.
HE IS EXPECTED TO TALK ABOUT 
TWEAKS TO THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT TO HELP A 
BROADER SWATH OF INDIVIDUALS FOR
PEOPLE WHO SAY THE CERB DOESN'T 
HELP THEM, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, 
FOR INSTANCE, WHO ARE USUALLY 
LINING UP FOR JOBS AT THIS TIME 
OF YEAR.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE 
CERB OPENED UP ON MONDAY, AND 
DOZENS AND DOZENS OF YOU HAVE 
TOLD ME, AT LEAST ON TWITTER, 
THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR 
$2,000 IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS 
THIS MORNING.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT FEDERAL 
FINANCE MINISTER BILL MORNEAU 
AND OTHER MINISTERS WILL HOLD A 
PRESS CONFERENCE IN A COUPLE OF 
HOURS FROM NOW AND THEY WILL 
TALK ABOUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
BILL.
THAT'S AT 1:30.
LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
THE HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS," 
VASSY KAPELOS, AND DAVID 
COCHRANE.
GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.
THIS WILL BE SIGNIFICANT 
HOPEFULLY FOR STUDENTS TODAY, 
VASSY, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL
THEY ARE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION
NOT BEING ABLE TO GET WORK AND 
MAYBE DIDN'T WORK DURING THE 
SCHOOL YEAR AND NEED MONEY FOR 
THE FALL.
>> Vassy: YEAH, EXACTLY, AND 
EVEN IF THEY DID WORK DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR, THEY DIDN'T MAKE 
$5,000, WHICH IS THE THRESHOLD 
FOR ACCESSING THE CERB.
MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN COUNTING 
ON THE MONEY FROM THE SUMMER TO 
PAY FOR THEIR TUITION AND 
WHATEVER THEY NEED TO.
I HAVE HEARD, YOU HAVE HEARD, 
CBC HAS HEARD FROM TONS OF 
STUDENTS WHO FEEL THEY HAVE GONE
UNADDRESSED SO FAR.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS EXPECTED 
TO ANNOUNCE A RETOOLING OF THE 
SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM, AIMED AT 
MATCHING STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE 
LOOKING FOR WORK WITH INDUSTRIES
THAT REQUIRE HELP, ESSENTIAL 
SERVICES.
IT'S IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS, 
THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS THAT 
COULD ACCESS THOSE KINDS OF 
JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ANTICIPATING.
AND THAT ADDRESSES A PORTION OF 
THE GAPS WE ARE MISSING WITH THE
CERB.
THE OTHER PORTION OF PEOPLE WHO 
ARE IN THE GIG ECONOMY WHO HAVE 
A BIT OF WORK BUTTON HAVEN'T 
ENTIRELY LOST THEIR INCOME, THE 
PRIME MINISTER DID SAY EARLIER 
IN THE WEEK THEY WOULD BE 
ADDRESSED.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE 
DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED 
ON, SO WE WON'T EXPECT ANYTHING.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY WILL BE A 
DISCUSSION.
WE HEARD PIERRE POILIÈVRE 
EARLIER IN THE WEEK.
THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A MORE
ROBUST DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A DESIRE OF 
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES TO HOLD 
MORE REGULAR SESSIONS OF 
ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH QUESTION 
PERIOD OR OTHERS.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO 
THE DRAFT LEGISLATION TO BETTER 
ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS 
THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING SO 
FREQUENTLY FROM BUSINESSES 
AROUND THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS.
THEY HAD TO SHOW IN THIS MONTH 
OF MARCH COMPARED TO LAST YEAR 
THEIR REVENUES WERE DOWN AT 
LEAST 30%.
BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE 
OUTBREAK OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE
RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE 
REQUIREMENTS, THERE IS SAID TO 
BE SOME FLEXIBILITY, SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES ARE REPORTING SOME 
FLEXIBILITY IN WHAT THE 
GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO 
INTRODUCE.
THE CONSERVATIVES AND OTHER 
OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE ASKING 
FOR EVEN MORE FLEXIBILITY.
THAT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP OUR 
EYE ON.
>> Rosemary: ALSO INTERESTING 
AIR CANADA SAID IT WOULD BE 
ALLOWED TO USE THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
TO KEEP I THINK 36,000 EMPLOYEES
ON ITS PAYROLL, WHICH IS 
INTERESTING, GIVEN THE 
STRUGGLING NATURE OF THE AIRLINE
INDUSTRY.
DAVID, OVER TO YOU ON WHAT 
YOU'RE EXPECTING OR HEARING.
>> David: THE BIT ABOUT WHAT 
VASSY SAID ABOUT THE 
FLEXIBILITY.
WE'VE CONFIRMED INDEPENDENTLY 
WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES REPORTED ON 
THIS.
TO MAKE IT EASIER BUSINESSES 
ONLY NEED TO SHOW A REDUCTION OF
15%.
THE LOCKDOWNS REALLY ONLY 
STARTED MIDMONTH.
THEY SAID IT IS UNFAIR TO HAVE 
THE 30% HURDLE.
ALSO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LAST 
MARCH, SOME COMPANIES COULD HAVE
STARTED UP AFTER THAT, YOU CAN 
COMPARE YOUR REVENUE TO JANUARY 
AND FEBRUARY AS THE BENCHMARK 
FOR THE DROP.
THESE ARE THINGS THEY'VE DONE 
AND ALLOWING A CASH ACCOUNTING 
METHOD VERSUS AN ACCRUAL METHOD 
THAT SHOULD CAPTURE MORE 
COMPANIES.
ALREADY DAN KELLY FROM THE 
INDEPENDENT FEDERATION OF 
BUSINESS IS PRAISING THIS AS A 
POSITIVE STEP FORWARD.
THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT IT 
DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH BECAUSE 
WHEN YOU MAKE POLICY THIS BIG 
THIS FAST, SOME THINGS GET 
MISSED.
WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY ROLLED 
OUT I INTERVIEWED A RESTAURANT 
OTHER THAN WHO OPENED IN MARCH.
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY SOUNDS 
GREAT AS A COMPARISON POINT, BUT
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN ST. JOHN'S?
ABOUT A MILLION FEET OF SNOW 
FELL THERE.
THERE ARE LOCALIZED 
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT EVERY TIME 
YOU TRY TO FIX SOMETHING, YOU 
WILL STUMBLE ACROSS THIS.
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE STILL
NEGOTIATING.
WE HEARD PIERRE POILIÈVRE SAY 
THEY WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR 
BUSINESSES TO QUALIFY.
THEY ALSO WANT IT FAST.
THE CORPORATE SECTOR, SMALL, 
MEDIUM, LARGE HAVEN'T BEEN 
GETTING ANY MONEY.
THE CERB IS WORKING QUICKLY, BUT
THIS NOT SO MUCH.
>> Rosemary: BACK TO THE CERB.
IF YOU HAD QUALIFIED FOR 
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OR YOU HAD 
SENT IN AN APPLICATION FOR 
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AFTER MARCH
15, YOU WERE AUTOMATICALLY MOVED
OVER TO THE CERB.
WHAT YOU SEE IN YOUR BANK 
ACCOUNT WITHIN THREE DAYS, IT 
WILL BE THE CERB AND NOT E.I., 
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME REPORTS 
THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING BOTH.
I'M GUESSING YOU WON'T BE ABLE 
TO KEEP ALL THAT.
FROM A LOGISTICAL PERSPECTIVE, 
IT DOES SEEM TO BE WORKING.
I WILL LEAVE YOU BECAUSE I 
BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR FIRST GUEST,
THE PREMIER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA,
JOHN HORGAN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU 
FOR MAKING THE TIME.
>> Premier John Horgan: GOOD 
MORNING, ROSIE.
>> Rosemary: PREMIER, HOW IS THE
PROVINCE DOING?
WE HEAR THESE STORIES OF A 
GLIMMER OF HOPE AND MAYBE 
TURNING A CORNER.
HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT?
>> Premier John Horgan: WE'RE 
OPTIMISTIC.
WE'VE SEEN A DECLINED IN THE 
NUMBER OF CASES AND A REDUCTION 
IN THE HOSPITALIZATION AND 
REDUCTION OF THE I.C.U. 
PATIENTS.
THESE ARE ALL GOOD INDICATIONS, 
BUT WE'RE FAR FROM OUT OF THE 
WOODS YET.
WE HAVE DIRECTION FROM THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT WE 
NEED TO STAY THE COURSE.
WITH THE WEEKEND AND GOOD 
WEATHER COMING UP, WE'RE GOING 
TO PUSH THAT, BUT SO FAR SO 
GOOD.
>> Rosemary: WHAT DO YOU THINK 
MADE THE DIFFERENCE?
AT ONE POINT IN TIME IT SEEMED 
LIKE THE CASES WERE RISING 
QUICKLY, BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE 
ONTARIO AND QUÉBEC ARE THE ONES 
STRUGGLING.
WHAT MEASURES MADE THE 
DIFFERENCE IN YOUR PROVINCE?
>> Premier John Horgan: WELL, I 
THINK WE WERE FORTUNATE, 
ROSEMARY, IN THAT WE HAD AN 
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC RESPONSE.
MY MINISTER ADRIAN DICKS BROUGHT
THESE TO CABINET IN JANUARY.
WE HAVE THE LUNAR CELEBRATIONS 
IN JANUARY WHICH ARE EXTREMELY 
LARGE.
A FRACTION OF THE PEOPLE SHOWED 
UP BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS OF 
THE VIRUS COMING FROM CHINA.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A CONFIRMED CASE
COMING FROM CHINA SINCE 
VALENTINE'S DAY.
WE HAVE SEEN A GROWTH OF CASES 
FROM COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.
WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK IN
WASHINGTON STATE AS WELL, IN 
LATE FEBRUARY, WHICH REALLY 
FOCUSED THE MINDS OF 
BRITISH COLUMBIANS.
IT WAS JUST ACROSS THE 49th 
PARALLEL.
PEOPLE RALLIED TO THE CALL OF 
ACTION AND THE STAY-AT-HOME 
ORDERS GIVEN BY PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE'VE SEEN 
A POSITIVE OUTCOME.
AS DR. HENRY SAID YESTERDAY, A 
LITTLE BIT OF GOOD LUCK AND 
BEGINNING THIS PROCESS BEFORE 
OTHER PROVINCES PUT US IN A GOOD
POSITION TODAY.
>> Rosemary: YOU DID HAVE SOME 
CRITICISM AROUND THE BORDER 
ISSUE WHEN THAT OUTBREAK 
HAPPENED.
YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT THE 
DECISION TO MAKE AMERICANS 
EXEMPT FROM CROSSING WAS GOING 
TO LEAD TO FURTHER PROBLEMS FOR 
YOUR PROVINCE.
I KNOW THAT JUST LAST WEEK YOUR 
GOVERNMENT EXPRESSED CONCERNS 
THAT CANADIANS BEING 
REPATRIATED, OF WHICH THERE WERE
THOUSANDS, WERE JUST BEING TOLD 
TO QUARANTINE AND WERE NOT BEING
SCREENED.
HAVE YOU MANAGED TO PUSH THAT 
FORWARD WITH THE GOVERNMENT?
>> Premier John Horgan: WE HAVE.
WE WILL BE MAKING AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT LATER IN THE DAY.
THE PROVINCE WILL STEP IN AND 
FILL SOME OF THE GAPS THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT ABLE 
TO FILL AT THIS TIME.
I WOULDN'T OFFER CRITICISM ON 
THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT AND 
CONSTANT ON THE NEED TO ENSURE 
WE ARE NOT INTRODUCING NEW CASES
INTO B.C.
WE WILL BE MAKING AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT YVR, THE 
BORDER TO THE SOUTH.
BUT WE'RE WRITING THIS AS WE GO,
AS YOU KNOW.
I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL HAVE
A GOOD ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AND 
MORE TO COME.
>> Rosemary: WITHOUT YOU HAVING 
TO PRE-EMPT YOURSELF, DO YOU 
MEAN YOU WILL BE SCREENING 
PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN FROM 
REPATRIATED FLIGHTS OR 
ELSEWHERE?
>> Premier John Horgan: WE WANT 
TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A PLAN
TO SELF-ISOLATE, NOT JUST, YEAH,
I'LL DO THAT, BUT A PLAN.
WE'LL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FORM.
AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU TRAVEL 
INTERNATIONALLY, YOU HAVE TO 
FILL SOMETHING OUT, A SMALL 
DOCUMENT.
IT WILL BE A LARGER DOCUMENT 
COMING INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA.
I EXPECT MINISTER FREELAND WILL 
BE WORKING IN THE SAME VEIN AS 
ONTARIO AND QUÉBEC.
WE WILL BE LEADING THE W IN 
B.C., BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN 
PERSISTENT ON THIS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
RECOGNIZES THIS AS A CHALLENGE 
AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH US TO 
RESOLVE THE ISSUES.
I WISH WE HAD DONE IT A WEEK 
AGO, BUT HINDSIGHT YOU CAN 
ALWAYS SAY YOU COULD DO BETTER 
OPINION THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION
IS UNPRECEDENT PED.
MY COLLEAGUES, PREMIERS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW THE 
POLITICAL CLEAVAGES BETWEEN 
VARIOUS PROVINCES AND VARIOUS 
POLITICAL ALIGNMENTS IN OUR 
PROVINCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
HAVE ALL BEEN WASHED AWAY AND 
WE'RE WORKING CO-OPERATIVELY, 
FOCUSED ON RESULTS FOR 
CANADIANS.
IT'S REALLY ASPIING TO 
PARTICIPATE IN.
I'M HUMBLE TO HAVE A ROLE IN 
THIS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.
WE WON'T GET THROUGH THIS UNLESS
THE PUBLIC IS WITH US.
SO FAR SO GOOD.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS 
ENCOURAGING.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
IN THIS PROVINCE IN ONTARIO, 
THEY STILL HAVE NOT PUT IN PLACE
THE MEASURE THAT YOU PUT IN 
PLACE, WHERE A WORKER WAS NOT 
THE ALLOWED TO WORK IN MORE THAN
ONE PLACE.
HOW SIGNIFICANT A PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURE DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?
>> Premier John Horgan: IT'S 
SIGNIFICANT AND THERE ARE A LOT 
OF REASONS WHY THE LONG-TERM 
CARE SECTOR?
BRITISH COLUMBIA HAS A WORKFORCE
THAT HAS TO WORK IN TWO AND 
THREE HOMES.
WE WANT TO TAKE STEPS TO REVERSE
THAT.
THIS IS POLICY FROM GOVERNMENTS 
GOING BACK A DECADE AND A HALF.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT 
THAT.
WE'VE SEEN RESULTS IN A TRAGIC 
PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT IN THAT 
POLICY.
WE'VE TAKEN STEPS TO REDUCE THE 
NUMBER OF INTERACTIONS WITH CARE
AIDS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS FROM HOME TO HOME.
REGRETTABLY 43 OF THE FATALITIES
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA HAVE BEEN IN
CARE HOMES.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT'S A PLACE WE 
NEED TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION.
AGAIN, WE GOT ON THAT EARLY.
I ENCOURAGED MY COLLEAGUES AT 
THE COUNCIL OF FEDERATION TO 
FOLLOW SUIT AND MANY OF THEM 
HAVE.
>> Rosemary: YOUR PROVINCIAL 
HEALTH OFFICER, DR. BONNIE 
HENRY, WHO'S BECOME A BIT OF A 
CELEBRITY IN THIS COUNTRY, WHEN 
SHE'S DOING HER MODELLING OR 
FORECAST, AND SHE'S GOING TO DO 
ANOTHER, SHE'S BEEN RESISTANT TO
PUT ON FATALITIES AS OPPOSED TO 
ONTARIO AND QUÉBEC.
ARE YOU GOING TO ASK HER TO DO 
THAT?
IS THERE PRESSURE FOR YOU GUYS 
TO RELEASE THOSE KINDS OF 
NUMBERS?
>> Premier John Horgan: WELL, I 
DON'T FEEL ANY PRESSURE TO DO 
THAT.
I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN 
DR. HENRY.
THE OBJECTIVE IN HER MIND AND IN
MY MIND OF THE MODELLING IS TO 
PREPARE OUR ACUTE CARE SYSTEM TO
ADDRESS ILLNESS, NOT TO GIVE 
COUNTS OF POTENTIAL FATALITIES.
IT'S TO PREPARE FOR THE VOLUME 
OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE COMING 
INTO THE SYSTEM.
THE MODELLING HELPS US DETERMINE
HOW MUCH P.P.E. WE NEED, HOW 
MANY VENTILATORS WE NEED, DO 
WE'VE ENOUGH SPACE IN THE 
VARIOUS HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN 
BRITISH COLUMBIA IN THE EVENT OF
A CRUSH.
WE'VE SEEN THAT THE CURVE IS 
STARTING TO BEND HERE IN B.C.
WE'RE VERY ENCOURAGED BY THAT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS ANY 
VALUE IN FURTHER FRIGHTENING 
BRITISH COLUMBIANS.
WE NEED TO USE THE MODELLING FOR
PRACTICAL REASONS AND MAKE SURE 
THE SYSTEM IS PREPARED.
THAT'S WHAT THE MODELLING HAS 
BEEN AND WILL BE IN B.C.
>> Rosemary: THIS HOPE AND 
OPTIMISM THAT YOU AND DR. HENRY 
HAVE AT LEAST AT THE BEGINNING 
OF THE CURVE FLATTENING, ARE YOU
CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WILL READ 
THAT IN THE WRONG WAY AND BE A 
LITTLE TOO OR MORE RELAXED ABOUT
PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND OTHER 
MEASURES DISM. 
>> Premier John Horgan: I AM 
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
THE WEATHER IS SPECTACULAR IN 
SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA HERE 
TODAY.
IT IS FORECAST TO BE GREAT 
DURING THE EASTER LONG WEEKEND.
WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THE PEOPLE 
HERE WILL TAKE TOO MUCH FROM 
WHAT THEY'VE SEEN AND LIGHTEN UP
ON THEIR ISOLATION.
WE WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY
HOME AND STAY THE COURSE.
WE ARE 100% COMMITTED TO EACH 
OTHER.
WE NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET 
BACK TO A SENSE OF NORMALCY IS 
IF WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE 
GUIDELINES PUT IN PLACE BY 
DR. HENRY, EVEN ON THE SUNNY 
DAYS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, WE 
NEED TO FOCUS ON STAYING AWAY 
FROM OTHER PEOPLE, WASHING OUR 
HANDS, MAKING SURE THAT IF WE 
DON'T HAVE TOBACCO OUTSIDE, 
WE'RE NOT OUTSIDE.
>> Rosemary: I'M WAITING FOR THE
PRIME MINISTER.
I ONLY HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE, 
PREMIER.
HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP BECAUSE 
IT'S A LOT FOR EVERYONE TO SORT 
OF MANAGE.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Premier John Horgan: OH, I'M 
FINE.
AS I SAID, IT'S A REAL HONOUR 
AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE IN A 
POSITION TO EFFECT POSITIVE 
CHANGE.
YOU DON'T PLAN FOR A PANDEMIC.
YOU DON'T PLAN FOR THE 
CHALLENGES WE'VE FACED IN B.C. 
OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS.
THE WORST-EVER FIRE SEASON -- 
SUCCESSIVE FIRE SEASONS, FLOODS,
NOW PESTULENTS, I'M WAITING FOR 
THE FROGS TO COME.
I'M INSPIRED BY THE PEOPLE.
JUST THE NOOIR SEASON IN 2017 
WAS ENOUGH.
A WORSE SEASON IN 2018.
FLOOD SEASON, BLOCKAGES IN THE 
RIVER FOR SALMON.
HAROLD MCMILLAN SAID, EVENTS, 
DEAR BOY, YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST 
PLANS IN THE WORLD, BUT YOU HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THE HERE AND NOW.
I'M PROUD OF HOW THE PEOPLE OF 
B.C. HAVE RESPONDED.
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT'S 
INTERESTING TO SEE PEOPLE FROM 
DIFFERENT POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES
AND REGIONS, PUTTING ASIDE ALL 
OF THOSE HISTORIC GRIEVANCES 
THAT WE AS CANADIANS HAVE WITH 
EACH OTHER TO COME OUT BETTER 
OFF AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> Rosemary: PREMIER HORGAN, 
VERY GOOD OF YOU TO MAKE THE 
TIME AND WISHING THE PROVINCE 
ALL THE BEST AS YOU CONTINUE TO 
FLATTEN THE CURVE.
EVERYONE STAY HEALTHY OUT THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> Premier John Horgan: THANK 
YOU, ROSIE.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S B.C. PREMIER
JOHN HORGAN IN VICTORIA.
LATER TODAY HE WILL MAKE AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FURTHER 
SCREENING MEASURES FOR PEOPLE 
COMING INTO HIS PROVINCE BECAUSE
BRITISH COLUMBIA IS THE PROVINCE
THAT IS HAVING SOME SUCCESS IN, 
AS YOU HEARD THERE, FLATTENING 
THE CURVE, PART OF IT TO DO WITH
THE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES THEY 
TOOK AND ALSO THE INCREASED 
SCREENING THEY PUT IN PLACE IN 
OTHER PROVINCES.
HERE NOW THE PROVINCE OF CANADA.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY
OF PINK.
TODAY WE WEAR PINK TO STAND UP 
TO PINK AND TO SUPPORT THOSE 
FACING DISCRIMINATION.
IF YOU FEEL ALONE, ARE ANXIOUS 
OR SCARED, KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE
WITH YOU TODAY AND EVERY DAY.
I WANT TO BEGIN THIS MORNING BY 
ADDRESSING CANADA'S JEWISH 
COMMUNITY.
TONIGHT AT SUN DOWN MARKS THE 
BEGINNING OF PASSOVER.
USUALLY THIS IS A TIME FOR 
FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO GATHER 
AROUND THE SADER TABLE.
TONIGHT WILL NOT BE LIKE OTHER 
NIGHTS.
I KNOW THAT STAYING IN AND NOT 
GATHERING WITH EXTENDED FAMILY 
WILL BE HARD, BUT IT'S THE BEST 
WAY TO KEEP YOUR LOVED ONES 
SAFE.
I KNOW YOU WILL FIND A WAY TO 
CONNECT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
WHETHER ON THE PHONE OR THROUGH 
VIDEO CHAT.
TO ALL THOSE CELEBRATING 
PASSOVER [SPEAKING FOREIGN 
LANGUAGE].
WE'VE ALL HAD TO MAKE 
ADJUSTMENTS.
STAYING INDOORS AND NOT SEEING 
FRIENDS OR FAMILY IS HARD, BUT 
HARDER FOR OTHERS.
IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOB OR ARE 
IN AN INDUSTRY THAT'S HIT HARD 
BY THIS VIRUS, YOU'RE WORRIED 
ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR 
FUTURE.
WHAT MAKES THIS SITUATION SO 
DIFFICULT IS HOW QUICKLY IT 
HAPPENED.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN, 
YOUR WHOLE WORLD HAS BEEN TURNED
UPSIDE DOWN IN A COUPLE OF 
WEEKS.
THAT CAN CREATE ANXIETY.
WE'VE BROUGHT IN NEW MEASURES TO
HELP FAMILIES, SENIORS, BUSINESS
OWNERS GET THROUGH THIS.
WE'VE PUT IN PLACE A THREE-POINT
ECONOMIC PLAN.
IT SUPPORTS BUSINESS OWNERS, 
INCLUDING THROUGH NEW LOANS, 
WHILE HELPING THOSE WHO NO 
LONGER HAVE A PAYCHEQUE THROUGH 
THE CERB AND PROTECTING JOBS 
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE ANXIOUS 
TO SEE THIS SUBSIDY DELIVERED.
WE'RE CALLING ON THE OPPOSITION 
TO BRING THE HOUSE BACK TO PASS 
LEGISLATION SO YOU CAN GET THE 
SUPPORT YOU NEED AS SOON AS 
POSSIBLE.
CABINET WILL BE MEETING THIS 
AFTERNOON.
AS USUAL, MOST CABINET MEMBERS 
WILL BE ON THE PHONE AND I WILL 
BE ATTENDING THIS ONE IN PERSON 
TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] SINCE WE ANNOUNCED 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY, WE'VE HAD A 
GREAT MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH 
BUSINESS PEOPLE, UNIONS, AND 
WORKERS.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR 
ADVICE AND THEIR VIEWPOINTS.
THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE HELPED 
US TO ADJUST WHAT WE INITIALLY 
ANNOUNCED IN ORDER TO INCLUDE 
MORE BUSINESSES AND HELP MORE 
PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK 
ABOUT TODAY.
WE SAID THAT BUSINESSES HAD TO 
DEMONSTRATE THAT THEIR REVENUE 
DROPPED BY 30% THIS MONTH 
COMPARED TO THE LAST YEAR IN 
ORDER TO RECEIVE THE SUBSIDY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT FOR NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS AND FAST-GROWTH 
COMPANIES, THAT COULD PRESENT A 
PROBLEM.
SO WE ARE GOING TO RELAX THOSE 
CONDITIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, BUSINESSES WILL 
HAVE TO SHOW A DECLINE OF 15% IN
THEIR REVENUE FOR THE MONTH OF 
MARCH RATHER THAN 30% IN ORDER 
TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE 
PANDEMIC HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON 
THEIR ACTIVITIES IN MARCH.
BUSINESSES WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO 
CHOOSE TO USE THE MONTH OF 
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AS THE 
REFERENCE PERIOD TO SHOW A LOSS 
OF REVENUE.
WITH RESPECT TO CHARITIES AND 
NON-PROFITS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT 
YOU ARE FACING A DIFFERENT 
REALITY WHEN IT COMES TO 
FUNDING.
FOR THAT REASON, YOU WILL HAVE A
CHOICE.
YOU CAN INCLUDE OR EXCLUDE THE 
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY WHEN YOU 
CALCULATE YOUR LOSS OF REVENUE.
IF YOUR BUSINESS IS AFFECTED BY 
COVID-19, THE GOVERNMENT WILL 
GIVE YOU UP TO $847 A WEEK FOR 
EVERY EMPLOYEE.
AS WE ALREADY ANNOUNCED, THAT 
SUBSIDY WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO 
MARCH 15.
[end of translation] SINCE WE 
ANNOUNCED THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
WAGE SUBSIDY, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER
OF CONVERSATIONS WITH 
STAKEHOLDERS AND WORKERS WHO 
PROVIDED US WITH VALUABLE 
FEEDBACK AND HELPED US REFINE 
WHAT WE PUT FORWARD.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR 
INPUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE THESE EMERGENCY 
MEASURES AS EFFECTIVE AND 
INCLUSIVE AS WE CAN, SO WE'RE 
LISTENING AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS
ALONG THE WAY.
WE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED THAT TO 
QUALIFY FOR THE SUBSIDY, 
BUSINESSES WOULD HAVE TO SHOW A 
30% DROP IN REVENUES WHEN 
COMPARING THE MONTH THIS YEAR TO
THE MONTH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS COULD BE 
AN ISSUE FOR NON-PROFITS, 
FAST-GROWING COMPANIES LIKE 
START-UPS, AND NEW BUSINESSES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE 
MORE FLEXIBLE RULES.
COMPANIES WILL NOW HAVE THE 
OPTION OF USING JANUARY AND 
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AS 
REFERENCE POINTS TO SHOW A 30% 
LOSS.
BUSINESSES WILL ONLY NEED TO 
SHOW A 15 PER CENT DECLINE IN 
MARCH INSTEAD OF 30% BECAUSE 
SOME OF US ONLY FELT THE IMPACT 
OF COVID-19 HALFWAY THROUGH THE 
MONTH.
WE UNDERSTAND CHARITIES AND 
NON-PROFITS ARE EXPERIENCING 
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRESSURES 
WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING.
FOR THIS REASON, THEY WILL HAVE 
THE POSSIBILITY TO INCLUDE OR 
EXCLUDE GOVERNMENT FUNDING WHEN 
CALCULATING LOSS OF REVENUE.
IF YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN 
IMPACTED BY COVID-19, THE 
GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE YOU UP TO 
$847 PER WEEK PER EMPLOYEE.
AS WE SAID BEFORE, THIS SUBSIDY 
WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO MARCH 15.
OUR GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT 
NOT ALL BUSINESSES OPERATE THE 
SAME WAY, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE 
MAKING CHANGES TO INCLUDE AS 
MANY OF YOU AS POSSIBLE.
WE WILL KEEP LISTENING, BUT WE 
REALLY HOPE YOU WILL USE THIS 
HELP FROM YOUR COUNTRY AND FROM 
YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS TO REHIRE 
AND PAY YOUR WORKERS.
IF OUR ECONOMY IS TO GET THROUGH
THIS, WE NEED BUSINESSES TO 
SURVIVE AND WORKERS TO GET PAID.
JOB NUMBERS FROM MARCH WILL BE 
OUT TOMORROW.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD DAY FOR 
THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE FACING A UNIQUE CHALLENGE,
BUT I KNOW IF WE PULL TOGETHER, 
OUR ECONOMY WILL COME ROARING 
BACK AFTER THIS CRISIS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] IN RECENT WEEKS WE 
INTRODUCED UNPRECEDENTED 
MEASURES INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY
WAGE SUBSIDY AND THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY BENEFIT TO HELP 
WORKERS, FAMILIES, AND 
BUSINESSES.
HAVING SAID THAT, SOME PEOPLE 
ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO THE BENEFITS
WE PUT IN PLACE.
THEY NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
I'M THINKING OF GIG WORKERS OR 
PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE HOME CARE OR 
PEOPLE WHOSE WORK HOURS ARE 10 
HOURS OR LESS A WEEK.
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR 
SOLUTIONS AND WE WILL HELP YOU.
OUR SENIORS ARE ALSO GOING 
THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD 
THESE DAYS BECAUSE THEY ARE 
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO 
COVID-19.
AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE 
CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF 
THE ECONOMIC DECLINE ON THEIR 
SAVINGS AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES 
OF THE CRISIS.
WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL MEASURES
PUT IN PLACE TO HELP THE MOST 
VULNERABLE CANADIANS.
NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENTS 
AND YOUNG PEOPLE PREPARING TO 
ENTER THE JOB MARKET, WE WILL 
HAVE A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO 
HELP YOU AS WELL.
THIS MORNING WE'RE STARTING WITH
THE FIRST STEP.
[end of translation] TO HELP 
PEOPLE IN SMALL BUSINESSES AND 
STUDENTS AFFECTED BY COVID-19, 
WE'RE MAKING CHANGES TO THE 
CANADA SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM.
WE WILL GIVE EMPLOYERS OF THAT 
PROGRAM A SUBSIDY OF UP TO 100% 
TO COVER THE COSTS OF HIRING 
STUDENTS.
WE WILL ALSO EXTEND THE TIME 
FRAME FOR JOB PLACEMENT UNTIL 
THE WINTER BECAUSE WE KNOW SOME 
JOBS WILL START LATER THAN 
USUAL.
BECAUSE MANY BUSINESSES HAVE HAD
TO SCALE BACK THEIR OPERATIONS, 
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HIRE 
STUDENTS PART TIME.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS ALSO 
ENCOURAGING ALL EMPLOYERS WHO 
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19 
TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS SO WORK CAN 
CONTINUE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU RUN A LOCAL 
FOOD BANK, YOU MAY BE DOING 
DELIVERIES INSTEAD OF SERVING 
PEOPLE ON SITE, SO YOU COULD 
HIRE STUDENTS TO HELP YOU.
WE WILL ALSO BE ASKING M.P.s 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO REACH OUT 
TO BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS 
PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES IN 
THEIR COMMUNITIES TO LOOK AT HOW
STUDENTS CAN HELP DURING THIS 
CRITICAL TIME.
IN THIS ECONOMIC CLIMATE, IT'S 
HARD FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO 
FIND WORK, BUT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE 
ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE.
THEY'RE NEW TO THE WORKFORCE, SO
THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY 
SET ASIDE FOR THIS KIND OF 
SITUATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, THEY NEED WORK
EXPERIENCE TO SECURE THEIR NEXT 
JOB AND MONEY TO COVER THEIR 
LIVING EXPENSES AND HELP WITH 
TUITION FOR THE REST OF THE 
YEAR.
TODAY WE'RE TAKING A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION TO HELP YOUNG 
PEOPLE FIND WORK DURING THIS 
DIFFICULT TIME, BUT I WANT TO BE
CLEAR, WE WILL BE DOING MORE.
JUST LIKE WE WILL BE DOING MORE 
FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP BUT ARE 
NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE 
BENEFITS WE'VE ANNOUNCED SO FAR.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING 
AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO MAKE SURE 
OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS GET WHAT 
THEY NEED TO STAY SAFE.
OVERNIGHT WE RECEIVED 1 MILLION 
N95 MASKS MASKS FROM 3M AND THEY
WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY WHERE THEY HAVE MOST 
NEEDED.
I KNOW THE PAST WEEKS HAVEN'T 
BEEN EASY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO 
GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER IF 
EVERYONE KEEPS FOLLOWING THE 
INSTRUCTIONS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH 
EXPERTS.
PLEASE, STAY HOME AS MUCH AS 
POSSIBLE.
ONLY GO OUT FOR ESSENTIAL THINGS
LIKE GROCERIES AND MEDICATIONS.
TRY TO MAKE THAT TRIP ONCE A 
WEEK OR LESS.
WHEN YOU DO, REMEMBER TO KEEP 2 
METRES FROM THOSE AROUND YOU.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO STAY 
HEALTHY AND PROTECT OUR 
FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ARE DOING 
SO MUCH TO HELP ALL OF US.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] ONCE AGAIN, THANK 
YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
I'M NOW PLEASED TO TAKE YOUR 
MEDIA QUESTIONS.
[end of translation]. 
>> THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
WE'LL GO TO THE PHONES FOR ONE 
QUESTION AND A FOLLOW-UP.
>> Operator: THE FIRST QUESTION 
IS FROM HEDERS HOFFIELD FROM THE
"TORONTO STAR."
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
COULD YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT 
YOUR PLAN IS TO GET PEOPLE BACK 
TO WORK SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY 
WITHOUT PROVOKING ANOTHER 
OUTBREAK?
>> Answer: WHAT WE'RE SEEING 
AROUND THE WORLD IS COUNTRIES 
ARE BEGINNING, AS WE SEE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING MEASURES, AS WE SEE 
PEOPLE STAYING HOME IN COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD, ARE NOW 
LOOKING AT THE STEPS NEEDED TO 
THINK ABOUT EASING THOSE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING RULES, TO START OUR 
ECONOMIES ROLLING AGAIN.
IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT WE NEED 
TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL THAT 
ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE OVER 
THESE PAST WEEKS AND IN THE 
COMING DAYS ON STAYING HOME AND 
FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF 
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS 
DOESN'T BECOME FOR NAUGHT AS 
SPIKES HAPPEN WHEN WE GET BACK 
TO WORK.
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO DO IT IN
A MEASURED AND GRADUATED WAY 
THAT ALLOWS FOR ECONOMIC 
OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN, WHILE 
PREVENTING SEVERE SPIKES IN 
COVID TRANSMISSION.
THERE IS A LOT OF REFLECTIONS 
ONGOING ON THAT.
BUT AS WE KNOW, THE CURRENT 
MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE FOR 
MANY MORE WEEKS SO WE HAVE TIME 
TO GET THAT RIGHT AND TO LOOK AT
OTHER COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT BE 
EARLIER IN THEIR PHASE AND IF IT
IS SUCCESSFUL OR LESS.
>> Question: JUST TO FOLLOW UP 
ON THAT.
IT SEEMS WE HAVE SOME TIME TO 
THINK ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S 
ALSO -- HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE 
RISK OF SUMMERTIME?
WE'VE BEEN INSIDE FOR FOUR WEEKS
AND PEOPLE ARE DOING IT 
VOLUNTARILY, BUT WHAT IS THE 
RISK OF THAT FALLING APART AS 
THE GOOD WEATHER COMES AND 
PEOPLE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF 
EARNINGS?
>> Answer: WE WILL BE TALKING 
ABOUT MODELLING IN THE COMING 
DAYS AND WHAT VARIOUS SCENARIOS 
ARE.
BUT WHAT IS VERY, VERY CLEAR IS 
THAT IN ORDER TO AVOID SPIKING 
CASES AND IN ORDER TO AVOID 
HAVING TO STAY IN REDUCED 
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY MODES FOR 
MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS AND
MONTHS, WE NEED TO KEEP VERY, 
VERY STRONG IN THE MEASURES WE 
HAVE NOW.
THAT IS HOW WE GET TO THE 
BEST-CASE SCENARIO.
QUITE FRANKLY, THE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING AND THE STAYING HOME 
THAT CANADIANS ARE DOING NOW IS 
BEING EXACTLY -- IS EXACTLY THE 
RIGHT KINDS OF THINGS WE NEED IN
ORDER TO LOOK AT THE MOST 
OPTIMISTIC MODELS.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ONCE WE 
START TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THIS SIDE AND ARE ABLE TO 
TALK ABOUT EASING OFF SOCIAL 
DISTANCING, THERE WILL BE A NEED
FOR CONTINUAL SURVEILLANCE, 
CONTINUAL ATTENTIVENESS ON 
TESTING, ON CONTACT TRACING, ON 
PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE 
THAT MEANS EVEN AS THINGS ARE 
ABLE TO START GETTING BACK TO 
NORMAL, THEY WON'T BE BACK TO 
NORMAL.
CALIBRATING THAT RIGHT AND 
UNDERSTANDING WHAT PEOPLE ARE 
DOING NOW IS ESSENTIAL, WHAT 
THEY WILL CONTINUE DOING NOW IS 
JUST IS -- IN THE COMING WEEKS 
IS JUST AS ESSENTIAL.
BUT HOW WE EASE OFF AND CONTINUE
TO FOLLOW THE BEST DIRECTIONS 
AND INSTRUCTIONS OF OUR PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS WILL BE HOW WE 
MANAGE TO GET THROUGH THIS IN 
THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
IT'S DIFFICULT TO REMAIN IN 
ISOLATION OR REMAIN HOME DURING 
THIS PERIOD.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT FOR MANY 
WEEKS TO COME.
BUT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE BEST 
POSSIBLE CHANCE OF COMING OUT OF
THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND 
AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE, WE MUST 
CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE 
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE KEEPING
US SAFE.
AT SOME POINT IN A FEW MONTHS 
PROBABLY, WHEN WE ARE EASING 
SOME OF THE MEASURES, WE WILL 
HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE VERY 
VIGILANT ABOUT OUR OWN BEHAVIOUR
IN RETURNING TO WORK TO ENSURE 
THAT WE WON'T BE FACING A NEW 
EPIDEMIC OR EVEN WORSE, THAT 
EVERYTHING WE WILL HAVE DONE IN 
THESE PAST WEEKS WILL HAVE BEEN 
FOR NOTHING AND WE'LL HAVE A 
MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE COUNTRY.
SO WE ARE LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY
ABOUT HOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE 
NEXT PHASE, BUT THERE IS NO 
DOUBT THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE 
MIDST OF THIS PHASE WHICH MEANS 
YOU HAVE TO STAY AT HOME AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE AND MAINTAIN THE 
PHYSICAL DISTANCE FROM OTHERS.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE 
GOVERNMENT CHOSE NOT TO MAKE 
RELEASE PAYMENTS SIMPLE, 
INCLUSIVE, AND UNIVERSAL?
WE'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF 
PEOPLE WHO ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE
MEASURES YOU OUTLINED, INCLUDING
THOSE THIS WEEK.
WE ARE HEARING OF SOME PEOPLE 
WHO HAVE SOME INCOME NOT TO TAKE
THE INCOME, WE ARE HEARING FROM 
OTHERS WHO ARE TOLD NOT TO 
INVOICE WHICH SOUNDS UNETHICAL.
WHY DID YOU SET THINGS OUT THIS 
WAY?
>> Answer: WE UNDERSTOOD WE 
NEEDED TO DO THINGS QUICKLY AND 
ROBUSTLY IN A WAY THAT WOULD 
ALLOW YOUR EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC 
SERVANTS AT CANADA REVENUE 
AGENCY AND ELSEWHERE TO PUT IN A
SYSTEM THAT WOULD REACH THE 
LARGEST NUMBER OF CANADIANS THAT
NEEDED IT AS POSSIBLE.
WE LOOKED AT MANY DIFFERENT 
DESIGNS AND LOOKED AT THE 
DESIGNS PUT FORWARD, BUT WE 
REALIZED THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT WAS A 
WAY-GIVING INCOME TO THOSE WHO 
SUDDENLY FOUND THEMSELVES 
WITHOUT A PAYCHEQUE AND THE WAGE
SUBSIDY AT 75% WAS GOING TO BE 
ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE CONNECTED TO
THEIR JOBS AND ENSURE THAT 
BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO EXIST SO 
THAT THEY CAN COME BACK QUICKLY 
AFTERWARDS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT ANY TIME YOU 
PUT OUT LARGE MEASURES QUICKLY 
AND IN A WAY THAT IS SOLID 
ENOUGH TO BE CERTAIN THAT IT'S 
GOING TO WORK THROUGH THE 
MACHINE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE 
GAPS.
WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER 
THESE PAST DAYS IS WAYS OF 
FILLING THOSE GAPS AND MAKING 
SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
EXCEPTIONAL OR DIFFERENT 
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ABLE TO ACCESS
THE HELP WE NEED.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE TO
SAY ON THAT IN THE COMING DAYS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WHEN WE'RE TRYING 
TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS 
POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO INTRODUCE 
VERY BROAD MEASURES THAT ARE AT 
THE SAME TIME ROBUST BECAUSE WE 
WANT TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THOSE
BENEFITS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS 
POSSIBLE AS PART OF A SYSTEM 
THAT WAS NOT ACTUALLY CREATED TO
OPERATE THAT QUICKLY AND AS 
BROADLY.
SO THAT'S THE CHOICE THAT WE 
MADE.
 WITH THE SUPPLEMENT FOR 
WORKERS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE 
PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH MILLIONS OF 
PEOPLE WILL BE RECEIVING THE 
BENEFIT, WE KNOW THERE ARE 
PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR 
CIRCUMSTANCES WHO WILL NOT 
QUALIFY FOR THAT PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE CONSTANTLY 
REFINING THE MEASURES TO TRY AND
FIND WAYS TO GIVE HELP TO PEOPLE
WHO NEED THAT HELP.
WE REALIZE THAT WE CAN'T HAVE A 
PERFECT SYSTEM IN THIS KIND OF 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
WE ARE NOT AIMING FOR 
PERFECTION.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP AS MANY 
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE CONSTANTLY 
ANNOUNCING NEW MEASURES TO HELP 
PEOPLE.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: WITH RESPECT, IF 
YOUR GOAL IS TO HELP THE WIDEST 
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS AS
BROAD AS POSSIBLE AND YOU'RE 
DEFENDING IT BY SAYING YOU 
NEEDED TO HAVE BIG, BOLD ACTION,
WOULDN'T THE BIG, BOLD ACTION BE
TO SEND EVERYBODY HELP, AS 
OPPOSED TO ROLLING OUT WEEK BY 
WEEK NEW CHANGES, VARIOUS 
VERSIONS OF PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO
FIX THE GAPS THAT APPARENTLY ARE
JUST COMING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S 
ATTENTION, THAT WAY YOU WOULDN'T
HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIX, SEVEN, 
EIGHT WEEKS WITHOUT INCOME AT 
ALL?
>> Answer: WE KNEW FROM THE 
BEGINNING THAT WE HAD TO MAKE A 
CHOICE, WHETHER WE GET BIG 
PROGRAMS OUT QUICKLY TO AS MANY 
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, OR ELSE WE 
FIGURE OUT HOW TO REFINE THEM 
AND GET THEM TO THE RIGHT 
PEOPLE.
WE MADE IT A DOUBLE PROCESS, A 
TWO-PROGRAM PROCESS AT LARGE, 
WHERE, YES, MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS WILL RECEIVE THE 
$2,000 EVERY MONTH WITH THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE 
MANY CANADIANS WHO ARE MIDDLE 
CLASS FOR WHOM $2,000 A MONTH 
MIGHT NOT BE EVEN NEARLY ENOUGH 
TO COVER THEIR NEEDS RIGHT NOW 
BECAUSE OF VARIOUS COSTS, 
BECAUSE OF VARIOUS ISSUES 
THEY'RE FACING, WHICH IS WHY WE 
WANTED TO BRING IN A 75% WAGE 
SUBSIDY THAT WILL GIVE THEM 
INSTEAD OF $500 A WEEK UP TO 
$847 A WEEK.
THAT IS MORE GENEROUS FOR PEOPLE
WHO NEED IT.
BUT IT IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT 
PAY CAN YOU TELL FOR EVERYONE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A 
SITUATION THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR 
EVERYONE.
WE MODELLED THESE PROGRAMS ON A 
COLLECTION OF PROGRAMS THAT 
WORKED IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN 
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAME UP 
WITH THE RIGHT MEASURES TO HELP 
THE MOST CANADIANS.
AS I SAID, THERE ARE PEOPLE, WE 
RECOGNIZE, NEED PARTICULAR HELP 
OR DON'T QUITE FALL INTO THOSE 
CATEGORIES.
THAT'S VERY MUCH WHAT WE'RE 
WORKING ON NOW AND HAVE BEEN 
ANNOUNCING OVER THE PAST FEW 
DAYS IN TERMS OF MEASURES WE'RE 
BRINGING IN FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK
LESS THAN 10 HOURS A WEEK, FOR 
EXAMPLE, THAT WILL STILL QUALIFY
FOR THE CERB.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS 
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION, OPERATOR.
>> Operator: [SPEAKING FRENCH]. 
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY AND PEOPLE LOOKING TO 
WAIT THREE TO SIX WEEKS.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT WILL 
NOT CHANGE.
MANY BUSINESSES ARE SAYING THAT 
WILL BE TOO LONG.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?
>> Answer: WE ARE WORKING HARD 
TO SHORTEN THAT TIMELINE.
WE'RE AIMING FOR THREE WEEKS AND
WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT
IN THREE WEEKS.
NOW, OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR 
PUBLIC SERVANTS WORKING VERY, 
VERY HARD TO DELIVER THE 
EMERGENCY BENEFIT.
ALREADY TODAY MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS ARE RECEIVING THEIR 
MONEY.
IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY 
AMOUNT OF WORK CARRIED OUT BY 
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AND 
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY AND
HAVE CONTINUED TO WORK IN ORDER 
TO DELIVER THIS BENEFIT TO 
CANADIANS.
NOW, THEY ARE GOING TO BE 
WORKING ON THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
WE AIM TO DELIVER THAT PROGRAM 
IN THREE WEEKS, PERHAPS EVEN 
EARLIER IF THINGS GO ACCORDING 
TO PLAN, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT 
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER 
BEEN DONE BY A GOVERNMENT HERE.
WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT.
[end of translation] WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A 
SIGNIFICANT TASK, BUT WE KNOW 
THAT BUSINESSES WHO ARE MAKING 
DECISIONS TO REHIRE ARE 
STRETCHED THIN AND NEED TO KNOW 
THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME IN 
SOON FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE AIMING FOR 
THREE WEEKS IN TERMS OF LANDING 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY, GETTING IT TO 
CANADIAN BUSINESSES.
IT WILL REQUIRE A CONTINUED 
HERCULEAN EFFORTS BY OUR PUBLIC 
SERVANTS, PARTICULARLY AT THE 
CANADA REVENUE AGENCY, WHO HAVE 
DONE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OVER 
THESE PAST WEEKS TO DELIVER THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
AS WE'VE SEEN, MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS ARE BEGINNING TO 
RECEIVE THAT AS OF TODAY.
THIS WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE EFFORT 
BY PEOPLE WHO, QUITE FRANKLY, 
ARE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGES, 
THE SAME PANDEMIC, THE SAME 
FAMILY ISSUES AND WORRIES THAT 
THE REST OF US ARE FACING, BUT 
STAYED FOCUS ON DELIVERING HELP 
FOR CANADIANS BECAUSE THIS WAS 
SO IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME.
NOW THEY ARE GOING TO TURN THEIR
ENERGIES AND EFFORTS TOWARDS 
DELIVERING THE WAGE SUBSIDY, 
WHICH, AS I SAID, WE HOPE TO SEE
WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE 
GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON 
EXTREMELY HARD.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE
ARE SO EAGER TO SEE PARLIAMENT 
PASS THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY.
I'M CERTAINLY HOPING THAT THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES WILL JOIN ME 
IN MOVING QUICKLY TO GET THIS 
THROUGH SO WE CAN GET HELP TO 
CANADIANS.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] WITH 
RESPECT TO THE RETURN OF 
PARLIAMENT, YOU SAID YESTERDAY 
THAT THE WAGE SUBSIDY MUST BE 
APPROVED IN THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS.
WHAT IS CAUSING THE DELAY WITH 
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES?
>> Answer: WELL, WE'RE TALKING 
ABOUT MEASURES THAT REPRESENT 
THE MOST EXTENSIVE MEASURES EVER
INTRODUCED BY A GOVERNMENT IN 
THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.
WE WANT THE OPPOSITION PARTIES 
TO BE INVOLVED IN ORDER TO GET 
THIS LEGISLATION PASSED, BUT 
ALSO WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A 
CHANCE TO REVIEW IT AND MAKE 
SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY 
TO HELP CANADIANS.
IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, WELL, 
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM AND WE 
HOPE TO BE ABLE TO WORK 
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM 
BECAUSE EVERYONE AGREES THAT WE 
NEED TO GET AID TO CANADIANS.
WE'LL BE WORKING TOGETHER TO 
MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.
[end of translation] THESE 
MEASURES ARE THE LARGEST 
MEASURES PASSED IN DECADES, IF 
NOT EVER, BY A CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S WHY OUR DEMOCRATIC 
INSTITUTIONS AND THE DEMOCRATIC 
PROCESSES, INCLUDING 
PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT IS 
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING WITH 
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO MAKE SURE 
THIS LEGISLATION GETS PASSED 
QUICKLY BUT PROPERLY, SO WE CAN 
GET THIS HELP TO CANADIANS IN 
THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.
>> THANK YOU.
ONE MORE CALL, OPERATOR.
>> Operator: NEXT CALL IS FROM 
BROAD FORESTER, APTN.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
GO AHEAD.
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER, 
WITH VARIOUS FIRST NATIONS 
CALLING FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE,
AT WHAT POINT DOES THE MILITARY 
AGREE TO GO HELP, NUMBER OF 
CASES, DEATHS, PER CAPITA?
WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD OF 
ANSWERING SOME OF THESE CALLS 
FOR HELP?
>> Answer: OBVIOUSLY WE ARE VERY
CONCERNED WITH THE SITUATION IN 
FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN 
GENERAL, PARTICULARLY REMOTE AND
NORTHERN ONES, ARE MORE 
VULNERABLE BECAUSE THEY OFTEN 
HAVE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, 
INCLUDING DIFFICULTY AROUND 
HEALTHCARE.
SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT IS 
SOMETHING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
DECISIONS ON HOW TO BEST HELP, 
FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE ALREADY 
ALLOCATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO
COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
AS FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE OR 
MILITARY ASSISTANCE, THAT WILL 
ALWAYS BE MADE ON A CASE-BY-CASE
BASIS DEPENDING ON THE 
INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND HOW
WE CAN BEST HELP AS A 
GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS WHAT WE'LL ALWAYS BE 
LOOKING AT.
>> AS A FOLLOW UP.
>> Question: AS A FOLLOW UP, WE 
KNOW, AS YOU SAY, THESE 
COMMUNITIES ARE PETRI DISHES AND
THE ANISHINAABE NATION AND 
OTHERS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR 
MILITARY AID.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THEIR 
CALLS TO ACTION?
>> Answer: MY RESPONSE TO GRAND 
CHIEF FIDDLER AND OTHERS IS TO 
MAKE SURE THAT -- YES, WE'RE 
THERE AND WANT TO HELP.
I KNOW THAT MINISTER MILLER AND 
OTHERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH 
LEADERSHIP ACROSS CANADA TO 
ENSURE THAT WHAT IS NEEDED IS 
WORKED ON TOGETHER.
WE RECOGNIZE THE PARTICULAR AND,
IN SOME CASES, SIGNIFICANT NEEDS
OF -- IN MANY CASES SIGNIFICANT 
NEEDS OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING 
ON TOGETHER.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ARE 
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO 
COVID-19, AND THAT'S WHY WE 
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE HAVE MADE DIRECT INVESTMENTS 
IN THOSE COMMUNITIES ALREADY, 
BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY MORE THAT
WE CAN AND WILL BE DOING.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE 
LEADERSHIP AND MINISTER MILLER 
IS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT 
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND 
RESPOND IF THEY DO HAVE CASES.
>> Question: RADIO-CANADA.
YOU SAID THAT YOUR WAGE SUBSIDY 
IS NOT PERFECT, BUT WHY DIDN'T 
YOU MAKE THINGS MORE SIMPLE AND 
WHY DIDN'T YOU DECIDE INSTEAD OF
THE CERB IN ITS CURRENT FORM 
JUST TO SEND A CHEQUE TO 
EVERYONE?
WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE IT AS SIMPLE
AS POSSIBLE SO THAT EVERYONE 
WOULD GET MONEY AND NOBODY WOULD
BE FALLING BETWEEN THE CRACKS?
>> Answer: THERE ARE A LOT OF 
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR 
E.I.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SYSTEMS 
THAT WE LOOKED AT AND DIFFERENT 
METHODS THAT WE EXAMINED TO TRY 
TO HELP PEOPLE.
AND WE DECIDED THAT THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT WOULD
BE THE BEST WAY TO HELP MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE.
BUT AS WE SAID, THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO ONLY WORK A FEW HOURS A WEEK
WHO WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT 
BENEFIT.
WE ARE MAKING THE NECESSARY 
CHANGES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE 
OTHER PEOPLE IN SPECIAL 
CIRCUMSTANCES, LIKE STUDENTS, 
WHO ARE FACING REAL CHALLENGES 
IN TERMS OF GETTING SUMMER JOBS 
OR PART-TIME JOBS.
THEY NEED THAT MONEY TO PAY 
THEIR RENT AND TO GO BACK TO 
SCHOOL IN THE FALL.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE CONTINUALLY
LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO HELP.
BUT THE CERB AND THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY TOGETHER WILL HELP 
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS AND CANADIAN WORKERS 
WHO ARE FACING DIFFICULT TIMES.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO 
HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE.
[end of translation] WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT THE TWO MEASURES 
WE'VE PUT FORWARD, THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY AND THE CERB, WILL HELP 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS, BUT AT 
THE SAME TIME WE ALSO RECOGNIZE 
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT 
QUALIFY FOR EITHER AND WHO NEED 
HELP.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE ANNOUNCED 
CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS ALREADY.
IF YOU'RE WORKING LESS THAN 10 
HOURS A WEEK, WE WILL BE TELLING
YOU HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE 
CERB.
IF YOU'RE A STUDENT, FOR 
EXAMPLE, ON TOP OF THE CANADA 
SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM THAT WE 
TALKED ABOUT TODAY, WE WILL BE 
BRINGING FORWARD MORE MEASURES 
BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
WITHOUT YOUR SUMMER JOB, WITHOUT
A SOURCE OF INCOME OVER THE 
COMING MONTHS, INCLUDING 
PART-TIME WORK, YOU WILL HAVE 
TROUBLE PAYING YOUR RENT AND 
TROUBLE PAYING FOR YOUR TUITION 
NEXT YEAR.
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE 
CONTINUING TO WORK ON.
WE JUST NEEDED TO GET THE TWO 
BIG MEASURES THAT WOULD HELP 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS OUT AS 
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND CHOSE TO
WORK ON REFINING THEM LATER.
THERE IS A CHOICE IN A CRISIS 
AROUND WHETHER YOU WANT TO MOVE 
FAST OR WHETHER YOU WANT TO GET 
EVERYTHING ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
IN THIS CASE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT 
GETTING HELP OUT TO CANADIANS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN A WAY 
THAT IS AS SOLID AS POSSIBLE WAS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WE CONTINUALLY WORK IN TERMS OF 
MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE
WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN GAPS.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] 
MR. TRUDEAU, YOU SAY THAT YOU 
WANT TO BE QUICK, BUT WHY ISN'T 
IT QUICKER FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T 
QUALIFY FOR THE EMERGENCY 
BENEFIT OR THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE EVEN 
LONGER?
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO 
TALK TO CABINET LATER.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT WORKING FROM
HOME IS FINISHED?
>> Answer: NO.
I WILL BE STAYING HOME FOR MOST 
THINGS, BUT RIGHT NOW FROM TIME 
TO TIME FOR STRATEGIC OR 
IMPORTANT MEETINGS I WILL BE 
GOING TO PARLIAMENT TO DO SOME 
WORK.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, I WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK FROM HERE, AT 
HOME AND ON THE PHONE.
[end of translation] WE WILL -- 
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FROM 
HOME DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AS 
WE'RE ASKING MOST CANADIANS TO 
DO.
THERE WILL BE MOMENTS FOR 
STRATEGIC MEETINGS OR PARTICULAR
ISSUES WHERE I WILL GO INTO THE 
OFFICE FOR MEETINGS, TAKING ALL 
PROPER PRECAUTIONS, BUT MOST OF 
MY WORK WILL CONTINUE TO BE FROM
HOME ON THE TELEPHONE.
>> Question: "THE GLOBE AND 
MAIL." FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS 
YOU'VE SAID THE MODELS THAT 
CANADA WILL RELEASE WILL BE 
COMING IN THE COMING DAYS.
WHEN WILL THEY ACTUALLY BE 
RELEASED?
>> Answer: WE'VE SEEN IN THE 
LAST DAYS PROVINCES PUTTING 
FORWARD THEIR DATA AND 
MODELLING.
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE PUT 
FORWARD UPDATED NUMBERS TO BE 
FULLY TRANSPARENT WITH CANADIANS
ON "THE NATIONAL" PICTURE.
BUT TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH 
CANADIANS ON MODELLING AND 
FORECASTS, WE NEED TO DRAW ON 
THE MODELLING WORK THE PROVINCES
ARE DOING.
PROVINCES HAVE BEEN RELEASING 
THIS WEEK MUCH MORE INFORMATION 
AROUND THEIR MODELS.
AS WE COLLATE THOSE AND LOOK AT 
THOSE AND INTEGRATE THOSE INTO A
NATIONAL MODEL, WE WILL HAVE 
MORE TO SAY IN THE COMING DAYS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG 
THIS IS GOING TO LAST AND WHAT 
KIND OF MORTALITY RATES COULD 
OCCUR.
EVERY DAY WE ARE PUBLISHING 
INFORMATION ON Canada.ca.
A LOT OF FIGURES ARE THERE 
BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO BE 
TRANSPARENT AND PRESENT 
INFORMATION FROM ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT A
NUMBER OF PROVINCES DID RELEASE 
MODELLING AND PROJECTIONS THIS 
WEEK WITH RESPECT TO THE FUTURE.
IF WE WANT TO PRESENT 
PROJECTIONS OR MODELLING THAT IS
NOT TRUE OR NATION-WIDE, WE HAVE
TO COLLATE ALL THAT INFORMATION 
OR PROJECTIONS FROM THE VARIOUS 
PROVINCES.
WE WILL BE DOING THAT IN THE 
COMING DAYS.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: IS IT MORE 
REASONABLE TO SAY IT WOULD BE IN
THE COMING WEEKS AT THIS POINT?
THE CONSERVATIVES ARE CALLING 
FOR A DAILY QUESTION PERIOD WITH
THE RETURN TO PARLIAMENT.
DO YOU SUPPORT THAT?
>> Answer: I THINK IT'S 
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT 
PARLIAMENT CONTINUES TO DO ITS 
WORK, PARTICULARLY IN A TIME OF 
CRISIS.
IT IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT THAT WE GATHER TO PASS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION TO ALLOW 
CANADIAN BUSINESSES AND WORKERS 
TO BE HELPED BY THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE 
GATHERING FOR AND WORKING 
TOGETHER ON.
I THINK THAT AS WE ASKED THE 
SPEAKER A NUMBER OF DAYS AGO, WE
SHOULD LOOK AT GATHERING A 
VIRTUAL PARLIAMENT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT 
PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM EVERY 
CORNER OF THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST 
THOSE IN DRIVING DISTANCE OF 
OTTAWA, SHOULD BE ABLE TO WEIGH 
IN ON THE WORKING OF OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT 
VIRTUAL MODELS OF DOING THAT.
IN TERMS OF MY OWN ENGAGEMENT, 
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS 
EVERY DAY AND HAPPY TO WORK WITH
PARLIAMENTARIANS, TAKE QUESTIONS
EVERY DAY AS I DO HERE FROM 
MEDIA, BUT I'M ALSO HAPPY TO 
WORK WITH PARLIAMENTARIANS TO 
MAKE SURE WE'RE CONTINUING TO 
GET ACCOUNTABILITY AND GET 
MEASURES FOR CANADIANS.
I BELIEVE THIS OUR DEMOCRATIC 
INSTITUTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN A 
TIME OF CRISIS, AND I LOOK 
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL 
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO MAKE SURE 
WE HAVE ALL SYSTEMS WORKING IN 
PLACE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE KNOW JUST HOW 
IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE A 
PROPERLY FUNCTIONING PARLIAMENT 
AND TO HAVE INSTITUTIONS WORKING
IN A TIME OF CRISIS.
SO WE WILL BE RECALLING 
PARLIAMENT IN THE COMING DAYS TO
PASS LEGISLATION TO HELP WORKERS
THROUGH THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
A NUMBER OF DAYS AGO WE ASKED 
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS TO LOOK AT VIRTUAL WAYS 
OF RECALLING PARLIAMENT, BECAUSE
I DON'T THINK IT'S ENTIRELY FAIR
THAT ONLY PARLIAMENTARIANS WHO 
ARE ABLE TO COME BECAUSE THEY 
LIVE CLOSE TO OTTAWA 
PARTICIPATE -- CAN PARTICIPATE 
IN OUR DISCUSSIONS.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT WAYS OF 
ENGAGING ALL PARLIAMENTARIANS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH 
THE OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM
THE MEDIA AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE 
QUESTIONS FROM THE OTHER 
PARTIES.
WE CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON 
THIS.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: I KNOW YOU'RE GOING
TO BE TALKING ABOUT YOUR 
MODELLING IN THE COMING DAYS, 
BUT FROM WHAT YOU'VE SEEN, DO 
YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THE VIRUS
IS GOING TO PEAK NATIONALLY?
AND ALSO ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT
THE VIRUS COMING IN WAVES THAT 
CANADIANS WILL BE DEALING WITH 
FOR MANY MONTHS?
>> Answer: EXCELLENT QUESTION, 
TOM.
WE ARE VERY MUCH TRYING TO 
FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE ON THE 
CURVE WITHIN THE VARIOUS MODELS.
WHAT IS VERY, VERY CLEAR IS 
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT 
DIFFERENCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
IN WHERE VARIOUS PROVINCES ARE 
ON THEIR OWN CURVES.
OVERALL AS A COUNTRY, I CAN SAY 
THAT WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT 
WHERE WE ARE LATER THAN OTHER 
COUNTRIES.
WE HAVE A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT IS 
EFFECTIVE AND WHAT IS WORKING TO
BEND THOSE CURVES IN OTHER 
COUNTRIES THAT WE ARE DOING NOW.
OUR SOCIAL DISTANCING OVER THE 
PAST WEEKS AND STAYING HOME HAS 
BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE.
REGARDLESS OF THE MODEL IN 
PLACE, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BEST
OUTCOMES COME WHEN THERE IS 
MAXIMAL SOCIAL DISTANCING, AS WE
ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO DOING NOW, 
AS WE RAMP UP TESTING, BECAUSE 
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF IT
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO MORE
TESTING EVERY DAY, AND AS WE DO 
AGGRESSIVE CONTACT TRACING TO 
MAKE SURE THOSE EXPOSED ARE PUT 
INTO ISOLATION.
THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE WHAT'S
GIVING US THE BEST CHANCE OF 
GETTING THERE.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN WE 
WILL BE PEAKING, BUT WE DO KNOW 
IF WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS, IF WE
CONTINUE TO DO THE MEASURES WE 
HAVE IN PLACE NOW, WE WILL GET 
THROUGH THIS MUCH, MUCH QUICKER.
ONCE WE ARE THROUGH THIS INITIAL
PHASE, WE WILL THEN BE IN A MODE
UNTIL THERE IS A VACCINE, WHICH 
COULD TAKE MANY, MANY MONTHS, IF
NOT MORE THAN A YEAR, TO GET TO.
WE WILL BE CALIBRATING VERY 
CAREFULLY OUR BEHAVIOURS AS A 
COUNTRY, AS A SOCIETY, AS AN 
ECONOMY, TO MANAGING THE 
EXISTENCE AND PERSISTENT OF 
COVID-19.
BETTER TESTING, CAREFUL 
ISOLATION OF VULNERABLE 
COMMUNITIES, MEASURES OF 
GRADUALLY BRINGING BACK THE 
ECONOMY WILL COME.
SO IF THERE ARE SPIKES, AS THE 
DATA AND DOCUMENTATION TELLS US 
THAT WE CAN EXPECT, WE ARE 
QUICKLY ABLE TO ADJUST AND REACT
SO NONE OF THOSE SPIKES OVER THE
COMING MANY MONTHS THAT ARE 
POSSIBLE WILL BE ANYTHING AS 
SERIOUS AS THIS ONE.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE
TO KEEP FOLLOWING MEDICAL 
ADVICE, KNOWING THAT WHAT 
CANADIANS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, 
STAYING HOME, KEEPING 2 METRES 
APART, NOT GOING OUT UNLESS YOU 
ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, IS WHAT IS 
GETTING US THROUGH THIS AND WILL
ENSURE THAT CANADIANS ARE KEPT 
AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AND OUR 
ECONOMY COMES BACK AS QUICKLY 
AND AS STRONGLY AS POSSIBLE.
LET'S KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE 
DOING.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE KNOW THAT THE 
MEASURES THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING 
NOW ARE THE CORRECT MEASURES.
WE SAW THIS IN OTHER COUNTRIES 
THAT ARE FURTHER AHEAD THAN WE 
ARE IN TERMS OF THE EVOLUTION OF
THE PANDEMIC.
WE SAW THAT THESE MEASURES ARE 
THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE THE 
IMPACT AND THE DURATION OF THIS 
PANDEMIC.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE OR
TO FOLLOW THESE CONTROLS THAT WE
PUT IN PLACE.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE 
PEAK WILL OCCUR, BUT IF WE STAY 
THE COURSE NOW, THAT CAN MAKE A 
BIG DIFFERENCE.
AND IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO 
COME, AFTER WE COME THROUGH THIS
INITIAL PHASE, THERE COULD BE A 
RESURGENCE OF THE VIRUS HERE AND
THERE IN CANADA.
BUT I HOPE WE WILL BE IN A 
POSITION TO BETTER CONTROL THE 
SPREAD IF THERE ARE SMALL 
OUTBREAKS AT THAT POINT IN 
VARIOUS PLACES.
SO IT'S -- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE 
WORKING ON RIGHT NOW AND WE 
EXPECT TO SHARE OUR PROJECTIONS 
IN THE COMING DAYS.
[end of translation]. 
>> Question: AS YOU SPOKE ABOUT 
THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTING FOR 
THESE MODELS AND NUMBERS WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT, ARE YOU AT ALL 
CONCERNED THAT CANADA'S MOST 
POPULACE PROVINCES, LOWEST IN 
TERMS OF RATES BUT ALSO TESTING,
BUT SOME ARE FALLING SHORT OF 
ONTARIO'S GOALS.
WHAT CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
DO TO INCREASE TESTING IN 
ONTARIO AND OTHER PROVINCES?
>> Answer: WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH ALL PROVINCIAL HEALTH 
AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE THEY HAVE 
THE EQUIPMENT AND THE ABILITY TO
DO AS MANY TESTS AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF 
GETTING THROUGH THIS PHASE OF 
THE PANDEMIC AND, INDEED, 
MINIMIZING FURTHER PHASES OF THE
PANDEMIC OVER THE MANY COMING 
MONTHS.
WE CONTINUALLY DO MORE TESTING 
EVERY DAY IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE'RE ALREADY DOING BETTER THAN 
MANY, MANY COUNTRIES IN THE 
WORLD THAT WE COMPARE OURSELVES 
TO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE 
RECOGNIZE THERE IS MORE TO DO.
WE WILL WORK WITH JURISDICTIONS 
THAT ARE FACING CHALLENGES.
WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE 
SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT IS 
NEEDED RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
>> Question: JANET SILVER, 
GLOBAL NEWS.
PUBLIC HEALTH CANADA TOLD THE 
GOVERNMENT IN EARLY FEBRUARY 
THAT MORE RESOURCES FOR LOCAL 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE 
NEEDED TO CONTAIN THE OUTBREAK 
AND ENFORCE A QUARANTINE ORDER.
WHY DID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
NOT DO MORE TO BOLSTER RESOURCES
AND STOP THE SPREAD?
>> Answer: WE RECOGNIZED EARLY 
ON THAT THIS WAS A CHALLENGE AND
WE TOOK MANY MEASURES TO TRY TO 
CONTROL OR PREVENT OR ENSURE 
THAT CANADA WAS LESS VULNERABLE 
TO THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 THAT 
WE WERE SEEING ELSEWHERE IN THE 
WORLD.
WITH HINDSIGHT, I'M SURE THERE 
WERE LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE 
WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY, 
COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU EVERY STEP 
OF THE WAY WE TOOK THE ADVICE OF
OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS 
SERIOUSLY AND DID THE TEST THAT 
WE COULD.
OBVIOUSLY ONCE THIS IS THROUGH, 
THERE WILL BE MANY, MANY PEOPLE 
REFLECTING ON DIFFERENT 
COUNTRIES' RESPONSES AND WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
EVEN BETTER PREPARED NEXT TIME.
IT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE 
DID AND BENEFITTED FROM BECAUSE 
OF THE SARS OUTBREAK OF 2003 
THAT ALLOWED US TO HAVE A NUMBER
OF MEASURES IN PLACE THAT WERE 
MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SOME OTHER 
COUNTRIES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S 
ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN AND MORE TO
DO.
>> Question: THERE IS A POLL OUT
TODAY THAT SHOWS ONE-QUARTER OF 
CANADIANS REPORT THEY ARE STILL 
NOT STRICTLY FOLLOWING PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING AND CITIES ARE 
LOGGING THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS 
FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT 
FOLLOWING THE RULES.
I'M JUST WONDERING, DO YOU HAVE 
ANY TOOLS THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO
USE TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE 
PEOPLE?
>> Answer: I THINK ONE OF THE 
THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
IN THIS SITUATION IS THAT MUCH 
OF THE ABILITY OF CANADA AND OF 
CANADIANS TO GET THROUGH THIS IN
AS SHORT AMOUNT A TIME AS 
POSSIBLE AND AS HEALTHY AS 
POSSIBLE REQUIRES CITIZENS TO BE
DOING THEIR PART.
WE SEE MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF
CANADIANS FOLLOWING THE 
INSTRUCTIONS OF HEALTH CANADA 
OFFICIALS, OF THEIR PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS IN TERMS OF 
SOCIAL DISTANCING, STAYING HOME,
NOT GOING OUT UNLESS THEY 
ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, OF DOING 
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP OUR 
FRONTLINE WORKERS, FROM GROCERY 
STORE CASHIERS TO SURGEONS, AS 
SAFE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE 
DOING.
UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE SOME 
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FOLLOWING 
THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND THEY ARE 
PUTTING EVERYONE AT RISK.
WE CONTINUE TO IMPRESS ON 
EVERYONE THAT WE NEED TO DO WHAT
IS NECESSARY TO GET THROUGH THIS
AS QUICKLY AND AS SAFELY AS 
POSSIBLE.
WE WILL CONTINUALLY WORK WITH 
JURISDICTIONS, WITH CITIES, WITH
PROVINCES ON NEW MEASURES OR 
EXTRA MEASURES THAT THEY FEEL 
ARE NECESSARY.
AS IT GOES, WE'RE CONTINUALLY 
MONITORING WHAT IS NEEDED AND 
WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO DO AS NEXT
STEPS.
[ Please Stand By ]
SANDERS SAYING HE WILL SUSPEND 
HIS CAMPAIGN, MEANING THAT JOE 
BIDEN IS ALL BUT CONFIRMED AS 
RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENT.
WE WILL GO BACK TO THE THINGS WE
NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
WE'LL BRING IN THE HOST OF 
"POWER AND POLITICS".
VASSY KAPELOS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE, BERNIE 
SANDERS SPEAKING -- THERE IS A 
LOT GOING ON.
A LOT GOING ON [LAUGHTER].
LET'S TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT 
CANADIANS HAVE BEEN WAITING TO 
HEAR FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.
I WILL ADD THIS.
HE WILL ACTUALLY LEAVE HIS HOUSE
TODAY TO CHAIR A CABINET MEETING
THAT WILL BE HELD IN A SECURE 
ROOM, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE EASIER
TO HOLD A MEETING IN PERSON.
WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU?
>> Vassy: A COUPLE OF THINGS 
STOOD OUT.
IN THE REMARKS THE PRIME 
MINISTER MADE AND THE QUESTIONS 
THAT HE RECEIVED, FIRST ON THE 
BIG ECONOMIC PROGRAMMES, THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY AS WE HAD 
ANTICIPATED AS DAVID REPORTED, 
THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS ARE 
GOING TO BE RELAXED.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD 
TO SHOW 30 DECLINE, YOU CAN SHOW
JUST A 15% DECLINE AND COMPARE 
IT TO JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 
COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
IF YOU'RE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, THIS
IS NEW, YOU CAN ALSO DECIDE 
WHETHER YOU WANT TO INCLUDE IT 
OR EXCLUDE IT WHEN YOU'RE MAKING
YOUR REVENUE CALCULATIONS IN 
ORDER TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU'RE 
GOING TO QUALIFY FOR THE 
SUBSIDY.
THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF 
NEWS.
CAVEAT TO THAT, THIS WILL BE 
PART OF LEGISLATION, THAT AT 
SOME POINT, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN, 
SOME POINT IN THE NOT TOO 
DISTANT FUTURE IT WILL BE 
INTRODUCED INTO THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS.
IT WILL BE UP FOR DEBATE.
THERE WERE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND 
THE JOURNALISTS AROUND THE TIME 
LINE.
THE CONSERVATIVES WOULD LIKE 
MORE REGULAR QUESTION PERIOD, 
ACCOUNTABILITY, AS WELL MORE 
DEBATE ON PIECES OF LEGISLATION 
LIKE THIS.
THEY WANT IT TO COME OUT FASTER.
THEY WANT THE WAGE SUBSIDY TO 
COME OUT FASTER.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS SAYING 
THREE WEEKS INSTEAD OF 3-6 
WEEKS.
THE PRIME MINISTER DID NOT SAY 
WHETHER HE WAS IN FAVOUR OF A 
DAILY QUESTION PERIOD.
HE TALKED ABOUT A VIRTUAL 
PARLIAMENT INCLUDING MORE M.P.s.
HE SAID HE'S IN FAVOUR OF THE 
FUNCTION OF PARLIAMENT, BUT IT 
WASN'T NECESSARILY, OKAY, YES, 
WE'LL HAVE QUESTION PERIOD.
THE OTHER PIECE OF NEWS AROUND 
STUDENTS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG GROUPS OF
CANADIANS WHO FELT THEY WERE 
BEING MISSED BY THE CERB, THAT 
THEY COULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE 
$2,000 A MONTH.
THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED A 
CHANGE TO THE CANADA SUMMER JOBS
PROGRAMME.
THEY'LL SUBSIDIZE WAGES IN THAT 
PROGRAMME UP TO 100%.
THE WHOLE WAGE RATHER THAN 75%.
THEY ANTICIPATE, THEIR 
ESTIMATION, THAT WILL CREATE 
70,000 JOBS.
THEY'RE EXTENDING THE PERIOD TO 
FEBRUARY 28, 2021.
EXTENSION TO THE END DATE OF 
EMPLOYMENT.
THAT IS SUBSTANTIAL AS WELL.
THEY HOPE THAT WILL ADDRESS A 
BIG NEED FROM STUDENTS.
NOT EVERY STUDENT.
THE FINAL POINT I'LL LEAVE YOU 
ON, SORT OF ONE OF THE AREAS WE 
DIDN'T GET A LOT OF 
CLARIFICATION.
THIS IS PUSHED BY NEW DEMOCRATS.
IT FOLDS INTO THE CERB AND THE 
COVERAGE OF IT.
THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF 
PEOPLE WHO ARE MISSED BY THAT.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS PROMISING 
THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE IN THE
GIG ECONOMY WHO HAVE LOST MOST 
BUT NOT ALL OF THEIR HOURS, MOST
IF NOT ALL OF THEIR INCOME, WILL
BE COVERED EVENTUALLY.
HE DIDN'T SPECIFY HOW.
NEW DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING WHY 
DIDN'T YOU JUST ENCOMPASS 
EVERYONE IN THE FIRST SHOT?
THE ANSWER IS THAT THE PROGRAMME
THEY DEVELOPED COULD GET THE 
MONEY OUT FAST, WHICH TO GIVE 
THEM CREDIT FOR IS ACTUALLY 
HAPPENING, SO THEY CHOSE THAT 
OVER HAVING A PERFECT PROGRAMME.
I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF 
CANADIANS WHO WILL WATCH CLOSELY
EXACTLY HOW THE PROGRAMME WILL 
BE EXPANDED BECAUSE AS OF YET, 
THEY'RE NOT COVERED.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO 
SUGGESTED, RIGHTLY, I THINK 
THAT, THE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMME
WILL ACTUALLY BE, IF COMPANIES 
PICK IT UP, MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO
CANADIANS THAN A ONE-TIME 
UNIVERSAL INCOME THAT HAPPENS 
FOR FOUR MONTHS.
THERE IS THE ISSUE THAT NOT 
EVERYBODY NEEDS THE MONEY.
IF YOU SEND IT EVERYWHERE, YOU 
HAVE TO SCALE IT BACK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS EASIER, 
FASTER, MORE EFFICIENT.
>> Reporter: THIS HAS BEEN THE 
TENSION ON THIS.
WHY NOT JUST SEND $2,000 TO 
EVERYBODY, SORT OF WHAT WE'RE 
SEEING IN THE UNITED STATES, 
DONALD TRUMP IS IN FAVOUR, 
$1,000 AND THEN TAX IT BACK AND 
GET IT BACK FROM PEOPLE.
SOUNDS GREAT.
WHAT IF YOU'RE KEVIN MILLIGAN, 
ECONOMIST -- WHAT IF YOU'RE AN 
ESSENTIAL WORK AND YOU MAKE 
$40,000 AND NEXT YEAR, $8,000, 
YOU GET THAT TAXED.
HOW EASY IS IT TO REPAY?
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES?
THE GOAL HAS BEEN TO BE AS 
TARGETED AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE 
THAT WHATEVER MONEY THEY SEND 
OUT GOES TO PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY 
NEED IT, RELY ON IT AND REQUIRE 
IT.
AND THAT HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
IT'S SLOWER TO GET OUT THERE.
THERE ARE GAPS IN THE SYSTEM.
BUT THERE BECOMES A BACK END 
CHALLENGE IF YOU PUT OUT $6,000 
TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED WITH 
THE EXPECTATION THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO GIVE IT BACK.
YOU CAN WRITE IT OFF AND GIVE IT
TO EVERYBODY, THAT MAKES THIS 
BECOME THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.
THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THERE, LIKE
THE OTHER CHALLENGE TO GET THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY UP AND RUNNING.
A BIT OF GOOD NEWS ON THAT, AIR 
CANADA IS GOING TO PUT 16,000 
PEOPLE LAID OFF BACK ON PAYROLL 
BECAUSE OF THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR THESE 
PEOPLE.
THAT'S $847 A WEEK THEY CAN 
COUNT ON FOR INCOME.
THAT MATTERS.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
NO SYSTEM WAS GOING TO BE 
PERFECT.
SO THIS IS WHAT THEY'VE CHOSEN 
AND THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH 
IT FOR NOW.
I DID HAVE A STUDENT ON STANDBY,
BUT THE MINISTERS ARE SPEAKING.
I'LL GET TO HIM IF I CAN, BUT 
I'LL TAKE YOU TO THE DEPUTY 
PRIME MINISTER.
>> I KNOW THAT ALL OF US WILL 
OVERCOME THE CURRENT CHALLENGES 
TOGETHER.
MY BEST WISHES ARE WITH ALL 
JEWISH CANADIANS TODAY.
[Speaking French]
>> Translator: PASSOVER IS A 
STORY OF SACRIFICE AND 
SALVATION, WHICH IS EVEN MORE 
RELEVANT THIS YEAR.
EVEN THOUGH OUR LOVED ONES ARE 
PHYSICALLY ABSENT FROM THE 
TABLE, I KNOW THAT TOGETHER WE 
WILL OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM 
CANADA'S CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICER, DR. THERESA TAM, BY 
VIDEO LINK, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE 
MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, 
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND 
DISABILITY INCLUSION, CARLA 
QUALTROUGH.
[Speaking French]
AND THE PRESIDENT OF TREASURY 
BOARD.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
[Speaking French]
.
A NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES IN 
CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 18,000 -- 18,447 
CASES, INCLUDING 401 DEATHS.
FROM THE LABSIDE, WE HAVE NOW 
COMPLETED TESTING FOR OVER 
359,000 PEOPLE IN CANADA, 
MAINTAINING ABOUT A 5% CONFIRMED
POSITIVE RATE TO TRACK WHERE 
SPREAD IS OCCURRING.
OVER THE PAST WEEKS I'VE 
HIGHLIGHTED OUR KEY CONCERNS 
FROM THE FIRST TRAVEL-RELATED 
CASES TO THE ONSET OF COMMUNITY 
SPREAD TO OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES, HEALTH CARE 
SETTINGS AND VULNERABLE 
COMMUNITIES.
WE KNEW FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF 
OTHER COUNTRIES THAT THIS WAS 
NOT GOING TO BE EASY, BUT OUR 
HEALTH SYSTEM IS COPING SO FAR.
MAINTAINING OUR COLLECTIVE 
RESOLVE TO PLANK THE CURVE WILL 
BE A CHALLENGE AS THE WEATHER 
WARMS AND THE HOLIDAYS APPROACH.
[Speaking French]
>> Translator: WITH IMPORTANT 
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES COMING UP,
INCLUDING EASTER, PASSOVER, 
RAMADAN, I MUST REMIND EVERYONE 
THIS IS THE CRITICAL TIME TO 
MAINTAIN OUR PHYSICAL DISTANCING
STRATEGY.
THIS MEANS HAVING DINNERS WITH 
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS ONLY AND 
CONNECTING VIRTUALLY OVER PHONE,
E-MAIL, VIDEO CHATTING ET 
CETERA.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY 
FROM THE UNITED STATES THAT THIS
IS NOT THE TIME TO VISIT CANADA.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY TRAVEL 
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE EVEN IF 
TRAVELLERS PRESENTING WITHOUT 
SYMPTOMS ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER,
THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO 
MANDATORY QUARANTINE FOR 14 
DAYS.
ONLINE -- TRAVEL FOR CELEBRATING
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE NOT 
CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
I KNOW THIS IS CHALLENGING TO DO
AND I WILL ALSO MISS BEING APART
FROM MY FAMILY, BUT 
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES CALL FOR 
UNPRECEDENTED ACTIONS.
>> RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS COMING
UP, INCLUDING EASTER, PASSOVER 
AND RAMADAN.
I MUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS
IS THE CRITICAL TIME TO MAINTAIN
OUR PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
IT MEANS HAVING DINNERS WITH 
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS ONLY AND 
CONNECTING VIRTUALLY OVER PHONE,
E-MAILS, VIDEO CHATTING ET 
CETERA.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY 
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO VISIT 
CANADA AS THERE ARE CURRENTLY 
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.
EVEN IF TRAVELLERS PRESENTING 
WITHOUT SWITCHES ARE PERMIT -- 
SYMPTOMS ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER,
THEY WILL BE SUBJECTED TO 14-DAY
QUARANTINE.
I KNOW THIS CHANGE TO OUR 
TRADITIONS WILL BE CHALLENGING 
TO DO AND I WILL MISS BEING 
APART FROM MY FAMILY, TOO, BUT 
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES CALL FOR 
UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
>> WE WILL PULL AWAY FROM THE 
FEDERAL BRIEFING ON THE MAIN 
NETWORK.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE 
WATCHING, YOU CAN DO THAT ON CBC
NEWS NETWORK AND CBC.CA SEE YOU 
TOMORROW.
>> TAKE YOU BACK TO OTTAWA, IF 
YOU'RE WATCHING ON CBC NEWS 
NETWORK THIS IS THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICER, DR. THERESA TAM.
>> START ARRANGING NOW TO MAKE 
VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS.
CONNECTING HAS NEVER BEEN SO 
IMPORTANT, SO PLEASE SUPPORT 
EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. TAM.
AND NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM 
MINISTER CARLA QUALTROUGH.
CARLA, PLEASE.
>> HELLO, BONJOUR.
I'M PLEASED TO JOIN YOU TODAY TO
BRING TWO IMPORTANT UPDATES.
FIRST THE LATEST CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT 
NUMBERS.
YESTERDAY, APRIL 7, WE RECEIVED 
JUST OVER 750,000 NEW CERB 
APPLICATIONS.
THIS BRINGS US TO A TOTAL OF 
1.72 MILLION FROM MONDAY AND 
TUESDAY FROM THIS WEEK ALONE AND
4.26 MILLION FROM MARCH 15.
TO DATE, WE'VE PROCESSED 3.87 
MILLION CLAIMS.
THIS MEANS SINCE MARCH 15, 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS WILL HAVE 
SEEN AND SEEN THEIR FIRST CERB 
PAYMENT OF $2,000.
I WANT TO THANK THE HARD-WORKING
PUBLIC SERVANTS OF CERB, CANADA 
REVENUE AGENCY, WHO HAVE WORKED 
TIRELESSLY TO DELIVER THIS 
CRITICAL PROGRAMME TO CANADIANS 
DURING THIS CRISIS.
[Speaking French]
>> Translator: AT THE SAME TIME,
WE HAVE SOUGHT TO REFINE OUR 
CURRENT PROGRAMMES TO HELP 
EMPLOYERS ADAPT TO COVID-19'S 
REALITIES.
THIS MORNING, THE PRIME MINISTER
ANNOUNCED TEMPORARY CHANGES TO 
THE CANADA SUMMER JOBS PROGRAMME
WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY, GIVEN 
TO EMPLOYEES TO HIRE YOUNG 
PEOPLE AND STUDENTS.
AND YOU TOO --
>> SUMMER JOBS PROGRAMME FOR 
THIS YEAR.
THESE INCLUDE AN INCREASE TO THE
WAGE SUBSIDY SO THAT PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES CAN 
RECEIVE UP TO 100% OF THE 
PROVINCIAL OR TERRITORIAL 
MINIMAL HOURLY WAGE FOR EACH 
EMPLOYEE AND EXTEND TO THE END 
DATE FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR FEBRUARY
28, 2021.
ALLOWING EMPLOYERS TO ADAPT 
THEIR EMPLOYERS TO SUPPORT 
ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND ALLOWING 
EMPLOYERS TO HIRE STAFF ON A 
PART-TIME BASIS.
THESE CHANGES WILL HELP OUR 
SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR LOCAL 
NON-PROFITS AND KEEP THE WORKERS
BEING ABLE TO DELIVER THE 
IMPORTANT ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN 
COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA.
THEY'LL HELP YOUTH STAY 
CONNECTED TO THE LABOUR MARKET, 
FIND HIGH QUALITY JOBS IN SAFE, 
INCLUSIVE AND HEALTHY WORKING 
ENVIRONMENT.
[Speaking French]
>> Translator: BY ADAPTING THE 
PROGRAMME THIS YEAR, THE 
GOVERNMENT IS ENSURING IT'S 
SUPPLYING THE REQUIRED RESOURCES
TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES AND 
ALL CANADIANS SURVIVE THE 
ECONOMIC IMPACT.
>> [Speaking French]
>> THANK YOU.
NOW OVER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
TREASURY BOARD.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> STATEMENT THIS MORNING IS 
ABOUT THANKING EVERYONE.
[Speaking French]
>> Translator: PARTICULARLY AS 
TREASURY BOARD PRESIDENT TO DO 
AS MS. JUST DID, I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE PUBLIC SERVANTS 
WORKING IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
GIVEN THE TIMES WE'RE LIVING IN,
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE 
WORKING FOR C.R.A. AND SERVICE 
CANADA FOR THE REMARKABLE WORK 
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN 
PROCESSING NEARLY 4 MILLION 
APPLICATIONS FOR EMERGENCY 
BENEFITS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE 
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE 
COUNTRY MENTIONED BY MY 
COLLEAGUE AND MYSELF EARLIER WHO
ARE ACTIVE ON BEHALF OF 
BUSINESSES AND WILL BE PLEASED 
WITH THE GREATER FLEXIBILITY 
BROUGHT TO THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAMME AS ANNOUNCED BY PRIME 
MINISTER TRUDEAU THIS MORNING.
INCREASED FLEXIBILITY FOR 
BUSINESSES IN GENERAL, BUT 
INCREASED FLEXIBILITY FOR 
NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND CHARITABLE 
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING 
ESSENTIAL WORK UNDER VERY 
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE ALSO HAVE WITH US, DR. 
HOWE.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM MELANIE 
FROM LA PRESSE.
GO AHEAD.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> Translator: FIRST QUESTION, I
DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MS. FREE LAND
OR MR. JEAN-YVES DUCLOS WHO CAN 
TELL ME ABOUT THE COST FOR THIS 
BROADENED WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAMME.
BEFORE YOU SAID IT WOULD COST 
$71 BILLION.
NOW WE KNOW THAT NEW MEASURES 
WERE ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING.
WHAT IS THE NEW COST FOR THIS 
PROGRAMME?
>> I'LL TRY TO ANSWER.
THANK YOU FORT QUESTION.
THE GOAL WE SAW OVER THE LAST 
FEW WEEKS WAS TO GO RAPID AND 
USEFUL.
AS WE ALL SAW, PRIME MINISTER 
TRUDEAU AND MANY OF OUR 
COLLEAGUES WERE IN CONTACT WITH 
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN ORDER 
TO ENSURE THAT THIS GREATEST 
PROGRAMME TO SUPPORT OUR 
BUSINESSES FUNCTIONS PROPERLY.
THE INITIAL BUDGET OF $71 
BILLION WILL OF COURSE BE 
RENEWED NOW AND REVISED, BUT 
WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, 
THIS GREATER ELIGIBILITY WILL 
AVOID GREATER COSTS IN THE 
FUTURE BECAUSE WHAT WE MUST DO, 
AND THAT IS THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION, IS 
TO AVOID ALLOWING THIS RECESSION
TO BECOME A DEPRESSION.
SO THE SOLID, ROBUST AND RAPID 
INTERVENTION SUCH AS THESE 
MEASURES ANNOUNCED MOST RECENTLY
THIS MORNING BY PRIME MINISTER 
TRUDEAU REASSURES OUR BUSINESSES
SO THEY KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES AND
ENSURE THAT WE COME OUT OF THIS 
CRISIS MORE QUICKLY.
SO THE ABSOLUTE ESSENTIAL OF 
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS MAKING THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY MORE FLEXIBLE.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE ALL THE TOOLS WE NEED TO 
PREVENT THE RECESSION FROM 
BECOMING A DEPRESSION.
A RECESSION BECOMES A DEPRESSION
WHEN A GOVERNMENT DOESN'T TAKE 
IMMEDIATE, QUICK AND SOLID 
ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO A SEVERE 
ECONOMIC SITUATION LIKE THE ONE 
YEAR CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THE PRIOR ESTIMATE
OF THE COST OF THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
WILL BE REVIEWED AND REVISED BY 
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, BUT 
WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW IS 
THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT MORE 
BUSINESSES, MORE NON-PROFIT 
ORGANIZATIONS, MORE CHARITABLE 
ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO 
BENEFIT MORE QUICKLY AND MORE 
IMPORTANTLY FROM THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
QUESTION, YES, I UNDERSTAND 
MINISTER DUCLOS, BUT TO 
UNDERSTAND IT IS $71 BILLION, IS
IT GOING TO BE A HIGHER AMOUNT?
HOW MUCH HIGHER?
WILL WE FIND OUT TODAY AND THE 
FOLLOW UP IS FOR MS. FREELAND.
YESTERDAY YOU SAID THAT THE 
EXPECTED SHIPMENTS THAT WERE 
HELD UP BECAUSE OF THE 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE WERE BEING 
DEALT WITH ON A CASE-BY-CASE 
BASIS.
HOW MANY COMPANIES BASED IN THE 
U.S. HAVE HAD TO CEASE EXPORTING
MASKS?
AND HOW MANY MASKS HAVE CANADA 
BEEN DEPRIVED OF BECAUSE OF THAT
MEASURE?
>> ANSWER.
[Speaking French]
CANADA WAS NOT DEPRIVED OF MASKS
BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
DECREE.
WITH RESPECT TO 3M'S MASKS, THE 
FIRST BATCH OF MASKS ARRIVED IN 
CANADA LAST NIGHT AT 11:20 P.M.
THOSE MASKS ARE NOW HERE IN 
CANADA.
WE ARE NOW ORGANISING THE 
DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE MKS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND I AM SO PLEASED TO BE ABLE 
TO TELL YOU THIS.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE 
WORKING IN OUR HEALTH CARE 
SECTOR DESPERATELY NEED THESE 
MASKS AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT THEY
WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THEM 
VERY SOON.
THESE MASKS ARE SO IMPORTANT AND
NECESSARY FOR THEM.
AND I WANT TO TELL ALL THOSE 
WORKING IN HEALTH CARE IN 
CANADA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WITH RESPECT TO THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED 
STATES, WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL
SUPPLIES, WE HAVE A VERY COMPLEX
RELATIONSHIP IN THAT AREA, JUST 
LIKE EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY.
IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF 
FINISHED PRODUCTS, IT'S ABOUT 
ALL OF THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS TO 
PRODUCE A MASK.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR VENTILATORS.
IT'S ALSO AN ISSUE OF SERVICES.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT CANADA WAS
VERY ORGANIZED AND VERY CLEAR IN
EXPLAINING THE INTERDEPENDENCE 
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OUR 
AMERICAN PARTNERS.
I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THE 3M 
MASKS ARE NOW IN CANADA AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR 
AMERICAN PARTNERS AND COMPANIES 
AND GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO 
ENSURE SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE 
HERE IN CANADA AND ALSO TO 
REASSURE OUR AMERICAN PARTNERS 
THAT ALL THE THINGS THEY NEED 
FROM CANADA WILL ALSO BE 
SUPPLIED TO THE UNITED STATES.
SO LET ME BE CLEAR.
THERE IS NOT A SINGLE MASK AS 
FAR AS I'M AWARE.
THERE MIGHT BE ORDERS DONE BY 
PROVINCES OR HOSPITALS THAT I'M 
NOT AWARE OF, BUT WE'VE BEEN 
ENCOURAGING PROVINCES AND 
HOSPITALS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF 
THEY'RE HAVING ANY CONCERNS, ANY
ISSUES IN THE UNITED STATES OR 
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED 
SITUATION IN THE WHOLE WORLD AND
THERE IS A REAL RACE ON 
INTERNATIONALLY FOR MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE MASKS, 
WE HAD THE STATEMENT FROM 3M ON 
MONDAY.
THE MASKS CROSSED THE U.S. 
BORDER INTO CANADA AT AROUND 
11:20 P.M. LAST NIGHT.
THEY ARE HERE.
AND WE ARE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE TO GET THEM DISTRIBUTED
AROUND THE COUNTRY TO OUR HEROIC
HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO NEED 
THEM SO URGENTLY.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KIM 
FROM THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL".
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Reporter: HI, THANK YOU.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE DEPUTY 
PRIME MINISTER.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT CANADA 
CONSIDERS SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S PROPOSAL FOR IMPOSING 
TARIFFS ON OIL FROM SAUDI ARABIA
IF TALKS BETWEEN OPEC COUNTRIES 
BREAK DOWN?
>> CANADA IS VERY ENGAGED IN 
COLLABORATION WITH THE UNITED 
STATES AT THE G20 LEVEL AS WELL 
IN WORKING ON THE SITUATION IN 
THE GLOBAL OIL MARKET.
WE ARE WORKING -- THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS WORKING VERY 
CLOSELY ON THIS WITH THE 
PROVINCE OF ALBERTA AND WITH 
PREMIER JASON KENNEY WHO HAS 
BEEN REALLY PERSONALLY ENGAGED 
AS WELL.
AND OUR ENERGY MINISTER SEAMUS 
O'REGAN AND SONYA SAVAGE HAVE 
BEEN INVOLVED.
ALL OF US HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE 
TOUCH WITH THE PARTNERS BECAUSE 
OF THE INTEGRATION OF THE NORTH 
AMERICAN MARKET AND ENERGY 
PRODUCTION AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY 
ALSO WORKING ON IT AT THE G20 
LEVEL AND WITH OTHER GLOBAL OIL 
PRODUCERS.
I THINK CANADIANS ALL APPRECIATE
THAT SOME OF THE ACTIONS BY 
RUSSIA AND SAUDI ARABIA HAVE HAD
UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES ON THE 
GLOBAL OIL MARKET.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS 
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY.
WE ARE SEEKING TO AMELIORATE.
>> Reporter: THANKS.
CAN YOU SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO 
THE QUESTION OF TARIFFS, ARE 
TARIFFS ON OIL FROM SAUDI ARABIA
SOMETHING CANADA WOULD CONSIDER 
SUPPORTING?
>> I CHOSE MY WORDS CAREFULLY.
WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THIS 
ISSUE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR 
CANADA AND THE WORLD.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY -- THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WORKING 
CLOSELY WITH THE PROVINCE OF 
ALBERTA ON THIS.
THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA IS QUITE
CORRECTLY VERY DIRECTLY ENGAGED 
AND INVOLVED.
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 
THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA ARE 
WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR U.S. 
NEIGHBOURS, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE
OF THE HIGHLY INTEGRATED NATURE 
OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY 
MARKET AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT 
WITH ENERGY PRODUCERS GLOBALLY.
THE CURRENT SITUATION IS A REAL 
PROBLEM FOR CANADA AND WE ARE 
WORKING TO FIND WAYS TO RESOLVE 
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION ON THE PHONE.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 
[Speaking French]
>> Reporter: HELLO, I HAVE A 
QUESTION FOR MINISTER DUCLOS.
MANY PEOPLE TOLD US THEY 
RECEIVED MUCH MORE THAN THE 
$2,000 EXPECTED AMOUNT FOR THE 
CERB.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON
TO US AND REASSURE US THAT WE'RE
NOT SEEING ANOTHER PHOENIX TAKE 
PLACE?
>> ANSWER.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS FIRST 
OF ALL, THE SYSTEM IS WORKING 
SURPRISINGLY WELL.
OF COURSE, THE GOVERNMENT AND 
THE PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE WORKED 
VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THE 
SYSTEM DID WORK WELL AND WE DID 
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS 
GOING TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY.
SO C.R.A. AND SERVICE CANADA 
EMPLOYEES ARE ENSURING WE CAN 
RECEIVE AND PROCESS A NUMBER OF 
APPLICATIONS THAT ARE ABOUT 25 
TIMES THE NORMAL LEVEL OF WHAT 
WE WOULD HAVE BE RECEIVING AND 
PROCESSING RATHER.
SECONDLY, THE SYSTEM IS ALSO 
RETROACTIVE, TOO.
SO SOME PEOPLE RECEIVED 
RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS, TOO, 
BECAUSE THE CERB IS RETROACTIVE 
TO MARCH 15.
AND THEN THERE IS A PAYMENT IN 
ADVANCE, LET'S CALL IT A 
PERSPECTIVE PAYMENT, AS OF APRIL
11, SINCE THE FIRST PERIOD WAS 
MARCH 15 TO APRIL 11.
NOW IF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED OR 
UNCERTAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE 
PRUDENT.
PEOPLE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT -- 
MUST KNOW IT'S $2,000 PER MONTH.
INDEPENDENTLY OF WHETHER OR NOT 
YOU RECEIVED ANOTHER PAYMENT.
SO IF YOU RECEIVED TWO, IT'S 
POSSIBLE THAT ONE OF THEM WAS A 
RETROACTIVE PAYMENT FOR MARCH 15
TO APRIL 11 AND THE SECOND ONE 
IS AS YOU'RE GOING FORWARD FROM 
APRIL 11.
>> FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, THE FACT THERE IS 
ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE 
GOING ON BETWEEN THE OPPOSITION 
PARTIES AND THE GOVERNMENT, IS 
THIS GOING TO DELAY THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS HIGHLY 
ANTICIPATED PROGRAMME?
>> AS THE PRIME MINISTER WAS 
SAYING THIS MORNING, WE KNOW 
THAT BOTH PROGRAMMES, BOTH THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY AND THE EMERGENCY 
BENEFITS ARE PROGRAMMES THAT ARE
COMPLEMENTARY.
THIS WEEK, WE SAW HOW ESSENTIAL 
THE EMERGENCY BENEFIT WAS SINCE 
WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED 4 MILLION
APPLICATIONS AND MANY OF THOSE 
HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROCESSED, BUT
WE KNOW THAT THE EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDY IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT 
WHICH IS WHY MR. TRUDEAU AND THE
HOUSE LEADER AND ALL THE 
MINISTERS AROUND THE TABLE ARE 
WORKING HARD WITH THE OTHER 
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO ENSURE 
THAT PARLIAMENT CAN BE RECALLED 
TO PASS THIS IMPORTANT 
LEGISLATION AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY 
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY CAN GO FORWARD.
>> Reporter: COULD YOU REPEAT 
THE ANSWER IN ENGLISH?
>> ON THE FIRST QUESTION, FOR 
ALL CANADIANS AND THE ISSUE IS 
VERY IMPORTANT.
IT'S TWOSIDED ISSUE.
THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THE CANADA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT NOT 
ONLY WE KNEW IT WOULD BE 
IMPORTANT, BUT WE NOW HAVE THE 
CONFIRMATION IT IS ABSOLUTELY 
IMPORTANT FOR MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS AND THE GOOD NEWS HERE
IS THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING 
DUE TO THE HARD WORK OF A LARGE 
NUMBER OF PUBLIC SERVANTS.
THE SECOND THING WE NEED TO BE 
MINDFUL OF, THAT ALL CANADIANS 
NEED TO BE REMINDED OF, THIS IS 
$2,000 PER FOUR WEEKS.
SO THERE ARE CANADIANS THAT HAVE
RECEIVED A RETROACTIVE PAYMENT 
DATING FROM MARCH 15, BECAUSE 
THAT IS WHEN THE BENEFIT CAN BE 
APPLIED.
SO FROM MARCH 15 TO APRIL 11 IS 
THE FIRST FOUR-WEEK PERIOD 
DURING WHICH A $2,000 PAYMENT 
WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE MAYBE 
YESTERDAY OR PERHAPS TODAY.
SO THAT IS $2,000 FOR THE FIRST 
PAYMENT.
SOME CANADIANS HAVE ALREADY 
RECEIVED A $2,000 FOR THE SECOND
PAYMENT OF FOUR WEEKS, WHICH IS 
STARTING ON APRIL 11.
BUT LET US BE VERY CLEAR.
IT'S $2,000 PER MONTH.
SO IF PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED TWO 
PAYMENTS, ONE RETROACTIVELY AND 
ONE PROSPECTIVELY, EVERYBODY 
NEEDS TO MANAGE HIS OR HER 
BUDGET ON THE UNDERSTANDING IT'S
$2,000 PER MONTH REGARDLESS OF 
WHEN THE $2,000 IS ACTUALLY 
DEPOSITED INTO HIS OR HER BANK 
ACCOUNT.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
I WANT TO SWITCH TO THE ROOM.
STARTING WITH JULIE FROM CBC.
>> Reporter: YES, I'M JUST 
WONDERING ABOUT THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
I GUESS MAYBE FROM MINISTER 
DUCLOS, THEY'RE WAITING FOR THIS
WAGE SUBSIDY.
OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED PARLIAMENT TO
PASS IT.
AIR CANADA TALKED ABOUT APPLYING
FOR IT TODAY.
WHAT IS THE FASTEST THAT THEY 
CAN HAVE THIS MONEY?
I THINK THE PRIME MINISTER SAID 
SOMETHING ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
THE THINK THE OPPOSITION SAYS 
SIX.
IS THERE A CONCERN THAT MANY 
BUSINESSES WON'T BE ABLE TO HANG
ON?
>> MINISTER MORNEAU HAS 
HIGHLIGHTED A STRONG ECONOMIC 
PLAN THAT HAS THREE LEGS TO IT.
THE FIRST IS SECURE WORKERS.
THE SECOND IS TO SECURE 
LIQUIDITIES AND THE SECOND IS TO
SECURE BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN 
KEEP PAYING THEIR WORKERS.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT 
OBJECTIVES OF THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
SECURING LIQUIDITIES WITH THE 
CANADA BUSINESS ACCOUNT, WHICH 
IS RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE SPEAKING, 
ALLOWING BUSINESSES, IN 
PARTICULAR SMALL AND 
MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES TO 
ACCESS $40,000 IMAGINE LOAN WITH
NO INTEREST FOR THE NEXT TWO 
YEARS.
THAT PROVIDES URGENT LIQUIDITY 
TO SECURE BUSINESSES.
AND THE SECOND THING IS THE 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY.
SO THESE EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDIES, THAT PROGRAMME IS 
BEING IMPLEMENTED IN DIFFERENT 
WAYS.
FIRST IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION 
AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL
DO BECAUSE IT DOES REQUIRE 
IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ON
WHICH WE'RE WORKING WITH 
OPPOSITION PARTIES.
AND THE SECOND THING, WHILE WE 
DO THIS, WE OBVIOUSLY ARE 
PREPARING THE PUBLIC SERVICE FOR
THE DELIVERY OF THAT IMPORTANT 
WAGE SUBSIDY.
BUT, OF COURSE, THE ACTUAL 
DELIVERY MUST WAIT FOR THE 
DECISION AS A DEMOCRACY 
REQUIRES, A DECISION OF 
PARLIAMENT.
>> Reporter: WHAT IS THE HOLDUP?
WHY ISN'T THE HOUSE SITTING 
RIGHT NOW TO PASS THIS?
>> MAYBE I WILL SPEAK TO THAT.
AS  EXPLAINED, THIS IS A VERY 
IMPORTANT PROGRAMME.
THIS IS THE LARGEST ECONOMIC 
MEASURE CANADIANS HAVE PUT 
FORWARD.
FOR THAT REASON, WE BELIEVE THAT
PARLIAMENT NEEDS TO HAVE ITS SAY
ABOUT IT.
WE'RE A PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY 
AND THAT PART OF THE OVERSIGHT 
IS CRUCIAL.
HOUSE LEADERS FROM ALL PARTIES 
ARE NEGOTIATING RIGHT NOW FOR 
HOW PARLIAMENT CAN COME BACK TO 
DEBATE THIS LEGISLATION.
AND WE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WILL 
HAPPEN QUICKLY AND WE VERY MUCH 
HOPE THAT LEGISLATION WILL BE 
SUPPORTED.
AS YOU SAID IN YOUR QUESTION, 
JULIE, THIS IS SUPPORT THAT 
CANADIAN BUSINESSES URGENTLY 
NEED.
AND THAT CANADIAN WORKERS 
URGENTLY NEED SO THEY CAN KEEP 
THEIR JOBS AND KEEP FOOD ON THE 
TABLE.
SO WE'RE WORKING VERY 
ENERGETICALLY WITH THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO BRING 
PARLIAMENT BACK.
THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP.
I'M HOPEFUL IT WILL HAPPEN 
REALLY SOON.
>> I'M BEING ASKED FOR YOU TO 
REPEAT THAT IN FRENCH.
[Speaking French]
>> Translator: ANSWER REPEATED 
IN FRENCH.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS A VERY 
POWERFUL MEASURE ON THE PART OF 
OUR GOVERNMENT.
WE BELIEVE IT IS THE GREATEST 
MEASURE EVER TAKEN BY A CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE THAT 
PARLIAMENT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY 
TO CONSIDER THIS MEASURE AT THE 
SAME TIME WE DO UNDERSTAND THE 
URGENCY OF THE MEASURE FOR 
CANADIAN BUSINESSES AND FOR 
CANADIAN WORKERS TO RECEIVE THIS
SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS WHY THE LEADERS OF ALL 
THE POLITICAL PARTIES ARE 
WORKING EXTREMELY HARD -- I 
WORKED VERY LATE LAST NIGHT WITH
HOUSE LEADER PABLO RODRIGUEZ 
ABOUT THIS WORK.
WHICH IS REQUIRED TO RECALL 
PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER THIS 
MEASURE.
I HOPE WE WILL BENEFIT FROM THE 
GOODWILL OF ALL POLITICAL 
PARTIES.
I THINK ALL CANADIANS UNDERSTAND
HOW URGENT THIS MEASURE IS AND I
DO HOPE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY 
TO DEBATE IT AND TO MOVE VERY 
QUICKLY ON THIS MEASURE.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU TO 
START.
YOU BOTH SAID OVER A PERIOD OF 
TIME THAT TESTING IS AN 
IMPORTANT PART TO COMING TO 
CONCLUSION ON THE PANDEMIC.
WHEN WE LOOK AT ONTARIO, THEY 
ONLY TESTED 2500 PEOPLE 
YESTERDAY, THAT'S BELOW THE 
DAILY GOAL OF 5,000 TESTS.
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT 
ONTARIO'S TESTING LEVEL?
ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT A LACK OF
TEST KITS.
>> I'LL START WITH THE LAST PART
OF THE QUESTION FIRST AND TURN 
TO DR. TAM ABOUT HOW TESTING 
STRATEGIES ARE CREATED.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, TESTS 
AREN'T BEING WITHHELD.
THE TESTING STRATEGY THAT DR. 
TAM HAS WORKED OUT WITH HER 
COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES IS TO 
GET TO THE VOLUME WE NEED TO, TO
ENSURE WE HAVE A GOOD 
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE 
DISEASE PRESENTATION IS, BUT 
ALSO TARGETED SO WE'RE USING THE
TESTS IN THE BEST WAY TO 
DETERMINE THE HOT SPOTS THAT WE 
SEE ACROSS THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES AND THE RISK OF THE 
DISEASE IN VULNERABLE 
POPULATIONS.
SO I'LL TURN TO DR. TAM TO SPEAK
WITH ONTARIO PARTICULARLY AND 
ANYTHING ELSE SHE'D LIKE TO ADD.
>> YES.
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS DO HAVE 
DIFFERENT LABORATORY TESTING 
RATES, SO THE NUMBER OF TESTS 
PER CAPITA.
THAT MIGHT BE AS A RESULT OF 
WHERE THEY ARE IN THE EPIDEMIC 
CURVE, BUT I DO AGREE WE NEED TO
INCREASE OUR LABORATORY TESTING 
IN CANADA WRIT LARGE, BUT 
CERTAINLY FOR JURISDICTIONS THAT
EXPERIENCE THE MOST ACTIVITY.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT JUST 
PROVIDING A CONSENSUS ON 
GUIDANCE ON WHO TO TEST, BUT 
REALLY LOOKING AT EVERY STREAM 
OF TESTING CAPACITY, WHETHER 
IT'S PCR, TO INCREASE THAT.
I KNOW ONTARIO IS TRYING TO 
IMPROVE THAT AS THEY'RE GOING 
ALONG WITH THAT TO HELP AS MUCH 
AS POSSIBLE.
BUT ALSO TESTING ON THE NEWER 
CAPABILITIES LIKE THE PATIENT 
TEST THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR 
DIFFERENT AREAS OF ONTARIO.
ONTARIO IS A VERY BIG 
JURISDICTION.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY 
TIGHTLY WITH THE PROVINCIAL 
LABORATORIES, BUT AGAIN, IT'S 
LIKE OTHER SUPPLIES.
WE'RE PULLING OUT EVERY STOP TO 
GET AS MUCH AS TESTING CAPACITY 
AS POSSIBLE IN CANADA.
THERE IS VARIATIONS IN TERMS OF 
LAB TESTING RATES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
>> ON A FOLLOW-UP.
OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO, THE 
"WASHINGTON POST", BLOOMBERG HAS
REPORTED THAT CHINA HAS 
UNDERREPORTED THE DEATH RATE.
THE U.S. HAS INTELLIGENCE 
THEY'VE DONE THAT AS WELL.
WE ASKED THE HEALTH MINISTER AND
SHE SAID THAT THE DATA OUT OF 
CHINA IN TERMS OF THE RATES OF 
INFECTION AND DEATH RATES WERE 
FALSIFIED IN ANY WAY.
AS A FIVE EYES PARTNER, HAVE WE 
SEEN THE INTELLIGENCE THAT THE 
U.S. HAS AND PERSONALLY, DO YOU 
BELIEVE THE NUMBERS THAT CHINA 
HAS PUT OUT AROUND COVID-19?
>> SO, LET ME START BY TALKING 
ABOUT OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE
W.H.O.
THIS IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND 
CANADA ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTANDS 
THAT A GLOBAL RESPONSE TO IT IS 
ESSENTIAL.
THE MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATION 
CHARGED WITH COORDINATING THAT 
GLOBAL RESPONSE IS THE W.H.O.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO DATA FROM 
VARIOUS COUNTRIES AND WHEN IT 
COMES TO THE MULTILATERAL EFFORT
AROUND THAT, THE W.H.O. AND OUR 
OWN HEALTH EXPERTS WHO WORK 
CLOSELY WITH THE W.H.O. ARE 
WHERE WE TURN.
HAVING SAID THAT, CANADA IS A 
VERY ENERGETIC MEMBER OF THE 
FIVE EYES AND WE HAVE A CLOSE 
AND VERY IMPORTANT SECURITY AND 
INTELLIGENCE PARTNERSHIP WITH 
THE UNITED STATES IN THE FIVE 
EYES, IN NATO AND IN NOR AD.
SO OF COURSE, WE DO SHARE 
INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION THROUGH
THE FIVE EYES.
THE FIVE EYES ARE CHARGED WITH 
DOING THAT.
AND WE HAVE VERY FREQUENT 
SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE 
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE UNITED 
STATES.
ARE REASON THAT WE ARE ABLE TO 
HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH 
ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE CRISIS
THAT THE WORLD IS EXPERIENCING 
TODAY, IS BECAUSE THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN IN 
PRIVATE AND SO I AM NOT ABLE TO 
SHARE DETAILS OF WHAT IS 
DISCUSSED IN THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, GUYS.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT NON-COVID 
PATIENTS.
I'VE BEEN HEARING OF MAJOR 
SURGERIES THAT HAVE BEEN 
POSTPONED AND DOCTORS, CLINIC 
DOCTORS, WHO ARE DEFERRING 
PEOPLE UNTIL A LATE DATE.
BUT IF THIS TAKES MONTH, WHAT 
IMPLICATIONS IS THAT OF 
DEFERRING OUR HEALTH CARE UNTIL 
THIS CLEARS UP IN THE FUTURE?
>> SO I'LL START AND THEN I'LL 
TURN TO DR. TAM FOR OBVIOUSLY 
THE WORK SHE'S DOING WITH OUR 
COLLEAGUES.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK 
ALL OF THE HEALTH CARE 
PRACTITIONERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHO ARE MAKING THESE VERY 
DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH 
PROCEDURES TO POSTPONE, HOW TO 
MANAGE CLIENTS -- OR PEOPLE, 
PATIENTS, THAT ARE ILL WITH A 
VARIETY OF SEVERITY OF 
ILLNESSES, INCLUDING MENTAL 
ILLNESS BY THE WAY, WHICH IS 
ANOTHER AREA THAT WE HAVEN'T 
TALKED A LOT ABOUT, BUT IN FACT,
PATIENTS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME 
ACCESSING PROFESSIONALS IN THE 
AREA OF MENTAL ILLNESS AS WELL.
THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES.
AND THESE ARE DIFFICULT 
HEART-WRENCHING DECISIONS AND 
THEY'RE NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY I KNOW
AT ANY LEVEL OF DECISION-MAKING,
WHETHER IT IS PROVINCIAL 
GUIDANCE PROVIDED THROUGH 
MINISTRIES OF HEALTH OR THE 
LOCAL LEVEL AS HOSPITALS AND 
PRACTITIONERS CONTINUE TO TRY TO
TREAT PATIENTS AND CONTINUE 
PREPARING FOR A SURGE IN THE 
HOSPITAL SETTING.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT 
HARD WORK.
I KNOW AS CANADIANS ARE 
STRUGGLING AND SUFFERING AND 
POSTPONING SURGERIES, SOME OF US
MIGHT NOT THINK THEY'RE 
ESSENTIAL, BUT THEY'RE IN 
ESSENTIAL IN THEIR OWN LIVES, 
THESE ARE TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES.
BUT ALSO THE HEALTH CARE 
PROFESSIONALS WHOSE ENTIRE LIVES
HAVE BEEN HELPING PEOPLE IN 
CRISIS AND ARE NOW STRUGGLING TO
DO THAT, WE OWE THEM A DEBT OF 
GRATITUDE FOR THESE DIFFICULT 
DECISIONS THEY'RE MAKING.
MAYBE, DR. TAM, YOU CAN TALK 
ABOUT THE GUIDANCE AT THE 
NATIONAL LEVEL IN PREPARING FOR 
SURGE.
>> I THINK IT'S VERY DYNAMIC 
SITUATION IN DIFFERENT PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES, BUT WHAT THE 
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS ARE 
SEIZED WITH IS NOT ONLY TRYING 
TO ASCERTAIN IMPACT OF THE 
ACTUAL PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES, 
REDUCING THE IMPACT OF THE 
COVID-19 ITSELF, BUT WHAT ARE 
THE OTHER CONSEQUENCES, NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES OF OUR MEASURES, 
AND THAT IS THE AREA THAT WE 
WANT TO OBVIOUSLY FOCUS ON.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION 
RIGHT NOW IS TO GET PAST THAT 
INITIAL PEAK SO EVERYTHING WILL 
BE DONE AND WHENEVER THAT IS, IS
DEPENDENT ON OUR ACTION NOW.
RIGHT NOW IS A REALLY CRITICAL 
TIME FOR JURISDICTIONS, 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES ARE 
LOOKING WELL, WHEN CAN THIS 
RESUME?
I THINK THEY WILL BE LOOKING 
AT -- UNTIL YOU'RE PAST THAT 
PEAK, YOU CAN'T REALLY PROVIDE 
THOSE KIND OF DYNAMIC DECISIONS,
BUT THAT'S THE -- EXACTLY THE 
KIND OF THING THEY'RE LOOKING AT
RIGHT NOW, HOW DO WE RESUME 
THESE WITHOUT IMPACTING THE 
CAPACITY TO COPE WITH THE 
COVID-19 PATIENTS?
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE QUESTION AND 
ONE THAT IS ON TOP OF THEIR 
MINDS FOR SURE.
>> I JUST GOT A NEW ONE IN.
AN IPSOS POLL SUGGESTS ONE-THIRD
OF CANADIANS REPORTED THEY ARE 
NOT FOLLOWING THE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING ADVICE OF PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS.
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE 
LOGGED THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF 
PEOPLE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TOOLS LEFT THAT 
YOU'RE WILLING TO USE TO CRACK 
DOWN ON PEOPLE REFUSING TO 
SOCIAL DISTANCE?
>> SO, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, 
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE CERTAIN 
JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 
AND THAT IS LARGELY SUPPORTING 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES IN 
DEALING WITH FEDERAL BORDERS AND
MANY OF THE TOOLS WE HAVE, WE 
USED TO VARYING DEGREES AS 
VARYING TIMES AND OF COURSE WE 
RELY ON THE SPECIAL ADVISOR 
COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS TO TALK ABOUT 
ADDITIONAL TOOLS THAT COULD BE 
IMPOSED.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT 
STATISTIC, WHAT IT SAYS TO ME IS
75% OF CANADIANS ARE FOLLOWING 
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
OF COURSE, IT'S CHALLENGING FOR 
A VARIETY OF PEOPLE TO DO THAT 
FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT 
REASONS.
WE CONTINUE TO ADD MEASURES AND 
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT AND 
AT PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL 
LEVELS THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH 
OF TOOLS IMPLEMENTED, FROM 
FINES, TO PHONE LINES FOR PEOPLE
TO CALL.
I THINK DR. TAM'S LAST ANSWER IS
A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO 
REFLECT ON.
THE TOOLS THAT WE USE HAVE TO BE
COMMENSURATE WITH THE RISK AND 
HAVE TO BE APPLIED IN A WAY THAT
DON'T INCREASE SUFFERING IN 
PEOPLE'S LIVES TO THE DEGREE 
THAT HAVE LONG LASTING IMPACTS.
WE CAN SEE THAT THE WORLD IS IN 
A DIFFICULT PLACE.
WE'RE TRYING AS BEST AS WE CAN 
TO BE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC -- BEAT 
A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, A VIRUS WHICH
THERE IS NO CURE AND THERE IS NO
VACCINE FOR, USING, I WOULD SAY,
RELATIVELY PRIMITIVE TOOLS.
TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN USED OVER 
CENTURIES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD 
OF DISEASE.
SO AS WE DO THAT AND AS WE APPLY
ADDITIONAL MEASURES, WE HAVE TO 
BE EXTREMELY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT 
HOW WE DO THAT TO GET TO THE 
INTENDED PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL 
WHICH IS TO REDUCE THE SPREAD 
AND ACTUALLY SAVE LIVES, BUT 
ALSO UNDERSTAND THE LONG LASTING
IMPLICATIONS IN OTHER PEOPLES' 
LIVE AND HAVE KINDNESS AND 
PATIENCE WITH PEOPLE AS THEY 
LEARN TO LIVE IN A NEW WAY.
>> I WOULD LOOK AT IT FROM TWO 
DIRECTIONS.
ONE IS SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO 
BETTER SOCIAL DISTANCE OR 
SELF-ISOLATE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, 
WELL, DO WE NEED TO PROVIDE 
ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR 
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SELF-ISOLATE 
APPROPRIATELY AT HOME?
SO WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES, 
LOOKING AT THAT ISOLATION PLAN.
SO THEY CAN'T SELF-ISOLATE AT 
HOME, LET'S HELP THEM.
SO LOTS OF THESE MEASURES TO 
HELP MAY BE NUDGING AND OTHER 
TOOLS, APPS ARE BEING STUDY, HOW
CAN WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KNOW 
THEY'RE NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE GOOGLE 
WORK LOOKING AT, IN FACT, 
CANADA, MANY AREAS OF CANADA, 
WE'VE REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY 
REDUCED OUR MOBILITY.
IN A WHOLE NORTH AMERICAN 
CONTEXT.
OUR PROVINCE IS AT THE TOP OF 
REDUCTION IN MOBILITY FOR 
EXAMPLE.
SO THAT'S INNOVATIVE TOOLS TELL 
US HOW THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES ARE WORKING.
THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, IN TERMS
OF COMPLIANCE, AS WE FOLLOW UP 
PEOPLE AND CHECK IN ON THEM, 
SOMETIMES WE FIND THAT WE CAN'T 
REACH THEM.
AND WE HAVE TOOLS TO OF COURSE 
WORK WITH OUR PEACE OFFICERS TO 
TRY AND FIND THEM SO THEY WILL 
KNOW THIS IS A REALLY SERIOUS 
THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE HAVE A MANDATORY ORDER ON 
SELF-QUARANTINE WHEN YOU ENTER 
CANADA AND THIS IS SERIOUS AND 
WE MEAN TO LOOK AT COMPLIANCE 
FOR THAT.
SO WE DO, EVERY DAY, FIND PEOPLE
WHO HAVEN'T ANSWERED THEIR PHONE
CALLS AND HAVE TO BE CHASED 
DOWN.
EVERY PROVINCE, EVERY 
MUNICIPALITY IS APPLYING SOME 
MEASURE OF THAT CONCEPT.
BUT WHEN NEEDED, SOME OF THESE 
FINES AND COMPLIANCE MEASURES 
ARE THERE FOR AN ADDED BIT OF A 
SERIOUS MESSAGE, I THINK.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL TURN BACK TO THE PHONE FOR 
TWO MORE QUESTIONS AND THAT'S 
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM -- 
[Speaking French]
>> [Speaking French]
>> Translator: QUESTION, MY 
QUESTION IS FOR YOU.
EARLIER YOU SAID DURING THE 
PRESS CONFERENCE THAT CANADA WAS
DEPRIVED OF NO MASKS BY AMERICAN
COMPANIES EXPORTING INTO OUR 
COUNTRY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO 
KNOW WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?
ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 
WHOLE ISSUE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
DECREE IS RESOLVED?
THE WHITE HOUSE SEEMS TO BE 
SUGGESTING THAT THE DECREE WERE 
NOT APPLICABLE TO EXPORTS TO 
CANADA.
CAN YOU TELL US WHETHER YOU 
RECEIVED OUR OWN INSURANCES FROM
THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION THIS
HAS BEEN RESOLVED?
>> ANSWER, THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION, AND AS TO THE MASKS, I
WILL SAY AS SAID IN ENGLISH, 
WITH RESPECT TO THE PURCHASES 
THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE, I DO 
HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE.
THERE MAY BE OTHER PURCHASES BY 
PROVINCES AND HOSPITALS, BUT I 
DO WANT TO ASSURE YOU AND TELL 
YOU RIGHT NOW THAT -- AND TELL 
ALL PROVINCES AND HOSPITALS THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS HERE 
TO HELP THE PROVINCES AND HELP 
OUR HOSPITALS IN MAKING THESE 
PURCHASES OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE MOVING AHEAD.
WE HAVE EXCELLENT AMBASSADOR IN 
THE U.S., IN CHINA, ACROSS THE 
WORLD AND WE'RE WORKING IN CLOSE
COLLABORATION WITH PROVINCES AND
EVEN CERTAIN HOSPITALS TO MAKE 
THESE PURCHASES.
WITH RESPECT TO THE UNITED 
STATES, AND THE ISSUE OF 
PURCHASING MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM
THE U.S., THIS IS AN ISSUE WE 
ARE CURRENTLY DISCUSSING AND 
RESOLVING.
ALL CANADIANS NOW KNOW THAT WE 
DID HAVE ISSUES AROUND THE 
PURCHASE OF THE 3M MASKS, BUT WE
ARE RESOLVING MANY OTHER 
SPECIFIC ISSUES AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT 
WE HAVE HAD AND ARE CONTINUING 
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON 
SEVERAL OTHER LEVELS WITH 
RESPECT TO THIS ISSUE WITH OUR 
AMERICAN PARTNERS.
WE'VE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN IT 
COMES TO MEDICAL SERVICES, LIKE 
ALL OF THE RELATIONSHIPS, 
VARIOUS RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE 
WITH THE UNITED STATES IS A 
RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP.
IT IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS 
TRULY INTERDEPENDENT.
WE NEED THE UNITED STATES, BUT 
AT THE SAME TIME, THEY NEED US, 
TOO.
WE EXPLAINED THAT AND WE MADE 
THE ARGUMENT THAT A WIN-WIN 
SOLUTION IS IN THE INTEREST OF 
BOTH COUNTRIES.
I THINK THAT WE DID -- THAT WE 
WERE UNDERSTOOD BY OUR AMERICAN 
PARTNERS AND COUNTERPARTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO 
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION
FOR ALL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, 
INCLUDING CANADA AND INCLUDED 
THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S A CRISIS AND WE HAVE TO 
WORK ON DAILY BASIS AND HOURLY 
BASIS AND KEEP WORKING.
THAT'S WHAT WE MUST DO.
AND I MUST ALSO HAVE EMPHASIZE 
HOW IMPORTANT THE PREMIERS AND 
THE PROVINCES' ROLE IS.
THIS IS AN ISSUE WE'RE ALL 
WORKING TOGETHER ON AS TEAM 
CANADA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Reporter: FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
[Speaking French]
>> Translator: MY FOLLOW-UP 
QUESTION IS, AS FOLLOWS, I WANT 
TO BE CLEAR WHERE WE'RE AT THEN.
WAS THERE PROGRESS MADE BEYOND 
THE 3M CASE?
YOU SAID YOU WERE WORKING ON IT 
CASE-BY-CASE APPROACH WITH 
COMPANIES.
YOU SAID YOU'RE WORKING ON OTHER
SPECIFIC ISSUES, WHAT DOES THAT 
MEAN?
DOES THAT MEAN SINCE YESTERDAY 
YOU REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH 
CERTAIN COMPANIES TO BE EXEMPTED
FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION 
DECREE?
AND IF SO, HOW MANY COMPANIES 
AND HOW MANY SUPPLIES?
>> ANSWER.
I DO NOT WISH TO GET INTO THE 
DETAILS OF THE SPECIFIC CASES, 
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT UP UNTIL
NOW WE HAVE MANAGED TO RESOLVE 
THE ISSUES.
AND THAT WE WILL HAVE TO 
CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
AND THAT'S QUITE NORMAL.
TRADE RELATIONSHIPS REQUIRE 
PERSISTENT WORK AND CANADA KNOWS
HOW TO DO THAT AND CANADA WILL 
CONTINUE TO DO SO.
SO WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE 
RESOLUTION OF THE SITUATION WITH
3M.
AND WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT THE 
FIRST PART OF CANADA'S ORDER 
FROM 3M HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND 
THOSE 500,000 MASKS ARE HERE IN 
CANADA.
MORE BROADLY, WE HAVE BEEN 
MAKING THE CASE FOR MANY DAYS 
NOW TO OUR AMERICAN PARTNERS 
THAT WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES, THE 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANADA AND 
THE UNITED STATES IS TRULY 
RECIPROCAL.
WE ARE DEPENDENT ON ONE ANOTHER 
AND BOTH COUNTRIES WILL BE BEST 
SERVED IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO 
WORK TOGETHER.
THAT IS AN ARGUMENT WE HAVE BEEN
MAKING SPEAKING ABOUT SOME VERY 
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THE ROLE 
CANADA PLAYS IN THE U.S. MEDICAL
ROLE AND THE U.S. HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM.
THUS FAR, WE HAVE BEEN MET WITH 
REAL COMPREHENSION FROM OUR 
AMERICAN PARTNERS, BOTH IN THE 
ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO AT THE 
BUSINESS LEVEL, BECAUSE AMERICAN
BUSINESSES REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
EXTENT TO WHICH THE SUPPLY 
CHAINS ARE INTERDEPENDENT.
THIS IS WORK THAT IS CONSTANT 
AND WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP AT IT 
AND, BY THE WAY, THAT IS THE 
NATURE OF OUR TRADING 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED 
STATES IN GENERAL.
THAT IT REQUIRES CONSTANT WORK, 
CONSTANT GARDENING.
AND IN THIS TIME OF A TRUE 
GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF A REAL 
CRISIS, IT REQUIRES PARTICULAR 
ATTENTION AND WE ARE DEVOTING 
ABSOLUTELY THAT NECESSARY 
ATTENTION TO IT.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
ONE LAST QUESTION.
OPERATOR?
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ALTHIA
RAJ FROM THE "HUFFPOST".
>>> THANK YOU, I THINK MY 
QUESTION IS FOR MINISTER DUCLOS 
OR FREELAND.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF CABINET 
CONSIDERED A BROAD-BASED 
UNIVERSAL PAYMENT APPROACH OF 
THE WAY OF CATCHING ALL CANADIAN
WORKERS WHOSE INCOME MAY HAVE 
BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19?
AND IF YOU DID CONSIDER IT, WHY 
DID YOU RULE IT OUT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
IF I MAY ANSWER VERY BROADLY, 
BUT AS AS WELL, QUITE 
SPECIFICALLY.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE 
CONTEXT OF THIS EMERGENCY IS 
THAT OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM 
WASN'T DESIGNED AND THEREFORE 
WASN'T PREPARED TO HANDLE SUCH 
AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
NOW WE KNOW BEFORE THE CRISIS 
THAT THERE WERE SOME HOLES IN 
OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM DUE 
IN PART TO THE CHANGING 
DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE CHANGING 
WORK CIRCUMSTANCES OF MANY 
CANADIAN WORKERS.
SO THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY LESSONS 
THAT WE ARE LEARNING AND THAT WE
WILL BE LEARNING OVER THE NEXT 
FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS AS TO HOW 
WE WILL AS A COUNTRY EMERGE WITH
NOT ONLY A BETTER UNDERSTANDING 
OF THE VAST DIVERSITY OF CANADA 
AND CANADIANS, BUT ALSO THE 
VAST -- THE CONSIDERABLE 
IMPORTANCE THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO KEEP PLAYING
WHEN IT COMES TO SECURING NOT 
ONLY THE LIVELIHOODS, BUT THE 
ABILITY OF EVERYONE TO 
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN OUR ECONOMY
BOTH IN CRISIS BUT ALSO OUTSIDE 
OF CRISIS.
[please stand by]
>> IF YOU DID CONSIDER IT, WHAT 
WERE THE THINGS YOU DECIDED 
WOULD RULE THAT OPTION OUT?
>> Answer: WELL, I WOULD REMIND 
EVERYONE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING 
IS RATHER UNIVERSE BECAUSE WE 
ARE UNIVERSALLY SUPPORTING 
WORKERS, BOTH THAT WOULD HAVE 
PERHAPS BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE 
SUPPORT FROM EMPLOYMENT 
INSURANCE, BUT ALSO THOSE THAT 
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE 
SUPPORT.
WE ARE WORKING IN AN EMERGENCY 
SITUATION, WHERE WE ARE DOING 
THINGS THAT CANADA AND CANADIANS
HAVE NEVER DONE.
THE E.I. SYSTEM WAS NOT DESIGNED
FOR THAT.
WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE A SYSTEM AT
RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED AND WITH 
RELATIVELY GOOD WOULD BEINGS, 
WHERE WE SEE MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS BEING GIVEN EMERGENCY 
ASSISTANCE IN A CONTEXT WHERE 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS NEED AND 
DEMAND THAT ASSISTANCE.
SO WE ARE DEMONSTRATING, AS WE 
WERE TOGETHER, WE'RE LISTENING 
AND INPUTTING THE ADVICE OF MANY
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE 
GOVERNMENT.
WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS IN CANADA
AND GREAT THINGS AS CANADA, IN 
PARTICULAR DOING THINGS THAT ARE
QUITE UNIVERSE IN THEIR NATURE 
AT THE PARTICULAR MOMENT.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE POINT 
ABOUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM 
AND A PARTICULAR ADVANTAGE THAT 
IT OFFERS AND THE REASON THIS IS
A PROGRAM WE ARE REALLY 
DELIGHTED TO BE OFFERING TO 
CANADIANS.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM 
OFFERING ON TOP OF THE CERB A 
PARTICULAR BENEFIT AND THAT 
IS -- TWO PARTICULAR BENEFITS.
FIRST, IT HELPS TO RETAIN THAT 
CRUCIAL LINK BETWEEN EMPLOYERS 
AND THEIR JOB.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL 
PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR PEOPLE, TO 
KNOW YOU ARE NOT ONLY HAVING AN 
INCOME, BUT YOU HAVE A JOB THAT 
IS STILL THERE.
IT IS ALSO CRUCIAL IN TERMS OF 
THE ABILITY OF BUSINESSES TO 
KEEP GOING AND TO REMAIN 
OPERATIONAL AND FOR US 
COLLECTIVELY, THEREFORE, TO BE 
IN A POSITION TO COME ROARING 
BACK ECONOMICALLY WHEN WE ARE 
ABLE TO RELAX THE ESSENTIAL 
HEALTH MEASURES THAT ARE IN 
PLACE RIGHT NOW.
SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE CANADIANS
NOT TO UNDERSTATE THE VALUE OF 
THE PARTICULAR STRUCTURE OF THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
THIS IS GOING TO MAINTAIN THAT 
ESSENTIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN 
PEOPLE AND THEIR JOBS AND IT IS 
GOING TO HELP BUSINESSES REMAIN 
FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND INTACT.
IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM, AND WE 
ALL REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT 
PARLIAMENT WILL COME TOGETHER 
SOON TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND
TO KEEP CANADIAN COMPANIES AND 
THE CANADIAN ECONOMY STRONG 
THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE END OF 
THE FEDERAL CABINET AND FEDERAL 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS BRIEFING
ON THE PANDEMIC.
THE BIG NEWS IS SOME MAJOR 
CHANGES TO THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAM, NOW ALLOWING BUSINESSES
TO QUALIFY IF THEY'VE LOST JUST 
15% OF THEIR REVENUE IN MARCH, 
ALSO ALLOWING THEM TO CHOOSE 
DIFFERENT MONTHS, FROM JANUARY 
AND FEBRUARY, AS A REFERENCE 
PERIOD.
CHARITIES CAN ALSO APPLY FOR THE
WAGE SUBSIDY AND CHOOSE WHETHER 
TO INCLUDE THE GOVERNMENT 
SUBSIDY IN THEIR OVERALL 
REVENUES.
WE WILL GET MORE DETAILS ON THIS
FROM BILL MORNEAU AT 1:30 
EASTERN.
IT STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH 
PARLIAMENT AND THEY ARE STILL 
NEGOTIATING THE DATE TO HAVE 
SOME M.P.s INSIDE THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS.
WE WILL LEAVE IT ON THAT NOTE 
BECAUSE QUÉBEC IS GIVING AN 
UPDATE IN THAT PROVINCE.
HERE IS FRANÇOIS LEGAULT AND 
PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS.
>> Premier François Legault: 
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] -- SO THE EMPLOYEES
AS WELL AS THE RESIDENTS.
WE WILL BE TESTING EVERYONE TO 
KNOW PROPERLY WHAT THE SITUATION
IS AND TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW 
THOSE PLACES WHERE THINGS ARE 
MORE DIFFICULT.
SO DANIELLE IS GOING TO BE 
TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE 
RESIDENCES FOR THE ELDERLY 
LATER.
BUT I STILL WANT TO COME BACK TO
THE RESIDENCES FOR THE ELDERLY 
WHO LIVE AT HOME.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
IDEALLY, NO CONTACT.
WE ASK THEM NOT TO GO OUT.
WE ARE ASKING THOSE WHO TAKE 
FOOD TO THEM TO KEEP 2 METRES 
AWAY FROM THEM, TO NOT TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT 
THEY'RE THERE TO START CHATTING.
YOU CAN DO THAT OVER THE PHONE 
AFTER.
SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT
TO KEEP THAT DISTANCE.
THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT IS 
FOR PEOPLE OVER 70 YEARS OF AGE 
TO CATCH THE VIRUS.
SO LET'S KEEP THAT IN MIND.
IT'S TRUE FOR EASTER.
SO I'LL BE THE FIRST.
I'M USED TO EVERY YEAR, IT'S 
LIKE MOTHER'S DAY.
EASTER I WOULD GO TO MY 
MOTHER'S.
BUT NOW I WON'T BE GOING TO MY 
MOTHER'S.
I'LL BE CALLING HER OF COURSE ON
SUNDAY, BUT I WON'T BE SEEING 
HER.
I WANT US TO MOBILIZE OURSELF, 
ALL OF SOCIETY, ALL OF QUÉBECERS
TO DO EVERYTHING TO PROTECT OUR 
ELDERLY.
THAT SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY 
MISSION IN THE UPCOMING DAYS AND
WEEKS.
SO THE NUMBERS FOR THE DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, 25 NEW DEATHS.
WE ARE NOW AT 175 DEATHS.
OF COURSE I WISH TO OFFER MY 
CONDOLENCES TO THOSE FAMILIES OF
THE VICTIMS.
WE HAVE NOW 10,031 CONFIRMED 
CASES, AN INCREASE OF 691.
632 PEOPLE ARE BEING 
HOSPITALIZED.
THAT IS AN INCREASE OF 49.
OUT OF THOSE 682, THERE IS 181 
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN INTENSIVE 
CARE, SO AN INCREASE OF ONLY 17.
I WISH TO TELL YOU -- YES, I 
HAVE TO COUGH IN MY ELBOW.
I'M SORRY.
NEXT TIME.
I WISH TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S 
BEEN A FEW DAYS THAT WE'VE BEEN 
SEEING THAT IT'S REALLY 
STABILIZING IN TERMS OF 
HOSPITALIZATIONS.
THAT REALLY TRULY IS GOOD NEWS.
THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE STARTING 
TO SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF 
THE TUNNEL, WE ARE CONTINUING 
THIS WAY, WE ARE STARTING TO WIN
THAT FIGHT THAT WE'RE WAGING, 
WHICH IS ENCOURAGING, AND WHICH 
BRINGS US TO START PREPARING THE
NEXT STEPS, WHICH IS THE 
REOPENING OF STORES AND 
BUSINESSES.
BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, 
WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
WE STILL HAVE TO KEEP SEEING 
THESE KINDS OF DAYS AS WE'VE HAD
IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, WHERE 
THERE'S NO BIG INCREASES IN THE 
NUMBER OF CASES AND NUMBER OF 
PEOPLE IN INTENSIVE CARE.
I WISH TO TALK TO ENTREPRENEURS,
TO OWNERS, TO MANAGERS OF 
BUSINESSES TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THE
DISCUSSIONS WE ARE HAVING WITH 
PUBLIC HEALTH.
FIRST, OF COURSE, WHEN WE 
RE-OPEN BUSINESSES, IT WILL BE 
VERY IMPORTANT TO CONCENTRATE ON
THOSE BUSINESSES WHERE PEOPLE 
REALLY CAN -- AND HERE I MAKE IT
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERS AND
MANAGERS TO REMAIN 2 METRES 
AWAY.
EMPLOYEES AT ALL TIMES HAVE TO 
BE 2 METRES AWAY FROM THEIR 
COLLEAGUES AND 2 METRES AWAY, IF
THAT IS THE CASE AS WELL, FROM 
CLIENTS.
THAT IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT
CRITERIA.
THE 2 METRES, GET USED TO IT IN 
QUÉBEC.
THAT IS GOING TO LAST MONTHS.
NEXT FEW MONTHS WE ARE THINKING 
ABOUT REOPENING BUSINESSES, BUT 
THE GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESSES 
WILL REMAIN FOR MONTHS.
GET USED TO THAT GUIDELINE.
OF COURSE AS WELL WHEN WE'RE 
THINKING OF REOPENING BUSINESSES
AND STORES, WELL OF COURSE THAT 
ALSO WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON 
DAYCARE.
OF COURSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO 
RESPECT THE 2 METRES IN SCHOOLS 
AND IN DAYCARE.
SO WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES 
QUESTIONS.
IF WE WANT WORKERS TO GO BACK TO
WORK, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN 
WITH THE CHILDREN AND WITH 
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND RUSH 
HOUR?
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING -- 
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE WILL ASK
EMPLOYERS TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH 
SCHEDULES SO NOT ALL WORKERS USE
THE TRANSPORTATION AND ALL BE IN
THE TRAINS AND METROs AND BUSES.
IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.
I SEE COMMENTS SAYING ALL 
BUSINESSES THAT ARE 2 METRES 
AWAY SHOULD ALL BE REOPENED 
TOMORROW MORNING.
YEAH, OKAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING 
TO DO WITH THE KIDS AND THE 
EMPLOYEES WHO NEED TO USE PUBLIC
TRANSPORT?
WE HAVE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS.
YES, I'M OPTIMISTIC WE'LL BE 
ABLE TO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND
WEEKS TO START OPENING 
BUSINESSES AND STORES.
WE HAVE TO BE PRUDENT AND MAKE A
CALL OUT TO THE RESPONSIBILITY 
AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF EMPLOYERS.
THE NUMBERS HAVE TO CONTINUE 
STABILIZING.
FOR THOSE NUMBERS TO CONTINUE 
STABILIZING, WE HAVE TO WORK 
HARD.
I KNOW WE'RE ASKING A LOT OF 
QUÉBECERS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT 
TO REMAIN DISCIPLINED.
I WISH TO NOW GET BACK TO THE 
SCENARIOS THAT WERE PRESENTED 
YESTERDAY BY THE EXPERTS OF 
PUBLIC HEALTH.
FOR ME, THERE'S TWO DATA THAT IS
VERY REASSURING.
FIRST OF ALL, THE PROJECTIONS ON
THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS 
AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO 
WOULD BE IN INTENSIVE CARE 
DEPENDING ON THE DIFFERENT 
SCENARIOS.
YOU SAW THAT IN INTENSIVE CARE 
IN THE MOST PESSIMISTIC OF 
SCENARIOS, WHICH IS THAT OF AN 
ITALIAN STYLE OR A LITTLE BIT 
WHAT HAPPENED IN SPAIN, WE WOULD
NEED 1,000 BEDS WITH VENTILATORS
IN INTENSIVE CARE.
THAT, IF IT'S NECESSARY, WE HAVE
IT.
WE DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL BE 
NECESSARY, BUT WE HAVE THAT 
CAPACITY OF HAVING A THOUSAND 
BEDS WITH VENTILATORS.
IF THE PESSIMISTIC SCENARIO WERE
THE ONE TO TAKE PLACE.
SO THAT IS VERY GOOD NEWS THAT 
WE GOT YESTERDAY DURING THE 
PRESENTATION.
THE SECOND GOOD NEWS THAT WE GOT
IN THE DATA THAT WAS PRESENTED 
YESTERDAY IS TO SEE THAT UP 
UNTIL NOW OUR SCENARIO, THAT OF 
QUÉBEC, IS A LOT CLOSER TO THAT 
OF THE BEST COUNTRIES, SUCH AS 
GERMANYS, AS OPPOSED TO THE 
COUNTRIES WHERE THERE WERE MORE 
DEATHS.
AND THAT WE -- THIS IS DUE TO 
QUÉBECERS RESPECTING GUIDELINES.
SO I THINK WE CAN BE PROUD OF 
THE RESULTS THAT WE'VE HAD UP 
UNTIL NOW, WHILE SAYING, LET'S 
NOT STOP.
WE STARTED REALLY WELL.
WE ARE HEADING THE RIGHT WAY.
THE DAILY THANKS.
I WISH TO GIVE THOSE THANKS TO 
ALL THOSE WORKING IN THE 
RESIDENCES FOR THE ELDERLY, 
WHETHER IT BE DOCTORS, NURSES, 
ATTENDANTS.
I KNOW THE SITUATION IS HARD, 
AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU 
FIRST COURAGE.
REINFORCEMENTS ARE COMING.
I ALSO WISH TO SAY THANK YOU SO 
MUCH FOR YOUR DEVOTION IN 
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE DIFFICULT
IN CHLDs AND RESIDENCES FOR THE 
ELDERLY.
SO A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU 
TODAY TO ALL THOSE WHO WORK IN 
THOSE RESIDENCES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO END BY 
PERHAPS CONCENTRATING ON THE 
2-METRE GUIDELINE BECAUSE EACH 
QUÉBECER IS GOING TO HAVE TO 
VISUALIZE THEMSELVES IN THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS OF KEEPING 
AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
THIS IS A NEW CULTURE.
WE CAN'T SHAKE HANDS AND BE TOO 
CLOSE TO OTHER PEOPLE.
LET'S TRY ALL TOGETHER TO START 
VISUALIZING THIS.
YOU KNOW FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
MONTHS THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO
BE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE STAYING 2 
METRES AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY 
SAYING THE LAST FEW DAYS' DATA 
MAKE ME OPTIMISTIC.
WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE LIGHT
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND 
WE'RE STARTING TO WIN THAT FIGHT
TOGETHER.
I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HAS 
BEEN DONE BY QUÉBECERS WHO HAVE 
BEEN UNIFIED SINCE THE 
BEGINNING.
WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING -- 
>> Andrew: WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE
QUÉBEC CITY AND TAKE YOU TO 
TORONTO, WHERE THE PREMIER OF 
ONTARIO, DOUG FORD, IS SPEAKING.
LET'S LISTEN.
>> Premier Doug Ford: OUR 
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH 
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES 
TO THIS TERRIBLE VIRUS.
WITH THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING 
WITH COVID RIGHT NOW.
THE REALITY IS, THIS VIRUS HAS 
TAKEN A MASSIVE TOLL ON ALL OF 
US.
THE HUGE STRAIN ON FAMILIES, 
SENIORS, WHO CAN'T HAVE THEIR 
LOVED ONES VISIT THEM RIGHT NOW.
THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT, COUNTLESS 
PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS, 
STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR 
EVERYONE ISOLATING AT HOME, BUT 
THIS PERIOD HAS BEEN HARDEST FOR
OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THEY'RE GETTING UP EVERY DAY.
THEY'RE LEAVING THEIR FAMILIES 
AND CHILDREN BEHIND AND GETTING 
TO WORK.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT EASY.
I KNOW IT'S CAUSING ANXIETY FOR 
THEM AND THEIR LOVED ONES, BUT I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ONTARIO 
RECOGNIZES YOUR SACRIFICE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW -- I WANT OUR
DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN ON THE 
FRONTLINES TO KNOW THAT ONTARIO 
HAS YOUR BACK.
YOU HAVE AN ARMY OF 14.5 MILLION
PEOPLE BEHIND YOU, FROM EVERY 
PERSON ISOLATING AT HOME, TO THE
INCREDIBLE COMPANIES STEPPING 
UP, RETOOLING TO GET SUPPLIES TO
THE FRONTLINES.
YESTERDAY WE PUT OUT ANOTHER 
CALL TO ACTION.
WE CALLED ONTARIO FOR MORE BOOTS
ON THE GROUND, REINFORCEMENTS 
FOR OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
WE LAUNCHED A SYSTEM TO CONNECT 
PEOPLE WITH HEALTHCARE SKILLS, 
TO HEALTHCARE JOBS THAT 
DESPERATELY NEED TO BE FILLED, 
AND THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN 
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
AS OF TODAY, WE'VE SEEN NEARLY 
8,000 INDIVIDUALS SIGN UP.
THERE ARE ALREADY 1,000 PEOPLE 
MATCHED TO POTENTIAL JOBS.
WE'RE GOING TO DEPLOY THOSE 
WORKERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 
FILLING VACANCIES IN THE 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ALL ACROSS 
ONTARIO.
AND NOW WE'RE MAKING SURE WE 
HAVE THE NECESSARY 
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE THE BEDS
WE NEED.
THAT'S WHY TODAY WE'RE 
ACCELERATING CRITICAL 
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN OUR 
HEALTHCARE SECTOR.
WE'RE EXTENDING THE HOURS OF 
CONSTRUCTION TO HELP GET THESE 
PROJECTS BUILT FASTER, TO HELP 
GET HOSPITALS BUILT FASTER, TO 
GET MORE BEDS AND CAPACITY BUILT
IN THE SYSTEM.
THAT INCLUDES ASSESSMENT CENTRES
AND TEMPORARY STRUCTURES NEEDED 
TO PREPARE FOR ANY SURGE IN 
COVID-19 CASES.
WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR ANY 
SCENARIO AND THE HEALTH AND 
SAFETY OF OUR WORKERS IS TOP OF 
MIND IN THIS PANDEMIC.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE INTRODUCING NEW
MEASURES TODAY TO SEEP ESSENTIAL
WORKERS ACROSS ONTARIO SAFE AND 
HEALTHY.
WHETHER YOU WORK IN A GROCERY 
STORE OR ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE,
WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.
WE'RE REDEPLOYING INSPECTORS TO 
RAMP UP INVESTIGATIONS.
WE'RE ISSUING A CALL TO ALL 
INSPECTORS TO JOIN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19 AND HELP KEEP 
EMPLOYEES SAFE AND HEALTHY 
DURING THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES.
I'LL LET MINISTER MCNAUGHTEN 
SPEAK MORE TO THESE IMPORTANT 
MEASURES IN A MOMENT.
WITH A LONG WEEK AHEAD OF US, I 
HAVE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO BUSINESS
OWNERS AND ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES.
THE TRUTH IS THAT EVERYONE 
WORKING IN OUR GROCERY STORES 
AND PHARMACIES, OUR TRUCK 
DRIVERS, AND THOSE WORKING THE 
LINE, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING DAY 
AND NIGHT FOR WEEKS TO KEEP THE 
FOOD AND MEDICINE WE NEED ON THE
SHELVES.
IN ONE WAY WE'RE SAYING THANK 
YOU AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE 
THIS FRIDAY AND SUNDAY OFF.
THEY DESERVE A BREAK AND SOME 
QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR 
FAMILIES.
STORES WILL BE OPEN THURSDAY, 
SATURDAY, AND OF COURSE MONDAY 
ONWARDS.
LET'S GIVE OUR WORKERS A BREAK 
THEY'VE EARNED.
TODAY WE'RE ALSO SAYING THANK 
YOU TO OUR TRUCK DRIVERS.
TRUCKERS CAN PICK UP A FREE 
COFFEE ON US ON ANY EN ROUTE 
LOCATION.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR HEROES OUT 
THERE, OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, ALL THE 
CAREGIVERS AND TRUCK DRIVERS, 
YOU'RE INCREDIBLE.
WE OWE YOU EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS THE 
PEOPLE OF ONTARIO.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKERS
IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY OF THIS
GOVERNMENT.
NEVER HAS THERE BEEN A TIME WHEN
THAT'S BEEN MORE IMPORTANT.
THERE'S A LOT OF HARDSHIP OUT 
THERE AND A LOT OF FEAR, BUT I 
ALSO SEE A LOT OF GRATITUDE.
GRATITUDE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING ABOUT THEIR JOBS SO THAT 
ALL OF US CAN GET THROUGH THIS, 
THE CALL CENTRE WORKERS, THE 
GROCERY STORE CLERKS, THE 
PHARMACISTS, THE BUILDERS AND 
TRADES PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE THE
TRUCKERS.
I COULD LIST HUNDREDS MORE.
THESE WORKERS ARE PERFORMING 
VITAL SERVICES.
THEY'RE HELPING US GET BY IN 
TRYING TIMES.
FAMILIES ACROSS ONTARIO BANG 
THEIR POTS AND PANS FOR THEM 
EVERY NIGHT AT 7:30.
MY FAMILY HAS PUT A BLUE RIB 
BONN ON A TREE OUTSIDE OUR 
OUTSIDE.
THEY'RE THE UNSUNG HEROES.
IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE HEROES, I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS, OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS DOING EVERYTHING 
IN ITS POWER TO KEEP YOU SAFE 
DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
THAT MEANS MORE INSPECTORS, MORE
INSPECTIONS, MORE PHONE LINES, 
AND MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE CALLS.
NO STONE IS BEING LEFT UNTURNED.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER
JOB TO THE UNSUNG HEROES, THE 
WORKPLACE INSPECTORS.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN PERFORMED 
NEARLY 5,000 INSPECTIONS LAST 
MONTH AND DOING MORE NOW.
I TALKED TO KEVIN PETER AND A 
COUPLE OTHER INSPECTORS 
RECENTLY.
THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE HONOURED 
TO BE PLAYING THEIR ROLE IN 
THESE TRYING TIMES.
THIS IS TRULY PUBLIC SERVICE.
OUR INSPECTORS ARE GOING INTO 
PLACES TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS, 
PLACES WHERE WORKERS THINK 
THEY'RE IN DANGER.
THEY'RE SORTING THOSE PROBLEMS 
OUT, WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS AND 
EMPLOYEES AND ENCOURAGING 
PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER.
WHERE WARRANTED, THEY'RE 
SHUTTING WORKPLACES DOWN.
THEY'RE THE ONES FOLLOWING UP ON
COMPLAINTS TO OUR PHONE LINE.
THAT PHONE LINE IS 877-202-0008,
WHERE ANY WORKER IN ONTARIO CAN 
CALL TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS.
TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING A NUMBER OF
ADVANCES IN OUR MISSION TO KEEP 
WORKERS SAFE ON THE JOB.
FIRST, WE'VE EXTENDED 
INVITATIONS TO RECENTLY RETIRED 
INSPECTORS TO COME BACK ON THE 
JOB.
SECOND, WE'RE REDEPLOYING MORE 
THAN 30 EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS 
OFFICERS TO HELP BUSINESSES 
UNDERSTAND AND COMPLY WITH 
HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
THIRD, WE'RE DEPLOYING ANOTHER 
30 SPECIALISTS FROM VARIOUS 
HEALTH AND SAFETY ASSOCIATIONS 
TO SUPPORT EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS
IN THE FIELD.
FOURTH, WE'RE ISSUING MORE 
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE NOTES
TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC SECTORS.
FINALLY, WE'RE DOUBLING THE 
CAPACITY OF ONTARIO'S HEALTH AND
SAFETY CALL CENTRE TO 50 LINES 
FROM ITS CURRENT CAPACITY OF 25.
THE TOTAL RESULT OF THE FIVE 
ACTION ITEMS I'VE ANNOUNCED 
TODAY WILL BE MORE INSPECTIONS, 
MORE CAPACITY FOR WORKERS TO 
VOICE CONCERNS, AND MORE 
CAPACITY TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE 
REPORTS.
IF YOU'RE A WORKER IN ONTARIO, I
WANT TO TELL YOU I APPRECIATE 
YOUR SERVICE AND SO DO THE 
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE 
HELPING.
IF YOU EVER FEEL UNSAFE CALL 
877-202-0008, THAT'S IF YOU FEEL
UNSAFE DOING YOUR JOB.
WE BELIEVE IN LEAVING NO STONE 
UNTURNED WHEN IT COMES TO 
KEEPING WORKERS HEALTHY AND SAFE
ACROSS THE PROVINCE.
THANK YOU.
>> Premier Doug Ford: THANK YOU,
MINISTER.
BEFORE WE START THE QUESTIONS, I
WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF 
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON MY MIND
FOR THE LAST LITTLE WHILE.
THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT I'M 
ZONED IN ON.
ONE, THE P.P.E. ITEMS, THAT 
AGAIN WE'RE WORKING DAY AND 
NIGHT AND I DO SEE A LITTLE BIT 
OF LIGHT AT THE END OF THE 
TUNNEL, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE 
TO WORK HARD.
NUMBER TWO THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN 
INVOLVED IN AND I HAVE BEEN 
TRANSPARENT RIGHT FROM THE 
BEGINNING.
I RELY ON OUR HEALTH EXPERTS TO 
GIVE MYSELF, MY DEPUTY PREMIER, 
MINISTER OF HEALTH, CHRISTINE 
ELLIOTT ADVICE.
WE HAVE A GREAT, GREAT DEAL OF 
RESPECT FOR THE HEALTH 
PROFESSIONALS.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST HEALTH 
MINDS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD 
SITTING AT OUR COVID COMMAND 
TABLE.
WHAT IS CONCERNING ME AND I HAVE
BEEN ON THE PHONE LAST NIGHT 
WITH THE C.O. OF ONTARIO HEALTH 
MANNY ANDERSON.
WHAT IS UNACCEPTABLE, ABSOLUTELY
UNACCEPTABLE, IS THE NUMBERS OF 
TESTING THAT WE'RE DOING.
I MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HEALTH, BUT
WHAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AROUND 
THIS PROVINCE AND WHAT I 
UNDERSTAND ARE NUMBERS.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND COUNTRIES 
THAT HAVE TESTED AND RAMPED UP 
TESTING HAVE SHOWN RESULTS.
AS I MENTIONED TO OUR COMMAND 
TABLE AND TO THE C.O. LAST 
NIGHT, NOW MY PATIENCE HAS RUN 
THIN AND NO MORE EXCUSES.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
WE HAVE THE CAPACITY NOW.
BEFORE, I UNDERSTAND, WE DIDN'T 
HAVE THE REAGENT AND ALL THE 
SUPPLIES.
WE HAVE THE TESTING CENTRES AND 
CAPABILITIES.
WE HAVE THE REAGENT.
WE SAY WE CAN DO 13,000 A DAY, 
THEN WE NEED TO START DOING 
13,000 EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I WANT TO SEE EVERY SINGLE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY TESTED, 
EVERY PATIENT, ALL THE WORKERS 
AT THE LONG-TERM CARE, ALONG 
WITH SENIORS' RESIDENCES.
I WANT TO SEE EVERY FRONTLINE 
HEALTHCARE WORKER IN THIS 
PROVINCE TESTED, ALONG WITH THE 
FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE, 
OUR FIRE, OUR PARAMEDICS.
WE OWE IT TO THEM, ALONG WITH 
OTHER PEOPLE BEING TESTED.
THE DAYS ARE DONE OF THESE 2,000
AND 3,000 A DAY BEING TESTED.
MOVING FORWARD, MOVING FORWARD 
WE NEED TO SEE 13,000 TESTS 
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR 
HEALTH TEAM.
I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR 
LEADERSHIP AT THE TABLE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO START DOING IT 
IMMEDIATELY, STARTING TOMORROW.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
WE'LL GO TO THE PHONE LINE FOR 
QUESTIONS.
FIRST QUESTION.
>> Operator: FIRST QUESTION 
COMES FROM COLLIN DE MELLO FROM 
CTV NEWS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: HELLO, PREMIER.
A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS YOU'LL 
PROBABLY GET ABOUT TESTING.
I WANT TO KICK OFF BY ASKING 
YOU, DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH RIGHT
NOW, THE COMMAND TABLE, 
YOURSELF, YOUR HEALTH MINISTER, 
DO YOU GUYS HAVE AN ACCURATE 
VIEW OF JUST HOW FAR COVID-19 
HAS ACTUALLY SPREAD ACROSS 
ONTARIO?
>> Answer: WELL, I GO BACK, 
COLLIN -- FIRST OF ALL, I WANT 
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, I HAVE 
THE BEST DEPUTY PREMIER AND 
MINISTER OF HEALTH THAT I COULD 
ASK FOR.
CHRISTINE HAS BEEN WORKING HER 
BACK OFF ALL DAY AND NIGHT AND 
I'M GRATEFUL FOR HER LEADERSHIP 
AND PARTNERSHIP WITH MYSELF AND 
THE REST OF OUR TEAM.
TO GET IT'S A FULL SCALE, IT'S 
COMMON SENSE.
THE MORE PEOPLE YOU TEST, THE 
BETTER THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO 
BE.
AGAIN, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
THERE'S NO MORE EXCUSES WHY 
WE'RE TESTING 3,000 A DAY OR A 
LITTLE OVER 3,000.
WE NEED TO SEE 13,000 PEOPLE 
TESTED EVERY SINGLE DAY MOVING 
FORWARD.
COLLIN, IT HURTS ME COMING OUT 
HERE EVERY DAY AND SEEING THE 
INCREDIBLE JOB MY DEPUTY PREMIER
AND MINISTER OF HEALTH IS DOING 
AND CONSTANTLY UNDER FIRE.
WELL, THOSE DAYS ARE DONE.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN A
RAPID FASHION TO MAKE SURE EVERY
SINGLE PERSON POSSIBLE CAN GET 
TESTED.
WE NEED TO START MAKING SURE WE 
TEST THE FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS, ACCESS THE -- TEST THEM
AS A PRIORITY.
THAT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO.
THE SACRIFICE THESE FRONTLINE 
MEN AND WOMEN ARE DOING FOR OUR 
PROVINCE AND OUR COUNTRY, WE 
NEED TO SUPPORT THEM.
I GIVE THEM MY WORD, THE SUPPORT
IS COMING. 
>> Question: PREMIER, WE'VE 
KNOWN ABOUT COVID-19 SINCE THE 
MIDDLE OF JANUARY IN THIS 
PROVINCE WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE 
FIRST CASE.
TESTING HAS SLOWLY RAMPED UP 
SINCE THEN.
WHY HAS IT TAKEN ROUGHLY THREE 
MONTHS TO COME TO YOUR 
ATTENTION?
I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN TAKING THE 
BULL BY THE HORNS APPROACH, BUT 
WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG FOR 
THIS TO COME TO YOUR ATTENTION 
PERSONALLY?
>> Answer: AGAIN, I RELY ON OUR 
HEALTHCARE TEAM.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE HEALTHCARE
TEAM.
WE HAVE THE BRIGHTEST DOCTORS IN
THE WORLD AND I'LL STAND BY THAT
DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
IF IT WASN'T ENOUGH ASSESSMENT 
CENTRES AND THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE 
ENOUGH TESTING, AND THEN WE 
NEEDED MORE REAGENT.
THEY'RE DONE NOW.
WE HAVE THAT.
WE NEED TO MOVE ON THIS AND 
IMMEDIATELY.
AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, COLLIN, 
I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR WITH THE 
PUBLIC.
I'VE STAYED OUT OF THE WAY OF 
THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND
I'LL CONTINUE TO STAY OUT OF THE
WAY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE 
TESTING AND THE NUMBERS.
COLLIN, YOU UNDERSTAND NUMBERS.
14.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS 
PROVINCE UNDERSTAND NUMBERS.
WE KNOW ONE THING, WHEN YOU 
INCREASE TESTING, YOU'RE GOING 
TO GET BETTER RESULTS MAKING 
SURE WE MEASURE THE PEOPLE OF 
ONTARIO, WHO HAS COVID, WHO 
DOESN'T, WHAT AREAS WE SEE THE 
SPIKES IN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET A MOVE ON 
IT.
THANK YOU, COLLIN. 
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM ROBERT BENZIE FROM THE 
"TORONTO STAR."
>> Question: TO YOUR POINT IF WE
HAVE 3,000 TESTS A DAY AND WE 
WANT TO SEE 13,000 STARTING 
TOMORROW, AN INCREASE OF 10,000.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF THESE 
TESTS AREN'T DONE?
IS THERE GOING TO BE SOME SORT 
OF RETRIBUTION ON THE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS OR THE GOVERNMENT?
WHAT'S THE RETRIBUTION?
>> Answer: ROBERT, I DON'T 
BELIEVE IN THREATENING.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THEIR HELP.
I WANT.
THE PEOPLE WANT.
IT'S UP TO THEM TO EXECUTE IT.
THEY WILL.
THEY'LL GET THE JOB DONE.
AGAIN, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
I'M FIRST TO ADMIT IT.
WE'RE RELYING ON OUR HEALTH 
EXPERTISE AND EXPERTS AROUND 
THAT TABLE, THEY UNDERSTAND 
HEALTH BETTER THAN ANY OF US.
I JUST WANT THEM TO MAKE SURE 
THAT WE INCREASE THE TESTING.
I'VE MADE MYSELF LOUD AND CLEAR 
TO THE TABLE.
I'VE MADE MYSELF LOUD AND CLEAR 
TO THE C.O. OF ONTARIO HEALTH.
WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
I'M GOING TO BE ON THIS LIKE A 
DOG ON A BONE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE 
WE HAVE TO.
WE HAVE TO FOR THE SAKE OF OUR 
FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, TO
GIVE THEM EASE OF MIND THAT 
THEY'VE BEEN TESTED.
AND AFTER BEING TESTED YOU CAN 
GO OUT AND STILL TWO DAYS LATER 
AND GET COVID-19.
IT'S BETTER TO BE TESTED THAN 
NOT AND WE NEED TO TEST EVERYONE
POSSIBLE.
AFTER OUR FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, WE
NEED TO START TESTING EVERYONE.
SIMULTANEOUSLY AS WE'RE TESTING 
THE FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS, WE NEED TO TEST PEOPLE.
WE HAVE THE TESTING SITES READY 
AND THE TESTING CAPABILITIES 
RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE THE 
REAGENT.
SO THERE'S NO MORE EXCUSES.
WE NEED TO GET IT DONE BOTTOM 
LINE. 
>> Question: ON A RELATED 
SUBJECT, I KNOW YOU SAID THAT 
THE OTHER THING THAT'S BEEN 
CONCERNING YOU IS THE PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT CASE.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THAT 
500,000 OF THOSE 3M MASKS ARE 
ARRIVING IN CANADA.
IS ONTARIO GOING TO GET 40%, ITS
SHARE BY POPULATION OF THOSE 
MASKS?
>> Answer: I HOPE SO.
MY LAST CALL WAS 11:30 WITH THE 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER LAST 
NIGHT.
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IS 
DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND SO 
IS THE PRIME MINISTER.
WE NEED 40%.
WE'RE 40% OF THE POPULATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT AND WORK 
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
BUT WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE OUT THERE SOURCING ALL 
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HOOKS IN THE 
WATER RIGHT NOW ALL OVER THE 
PLACE.
WE'RE CONFIDENT.
I'M A LOT MORE CONFIDENT NOW AND
TODAY THAN I WAS A COUPLE OF 
DAYS AGO.
AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING SOME LIGHT 
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, BUT 
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN SIT 
BACK ON OUR LAURELS.
WE HAVE A TEAM OUT THERE MAKING 
SURE WE CONTACT AS MANY PEOPLE 
AS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE 
OFFERING.
YOU HAVE TO DECIPHER.
SOME ARE REAL.
SOME ARE NOT REAL TOO.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WHEN THIS 
EQUIPMENT COMES IN, THE N95 
MASKSs, THEY GET TESTED AND 
PROPERLY TESTED, WE SEND THEM 
OVER TO GET TESTED AND BY HEALTH
CANADA AND S.G.S. TO MAKE SURE 
THEY'RE CERTIFIED N95 MASKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FRAUD GOING ON 
AROUND THE WORLD AND WE HAVE TO 
MAKE SURE WHEN WE PURCHASE THIS 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 
IT'S REAL.
I HAVE ANOTHER GREAT STORY ABOUT
THE GOWNS, THE SURGICAL GOWNS.
SO THERE'S A FEW COMPANIES OUT 
THERE THAT ARE RAMPING UP TO DO 
THE SURGICAL GOWNS.
SO EVERYTHING IS RAMPING UP AND 
COMING TOGETHER NOW ON THE 
P.P.E. SIDE OF THINGS.
BUT THE P.P.E. IS ONE THING, BUT
BEING TESTED IS ANOTHER.
WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE,
AS WE'RE WORKING ON P.P.E. 
ITEMS, THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY WE'RE
DOING TESTING.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM CYNTHIA MULLIGAN FROM CITY 
NEWS.
>> Question: HI, PREMIER.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE HAD SO FEW 
TESTS DONE IN THIS, BUT WE'RE 
ALSO THE LOWEST PER CAPITA OF 
ANY PROVINCE IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THIS BY 
MANY TIMES BY MYSELF AND OTHER 
REPORTERS.
WHERE HAS THE FAILING BEEN?
WHY HAS ONTARIO HAD THE LOWEST 
RATE IN THE COUNTRY?
WHAT HAS THE BARRIER BEEN?
>> Aarti: WELL, WHAT THE BARRIER
WAS PRIOR WAS THE REAGENT.
AGAIN, CYNTHIA, I'M NOT GOING TO
LOOK TO THE PAST.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK TO THE PAST 
MISTAKES AND MOVE FORWARD.
I KNOW MOVING FORWARD THAT 
TESTING IS GOING TO BE RAMPED 
UP.
AGAIN, NO MORE EXCUSES.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.
I CAN GIVE YOU EVERY EXCUSE IN 
THE BOOK WHY IT WASN'T 
HAPPENING, BE IT THE TESTING 
CAPABILITIES OR THE ASSESSMENT 
CENTRES OR NOT HAVING ENOUGH 
REAGENT.
I'M DONE WITH THAT.
M DONE.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE.
NO MORE EXCUSES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M A LITTLE 
FRUSTRATED.
I'M NOT FRUSTRATED PER SE WITH 
THE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT
PEOPLE.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT TO THE 
PUBLIC.
WE HAVE A GREAT HEALTH TEAM, BUT
WE HAVE TO GET MOVING ON THIS 
IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY. 
>> Question: BUT, PREMIER, TO 
FOLLOW UP ON THAT, EVERY 
PROVINCE HAS THE SAME CHALLENGE 
OF GETTING REAGENT AND SETTING 
UP ASSESSMENT CLINICS.
WE'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE COME OUT
ON THE BOTTOM THERE.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
>> Answer: WELL, I'VE BEEN 
FOLLOWING THE ADVICE FROM OUR 
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.
I'VE BEEN TAKING THAT.
I THINK HE'S BEEN DOING A GREAT 
JOB, BUT WE NEED TO INCREASE 
TESTING.
AGAIN, I COULD RUN THROUGH A 
MILLION EXCUSES WHY.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN EXCUSES.
LET'S COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, 
NOT EXCUSES.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO MOVING 
FORWARD?
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE MORE 
PEOPLE ARE TESTED.
I'M CONFIDENT WHEN WE COME IN 
HERE DAY AFTER DAY WE'RE GOING 
TO SEE RESULTS AND MAKE SURE WE 
SEE RESULTS.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION FROM 
TRAVIS DUNRASH OF GLOBAL NEWS.
>> Question: HEY THERE, PREMIER.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE 
TESTING, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT -- 
>> Answer: I'M SORRY, TRAVIS, 
COULD YOU REPEAT THE FIRST PART.
>> Question: YEAH, IT'S ON 
TESTING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> Answer: YEAH.
>> Question: SO WHEN YOU SPOKE 
TO THE COMMAND TABLE, WHAT WAS 
THEIR REACTION AND DID THEY -- 
YOU SAID THAT YOU WANT 13,000 
TESTS STARTING TOMORROW, YOU 
WANT EVERY SINGLE FRONTLINE 
HEALTH WORKER TESTED AND EVERY 
SINGLE CARE WORKER TESTED, DID 
THEY SAY, YES, PREMIER, THIS IS 
GOING TO BE FEASIBLE STARTING 
THIS WEEK?
TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT 
HOW THAT CONVERSATION WENT AND 
WHAT THEY SAID TO YOU IN 
RESPONSE TO YOUR CONCERN.
>> Answer: WELL, WHAT I HEARD 
IS, YES, WE'RE GOING TO GET IT 
DONE.
WE HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW C.O. AT
ONTARIO HEALTH, WHICH I HAVE A 
GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR.
HE'S A VERY, VERY BRIGHT 
INDIVIDUAL.
HE GETS FRUSTRATED AT TIMES TOO,
LIKE ALL OF US.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING, I BELIEVE IN
DALE CAREGIE.
HE APOLOGIZED AND SAID IT'S NOT 
GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND THIS 
IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO 
CORRECT IT.
HE HAS A PLAN AND HE'S GOING TO 
GET THE TESTING DONE.
I RESPECT THAT.
SOMEONE REALIZES IT HASN'T GONE 
DOWN THE RIGHT ROAD AND WE'RE 
GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE COULD SIT HERE WHEN WE TALK 
ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND THE SIZE OF
ONTARIO AND GIVE YOU EVERY 
REASON.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT.
LET'S GET THIS MOVING, MOVE 
FORWARD, LEARN BY OUR MISTAKES, 
AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE
WORLD IN MATT ANDERSON OVER AT 
ONTARIO HEALTH, HE'S GOING TO 
GET IT DONE.
>> Question: I HAVE A QUESTION 
FOR YOU ON COTTAGE COUNTRY, BUT 
JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
ARE YOU SAYING YOU'RE CONFIDENT 
13,000 TESTS WILL START AS OF 
TOMORROW?
>> Answer: WELL, I'M NOT GOING 
TO QUANTIFY EXACTLY THE NUMBERS.
BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS 3,000 
TESTS, OR A LITTLE OVER 3,000 
TESTS, IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE HAVE THE CAPABILITIES FOR 
13,000 TESTS A DAY, AND THERE'S 
REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE 
GETTING 13,000 A DAY.
THAT'S OUR GOAL.
I'M GOING TO BE FOLLOWING UP 
WITH THE TEAM LATER TODAY AND 
MAKE SURE THE PLAN IS CLEAR.
START TESTING THE FRONTLINE 
FOLKS AT LONG-TERM CARE, TEST 
THE RESIDENTS, TEST THE SENIORS 
IN SENIORS' HOMES, AND MAKE SURE
WE TEST ALL FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS.
AND ALONG WITH MAKING SURE WE 
TEST OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR 
FIREFIGHTERS, OUR PARAMEDICS, 
IT'S CRITICAL WE TAKE CARE OF 
THESE PEOPLE.
SIMULTANEOUSLY WE HAVE TO 
CONTINUE TESTING THE PUBLIC AS 
WELL.
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK RIGHT 
NOW.
TEST, TEST, TEST, TEST, TEST AND
DON'T STOP TESTING.
LET'S SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW 
DAYS.
I'LL BE HERE EVERY DAY MOVING 
FORWARD AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT
THE NUMBERS.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING 
TO GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ON YOUR SECOND COMMENT ABOUT 
COTTAGE COUNTRY, I HAD A MESSAGE
FROM NORM MILLER, A 
REPRESENTATIVE UP IN THE MUSKOKA
AREA, SPECIFICALLY HUNTSVILLE 
AND BRACEBRIDGE, ALONG WITH 
MANY, MANY MAYORS AND WARDENS 
I'VE TALKED TO, THEY'RE BEGGING 
US TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT OVER 
THIS LONG WEEKEND, DON'T GO TO 
YOUR COTTAGE.
WE CAN'T STRESS IT ENOUGH.
THERE'S NO ONE WHO LOVES THE 
COTTAGE MORE THAN I DO, BUT I'M 
NOT GOING TO MY COTTAGE.
WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE 
PROTOCOL THAT THE CHIEF MEDICAL 
OFFICER HAS REQUESTED.
AND ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE UP 
THERE.
YOU KNOW HOW NICE THE PEOPLE ARE
AND SO SALT OF THE EARTH UP IN 
COTTAGE COUNTRY, BUT THEY HAVE 
TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES 
IN CRISIS.
THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY ACUTE 
CARE BEDS AS WE DO HERE IN LARGE
URBAN CENTRES.
WHEN 50,000 OR 100,000 PEOPLE 
START HEADING NORTH, YOU CLEAN 
THE SHELVES OFF IN THE GROCERY 
STORES.
WE ALL KNOW THE LINEUPS ARE LONG
ENOUGH RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT BURDEN
ON PEOPLE UP IN THE COTTAGE 
COUNTRY.
PLEASE STAY HOME. 
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM ALISON JONES OF THE 
CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: HI, PREMIER.
ON TESTING.
FIRST YOU SAID THE ISSUE WAS 
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ASSESSMENT 
CENTRES, THEN WE NEED TO RAMP UP
LAB CAPACITY, THEN THERE WASN'T 
ENOUGH REAGENT.
WHAT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING BASED 
ON THE DISCUSSIONS YOU'VE HAD 
WITH PEOPLE IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM
ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUE STILL WAS 
BECAUSE THOSE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN
SOLVED IS MY UNDERSTANDING FOR A
LITTLE WHILE NOW.
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF 
WHY WE WERE STILL HAVING THIS 
ISSUE OVER A LARGE TESTING GAP?
>> Answer: JUST OVER THE LAST 
FOUR OR FIVE DAYS WE WERE ABLE 
TO RESTOCK THE REAGENT.
I COULD GIVE YOU A LIST, ALISON,
WHAT I HEAR ALL DAY LONG FROM MY
TEAM.
BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND 
LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES IN THE 
PAST.
AGAIN, I RELY AND I WILL 
CONTINUE TO RELY ON OUR EXPERTS 
AROUND THE HEALTH TABLE.
I UNDERSTAND -- AND YOU, ALISON,
UNDERSTAND -- AND EVERY ONTARIAN
UNDERSTANDS THE NUMBERS.
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT SOUTH 
KOREA FLATTENED -- 
>> Andrew: AND WE ARE TAKING YOU
LIVE NOW TO TORONTO.
THE MINISTERS OF FINANCE, SMALL 
BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRY ARE 
SPEAKING NOW.
THEY ARE PROVIDING MORE 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY.
LET'S LISTEN.
>> THAT PEOPLE HAVE MONEY FOR 
THE ESSENTIALS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] TOP PRIORITY HAS 
BEEN PEOPLE.
WE ARE PROTECTING PEOPLE'S 
HEALTH AND ENSURING THEY HAVE 
ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY NEED.
IN SPITE OF THIS UNPRECEDENTED 
DISTURBANCE IN OUR ECONOMY, WE 
WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE 
ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY ESSENTIAL 
GOODS.
[end of translation] MANY PEOPLE
HAVE MADE SACRIFICES TO STAY 
HOME AND ALSO THE BUSINESSES WHO
HAVE TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN TO 
PROTECT US FROM THE SPREAD OF 
COVID-19.
I KNOW IT'S NOT BEEN EASY, BUT 
NOTHING'S MORE VALUABLE THAN OUR
HEALTH.
AS WE'VE SAID FROM THE VERY 
BEGINNING, WE WILL USE ALL TOOLS
THAT WE HAVE TO HELP CANADIANS 
GET THROUGH THIS.
WE INTRODUCED THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
I THINK YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT 
APPLICATIONS OPENED ON MONDAY 
AND MILLIONS OF CANADIANS HAVE 
NOW APPLIED.
WE ANNOUNCED THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY BUSINESS ACCOUNT, 
WHICH WILL PROVIDE SMALL 
BUSINESSEDS AND NON-PROFITS WITH
INTEREST-FREE LOANS OF UP TO 
$40,000.
AND 25% OF THIS LOAN WILL BE 
FORGIVABLE UP TO $10,000 IF IT'S
PAID BACK BY DECEMBER 31, 2022.
TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING 
APPLICATIONS FOR THIS LOAN WILL 
BEGIN STARTING TOMORROW.
LOANS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH 
LARGE AND SMALL BANKS AS WELL AS
THROUGH CREDIT UNIONS AS THE 
PROGRAM UNFOLDS.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR 
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION OVER THE 
PHONE OR ONLINE FOR THE 
APPLICATION PROCESS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE ANNOUNCED THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS 
ACCOUNT THAT WILL GRANT SMALL 
BUSINESSES AND CHARITIES LOANS 
OF UP TO $40,000.
25% OF THAT LOAN WILL BE 
FORGIVABLE, UP TO $10,000, IF 
THE LOAN IS REPAID BY DECEMBER 
31, 2022.
TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING THAT THE
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 
BUSINESSES WILL START TO BE 
AVAILABLE TOMORROW.
LOANS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH 
BOTH LARGE AND SMALL BANKS AS 
WELL AS CREDIT UNIONS.
CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL 
INSTITUTION BY PHONE OR ONLINE 
FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE 
APPLICATION PROCESS.
[end of translation] LAST WEEK 
WE ANNOUNCED THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY, WHICH 
WILL PROVIDE A 75% WAGE SUBSIDY 
TO EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE BEEN 
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY 
COVID-19.
IT WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO MARCH 
15 AND PROVIDE UP TO $847 PER 
WEEK PER EMPLOYEE.
THROUGHOUT THIS I'VE BEEN IN 
CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH 
BUSINESSES ACROSS CANADA.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] LAST WEEK WE 
ANNOUNCED THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
WAGE SUBSIDY, WHICH WILL PROVIDE
A WAGE SUBSIDY OF UP TO 75% TO 
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE BEEN 
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY 
COVID-19.
IT WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO MARCH 
15 AND WILL PROVIDE UP TO $847 
PER WEEK PER EMPLOYEE.
I HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT 
COMMUNICATION WITH BUSINESSES 
RIGHT ACROSS CANADA.
OUR GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS WE 
NEED TO PROTECT OUR ECONOMY, AND
THUS WE HAVE TO TAKE MEASURES TO
PROTECT CANADIAN JOBS.
[end of translation] THIS WOULD 
APPLY TO PROVIDERS IN ALL 
SECTORS, EXCEPT IN THE PUBLIC 
SECTOR, BUSINESSES BIG AND 
SMALL, CHARITIES, AND 
NON-PROFITS THAT ARE 
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY 
COVID-19 CAN APPLY FOR HELP TO 
KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA THAT WE
ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK, THAT IT 
WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYERS
WHO SAW A 30% DECLINE COMPARED 
TO THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR 
ALLOWED US TO CAPTURE A BROAD 
SWATH OF AFFECTED EMPLOYERS AND 
GIVE CANADIANS MUCH-NEEDED 
CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR JOBS ARE 
SAFE.
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT NOT 
ALL BUSINESSES ARE ALIKE AND NOT
ALL JOBS ARE ALIKE.
NEW BUSINESSES AND START-UPS 
MIGHT NOT HAVE A YEAR'S WORTH OF
EARNINGS TO LOOK BACK ON.
A HIGH-GROWTH COMPANY THAT'S 
CREATED GOOD JOBS IN THE PAST 
YEAR MIGHT NOT SHOW SIGNIFICANT 
DECLINE SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT ITS
GROWTH MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANTLY 
OFF TRACK AS A RESULT OF 
COVID-19, JEOPARDIZING ITS 
ABILITY TO KEEP ITS WORKERS.
A SHOP THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 
DOING SWIFT BUSINESS UNTIL 
MID-MARCH, AT WHICH CANADIANS 
REORIENTED THEIR LIVES STAYING 
HOME TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE 
VIRUS, MAY HAVE A DIFFICULT 
TIME.
NON-PROFITS AND CHARITIES ARE 
SEEING THE NEEDS FOR THEIR 
SERVICES GO UP, BUT DONATIONS IN
MANY CASES ARE GOING DOWN.
TODAY WE'RE ANNOUNCING THE 
PROPOSED NEW DETAILS IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS THE REALITIES, THESE 
REALITIES, OF DIFFERENT 
BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
OUR GOAL IS CLEAR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE BEEN 
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY 
COVID-19 GET THE HELP THEY NEED 
TO SUPPORT THEIR WORKERS THROUGH
THEIR CRISIS.
FIRST, GIVEN THAT THE IMPACTS OF
THE COVID-19 CRISIS WERE STILL 
EVOLVING THROUGH THE FIRST HALF 
OF MARCH 2020, WE'RE PROPOSING 
THAT FOR MARCH THE REVENUE TEST 
WILL BE 15%.
IN OTHER WORDS, BUSINESSES WILL 
NEED TO SHOW THAT DURING THAT 
PERIOD THEIR REVENUE WENT DOWN 
BY 15%.
FOR APRIL AND MAY THE REVENUE 
TEST WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT 30%.
EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE TO APPLY FOR
EACH MONTH AND ATTEST TO THE 
DROP EACH MONTH.
WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING TWO 
POSSIBLE BENCHMARKS FOR 
EMPLOYERS.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COMPARE 
REVENUES TO THEIR REVENUES LAST 
YEAR OR, ALTERNATIVELY, THEY CAN
USE AN AVERAGE OF REVENUES IN 
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF THIS 
YEAR AND COMPARE MARCH, APRIL, 
AND MAY REVENUES TO THAT SAME 
AVERAGE.
EMPLOYERS WOULD CALCULATE 
REVENUES THROUGH ONE OF TWO 
ACCOUNTING METHODS, EITHER THE 
ACCRUAL METHOD OR THE CASH 
METHOD.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] TODAY WE ARE 
ANNOUNCING NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE
WAGE SUBSIDY SO IT WILL MEET THE
REALITIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF 
BUSINESSES.
FIRST OF ALL, SINCE THE ECONOMIC
IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS 
EVOLVED DURING THE FIRST HALF OF
MARCH 2020, WE ARE PROPOSING 
THAT THE REVENUE TEST BE 15% FOR
THAT MONTH.
FOR APRIL AND MAY THE REVENUE 
TEST WILL STILL BE A 30% 
DECLINE.
WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING TWO 
BENCHMARKS FOR EMPLOYERS.
THEY CAN COMPARE THEIR REVENUE 
WITH THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR OR
THEY CAN USE AN AVERAGE OF 
REVENUES FOR JANUARY AND 
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AND 
COMPARE THEM WITH MARCH, APRIL, 
AND MAY.
EMPLOYERS WILL BE ABLE TO 
CALCULATE THEIR REVENUE BASED ON
TWO ACCOUNTING METHODS, EITHER 
THE ACCRUAL METHOD OR THE CASH 
METHOD.
[end of translation] BY OFFERING
THESE DIFFERENT METHODS OF 
CALCULATING REVENUES, MORE 
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WILL GET
THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
WE KNOW THAT TIMES ARE TOUGH, 
BUT WE'RE ENCOURAGING EMPLOYERS 
TO DO ALL THAT THEY CAN TO 
TOP-UP THEIR EMPLOYEES' PAY TO 
100% OF PRE-CRISIS PAY LEVELS.
WE'RE ALL DOING OUR PART TO HELP
YOU THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE.
IN ORDER TO MAKE IT SIMPLER AND 
COST-EFFECTIVE FOR EMPLOYERS TO 
REHIRE WORKERS, THE GOVERNMENT 
IS PROPOSING TO REFUND EMPLOYER 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT 
INSURANCE, THE CANADA PENSION 
PLAN, THE QUÉBEC PARENTAL 
INSURANCE PLAN, AND THE QUÉBEC 
PENSION PLAN AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING FLEXIBILITY
FOR NON-PROFITS AND CHARITIES 
BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE 
ORGANIZATIONS ARE EACH FACING 
THEIR OWN FUNDING PRESSURES AT 
THIS TIME.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WHEN 
CHARITIES AND NON-PROFITS ARE 
CALCULATING THEIR REVENUE TESTS,
THEY BE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE 
WHETHER OR NOT TO INCLUDE 
GOVERNMENT FUNDING IN THAT TEST.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] AND IN ORDER TO 
MAKE THE REHIRING OF EMPLOYEES 
EASIER FOR EMPLOYERS, THE 
GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO 
REFUND EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE C.P.P., THE PARENTAL PLAN IN
QUÉBEC, THE Q.P.P., AND E.I.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO BE FLEXIBLE 
WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS 
AND CHARITIES.
WHEN WE SEE THAT YOU ARE FACING 
FUNDING CHALLENGES NOW.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROPOSING THAT
WHEN CHARITIES AND NON-PROFITS 
CALCULATE THEIR REVENUE TO 
DETERMINE WHETHER THEY'RE 
ELIGIBLE OR NOT TO THE PROGRAM, 
THEY CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO 
INCLUDE GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
[end of translation] WE KNOW YOU
ARE HONEST PEOPLE WHO LOOK AFTER
PEOPLE AND PLAY BY THE RULES, 
HOWEVER, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT 
ANYBODY WHO TRIES TO SKIRT THE 
RULES FACES SIGNIFICANT 
CONSEQUENCES.
TO BEGIN WITH, APPLICANTS WILL 
HAVE TO DESIGNATE SOMEONE WITH 
CONTROL OVER THEIR FINANCES TO 
MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CLAIMS ARE 
APPROPRIATE.
ANY BUSINESS THAT RECEIVES THE 
BENEFIT AND IS DISCOVERED TO BE 
INELIGIBLE WILL HAVE TO REPAY 
THE FULL AMOUNT.
ANYONE CAUGHT ABUSING THE 
PROGRAM COULD FACE PENALTIES UP 
TO 225% OF WHAT THEY RECEIVED 
AND UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
THIS IS A HIGH-TRUST PROGRAM, 
BUT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ABUSES.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE WANT TO ENSURE 
THAT PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO SKIRT 
THE RULES UNDERSTAND THAT THEY 
WILL BE PUNISHED.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PENALTIES 
UP TO 225% OF THE FINISH 
RECEIVED AND UP TO FIVE YEARS IN
PRISON.
[end of translation] WE WANT TO 
MAKE SURE WE DO NOT LET DOWN THE
WORKERS WHO ARE TRUSTING US TO 
SUPPORT THEM.
AS WE NAVIGATE THESE UNCERTAIN 
TIMES, GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE 
TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF 
CANADIANS.
IN THE HISTORIC FACE OF A 
HISTORIC HEALTH CRISIS, WE ARE 
PROVIDING HISTORIC SUPPORT.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR EVERYONE TO 
COME TOGETHER AND TO WORK 
TOGETHER.
BUSINESSES WHO ARE REHIRING 
THEIR WORKERS, BUT ALSO 
PARLIAMENTARIANS.
CANADIANS ARE COUNTING ON US 
DURING THESE TIMES.
WE CANNOT LET THEM DOWN.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO 
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SUPPORT 
THE WORKERS AND THE BUSINESSES 
THAT MAKE OUR ECONOMY STRONG.
WE'LL DO THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW 
THAT WHEN THIS CRISIS PASSES -- 
AND IT WILL PASS -- THAT 
CANADA'S ECONOMY WILL BOUNCE 
BACK QUICKLY AND WE'LL BE ABLE 
TO KEEP BUILDING AN EVEN BETTER 
CANADA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW I'LL PASS IT TO MY COLLEAGUE
MARY NG, MINISTER OF SMALL 
BUSINESSES AND INTERNATIONAL 
TRADE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MINISTER 
MORNEAU, BILL.
AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR 
JOINING US TODAY.
I'VE SPENT THE LAST WEEK SINCE 
OUR ORIGINAL WAGE SUBSIDY 
ANNOUNCEMENT TALKING TO 
BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES, LARGE 
AND SMALL.
I'VE BEEN IN CALLS, VIDEO 
CONFERENCES, LIVE Q AND As TO 
REACH THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES 
AND ASSOCIATIONS TO ANSWER THEIR
QUESTIONS AND ADDRESS THEIR 
CONCERNS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO 
DO THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY AS WE
GO THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
THAT'S MY COMMITMENT TO YOU.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM THESE 
INTERACTIONS IS TO HELP IMPROVE 
THE IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE MADE TO
THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
YOUR CONCERNS AND FEEDBACK HAVE 
HAD A DIRECT LINE TO ME AND OUR 
GOVERNMENT.
WHEN WE SAY WE'RE IN THIS 
TOGETHER, WE MEAN IT.
THE CHANGES WE HAVE OUTLINED 
TODAY WILL MEAN MORE FLEXIBILITY
AND SUPPORT FOR NEW BUSINESSES, 
HIGH-GROWTH COMPANIES, START-UPS
AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THIS.
WE'RE MOVING IN REAL TIME.
OUR JOB IS TO SUPPORT YOU AS 
FAST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT OUR
JOB ISN'T DONE UNTIL THOSE 
SUPPORTS ARE MEETING YOUR NEEDS.
I'M PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION 
TO CANADA'S SMALL BUSINESSES IN 
THIS COUNTRY, THE BACKBONE OF 
OUR ECONOMY, AND THE VERY HEART 
OF OUR COMMUNITIES, FROM THE 
CORNER STORE TO THE LOCAL 
RESTAURANT OR THE TECH STARTUP 
OR THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY AND
SO MANY MORE.
WE KNOW THAT THINGS ARE 
EXTREMELY TOUGH FOR YOU AND YOUR
EMPLOYEES.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT EVERY 
ASPECT OF THIS WAGE SUBSIDY HAS 
BEEN DESIGNED TO PRESERVE JOBS, 
TO KEEP BUSINESSES AFLOAT, AND 
HELP YOU PRIME FOR RECOVERY.
PART OF THIS EFFORT IS TO HELP 
YOU KEEP YOUR TEAM IN PLACE, 
BECAUSE WE AGREE YOU CAN GAIN 
MORE GROUND MORE QUICKLY AND BE 
MORE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU HAVE 
PRESERVED YOUR TEAM THROUGH THIS
ORDEAL, READYING YOU FOR THE 
TIME OF RECOVERY WHEN THAT TIME 
COMES.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS IN PLACE TO 
DIRECTLY ASSIST YOU WITH THIS 
CHALLENGE.
LET ME END WITH AN EARNEST EARN 
CHALLENGE TO CANADIAN BUSINESS 
OWNERS.
THANK YOU.
WE KNOW THIS IS HARD.
WE REALLY HAVE YOUR BACK.
KEEP PUSHING US.
KEEP TELLING US WHAT WORKS AND 
WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
WE'RE IN A BRAND NEW WORLD.
IT'S DIFFICULT AND I KNOW IT'S 
COMPLEX.
I HEAR FROM YOU AND I HEAR THAT 
IT'S FRUSTRATING.
BUT IF WE KEEP TALKING AND 
WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND THE 
SOLUTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO 
WEATHER THIS STORM AND WE WILL 
COME OUT OF THIS THE OTHER SIDE 
TOGETHER.
OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, MINISTER 
NAVDEEP BAINS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MINISTER
NG AND MINISTER MORNEAU.
I TOO WANT TO ECHO MY THANKS TO 
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND TO 
INDUSTRY.
IN PARTICULAR I WANT TO THANK 
THEM FOR STEPPING UP IN A BIG 
WAY, ONCE AGAIN, FOR OUR 
MOBILIZATION EFFORTS FIRST AND 
FOREMOST AND REALLY HELPING US 
MAKE THE ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT 
THAT WE NEED, THE PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT WE 
NEED FOR OUR FRONTLINE 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND TO 
PROTECT THEM IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19.
I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS
THAT MY COLLEAGUES MADE WITH 
RESPECT TO BUSINESSES.
WE HEAR YOU.
WE'RE LISTENING.
WE HAVE OUR EARS TO THE GROUND.
WE'RE GAGED ON THIS FILE, WE'RE 
SEIZED WITH THIS ISSUE, AND 
WE'RE MAKING CHANGES TO ASSIST 
AND HELP YOU.
TODAY THIS UNDERSCORES A 
COMMITMENT TO HIGH-GROWTH FIRMS 
AS WELL.
THIS COMES FROM 2015 WHEN WE 
ADVANCED OUR SKILLS PLAN, IT WAS
DEVELOPED WITH A PURPOSE TO HELP
COMPANIES GROW AND SUCCEED, NOT 
ONLY IN CANADA BUT 
INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL.
WE WILL REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS AS 
WE NAVIGATE OURSELVES THROUGH 
THIS CRISIS AND COME OUT THE 
OTHER SIDE AND START TO SEE THE 
RECOVERY.
I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WE 
CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR BACKS AND 
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS 
IS ABOUT JOBS, THIS IS ABOUT 
CANADIANS.
THIS WAGE SUBSIDY UNDERSCORES 
AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF
RETAINING JOBS.
IT'S ABOUT STEADY INCOME AND 
CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE IN THE 
ECONOMY AND CONFIDENCE THAT WE 
WILL RECOVER.
I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT WE
ARE IN THIS TOGETHER AND WE WILL
GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ Please Stand By ]
>> DO YOU HAVE A DIRECT SPENDING
FIGURE IN DOLLARS FOR THAT?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): THANKS, DAVID.
WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK WAS TO 
BRING OUT THE PROGRAMME AND GIVE
A BROAD UNDERSTAND OFFING WHAT 
THE COSTS WERE.
OUR ESTIMATE WAS AT THAT TIME 
$71 BILLION, AN ENORMOUS 
EXPENDITURE ON BEHALF OF 
CANADIANS.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WITH THE 
CHANGES WE'VE MADE, WE EXPECT IT
TO BE $73 BILLION AND THAT'S 
PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY THE FACT 
WE'VE ALLOWED EMPLOYERS TO BRING
PEOPLE BACK AND WE WILL 
REIMBURSE THEM ON EMPLOYMENT 
INSURANCE.
THAT IS DRIVING SOME CHANGE FOR 
THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT COME BACK.
THE DECISION TO ALLOW FOR 15% 
DECLINE IN REVENUES IN MARCH TO 
MARCH WAS REALLY DRIVEN BY THE 
FACT THAT WE SEE THAT IS REALLY 
THIS COVID-19 HIT IN THE MIDDLE 
OF MARCH, SO IT DIDN'T 
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE OUR 
CALCULATIONS.
>> Reporter: SECONDLY, IN OIL 
PRODUCING PROVINCES, IF I'M A 
COMPANY THAT HAS SEEN MY 
FINANCES GO TO THE FLOOR.
>> FOR COMPANIES IN CANADA THAT 
EXPERIENCED THE SIGNIFICANT 
DECLINE, THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE.
FOR THOSE EMPLOYERS IN THE 
ENERGY SECTOR THAT ARE SEEING 
BIG DECLINES BOTH AS A RESULT OF
COVID-19 AND THE OPEC DECISIONS,
THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE AND IT 
WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT
FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE IT 
WILL FOR ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, THE CBC NEWS.
>> Reporter: THIS QUESTION IS 
MORE MINISTER MORNEAU, AIR 
CANADA ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY'LL 
BE USING MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL 
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMME TO HIRE 
BACK 16500 LAID-OFF WORKERS.
I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR REACTION
TO AIR CANADA HIRING BACK 
EMPLOYEES AND IS THIS WHAT THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY IS INTENDED TO BE 
USED FOR, LIKE LARGE 
CORPORATIONS LIKE AIR CANADA?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED 
TO SEE AIR CANADA'S DECISION.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO 
FOR BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY 
RETAIN THEIR ATTACHMENT WITH 
THEIR EMPLOYEES, SO AIR CANADA 
BRINGING BACK THOSE EMPLOYEES IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEIR 
BUSINESS AND THOUSANDS OF 
PEOPLE.
IT'S IN THAT CONTEXT I WANT TO 
SAY WE NEED THE OTHER PARTIES IN
PARLIAMENT TO MOVE FORWARD AND 
SUPPORT THIS.
WE'VE HAD BOTH CONSTRUCTIVE 
COMMENTS AND SUPPORT FROM BLOC 
QUEBECOIS, BUT FROM THE OTHER 
PARTIES THAT HAVE SAID WE NEED 
TO GET MONEY TO THE BUSINESSES 
TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE EMPLOYEES, WE
NEED THEM TO SUPPORT US AND GET 
IT DONE QUICKLY SO WE CAN 
DELIVER THE FUNDS REQUIRED.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
I CAN'T SAY HOW URGENT IT IS.
THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF 
EMPLOYEES LIKE THESE EMPLOYEES 
AT AIR CANADA THAT ARE COUNTING 
ON US SO THEY CAN ATTACHED TO 
THEIR EMPLOYER AND GET UP TO 
$847 PER WEEK THROUGH THEIR 
EMPLOYER'S WAGE SUBSIDY.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
MR. MORNEAU, I WANTED TO 
CONTINUE IN THAT VAIN.
I KNOW THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS 
WITH THE OPPOSITION PARTIES THAT
SEEM TO HAVE COME TO A 
STANDSTILL BECAUSE OF THE 
DEMANDS BEING MADE BY THE 
CONSERVATIVES AND NOW APPARENTLY
THE N.D.P. IS ALSO POSING 
PROBLEMS.
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): [Speaking 
French][Voice of Interpreter] WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS 
WITH THE OTHER PARTIES.
THE IMPORTANT THING FOR ME, WE 
HAVEN'T HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT 
OUR WAGE SUBSIDY, FOR EXAMPLE, 
WE PROPOSED THAT THERE BE 
GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY WITH A 
VIRTUAL PARLIAMENT.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO IN MY OPINION, IT'S URGENT.
IT'S URGENT TO REACH AN 
AGREEMENT.
IT IS URGENT TO IMPLEMENT THIS 
POLICY FOR PEOPLE RIGHT ACROSS 
CANADA AND I DO HOPE THAT THE 
OTHER PARTIES WILL RECONSIDER 
THEIR POSITIONS SO WE CAN 
EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
>> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T REALLY 
ANSWER MY QUESTION.
THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND THE 
N.D.P., ARE THEY POSING PROBLEMS
RIGHT NOW?
ARE THEY THE ONES INSISTING -- 
ARE THEY THE REASON WHY THE 
RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 
HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT
WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT 
DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL THE 
PARTIES.
WE HAVE RECEIVED CONSTRUCTIVE 
DISCUSSIONS FROM THE BLOC IN 
TERMS OF THEIR SUPPORT.
AND WE REMAIN IN DISCUSSION WITH
THE OTHER PARTIES AT THIS TIME.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE 
REACH AN AGREEMENT AS SOON AS 
POSSIBLE.
THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR COMPANIES 
AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
-- WHO WANT TO BENEFIT FROM THAT
WAGE SUBSIDY AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO CONTINUE 
THESE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT THEY HAVE TO COME TO AN END.
>> Announcer: NEXT QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TVA.
>> Reporter: [Speaking 
French][Voice of Interpreter] IN
THE SAME VAIN WE DON'T KNOW WHEN
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WILL SIT IN
ORDER TO APPROVE THE SUBSIDY.
DO YOU THINK THIS DELAY COULD 
ALSO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE NEW PROGRAMME.
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): YES, THERE IS ALWAYS 
THAT RISK AND THAT IS PRECISELY 
WHY WE NEED TO REACH AN 
AGREEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IN OUR OPINION, WE NEED TO GET 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IMPLEMENTED AS 
SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE 
BUSINESSES WHO ARE WAITING FOR 
THIS LEGISLATION TO PASS.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO 
CONSIDER WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE MADE A DECISION THAT AN 
EMPLOYEE CAN RECEIVE 75% OF 
THEIR INCOME UP TO $847 A WEEK.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM.
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO REACH
AN AGREEMENT.
AND IF IT TAKES MORE TIME TO DO 
THAT, IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT 
FOR PEOPLE AND, OF COURSE, MORE 
DIFFICULT FOR COMPANIES TO 
ACCESS THE SUBSIDIES.
SO IT'S URGENT.
>> Reporter: NOW YOU'RE SAYING 
THE SUBSIDY WILL COME INTO 
EFFECT IN TWO OR THREE WEEKS, SO
IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, 
WHEN DOES PARLIAMENT HAVE 
APPROVE THE PROGRAMME?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): IT'S URGENT.
WE NEED THERE TO BE AN AGREEMENT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN EXACT DATE, 
BUT RIGHT NOW, EVERY COMPANY IS 
REVIEWING ITS POSITION AND IF 
THERE IS NO CERTAINTY, IT'S 
QUITE POSSIBLE THEY MAY MAKE A 
DIFFERENT DECISION AND THAT IS 
WHY WE NEED TO GET THIS 
AGREEMENT IN PLACE AND THAT WAY 
COMPANIES WILL MAKE THE DECISION
TO KEEP AND PROTECT THEIR 
EMPLOYEES AND PROTECT THE 
POSSIBILITY OF GIVING THEM $847 
A WEEK.
THAT IS WHY IT'S URGENT AND 
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO REACH AN 
AGREEMENT WITH THE OTHER PARTIES
IN PARLIAMENT AND I HOPE THAT 
THEY WILL RECONSIDER THEIR 
POSITION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT QUESTION.
>> Reporter: [Speaking 
French][Voice of Interpreter] 
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MORNEAU, I'M
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE 
ONLY GOING FROM $71 BILLION TO 
$73 BILLION WITH THIS CHANGE, 
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE REIMBURSING 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO E.I. AND SO ON,
AND LOWERING THE INCOME LEVEL TO
15%, NOW WERE THERE COMPANIES 
LAST WEEK THAT WERE ALREADY 
PREPARED TO REHIRE THEIR 
EMPLOYERS?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): WELL, AS I SAID LAST 
WEEK, WE ANNOUNCED THE PROGRAMME
AND THE APPROACH TAKEN LED US TO
BELIEVE THE COST WOULD BE $71 
BILLION, BUT WITH THE 
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROGRAMME 
BASED ON THE ADVICE OF COMPANIES
AND ASSOCIATIONS IN THE LAST 
WEEK, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR 
COMPANIES, FOR EXAMPLE, 
COMPANIES WITH A HIGH GROWTH OR 
NON-PROFITS OR CHARITIES, NOW WE
CAN BE MORE PRECISE WITH COSTS.
$73 BILLION IS THE COST AND IT'S
A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMME IN 
ORDER TO PROTECT PEOPLE.
AND THE $73 BILLION WILL BE 
GOING TO PEOPLE, TO EMPLOYEES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S URGENT.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE A HIGH 
LEVEL OF ANXIETY AT THIS TIME 
BECAUSE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES 
AND WE NEED TO GET THE SUBSIDY 
IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO HELP 
THEM.
[End of Translation] 
>> Reporter: DID YOU NOT HAVE 
ANY TAKERS FOR THE FIRST 
VERSION, ENOUGH COMPANIES 
INTERESTED AND THAT'S WHY YOU 
CHANGED THE CRITERIA.
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): NOT AT ALL, WHAT WE'VE
DONE IS MADE SURE THE CRITERIA 
ARE SUCH THAT FOR THOSE 
COMPANIES THAT SAID IT WOULDN'T 
FIT THEM, WE MADE SURE IT FIT 
THEM.
IT WAS ALREADY CAPTURING ANY 
EMPLOYER WHO WAS EXPERIENCING A 
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN 
REVENUES BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
AND THIS IS JUST MAKING SURE WE 
CAPTURE, YOU KNOW, THE THOSE 
HIGH-GROWTH COMPANIES.
THE NON-PROFITS THAT HAVE 
REVENUE FROM GOVERNMENT, OR 
COMPANIES THAT EXPERIENCED 
REVENUE DECLINES IN THE MIDDLE 
OF MARCH BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE
CLOSURE STARTED HAPPENING MOST 
SIGNIFICANTLY.
SO WE THINK, LIKE WITH ALL OF 
THE PROGRAMMES WE'RE PUTTING IN 
PLACE, WE NEED TO BE DYNAMIC.
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS 
THIS CHALLENGE IS CONFRONTING 
CANADIANS, OUR POLICIES ALSO 
NEED TO CONFRONT THIS CHALLENGE.
WE'RE THINKING HOW WE CAN DO 
THAT THAT GIVES PEOPLE 
CONFIDENCE TO GET OUT OF THIS 
CHALLENGE.
>> JUST TO BUILD ON WHAT 
MINISTER MORNEAU SAID, THE 
CHANGES WE IDENTIFIED TODAY, 
REALLY REFLECT HIGH GROWTH FIRMS
AS WELL.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN 
FOCUSSING ON COMPANYING SCALE 
AND GROW AND WE RECOGNIZE THERE 
ARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE 
DEMONSTRATED GROWTH YEAR OVER 
YEAR, BOTH IN TERMS OF REVENUE 
AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, THAT MAY 
NOT NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN 
ELIGIBLE UNDER THE PREVIOUS 
CRITERIA.
SO THIS IS MORE EXPANSIVE.
THIS IS DESIGNED TO DO MORE, NOT
LESS.
HELP MORE BUSINESSES NOT LESS.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS 
OF HIGH-GROWTH FIRMS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM 
THESE CHANGES.
THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE WE WANTED 
TO COMMUNICATE.
NOT TO SAY THIS PROGRAMME WAS 
NOT GENEROUS, BUT WE'RE MAKING 
IT MORE HELPFUL TO CANADIANS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY
FOCUSSING ON HIGH-GROWTH FIRMS.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT QUESTION.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION, DAVID 
AKIN, GLOBAL NEWS.
>> Reporter: THERE WE GO.
MINISTER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH 
FOR THE QUESTION.
I WANT TO SWITCH TOPICS A LITTLE
BITO TALK ABOUT SAVINGS.
CANADA IS NOT NECESSARILY A 
GREAT NATION OF SAVERS.
I WONDER IF YOU'VE CONSIDERED 
LETTING CANADIANS WITHDRAW 
SAVINGS FROM SAY AN RRSP, OR I'M
NOT SURE WHAT, WITHOUT GETTING 
TAXED.
SAY YOU WANT TO TAKE $2,000 OUT 
OF YOUR R.S.P. WITHOUT GETTING 
TAXED.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION
TO ALLOW CANADIANS TO TAP INTO 
SAVINGS AND NOT BE TAXED ON IT?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): OUR APPROACH IS TO 
SUPPORT ALL CANADIANS.
WE'VE NOW ANNOUNCED MEASURES 
THAT ARE GOING TO DIRECTLY 
SUPPORT CANADIANS OF ABOUT $107 
BILLION AS WELL AS TAX DEFERRALS
THAT ARE ANOTHER $85 BILLION OR 
SO.
THESE ARE THE LARGEST SINGLE 
DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN 
SINCE WORLD WAR II.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL WAYS THAT 
WE CAN DO THINGS THAT ARE 
DIRECTLY PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO
PEOPLES' POCKETS.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE 
ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU JUST 
ASKED, ALLOWING SENIORS TO NOT 
HAVE TO TAKE AS MUCH MONEY OUT 
IN THE REGISTERED RETIREMENT 
INCOME FUND, RECOGNIZING THE 
DECLINE IN THE STOCK MARKET.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THINKING 
ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT PEOPLE.
THE MEASURES YOU TALKED ABOUT 
ARE NOT THINGS CURRENT ON OUR 
AGENDA, BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE 
MADE ENORMOUS DECISIONS TO 
SUPPORT PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND 
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
THESE POLICIES OUT.
YOU'VE SEEN THAT NOW MILLIONS --
I THINK WE PASSED 3 MILLION 
PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN UP THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT THIS 
WEEK.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE 
FIRMS -- YOU'VE HEARD THAT AIR 
CANADA IS DECIDING TO USE THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FIRMS DO 
THAT RAPIDLY ONCE PARLIAMENT 
APPROVES THIS.
THAT MEANS WE'LL BE SUPPORTING 
MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS WITH PROGRAMMES SO 
THEY CAN GET THROUGH THIS 
CHALLENGE AND HAVE ENOUGH MONEY 
FOR THE ESSENTIALS.
>> Reporter: AND THAT'S -- THANK
YOU FOR THAT.
MAYBE JUST TO THINK MORE BROADLY
AND FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD ONCE 
WE START TO GET INTO A RECOVERY,
GOVERNMENT -- YOUR GOVERNMENT 
AND LOTS OF PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS
HAVE OFTEN STRUGGLED WITH THE 
IDEA THAT CANADIANS HAVE NOT 
NECESSARILY BEEN SAVERS AND THE 
LOW INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT 
WE'VE HAD FOR THE LAST DECADE OR
SO HAS NOT BEEN GREAT TO 
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SAVE.
AND I WONDER WHETHER OR NOT IT 
WOULD BE A PRIORITY COMING OF 
THIS IMPLEMENT MORE POLICIES TO 
ENCOURAGE CANADIANS TO SAVE, 
BEFORE GIVEN THAT SPENDING IS A 
DRIVER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, IT 
WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE 
CANADIANS TO SPEND.
I WONDER IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS OF
WHERE WE'RE GOING ONCE WE START 
TO SEE CURVES MOVE IN THE RIGHT 
DIRECTION?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): WE DO NEED TO THING 
ABOUT DEALING WITH THE IMPORTANT
ISSUES TODAY AND HOW WE GET OUT 
OF THIS.
WE ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT 
HOW WE BUILD OURSELVES BACK TO 
AN ECONOMY THAT IS SEEING 
STRENGTH, THAT IS GOING TO 
SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT, BUT RIGHT 
NOW WE'RE NOT AT A STAGE WE ARE 
TALKING ABOUT THE POLICIES TO 
ENSURE THAT HAPPENS.
WE'RE VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON HOW 
WE PROTECT PEOPLE GETTING 
THROUGH THIS CRISIS AND ENSURE 
THAT THE POLICIES WE HAVE ARE 
FOCUSED ON PEOPLE, BUT ALSO ON 
THIS TIME SO THAT WE CAN BOTH 
GET PEOPLE OUT OF THIS CHALLENGE
AND ALSO ALLOW THE POLICIES TO 
BE REDUCED AS WE GET OUT OF IT 
IN A WAY THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR 
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
SO NO DECISIONS ON NEXT STEPS 
YET, BUT A CONTINUING FOCUS ON 
HOW WE DEAL WITH THOSE PEOPLE 
THAT ARE CHALLENGED AND WE'LL 
CONTINUE -- AS YOU HEARD THE 
PRIME MINISTER SAY -- TO DEAL 
WITH THE GAPS, THE CHALLENGES 
THAT ARE PRESENTING THEMSELVES 
SO WE CAN REALLY ENSURE THAT 
ANYBODY IMPACTED BY THIS HAS THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH
IT.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU VERY 
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 
BLOOMBERG.
>> HELLO, MR. MORNEAU.
I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE 
CANADA CREDIT RATING.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE 
CONCERNED ABOUT CANADA'S CREDIT 
RATING IF IT'S ENDANGERED GIVEN 
THE RISING DEBT DUE TO THE 
UNPRECEDENTED SPENDING.
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): THANK YOU.
THE GOOD NEWS FROM THE 
STANDPOINT OF CANADA FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT FINANCES IS WE 
STARTED OFF IN A VERY, VERY 
STRONG POSITION.
OUR DEBT AS A FUNCTION OF OUR 
ECONOMY IS NOT ONLY THE LOWEST 
AMONG G7 COUNTRIES BUT LESS THAN
HALF THE AVERAGE.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WATCHING 
THAT OF COURSE.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ENSURING 
THAT WE MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT 
ALLOW US TO GET OUT OF THIS.
OUR VIEW IS WE NEED TO MAKE THE 
INVESTMENTS, WE NEED TO PROTECT 
PEOPLE, BECAUSE THAT'S GO TO 
ALLOW US TO GET OUT OF THIS 
ECONOMIC CHALLENGE AND ALLOW US 
TO START UP AGAIN IN WAY THAT 
ENSURES WE HAVE A STRONG 
ECONOMY.
THAT IS THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL 
THING THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT.
AND ALSO THAT CREDIT AGENCIES 
WILL CARE ABOUT.
THE STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY, OUR
ABILITY TO CARRY THE ADDITIONAL 
DEBTS THAT WE WILL HAVE PUT ON 
IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OURSELVES DO
DURING THIS TIME.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT GIVEN THE 
STARTING POINT THAT WE HAVE, 
GIVEN THE COST OF DEBT RIGHT 
NOW, AND GIVEN OUR ABILITY TO 
GET OUR ECONOMY BACK UP AND 
GOING WE'LL BE CONTINUED TO BE 
SEEN AS A VERY STRONG GOVERNMENT
AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE 
STRONG CREDIT RATINGS THAT 
ENABLE US TO RAISE CAPITAL WHEN 
REQUIRED TO SUPPORT CANADIANS.
>> Reporter: AND HAVE YOU 
RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK FROM 
CREDIT RATING COMPANIES IN THAT 
REGARD?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): NO, WE HAVEN'T.
THIS IS REALLY A TIME WHERE 
WE'RE VERY FOCUSSED ON MAKING 
THE DECISIONS THAT ARE 
APPROPRIATE FOR OUR ECONOMY, BUT
REALLY APPROPRIATE FOR 
CANADIANS.
AND ALL OF OUR TIME AND 
LITERALLY ALL OF OUR TIME HAS 
BEEN SPENT ON MAKING SURE THAT 
THE POLICIES LIKE THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, LIKE THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT, LIKE
THE LOANS FOR BUSINESSES ARE 
TAILORED AND TARGETED CORRECTLY.
IT'S REALLY NOT A TIME WE'RE 
SPENDING EFFORTS IN TALKING TO 
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING 
AGENCIES.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT QUESTION.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 
ADAM, THE WIRE REPORT.
>> Reporter: HI, MY QUESTION IS 
TO MINISTER BANES.
HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING AN IDEA ON
HOW TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS 
ARE PERFORMING AND WHAT IS YOUR 
RESPONSE?
>> WE'RE IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH
THE TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES.
I SPEAK ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH 
THE C.E.O.s OF THE COMPANIES TO 
UNDERSTAND THEIR CHALLENGES, 
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THEY MAY 
HAVE?
CLEARLY NETWORK CAPACITY IS 
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A 
CHALLENGE, BUT I'M PROUD OF THE 
FACT THAT WE HAVE THE BEST 
NETWORKS IN THE WORLD AND WE'RE 
SEEING THAT ON FULL DISPLAY NOW 
WHERE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM 
HOME, STUDENTS ARE DOING THEIR 
HOMEWORK ONLINE, WHERE PEOPLE 
ARE ON NETFLIX AND THE NETWORKS 
ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THOSE 
SUDDEN SPIKES IN NETWORK USAGE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS FOR HOME 
INTERNET USAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, 
WEEK OVER WEEK INCREASES 
SOMETIMES ARE AS HIGH AS 60%, SO
WE'VE GOT STRONG ROBUST 
NETWORKS, BUT I'M IN CONSTANT 
CONTACT WITH THE 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES TO 
UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS IMMEDIATE
CHALLENGES OR NEEDS.
SO FAR SO GOOD.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIELD 
WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINES THAT 
ARE MAINTAINING THE NETWORK.
THEY'RE ESSENTIAL FOR THE FACT 
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE 
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
I WANT TO THANK THOSE WORKERS 
WHO ARE DOING SO MUCH TO MAKE 
SURE WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE 
WITH EACH OTHER, OUR FAMILIES 
AND LOVED ONES.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION, FROM EMILY 
BERGERON.
QME.
>> Reporter: [Speaking 
French][Voice of Interpreter] 
COMING BACK TO YOUR NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE OPPOSITION PARTIES FOR 
A RETURN OF PARLIAMENT ON AN 
URGENT BASIS AS YOU SAID, YOU 
MENTIONED THAT YOU PROPOSED 
PARLIAMENT SIT IN VIRTUAL MODE 
PERHAPS FOR A QUESTION PERIOD.
WAS THAT PROPOSAL REJECTED BY 
THEM?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): [Speaking 
French][Voice of Interpreter] I 
CAN'T SAY WHETHER IT WAS 
ACCEPTED OR REJECTED.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE 
THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE 
ACCESSIBLE.
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR APPROACH AND
TRANSPARENCY ARE VERY IMPORTANT 
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO
BE IN PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER THE
VIEWS OF THE OTHER PARTIES.
THAT'S WHY WE CONSIDERED HOW WE 
MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND 
VIRTUAL PARLIAMENT IS ONE OPTION
THAT COULD WORK IN YOUR OPINION.
SO FOR US, THE IMPORTANT THING 
IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE APPROACH
WITH THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
IT WILL IMPROVE THE SITUATION OF
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE 
RIGHT ACROSS THIS COUNTRY OR 
EVEN MORE, SO IT REALLY IS 
EXTREMELY URGENT TO GET THAT 
POLICY IN PLACE AND THAT IS WHY 
I'M SAYING THAT WE MUST REACH AN
AGREEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> Reporter: JUST TO BE CLEAR, 
THIS AGREEMENT DON'T SEEM TO BE 
AROUND IF THE WAGE, IT SEEMS TO 
BE ABOUT OTHER THINGS, IS THAT 
CORRECT AND WHAT ARE THE 
DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT
WE'VE HAD A CONSTRUCTIVE 
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT FROM THE 
BLOC QUEBECOIS AND WE'VE NOT 
HEARD ANY DISAGREEMENTS ON THE 
SUBSTANCE OF THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
I THINK WE ALL REALIZE HOW 
IMPORTANT IT IS.
FROM THAT STANDPOINT, WE BELIEVE
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET BACK TO 
WORK, TO HAVE THIS PASSED, SO WE
CAN HAVE THE KIND OF SUPPORT 
CANADIANS NEED.
WE'VE ENSURED THAT WE'RE 
ACCOUNTABLE TO OTHER PARTIES, SO
FROM STOINT, IT'S TIME TO GET ON
WITH IT.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS GLEN 
McGREGOR.
>> Reporter: QUESTION FOR 
MINISTER MORNEAU, I WANT TO ASK 
ABOUT THE CREDIT CARD RELIEF.
AGREEMENT WITH CHARTER BANKS TO 
CUT RATES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE 
STRUGGLING TO MAKE THEIR 
PAYMENTS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 
BROADER RELIEF, WHY WAS THAT NOT
CONSIDERED?
WE STILL HAVE HIGH CREDIT CARD 
INTEREST RATES AND IT DOESN'T DO
MUCH TO HELP THE PEOPLE RELYING 
ON PAYDAY LOAN COMPANIES TO 
BRIDGE THEIR FINANCING FROM 
MONTH TO MONTH.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER 
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MANDATING 
GREATER CUTS TO LOWERING RATES 
FOR AVERAGE CANADIANS?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): WE'VE BEEN WORKING 
TOGETHER OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF
WEEKS WITH THE BANKS TO MAKE 
SURE THE BANKS ARE SUPPORTING 
THEIR CUSTOMERS, THAT THEY'RE 
SUPPORTING CANADIANS.
WE'VE, AS MENTIONED, COME TO AN 
AGREEMENT AND THEY'LL BE 
STARTING TO HAVE THE SMALL 
BUSINESS LOANS, 25% OF WHICH 
WILL BE FORGIVABLE IF SMALL 
BUSINESSES PAY THOSE BACK BEFORE
2022.
THAT IS GOING TO BE STARTING 
TOMORROW.
THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT 
CONCLUSIONS THAT CAN SUPPORT 
LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS,
IF NOT OVER A MILLION SMALL 
BUSINESSES.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN PUSHING THEM TO 
ENSURE THEY SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO 
ARE IN A CHALLENGING SITUATION.
SO DEFERRING MORTGAGES WAS 
IMPORTANT.
WE'RE SEEING HUNDREDS OF 
THOUSANDS OF MORTGAGE DEFERRALS 
AND DEALING WITH CREDIT CARD 
FEES WAS ALSO IMPORTANT.
FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING.
THAT IS WHY AFTER THE 
DISCUSSIONS WE WERE PLEASED TO 
SEE THEM CUT THE RATES IN HALF 
FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING.
THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
OUR ROLE AS GOVERNMENT IS TO 
SUPPORT EVERYONE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE THROUGH 
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT AND THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE 
WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED HAVE 
SUPPORT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WORK 
WITH THE BANKS AND WHOEVER WE 
NEED TO WORK WITH TO ENSURE THAT
CANADIANS GET THROUGH THIS.
>> Reporter: -- GOOD NEWS TODAY 
ABOUT AIR CANADA HIRING BACK 
16,000 EMPLOYEES, BUT THE 
INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IN CANADA IS
STILL REALLY STRUGGLING.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE WE ARE ON 
AN AID PACKET SPECIFIC TO THE 
AIRLINES.
>> TO ECHO THE COMMENTS MADE BY 
MINISTER MORNEAU, IT'S GREAT 
THAT AIR CANADA HAS RETAINED THE
EMPLOYEES.
THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE 
PEOPLE HAVE INCOME, THAT 
COMPANIES CAN KEEP PEOPLE ON 
THEIR PAYROLL.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 
SUPPORTING INDUSTRIES AND 
SUPPORTING COMPANIES, ONE WAY TO
DO THAT IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY IMPLEMENTED AND
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT 
THE OTHER PARTIES SUPPORT US 
THROUGH THIS ENDEAVOUR AND AVOID
THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND ALLOW 
US TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN A TIMELY
MANNER.
BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT ONLY THE 
AIRLINES INDUSTRY, IF YOU LOOK 
AT TOURISM, OIL AND GAS, THE 
RETAIL SECTOR, THEY'VE BEEN 
SIGNIFICANTLY CHALLENGED BY THE 
RECENT EVENT, SO WE'RE GOING TO 
HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
A PLAN IN PLACE, NOT ONLY 
IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR CANADIANS 
PROVIDING THEM WITH INCOME, BUT 
HOW CAN WE REBOUND AND RECOVER?
MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR PRIORITY 
IS CANADIANS AND WE'LL BE 
PUTTING FORWARD SETS OF 
INITIATIVES AND PLANS AND IDEAS 
TO ASSIST DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES 
INCLUDING THE AIRLINES INDUSTRY.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT QUESTION.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS JAMES 
BRADSHAW FROM "THE GLOBE AND 
MAIL".
>> Reporter: GOOD AFTERNOON, 
MINISTER MORNEAU.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE  SEBA 
SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMME.
THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED A 
FIVE-DAY WAITING, BUT WAS 
CONSIDERING TO SHORTEN IT TO TWO
DAYS.
HOW LONG SHOULD BUSINESS OWNERS 
EXPECT TO WAIT FOR THE FUNDS?
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE 
FUNDS WILL BE DISBURSED QUICKLY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE IN A 
STAGE WHERE WE EXPECT THAT THE 
LARGE BANKS IN PARTICULAR WILL 
BE ABLE TO START THIS APPROACH 
LITERALLY TOMORROW.
AND THAT MEANS THAT BUSINESSES 
WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THE 
CURRENT INSTITUTION THEY WORK 
WITH, BANKS, AND WE'RE ALSO 
OPENING UP TO CREDIT UNIONS, IN 
THE DAYS AND WEEKS TO COME.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE 
MONEY DISBURSED ONCE THE BANK 
GOES THROUGH THEIR 
APPROPRIATE -- PROCESSES.
OUR HOPE IS THAT CAN BE WITHIN 
TWO DAYS AFTER THAT INITIAL 
INTERACTION, BUT IT WILL, OF 
COURSE, HAVE VARIABILITY 
DEPENDING ON THE COMPANY AND THE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THEY GO 
TO.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET MONEY IN
PEOPLES' HANDS AS SOON AS 
POSSIBLE IF THEIR BUSINESS IS 
SIGNIFICANTLY CHALLENGED BECAUSE
OF DECLINING REVENUES.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU.
AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, 
AS IT EXPANDS, HOW BROADLY WILL 
YOU OFFER LOANS AND FOR THE 
BUSINESS THAT HAS MAIN ACCOUNT, 
IS THERE SOMEWHERE THEY CAN 
APPLY?
>> WE'RE WORKING TO EXPAND IT AS
BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO LARGE AND
SMALL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND
TO CREDIT UNIONS.
THAT WORK IS ONGOING.
IT WILL BE AS EXPANSIVE AS WE 
CAN GET IT.
TO THE EXTENT THAT SOMEONE FINDS
A CHALLENGE WITH THE INSTITUTION
THAT THEY'RE AT, OF COURSE, 
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GO TO ANOTHER
INSTITUTION, BUT THE MAIN GOAL 
IS TO MAKE IT BROADLY ACCESSIBLE
ACROSS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SO
THAT THE SMALL BUSINESSES CAN 
GET RAPID ACCESS TO CAPITAL IN A
CHALLENGING TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL BE TAKING ONE LAST 
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU.
THE LAST QUESTION IS... -- 
>> Reporter: MINISTERS, YOU'VE 
SAID REPEATEDLY TODAY THAT THESE
CHANGES WILL BENEFIT HIGH-GROWTH
FIRMS.
CAN YOU SPECIFY WHICH CHANGES --
WHICH OF THE THREE CHANGES 
SPECIFICALLY WILL BENEFIT 
HIGH-GROWTH FIRMS BECAUSE WE'RE 
ALREADY HEARING FROM SOME THAT 
SAY THEY STILL DON'T BELIEVE 
THEY'RE GOING TO QUALIFY BASED 
ON THEIR REVENUE REQUIREMENTS?
>> 
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): I'LL TAKE IT QUICKLY 
AND THEN PASS IT OVER TO 
NAVDEEP.
WHAT WE'VE MADE AS AN IMPORTANT 
CHANGE, INITIALLY WHEN WE CAME 
OUT WITH THIS, WE SAID THE TEST 
OF DECLINE IN REVENUE WAS IF THE
REVENUE IN THE MARCH 15 TO END 
OF MAY PERIOD THIS YEAR WAS 30% 
LESS THAN THE SIMILAR PERIOD 
LAST YEAR.
AND THE CHALLENGE FOR THAT IS IF
THE FIRM HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY
DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAST 
YEAR, BUT EXPERIENCED A DECLINE 
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, 
THEY MIGHT STILL HAVE REVENUE 
THAT IS TOO HIGH TO BE SHOWING 
THAT THEY'VE BEEN EFFECTED.
SO INSTEAD, WHAT WE SAID, THEY 
NEED TO LOOK AT THE REVENUE THEY
HAD IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 
2020.
IF THEY CAN SHOW THOSE DECLINES 
AGAINST THAT LEVEL OF REVENUE, 
THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE 
ACCESS TO THIS SUPPORT.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE BUSINESSES 
WHO HAVE NOT BEEN AS IMPACTED BY
COVID-19, THAT WON'T BE 
ELIGIBLE.
THE PLAN WAS TO MAKE IT SO THAT 
WE'RE CAPTURING BUSINESSES WHO 
HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE 
DECLINE.
WE THINK THIS SIGNIFICANTLY 
HELPS THOSE HIGH-GROWTH 
COMPANIES OR COMPANIES FOR WHICH
THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN A 
SITUATION WHERE 2019 REVENUES, 
FOR WHATEVER REASON, WERE 
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN 2020, 
BUT, NAVDEEP?
>> I THINK YOU CAPTURED IT 
CORRECTLY.
THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL IS WE 
RECOGNIZED WHEN WE DESIGNED THE 
PROGRAMME THERE WERE CERTAIN 
COMPANIES THAT WERE NOT 
ELIGIBLE.
THE CHANGES NOW CAPTURE MORE 
HIGH GROWTH FIRMS AND THAT ACE 
KEY PRIORITY FOR US BECAUSE 
THESE FIRMS CONTINUE TO GIVE US 
HOPE IN THE TERMS OF GROWING THE
ECONOMY AFTER THE CRISIS.
WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON 
HIGH-GROWTH FIRMS FROM DAY ONE.
WE RECOGNIZE THEY'RE ESSENTIAL 
IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO 
ATTRACT TALENT, RETAIN TALENT 
AND CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR CANADIANS AS WELL.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE 
COSTING TODAY AS WELL, THE 
INITIAL COSTING WAS AROUND $71 
BILLION FOR THIS WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAMME.
AFTER THESE CHANGES, IT'S MORE 
GENEROUS AND WILL HELP MORE 
COMPANIES, HIGH-GROWTH COMPANIES
AND THAT'S WHERE THE COSTING IS 
$73 BILLION.
THIS IS A CLEAR SIGNAL TO 
COMPANIES THAT THEY CAN ENGAGE 
WITH US AND C.R.A. TO SEE IF 
THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
OF COURSE, EACH COMPANY HAS 
UNIQUE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT
WE'VE MADE THE PROGRAMME MORE 
EXPANSIVE.
>> Reporter: SO THE -- 
LEGISLATION AND THE JANUARY AND 
FEBRUARY 2020 REVENUE COMPARISON
IS LIMITED TO FIRMS THAT WERE 
NOT CARRYING OUT BUSINESS ON 
MARCH 1, 2019.
SO THOSE ARE FIRMS LESS THAN A 
YEAR.
THAT IS NOT ALL FIRMS.
CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHETHER 
THAT JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2020 
BENCHMARK WILL APPLY TO ALL 
FIRMS OR JUST FIRMS THAT WERE 
NOT IN BUSINESS ON MARCH 1, 
2019?
>> MINISTER MORNEAU WILL SPEAK 
TO IT.
>> Bill Morneau (Minister of 
Finance): TO BE CLEAR, FIRMS 
HAVE A CHOICE.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COMPARE THEIR
REVENUE TO THE REVENUE IN 
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2020.
SO THEY'LL HAVE A CHOICE.
THEY'RE NOT EXCLUDED BASED ON 
WHEN THEY STARTED OR NOT 
EXCLUDED ON ANY OTHER BASIS.
THEY'RE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE PLACE
THAT THERE IS MORE APPROPRIATE 
FOR THEIR SITUATION.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR 
BEING WITH US TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK 
ON BEHALF OF CANADIANS TO 
SUPPORT THEM THROUGH A 
CHALLENGING TIME.
>> Andrew: YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING
TO FINANCE MINISTER BILL MORNEAU
AS WELL AS NAVDEEP BAINS AND 
OTHER MINISTERS TALKING TODAY 
ABOUT THE EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS 
OFFERING.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER EARLIER ON THIS WHERE 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS 
ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS LOOSENING 
SOME OF THE CRITERIA AROUND WHO 
WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
AIR CANADA ANNOUNCING THEY'RE 
GOING TO USE THE WAGE SUBSIDY TO
RETAIN 16,000 EMPLOYEES.
AS YOU KNOW, AIR CANADA, ONE OF 
THE LARGEST FIRMS.
THIS APPLIES TO LARGE FIRMS AND 
SMALL FIRMS.
ONE OF THE LARGER FIRMS HIT HARD
BY THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
WE'RE GOING TO HALIFAX.
OFFICIALS ARE PROVIDING A
