WE DO OF COURSE HAVE OUR REGULAR
BRIEFING FROM PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS AND CABINET MINISTERS,
BUT BEFORE WE GET THERE, I WANT 
TO SQUEEZE IN A QUICK TAKE WITH 
STEVEN D'SOUZA.
HE'S IN NEW YORK FOLLOWING THE 
EVENTS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF 
DAYS IN THE UNITED STATES.
STEVEN, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US 
ABOUT WHERE THINGS ARE AT TODAY?
>> Reporter: WELL, IT'S 
INTERESTING, THERE'S A DEBATE 
GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY 
OF NEW YORK ABOUT WHETHER THE 
CITY SHOULD IMPOSE A CURFEW.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT IMPOSED IN 
DOZENS OF CITIES ACROSS THE 
UNITED STATES, BUT THERE IS A 
DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER IT WOULD 
WORK HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.
LAST NIGHT WAS THE FOURTH NIGHT 
OF PROTESTS.
MORE VIOLENCE LATER IN THE 
NIGHT.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY THERE WERE 
PEACEFUL PROTESTS.
IT SEEMED LIKE PROTESTERS WERE 
MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO PUT
FORTH A PEACEFUL STEP AND TRYING
TO ENCOURAGE OFFICERS TO NEED 
DOWN.
WE SAW SOME OFFICERS DO THAT.
LATER IN THE EVENING, THERE WAS 
VIOLENCE AND LOOTING, MORE 
POLICE VEHICLES WERE VANDALIZED 
AND DESTROYED, AND SO THE MAYOR 
TODAY SAYS HE IS CONSIDERING A 
POSSIBLE CURFEW.
TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT MAYOR BILL
DE BLASIO SAID EARLIER.
>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS AN 
OPTION, BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE 
HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION.
THERE ARE ADVANTAGES AND 
DISADVANTAGES, TO SAY THE LEAST,
TO INSTITUTING A CURFEW.
PREVIOUS NIGHTS I THINK WERE 
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SAW LAST 
NIGHT, SO WE'RE WEIGHING THAT 
RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: IT'S INTERESTING, 
THE POLICE COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN
DOING THE MEDIA ROUNDS TODAY, 
AND HE WAS ASKED ABOUT A 
POSSIBLE CURFEW, AND HE SAYS, 
YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOESN'T NEED 
THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND HE SAID 
A CURFEW PROBABLY WON'T WORK 
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T THINK PEOPLE 
IN THE CITY WOULD ACTUALLY EVEN 
LISTEN TO IT, AND IN HIS WORDS, 
HE SAID IF PEOPLE THINK A CURFEW
WILL WORK, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO IF MAYOR SAID HE'S GOING TO 
BE SPEAKING WITH THE 
COMMISSIONER ABOUT THIS IDEA 
LATER.
BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT 
WILL GET MUCH TRACTION.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND CURFEWS 
IN OTHER U.S. CITIES CERTAINLY 
PROVING THAT THEY ALSO DON'T 
WORK.
STEVEN D'SOUZA, THANK YOU FOR 
MAKING THE TIME.
I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
STEVEN D'SOUZA IN NEW YORK.
LET'S BRING YOU BACK NOW TO 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HERE IN 
OTTAWA.
THIS IS THE HEALTH MINISTER, 
PATTY HAJDU.
>> WE CANNOT LOWER OUR GUARD.
THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER, BUT 
OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE
DEPENDING ON US TO KEEP WORKING 
TOGETHER TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.
NOW I WILL TURN TO DR. TAM AND 
THEN DR. NJOO AND THEN MINISTER 
McKENNA.
DR. TAM?
>> BONJOUR, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WILL START WITH THE LATEST 
NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 91,351 CONFIRMED 
CASES, INCLUDING 7,305 DEATHS 
AND 14,923 CASES OR 54% ARE NOW 
RECOVERED.
LABS ACROSS CANADA HAVE TESTED 
OVER 1,961,000 PEOPLE FOR 
COVID-19 TO DATE WITH ABOUT 5% 
OF THESE TESTING POSITIVE 
OVERALL.
OVER THE PAST WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN
TESTING AN AVERAGE OF CLOSE TO 
29,000 DAILY.
WHILE EVERYONE IN CANADA IS 
WORKING HARD IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19, THERE IS AN 
INCREASING CONCERN ABOUT A RANGE
OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF 
THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE, INCLUDING
FOR POPULATIONS ALREADY 
EXPERIENCING MARGINALIZATION DUE
TO STIGMA AND OTHER FORMS OF 
DISCRIMINATION.
AMONG THESE UNINTENDED 
CONSEQUENCES IS THE IMPACT ON 
THE ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
OF OPIOID-RELATED OVERDOSE 
DEATHS AND PROBLEMATIC SUBSTANCE
USE IN CANADA MORE BROADLY.
LAST WEEK THE BRITISH COLUMBIA 
CORONER'S SERVICE REPORTED THAT 
UNINTENTIONAL ILLICIT DRUG 
TOXICITY DEATHS HAVE INCREASED 
IN RECENT MONTHS WITH OVER 100 
REPORTED DEATHS IN THE PROVINCE,
BOTH IN MARCH AND APRIL 2020.
THIS IS A WORRYING TREND, AND IT
HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE 
BRITISH COLUMBIA OBSERVED 
NUMBERS THIS HIGH SUSTAINED OVER
A TWO-MONTH PERIOD.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SPIKES IN 
OPIOID-RELATED OVERDOSES IN 
TORONTO AND CALGARY AND SEVERAL 
JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING NOVA 
SCOTIA, TORONTO AND GUELPH, 
ONTARIO, HAVE REPORTED OVERDOSES
DUE TO UNKNOWN OR UNUSUAL MIXES 
OF TOXIC ILLICIT SUBSTANCES.
AS IT REMAINS VITAL TO KEEP OUR 
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TO 
PROTECT ALL CANADIANS FROM 
COVID-19, WE MUST FIND WAYS TO 
MAINTAIN LIFE-SAVING SUPPORTS, 
INCLUDING TREATMENT AND HARM 
REDUCTION SERVICES FOR LOVED 
ONES AND MEMBERS OF OUR 
COMMUNITIES WHO USE DRUGS.
CHANGES IN THE ILLEGAL DRUG 
SUPPLY IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19 
MAY RESULT IN INCREASED RISK OF 
OVERDOSE FOR PERSONS WHO USE 
DRUGS.
WE KNOW THAT USING DRUGS ALONE 
IS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR 
EXPERIENCING A FATAL OVERDOSE.
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT 
NEVER TO USE DRUGS ALONE.
ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE NEARBY OR 
CONNECTED VIRTUALLY TO SOMEONE 
WHO CAN MONITOR YOU AND BE READY
TO CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL 
EMERGENCY HELP LINE IS NEEDED.
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE 
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND 
GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES THAT 
COVID-19 AND DRUG OVERDOSE 
DEATHS.
HARM REDUCTION AND TREATMENT 
FACILITIES ARE IMPLEMENTING 
INFECTION CONTROLS AND RAMPING 
UP VIRTUAL AND MOBILE SERVICES.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA'S 
WELLNESS TOGETHER PORTAL 
PROVIDES WELLNESS AND SUBSTANCE 
USE RESOURCES FREE TO ALL 
CANADIANS.
BRITISH COLUMBIAN'S LIFEGUARD 
APP WILL AUTOMATICALLY CONTACT 
911 IF YOU DON'T CLICK IN WITHIN
75 SECONDS OF TAKING A DRUG.
THERE IS SOMETHING IN 
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR 
PROVIDING CLIENTS WITH 
TECHNOLOGY AND WI-FI TO ACCESS 
ONLINE TOOLS.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE 
PROVIDING ADEQUATE HOUSING, 
MEALS AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO 
MEDICATIONS FOR SUBSTANCE USE 
DISORDERS TO MINIMALIZE 
DRUG-RELATED HARMS AND IMPACTS 
OF COVID-19.
IT IS EFFORTS LIKE THESE THAT 
WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE 
INEQUITABLE AND DISPROPORTIONATE
EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC ON AN 
ALREADY VULNERABLE GROUP OF 
CANADIANS.
TOGETHER WE CAN REDUCE 
DRUG-RELATED HARMS WHILE KEEPING
UP WITH THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC 
HEALTH MEASURES TO REDUCE THE 
IMPACTS OF COVID-19.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WILL START WITH THE LATEST 
NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 91,351 CONFIRMED 
CASES, INCLUDING 7,305 DEATHS 
AND 49,335 PEOPLE RECOVERED.
54% OF CASES.
LABORATORIES ACROSS CANADA HAVE 
TESTED OVER 1,691,273 PEOPLE FOR
COVID-19 TO DATE WITH ABOUT 5% 
OF THESE TESTING POSITIVE 
OVERALL.
OVER THE PAST WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN
TESTING AN AVERAGE OF 29,000 
PEOPLE DAILY.
WHILE EVERYONE IN CANADA IS 
WORKING HARD IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19, THERE IS AN 
INCREASING CONCERN ABOUT A RANGE
OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF 
THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE, INCLUDING
FOR POPULATIONS ALREADY 
EXPERIENCING MARGINALIZATION DUE
TO STIGMA AND OTHER FORMS OF 
DISCRIMINATION.
AMONG THESE UNINTENDED 
CONSEQUENCES IS THE IMPACT ON 
THE ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
OF OPIOID-RELATED OVERDOSE 
DEATHS AND PROBLEMATIC SUBSTANCE
USE IN CANADA.
LAST WEEK THE BRITISH COLUMBIA 
CORONER SERVICE REPORTED THAT 
UNINTENTIONAL ILLICIT DRUG 
TOXICITY DEATHS HAVE INCREASED 
IN RECENT MONTHS WITH OVER 100 
REPORTED DEATHS IN THE PROVINCE 
IN BOTH MARCH AND APRIL 2020.
THIS IS A WORRYING TREND AS IT 
HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE 
BRITISH COLUMBIA OBSERVED 
NUMBERS THIS HIGH SUSTAINED OVER
A TWO-MONTH PERIOD.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SPIKES IN 
OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS IN TORONTO
AND CALGARY AND SEVERAL 
JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING NOVA 
SCOTIA, TORONTO AND GUELPH, 
ONTARIO HAVE REPORTED OVERDOSES 
DUE TO UNKNOWN AND UNUSUAL 
EXCESS OF TOXIC ILLICIT 
SUBSTANCES.
AS IT REMAINS VITAL TO KEEP OUR 
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TO 
PROTECT ALL CANADIANS FROM 
COVID-19, WE MUST FIND WAYS TO 
MAINTAIN LIFE-SAVING SUPPORTS 
FOR LOVED ONES AND MEMBERS OF 
OUR COMMUNITIES WHO USE DRUGS.
CHANGES IN THE ILLEGAL DRUG 
SUPPLY IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19 
MAY RESULT IN INCREASED RISK OF 
OVERDOSE FOR PERSONS WHO USE 
DRUGS.
WE KNOW THAT USING DRUGS ALONE 
IS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR 
EXPERIENCING A FATAL OVERDOSE.
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT 
NEVER TO USE DRUGS ALONE.
ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE NEARBY OR 
CONNECT VIRTUALLY TO SOMEONE WHO
CAN MONITOR YOU AND BE READY TO 
CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY
HELP LINE IF NEEDED.
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE 
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND 
ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY COMING TOGETHER TO 
ADDRESS THE DUAL PUBLIC HEALTH 
CRISIS OF COVID-19 AND DRUG 
OVERDOSE DEATHS.
HARM REDUCTION AND TREATMENT 
FACILITIES ARE IMPLEMENTING 
INFECTION CONTROLS AND RAMPING 
UP VIRTUAL AND MOBILE SERVICES.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA'S 
WELLNESS TOGETHER PORTAL 
PROVIDES WELLNESS AND SUBSTANCE 
USE RESOURCES FREE TO ALL 
CANADIANS.
BRITISH COLUMBIA'S LIFEGUARD APP
WILL AUTOMATICALLY CONTACT 911 
IF YOU DON'T CLICK IN WITHIN 75 
SECONDS OF TAKING A DRUG.
STELLA CIRCLE IN NEWFOUNDLAND 
AND LABRADOR IS PROVIDING 
CLIENTS WITH TECHNOLOGY AND 
WI-FI TO ACCESS ONLINE TOOLS.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE 
PROVIDING ADEQUATE HOUSING, 
MEALS AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO 
MEDICATIONS FOR SUBSTANCE USE 
DISORDERS TO MINIMIZE 
DRUG-RELATED HARMS AND THE 
IMPACTS OF COVID-19.
IT IS EFFORTS LIKE THESE THAT 
WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE 
[INDISCERNIBLE] AND 
DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECTS OF THE 
PANDEMIC ON AN ALREADY 
VULNERABLE GROUP OF CANADIANS.
TOGETHER WE CAN REDUCE 
DRUG-RELATED HARMS WHILE KEEPING
UP WITH ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF
COVID-19.
THANK YOU.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO START BY REALLY 
REITERATING MINISTER HAJDU'S 
COMMENCE.
WE'RE WATCHING HUNDREDS OF 
THOUSANDS, OR MILLIONS, MARCHING
AROUND THE WORLD AND IN CANADA 
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
LET'S BE CLEAR, CANADA IS NOT 
IMMUNE TO RACISM AND 
DISCRIMINATION.
WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO 
CALL IT OUT AND TO DO BETTER.
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF 
CANADIANS HAS BEEN AND WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE THE TOP PRIORITY 
OF OUR GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS 
PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED A LOT MORE
THAN PERSONAL HEALTH.
IT ALSO HAS AFFECTED OUR 
ECONOMY, WHICH IS WHY OUR 
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TAKING 
DECISIVE ACTION TO SUPPORT 
FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND 
COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S WHY WE'RE 
LOOKING AHEAD TO SEE WHAT MORE 
CAN BE DONE.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
WE CAN HELP BY CONTINUE 
DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
FOR EXAMPLE, ELECTRIC BUSES, 
RENEWABLE ENERGIES AND WATER 
PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP CREATE 
GOOD JOBS AND HELP COMMUNITIES 
TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. 
[ End of Interpretation ]
OUR GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THE 
CHALLENGING SITUATION THAT 
CITIES OR TOWNS ARE IN.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH MAYORS FROM 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND I'VE 
HEARD ABOUT THEIR SIGNIFICANT 
COVID-RELATED FINANCIAL 
PRESSURES, IN PARTICULAR IN 
RELATION TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS HAVING 
IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES ABOUT 
THE PRESSING ISSUE.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER SAID 
EARLIER TODAY, TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT IS A START.
WE KNOW THAT MORE HELP IS NEEDED
FOR MUNICIPALITIES, BUT EVERY 
VOYAGE BEGINS WITH A FIRST STEP.
TO MAKE SURE CITIES AND TOWNS 
HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO 
GET AND KEEP INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS GOING, WE'RE SPEEDING 
UP THIS YEAR'S FUNDING DELIVERED
THROUGH THE FEDERAL GAS TAX 
FUND.
INSTEAD OF DELIVERING TWO 
PAYMENTS, ONE IN THE SUMMER AND 
ONE LATER IN THE YEAR, WE ARE 
DELIVERING THE FULL 2020-2021 
AMOUNT TO COMMUNITIES THIS 
MONTH.
OUR GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THE 
NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE DURING THIS 
CRISIS.
BY GETTING THIS MONEY OUT EARLY,
WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A SAFE 
RE-START, HELPING COMMUNITIES 
GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, 
SUPPORTING THEM TO GET MORE 
INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT, LIKE 
HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND, PUBLIC 
TRANSIT AND WASTE WATER, 
CREATING JOBS AND BUILDING A 
STRONGER, CLEANER, HEALTHIER AND
MORE CONNECTED COUNTRY.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
FOR COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THE 
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO LAUNCH 
THE ECONOMY AND PROJECTS, AND AS
THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED 
THIS MORNING, WE ARE 
ACCELERATING THIS YEAR'S FUND 
THROUGH THE GAS TAX FUND 
[INDISCERNIBLE] ONE IN THE 
SUMMER AND ONE LATER IN THE YEAR
WE WILL BE PROVIDING THE ENTIRE 
AMOUNT TO MUNICIPALITIES IN 
JUNE.
THIS IS ONE STEP TO HELP 
MUNICIPALITIES.
THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THE 
NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY DURING THIS
CRISIS.
BY QUICKLY DISBURSING MUNICIPAL 
FUNDS, WE ARE ENSURING THAT THIS
RECOVERY TO HELP MUNICIPALITIES 
GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, HELPING 
THEM CREATE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, 
LIKE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE, 
PUBLIC TRANSIT AND WASTE WATER 
TREATMENT PROJECTS, HELPING THEM
TO CREATE JOBS AND TO CREATE A 
MORE CONNECTED AND STRONGER 
ECONOMY. 
[ End of Interpretation ]
-- PROVIDES MONEY TO CITIES AND 
TOWNS AND FIRST NATION 
COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTS 
THOUSANDS OF LOCAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, 
PROJECTS LIKE THE 1550 SOLAR 
PANELS INSTALLED IN THE DISTRICT
OF HUDSON'S HOPE IN BRITISH 
COLUMBIA, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 
LEGACY TRAIL BETWEEN CANMORE AND
BANFF, THE REHABILITATION OF THE
SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE IN 
SASKATOON, DOLLARS FROM THIS 
FUND ARE HELPING WITH POOL 
UPGRADES IN WINNIPEG, AND WITH 
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT IN 
MISSISSAUGA.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
THESE FUNDS HELP ELECTRIFY BUSES
IN LAVAL AND FUNDED TO RECHARGE 
STATIONS IN NEW BRUNSWICK. 
[ End of Interpretation ]
-- CAN BE USED IMMEDIATELY FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES FOR PRIORITY 
PROJECTS, BANKED FOR LATER USE, 
POOLED WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES 
FOR SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS, OR USED TO HELP 
FINANCE BIG-TICKET PROJECTS THAT
CAN PAY COMMUNITY DIVIDENDS FOR 
DECADES TO COME.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
WHILE WE ARE FACING THE GREATEST
HEALTH AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC 
CHALLENGES IN OUR COUNTRY, MORE 
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTRY 
WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE INVESTMENT 
DECISIONS TO INVEST IN THE 
PROJECTS THEY NEED, INVESTMENTS 
THAT WILL HELP THEM STRENGTHEN 
MUNICIPALITIES DURING THIS 
PANDEMIC AND HELP BUILD CLEANER,
HEALTHIER, STRONGER AND MORE 
CONNECTED MUNICIPALITIES.
[ End of Interpretation ]
-- THE ACCELERATED GAS FUND TAX 
PAYMENT IS JUST ONE WAY WE ARE 
SHOWING FLEXIBILITY IN RESPONSE 
TO THE PANDEMIC.
HELPING CANADIANS IN THEIR 
COMMUNITIES TO ADAPT AND 
RECOVER, GET PEOPLE WORKING AND 
BUILDING A STRONGER, CLEANER, 
HEALTHIER AND MORE CONNECTED 
COUNTRY FOR THE FUTURE.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THIS 
MORNING, THIS IS A START.
WE KNOW THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE 
TO SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES, SO 
WE'LL KEEP WORKING WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES WITH 
MORE TO COME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE WILL NOW START TAKING 
QUESTIONS.
AS USUAL, WE WILL START ON THE 
PHONE, THREE QUESTIONS, AND THEN
WE WILL TURN TO THE ROOM.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR, OVER TO YOU.
>> Operator: GLOBAL NEWS, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> Reporter: MY, MY QUESTION IS 
FOR DR. TAM.
HAS ANY PROGRESS MADE ON 
GATHERING MORE DETAILED DATA ON 
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM COVID-19, 
GIVING KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE 
GAPS IN THE DATA, BUT I WOULD 
LIKE TO ASK WHAT IS BEING DONE 
TO ADDRESS THOSE GAPS.
>> THAT IS AN IMPORTANT 
QUESTION, AND ON THE GENERAL SET
OF DATA THINGS HAVE IMPROVED, 
AND SO WE NOW HAVE LIKE 99% OF 
THE CASES REPORTED FROM 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
UNFORTUNATELY THEY DON'T CONTAIN
THE RACE AND ETHNICITY 
INFORMATION.
WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH 
STATISTICS CANADA AND OTHER 
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CIHI AND THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES REALLY
ACTIVELY TO TRY AND GET SOME OF 
THAT.
HAVING SAID THAT, IT WOULD BE NO
SURPRISE TO ANYONE JUST BASED ON
THE INFORMATION ALREADY 
AVAILABLE, NOT NECESSARILY 
THROUGH THIS SYSTEMATIC DATA 
GATHERING, THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN
CERTAIN MORE DISADVANTAGED 
POPULATIONS, SOCIAL ECONOMIC 
AREAS OF LOWER SOCIO-ECONOMIC 
SORT OF LEVELS AND CERTAIN 
GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN CANADA ARE 
MORE VULNERABLE TO THE IMPACT OF
COVID-19, AND THAT'S ALREADY 
EVIDENT.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU, AND FOR 
A FOLLOW-UP, SO, UMM, HOW 
SIGNIFICANT ARE THESE SOCIAL 
DETERMINANTS?
I KNOW YOU DON'T SAY YOU HAVE 
DATA, BUT DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE
ON WHEN WE WOULD GET THAT DATA 
AND HOW SIGNIFICANT THOSE WOULD 
BE?
>> SO WE ARE WORKING WITH MAINLY
STATISTICS CANADA, FOR EXAMPLE, 
IN LOOKING AT LINKAGES AND 
LOOKING AT TRENDS TO NOT JUST 
THE COVID-19 BUT SEEING WHAT 
KIND OF DATA IS AVAILABLE ON THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND THE 
OTHER DATA LINKAGES.
SO I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY 
REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT AS YOU'VE ALSO SEEN FROM THE
MORE GRANULAR DATA PROVIDED NOW 
FROM AREAS LIKE TORONTO, WE KNOW
IN AREAS LIKE MONTREAL THERE'S 
CERTAIN AREAS OF EVEN DOWN TO 
THE LOCAL JURISDICTION THAT ARE 
SEEING A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER
OF CASES.
SOME ARE RELATED TO THE WORK 
THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE 
AREAS ARE LINKED TO, SUCH AS 
SOME OF THE WORKPLACES THAT 
WE'VE SEEN OUTBREAKS IN, BUT 
ALSO CROWDED LIVING CONDITIONS.
SO THAT DATA IS COMING OUT FOR 
MORE OF THE LOCAL LEVEL.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM LE 
DEVOIR.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: HELLO, MY QUESTION 
IS FOR MS. McKENNA ON TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
I WANT TO KNOW, THE GAS TAX FUND
FOR MUNICIPALITIES, WILL THEY BE
EXCEPTIONS?
WILL THE CITIES BE ABLE TO SPEND
THIS MONEY ON ANYTHING ELSE 
BESIDES INFRASTRUCTURE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE 
QUESTION.
THE FUND IS INTENDED TO HELP THE
CAPITAL COSTS FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES.
IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN 
THAT THE ENTIRE FUND SHOULD BE 
INVESTED THIS YEAR.
THEY COULD KEEP THE FUNDS TO 
INVEST IN MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE.
THEY COULD WORK WITH OTHER 
MUNICIPALITIES.
IT'S NOT FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS.
IT'S FOR CAPITAL EXPENSES.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION.
ON INFRASTRUCTURE 
[INDISCERNIBLE] McKENNA, WE ARE 
HEARING THAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE ON
THE WAY BETWEEN QUEBEC AND THE 
DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE ARE 
WAYS OF [INDISCERNIBLE] 
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING AND TO 
SEE IF OTTAWA COULD OFFER QUEBEC
MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE 
[INDISCERNIBLE] MORE QUICKLY FOR
SOME PROJECTS LIKE SCHOOLS AND 
HOSPITALS.
COULD YOU TELL US WHAT THE CASE 
OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS ARE WITH 
QUEBEC?
ARE THERE ANY DEVELOPMENTS?
IS THERE AN AGREEMENT?
>> I AM HAVING LOTS OF 
DISCUSSIONS WITH MY COUNTERPARTS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE HEARING THEM.
CERTAINLY WE NEED TO BE 
FLEXIBLE.
WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS 
NECESSARY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE 
IN THE AREA OF INFRASTRUCTURE, 
OF COURSE.
THE DISCUSSIONS WILL CONTINUE.
WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING TO 
REPORT, I WILL BE HERE TO 
REPORT.
OF COURSE I'M WORKING VERY WELL 
WITH THE MINISTER.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Operator: OUR NEXT QUESTION 
IS FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
WILL YOU COMMIT TO CONSULTING 
WITH THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER ON
ANY PLAN FOR A NATIONAL CONTACT 
TRACING APP?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE KNOW THAT PRIVACY IS OF 
UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO CANADIANS, 
AND SO THE WORK IS ONGOING RIGHT
NOW TO LOOK AT A VARIETY OF 
DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT HAS 
PRIVACY AT THE FIRST AND 
FOREMOST CONSIDERATION.
AS THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, OF 
COURSE HAVING A DIGITAL CONTACT 
TRACING APP WOULD LIKELY BE 
HELPFUL FOR SOME JURISDICTIONS, 
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT AN 
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CONTACT 
TRACING IS HAPPENING IN THE OLD 
FASHIONED WAY, USING HUMAN 
BEINGS.
IN FACT, SOME JURISDICTIONS 
PREFER IT THAT WAY, AND SO WE 
ARE CONTINUING THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR 
COLLEAGUES, AND I KNOW THE PRIME
MINISTER HIMSELF IS WATCHING 
THIS DEVELOPMENT VERY CAREFULLY 
AS IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO
HIM AS WELL.
>> JIM, FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: HOW CONCERNED ARE 
YOU ABOUT AN UPTICK IN THE CASES
OF COVID-19 SPREAD OUT, THE 
CORONAVIRUS THROUGH THE STREET 
PROTESTS THAT ARE UNFOLDING NOW?
>> I'LL ANSWER GENERALLY AND 
THEN I'LL TURN TO DR. TAM FOR 
SOME PRACTICAL PROTEST ADVICE.
LISTEN, I THINK IT'S PEOPLE'S 
RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT 
AND IN SOME CASES CONCERN ABOUT 
THINGS THAT ARE UNFOLDING BOTH 
HERE IN OUR COUNTRY AND ACROSS 
THE WORLD, AND WE KNOW THAT 
GATHERING TOGETHER IS A VERY 
POWERFUL WAY TO LEND THAT 
SUPPORT AND TO BE AN ALLY IN 
MANY OF THESE KINDS OF 
SITUATIONS.
THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT MORE 
SAFELY.
PEOPLE STILL DO NEED TO KEEP 
PHYSICAL DISTANCE, MAKE SURE 
THAT THEY BRING WITH THEM HAND 
SANITIZER, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I 
THINK BRING A MASK.
THERE ARE SITUATIONS CHANGE VERY
QUICKLY WHEN YOU'RE IN A CROWD 
SETTING AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE 
TO KEEP THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCE 
FROM SOMEONE ELSE, SO I THINK 
ALTHOUGH WE'VE SEEN MUCH MORE 
PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN GENERAL 
HERE IN CANADA, WE STILL 
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE VERY 
CAREFUL WHEN THEY ARE 
CONGREGATING IN LARGE CROWDS.
AS YOU RECALL, IT WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST THINGS THAT MANY 
MUNICIPALITIES AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENTS CHOSE TO LIMIT, 
BECAUSE THE SIZE OF CROWDS 
GATHERING, AND THERE'S A REASON 
FOR THAT.
IT'S MUCH EASIER TO COME INTO 
CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S 
DROPLETS WHEN YOU'RE CLOSE BY.
DR. TAM, DID YOU WANT TO ADD 
ANYTHING?
>> I THINK THAT AS IN ANY 
GATHERINGS, FOLLOW YOUR LOCAL 
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE THAT DOING 
IT AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE I THINK
IS THE KEY FROM A HEALTH 
PERSPECTIVE.
SO I THINK AS THE MINISTER'S 
SAID, TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT 
PHYSICAL DISTANCE THAT ONE MIGHT
SORT OF PERCEIVE THAT THIS COULD
BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN.
SO DEFINITELY WEARING A MASK, 
HAVING HAND SANITIZERS OR 
CARRYING -- YOU KNOW, HAVING 
ACCESS TO HANDWASHING WOULD BE 
VERY IMPORTANT.
ONE THING THAT PEOPLE MAY WANT 
TO CONSIDER IS THAT, OF COURSE, 
WEARING A MASK IS IMPORTANT, BUT
SHOUTING AND MAKING REALLY LOUD 
SORT OF PROJECTIONS CAN 
POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK, 
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE MIGHT WANT
TO CHOOSE OTHER MEANS OF SHOWING
OR MESSAGING, WHETHER IT WOULD 
BE SIGNAGE OR MAKING NOISE USING
OTHER INSTRUMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, 
TO CONSIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, 
SHOUTING AND THAT TYPE OF 
BEHAVIOUR CAN POTENTIALLY 
PROJECT MORE DROPLETS, BUT BE 
CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS I THINK 
PEOPLE ARE OUT TO PROTEST, TO 
SUPPORT A COMMON GOAL, SO I 
THINK BEING RESPECTFUL AND KIND 
TO EACH OTHER WHO IS 
PARTICIPATING BY WEARING A MASK 
AND DOING THE RIGHT PUBLIC 
HEALTH MEASURES I THINK IS 
REALLY KEY.
I DO THINK THAT LOCAL PUBLIC 
HEALTH WILL BE MONITORING VERY 
CLOSELY BECAUSE I THINK 
PROTESTERS OUTDOORS WILL HAVE 
LOWER RISK, BUT ANYTHING THAT'S 
MORE IN AN ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENT 
WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE THINGS 
THAT LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE 
MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IN TERMS OF
COVID-19 SPREAD.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
WE'LL NOW TURN TO THE ROOM.
MCKENZIE?
>> Reporter: HI, EVERYONE, 
KENZIE GREY, CTV NEWS.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU, 
MINISTER HAJDU.
IN YOUR ANSWER ABOUT CONTACT 
TRACING EARLIER, YOU SEEMED TO 
KIND OF BRING UP THAT 
MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER 
AGENCIES MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN 
STICKING WITH THE OLD FASHIONED 
WAY.
PRIME MINISTER A FEW WEEKS AGO 
SEEMED VERY CONFIDENT THERE 
WOULD BE A SINGULAR APP THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD BASICALLY TELL 
PEOPLE TO DOWNLOAD IF THEY WERE 
FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
IS THAT STILL THE PLAN WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT?
>> I THINK WHATEVER PATH THAT WE
CHOOSE TO GO FORWARD WITH A 
DIGITAL APP FOR CONTACT TRACING,
IT HAS TO BE AN APP THAT 
CANADIANS WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE 
USING AND THAT WE CAN GAIN 
MOMENTUM WITH.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK FROM A
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE WE'RE KEEPING
OUR EYE ON IS THE USEFULNESS OF 
AN APP IF THERE IS NOT A HIGH 
TAKE-UP, AND ACTUALLY THE 
SUCCESS OF THE APPS REQUIRE 
PEOPLE TO WANT TO USE THEM.
AND SO WE ARE RIGHT NOW HAVING 
CONVERSATIONS WITH PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES.
THERE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, SOME 
APPS BEING USED IN OTHER 
PROVINCES THAT PROVINCES FEEL 
ARE VERY EFFECTIVE OR BECOMING 
EFFECTIVE, IF YOU WILL, IN THEIR
OWN DOMAIN.
AND THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS 
UNDER WAY.
BUT LISTEN, EVERYTHING WE'VE 
DONE SO FAR HAS BEEN IN 
COLLABORATION WITH THE PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE AN APPROACH THAT 
CANADIANS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH 
AND THAT THEY WILL USE. 
>> Reporter: ON THE GAS TAX 
ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, MINISTER 
McKENNA, BASICALLY IT JUST 
SEEMED LIKE A CASH ADVANCE TO 
MANY OF THE CITIES.
THEY WILL BE GETTING MONEY THEY 
WOULD HAVE RECEIVED EARLIER.
YOU TALKED TO MANY MAYORS, AND 
ONE OF THEM SAYING WE NEED MONEY
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LAY 
PEOPLE OFF.
IN TORONTO, THE TTC NEEDS A LOT 
OF MONEY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE 
TO RUN.
WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT GIVING 
MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS AND NOT FOR OPERATIONAL
COSTS LIKE PAYING PEOPLE TO MAKE
SURE THEY DON'T GET LAID OFF AND
KEEPING IMPORTANT SERVICES LIKE 
PUBLIC TRANSIT GOING?
>> SO I'VE HAD MANY 
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYORS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND JUST TODAY WITH
MAYOR KENNEDY STEWART, AS YOU 
SAID, AS WELL AS MAYOR TORY, 
MAYOR WATSON, AND THIS IS THE 
FIRST STEP.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN 
CLEAR.
WE DO NEED MUNICIPALITIES TO GO 
AHEAD WITH THEIR PLANNED 
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, AND 
THAT INCLUDES IN RELATION TO 
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
BUT OF COURSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
THERE ARE BIGGER CHALLENGES.
I'VE CERTAINLY HEARD DIRECTLY 
ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF DECLINE IN 
REVENUE WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION, AND WE NEED TO 
RE-START PROPERLY.
WE DO NEED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO 
TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND PEOPLE 
ARE TAKING IT RIGHT NOW, 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND THEY NEED
TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A SAFE 
WAY.
SO WE ARE HAVING THESE 
CONVERSATIONS.
WE DO NEED TO BE WORKING WITH 
PROVINCES.
PROVINCES HAVE PRIME 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATING 
COSTS, AND WE ARE HAVING THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW.
I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MY 
PROVINCIAL COUNTERPARTS, AND I 
CERTAINLY, LIKE OUR GOVERNMENT, 
WAS HEARTENED TO SEE PREMIER 
FORD SAY HE RECOGNIZES THAT THE 
PROVINCES WILL NEED TO BE -- 
WILL NEED TO STEP UP, AND WE'RE 
CERTAINLY WORKING WITH THEM, BUT
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO DO 
MORE.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
I WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE PHONE.
OPERATOR?
OVER TO YOU.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE 
CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: HI, MY QUESTION IS 
FOR YOU, MRS. McKENNA.
WHY THE DELAY TO REACH AN 
AGREEMENT WITH THE 
MUNICIPALITIES?
KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN 
ASKING FOR 10 BILLION FOR THE 
PAST TWO MONTHS?
WHY THE DELAY IN THE 
NEGOTIATION?
>> I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
MEASURE.
IT'S TRUE, IT'S NOT EVERYTHING 
WE WANT THE MUNICIPALITIES TO 
START WITH INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS PLANNED.
WE ARE HAVING LOTS OF 
DISCUSSIONS.
I'M TALKING WITH THE MAYORS 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
IT'S SURE THAT THEY NEED HELP 
FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS, INCLUDING
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
PUBLIC TRANSIT NOW FOR ESSENTIAL
WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO 
WORK, AND FOR THE ECONOMY TO 
REOPEN.
BUT WE ARE RESPECTING 
JURISDICTIONS.
IT FALLS -- MUNICIPALITIES FALL 
UNDER THE PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION.
WE ARE NOT SAYING WE ARE NOT 
GOING TO HELP.
WE ALREADY TOOK THIS IMPORTANT 
MEASURE THIS MORNING.
WE HOPE THAT THE PROVINCES WILL 
STEP UP AND JOIN US TO HELP THE 
MUNICIPALITIES THAT NEED HELP 
BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 
SITUATION.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Reporter: I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT IF YOU 
COULD PROVIDE DETAILS AS TO WHY 
YOU HAVEN'T REACHED AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE PROVINCES TO HELP 
MUNICIPALITIES, TO GIVE THEM 
MONEY FOR OPERATIONAL COST.
>> I KNOW THAT MANY DISCUSSIONS 
ARE UNDER WAY BETWEEN THE PRIME 
MINISTER, MINISTER FREELAND, THE
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
I THINK EVERY WEEK THEY HAVE 
DISCUSSIONS, THEY ARE 
CONTINUING, AND THESE ARE 
IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS.
AS I SAID, WE'VE NOT ARRIVED AT 
AN AGREEMENT, BUT WE DO HOPE 
THAT SOME PROVINCES WILL 
RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE NEED 
TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP 
MUNICIPALITIES.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
OPERATOR, ONE LAST QUESTION, 
PLEASE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
OUR LAST QUESTION IS FROM BILL 
CURRY WITH "THE GLOBE AND MAIL".
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Reporter: THANKS.
FOR MINISTER McKENNA, EARLIER 
THIS YEAR YOU PUT OUT A REPORT 
SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD 
IDENTIFIED ABOUT 52,000 
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND 
FUNDED THEM, AND YET THE 
PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICER WAS
AT COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY SAYING 
THAT HE CAN ONLY FIND 33,000, 
AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE 
MISSING 20,000 ARE.
SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT OR 
ADDRESS HIS CONCERN?
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
LOOK, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO
INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND 
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS HAVING A 
HUGE IMPACT ON LIVES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, WHETHER IT'S 
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION, IN WASTE WATER, 
IN COMMUNITY AND REC CENTRES.
THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT 
INITIATIVES.
WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT THE 
AUDITOR GENERAL, ABOUT 33,000 
THAT ARE THROUGH OUR 
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
THERE ARE ALSO PROJECTS THAT ARE
THROUGH THE GAS TAX THAT WE ARE 
ANNOUNCING TODAY, AND THERE ARE 
ALSO PROJECTS THROUGH CMHC.
THAT BRINGS UP TO THE TOTAL OF 
PROJECTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO 
CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IS AN 
EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SEE 
INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRITICAL TO 
THE RE-START OF THE ECONOMY BUT 
ALSO IN THE LONGER TERM IT'S 
ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE 
HEALTHIER, CLEANER AND MORE 
CONNECTED COUNTRY.
>> BILL, FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: YEAH, ON TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID THAT FURTHER 
PROMISES ARE DEPENDENT ON TALKS 
WITH THE PROVINCES, BUT JUST 
LAST YEAR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WITHOUT THE PROVINCES DOUBLED 
THE GAS TAX TO 4.4 BILLION FOR 
THAT ONE YEAR ONLY.
SO WHY NOT JUST DO SOMETHING 
SIMILAR THIS TIME, INCREASE THE 
GAS TAX, WHICH IS SOMETHING THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO 
WITHOUT THE PROVINCES?
>> LOOK, WE'RE MAKING NOT ONLY 
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BUT WE'VE 
BEEN INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
WITH MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE'VE 
TAKEN A WHOLE RANGE OF MEASURES 
ALREADY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS 
TO SUPPORT CANADIANS, TO SUPPORT
CANADIAN BUSINESSES, TO SUPPORT 
CANADIAN INDIVIDUALS, TO SUPPORT
PROVINCES, AND WE'RE GOING TO 
CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT LET'S 
BE CLEAR, MUNICIPALITIES -- AND 
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THIS BY 
PROVINCES -- ARE CREATURES OF 
THE PROVINCES.
AND SO WE REALLY DO NEED THE 
PROVINCES TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE 
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES THAT ARE 
FACED BY CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
AS I SAID, IN PARTICULAR WITH 
RESPECT TO LOST REVENUES FOR 
PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND WE'RE GOING 
TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE 
PROVINCES.
I THINK A SOLUTION IS THERE TO 
BE HAD, AND AS I SAY, I'VE 
SEEN -- YOU KNOW, PREMIER FORD 
HAS BEEN CLEAR, HE RECOGNIZES 
THE NEED TO STEP UP, AND I THINK
THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO SHOW TO
CANADIANS THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCE CAN 
WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT CITIES 
AS WE GO FORWARD.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, AND THAT IS 
THE MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE, 
CATHERINE McKENNA, AND THE END 
OF THE FEDERAL BRIEFING TODAY ON
COVID-19.
COUPLE LITTLE BITS OF NEWS THAT 
HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THE 
PAST HOUR, I WANT TO BRING YOU 
UP TO SPEED ON THE ONTARIO 
OMBUDSMAN HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE 
WILL INVESTIGATE THE -- WHAT HAS
HAPPENED AT LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES IN THE PROVINCE OF 
ONTARIO, CALLING THE MILITARY 
REPORT WE RECEIVED LAST WEEK A 
STUNNING PORTRAIT OF HORRIFIC 
CONDITIONS.
SO THAT WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT 
INVESTIGATION HAPPENING 
ALONGSIDE ONE THAT HAS BEEN 
COMMISSIONED BY THE ONTARIO 
GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED DETAILS 
ON -- FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES AROUND WHAT THEY BELIEVE 
WAS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF A 
SNOWBIRDS CRASH THAT HAPPENED ON
MAY 17 AND KILLED CAPTAIN JENN 
CASEY.
INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING AT A 
BIRD STRIKE AS THE PROBABLE 
CAUSE OF THAT CRASH, SO A BIRD 
ESSENTIALLY GOT INTO PART OF THE
ENGINE AND CAUSED THE SNOWBIRD 
TO GO DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, THAT BRINGS YOU UP TO
SPEED ON SOME OTHER INFORMATION,
BUT LET'S GO BACK OVER WHAT 
WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PAST COUPLE
OF HOURS WITH MY COLLEAGUES, THE
POST OF "POWER & POLITICS", 
VASSY KAPELOS, AND THE CBC'S 
DAVID COCHRANE.
SO I GUESS WE'LL TALK ABOUT 
MUNICIPALITIES.
YOU HEARD ME TALK TO A COUPLE OF
MAYORS THERE WITH THEIR 
REACTION.
IT'S $2.2 BILLION.
IT'S MONEY, I GUESS, TO PROVIDE 
THEM SOME IMMEDIATE LIQUIDITY IN
HOPES, IT SOUNDS VERY MUCH TO 
ME, ANYWAY, VASSY, THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE 
PROVINCES CAN GET TO ANOTHER 
PLACE HERE WHERE CITIES CAN GET 
MORE MONEY.
>> Vassy: YEAH, I WAS TRYING 
VERY HARD TO READ BETWEEN ALL 
THE MANY LINES.
>> Rosemary: ME TOO.
>> Vassy: BETWEEN THE MAYORS AND
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BECAUSE HERE IS WHAT'S AT STAKE,
AND WE OUTLINED THIS PRIOR TO 
THE PRIME MINISTER'S REMARKS.
THIS IS MONEY THEY WOULD HAVE 
RECEIVED IN SIX MONTHS.
IT HAS TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS 
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHAT THE CITIES SAY THEY NEED IS
OPERATING MONEY.
THEY ARE FACING A MAJOR CASH 
CRUNCH.
IN TORONTO, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY 
ARE LOSING $65 MILLION A WEEK.
SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HIRE 
PEOPLE BACK OR FUNCTION AND 
DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT SO 
MANY OF US ARE ACCUSTOMED TO, 
THEY NEED MONEY.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED 
ABOUT THAT MULTIPLE TIMES, 
MINISTER McKENNA WAS AS WELL, 
AND THEY KEPT TALKING ABOUT THE 
PROVINCES, BECAUSE THEY ARE 
CORRECT IN THAT THE PROVINCES 
HAVE JURISDICTION OVER 
MUNICIPALITIES, THINGS LIKE 
THIS.
MAYBE WHEN IT CAME TO THE HIGHER
INCREASE IN REVENUE SOURCES, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD BE A PART 
THAT THE PROVINCES COULD PLAY.
THE SECONDARY PROBLEM IS THAT 
THE PROVINCES DON'T HAVE A LOT 
OF MONEY TO DO THAT AT THIS 
POINT.
THEY ARE FACING A CASH CRUNCH.
THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A 
TOUGHER TIME ACCESSING THAT CASH
THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
WOULD.
THE PRIME MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGED 
THAT TOO.
HE DID AT ONE POINT THINKING 
ABOUT PREMIERS MAY BE NOT AS 
KEEN FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
TO DIRECTLY INTERVENE.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS 
SORT OF GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT 
WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE 
LIKE.
I KNOW THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN 
RAISED ON THE PAST TWO WEEKLY 
CALLS WITH THE PREMIERS AND THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
SO WHICH PREMIERS DON'T WANT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLYING 
DIRECT MONEY TO THE 
MUNICIPALITIES, IS IT ALL 
PREMIERS, IS IT SOME OF THEM?
WHERE ARE THE STUMBLING BLOCKS?
IT'S CLEAR FROM THE MINISTER'S 
COMMENTS AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S COMMENTS THAT THEY 
ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER MORE 
HELP FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY ARE AWARE, AND EVERYONE 
I'VE TALKED TO IN THE GOVERNMENT
AS WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT 
OF CALLS BETWEEN THE DEPUTY 
PRIME MINISTER AND THE 
PROVINCES.
THERE IS SORT OF THIS AREA 
IN-BETWEEN RIGHT NOW WHERE 
EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE STUCK 
MAYBE OR THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS
OCCURRING, BUT THERE ARE SOME 
STUMBLING BLOCKS TO MAKE THAT 
HAPPEN.
SO I WONDER IF IT DOES END UP 
GOING TO THE PROVINCES IN WHAT 
WAY.
BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS I WAS
LISTENING TO -- I AT GONE EMAIL 
FROM SOMEONE AT THE CITY OF 
TORONTO WHO SAYS FOR TORONTO 
THIS IS ABOUT $166 MILLION THAT,
AGAIN, THEY CAN DIRECT TOWARDS 
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEIR OPERATING NEEDS RIGHT NOW,
THEY ARE LOSING $65 MILLION A 
WEEK.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL 
HELP, FOR SURE.
NOBODY IS SAYING NO TO IT OR 
ANYTHING CLOSE TO THAT, BUT IT'S
NOT REALLY ADDRESSING THE CRUX 
OF WHAT THESE CITIES NEED.
THEY HAVE A BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM 
BECAUSE OF THEIR BUDGETING 
TIMELINE, SO THEY DON'T NEED IT 
TOMORROW, BUT CERTAINLY THEY ARE
ALL TRYING TO PLAN WHAT THE NEXT
YEAR LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT 
SERVICES THEY CAN BE ABLE TO 
OFFER.
AND SO THEY ARE TRYING TO GET A 
MORE CLEAR INDICATION OR MAYBE A
MORE SPECIFIC INDICATION FROM 
BOTH THE PROVINCES AND THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF WHAT MONEY
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO 
ANTICIPATE.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THAT 
TODAY.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, I APPLAUD 
YOUR ATTEMPT TO READ BETWEEN THE
LINES.
>> Vassy: I'M TERRIBLE AT THAT.
>> Rosemary: SOME PROVINCES HAVE
GIVEN SOME MONEY TO CITIES.
ONTARIO, BRITISH COLUMBIA.
BUT EVERYONE AGREES THAT IT'S 
NOT ENOUGH.
I'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME REACTION
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES WHO SAYS THIS IS 
"NOT NEW MONEY.
THIS IS MODEST, A PRELIMINARY 
STEP.
IT DOESN'T TACKLE THE STARK 
CHOICES MUNICIPALITIES FACE, BUT
WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S COMMITMENT TO COME 
FORWARD WITH SOME ADDITIONAL 
SUPPORT."
IT WOULD BE GOOD, DAVID, TO 
UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT IS, 
BECAUSE I SAW TODAY'S MOVE AS A 
SORT OF OKAY PROVINCES LET'S GET
THIS CONVERSATION GOING 
SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS LIMITED IN HOW IT 
CAN GET MONEY TO THE 
MUNICIPALITIES.
>> David: YEAH, VASSY DID A GOOD
JOB OF TRYING TO READ BETWEEN 
THE LINES, BUT I GUESS THE 
BOTTOM LINE IS BEFORE THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT MUNICIPALITIES NEED
10 TO 15 BILLION DOLLARS AND THE
SAME IS TRUE AFTER THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A CASH ADVANCE 
ON MONEY THEY KNEW WOULD BE 
THERE AND ALREADY BAKED INTO 
THEIR BUDGETS.
MAYBE THERE IS SOME FUNGIBILITY 
AND FLEXIBILITY TO THIS MONEY 
THAT THEY CAN GET THIS CASH NOW 
AND USE IT TO COVER OFF SOME 
OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ON A 
SHORT TERM LIQUIDITY BASIS WHILE
THEY WAIT FOR OTHER MONEY TO 
COME IN AND THEN REPLACE THE 
INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME CREATIVE 
MEASURE THEY CAN DO, BUT I WAS 
LOOKING AT THAT STATEMENT FROM 
THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES, THAT THIS DOES 
NOT ELIMINATE THE URGENCY, AND 
YOU HEARD FROM BRIAN BOWMAN, THE
MAYOR OF WINNIPEG EARLIER, THAT 
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO 
BACK TO PROPERTY HOLDERS AND 
LOOK AT RAISING THEIR TAXES, 
WHICH IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO
COMING OUT OF THIS DEPRESSION 
AND SORT OF HELPING WITH THE 
RECOVERY, OR LOOK AT CUTTING 
SERVICES, WHICH ALSO MEANS 
CUTTING JOBS AND CUTTING 
SUPPORT, AND THE MAYOR OF 
VANCOUVER REALLY LAID OUT THE 
IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ON AN 
ECONOMIC RECOVERY BASIS, THAT IF
YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR PERMIT 
APPROVALS AND BUILDING 
INSPECTORS AND ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT HELP, YOU KNOW, GREASE THE 
WHEELS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
IN CITIES, AND A SIGNIFICANT 
PORTION OF YOUR NON-RESOURCE 
DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS IN THE MAJOR
URBAN CENTRES, THIS HAS THE 
POTENTIAL FOR A REAL ECONOMIC 
AND SERVICE CRISIS FOR CANADA 
COMING OUT AS WE TRY TO REOPEN 
AND RECOVER FROM COVID-19.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK THIS 
DOES PUT SOME PRESSURE ON 
PROVINCES TO EITHER LOOK AT 
CHANGING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW 
BORROWING AND MAYBE CARRYING 
SOME DEBT OR TO STEP UP WITH A 
COST SHARE OF SUPPORT.
THE CHALLENGE THERE, ROSIE, 
BECOMES AS DIFFICULT AS THINGS 
ARE FOR SOME OF THE MAJOR 
CITIES, LIKE SAY TORONTO OR 
VANCOUVER, YOU LOOK AT A 
PROVINCE LIKE NEWFOUNDLAND AND 
LABRADOR, IT'S IN WORSE SHAPE 
THAN TORONTO AND VANCOUVER 
BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S 
GOING ON THERE.
SO THE ABILITY OF PROVINCES TO 
CHIP IN, TO HELP WITH A 
MUNICIPAL AID PACKAGE, IS NOT 
EQUAL.
YOU KNOW, BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
ONTARIO, QUEBEC CERTAINLY HAVE 
THE BALANCE SHEETS AND THE 
ECONOMIC MIGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO 
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT AS YOU 
GET DOWN TO THE SMALLER 
PROVINCES, AND EVEN SOME OF THE 
LARGER ONES, LIKE MANITOBA OR 
ALBERTA RIGHT NOW, ALBERTA WITH 
THE OIL SLUMP AND THE COMMODITY 
SLUMP ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE,
THEIR CASH RESOURCES ARE QUITE 
TAPPED.
SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A 
QUICK FIX WITH SOME BIG 
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME BIG 
DOLLAR AMOUNTS HAVE TO GET 
STARTED NOW WITH THE PREMIERS, 
ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT 
THE COUNTRY IS DEALING WITH.
>> Rosemary: IT'S INTERESTING 
HOW OFTEN OUR CONVERSATIONS END 
WITH A DEBATE AROUND 
JURISDICTION AND HOW TO OVERCOME
THAT, AND SORT OF PROBLEMS THAT 
MAYBE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED LONG 
TERM IN TERMS OF HOW 
MUNICIPALITIES ARE FUNDED 
STRUCTURALLY AND WHETHER, AS YOU
SAY, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO 
CARRY DEFICITS IN SOME CASES.
>> David: THE MATH, ROSIE, TO 
GET TO THE IDEA OF WHAT THE 
FINAL TALLY WILL BE IN THE 
COUNTRY ON DEALING WITH THIS IS 
ALMOST INCOMPREHENSIBLE.
WE HAVE SPENT TWO YEARS' WORTH 
OF BUDGETS ALREADY TO THIS POINT
IN THE FISCAL YEAR.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT NORTH OF A 
TRILLION DOLLARS BY THE TIME 
IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.
>> Vassy: EVEN IF MUNICIPALITIES
OR LAWS CAN BE AMENDED FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES TO CARRY A 
DEFICIT, 99% OF THEM DON'T WANT 
TO, BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT FOR 
THEM TO PAY IT DOWN.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE THE 
LEVERS OF TAXATION THAT OTHER 
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT DO, SO THEY
ARE NOT ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY 
THAT THEY MIGHT NEED TO 
EVENTUALLY TO PAY A GIANT 
DEFICIT OFF IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S -- WE SEE IT'S A STRUGGLE 
FOR OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY'RE RESISTANT TO EVEN THOSE 
LAWS BEING CHANGED.
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU, VASSY, 
YOU CAN WATCH HER LATER ON 
"POWER & POLITICS" AT 5 EASTERN 
AND YOU CAN CATCH DAVID LATER ON
"THE NATIONAL."
THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
AS I LEAVE BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES
THERE, ONE OF CANADA'S 
BEST-KNOWN NATIONAL PARKS IS 
REOPENING TODAY.
JASPER NATIONAL PARK SPANS MORE 
THAN 11,000 SQUARE KILOMETRES, 
INCLUDING GLACIERS, LAKES, 
WATERFALLS, MOUNTAINS.
TODAY'S REOPENING WITH LIMITS IS
WELCOME NEWS TO AREA BUSINESSES 
THAT HAVE STRUGGLED, OBVIOUSLY, 
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT I'M 
JOINED BY RICHARD IRELAND, THE 
MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
JASPER.
GOOD TO SEE YOU THERE, MAYOR.
>> GOOD DAY, ROSEMARY.
>> Rosemary: I'LL START WITH 
MAYBE WHERE I LEFT OFF WITH MY 
COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS NEWS THAT 
MUNICIPALITIES WILL GET SOME 
ADDED LIQUIDITY FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
IS ANY OF THAT TO HELP -- OF 
HELP TO YOU, MAYOR?
>> WELL, POTENTIALLY, ALTHOUGH I
THINK THAT VASSY WAS RIGHT TO 
SAY THAT IT'S A DIFFICULT CHOICE
FOR A MUNICIPALITY TO TAKE ON 
DEBT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
SIMILAR TO OUR BUSINESSES, DEBT 
IS NOT PROBABLY THE ANSWER TO 
GET OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC 
DOWNTURN.
WE WILL WELCOME WHATEVER 
RESOURCES WE CAN GET, BUT ACCESS
TO TAXATION POWERS IS PROBABLY 
MORE IMPORTANT THAN INCURRING 
ADDITIONAL DEBT.
>> Rosemary: SO TELL ME HOW 
THINGS HAVE BEEN IN JASPER.
OBVIOUSLY CANADIANS LUCKY ENOUGH
TO HAVE BEEN THERE KNOW HOW 
GORGEOUS IT IS, BUT IF YOU WERE 
LIMITED AND SHUT DOWN, IT WOULD 
SEEM TO ME THAT MUST HAVE TAKEN 
QUITE A HIT ON THE MUNICIPALITY.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS IS ALMOST 
ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON TRAVEL, 
VISITATION IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF 
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, AND IT HAS 
BEEN DEVASTATED JUST IN TERMS OF
HOTEL OCCUPANCY.
WE ARE DOWN TO ABOUT 5%, AND 
TYPICALLY THE MONTHS OF MAY 
THROUGH SEPTEMBER WE ENJOY ABOUT
A 90% OCCUPANCY LEVEL.
SO WITHOUT THE VISITORS IN TOWN,
I THINK THERE'S SCARCELY A 
BUSINESS THAT HAS NOT BEEN 
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
EVERYBODY HAS REALLY FELT IT.
>> Rosemary: NATIONAL PARKS 
REOPENING AS OF TODAY.
WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR JASPER?
OBVIOUSLY SOME INCREASED 
TOURISM, BUT ALSO I GUESS HARD 
TO KNOW, RIGHT, WHETHER PEOPLE 
ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO TRAVEL 
RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND IT IS A GRADUAL REOPENING, 
SO THE PARK IS OPEN, AS YOU SAY 
TODAY, OUR BUSINESSES IN TOWN 
ARE OPEN AND READY TO WELCOME 
GUESTS IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE
MANNER, AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING 
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE'VE HAD TO TAKE THE VERY 
UNUSUAL STEP IN THE LAST TWO 
MONTHS OF ASKING PEOPLE POLITELY
TO STAY AWAY, TO KEEP JASPER 
SAFE AND STAY HOME.
AND NOW WE'RE READY TO 
RE-WELCOME THOSE GUESTS, 
PARTICULARLY OUR REGIONAL 
GUESTS, WHO HAVE BEEN SO 
CONSIDERATE TO OUR REQUEST, AND 
THEY HAVE POSTPONED THEIR 
VISITS.
NOW WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL
COME AGAIN, AND WE'RE READY TO 
WELCOME THEM.
BUT OF COURSE THERE WILL BE NEW 
WELCOMING PROTOCOLS IN PLACE, 
AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE 
TO GET USED TO THAT ADJUSTMENT.
>> Rosemary: SO WHAT DOES THAT 
MEAN THERE?
IS THERE A CAPACITY LIMIT?
IS IT RESTAURANTS OBVIOUSLY 
WON'T HAVE FULL RESTAURANTS OR 
HOTELS EITHER.
WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE?
>> WELL, IT'S START TO SAY 
EXACTLY WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.
CERTAINLY ALBERTA HEALTH 
SERVICES IS THE AUTHORITY ON 
THESE MATTERS, AND WE HAVE 
UNDERTAKEN TO FOLLOW THEIR 
ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 
THE START, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO
THAT, SO AS YOU MENTIONED, WITH 
RESPECT TO RESTAURANTS, FOR 
EXAMPLE, THEY ONLY HAVE ABOUT 
50% OF THE CAPACITY THAT THEY 
WOULD NORMALLY HAVE.
OTHER BUSINESSES WILL HAVE TO BE
LIMITED IN THEIR OFFER.
THERE WILL BE HOTELS, I'M SURE, 
THAT DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THEIR 
AMENITIES OPEN.
PARKS CANADA HAS INDICATED THAT 
ITS CAMPGROUNDS WILL NOT BE OPEN
UNTIL JUNE 21.
SOME OF THE ROADS REMAIN CLOSED.
SOME OF OUR MAJOR ATTRACTIONS, 
AND YOU MENTIONED A NUMBER OF 
THEM, THE PHYSICAL ATTRACTIONS 
HERE, THE MOUNTAINS, THE LAKES, 
THE GLACIERS, ALL OF THAT, THAT 
IS, OF COURSE, STILL HERE, BUT 
SOME ROADS ARE CLOSED SO YOU 
CAN'T ACCESS THOSE.
SOME OF THE ADVENTURES THAT YOU 
MIGHT OTHERWISE EXPECT HERE ARE 
NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE 
OPEN.
IF THEY ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO --
>> Rosemary: MAYOR, I'VE RUN OUT
OF TIME.
GOOD LUCK.
I HOPE PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET
BACK THERE.
THANKS SO MUCH.
YOU'RE WATCHING "CBC NEWS 
NETWORK."
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
>> Announcer: For the latest
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