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WE ARE AWAITING JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S
DAILY PANDEMIC BRIEFING.
WE ARE EXPECTING HIM TO SPEAK AT
11:30 EASTERN, SO A LITTLE LATER
THAN USUAL, BUT WE WILL BRING 
THAT TO YOU AS SOON AS HE COMES 
OUT OF HIS HOME, RIDEAU COTTAGE,
TO TELL YOU HOW THE GOVERNMENT 
IS RESPONDING TO COVID-19.
THE LEADER OF THE OFFICIAL 
OPPOSITION, ANDREW SCHEER, 
CRITICIZED THE RESPONSE SO FAR 
SAYING THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN 
FULL OF CONFUSION AND DELAYS.
WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT WHAT 
TORONTO IS DOING TO TOUGHEN UP 
MEASURES AFTER SOME STARK 
WARNINGS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICER IN TORONTO.
AS WE LOOK LIVE, WE ARE WAITING 
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO SPEAK 
AROUND 11:30.
FIRST LET ME BRING IN MY 
COLLEAGUES, "POWER & POLITICS" 
HOST VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID 
COCHRANE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECT 
TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNMENT 
TODAY. 
>> Vassy: A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL FOCUS ON
THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
THAT'S THE ANNOUNCEMENT THE 
GOVERNMENT MADE LATE LAST WEEK 
ABOUT A 75% SUBSIDY FOR 
BUSINESSES, NOW WE KNOW IT'S FOR
A BUSINESS OF ANY SIZE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT A BUSINESS 
WILL NEED TO QUALIFY.
SPECIFICALLY, THE PRIME MINISTER
HAS INDICATED ON MONDAY I THINK 
IT WAS THAT THE BUSINESS WOULD 
HAVE TO SHOW A 30% REDUCTION IN 
REVENUE IN THE WAKE OF THIS 
PANDEMIC.
THAT WOULD BE A QUALIFYING 
FACTOR.
THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF 
QUESTIONS.
WE WERE GOING TO GET THE ANSWERS
FROM THE FINANCE MINISTER, BILL 
MORNEAU.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER WILL REVEAL SOME OF 
THAT.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 
CERB, THAT'S THE PILE OF MONEY 
THAT WILL HELP INDIVIDUALS, 
$2,000 A MONTH UP TO FOUR 
MONTHS, AN ALTERNATIVE TO E.I. 
IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOB OR HAVE 
TO STAY HOME BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19.
THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS IF YOU 
HAVE TO HAVE LOST ALL OF YOUR 
INCOME.
QUALIFYING QUESTIONS THERE TOO.
I AM EXPECTING SOME OF THOSE 
DETAILS TO BE PROVIDED BY THE 
PRIME MINISTER ONCE AGAIN.
BUT SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF 
WHAT YOU SAID THERE COMING FROM 
TORONTO, STRICTER MEASURES IN 
TORONTO.
THAT IS OVERARCHING WHAT WE'RE 
HEARING FROM THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO QUESTIONS ABOUT 
HOW STRICT THESE MEASURES SHOULD
BE AT A COUNTRY-WIDE LEVEL.
HOW SHOULD WE BE INTERPRETING 
THE HEALTH OFFICER FOR TORONTO 
SAYS WE NEED TO BE STRICT FOR 
THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
CANADIANS ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW
AT A NATIONAL LEVEL WHAT THAT 
MEANS FOR THEM.
>> Rosemary: WE HEARD FROM 
BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT THEY 
EXPECT THIS TO GO WELL INTO 
SUMMERTIME, END OF SUMMERTIME.
WE CERTAINLY HEARD FROM THE CITY
OF TORONTO TODAY SAYING THAT 
THESE NEW MEASURES PUT IN PLACE 
WILL LAST ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
AND I GUESS EVERYONE IS 
PREOCCUPIED WITH THAT NOTION, 
UNDERSTANDABLY SO.
WE SAW SOME FAIRLY STRICT 
MEASURES FROM QUÉBEC.
THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR PROVINCIAL
POLICE AROUND THE PROVINCE AS 
WELL AS ON THE BRIDGES TO MAKE 
SURE THERE'S NOT MUCH TRAFFIC 
BACK AND FORTH.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON 
THAT INDICATE A TIGHTENING UP OF
PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES, BUT ALSO
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A 
LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN MAYBE
PEOPLE ARE READY TO CONTEMPLATE 
NOW.
DAVID, OVER TO YOU.
>> David: ROSIE, PEOPLE NEED TO 
START CONTEMPLATING THAT.
RIGHT FROM DAY ONE WHEN THE AID 
PACKAGES WERE ANNOUNCED, ONE 
THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED IS 
THEY WERE FOR 14 OR 15 WEEKS.
THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA 
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
ANTICIPATING.
THE SHORT-TERM FALLOUT OF THIS 
AS THE ECONOMY IS PUT IN THIS 
MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA.
NOW THERE ARE NEW ENFORCEMENT 
RESTRICTIONS TO TRY TO SLOW THE 
SPREAD AND STOP THE HEALTH 
SYSTEM FROM BEING COMPLETELY 
OVERWHELMED.
I THINK IT'S QUITE CLEAR OR 
SHOULD BE CLEAR TO PEOPLE THAT 
THIS IS NOT A QUICK FIX BUT A 
TEMPORARY SOLUTION.
IT'S SHORT IN A LIFE CYCLE, BUT 
NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE TIME FRAME.
SCHOOLS CLOSED IN ONTARIO UNTIL 
MAY 4 AND IN OTHER PLACES 
INDEFINITELY.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO WRAP 
THEIR HEADS AROUND THE IDEA THAT
WE MAY NOT SEND OUR KIDS BACK TO
THE ACADEMIC SYSTEM FOR THE REST
OF THE YEAR.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S TRENDING.
WE NEED ANSWERS TO BUSINESS 
GROUPS, FROM SMALL, BIG, AND THE
TECH SECTOR, PEOPLE ASKING WHAT 
DOES IT MEAN FOR ME, WHAT ABOUT 
THE G.S.T., WHAT ABOUT, WHAT 
ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT.
WE NEED ANSWERS TO THE WHAT 
ABOUTS.
THERE ARE COMPANIES WITH 
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF 
EMPLOYEES WITH NO CLEAR CLARITY 
HOW THAT WORKS.
SOME OF THAT IS UNAVOIDABLE 
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
IS ESSENTIALLY ROLLING OUT 
MASSIVE-SCALE ADJUSTMENTS TO 
PAYROLL IN 72.
THE OTHER QUESTION IS DO THEY 
HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS TO GET APPROVAL TO DO 
THIS.
THIS IS THE POSITION OF THE 
CONSERVATIVES THAT THEY THINK 
THEY HAVE TO RECALL PARLIAMENT 
AND GET THE SENATE BACK.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TOLERANCE 
IS FOR THAT KIND OF A 
PARLIAMENTARY DELAY FOR THE 
WIDER PUBLIC, BUT IT IS 
TRADITIONAL IN A WESTMINSTER 
SYSTEM, BUT IN TERMS OF THE NEED
FOR CASH, THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
>> Rosemary: I WANT TO TALK 
ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST 
VULNERABLE CANADIANS THAT ARE 
GETTING HIT THE HARDEST AND THAT
IS NOT SURPRISINGLY SENIORS' 
HOMES ACROSS THE PROVINCE 
DEALING WITH OUTBREAKS, SOME OF 
THEM MORE TRAGIC AND SEVERE 
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE.
CERTAINLY THAT IS THE CASE AT 
ONTARIO'S PINECREST NURSING HOME
IN BOBCAYGEON.
IT IS A HUGE CONCERN.
THE HOME HAS ONE OF THE 
DEADLIEST OUTBREAKS, THEY'RE UP 
TO 13 DEATHS.
DR. STEVEN ALDRIDGE IS AN 
ATTENDING PHYSICIAN THERE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME 
FOR US.
>> Interview: GOOD MORNING.
>> Rosemary: TELL ME WHAT IS THE
LATEST ON THIS SITUATION FROM 
THE PINECREST NURSING HOME FROM 
WHAT YOU KNOW.
>> Interview: WE'RE GOING TO BE 
GETTING DAILY UPDATES.
THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR WILL BE UP 
AT 4:00.
WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE THE 
NUMBERS.
THIS IS A DEVASTATING ILLNESS.
I CAN'T DESCRIBE JUST HOW 
QUICKLY THESE PEOPLE BECOME 
SICK.
I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT NEEDS 
TO GET OUT IS THERE IS NO 
VACCINE, WE HAVE NO EFFECTIVE 
TREATMENT OR SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR
THESE FOLKS AND OBVIOUSLY THERE 
IS NO CURE.
SO WHEN THE INFECTION TAKES HOLD
IN THEIR LUNGS IN THIS ELDERLY 
POPULATION, WE CAN JUST MAKE 
THEM COMFORTABLE.
REALISTICALLY A VENTILATOR IS 
NOT AN OPTION FOR REASONS THE 
EXPERTS CAN POINT TO.
IT'S HEART-BREAKING. 
>> Rosemary: IT IS SO PREVALENT 
IN THIS NURSING HOME.
WE'VE SEEN OUTBREAKS IN OTHER 
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IN THE 
LOWER MAINLAND IN 
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
BUT IT IS SO DEVASTATING BECAUSE
OF THE AGE OF THE PATIENTS AND 
YOU CAN'T CONTAIN WHERE THEY 
ARE.
WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT?
>> Interview: IT'S BOTH.
THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN 
OUR POPULATION.
WE KNEW THIS AS IT WAS 
APPROACHING OUR COUNTRY.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN IN 
THESE NURSING HOMES.
THIS IS A HOME, NOT A HOSPITAL.
WE'RE NOT SET UP FOR ISOLATION 
TO THE EXTENT A HOSPITAL CAN 
OFFER.
WE DO OUR BEST.
ONCE IT GETS INTO ONE OF THESE 
BUILDINGS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO 
CONTAIN. 
>> Rosemary: DO YOU HAVE THE 
RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED AT THE 
NURSING HOME?
I UNDERSTAND IT IS SUPPOSED TO 
BE A RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT AND
NOT A MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT.
>> Interview: WE'RE GETTING 
SUPPORT FROM PUBLIC HEALTH.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS 
PUBLIC HEALTH IS OPERATING ON A 
REDUCED STAFF PRIOR TO THIS 
PANDEMIC.
WE CAN DO MORE FROM A PUBLIC 
HEALTH STANDPOINT TO MANAGE 
THESE SORTS OF OUTBREAKS.
WE NEED TO BE ANTICIPATING THIS 
SORT OF THING.
I DON'T BLAME PUBLIC HEALTH 
CERTAINLY, BUT I DO THINK WE CAN
DO MORE IN CONTAINMENT EFFORTS 
THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
>> Rosemary: I UNDERSTAND MANY 
OF THE WORKERS HAVE ALSO GOTTEN 
SICK.
HOW IS THAT AFFECTING THE 
CAPACITY TO HELP THE OLDER 
PEOPLE IN THE HOME?
>> Interview: WELL, FOR THE 
FIRST SEVERAL DAYS, IT WAS VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT.
WE HAD PEOPLE NOT COMING FOR 
SHIFTS AND OTHER STAFF STAYING 
FOR DOUBLE SHIFTS WHO WERE 
ALREADY EXHAUSTED.
WE'RE BETTER NOW.
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE 
PROVINCE HAS STEPPED-UP TO BRING
IN EXTRA HELP FROM OUTSIDE.
THE HOME WAS OVERWHELMED.
OUR STAFF, OUR P.S.W.s ARE 
STRESSED.
THEY WERE STRESSED BEFORE THE 
PANDEMIC.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO 
PROVIDE CARE.
I THINK THEY'RE UNDERPAID 
SIGNIFICANTLY.
YOU THROW ON A PANDEMIC AND THIS
JUST SHOWS AND DISPLAYS THE 
WEAKNESSES TO THIS UNDERFUNDED 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT WE'RE 
FORCED TO WORK IN.
WE CAN DO BETTER. 
>> Rosemary: THERE'S NO ONE 
COMING IN AND OUT OF THE HOME.
WE'VE SEEN THAT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY AND PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FAMILY 
MEMBERS.
HOW ARE THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE 
THERE, EVEN THOSE THAT ARE NOT 
SICK, HOW ARE THEY MANAGING 
BEING SO ISOLATED?
>> Interview: TO BE HONEST, I 
DON'T KNOW.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE 
LIKE FOR THEM.
IT MUST BE FRIGHTENING.
THEY CAN'T GET THEIR FAMILY IN.
WE HAVE PEOPLE AT THE WINDOWS 
PUTTING UP PICTURES AND WAVING 
AND THE LIKE TO GIVE SUPPORT, 
BUT IT MUST BE HORRIBLE FOR THEM
HAVING TO RESTRICT VISITORS AS 
WE HAVE BEEN, BUT WE HAVE NO 
CHOICE.
>> Rosemary: YOU'RE AN ATTENDING
PHYSICIAN, A FAMILY PHYSICIAN.
THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF WORK 
THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULD DO.
HOW ARE YOU COPING WITH THIS?
>> Interview: WELL, I'M NOT 
GETTING A LOT OF SLEEP.
SOME OF THESE FAMILY 
CONVERSATIONS ARE JUST 
GUT-WRENCHING.
YOU LAY AWAKE REPEATING IN MY 
MIND WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE GOING 
THROUGH AND TRYING TO SUPPORT 
THE FAMILIES.
I'VE BEEN DOING FAMILY MEDICINE 
FOR 30 YEARS IN THE NURSING 
HOMES FOR ALL OF THAT PERIOD.
I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY DEATHS IN
SUCH A SHORT TIME.
I'VE BEEN INFLUENZA EPIDEMICS 
GOING THROUGH THE HOMES AND LOST
A PATIENT OR TWO, BUT NOTHING 
LIKE WHAT IS AT PINECREST.
>> Rosemary: CAN YOU TELL ME A 
LITTLE BIT WITHOUT GETTING TOO 
PERSONAL ABOUT THOSE 
GUT-WRENCHING CONVERSATIONS, HOW
YOU EVEN START THAT 
CONVERSATION.
>> Interview: I'LL GET THE NEWS.
ONE OF MY PATIENTS DIED THIS 
MORNING.
I SPOKE WITH THE GRANDDAUGHTER 
AND HAD TO EXPLAIN THAT HER 
GRANDMOTHER WAS ELDERLY AND WE 
PROVIDED SUPPORTIVE CARE.
WE DID.
SHE WAS COMFORTABLE TO THE END 
AND PASSED THIS MORNING.
IT'S FRUSTRATING.
AS A DOCTOR, YOU WANT TO DO MORE
AND HELP.
I'M GETTING ALL THESE E-MAILS 
AND FACEBOOK MESSAGES FROM 
PEOPLE.
I HAD ONE THIS MORNING 
SUGGESTING ALL TYPES OF THINGS, 
I'VE HAD HOT LEMONADE 
RECOMMENDED.
WE DON'T HAVE A PROVEN CURE FOR 
THIS DISEASE.
THERE IS NO ANTI-VIRAL AS OF YET
THAT IS EFFECTIVE.
I TAKE MY LEAD FROM THE EXPERTS.
I'M JUST A FAMILY DOCTOR. 
>> Rosemary: SO WE WOULD NOW BE 
UP TO 13 DEATHS OF RESIDENTS IN 
THE HOME FROM WHAT YOU 
UNDERSTAND?
>> Interview: WELL, I WILL LEAVE
THE OFFICIAL NUMBER TO THE END 
OF THE DAY.
I TOLD YOU MINE FOR 
ILLUSTRATION, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT
MORE DEATHS.
THIS ISN'T GOING TO STOP.
>> Rosemary: ARE YOU FACED IN 
TERMS OF WHEN YOU GO IN AND YOUR
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, 
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE 
EQUIPPED TO VISIT THE HOMES?
>> Interview: THAT'S A GOOD 
POINT.
THERE IS A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
I WAS IN THE HOME THE MORNING WE
FOUND OUT THE OUTBREAK WE WERE 
DEALING WITH WAS COVID.
I WAS IMMEDIATELY SELF-ISOLATED 
AND HAD SOME RESPIRATORY 
SYMPTOMS AND WAS ON QUARANTINE 
UNTIL I GOT MY RESULTS FIVE DAYS
LATER.
I'VE BEEN ADVISED SINCE THAT I 
SHOULD ONLY GO IN IF THERE IS AN
EMERGENCY.
I HAVEN'T BEEN BACK TO THE HOME,
BUT I HAVE ACCESS TO THE 
PATIENTS' CHARTS ON MY COMPUTER 
REMOTELY.
I SPEAK WITH THE NURSES BY 
PHONE.
WE ARE JUST OFFERING PALLIATIVE 
CARE AND WE CAN DO THAT 
REMOTELY.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN AND AT 
THEIR BEDSIDES.
IT BREAKS ME UP.
>> Rosemary: WHAT WORRIES YOU 
THE MOST OUTSIDE OF THIS 
PARTICULAR CENTRE IN TERMS OF 
THE PANDEMIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> Interview: I'M WORRIED ABOUT 
THE OTHER 24 NURSING HOMES IN 
BOBCAYGEON THAT HAVE COVID IN 
THEIR HOME.
THE HEALTH UNIT WILL HAVE TO 
WORK EXTRA HARD TO CONTAIN THIS 
AND HOPE IT DOESN'T GET THROUGH 
THE HOME.
THE BEST TREATMENT FOR THIS 
VIRUS IS PREVENTION, AVOIDANCE.
RESTRICT VISITORS AND CONTAIN 
THIS AS BEST WE CAN.
PINECREST IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW 
BAD IT CAN BE AND GET.
WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THE 
EXAMPLE AND CONTAIN THIS AS BEST
WE CAN.
I HAVE HEARD RECOMMENDATIONS TO 
TAKE FAMILY MEMBERS OUT OF THE 
FACILITIES, IF YOU CAN CARE FOR 
THEM AT HOME, DO SO.
IT'S CERTAINLY A SAFER PLACE FOR
THEM THAN BEING CONFINED.
>> Rosemary: DOCTOR, I KNOW 
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS NEVER LIKE
TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE DOING 
HEROIC WORK, BUT IT IS TIMES 
LIKE THIS THAT YOU ARE.
I CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE STRUGGLING
THROUGH IT, BUT I THINK IT'S SO 
IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO 
PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
>> Interview: THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: STAY SAFE AND 
HEALTHY.
THAT WAS DR. STEVEN ALDRIDGE 
FROM THE PINECREST NURSING HOME 
IN BOBCAYGEON.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE DIFFICULT 
PART OF THIS FROM A HEALTH 
PERSPECTIVE.
THESE ARE THE POPULATIONS THAT 
ARE GOING TO BE HARDEST HIT IN 
THIS COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE THAT 
HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS OR OF
COURSE ARE OLDER AND VULNERABLE.
AS YOU HEARD THERE FROM THE 
DOCTOR, IN PLACES WHERE THEY 
REALLY ARE STUCK.
SO THAT MAKES IT VERY EASY FOR 
THE VIRUS TO SPREAD.
SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND EVERY 
TIME WE HEAR FROM PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS TO STAY HOME.
THE OTHER PART OF THE STORY, THE
OTHER BIG CHALLENGE, IS THE 
ECONOMIC FALLOUT FROM ALL OF 
THIS BECAUSE IT IS A HEALTH 
STORY AS WELL AS AN ECONOMIC 
STORY, ABOUT HOW THIS COUNTRY IS
COPING AT A TIME WHEN THE 
ECONOMY IS FOR ALL INTENTS AND 
PURPOSES SHUT DOWN.
WE KNOW THAT THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT 
75% WAGE SUBSIDY AND WE ARE 
EXPECTING TO HEAR A FEW MORE 
DETAILS TODAY, BOTH FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER WHO WE ARE 
WAITING FOR, AND THE FINANCE 
MINISTER AND MINISTER OF SMALL 
BUSINESS AND INNOVATION.
THEY ARE SPEAKING AT 2:00 P.M. 
IN TORONTO.
>>> LET ME GO TO A SMALL 
BUSINESS OWNER JOINING ME FROM 
GEORGETOWN, ONTARIO.
>> Interview: GOOD MORNING, 
THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD
THERE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT 
YOU THINK MIGHT BE OF HELP FOR 
YOU.
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT YOUR SCHOOL
IS CLOSED?
>> Interview: YES, WE WERE 
MANDATED TO CLOSE AS OF MARCH 
17. 
>> Rosemary: WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR 
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT THAT 
YOU THINK MIGHT BE OF HELP TO 
YOU?
>> Interview: WELL, AS OF RIGHT 
NOW -- INITIALLY OUR STAFF WERE 
PLACED ON E.I. BECAUSE THAT WAS 
THE INITIAL RESPONSE BECAUSE IT 
WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP IN TERMS
OF WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE 
BETTER MAINTAIN E.I. OR IF THIS 
WAGE SUBSIDY WILL SUPPORT -- WE 
STILL HAVE TO LEARN AS TO WHAT 
TO DO NEXT.
I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO KEEP ON TOP
OF THESE THINGS, BUT WE WILL 
FOLLOW UP TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR 
OUR EMPLOYEES. 
>> Rosemary: FOR NOW WHAT HAVE 
YOU DONE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES, 
HAVE THEY BEEN LAID OFF, APPLIED
FOR E.I., OR HOW MANY EMPLOYEES 
DO YOU HAVE?
>> Interview: WE HAVE JUST UNDER
30 EMPLOYEES.
MOST OF THEM ARE FULL TIME.
WE WERE PLACED ON E.I. ON MARCH 
17 BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO 
OPEN MARCH 17.
>> Rosemary: WOULD YOU CONSIDER 
HIRING THEM BACK, AS THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS SUGGESTED, TO TRY
TO MAINTAIN THAT 
EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE CONNECTION AND
TAPPING INTO THIS 75% WAGE 
SUBSIDY IF YOU ARE ABLE?
>> Interview: IF WE ARE ABLE TO,
YES.
IN TERMS OF THE STIPULATIONS 
THAT WE NEED TO SHOW A 30% 
REDUCTION IN REVENUE, WELL WE 
HAVE ZERO REVENUE.
WE'RE NOT COLLECTING FEES.
WE NEED TO LEARN MORE DETAILS AT
THIS POINT.
IT'S NOT THAT WE WOULDN'T MIND, 
AS OWNERS, DOING THE WORK FOR 
THE EMPLOYEES AND PROCESSING IT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF LEARNING 
MORE ABOUT ELIGIBILITY AND THE 
PROCESS.
>> Rosemary: SO I IMAGINE YOU 
HAVE NO REVENUE COMING IN.
THE PRIME MINISTER TALKED ABOUT 
BUSINESSES THAT COULD TOP UP RFP
75% TO 100%, IN YOUR CASE WOULD 
THAT BE POSSIBLE?
>> Interview: WE HAVE ZERO 
REVENUE.
WE CAN'T PAY FIXED EXPENSES, SO 
WE WOULDN'T HAVE REVENUE TO 
TOP-UP ANYTHING.
>> Rosemary: YOU TALK ABOUT 
FIXED EXPENSES, THAT'S A CONCERN
TOO, ABOUT HOW TO PAY BILLS AND 
RENTS OR LEASES.
ARE YOU LOOKING INTO ONE OF 
THESE INTEREST-FREE LOANS?
>> Interview: RIGHT, THERE IS A 
$40,000 INTEREST-FREE LOAN THAT 
WE MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR.
WE WILL BE APPLYING FOR IT, SO 
THAT WILL HELP WITH THE 
EXPENSES.
TODAY ALONE IT'S NOT ALL OF OUR 
FIXED EXPENSES, BUT TODAY ALONE 
WE'RE MAKING PAYMENTS OF $21,000
WITH NO REVENUE.
THAT'S NOT EVEN ALL THE FIXED 
EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH.
SO YES, WE ARE APPLYING FOR THE 
LOAN TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE SOME 
HELP.
IT'S JUST A CHALLENGE BECAUSE AT
THE END OF THE DAY EVEN LOANS OR
DEFERRED PAYMENTS, ANYTHING LIKE
THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A CHALLENGE TO
BE PAID IN THE FUTURE.
AS A CHILD CARE CENTRE, OUR 
EXPENSES ARE VERY HIGH ON A GOOD
DAY.
SO THEN PAY -- WHEN WE HOPEFULLY
CAN GET BACK TO NORMAL, THAT 
DOLLAR THAT IS GOING TO BE PAID 
WILL NOT ONLY HAVE TO PAY THAT 
EXISTING MONTH'S EXPENSES, BUT 
ALSO THE DEFERRED PAYMENTS FROM 
NOW. 
>> Rosemary: SO REASONABLY, HOW 
LONG COULD YOU GO ON LIKE THIS?
WE ARE NOW THINKING OF TIMELINES
THAT ARE THREE, FOUR MONTHS OUT.
>> Interview: AT MOST, 
STRETCHING, TWO MONTHS, REALLY 
STRETCHING, REALLY STRETCHING.
IT'S -- THE PRIME MINISTER 
INDICATED YESTERDAY THAT HE 
DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE COMING 
OUT OF THIS WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE 
AMOUNT OF DEBT.
I CAN RESPECT THOSE WORDS, BUT 
STATEMENT IF THIS LASTS MORE 
THAN A COUPLE MONTHS I REALLY 
DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S EVEN 
POSSIBLE. 
>> Rosemary: HOW ARE YOU COPING 
IN TERMS OF YOUR STRESS AND 
DEALING WITH THIS MENTALLY?
BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT.
>> Interview: SO TRYING TO 
MANAGE A HOUSEHOLD WITH MY 
HUSBAND AND KEEPING OUR KIDS 
BUSY.
I DON'T HAVE TODDLERS AROUND MY 
ANKLES, BUT TEENAGERS ARE 
HELPING OUT.
BETWEEN ME AND MY SISTER TO TRY 
TO HELP OUT OUR PARENTS AS WELL 
SO THEY DON'T GO OUT.
WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN IN 
THE SITUATION.
THE STRESS LEVEL IS BEYOND 
IMAGINABLE, BUT WE'RE HEALTHY 
AND THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE OUT 
THERE THAT ARE NOT HEALTHY AND 
EVERYONE'S HEALTH IS IMPORTANT.
WE UNDERSTAND WHY FUNDING HAS 
BEEN FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL 
FAMILIES AND PEOPLE IN THE 
COMMUNITY.
THERE'S NO DISPUTE THERE.
WE CAN COMPLETELY APPRECIATE 
THAT.
WE KNOW FUNDING IS GOING WHERE 
IT NEEDS TO BE GOING.
IT'S JUST A CHALLENGE TO BE ABLE
TO MANAGE NOW.
IT'S VERY OVERWHELMING TO BE 
ABLE TO MANAGE NOW AND STILL TO 
BE THERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS 
FOR OUR PARENTS TO RETURN BACK 
TO US BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET 
BACK TO WORK AND THE SPOTS NEED 
TO BE THERE FOR THEIR KIDS.
>> Rosemary: I KNOW YOU'RE 
COPING AS WELL AS YOU CAN.
I KNOW THE FINANCE MINISTER HAS 
MORE ANSWERS LATER TODAY AT 2:00
P.M. EASTERN.
TUNE IN AND WE'LL SEE HOW YOU'RE
DOING IN A FEW WEEKS.
THAT WAS DANIELLE PURVES, A 
CO-OWNER OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL 
IN ONTARIO.
WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE
PRIME MINISTER COMES OUT -- OH, 
WE WILL LISTEN IN NOW TO THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: I WANT TO START THIS 
MORNING BY WISHING EVERYONE A 
HAPPY SIKH HERITAGE MONTH.
EVERY DAY SIKH CANADIANS MAKE 
OUR CITIES AND NEIGHBOURHOODS 
STRONGER.
RIGHT NOW, WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP
MOST, YOU'RE STEPPING UP ONCE 
AGAIN.
IN REGINA YOU'RE DELIVERING 
SUPPLIES TO NEIGHBOURS, WHILE IN
MISSISSAUGA, YOU'RE DONATING TO 
THE FOOD BANK.
IT SHOWS WE'RE STRONGER 
TOGETHER, SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.
YOU ARE DOING YOUR PART AND SO 
MANY OTHERS ARE DOING THE SAME.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] TO THE PEOPLE ON 
THE FRONTLINE, THANK YOU.
TO OUR FARMERS AND TRUCKERS, TO 
THE PEOPLE DELIVERING AIR CARGO,
TO NURSES AND DOCTORS, YOU ARE 
WORKING 24/7 SO WE CAN EAT AND 
TAKE OUR MEDICATIONS.
YOU ARE PROTECTING OUR HEALTH 
AND THE HEALTH OF OUR FAMILIES.
YOUR GOVERNMENT IS THERE FOR YOU
AND WE ALL SAY THANK YOU.
[End of Translation] OUR 
GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED A 
THREE-POINT ECONOMIC PLAN TO 
PROTECT JOBS, HELP PEOPLE LAID 
OFF, AND SUPPORT BUSINESSES.
IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR 
JOB, WE'RE HELPING YOUR EMPLOYER
KEEP YOU ON THE PAYROLL WITH THE
CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY.
LATER TODAY MINISTER MORNEAU, 
MINISTER NG, AND MINISTER BAINS 
WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ABOUT 
THIS 75% WAGE SUBSIDY.
WHAT I CAN SAY NOW IS IT'S GOING
TO BE AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES 
BIG AND SMALL THAT ARE NOT 
PUBLICLY FUNDED AND HAVE SEEN A 
30% OR MORE DECLINE IN GROSS 
REVENUES.
THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM 
BARS AND RESTAURANTS TO 
CHARITIES AND NON-PROFITS.
APPLICATIONS WILL SOON OPEN 
THROUGH THE C.R.A.
LIKE I SAID ON FRIDAY, THIS 
MONEY IS FOR WORKERS.
EMPLOYERS WILL NEED TO ATTEST 
THAT THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING 
THEY CAN TO PAY THE REMAINING 
25% OF PEOPLE'S WAGES.
THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES 
AND WILL REQUIRE US TO PULL 
TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY AND TRUST 
EACH OTHER AS CANADIANS.
SO THERE WILL BE STIFF AND 
SEVERE PENALTIES FOR TRYING TO 
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SYSTEM 
AND OF YOUR FELLOW CANADIANS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] -- WAGE SUBSIDY IS 
THERE FOR SMALL AND LARGE 
COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT PUBLICLY 
FUNDED AND HAVE SEEN A 30% 
DECLINE IN THEIR REVENUES.
THAT INCLUDES RESTAURANTS AND 
BARS, CHARITIES, AND 
NON-PROFITS.
YOU WILL SOON BE ABLE TO APPLY 
ON THE C.R.A. WEBSITE.
THAT MONEY IS FOR WORKERS.
EMPLOYERS WHO USE THAT SUBSIDY 
HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR 
POWER TO PAY THE REMAINING 25% 
OF WORKERS' WAGES.
AS I'VE SAID, WE ARE IN AN 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
WE HAVE TO PULL TOGETHER AS A 
COUNTRY AND TRUST EACH OTHER 
THERE WILL BE VERY STIFF AND 
SEVERE PENALTIES FOR ANYONE WHO 
TRIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 
SYSTEM AND FELLOW CANADIANS.
[End of Translation] THESE ARE 
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES SO WE'RE 
TAKING UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
WHILE WE PUT THIS MEASURE IN 
PLACE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE 
FORWARD ON THE OTHER TWO PRONGS 
OF OUR ECONOMIC PLAN, TO HELP 
BUSINESS OWNERS WORRIED ABOUT 
RENT OR OTHER BILLS, WE'VE 
BROUGHT IN NEW LOANS.
TO HELP PEOPLE WHO LOSE THEIR 
PAYCHEQUE, WHETHER FREELANCE OR 
LAID OFF, WE CREATED THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
ON THAT FRONT, I HAVE SOME GOOD 
NEWS TO SHARE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] STARTING ON APRIL 
6, IF YOU HAVE NOT YET APPLIED 
FOR EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, YOU 
CAN APPLY ONLINE TO RECEIVE THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
THAT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
BUT IF YOU ARE RECEIVING THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY, YOU CANNOT RECEIVE
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
YOU CAN APPLY BY VISITING 
Canada.ca WHEN YOU APPLY, YOU 
CAN RECEIVE YOUR BENEFIT BY MAIL
OR DIRECT DEPOSIT.
AFTER THAT, ALL YOU WILL HAVE TO
DO IS CONFIRM YOU ARE WITHOUT A 
JOB ONCE EVERY MONTH.
AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ALREADY 
APPLIED FOR EMPLOYMENT 
INSURANCE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO 
REGISTER STARTING ON APRIL 6.
WE ARE ALSO TAKING MEASURES TO 
PREVENT THE SYSTEM TO BE 
OVERLOADED BY APPLICATIONS.
LATER TODAY MINISTER DUCLOS AND 
MINISTER QUALTROUGH WILL HAVE 
MORE DETAILS TO SHARE ABOUT THE 
PROCESS AND ELIGIBILITY 
CRITERIA.
[End of Translation] YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE GETTING 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY FROM YOUR 
EMPLOYER, YOU CAN'T COLLECT THE 
CERB.
IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER.
YOU CAN'T GET BOTH OF THESE 
BENEFITS.
FOR THE CERB, YOU CAN REGISTER 
ONLINE AT Canada.ca.
YOU SHOULD RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENTS
IN THREE TO FIVE DAYS.
IF YOU CAN'T APPLY ONLINE, DON'T
WORRY, YOU CAN CALL THE CANADA 
REVENUE AGENCY FOR HELP OVER THE
PHONE.
BY MAIL, YOU'LL GET YOUR CHEQUE 
IN 10 DAYS.
AFTER APPLYING ALL YOU HAVE TO 
DO TO KEEP GETTING THIS BENEFIT 
IS TO CHECK IN EVERY MONTH TO 
SAY THAT YOU'RE STILL OUT OF 
WORK.
IF YOU'VE ALREADY APPLIED 
THROUGH E.I., YOU'RE ALL SET UP 
AND DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING ON
APRIL 6.
WE'RE PUTTING MEASURES IN PLACE 
SO WE DON'T OVERLOAD THE SYSTEM,
BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU EVERYONE 
WILL GET THEIR MONEY.
LATER TODAY MINISTER DUCLOS AND 
MINISTER QUALTROUGH WILL HAVE 
MORE DETAILS ON THE PROCESS FROM
ELIGIBILITY TO GETTING YOUR 
CHEQUE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, WE'RE 
GETTING YOU THE HELP YOU NEED 
WHEN YOU NEED IT.
WE HAVE A PLAN TO PROTECT JOBS, 
TO HELP THOSE LAID OFF, AND TO 
SUPPORT BUSINESSES THAT ARE 
HAVING CASH FLOW PROBLEMS.
WE'RE NOT DONE YET.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING HARD
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE 
SUPPORT YOU NEED.
THIS IS THE LARGEST ECONOMIC 
PROGRAM IN CANADA'S HISTORY.
SO I'VE ASKED THE HOUSE LEADER 
AND THE DEPUTY MINISTER TO REACH
OUT TO THE OTHER PARTIES ABOUT 
BRINGING BACK PARLIAMENT.
THIS MUST BE A TEAM CANADA 
EFFORT.
GOVERNMENTS OF ALL ORDERS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ARE STEPPING UP TO 
FULFIL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO
CANADIANS.
CANADA HASN'T SEEN THIS TYPE OF 
CIVIC MOBILIZATION SINCE THE 
SECOND WORLD WAR.
THESE ARE THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC 
MEASURES IN OUR LIFETIMES, TO 
DEFEAT A THREAT TO OUR HEALTH.
THESE HISTORIC MEASURES WILL 
SUPPORT CANADIANS TO STAY HOME 
TO DEFEAT COVID-19.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT ALONE CANNOT 
WIN THIS FIGHT.
WE ALL HAVE TO ANSWER THE CALL 
OF DUTY.
THIS IS SERVICE THAT MOST OF US 
HAVE NEVER BEEN CALLED UPON TO 
DO.
WE, EACH OF US, HAVE TO LIVE UP 
TO OUR END OF THE BARGAIN.
WE MUST FULFIL OUR COLLECTIVE 
RESPONSIBILITY TO EACH OTHER.
LISTENING TO PUBLIC HEALTH RULES
IS YOUR DUTY.
STAYING HOME IS YOUR WAY TO 
SERVE.
SO BE SMART ABOUT WHAT YOU DO 
AND THE CHOICES YOU MAKE.
THAT IS HOW YOU WILL SERVE YOUR 
COUNTRY AND HOW WE WILL ALL 
SERVE EACH OTHER.
HOW WELL WE DO THIS RIGHT NOW 
DETERMINES WHERE OUR COUNTRY 
WILL BE IN TWO WEEKS OR IN TWO 
MONTHS.
IT'S IN OUR HANDS.
IT'S IN YOUR HANDS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE ALL HAVE A ROLE 
TO PLAY.
WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE 
RESPONSIBILITY.
WHERE WE ARE IN A FEW WEEKS OR A
FEW MONTHS DOES NOT DEPEND ON ME
BUT ON YOU.
I AM CALLING ON YOUR CIVIC DUTY 
TO PROTECT OTHER S OTHERS.
IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH GUIDELINES, YOU ARE 
PUTTING OTHERS AT RISK.
YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO 
REMAIN HOME.
WE ALL HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION 
TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
IT IS BY WORKING TOGETHER THAT 
WE WILL COME OUT OF THIS.
IT IS BY REMAINING TRUE TO OUR 
VALUES THAT WE WILL STAY WHO WE 
ARE AS CANADIANS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL NOW GO TO THE PHONE LINE 
FOR ONE QUESTION AND ONE 
FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
THIS MORNING DO YOU CONSIDER 
THAT PART OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
IS TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT 
SUPPLIES OF EQUIPMENT?
CAN YOU GUARANTEE US THERE WILL 
BE NO SHORTAGE OF P.P.E.?
THE MINISTERS WERE UNABLE TO DO 
THAT YESTERDAY.
>> Answer: IN THIS SITUATION WE 
CANNOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING.
WE ARE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD 
TO MEET THE VARIOUS NEEDS, TO 
MAKE SURE THE NECESSARY 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS 
DELIVERED RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
WE ARE DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS 
RIGHT HERE IN CANADA TO REPLACE 
THE EQUIPMENT WE USE EVERY 
SINGLE DAY IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR 
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS 
HEALTHY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
THE PROVINCES AND THE VARIOUS 
JURISDICTIONS TO MEET ALL OF 
THEIR NEEDS.
BUT MUCH OF THAT DEPENDS ON THE 
CHOICES THAT CANADIANS MAKE NOW,
HOW PEOPLE BEHAVE TODAY AND IN 
THE COMING WEEKS AND THE CHOICES
THEY MAKE IN TERMS OF KEEPING 
THIS PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL AND 
BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO 
PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE 
WORKING TO PROTECT US.
>> Question: THERE IS A PRESSING
NEED FOR SURGICAL MASKS IN 
QUÉBEC.
YOU HEARD THAT.
CAN YOU TELL QUÉBECERS OR QUÉBEC
THAT YOUR WAY OF RESOLVING THIS 
IS TO TRANSFER PART OF THE 
FEDERAL SUPPLY TO QUÉBEC?
>> Answer: YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THE FEDERAL STOCKPILE IS THERE 
TO HELP CANADIANS WHERE THEY 
NEED HELP.
I HAVE SPOKEN DIRECTLY TO 
PREMIER LEGAULT.
HE POINTED OUT THE CHALLENGES 
THAT THEY'RE FACING IN QUÉBEC AT
THIS TIME, AND WE WILL BE THERE 
TO WORK VERY HARD TO MEET THEIR 
NEEDS.
WE ARE EXPECTING SHIPMENTS OF 
P.P.E. VERY SOON AND WE WILL BE 
GETTING MORE AS WELL.
WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON 
THE RESOURCES TO BE AVAILABLE 
HERE IN CANADA AND WE WILL MAKE 
SURE THERE IS NO SHORTAGE IN 
CANADA.
OF COURSE WE UNDERSTAND IT IS A 
VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND WE 
WILL ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION, OPERATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION MIA RABSON, THE 
"CANADIAN PRESS."
YOUR LINE IS OBSERVE. 
>> Question: I WONDER IF YOU CAN
EXPLAIN WHY THE NATIONAL 
EMERGENCY STOCKPILE DID NOT KEEP
EQUIPMENT IN THE HANDS OF 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO NEEDED 
AND WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO THE 
DEFENCE PRODUCTION ACT TO FILL 
THE NEED.
>> Answer: THE DEFENCE 
PRODUCTION ACT WE'VE SEEN IN THE
UNITED STATES IS ABOUT FORCING 
AND ORDERING COMPANIES WHO MIGHT
NOT OTHERWISE DO IT TO STEP UP 
AND PRODUCE THE NECESSARY 
EQUIPMENT FOR A WAR TIME OR 
CRISIS SITUATION.
HERE IN CANADA WHAT WE'VE SEEN 
IS COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
PUTTING UP THEIR HANDS AND 
ASKING TO DO IT, OFFERING ANY 
HELP THEY CAN RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY TO SWITCH THEIR 
MANUFACTURING OVER TO NECESSARY 
GOODS, NECESSARY EQUIPMENT.
WE SO FAR HAVE SEEN SUCH AN 
OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM 
BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE NO NEED 
OF BRINGING IN AT THIS POINT A 
SIMILAR ACT.
OF COURSE WE'LL ALWAYS KEEP AN 
EYE ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN 
FUTURE SITUATIONS OR HOW WE CAN 
ADJUST.
THE FEDERAL STOCKPILE HAS BEEN 
ENSURING OVER THE PAST WEEKS 
THAT THERE IS ENOUGH EQUIPMENT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RESPOND TO
THE NEEDS OF THE PROVINCES AND 
WHAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] IN THE 
UNITED STATES THEY DID DECIDE TO
BRING IN THE DEFENCE PRODUCTION 
ACT, BUT IN CANADA I CAN TELL 
YOU THAT WE HAVE NO NEED AT THIS
TIME TO DO THAT, BECAUSE 
CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS AND 
BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
AND PLANTS ALL ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY HAVE ALL BEEN 
VOLUNTEERING TO HELP US TO 
SWITCH THEIR PROCESSES TO 
MANUFACTURE WHAT WE NEED.
NOW, OF COURSE IF WE FIND WE 
HAVE A NEED TO DO THAT LATER ON,
WE WILL DO SO, BUT FOR NOW I CAN
ONLY THANK ALL THE DIFFERENT 
COMPANIES WHO HAVE STEPPED-UP 
AND OFFERED TO HELP US AND ARE 
WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP THEIR 
FELLOW CITIZENS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: I'M WONDERING IF 
YOU COULD LET US KNOW WHAT 
ASSURANCES YOU HAVE FROM THE 
AMERICANS THAT THEY'VE DROPPED 
THE IDEA OF MOVING TROOPS TO THE
U.S.-CANADA BORDER.
>> Answer: THE ONGOING 
CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE WITH THE 
AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE
ON A BROAD RANGE OF SUBJECTS.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT'S NOT 
SOMETHING THEY'RE CONTINUING TO 
PURSUE, BUT WE WILL OF COURSE 
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE 
AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION AS NEW 
SITUATIONS COME UP AND AS THINGS
DEVELOP.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I CAN TELL YOU THAT
WE CONTINUE TO REGULARLY SPEAK 
TO THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION ON 
ISSUES INVOLVING OUR BORDER AND 
CRITICAL TRADE BETWEEN OUR TWO 
COUNTRIES.
FOR THE TIME BEING WE HAVE HEARD
THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO 
PURSUE THAT IDEA, BUT WE 
CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS 
WITH THEM.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT IN QUÉBEC OR THERE 
WILL BE SOON.
HOW WILL THE GOVERNMENT HELP 
QUÉBEC TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM 
TO REASSURE THE QUÉBEC MEDICAL 
PROFESSIONALS?
>> Answer: WELL, WE ARE 
CURRENTLY WORKING VERY HARD WITH
THE OTHER PROVINCES TO SEE WHAT 
OPTIONS ARE THERE TO HELP QUÉBEC
AND OTHER REGIONS THAT ARE IN 
NEED OF EQUIPMENT, BUT WE'RE 
ALSO WORKING AT THE 
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL TO TRY AND 
ENSURE THAT WE CAN BRING IN 
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR AMBASSADOR IN 
CHINA IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO 
FOLLOW UP ON THIS AND GET THE 
MATERIAL IN THAT WE HAVE 
ORDERED.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT THERE ARE 
MANY, MANY COUNTRIES THAT ARE 
RUNNING AFTER THE SAME 
EQUIPMENT.
WE ARE WORKING HARD AND DOING 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT
NOWHERE IN CANADA WILL THERE BE 
A SHORTAGE OF P.P.E., BUT 
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO 
BE DONE.
>> Question: CAN YOU TELL ME 
WHETHER THIS WILL HAPPEN BEFORE 
THE END OF THE WEEK?
AND ON ANOTHER TOPIC, 
MR. TRUDEAU, THERE'S A 
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT WHERE IT 
SAYS THAT THESE -- THE CURRENT 
MEASURES WILL HAVE TO LAST UNTIL
JULY OR AUGUST.
>> Answer: I CAN TELL YOU THAT 
WE ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE 
DELIVERIES IN A VERY SHORT TIME 
FRAME, IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS OR 
PERHAPS EVEN SOONER.
WHEN IT COMES TO SCENARIOS, AS I
HAVE SAID VERY OFTEN, WE ARE 
LOOKING AT ALL SORTS OF 
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
IT COULD LAST LONGER, IT COULD 
LAST LESS TIME.
AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, THAT WILL 
REALLY DEPEND ON THE CHOICES AND
THE BEHAVIOUR OF CANADIANS EVERY
SINGLE DAY, HOW WE KEEP 
OURSELVES SAFE, HOW WE KEEP 
EVERYONE ELSE SAFE, THE CHOICES 
WE ARE MAKING, ALL OF THAT HAS A
DIRECT IMPACT ON HOW LONG THIS 
IS GOING TO LAST.
BUT LOOKING AROUND THE WORLD, 
EVEN IN COUNTRIES LIKE SOUTH 
KOREA WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO 
MANAGE THE CRISIS FAIRLY WELL, 
THOSE MEASURES REMAIN IN PLACE 
FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
I THINK PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO 
EXPECT THAT WE WILL BE FACING 
THIS FOR MANY, MANY WEEKS TO 
COME IF NOT MONTHS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION.
>> ERIC ATKINS, "THE GLOBE AND 
MAIL".
>> Question: THANK YOU.
GIVEN THAT CANADIANS RETURNING 
FROM ABROAD ARE BRINGING 
CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 INTO
CANADA, WHY ARE AIRLINES AND THE
GOVERNMENT STILL BRINGING 
CANADIANS HOME?
>> Answer: THAT IS A GOOD BUT A 
DIFFICULT QUESTION.
IN QUESTION WE UNDERSTAND HOW 
IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE.
WE HOPE AND ARE DEMANDING THAT 
THOSE CANADIANS WHO DO RETURN 
HOME SELF-ISOLATE FOR TWO WEEKS.
I KNOW THERE ARE COUNTRIES THAT 
HAVE DECIDED THAT PEOPLE 
OVERSEAS OR PEOPLE ELSEWHERE ARE
NOT ALLOWED TO COME HOME TO 
CANADA.
THAT'S NOT A CHOICE WE'VE MADE.
WE WANT CANADIANS TO COME HOME.
BUT WE ALSO VERY MUCH EXPECT AND
DEMAND THAT THEY KEEP THEMSELVES
AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS SAFE BY 
SELF-ISOLATING IN RIGOROUS 
CONDITIONS FOR TWO WEEKS AS SOON
AS THEY GET HOME.
WE WOULD MUCH RATHER BE ABLE TO 
HAVE PEOPLE HOME THAN STRANDED 
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, 
WHERE THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] AS A COUNTRY, WE 
MADE THE DECISION TO ASK 
CANADIANS OR TO OFFER CANADIANS 
THE POSSIBILITY OF COMING BACK 
HOME IF THEY'RE ABROAD.
THIS IS NOT THE DECISION THAT 
OTHER COUNTRIES MADE.
THERE ARE SOME COUNTRIES -- OR 
THE CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES 
THAT ARE UNABLE TO GO HOME, BUT 
WE DECIDED TO BRING HOME ALL 
CANADIANS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR CANADIANS TO BE ABLE TO GET 
BACK HOME WHERE THEY ARE SAFER.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE 
BROUGHT IN VERY STRICT AND 
RIGOROUS MEASURES SO THAT PEOPLE
COMING BACK WILL NOT PUT OTHERS 
AT RISK, THEIR NEIGHBOURS, THE 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND SO ON.
THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT 
THAT WHOEVER IS COMING BACK TO 
CANADA FROM TRAVEL ABROAD 
SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS TO KEEP
US ALL SAFE AND TO KEEP OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS SAFE.
>> ONE FOLLOW-UP.
>> Question: I WONDER WHAT THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH CASE IS FOR 
ALLOWING ANY CANADIANS TO 
RETURN.
>> Answer: THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
CASE IS THAT IF PEOPLE RETURN 
AND PROPERLY AND RIGOROUSLY 
SELF-ISOLATE, THEN WE ARE NOT 
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE 
RISK TO EVERYONE ELSE.
IT REQUIRES ENSURING THAT THEY 
DO, INDEED, SELF-ISOLATE, BUT IN
CANADA WE TRY TO LOOK OUT FOR 
EACH OTHER.
THAT'S BEEN THE CHARACTERISTIC 
OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THESE 
PAST WEEKS.
AS PEOPLE ARE THERE TO HELP EACH
OTHER AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING 
CHOICES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT
PUTTING THEMSELVES, NEIGHBOURS, 
FAMILY AT RISK.
WE SEE NEIGHBOURS DROPPING OFF 
FOOD TO THOSE WHO CAN'T GO OUT.
WE SEE VOLUNTEERISM UP, CALLING 
TO VOLUNTEER AT KIDS HELP PHONE.
CANADIANS HELP EACH OTHER WHEN 
WE'RE IN TOUGH TIMES, AND PART 
OF HELPING EACH OTHER IN TOUGH 
TIMES IS MAKING SURE THAT 
CANADIANS WHO ARE STUCK OVERSEAS
CAN SOME HOME, BUT PART OF THE 
RESPONSIBILITY THEY HAVE THEN IS
TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT PUTTING
OTHERS AT RISK AND MAKE SURE 
THAT THEY SELF-ISOLATE.
>> Question: KEVIN GALLAGHER 
WITH CTV.
TORONTO'S CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICER INDICATED THAT THE 
MEASURES TO MITIGATE COVID-19 
COULD BE IN PLACE FOR 12 WEEKS.
THERE ARE ACCORDING TO THE 
"NATIONAL POST" INTERNAL 
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS THAT SAY 
THESE MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE 
UNTIL JULY.
YOU YOURSELF HAVE NOT SHARED 
THESE TYPE OF PROJECTIONS.
DON'T CANADIANS HAVE A RIGHT TO 
KNOW HOW LONG THESE IMPORTANT, 
YET DISRUPTIVE, PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE FOR SO
THAT BUSINESSES CAN PLAN AND 
FAMILIES CAN PLAN?
>> Answer: WE HAVE BEEN OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT WITH CANADIANS ON 
THE FACTS.
I'VE SAID FROM THE VERY 
BEGINNING THAT THERE ARE A WIDE 
RANGE OF SCENARIOS THAT WE HAVE 
BEEN LOOKING FOR THAT WE ARE 
PLANNING FOR, THAT WE ARE TRYING
TO WORK TOWARDS AS A GOVERNMENT,
AS A COUNTRY.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE 
IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF MORE 
WEEKS, PERHAPS MONTHS.
EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON HOW 
CANADIANS BEHAVE, THE CHOICES 
YOU MAKE TO STAY AT HOME, TO 
SELF-ISOLATE, TO NOT GO TO SIX 
DIFFERENT STORES WHEN YOU GO 
GROCERY SHOPPING.
TRY TO ONLY GO GROCERY SHOPPING 
ONCE A WEEK, TO BE CAREFUL TO 
KEEP 2 METRES APART WHEN YOU GO 
FOR A WALK IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO 
GO FOR A WALK.
THESE SORTS OF THINGS ARE WHAT 
WILL ARREST THE SPREAD AND 
INCREASE OF THE VIRUS.
WE NEED ALL OF US TO DO THE BEST
WE CAN TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION, AND 
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT CANADIANS 
ARE DOING.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
IT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT ALL -- 
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO BE OPEN
WITH CANADIANS.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN SAYING IT 
COULD LAST FOR WEEKS OR EVEN 
MONTHS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE A 
RANGE OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS 
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND FOR 
WHICH WE ARE PREPARING.
BUT THE CRITICAL THING HERE IS 
CANADIANS' BEHAVIOUR.
IF CANADIANS MAKE THE RIGHT 
CHOICE, IF THEY DECIDE TO STAY 
HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, IF 
THEY KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE OF AT 
LEAST 2 METRES FROM OTHERS, IF 
THEY TRY NOT TO GO TO EIGHT 
DIFFERENT STORES WHEN THEY GO 
OUT TO BUY FOOD ONCE A WEEK, THE
CHOICES THAT WE ARE MAKING AND 
OUR BEHAVIOUR AT THIS TIME WILL 
HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON WHERE 
WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A FEW WEEKS
AND A FEW MONTHS.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO 
SUPPORT FAMILIES AND 
INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES.
WE ARE HERE TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY 
STABLE WHILE IT IS PRACTICALLY 
AT A STANDSTILL, SO THAT WE CAN 
RECOVER QUICKLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE
TO.
BUT THAT WHEN IS SOMETHING WE 
WILL KNOW ONLY IN TIME.
AS I SAID, IT DEPENDS ON THE 
CHOICES WE MAKE NOW.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: RATHER STARTLING 
DEATH PROJECTION RELEASED IN THE
UNITED STATES.
IS THERE A SIMILAR PROJECTION IN
CANADA?
AND IF SO, WHY HAVE WE NOT HEARD
ABOUT THESE SORTS OF DETAILS?
>> Answer: AS WE'VE SAID, THERE 
ARE A RANGE OF PROJECTIONS 
DEPENDING ON HOW CANADIANS ARE 
BEHAVING, HOW ISOLATION IS 
WORKING.
I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW THAT THE 
FACT THAT SO MANY CANADIANS ARE 
BEHAVING IN THE RIGHT WAYS, ARE 
CHOOSING TO STAY HOME, ARE 
CHOOSING TO SELF-ISOLATE, ARE 
CHOOSING TO STAY IN THEIR 
BUBBLE, AS DR. TAM SAYS, ARE 
CHOOSING TO NOT ENDANGER 
THEMSELVES OR THEIR LOVED ONES 
OR THEIR NEIGHBOURS OR OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS IS AN 
EXTREMELY GOOD SIGN.
WE ARE OF COURSE WATCHING VERY, 
VERY CAREFULLY AS THE NUMBERS 
CREEP UP, AS THEY RISE MORE 
RAPIDLY IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
WE WILL TAKE THE MEASURES 
NECESSARY TO DO EVERYTHING WE 
CAN TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] 
RADIO-CANADA.
MR. TRUDEAU, THERE ARE PEOPLE 
WHO ARE HOME RIGHT NOW AND THEY 
HEAR YOU SAY THIS MAY LAST WEEKS
OR MONTHS.
THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF 
UNCERTAINTY AND PEOPLE ARE 
WORRIED.
IS THERE -- IS IT POSSIBLE TO 
HAVE MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION 
SO THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PLAN 
THEIR LIVES OVER THE NEXT FEW 
WEEKS?
CAN WE SAY TO PEOPLE THAT JULY 
IS A REALISTIC SCENARIO?
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN, BUT IS A 
REALISTIC SCENARIO?
>> Answer: WELL, I CAN SAY IT IS
A REALISTIC SCENARIO, BUT THERE 
ARE OTHER SHORTER SCENARIOS, 
THERE ARE OTHER LONGER ONES AS 
WELL.
WE DO NOT KNOW -- WE KNOW THAT 
WE'RE TRYING TO CONTROL THE 
SPREAD AND FLATTEN THE CURVE, 
BUT IT DOES NOT DEPEND ON A 
GOVERNMENT.
IT DEPENDS ON ALL CITIZENS.
WE ARE PREPARING AND LOOKING AT 
A WHOLE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT WILL LAST
A FEW WEEKS.
IT IS POSSIBLE IT WILL LAST A 
FEW MONTHS.
WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO 
DO.
FIRST OF ALL, TWO THINGS.
WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO 
KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND ALSO 
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY 
TO COME OUT OF THIS SO THAT ALL 
CANADIANS HAVE THE RESOURCES 
THEY NEED TO REMAIN IN ISOLATION
AS LONG AS THEY HAVE TO.
>> Question: MR. SCHEER THIS 
MORNING PROPOSED THAT THE G.S.T.
COLLECTED FROM BUSINESSES OVER 
THE LAST SIX MONTHS BE REFUNDED 
TO THEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT IDEA?
IS THAT ON THE TABLE?
>> Answer: WELL, THERE ARE ALL 
KINDS OF IDEAS COMING FORWARD 
FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND WE'RE 
OPEN TO ANY PROPOSAL AND WE'LL 
LOOK AT EVERYTHING.
NOW, IN TERMS OF AID FOR 
BUSINESSES AND PARTICULARLY FOR 
WORKERS, WHAT WE PUT ON THE 
TABLE THUS FAR ARE MEASURES THAT
REPRESENT THE LARGEST AND THE 
MOST UNPRECEDENTED PROGRAM IN 
OUR HISTORY.
THIS WILL HELP WORKERS, THIS 
WILL HELP BUSINESSES.
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE MORE THAT
HAS TO BE DONE AND WE WILL BE 
THERE LISTENING AND LOOKING AT 
WHAT WE CAN DO.
WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO ANY 
SUGGESTION AND I WANT TO THANK 
EVERYONE WHO'S MAKING PROPOSALS.
IF THAT CAN HELP CANADIANS TO 
COME THROUGH THIS CRISIS SO THAT
WE CAN RECOVER AND GET BACK ON 
OUR FEET AT THE END.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: YOU'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THE EFFORTS YOUR 
GOVERNMENT IS MAKING TO PROCURE 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, PROTECTIVE 
GEAR, AND FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE 
STILL TALKING ABOUT SHORTAGES.
WHY IS THERE THIS DISCONNECT 
BETWEEN THE ASSURANCES YOU'RE 
OFFERING AND WHAT FRONTLINE 
WORKERS ARE EXPERIENCING?
>> Answer: WE RECOGNIZE THE 
CHALLENGES THAT FRONTLINE 
WORKERS ARE FACING IN DIFFERENT 
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES IN 
CHARGE OF THOSE HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEMS TO MEET THE NEEDS THEY 
ARE FACED WITH.
WE ARE FACING -- LOOKING AT A 
GLOBAL DEMAND FOR THESE SUPPLIES
THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED.
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE 
TRYING TO GET MORE OF THESE 
SUPPLIES.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE SOME 
SHIPMENTS COMING IN VERY SHORTLY
THAT WILL HELP IN CANADA.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON MORE
SHIPMENTS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON TOOLING 
UP OUR OWN PRODUCTION SO WE CAN 
HAVE MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTIONS IN
THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS IF 
THAT'S HOW LONG THIS LASTS.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN 
TO MEET THE VERY REAL AND 
PRESSING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN 
OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY
IN SOME AREAS.
ALL I CAN SAY IS WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK EXTREMELY HARD 
TO TRY AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM 
BECAUSE WE NEED OUR HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEMS AND OUR HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE THE
PROTECTION THEY NEED AS THEY 
KEEP THE REST OF US SAFE. 
>> Question: THE PREMIER OF 
QUÉBEC WAS TALKING YESTERDAY 
ABOUT SUPPLIES RUNNING OUT IN 
THREE TO SEVEN DAYS.
WE'VE SEEN SHORTAGES IN ONTARIO 
AS WELL.
HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THOSE TWO 
PROVINCES AND OFFERED THEM AID 
AT THIS TIME?
>> Answer: WE ARE OFFERING ALL 
THE HELP WE POSSIBLY CAN TO ALL 
PROVINCES, PARTICULARLY QUÉBEC 
AND ONTARIO THAT ARE FACING 
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS IN TERMS OF
SUPPLIES.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE GOING
TO BE RECEIVING A SHIPMENT VERY 
SOON OF NECESSARY EQUIPMENT.
THERE ARE MORE TO COME IN THE 
COMING DAYS AND WEEKS AS WELL.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE 
OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS GET THE 
SUPPORT THEY NEED TO KEEP US 
SAFE.
WE ALSO, AS I SPOKE ABOUT 
YESTERDAY, HAVE MANUFACTURERS 
STEPPING UP SO WE CAN HAVE 
MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTIONS AND 
WE'RE NOT RELIANT ON OTHER 
COUNTRIES AS THE WORLD IS 
LOOKING FOR MORE P.P.E.
>> Question: THE SCIENTIFIC 
LITERATURE IS FAIRLY CLEAR ON 
HOW MASK USE BY THE PUBLIC CAN 
HELP CUT THE SPREAD OF INFLUENZA
DURING A PANDEMIC AND SOME 
COUNTRIES ARE MAKING MASK USE 
MANDATORY ACROSS THE BOARD, YET 
IN CANADA WE ARE TOLD THAT MASK 
USE WON'T HELP UNLESS YOU'RE 
ASYMPTOMATIC.
I WONDER IF THE GOVERNMENT IS 
WILLING TO TAKE MASKS AWAY FROM 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHEN THERE IS
A SHORTAGE. 
>> Answer: EVERY RECOMMENDATION 
WE MAKE COMES FROM SCIENCE 
OFFICIALS AND IS BASED ON 
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT 
COMMUNITY.
THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION 
AMONGST HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE ARE GOING TO DEFER TO 
DR. TAM.
>> Question: IF THERE ARE 
DISSENTING OPINIONS IN THE 
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND 
MEDICAL COMMUNITY ON WEARING 
MASKS FOR THE PUBLIC IF THEY ARE
ASYMPTOMATIC, DO WE NOT THEN OWE
IT TO THE PUBLIC TO PUT WHATEVER
PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN PLACE TO 
PROTECT THEM?
>> Answer: I'M GOING TO CONTINUE
TO DEFER TO DR. TAM ON THIS 
ISSUE.
I KNOW THERE'S MUCH DISCUSSION 
GOING ON ON THAT, AND WE 
CERTAINLY WANT TO TAKE THE RIGHT
DECISIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT 
CANADIANS ARE PROTECTED AND OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE 
PROTECTED.
MERCI.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA WITH HIS 
DAILY UPDATE.
OF COURSE WE STAND BY AND WAIT 
FOR FEDERAL CABINET MINISTERS 
AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND 
THE FINANCE MINISTER OF CANADA 
AT 2:00.
LET ME BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS 
AND DAVID COCHRANE BEFORE WE 
HAND THINGS OFF TO THAT PRESS 
CONFERENCE.
SOME CRITICAL DETAILS FOR 
CANADIANS THERE IN TERMS OF THE 
EMERGENCY BENEFIT MEASURE, BUT I
WILL SAY THIS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSING OF 
THE PRIME MINISTER TO TRY TO GET
A SENSE OF A TIMELINE WHICH I 
THINK MENTALLY WOULD HELP A LOT 
OF PEOPLE IF THEY KNEW HOW LONG 
THIS WAS GOING TO GO ON.
ALSO BECAUSE WE DO HEAR FROM 
OTHER POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS AROUND 
TIMELINE.
B.C. SAYING ZERO CHANCE OF THE 
RESTRICTIONS ON GATHERINGS BEING
LIFTED BEFORE MAY.
THE PRIME MINISTER DID NOT WANT 
TO PUT ANY SORT OF TIMELINE ON 
IT, SAYING IT WILL BE WEEKS AND 
MONTHS, BUT THAT IT REALLY 
DEPENDS ON CANADIANS' BEHAVIOUR 
TO KNOW HOW LONG THIS WILL GO 
ON.
>> Vassy: I WANTED TO TOUCH ON 
THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A 
SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT WE JUST
HEARD FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.
I WOULD START WITH THE CAVEAT 
THAT HE'S RIGHT AND THAT IS WHAT
A LOT OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
ARE SAYING INSOFAR AS OUR 
BEHAVIOURS RIGHT NOW WILL 
DICTATE THE ULTIMATE LENGTH OF 
THAT TIMELINE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER 
POLITICIANS AND OTHER PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS, AS YOU POINT 
OUT, ROSIE, AT DIFFERENT LEVELS 
OF GOVERNMENT THAT ARE ATTACHING
VARIOUS TIMELINES TO VARIOUS 
SCENARIOS.
EVEN SOUTH OF THE BORDER LAST 
NIGHT I PLAYED ON MY SHOW A BIG 
PORTION OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE 
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES AS WELL AS DR. BIRX, WHO 
HEADS UP THE COORDINATION OF 
THEIR MEDICAL RESPONSE.
THEY WENT INTO GRANULAR DETAIL 
PRESENTING DATA TO AMERICANS 
ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT UNDER
VARIOUS SCENARIOS, NOT JUST 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING, BUT HERE IS
IF WE HAVE FULL MITIGATION 
EFFORTS INTACT IN THIS PART OF 
THE COUNTRY HERE IS HOW MANY 
DEATHS YOU MAY SEE OVERALL, HERE
IS WHAT THE MORTALITY RATE LOOKS
LIKE AND HERE IS WITHOUT 
MITIGATION.
I THINK THE QUESTIONS ARE 
CORRECT.
I THINK THE GOVERNMENT DESERVES 
SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS VERY 
UNWILLING TO PRESENT -- HE 
ADMITTED THERE ARE A VARIETY OF 
SCENARIOS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I THINK 
CANADIANS UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT 
HE DID NOT WANT TO PUT FORTH ANY
DATA OR PREDICTIONS BASED ON 
THOSE VARIOUS SCENARIOS.
I THINK AS CANADIANS START TO 
HEAR THAT FROM DIFFERENT LEVELS 
OF GOVERNMENT OR SOUTH OF THE 
BORDER, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO 
WONDER AND WANT THE ANSWER FROM 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
GIVE US A SENSE, ESPECIALLY AS 
YOU POINTED OUT FOR BUSINESSES 
THAT ARE SINKING AND MIGHT NOT 
LAST ONE OR TWO MONTHS, HOW CAN 
THEY PLAN FOR THE PROBABILITY 
THIS MIGHT GO ON LONGER.
I TAKE THE POINT THAT IT IS 
DEPENDANT ON OUR ACTIONS AND 
THAT IS A POINT WE HAVE TO 
CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME.
I THINK THERE IS A GENUINE 
INTEREST ON WHAT DATA THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS IN FRONT 
OF IT AND WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE 
TO ACCESS THAT DATA AS 
CANADIANS. 
>> Rosemary: I SHOULD ALSO SAY 
THAT THOSE ARE ALL GOOD POINTS.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS 
PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT MAKING 
SOME MODELLING DATA AVAILABLE.
I KNOW THAT IS VERY MUCH RELIANT
ON PROVINCES COMPLYING WITH THAT
REQUEST, BUT IT IS SOMETHING HE 
SAID THEY CAN DO.
THE OTHER BIG HEADLINE, DAVID, 
IS THAT PARLIAMENT WILL BE 
RECALLED AT SOME POINT.
>> David: PARLIAMENT WILL BE 
RECALLED TO PASS THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY LEGISLATION.
THE TIMELINE THAT IS MORE 
ALARMING OUT OF THAT NEWS 
CONFERENCE IS WHAT THE PREMIER 
OF QUÉBEC IS SAYING, THREE TO 
SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THEIR SUPPLIES
ARE RUNNING OUT.
WE KNOW THERE ARE NATIONAL 
STOCKPILES.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE 
DEPLETED.
WHEN WE ASKED WHEN THE SHIPMENTS
ARE COMING, IT WAS IN THE COMING
DAYS, IN THE COMING DAYS.
IF YOU'RE A HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT.
THE SPECIFICS ON THE DELIVERY OF
MASKS, GLOVES, VENTILATORS AND 
EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT NEEDS TO 
BECOME CLEAR BECAUSE WE ARE 
GETTING VERY CLEAR ALARM BELLS 
FROM QUÉBEC AND THE FRONTLINE 
HOSPITALS HERE IN ONTARIO. 
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU BOTH VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR COVERAGE ON OUR 
SPECIAL ON CBC TELEVISION ON THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
MORE COMING UP ON CBC NEWS 
NETWORK AND cbc.ca.
[♪♪♪] 
>> Rosemary: WELCOME BACK.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN 
OTTAWA.
WELCOME TO OUR ONGOING CBC NEWS 
SPECIAL STREAMING LIVE ON YOUR 
CBC APP OR ON cbcnews.ca.
OUR BIG STORY COMING OUT OF 
OTTAWA JUST MOMENTS AGO, THE 
PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED HE WILL
CALL PARLIAMENT BACK TO PASS 
MEASURES TO HELP THE CANADIAN 
ECONOMY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
HE CALLED IT THE LARGEST AND 
MOST UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC 
PROGRAM IN CANADIAN HISTORY.
THAT'S WHY THEY WANT PARLIAMENT 
TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY 
REALIZE THE SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE
OF GETTING ALL-PARTY SUPPORT AND
ALL PARTIES INSIDE PARLIAMENT TO
VOTE ON THIS.
EARLIER BEFORE JUSTIN TRUDEAU 
SPOKE, CONSERVATIVE LEADER 
ANDREW SCHEER CAME OUT.
HE CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT'S 
RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS.
WE'LL LOOK MORE AT THAT AND ALSO
LOOK AT SOME OF THE MEASURES 
TORONTO HAS PUT IN PLACE AND THE
ONGOING CONVERSATION AROUND 
TIMELINE.
HOW LONG ARE WE IN THIS FOR.
CERTAINLY IN TORONTO SOME STARK 
WARNINGS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICER OF THAT CITY TODAY, 
SAYING AGAIN THAT THINGS ARE NOT
ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY AND THAT
PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME, 
WHETHER THEY HAVE COVID-19, 
WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN IN CONTACT 
WITH SOMEONE WITH COVID-19.
EVEN IF THEY HAVEN'T, THAT THEIR
MOVEMENTS SHOULD BE RESTRICTED 
REALLY TO THE GROCERY STORE AND 
MAYBE A WALK OUTSIDE.
AGAIN, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY CALLING ON 
CANADIANS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON 
THEIR EFFORTS TO SELF-ISOLATE 
AND REALLY STAY AWAY FROM ONE 
ANOTHER DURING THIS CRITICAL 
PERIOD.
ALL RIGHT.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE FEDERAL 
CABINET MINISTERS' UPDATE, LET'S
GET SOME REACTION FROM JAGMEET 
SINGH WHO JOINS US FROM TORONTO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> Interview: GOOD TO SEE YOU AS
WELL.
>> Rosemary: YOU HEARD THAT THE 
PRIME MINISTER WANTS TO CALL 
BACK PARLIAMENT TO HAVE A 
CONVERSATION WITH THE OTHER 
PARTIES ABOUT THESE MEASURES.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>> Interview: WE'RE READY TO GET
BACK TO PARLIAMENT AT ANY 
MOMENT.
WE KNOW THAT CANADIANS NEED HELP
IMMEDIATELY AND WE KNOW THE 
SITUATION IS VERY URGENT.
THE MEASURES THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER HAS ANNOUNCED WERE 
WELCOME MEASURES AROUND THE 75% 
WAGE SUBSIDY.
SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN 
CALLING FOR AND WE THINK IT 
WOULD HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND 
HELP PEOPLE STAY EMPLOYED.
TODAY IS THE 1ST OF THE MONTH 
AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT HOW SO 
MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
WON'T AFFORD THEIR RENT OR 
MORTGAGE PAYMENT.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH ALL LEVELS 
OF GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER 
IMMEDIATE RENT HELP AND PUT A 
PAUSE ON RENT.
>> Rosemary: HOW WOULD THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE INVOLVED 
IN THAT.
EVERY PROVINCE ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY HAS NOW PUT IN PLACE 
EVICTION PAUSES SO PEOPLE WON'T 
BE THROWN OUT ON THE STREETS.
THERE ARE SOME PROVINCES THAT 
HAVE GONE FURTHER, 
BRITISH COLUMBIA, WHERE YOUR 
RIDING IS, WHERE THERE IS THAT 
RENTAL SUBSIDY THAT WILL BE 
GIVEN TO RENTERS.
BANKS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DEFER 
MORTGAGES.
I'M NOT CLEAR WHAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT COULD DO ON SOMETHING
THAT IS A PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION.
>> Interview: THE DEFERRAL 
SYSTEM IS NOT HELPING PEOPLE OUT
THE WAY IT SHOULD.
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, BANKS 
ARE FEDERALLY REGULATED.
MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND RENT ARE 
DEEPLY CONNECTED.
IF WE CAN NEGOTIATE AND USE THE 
POWER THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE 
THERE IS A PAUSE IN MORTGAGES, 
IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HELP IN 
MOVING TOWARDS RENT FREE OR 
PAUSING RENT.
THERE IS A ROLE THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT POWERS 
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND THE 
BANKS ACT.
USING THOSE POWERS, WE CAN GET 
TO A POINT WHERE WE PUT A PAUSE 
ON MORTGAGE AND RENT AS WELL.
THERE IS A ROLE TO BE PLAYED BY 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
>> Rosemary: SOME BANKS HAVE 
BEEN DEFERRING MORTGAGES.
WE'VE HEARD OTHER PLACES WHERE 
NOT EVERYONE QUALIFIES FOR THAT.
WHAT WOULD BE THE STICK THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD USE TO 
COMPEL THE BANKS TO -- 
>> Interview: SECTION 91 OF THE 
CONSTITUTION GIVES US POWERS OF 
REGULATION OF THE BANKS TO THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE BANKS ACT, WHICH IS ALSO 
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, GIVES 
SIGNIFICANT POWERS TO THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BASICALLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS 
ENFORCE A CLEAR MESSAGE USING 
THE POWERS WE HAVE THAT THERE 
NEEDS TO BE A PAUSE ON MORTGAGE.
USING THAT PAUSE ON MORTGAGE 
WORKS WITH PROVINCES TO HAVE A 
PAUSE ON RENT.
PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY 
THEIR BILLS WHEN THERE IS NO 
MONEY COMING IN.
THERE ARE SO MANY JOB LOSSES.
PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.
WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT WHERE 
THERE IS A PAUSE.
IF THERE IS A PAUSE ON MORTGAGE 
AND RENT, WE CAN GET THERE.
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAID 
HERSELF, THIS IS NOT A TIME TO 
FIGHT.
THIS IS A TIME TO HELP PEOPLE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO HELP 
PEOPLE.
HERE IS A CONCRETE WAY TO DO IT.
PAUSE MORTGAGES AND WORK WITH 
BANKS.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
>> Rosemary: THE WAGE SUBSIDY OF
75% NOW APPLIES TO EVERY COMPANY
IN THIS COUNTRY THAT HAS LOST 
30% MORE OF REVENUE.
HOW QUICKLY DO YOU THINK THAT 
NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE?
I GUESS PARLIAMENT WILL COME 
BACK BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME A 
MUCH LARGER PACKAGE THAN WAS 
INITIALLY ANTICIPATED.
>> Interview: WEEKS AGO WE 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT
WAS RESPONDING THAT THINGS HAD 
CHANGED SINCE THEIR INITIALLY 
REQUEST OR PROPOSAL OF THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
I CALLED FOR 75%.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT 
BUSINESSES NEED RIGHT AWAY.
ANOTHER THING THAT BUSINESSES 
NEED, PARTICULARLY IN THE 
SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THE 
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, THEY NEED 
RELIEF WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR 
COMMERCIAL RENT AND MORTGAGES.
WE NEED TO DO A LOT MORE.
I'M PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S SOME GREAT MEASURES THAT
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS 
ANNOUNCED.
THERE IS A BIT OF A LACK OF 
URGENCY.
TO YOUR QUESTION, WE NEED TO 
MOVE QUICKLY AND PEOPLE NEED TO 
HAVE ACCESS TO THE WAGE SUBSIDY,
THE EMERGENCY BENEFIT.
WE NEED QUICKER ACCESS.
I STILL BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO 
GIVE PEOPLE HELP IS THE 
UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME, SENDING 
MONEY TO ALL CANADIANS.
THOSE WHO DON'T NEED IT, WE CAN 
TAX THAT BACK IN THE NEXT TAX 
CYCLE.
PEOPLE NEED HELP URGENTLY AND 
THAT IS NOT GETTING TO THEM THAT
RESPECTS THE DESPERATION THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S FEDERAL 
N.D.P. LEADER JAGMEET SINGH IN 
TORONTO.
"POWER & POLITICS" HOST VASSY 
KAPELOS AND DAVID COCHRANE ARE 
HERE.
WE WILL BREAK DOWN WHAT THE 
PRIME MINISTER SAID.
I SAKE -- TAKE MR. SINGH'S POINT
THAT EVERYONE WOULD HAVE RATHER 
THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY, BUT 
THERE WAS SOME DESIRE TO HAVE 
PARLIAMENT WEIGH IN ON THIS 
PACKAGE.
THERE WAS THE CONSERVATIVES IN 
PARTICULAR WHO THOUGHT THAT 
PARLIAMENT DID NEED TO BE 
RECALLED AND AS A MEASURE OF 
CAUTION AND A MEASURE OF 
COLLABORATION, I WOULD IMAGINE 
THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING AHEAD 
AND DOING THAT.
BUT THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THERE 
WILL BE AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOW 
BEFORE THEY CAN ORGANIZE TO GET 
SOME PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE HERE 
THAT WILL HAVE TO UNFOLD IN A 
TIMELY WAY.
IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN
EXPECTED LAST TIME.
ALL THESE THINGS TAKE TIME.
THE MORE TIME THEY TAKE MEANS 
THE MORE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES 
ARE WAITING.
THAT'S A FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT 
AND CERTAINLY THE GOVERNMENT IS 
OPERATING AT BREAK-NECK SPEED, 
BUT IT IS, I'M SURE, FRUSTRATING
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING FOR 
HELP WHO NEEDED IT TWO DAYS AGO.
VASSY.
>> Vassy: WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT
THE TIMELINE IS FOR RECALLING 
PARLIAMENT AND IF THAT IMPACTS 
THESE PROGRAMS.
THE FIRST PROGRAM, THE BIG ONE, 
THE CERB.
THAT'S THE MONEY IF YOU'VE BEEN 
LAID OFF OR CAN'T WORK BECAUSE 
OF COVID-19 YOU CAN ACCESS.
THE PRIME MINISTER GAVE DETAILS 
THAT IT HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED 
THAT YOU COULD APPLY ON APRIL 6.
HE CONFIRMED THAT THAT WILL BE 
THE DAY YOU CAN START APPLYING 
AND YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO ASK 
FOR YOUR PAYMENTS VIA DIRECT 
DEPOSIT OR BY MAIL.
IF YOU'RE DOING DIRECT DEPOSIT, 
IT COULD BE BETWEEN THREE AND 
FIVE DAYS.
IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 DAYS TO 
GET THE MONEY BY MAIL.
THERE ARE SIX DAYS UNTIL THAT 
APPLICATION PROCESS STARTS.
I'M WAITING TO HEAR WHEN 
PARLIAMENT WILL COME BACK.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS TO BE 
DETERMINED.
IT COULD BE AS EARLY AS NEXT 
WEEK, BUT THAT WILL DEPEND ON 
THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE 
PARTY HOUSE LEADERS WHICH ARE 
TAKING PLACE AS WE SPEAK.
IF THEY COME BACK FOR ONE DAY, 
THEY ENABLE THE LEGISLATION TO 
GO AHEAD AND THE APRIL 6 DATE 
GOES AHEAD.
THE TIMELINE MIGHT NOT BE TOO 
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
THOSE ARE THE DETAILS ON THE 
CERB FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.
ON THE WAGE SUBSIDY, STILL NO 
CLARITY ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT 
WILL MEASURE THE 30% DROP IN 
REVENUE THAT IT'S SAYING YOU 
WILL NEED TO SHOW AT SOME POINT 
BEFORE OR AFTER THIS ALL GOES 
DOWN IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR 
THAT MONEY.
HE SAYS THE APPLICATION PROCESS 
WILL BE THROUGH THE C.R.A. LIKE 
THE CERB BENEFIT.
SO THAT'S A NEW DETAIL AS WELL.
HE ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT 
BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS SHOULD 
BE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR 
POWER TO PAY THE REMAINING 25%.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SIGNIFICANT 
THAT ENDS UP BEING.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR PEOPLE 
APPLYING, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO 
PROVE THAT.
AGAIN, THOSE DETAILS WE ARE 
EXPECTING A LITTLE BIT LATER 
TODAY FROM THE FINANCE MINISTER.
CERTAINLY THOSE QUESTIONS WILL 
BE PUT TO THE FINANCE MINISTER.
AS OF NOW, THOSE ARE THE NEW 
DETAILS THAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
REVEALED ON THOSE PROGRAMS I 
KNOW SO MANY CANADIANS ARE 
INTERESTED IN RIGHT NOW.
>> Rosemary: YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT 
IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF 
INFORMATION.
APRIL 6 HAD BEEN THE TARGET DATE
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS THE 
DATE YOU CAN START GOING ON TO 
THAT PORTAL AND FIGURING OUT HOW
YOU CAN GET THE $2,000 A MONTH 
IF YOU NEED IT, AND SO MANY 
PEOPLE DO.
DAVID, WE'RE TRACKING THIS STORY
ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.
AGAIN, I TAKE MR. SINGH'S POINT,
BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO OTHER 
THAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE 
SOME INCOME COMING IN TO PAY.
THIS IS VERY MUCH A PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION.
CERTAINLY THERE CAN BE 
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN.
BUT BEYOND THAT, I GUESS IT 
WOULD BE SOME SORT OF 
CONVERSATION WITH THE BANKS WHO 
HAVEN'T BEEN TERRIBLY COMPLIANT,
FOR INSTANCE, ON CREDIT CARD 
INTEREST RATES.
BEYOND THAT, I'M NOT REALLY SURE
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS 
AN EXTENSIVE ROLE TO PLAY IN 
RENT AND MORTGAGE. 
>> David: THEY KEEP TALKING 
ABOUT THE TEAM CANADA APPROACH 
AND THAT IS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY CAN USE
THE FEDERAL BANKING ACT FOR 
CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THEY HAVE NO
CAPACITY TO FORCE THAT FLOW 
THROUGH, THROUGH THE LANDLORD TO
THE RENTER.
THAT'S WHY YOU WOULD NEED SOME 
PROVINCIAL REQUIREMENT TO DEAL 
WITH THIS THING.
PEOPLE COULD BE HUMANE AND IF 
THE BANKS GAVE THEM A BREAK, 
THEY COULD PASS THAT ON TO THEIR
CLIENTS.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE
GOT SOME CLARITY ON TODAY WAS 
THAT ON THE WAGE TOP-UP IF 
YOU'RE A BUSINESS, THE PRIME 
MINISTER TELLING US IT WOULD BE 
A SIMPLE ATTESTATION THAT YOU 
WERE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO
PAY THE WAGE TOP-UP.
THAT'S LIKE THE BENEFITS THAT 
ORDINARY CANADIANS CAN APPLY FOR
TO GET THE $2,000 A MONTH, YOU 
CAN SWEAR AND CONFIRM ONLINE 
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB AND 
INCOME.
ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING 
BUILT WITH THE PHILOSOPHY OF PAY
MONEY FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS 
LATER.
THEY'LL DEAL WITH ANY SPILLAGE 
OR FRAUD AFTER THE FACT, AGAIN 
WITH A STERN WARNING THAT THERE 
WOULD BE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES IF 
ANYONE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
ALSO THE POINT WAS MADE THAT 
SPECIFICALLY THE PRIME MINISTER 
SINGLED OUT THAT BARS AND 
RESTAURANTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE 
FOR THIS HELP.
THERE WAS A FUSS -- ON TWITTER 
THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF
CANADA, ITS WEBSITE SAID IT 
DOESN'T PROVIDE MONEY TO BARS OR
TO PEOPLE THAT ONLY SERVE 
ALCOHOL.
ON THE SAME PAGE, THEY SAID THEY
DON'T DO CREDIT LINES AND ZERO 
INTEREST LOANS AND THEY'RE ABOUT
TO BE OFFERING THOSE THINGS.
THOSE RESTRICTIONS HAVE GONE OUT
THE WINDOW.
ASSURANCES TO PEOPLE WHO SELL 
ALCOHOL AS THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE 
OF BUSINESS THAT THEY WILL BE 
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS, DESPITE SOME 
TERRIBLY OUTDATED GOVERNMENT 
WEBSITES SAYING THEY WOULDN'T 
QUALIFY.
>> Rosemary: PROBABLY MORE 
IMPORTANT TO GET THE MONEY OUT 
THE DOOR THAN TO UPDATE THE 
WEBSITE.
IF THINGS ARE MOVING SO QUICKLY 
ON A DAILY BASIS, THE WEBSITES 
AREN'T ALWAYS ACCURATE AND 
THAT'S WHY THERE ARE SO MANY 
PEOPLE E-MAILING.
>> David: GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
ARE DOING THINGS THEY WOULDN'T 
HAVE CONSIDERED DOING A MONTH 
AGO.
THE PRIME MINISTER CALLED THIS 
THE LARGEST CIVIC MOBILIZATION 
SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
THAT'S WHY PASSPORT OFFICES ARE 
DOING E.I. APPLICATIONS.
THE B.D.C. IS GOING TO BE GIVING
LOANS TO BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
>> Rosemary: WHILE WE WAIT FOR 
THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TO HAPPEN,
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER CRITICAL 
ONE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE
WAGE SUBSIDY, AND SO MANY PEOPLE
WILL BE.
THOSE DETAILS TO COME AT 2:00 
P.M. EASTERN.
THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE IN
TORONTO WITH THE FINANCE 
MINISTER, THE MINISTER OF SMALL 
BUSINESS, AND THE MINISTER OF 
INNOVATION.
IN THE MEANTIME, QUÉBEC WHO 
WE'VE BEEN TALKING, WHO HAS A 
LARGE NUMBER OF CASES AT THIS 
STAGE, IS TRYING TO CLAMP DOWN 
AS BEST IT CAN ON THOSE 
OUTBREAKS IN VARIOUS PLACES, 
INCLUDING TRYING TO AVOID ALL 
NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL FROM ONE 
REGION TO ANOTHER.
WE'VE SEEN PARTICULAR FOCUS, FOR
INSTANCE, IN MONTREAL AND THE 
EASTERN TOWNSHIPS TRYING TO 
LIMIT PEOPLE MOVING FROM 
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE PROVINCE TO
THOSE ZONES.
THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR 
PROVINCIAL POLICE OFFICERS IN 
DIFFERENT LOCATIONS TO MAKE SURE
NO ONE IS DOING THAT.
AS WE WAIT FOR THESE 
MINISTERS -- I THINK THEY'RE 
FILING IN RIGHT NOW.
LET ME GO QUICKLY TO HILLARY 
JOHNSTONE WHO IS ON THE PORTAGE 
BRIDGE.
TELL ME ABOUT THESE RESTRICTIONS
IF YOU CAN DO IT.
>> Reporter: THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T SEE 
ANY RESTRICTIONS ON THIS BRIDGE,
ONE OF THE FIVE LINKS BETWEEN 
OTTAWA AND GATINEAU.
CARS ARE STILL SLOWING.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THERE ARE FOUR 
MORE REGIONS IN THE PROVINCE 
THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THESE 
CHECK-POINTS.
THE OUT  OUTAOUAIS IN WESTERN 
QUÉBEC.
THE POLICE ON THE ONTARIO SIDE 
SAY THEY DON'T PLAN TO ENFORCE 
THIS.
THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE QUÉBEC 
SIDE.
WE ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT SORTS OF
PENALTIES THERE WILL BE FOR 
THOSE FOUND VIOLATING THESE 
MEASURES.
THAT IS STILL YET TO COCK.
THE POLICE ON THE ONTARIO SIDE 
ARE STILL ASKING PEOPLE TO AVOID
ALL NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL BETWEEN
THE TWO PROVINCES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE A 
COUPLE OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO 
ARE GOING TO BE EXEMPT FROM 
THIS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT, AND ANYONE
DEEMED NECESSARY TO KEEP THE 
SUPPLY CHAIN MOVING.
THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF PEOPLE 
WHO WILL BE EXEMPT FROM THIS 
BAN, BUT THIS IS IN AN EFFORT TO
SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND 
IS A TRAVEL BAN INTO WESTERN 
QUÉBEC.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, YOU ARE ON 
THE BRIDGE NOT FAR FROM ME.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT UNFOLDS OVER 
THE COURSE OF THE DAY.
LET'S GO BACK TO OTTAWA.
HERE IS THE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER, CHRYSTIA FREELAND.
>> THESE TOUGH ACTIONS ARE 
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND I WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER MY STRONGEST 
SUPPORT TO THE LEADERS WHO HAVE 
TAKEN THESE ACTIONS AND TO 
COMMEND THEM.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THIS IS A CRITICAL 
WEEK IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS 
VIRUS.
CANADIANS MUST CONTINUE TO 
PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
STAY STRONG AND STAY HOME UNLESS
YOU DO ESSENTIAL WORK SUCH AS 
STOCKING THE SHELVES OF OUR 
GROCERY STORES OR WORKING IN THE
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
YOU CAN GO FOR A WALK OR A RUN, 
BUT STAY AT A DISTANCE FROM 
OTHERS AND WASH YOUR HANDS.
I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT, BUT 
CANADIANS ARE RESILIENT AND I 
KNOW WE CAN DO THIS.
ALL OVER CANADA, LEADERS, LIKE 
LEADERS IN TORONTO AND IN 
QUÉBEC, ARE TAKING ADDITIONAL 
ACTION TO ENFORCE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING AND TO PROTECT THEIR 
CITIZENS.
THESE TOUGH ACTIONS ARE 
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
THIS IS TRUE LEADERSHIP, AND I 
SUPPORT THESE LEADERS.
[End of Translation] TODAY WE 
ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM CANADA'S 
CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER AND 
HER DEPUTY, DR. TAM AND 
DR. NJOO.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM OUR 
MINISTER OF HEALTH, PATTY HAJDU.
BY VIDEOLINK WE ARE GOING TO 
HEAR FROM OUR MINISTER OF 
EMPLOYMENT, WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT, AND DISABILITY 
INCLUSION, CARLA QUALTROUGH.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] AND WE'LL HEAR FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE TREASURY 
BOARD, MR. DUCLOS.
>> RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 9,017 
CASES, INCLUDING 105 DEATHS.
SO IN ADDITION, AT ANY POINT IN 
TIME, AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID THERE 
ARE MANY PEOPLE UNDER 
INVESTIGATION, SOME ARE WAITING 
FOR THEIR LAB RESULTS AND SOME 
HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED.
EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT 
CASES IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT 
DOESN'T MEAN THERE ARE NO CASES 
AND NO EXPOSURES POTENTIALLY 
THERE.
ACT AS THOUGH THERE IS ILLNESS 
AROUND YOU AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.
SO WE'VE NOW COMPLETED TESTS FOR
OVER 250,000 PEOPLE IN CANADA 
WITH AROUND 3.7% OF PEOPLE 
CONFIRMED AS POSITIVE AND 95% 
CONFIRMED AS NEGATIVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT TO OUR 
WEBSITE THAT HAS A LOT OF EP 
DEEM LODGIC DATA.
I WILL CLARIFY THERE IS 
SOMETHING KNOWN AS AN EPIDEMIC 
CURVE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
EVERY DAY YOU'RE HEARING THE 
CUMULATIVE NUMBERS BEING 
REPORTED.
9,017 IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 
CASES WE'VE HAD EVER SINCE THE 
START OF THE OUTBREAK IN CANADA.
WHAT YOU DON'T SEE WITH THESE 
NUMBERS IS WHEN DID THESE PEOPLE
GET SICK, WHAT DOES THE 
TRAJECTORY LOOK LIKE.
THAT'S WHAT AN EPIDEMIC CURVE IS
AND THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
IF YOU GO THERE -- AND AS I'VE 
SAID BEFORE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING 
REPORTED TODAY IS WHAT HAPPENED 
TO SOMEONE WHEN THEY GOT 
INFECTED AND SYMPTOMATIC AT 
LEAST TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE NUMBERS YOU'RE SEEING 
REPORTED IS WHAT HAPPENED TO 
SOMEONE TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO YOU WOULD SEE THAT THE CURVE 
ITSELF GOES UP AND DOWN.
THE TWO-WEEK DELAY IS WHEN 
PEOPLE GET SICK, THEY HAVE TO 
PRESENT, GET TESTED, GET THE 
TEST RESULTS.
IT TAKES TIME FOR PUBLIC HEALTH 
TO INVESTIGATE AN OUTBREAK, FIND
THE CONTACT, TEST THE CONTACT.
IT'S QUITE AN INVOLVED PROCESS 
TO GET YOU THAT EPIDEMIC CURVE.
SO LOOK AT IT.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT ACTUALLY IS 
HAPPENING, WHICH IS ALSO WHY 
WHEN SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES WERE PUT IN A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AGO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO 
SEE THE IMPACT OF THE EPIDEMIC 
CURVE OF THOSE MEASURES FOR A 
LITTLE WHILE, BUT THIS WEEK IS A
CRUCIAL TIME, PARTICULARLY IN 
THE WEST WHEN THE EPIDEMIC 
STARTED EARLIER, TO SEE WHAT'S 
HAPPENED TO THAT OUTBREAK.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT, BUT 
OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THESE 
TECHNICAL PIECES DR. NJOO AND I 
COULD UNPACK FOR YOU AT ANY TIME
YOU WISH TO ASK US QUESTIONS.
SO ESSENTIALLY WITH -- JUST TO 
ADD, THOUGH, THE EPIDEMIC CURVE,
WE WILL NOT KNOW WHERE THE PEAK 
OF AN OUTBREAK IS UNTIL YOU'VE 
ACTUALLY PASSED THAT PEAK.
THAT IS ANOTHER CONCEPT YOU NEED
TO REMEMBER.
THIS WILL KEEP GOING UNTIL YOU 
GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.
YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE HIT 
THAT PEAK.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF LAG 
TIME.
SO RIGHT NOW WITH THE NUMBER OF 
CASES AND OUTBREAKS THAT WE ARE 
SEEING, THEY ARE STILL CONNECTED
TO A NUMBER OF HIGH-RISK PEOPLE 
IN CANADA, PARTICULARLY 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
SO THERE IS STILL AN URGENT NEED
TO MAKE SURE AND DOUBLE DOWN ON 
PRECAUTIONS.
FOR OTHER HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS 
LIVING IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS, IT
IS LIKEWISE IMPORTANT TO TAKE 
EVERY CAUTION, WHICH MIGHT MEAN 
STAYING HOME AND GETTING SUPPORT
FROM OTHERS.
SO WHILE MANY CASES OCCUR AND 
ADULTS AND YOUNGER ADULTS, IT IS
REALLY PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60
WHO ACCOUNT FOR 60% OF 
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND 93% OF THE 
DEATHS.
SO AGAIN, THE HIGH-RISK 
POPULATIONS NEED TO TAKE EVERY 
PRECAUTION.
WITH SO MANY CANADIANS 
PRACTISING STRICT PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, I'M HEARTENED TO 
HEAR THE MANY STORIES ABOUT HOW 
PEOPLE ARE STAYING CONNECTED 
VIRTUALLY ACROSS ALL AGES.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING CAN PUT A 
STRAIN ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH WITH
FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND 
LONLINESS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WE 
ARE ALL JOINED AS CANADIANS IN A
VITAL SCLECKETIVE EFFORT TO 
PRESERVE HEALTH AND SAVE LIVES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PLEASE REACH OUT AND CONNECT AND
SUPPORT OTHERS WHO MAY BE HAVING
A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TIME.
WE ALL NEED TO KEEP UP PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING WHILE MAINTAINING 
STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT EPIDEMIC 
CURVE IS UP TO EVERYBODY SINGLE 
ONE OF US.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. TAM.
DR. NJOO.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] HELLO, EVERYONE.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 9,017 CASES 
OF COVID-19, INCLUDING 105 
DEATHS.
IN ADDITION, AT ANY POINT IN 
TIME THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE UNDER
INVESTIGATION, WAITING 
LABORATORY RESULTS, OR WHO HAVE 
NOT BEEN TESTED.
SO EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT HEARING 
OF CASES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT
DOES NOT MEAN THERE ARE NO CASES
OR THERE ARE NO EXPOSURES 
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE NOW COMPLETED TESTS FOR 
OVER 250,000 PEOPLE IN CANADA, 
WITH ABOUT 3.7% CONFIRMED AS 
POSITIVE AND ABOUT 95% CONFIRMED
AS NEGATIVE.
DR. TAM GAVE US A LOT OF DETAIL 
AND I'LL TRY TO SUMMARIZE IN 
FRENCH.
THERE'S A LOT OF DATA ON OUR 
WEBSITE AND WE WELCOME YOU TO 
HAVE A LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE.
ONE IMPORTANT CONCEPT IS THAT OF
THE EPIDEMIC CURVE.
WE GIVE YOU CUMULATIVE DATA 
EVERY DAY, BUT THAT DOESN'T 
TRULY PAINT A PICTURE OF TODAY'S
SITUATION.
ON OUR SITE THERE ARE GRAPHS 
THAT SHOW HOW MANY CASES ARE 
REPORTED EVERY DAY BY ONSET OF 
SYMPTOMS.
THAT TYPE OF DATA ALLOWS US TO 
SEE THE PEAK AND SEE TRENDS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'VE YET 
HIT THE PEAK OF THE EPIDEMIC 
CURVE.
IT IS SO ESSENTIAL THAT EVERYONE
CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING -- PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, RATHER.
THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT THE IMPACT 
WILL BE IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A BIT OF A 
LAG BECAUSE THE DATA WE GET EACH
DAY REFLECTS THE EXPOSURES THAT 
OCCURRED TWO OR EVEN THREE WEEKS
AGO.
WHEN PEOPLE CONTRACT THE VIRUS, 
THEY THEN TAKE SOME TIME TO FALL
ILL AND THEN CONSULT THE MEDICAL
ASSISTANT.
THEN THEY GET TESTED, THE 
LABORATORY GETS THE RESULTS, 
THEN WE TRACE THE CONTACT AND 
TEST THE CONTACTS.
ALL THAT TAKES TIME AND IS 
REFLECTED IN THE EPIDEMIC CURVE.
WITH HIGHER NUMBERS IN LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES, THERE IS AN 
URGENT NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON 
PRECAUTIONS.
FOR OTHER HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS 
WHO ARE LIVING IN COMMUNITY 
SETTINGS, IT IS LIKEWISE 
IMPORTANT TO TAKE EVERY 
PRECAUTION, WHICH MEANS STAYING 
HOME AND GETTING HELP AND 
SUPPORT FROM OTHERS.
SO MANY CANADIANS ARE PRACTISING
STRICT PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND 
IT WARMS MY HEART TO HEAR THE 
MANY STORIES OF PEOPLE STAYING 
CONNECTED VIRTUALLY.
NO MATTER HOW OLD WE ARE, 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING CAN REALLY 
PUT A STRAIN ON OUR MENTAL 
HEALTH.
IT CAN MAKE US FEEL ISOLATED AND
LONELY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT 
WHILE WE ARE KEEPING PHYSICALLY 
APART, WE ARE ALL JOINED AS 
CANADIANS IN THIS CRUCIAL, 
COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO PRESERVE 
HEALTH AND SAVE LIVES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
PLEASE, STAY IN TOUCH WITH 
OTHERS AND KEEP FINDING WAYS TO 
CONNECT AND TO SUPPORT OTHERS 
WHO MAY BE HAVING A DIFFICULT 
TIME.
WE ALL NEED TO KEEP UP PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING WHILE MAINTAINING 
STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
DR. NJOO.
[End of Translation] NOW WE WILL
HEAR FROM MINISTER PATTY HAJDU.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I WOULD LIKE TO 
START BY THANKING ALL THOSE WHO 
ARE DOING THEIR PART.
I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT, BUT WE
CAN'T STOP NOW.
YOU ARE THE FIRST LINE OF 
DEFENCE AGAINST THIS VIRUS.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO 
IMPROVE THE SITUATION.
[End of Translation] NEW MOBILE 
APP TO HELP CANADIANS STAY 
INFORMED.
THE CANADA COVID-19 APP IS 
AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT THE 
Canada.caWEBSITE.
THIS APP PROVIDES UP-TO-DATE 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVID-19 
PANDEMIC IN CANADA, INCLUDING 
ADVICE FOR PREVENTING THE SPREAD
OF THE VIRUS, IMPORTANT CONTACT 
INFORMATION, AND GUIDANCE FOR 
SEEKING MEDICAL HELP.
IT INCLUDES A WAY FOR CANADIANS 
TO CHECK THEIR SYMPTOMS USING 
THE APP.
THIS APP IS ONE MORE WAY THAT WE
CAN GIVE CANADIANS INFORMATION 
THEY ARE SEEKING DURING THE 
OUTBREAK.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 
REACH OUT TO CANADIANS IN ANY 
WAY POSSIBLE SO WE CAN WORK 
TOGETHER TO FLATTEN THE CURVE.
I WILL ALSO MENTION A DIGITAL 
TOOLKIT THAT CAN HELP WITH THE 
STRESS THAT MANY OF US ARE 
FEELING IN THIS UNCERTAIN TIME.
I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THE 
MESSAGE DR. TAM HAS BEEN SHARING
WITH CANADIANS.
THE NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED 
DAILY DOES NOT PAINT A FULL 
PICTURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
MANY PEOPLE IN ALL PARTS OF THE 
COUNTRY ARE WAITING ON LAB 
RESULTS OR THEY HAVEN'T BEEN 
TESTED.
SO IF YOU ARE NOT HEARING ABOUT 
CASES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT 
DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T 
EXIST.
FOR THAT REASON, PEOPLE MUST 
STAY THE COURSE AND PRACTICE 
SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING 
AND FOLLOW THE LOCAL AND 
NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE, 
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE OR NO 
MATTER HOW MANY CASES THERE ARE 
OR AREN'T IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THIS IS VERY HARD, BUT 
I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF WE 
CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE COMMON 
GOOD, WE CAN AND WILL WEATHER 
THIS STORM.
THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER 
IS ALSO TO REMAIN KIND TO ONE 
ANOTHER.
THIS TIME IS DIFFICULT FOR 
EVERYONE.
THIS IS THE TIME TO REACH OUT 
SAFELY.
CALL YOUR LOVED ONES.
WRITE A LETTER TO A FRIEND.
VOLUNTEER SAFELY TO HELP THOSE 
NEEDING SUPPORT.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO 
WORK HARD TO HAVE YOUR BACK, BUT
YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, 
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY IN 
HOW SOMEONE IS FEELING.
WE MUST MEET OUR FEAR WITH 
COURAGE.
IT WILL TAKE COURAGE TO ACT WITH
COMPASSION.
BUT IT IS BY MEETING FEAR WITH 
COURAGE AND COMPASSION THAT WE 
WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER 
AND COME OUT STRONGER ON THE 
OTHER SIDE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PATTY.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM 
THE MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, 
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND 
DISABILITY INCLUSION, CARLA 
QUALTROUGH.
SHE IS JOINING US BY VIDEOLINK.
CARLA, PLEASE.
>> HELLO, BONJOUR.
I'M PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO JOIN 
YOU AND MY CABINET COLLEAGUES 
TODAY VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE TO 
GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT THAT 
WAS ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE PAST TWO WEEKS 
THERE HAS BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED 
WAVE OF E.I. REQUESTS.
1.3 MILLION E.I. REQUESTS HAVE 
BEEN FILED.
TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, IN
2018, 2019, 2.1 MILLION 
CANADIANS RECEIVED E.I. THE 
WHOLE YEAR.
[End of Translation] PEOPLE FROM
RETIREMENT AND REDESIGNED OUR 
SYSTEM.
AS I SAID LAST WEEK, THE REALITY
IS THAT OUR E.I. SYSTEM WASN'T 
DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE GLOBAL 
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND ITS 
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACTS.
IT DOESN'T COVER ALL TYPES OF 
WORKERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH
IRREGULAR HOURS AND LOWER PAY, 
OFTEN FILLED BY CANADA'S MOST 
VULNERABLE POPULATION, INCLUDING
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 
YOUTH, AND NEW CANADIANS.
SINCE THE BEGINNING, WE'VE BEEN 
EQUIVOCAL IN OUR COMMITMENT TO 
SUPPORTING ALL WORKERS FACING 
HARDSHIPS AS A RESULT OF THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THAT'S WHY WE ANNOUNCED THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
AS WE'VE DEVELOPED OUR PLANS, 
OUR PRIORITY HAS BEEN TO ENSURE 
THAT CANADIANS CAN ACCESS THIS 
BENEFIT IN THE SIMPLEST AND 
FASTEST WAY POSSIBLE.
TODAY WE'RE PLEASED TO LET 
CANADIANS KNOW THAT MORE 
INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY FOR 
THE CERB IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 
CANADA.CA/CORONAVIRUS.
THE CERB IS BEING JOINTLY 
ADMINISTERED BY SERVICE CANADA 
AND THE CANADA REVENUE AGENCY 
WHICH WILL LEVERAGE THE 
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA'S TWO 
LARGEST PAYMENT SYSTEMS ALLOWING
FOR A MORE TIMELY DELIVERY OF 
THIS BENEFIT.
DIRECT DEPOSIT PAYMENTS WILL BE 
MADE IN THREE TO FIVE DAYS OF 
APPLYING, WITH CHEQUES TAKING 
APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE WEB PAGE WILL 
BE UPDATED OFTEN AND WILL BE AN 
IMPORTANT PLACE TO GET 
UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
AND FOR CANADIANS WHO DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO INTERNET OR A 
COMPUTER, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO 
APPLY THROUGH SERVICE CANADA BY 
PHONE.
ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE 
SHOULD OPEN AN ACCOUNT ON 
SERVICE CANADA OR WITH THE 
C.R.A. BEFORE MONDAY.
[End of Translation] DIRECT 
DEPOSIT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE 
BENEFITS FASTER.
FOR CANADIANS WHO HAVE ALREADY 
APPLIED FOR E.I., THERE IS NO 
NEED TO REAPPLY.
THESE APPLICATIONS WILL BE 
AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THE 
CERB.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE 
RECEIVED OVER 1 MILLION 
APPLICATIONS WITH MORE COMING IN
EACH DAY.
WE HAVE PROCESSED MORE THAN 
430,000 OF THOSE CLAIMS.
IN THE SPACE OF A FEW WEEKS, 
SERVICE CANADA HAS DEVELOPED AND
IMPLEMENTED A STREAMLINED 
PROCESS THAT, STARTING TODAY, 
WILL BE ABLE AUTOMATICALLY TO 
PROCESS APPROXIMATELILY 400,000 
APPLICATIONS PER DAY.
THIS MEANS THAT THE BACKLOG OF 
COVID-19-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT 
WEEK.
THIS ALSO MEANS THAT SOME 
CANADIANS WHO HAVE ALREADY 
APPLIED THROUGH E.I. WILL BEGIN 
RECEIVING THEIR CERB PAYMENT 
OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW 
DAYS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE PUBLIC SERVICE 
IS WORKING HARD TO SUPPORT 
CANADIANS AND GIVE THEM THE HELP
THEY NEED IN THESE DIFFICULT 
TIMES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC
SERVICE AND PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR 
THEIR HARD WORK.
[End of Translation] TO SUPPORT 
CANADIAN WORKERS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES.
MERCI.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CARLA, 
AND I AM RELIEVED THE TECHNOLOGY
ACTUALLY WORKED.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] NOW LET'S HEAR FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE TREASURY 
BOARD, JEAN-YVES DUCLOS.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR 
TUNING THIS.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS AN 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CRISIS AND A
HEALTH CRISIS.
THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS,
SO OUR GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN 
MAJOR ACTION TO PROTECT THE 
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EACH 
CANADIAN.
IN ADDITION TO THE MEASURES THAT
YOU'RE ALREADY AWARE OF THAT 
WE'VE TAKEN, WE WANT TO ENSURE 
THAT ALL WORKERS IMPACTED BY 
THIS CRISIS CAN QUICKLY RECEIVE 
THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT THEY 
NEED TO GET THROUGH THESE 
DIFFICULT TIMES.
SO WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE NEW 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS MONEY 
AVAILABLE QUICKLY SO THAT 
CANADIANS CAN ACCESS IT QUICKLY 
AND IN A VERY SIMPLE, EASY WAY.
WE WANT IT TO BE SIMPLE AND 
CLEAR.
WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYONE 
BEHIND.
[End of Translation] WE WANT TO 
GET MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF 
CANADIANS RIGHT AWAY IF THEY ARE
NOT WORKING BECAUSE THEY ARE 
SICK, HAVE BEEN LAID OFF, HAVE 
LOST THEIR INCOME, OR ARE 
LOOKING AFTER THEIR CHILDREN.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANKS TO THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT SALARY WORKERS AND 
FREELANCERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE 
WILL RECEIVE $2,000 EVERY FOUR 
WEEKS FOR UP TO FOUR MONTHS.
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT HAS BEEN SET UP VERY 
QUICKLY.
THIS IS A REALLY UNPRECEDENTED 
EFFORT.
TWO GOVERNMENT GROUPS, THE 
CANADA REVENUE AGENCY AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT CANADA ARE WORKING 
TOGETHER TO DELIVER THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT 
TOGETHER.
[End of Translation] CANADIANS 
WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS A 
SERVICE OPTION THAT BEST FITS 
THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Canada.ca/coronavirus-cerb.
IT IS THE SAME PAGE FOR 
EVERYONE.
DEMANDS WILL BE ACCEPTED 
STARTING ON APRIL 6.
THE WEBSITE IS 
Canada.ca/coronavirus-cerb.
IT IS READY AS OF TODAY.
SO YOU CAN BEGIN TO APPLY FOR 
THE CERB.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY AS OF 
APRIL  6, BUT THE WEBSITE IS 
READY ALREADY.
WE ANTICIPATE A HUGE AMOUNT OF 
ACCOUNTS, SO WE ASK CANADIANS TO
APPLY BASED ON THEIR BIRTH 
DATES.
IF YOU ARE BORN IN JANUARY, 
FEBRUARY, AND MARCH, REPLY ON 
APRIL 6.
IF YOU WERE BORN IN APRIL, MAY, 
OR JUNE, REPLY ON APRIL 7.
REPLY ON APRIL 8 IF YOU WERE 
BORN IN JULY, AUGUST, OR 
SEPTEMBER.
AND ON APRIL 9 IF YOU WERE BORN 
IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, OR 
DECEMBER.
AND THIS PROCESS WILL HAVE NO 
EFFECT ON WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR 
BENEFIT OR HOW MUCH YOU RECEIVE.
THE CANADA REVENUE AGENCY IS 
WORKING TIRELESSLY ON THIS 
BENEFIT AND THE CANADA REVENUE 
AGENCY WILL DELIVER THIS BENEFIT
USING SOLID SYSTEMS AND 
COUNTYING ON THEIR DEDICATED 
STAFF, WHICH IS ALREADY THE CASE
FOR THE 6 MILLION CANADIANS WHO 
ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING THE 
CANADA CHILD BENEFIT.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPORT 
CANADIANS AND BUSINESSES.
WE PLEDGE TO.
WE NEED TO GET THE RIGHT 
INFORMATION OUT.
SO IN CONCLUSION, WE WOULD LIKE 
TO THANK JOURNALISTS AND THANK 
THE MEDIA FOR THEIR GREAT WORK 
IN SPREADING IMPORTANT MESSAGES 
AND INFORMATION TO CANADIANS.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS HAD
TO MAKE SACRIFICES, BUT WE WILL 
GET THROUGH THIS CRISIS 
TOGETHER.
LET'S CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF 
ONE ANOTHER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE NOW READY TO TAKE 
QUESTIONS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> WE'LL TAKE THREE QUESTIONS ON
THE PHONE AND COME BACK TO THE 
ROOM.
OPERATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE 
PRESS STAR 1 ON YOUR TELEPHONE 
KEY BAD.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM ALEX 
BOEING FROM THE "TORONTO STAR."
". 
>> Question: THANK YOU FOR 
TAKING MY QUESTION.
THIS MIGHT BE FOR MINISTER HAJDU
AND DR. TAM.
THIS MORNING THE PRIME MINISTER 
WAS TALKING ABOUT A RANGE OF 
SCENARIOS GOING FORWARD WITH THE
NUMBER OF INFECTIONS, I ASSUME 
NUMBER OF FATALITIES, LENGTH OF 
TIME WE COULD BE EXISTING UNDER 
THE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING MEASURES.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN GIVE A 
SENSE OF THAT RANGE.
WHAT IS THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO 
IN ACTUAL NUMBERS OF INFECTIONS 
AND FATALITIES AND LENGTH OF 
TIME AND WHAT IS THE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIO IN THOSE THREE THINGS.
>> I'LL START, ALEX.
THANKS FOR THE QUESTION AND THEN
I'LL TURN OVER TO 
DR. CONTAMINATE FOR SOME 
SPECIFICS.
THAT'S THE WORK WE'RE DOING 
RIGHT NOW, THE MODELLING WORK, 
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN 
ANTICIPATE GIVEN VARIOUS 
MEASURES TAKEN ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY BY VARIOUS PROVINCES AND
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, AS WELL AS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.
IT'S NOT AS EASY OF AN ANSWER AS
I THINK IT WOULD SEEM, IN THAT 
DIFFERENT RANGES CAN BE 
ANTICIPATED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, 
DEPENDING ON THE MEASURES THAT 
HAVE BEEN TAKEN, THE 
EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE MEASURES,
WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN, 
ET CETERA.
SO ALL THAT TO SAY THAT THAT IS 
TOP OF MIND FOR US IN TERMS OF 
WHAT WE'RE DOING AT HEALTH 
BECAUSE, NOT ONLY DOES IT GIVE 
US A WAY TO MORE ACCURATELY 
PREDICT WHAT KIND OF SURGE WE 
MIGHT SEE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF 
THE COUNTRY, ESSENTIALLY 
IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF HOW WE USE
OUR PHYSICAL AND HUMAN 
RESOURCES, BUT ALSO WHAT KINDS 
OF PATTERNS OF DISEASE WE MIGHT 
BE ANTICIPATING GIVEN THE 
DIFFERENT MEASURES.
AND I GUESS THE THIRD IMPORTANT 
PART, HOW MIGHT ALLEVIATING SOME
OF THESE MEASURES IMPACT OUR 
ABILITY TO CONTROL THAT CURVE OR
REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF FUTURE 
SURGES OR FUTURE WAVES.
SO AS MUCH AS I WISH I COULD 
GIVE YOU A SIMPLE ANSWER, THERE 
ISN'T ONE, BUT A LOT OF WORK IS 
BEING DONE ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF DR. TAM HAS MORE
THAT YOU WANT TO ADD.
>> Answer: I THINK THAT'S A GOOD
EXPLANATION.
REALLY, TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER 
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS, WE'VE 
BEEN LOOKING AT PLANNING 
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
ALL OF US RECOGNIZE THAT RIGHT 
NOW HOW YOU INFLUENCE THE 
TRAJECTORY OF THIS PANDEMIC 
ABSOLUTELY IS DEPENDANT ON 
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT 
NOW.
SO IT'S TO ACT RAPIDLY EVEN WHEN
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE 
INFORMATION, WE MUST ACT AS WE 
ARE DOING NOW.
IN SOME RESPECTS, AS WE 
STRENGTHEN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES OVER THE LAST WEEKS, IT
ALSO TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME 
FOR CANADIANS TRULY TO PICK UP 
THIS MESSAGE ABOUT PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
SO A LOT OF THESE MEASURES WERE 
TAKEN JUST AHEAD OF THIS.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE A 
MASSIVE EFFORT -- BECAUSE THE 
LENGTH OF TIME YOU COULD BE INTO
THIS EPIDEMIC WAVE IS ALL 
DEPENDANT ON WHAT WE'RE DOING 
RIGHT NOW.
SCENARIO PLANNING IS SIMPLE ON A
PIECE OF PAPER BECAUSE YOU JUST 
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RATES, MILD,
MODERATE, SEVERE, AND GIVE YOU A
NUMBER.
IT'S NOT THAT HELPFUL FOR US 
RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT 
EXERCISE, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO 
FOCUS OUR ATTENTION OF GETTING 
THIS FIRST WAVE UNDER CONTROL.
JUST TO ADD THAT ANY PLANNING 
SCENARIO HAS US POTENTIALLY 
OVERWHELMING OUR HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEM.
AS I'VE SAID PART OF THE 
EXERCISE SO YOU FREE UP SOME OF 
THE HOSPITAL RESOURCES IN 
I.C.U.s, PURCHASING EXTRA 
VENTILATORS.
BUT THE REAL MESSAGE TO 
CANADIANS IS THAT ON A WHOLE 
RANGE OF SCENARIOS, THIS 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ISN'T WELL 
DESIGNED TO COPE WITH IT IF WE 
DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH NUMBER 
YOU PLUG IN, BUT THAT IS THE 
TRUTH OF THE MATTER.
IT IS A SERIOUS SITUATION.
YOU'VE SEEN HOW THIS PLAYS OUT 
IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
NONE OF THOSE SCENARIOS ARE A 
GOOD ONE.
YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT NOW.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
ALEX, A FOLLOW-UP?
>> Question: I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE 
SAYING.
YOU'RE SAYING IN THE RANGE OF 
SCENARIOS NONE OF THEM ARE GOOD,
IN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A SURGE
THAT COULD TEST THE CAPACITY OF 
OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS NO MATTER
WHAT?
>> Answer: ABSOLUTELY.
THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.
EVERYONE IS TRYING REALLY HARD 
AS I SAY TO MOVE THE RESOURCES 
SO YOU CAN COPE WITH A -- IT 
MIGHT BE AN UPCOMING SURGE OF 
PATIENTS, PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED AT 
ALTERNATE SITES, ABSOLUTELY 
TRYING TO EXPAND THE CURRENT 
SYSTEM, THE HEALTH WORKFORCE IN 
ORDER TO COPE WITH THIS.
SO I DO BELIEVE THE HEALTH 
CAPACITY -- COMPARED TO WHAT 
YOUR REGULAR DAY MIGHT BE BEFORE
THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN FREED UP 
QUITE A BIT.
STILL, EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT SOME 
OF THE LOWER ATTACK RATES, IT IS
NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO SEE.
PUBLIC HEALTH HAS TO TRY TO 
SUPPRESS THE CURVE, WHILE THE 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS TRYING TO 
INCREASE ITS CAPACITY.
I INK IF WE CAN SUPPRESS THIS 
INITIAL CURVE -- THE HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEM RIGHT NOW IS COPING.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FATALITY 
RATE AT THE MOMENT, WE KNOW THAT
IS AN UNSTABLE NUMBER BECAUSE 
SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL IN A VERY 
CRITICAL CONDITION.
THE PERCENTAGE OF FATALITY IS 
HOVERING AROUND THAT 1% IN SOME 
AREAS WHERE YOU HIT A PARTICULAR
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION WHERE THERE 
ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES GET A HIGHER 
FATALITY RATE.
BUT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS 
ACTUALLY COPING QUITE WELL AT 
THE MOMENT.
ANY OF THOSE BIGGER PROJECTIONS 
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIOS, THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COPE IS 
ABOUT NOW DOING REALLY FAST, BUT
IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IN THE 
END -- SOME VERY DIFFICULT 
DECISIONS MAY HAVE TO BE MADE 
ABOUT THE PRIORITIZATION OF 
EXISTING RESOURCES.
THAT'S SOME OF THE REALLY 
CRITICAL WORK THAT'S BEING DONE 
IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
>> ALEX, I WILL END BY SAYING 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS WERE NEVER 
DESIGNED FOR THIS KIND OF SURGE.
THAT IS THE CHALLENGE.
I THINK IF CANADIANS CAN TAKE 
ANYTHING AWAY FROM WHAT DR. TAM 
HAS SAID, SHE'S SAID THIS OVER 
AND OVER, IS THAT OUR INDIVIDUAL
ACTIONS IS THE STRONGEST TOOL WE
HAVE TO PROTECT OUR HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEM.
THIS IS A SNEAKY VIRUS.
WE OFTEN -- WE MAY FEEL VERY 
MILDLY ILL.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T FEEL ILL AT 
ALL.
THAT IS WHY THE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING AND THE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING IS SO CRITICALLY 
IMPORTANT BECAUSE AN ASSUMPTION 
THAT YOU'RE WELL AND, THEREFORE,
ARE NOT POSING A RISK TO 
SOMEBODY AT THE GROCERY STORE OR
POSING A RISK TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS
WHILE YOU'RE HAVING A DRINK ON 
THE PATIO AS THINGS WARM UP IS 
THE WRONG ASSUMPTION TO MAKE.
WE HAVE TO ACT AS IF WE ALL HAVE
THIS VIRUS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T GO FOR
A WALK, BUT YOU NEED TO KEEP THE
6' BETWEEN YOU AND THOSE AROUND.
THIS IS A HARD MESSAGE FOR MANY,
MANY CANADIANS.
I KNOW THAT AND I KNOW THERE ARE
CIRCUMSTANCES OUT THERE THAT ARE
VERY DIFFICULT.
ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY
OUR NEIGHBOURS' LIFE DEPENDS ON 
US TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY
OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CANNOT 
COPE WITH THE SURGE.
IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO SEE 
THAT MANY CRITICAL PATIENTS ALL 
AT ONCE OR WAS ANY SYSTEM AS WE 
SEE FROM COUNTRIES ALL AROUND 
THE WORLD TRYING TO PREPARE FOR 
THIS SURGE.
CANADIANS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN TRYING TO KEEP THEIR 
NEIGHBOUR OR LOVED ONE ALIVE.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER. 
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ELLEN 
BOUZETI.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] I HAVE A 
QUESTION FOR MINISTER DUCLOS.
COULD YOU GIVE US SOME MORE 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE 75% WAGE SUBSIDY AND
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT OF $500 PER WEEK.
IF YOU HAVE A SALARY OF $35,000,
$675 A WEEK, THEN THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY IS MORE ADVANTAGEOUS.
THE GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE 
SAYING IN BOTH CASES THE 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYER 
AND EMPLOYEE IS MAINTAINED AND 
IN BOTH CASES CANADIANS WON'T 
HAVE TO GO TO WORK TO RECEIVE 
THE BENEFITS.
SO WHY WOULD CANADIANS REQUEST 
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT 
WHEN THEY COULD PREFER THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
QUESTION.
WE ABSOLUTELY WANT CANADIANS' 
NEEDS MET.
THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT 
IN THE SHORT TERM, ESPECIALLY IF
THERE IS A GRADUAL RETURN OF 
EMPLOYEES TO WORK IN CANADA.
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WANT 
TO GET THE ECONOMY ROLLING 
STRONGLY AGAIN.
SO WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THESE 
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS.
WE HAVE TWO GOALS.
OUR FIRST GOAL IS MET BY THE 
CANADIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT AND THE WAGE SUBSIDIES 
THAT WE HAVE ANNOUNCED AND THAT 
WE ARE GIVING YOU MORE 
INFORMATION ABOUT TODAY.
WHETHER BUSINESSES CAN PAY THEIR
EMPLOYEES' SALARIES OR NOT IN 
THE UPCOMING WEEKS, THERE WILL 
BE $2,000 A MONTH AVAILABLE FOR 
ALL WORKERS.
NEXT, IN MANY CASES WE EXPECT 
THAT BUSINESSES WILL CONTINUE TO
PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES' SALARIES.
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE $2,000 OF 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE 
GOVERNMENT'S 75% WAGE SUBSIDY 
COMES INTO PLAY.
MINISTER MORNEAU, MINISTER NG, 
AND OTHER MINISTERS HAVE GIVEN 
US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY WOULD TAKE 
EFFECT.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: MY QUESTION IS FOR 
MINISTER HAJDU.
IT'S REGARDING THE STOCKPILE.
WE HEAR THAT QUÉBEC IS ALMOST 
FACING A SHORTAGE OF MASKS.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW 
MANY IN THE STOCKPILES CAN BE 
SENT RIGHT AWAY TO QUÉBEC AND 
HOW MUCH -- WHAT PERCENTAGE OF 
THE OVERALL STOCKPILE DOES THAT 
REPRESENT AND WHEN WILL THAT BE 
SENT?
>> Answer: THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR YOU
IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES AND 
TOTAL NUMBERS IN THE STOCKPILE, 
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE 
IS A DEPUTY MINISTER TABLE 
WORKING RIGHT NOW ON AN 
ALLOCATION THAT IS BASED ON 
ACTUAL NEED.
WE KNOW THAT ALL HOSPITALS ARE 
IN NEED OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT AND THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES ARE WORKING WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP AN
ALLOCATION PROCESS THAT REALLY 
GETS AT MAKING SURE THOSE 
PRODUCTS ARE GOING TO THE AREAS 
IN THE COUNTRY THAT ARE 
EXPERIENCING THE SURGES RIGHT 
NOW SO WE CAN DO THIS IN AN 
EQUITABLE AND FAIR WAY THAT 
MAKES SURE THAT CANADIANS AND 
THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT ARE 
SERVING CANADIANS HAVE THEIR 
NEEDS MET IN A WAY THAT'S GOING 
TO MAKE SENSE.
THIS IS DIFFICULT WORK, AS YOU 
CAN IMAGINE.
EVERY PROVINCE AND TERRITORY IS 
LOOKING TO BUILD UP THEIR OWN 
STOCKPILE FOR WHAT WILL COME IN 
THE DAYS AND WEEKS TO COME.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE WITH THE 
OFFICIALS WHO ARE WORKING FOR A 
FAIR SOLUTION.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I'D LIKE TO ADD 
SOMETHING.
MINISTER ANAND MADE AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY.
SHE ANNOUNCED THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN TO PURCHASE
60,000 MASKS.
TODAY WE ORDERED 5,000 MORE 
MASKS.
AS MINISTER HAJDU SAID, MINISTER
HAJDU IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH 
HER COUNTERPARTS IN ALL OF THE 
PROVINCES.
WE UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION IN 
QUÉBEC IS PARTICULARLY 
DIFFICULT.
LAST NIGHT I SPOKE TO MINISTER 
SONIA LABELLE AND WE SPOKE ABOUT
THE SITUATION.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MIA
RABSON FROM "THE CANADIAN 
PRESS."
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: MY QUESTION IS ALSO
ABOUT THE STOCKPILE.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN ASKING THIS 
QUESTION A LOT AND I JUST DON'T 
THINK WE HAVE AN ACTUAL ANSWER.
HOW BIG IS THE STOCKPILE?
AND IF WE HAVE A STOCKPILE, WHY 
ARE WE HEARING FROM DOCTORS AND 
NURSES ON THE FRONTLINES THAT 
THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH.
DID WE NOT HAVE ENOUGH IN THE 
STOCKPILE?
HAVE WE NOT STARTED DISTRIBUTING
ANYTHING FROM IT?
>> Answer: AGAIN, NUMBER OF THE 
EXACT NUMBERS BECAUSE THE 
NUMBERS CHANGE, AS YOU CAN 
IMAGINE, DAY-TO-DAY AS WE 
DISPENSE EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
TO YOUR QUESTION AS TO WHETHER 
WE HAVE ENOUGH, NO, WE LIKELY 
DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH.
I WOULD SAY OBVIOUSLY 
GOVERNMENTS ALL ACROSS THE WORLD
ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS US.
IT IS AN EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE 
SPACE FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT.
WE ARE PULLING OUT ALL THE 
STOPS, AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER, FROM THE 
MINISTER OF PROCUREMENT, THE 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.
WE ARE WORKING I WOULD SAY 24 
HOURS AROUND-THE-CLOCK TRYING TO
PROCURE EQUIPMENT IN A GLOBAL 
SITUATION WHERE EQUIPMENT IS 
EXTREMELY TIGHT.
I HAVE HEARD THOSE STORIES 
MYSELF.
I KNOW PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES
ARE DEVELOPING DIFFERENT RULES 
FOR THE USE AND DISTRIBUTION OF 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
WE WILL NOT STOP THIS WORK TO 
GET THE P.P.E. THAT WE NEED.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS AN 
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL GOVERNMENTS 
TO CONSIDER REINVESTING IN 
PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE 
CONVERSATIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THIS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE 
SITUATION RIGHT NOW IS SUCH THAT
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS THE MONEY, 
WILL, AND WORKFORCE AND 
EVERYONE'S FOCUS IS FIRMLY ON 
GETTING P.P.E.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR 
CANADA'S SHARES IN THAT 
AVAILABLE STOCK AS IT COMES 
ONLINE.
SECONDLY, I'LL SAY THAT THE WORK
ON DOMESTIC PRODUCTION IS 
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I FEEL VERY, I WOULD SAY -- I 
FEEL VERY WARMED BY THE EFFORT 
OF CANADIAN COMPANIES THAT HAVE 
REACHED OUT TO ME PERSONALLY, I 
KNOW REACHED OUT TO MANY OTHER 
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MANY 
OTHER MINISTERS ABOUT THEIR 
EFFORTS TO RETOOL.
THE REASON WHY IT TOOK SO LONG 
TO FIND THAT WORD IS THERE IS A 
FEELING OF WARMTH WHEN I THINK 
OF CANADIAN COMPANIES PUTTING 
EVERYTHING INTO TURNING THEIR 
MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AROUND 
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO CREATE
THE THINGS THAT CANADIAN 
FRONTLINE WORKERS NEED.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 
SUPPORT THEM.
THE WORK SO THAT WE CAN 
ACCELERATE REGULATORY PROCESSES 
TO GET THESE PRODUCTS CREATED, 
TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THE 
SPECIFICATIONS THAT HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS NEED AND FRONTLINE 
WORKERS NEED.
THIS IS WORK THAT IS HAPPENING 
LITERALLY AROUND-THE-CLOCK.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY 
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE WORKING SO 
HARD ON THIS.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE'LL TURN TO THE ROOM NOW 
STARTING WITH JULIE FROM CBC.
>> Question: I'M JUST WONDERING,
IT COULD BE FOR MS. FREELAND OR 
MS. QUALTROUGH.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO CANADIANS 
IN A REALLY SIMPLE WAY -- THE 
HOUSE OF COMMONS WAS HERE LAST 
WEEK TO PASS A BENEFITS PACKAGE.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO COME BACK?
IS THERE A PROBLEM?
WHAT HAS TO BE FIXED?
IS IT GOING TO DELAY PEOPLE 
GETTING THE MONEY THEY URGENTLY 
NEED?
>> Answer: WHY DON'T I BEGIN 
THERE BECAUSE THE PRIME 
MINISTER, AS HE SAID TODAY, HAS 
ASKED ME AND THE HOUSE LEADER 
AND JEAN-YVES TO WORK WITH THE 
OPPOSITION ABOUT A RETURN OF THE
HOUSE.
THIS IS REALLY BECAUSE WE 
UNDERSTAND AND VALUE AND RESPECT
THE ROLE OF THE OPPOSITION IN 
OUR PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR 
PARLIAMENT TO PLAY ITS ROLE, TO 
HAVE ITS VOICE.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT AS WE HAVE 
BEEN DOING OUR WORK TO GET THE 
SUPPORT TO CANADIANS THAT THEY 
NEED.
OUR WORK ON PROCUREMENT, OUR 
WORK ON SUPPORTING CANADIANS AS 
THE ECONOMY IS FEELING THE 
IMPACTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS JUDGED --
AND I 100% AGREE WITH HIM -- 
THAT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE 
MEASURES THAT WE KNOW ARE 
NECESSARY MEANS THAT IT WOULD BE
A GOOD IDEA TO BRING PARLIAMENT 
BACK TO WORK ON THEM.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY WE ARE 
VERY MUCH HOPING AND TRUSTING --
AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE 
OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSE WILL 
WORK WITH US IN THE SPIRIT IN 
WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON THESE 
ISSUES, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDING 
THAT NOW IS NOT A TIME FOR 
PARTISANSHIP.
NOW IS A TIME FOR A TRUE TEAM 
CANADA EFFORT AS WE COLLECTIVELY
RISE TO A CHALLENGE WHICH CAN 
ONLY BE COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL
CHALLENGE WE FACED FUTURE SECOND
WORLD WAR.
>> Question: YOU DIDN'T SAY WHY 
YOU'RE COMING BACK, WHAT NEEDS 
TO BE FIXED, WILL IT DELAY THE 
PAYMENTS?
>> Answer: I THINK I DID.
I SAID THE PRIME MINISTER 
BELIEVES -- AND I AGREE WITH 
HIM -- THAT IT IS RIGHT AND 
PROPER FOR US TO BE CONSULTING 
WITH PARLIAMENT AND WORKING WITH
PARLIAMENT, GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE 
OF OUR MEASURES.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM CARLA AND 
FROM JEAN-YVES OUR PLAN TO 
URGENTLY GET THE MONEY OUT TO 
CANADIANS BECAUSE CANADIANS NEED
THEM DESPERATELY.
>> Question: THIS QUESTION IS 
FOR DR. TAM.
IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY.
DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH METHODS TO 
TRACK?
ALSO, WITH THIS SURGE COMING 
APPARENTLY, HOW ARE DOCTORS 
GOING TO DECIDE WHO GETS A 
VENTILATOR?
ARE THERE GUIDELINES AND WHAT 
ARE THEY?
[ Indiscernible ] -- DO YOU HAVE
ENOUGH AND WHAT ABOUT THE 
VENTILATORS, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH?
>> Answer: CONTRACT TRACING, GOT
IT.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
TO GET THIS FIRST WAVE UNDER 
CONTROL IS NOT JUST CASE 
INFECTION, BUT CONTACT TRACING.
THAT IS A MASSIVE TOPIC AMONG 
THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE 
DISCUSSIONS INTENSELY TO MAKE 
SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH 
CAPACITY, PUBLIC HEALTH 
CAPACITY, TO DO THE CONTACT 
TRACING.
THE MAJORITY OF JURISDICTIONS 
ACTUALLY HAVE -- BUT A FEW HAVE 
SAID IF THE CASES GO UP IN THE 
NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'RE 
GOING TO NEED HELP.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS AT THE 
FEDERAL LEVEL WE'LL BE PROVIDING
THAT KIND OF SUPPORT AS NEEDED, 
BY RECRUITING STUDENTS AND OTHER
HUMAN RESOURCES IN ORDER TO 
PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT TO THE 
PROVINCES.
MANY OF THEM HAVE DONE A LOT OF 
THIS PREPARATION ALREADY.
THEY'VE RECRUITED MEDICAL 
STUDENTS, RECRUITED OTHER 
RETIRED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
ALBERTA HAS A GOOD TRAINING 
MODULE ALREADY DONE TO GET 
PEOPLE TRAINED ON CONTACT 
TRACING.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME UP TO SAY 
THAT THEY CAN HELP WITH THAT.
THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT 
QUESTION.
IF ANYBODY NEEDS ANY HELP, WE'RE
HERE TO PROVIDE THAT SURGE 
CAPACITY.
THAT'S ONE.
[ PLEASE STAND BY ]
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
>> Doctor: SOME OF THOSE
FACTORS AND UNDERLYING
CONDITIONS, AND THERE IS A
WHOLE HOST OF CONDITIONS.
>> A CLARIFICATION SA IS A
FOLLOWUP.
BE MIND FULL.
MIKE, GLOBAL?
>> THANK YOU.
>> Question: SCIENTIFIC
LITERATURE SAYS MASKS CAN
REDUCE THE PANDEMIC.
ARE WE SUGGESTING TO THE
PUBLIC IN CANADA WE DON'T
GIVE THEM THESE MASKS, WE
KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THEM.
IS THIS BECAUSE WE
PRIORITIZING THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM AND THE
SHORTAGES THERE, OR WHAT
OTHER REASON WOULD IT BE
THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT THE
PUBLIC TO GO OUT AND HAVE
THESE MASKS?
>> SO I'LL START AND THEN
I'LL TURN TO DR. TAM.
I THINK FIRST OF ALL THE
PREMISE THAT THE SCIENCE
IS CLEAR IS NOT ACCURATE,
BUT I THINK THERE ARE
OBVIOUSLY GROWING THOUGHTS
AROUND THE USE OF MASKS
FOR GENERAL PUBLIC
WEARING.
CERTAINLY DR. TAM HAS BEEN
KEEPING HER EYE ON THAT
SCIENCE AND GIVING US
ADVICE IN TERMS OF OUR OWN
MESSAGING.
BUT, YES, IT IS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL THAT IF PEOPLE
ARE WEARING MASKS OUTSIDE,
AND IT CERTAINLY IS THEIR
PREROGATIVE TO DO THAT, BY
THE WAY, THAT WE'RE NOT
TAKING AWAY MASKS THAT ARE
SURGICAL OR SPECIALIZED
THAT ARE EXTREMELY
NECESSARY ON THE FRONT
LINE, AND WE'RE NOT USING
MASKS IN A WAY, ALSO, THAT
ARE NOT APPROPRIATE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, MOST
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, MOST
GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T
REALIZE THAT N95MASKS JUST
PUT ON DON'T NECESSARILY
PROVIDE A GREATER LEVEL OF
PRO TOAKS.
 -- PROTECTION.THEY HAVE TO BE .
WHICH I'LL DESCRIBED AT
THE END OF THE DAY.
DR. TAM HAS ALSO BEEN
REALLY CLEAR WHEN WE PUT
THESE MASKS ON AND OFF, WE
CAN UNWITTINGLY INFECT
OURSELVES OR WE COULD HAVE
A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
THAT WE HAVE A MASK, AND
THEREFORE BE TOUCHING OR
FACE MORE AND ALL KINDS OF
THINGS.
ALL THAT TO SAY, IT IS A
PERSONAL CHOICE.
AND IF PEOPLE FEEL THEY
WANT TO MAKE A CLOTH MASK
AND WEAR A CLOTH MASK, IT
IS PERFECTLY IN THEIR
PURVIEW.
BUT WE DO NEED TO PROTECT
MEDICAL MASKS FOR MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER
FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO NEED
THEM IN THE COURSE OF
THEIR EVERYDAY DUTIES.
THAT'S THE MINISTER OF
HEALTH'S PERSPECTIVE.
I'LL SEE IF DR. TAM HAS AN
ADDITIONAL COMMENT.
>> Doctor: YES.
I THINK THE NUMBER ONE
SORT OF CONCERN OF THE
HEALTH SYSTEM IS TO GET
THE SUPPLY OF MEDICAL
MASKS, AND RESPIRATORS
MUST BE RESERVED FOR
HEALTH CARE WORKERS, THOSE
LOOKING AFTER PATIENTS.
THAT IS PROBABLY THE
NUMBER ONE REASON FOR
MAKING SURE THAT THE
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT.
AND WE ALSO KNOW WHAT
ACTUALLY DOES WORK
ALREADY, WHICH IS PHYSICAL
DISTANCING.
THOSE DROPLETS FOR A
CERTAIN DISTANCE.
THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.
FREQUENT HANDWASHING
ABSOLUTELY WORKS.
NOT TOUCHING YOUR FACE ARE
ABSOLUTELY PROVEN
MEASURES.
AND EVERYONE SHOULD
PRACTICE THOSE REGARDLESS
OF WHAT ELSE YOU'RE ADDING
TO THOSE LAYERS OF
PROTECTION.
AND SO -- AND THEN THE USE
OF WHAT I CALL NON-MEDICAL
MASKS OR OTHER MATERIALS.
I THINK I GOT ASKED THIS
QUESTION MAYBE A COUPLE OF
DAYS AGO, BY ASYMPTOMATIC
PEOPLE JUST GOING ABOUT IN
THE COMMUNITY.
ON THE ONE HAND, IT MAY
REDUCE YOU FROM TOUCHING
YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH.
IF YOU COVERED UP THOSE
PARTS, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL YOU'RE NOT PUTTING
YOUR FINGER IN YOUR EYE,
OR WHEN YOU'RE PULLING
YOUR MASK ON AND OFF THAT
YOU'RE TOUCHING YOUR FACE
IN OTHER WAYS.
THAT IS ONE ASPECT OF IT.
IF YOU HAVE A FABRIC OR
HOMEMADE MASK, IT IS A WAY
OF COVERING YOUR COUGH.
WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID YOU
SHOULD COVER YOUR COUGH SO
THAT YOU'RE NOT THROWING
YOUR DROPLETS AROUND TO
SOMEONE ELSE OR ON A
SURFACE, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO IT IS A WAY OF
PROTECTING OTHERS, IN A
WAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE
GO -- IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A
TISSUE, YOU COUGH INTO
YOUR ELBOW.
A MASK ACTS AS THAT KIND
OF A BARRIER, IF YOU WANT
TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY.
THE AFFECTIVENESS OF THE
USE OF NON-MEDICAL MASKS
HASN'T BEEN
WELL-DEMONSTRATED.
I THINK THERE MAY NOT BE
ANY HARM IN WEARING IT, AS
THE MINISTER SAYS, IF ONE
USES IT PROPERLY, AND IT
IS NOT GAPING, AND IT IS
WELL-FITTED, AND YOU
PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENIC
MEASURES BEFORE, AND YOU
HAVE TO WASH YOUR HANDS.
BUT I WOULD SAY,
ABSOLUTELY, NO MATTER WHAT
YOU DO WITH THAT KIND OF A
COVERING OF YOUR NOSE AND
MOUTH, YOU HAVE TO
PRACTICE WHAT WE KNOW
WORKS, WHICH IS THAT
PHYSICAL DISTANCING,
HANDWASHING, AND NOT
TOUCHING YOUR FACE.
SO I THINK I'VE ALWAYS
SAID FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED TO
TAKE IN EVOLUTION AND
INFORMATION AND SCIENCE,
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT,
AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF
THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED
AS A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH.
>> I THINK YOU MENTIONED
THIS THE OTHER DAY, BUT
JUST TO CLARIFY: WHEN
WOULD SOMEONE IN THE
PUBLIC, BECAUSE OF THE
SHORTAGES, WOULD YOU
RECOMMEND THAT THEY HAVE A
MASK OR SOMETHING?
>> Doctor: SO CERTAINLY
IF YOU ARE A GROUP OF
PERSONS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE
THE ILLNESS, YOU HAVE
COVID-19, AND YOU'VE BEEN
ASKED TO SELF-ISOLATE
BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED, AND YOU NEED TO
GET YOURSELF SOME PLACE TO
THE ACTUAL CLINIC OR WHERE
YOU'RE DIRECTED TO GO FOR
ESSENTIAL APPOINTMENTS OR
OTHER PLACES, THEN
COVERING UP YOUR COUGH,
COVERING YOUR MOUTH.
AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE
SYMPTOMS MAY BE MILD AND
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
DEVELOPING IT OR NOT, AND
UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES
COVERING YOUR MOUTH DOES
PREVENT YOUR DROPLETS FROM
BEING TRANSMITTED TO
OTHERS.
STILL, IT IS PEOPLE WHO
ARE SYMPTOMATIC WHO MAY
HAVE THE MILD, AND
SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY HAVE
A VERY MILD ILLNESS OR MAY
NOT RECOGNIZE THEY'RE
BEGINNING TO DEVELOP THE
ILLNESS.
SO PEOPLE IN THE
INCUBATION PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Question: IAN WEBB,
CTV NEWS.
RENT WAS DUE FOR MANY
CANADIANS, AND MANY
CANADIANS PROBABLY
COULDN'T MAKE THEIR RENT,
AND WHILE THE GOVERNMENT
IS GOING TO PROVIDE $2,000
A MONTH, THAT CHEQUE IS
NOT COMING FOR DAYS,
STILL.
AND EVEN WHEN IT DOES
COME, IN MANY CITIES,
$2,000 A MONTH ISN'T
ENOUGH FOR RENT.
AND WHILE IT MIGHT BE A
PROVINCIAL/MUNICIPAL
JURISDICTION, WHY HASN'T
THE GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN
AT THIS POINT, WHERE IT
HAS HELPED HOMEOWNERS, BUT
IT HAS NOT HELPED RENTERS?
>> Chrystia Freeland: SO
THAT IS A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION, AND IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY
PREOCCUPIED BY AND FOCUSED
ON, BOTH INSIDE OUR OWN
GOVERNMENT AND IN OUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
PROVINCES, MANY OF WHICH
HAVE TAKEN REAL ACTION ON
THIS FRONT.
AND I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR
THAT IN THIS CRISIS, WE
ARE NEVER GOING TO QUIBBLE
ABOUT WHAT IS A PROVINCIAL
POSSIBILITY AND WHAT IS A
RESPONSIBILITY.
WE BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND
THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL
CANADIANS, AND THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO
PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO THE
COUNTRY.
THIS IS A BIG CHALLENGE.
AND THE WAY WE HAVE
STRUCTURED OUR WORK IS
WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF CANADIANS.
TO BEGIN LITERALLY WITH
THE LIFE AND DEATH ISSUES.
AND THAT IS 100% THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
AND THAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY
THE CENTRE OF OUR WORK.
NEXT HAS COME AN EFFORT TO
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
HELP CANADIANS WEATHER
THIS ECONOMIC STORM AND TO
ENSURE OUR SOCIETY, OUR
ECONOMY ARE ABLE TO COME
ROARING BACK WHEN THE
CRISIS IS OVER.
AND WE STARTED IN EXACTLY
THE RIGHT PLACE, WHICH IS
DOING WHAT WE COULD AS
QUICKLY AS WE COULD TO
SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL
CANADIANS, AND THAT IS
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT FROM CARLA AND JEAN
IVES TODAY.
THE $2,000 A MONTH FOR
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T WORK
BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS OR
WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS
BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS.
THE PRIME MINISTER
ANNOUNCED JUST LAST FRIDAY
ANOTHER HUGE STEP, WHICH
IS THE WAGE SUBSIDY
PROGRAMME.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST
ECONOMIC PROGRAMME THE
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA HAS
EVER PUT INTO PLACE.
I WANT CANADIANS TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE
OF IT.
AND THAT PROGRAMME IS
FOCUSED ON KEEPING
COMPANIES AFLOAT AND
MAINTAINING THAT ESSENTIAL
CONNECTION BETWEEN
EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT SO THAT
WE CAN GO BACK TO WORK
WHEN THIS IS OVER.
AND SO IMPORTANT
PSYCHOLOGICAL FOR PEOPLE.
AND THAT WAS A HUGE, HUGE
THING.
EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING TO
DO NEXT.
THE THIRD THING, WHICH WE
HAVE DONE ALREADY, IS
PROVIDE HUGE LIQUIDITY
SUPPORT TO BANKS AND TO
THE BANKING SYSTEM.
ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT,
AND I REALLY WANT -- AND
THAT HAS BEEN THE WORK OF
OUR GOVERNMENT AND OF THE
BANK OF CANADA, AND THAT
IS IN PLACE.
HAVE WE DONE EVERYTHING
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ARE THERE OUTSTANDING
ISSUES?
100%.
ARE WE FOCUSED ON THEM?
ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE
SPECIFIC QUESTION OF RENT
CHEQUES BEING DUE, IN
ADDITION TO SOME CONCRETE
MEASURES THAT WE HAVE SEEN
TAKEN BY PROVINCES AND
CITIES, WHICH I COMMEND,
LET ME JUST ALSO SAY TO
ALL OF THE LANDLORDS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO,
IN SOME PLACES EVICTIONS
NOT BEING PERMITTED DURING
THIS CRISIS, BUT WHETHER
OR NOT THAT APPLIES TO YOU
SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE ALL
IN THIS TOGETHER.
AND IT WOULD BE A
HEARTLESS ACT, INDEED, TO
EVICT SOMEONE RIGHT NOW.
GIVEN WHAT WE ARE ALL
GOING THROUGH.
NOW, IT IS THE CASE THAT
FOR SOME LANDLORDS, THEY
NEED TO MAKE MORTGAGE
PAYMENTS, AND THEY RELY ON
RENT TO MAKE THOSE
PAYMENTS.
AND, AGAIN THERE, WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH THE
BANKS AND HAVE TAKEN SOME
CONCRETE STEPS TO GIVE
PEOPLE SOME BREATHING
ROOM.
>> Question: UM...QUEBEC
TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN
CHECK POINTS AT
INTERPROVINCIAL BORDERS,
INCLUDING THE ONES THAT
ARE NOT A FIVE MINUTES'
WALK HERE INTO GATINEAU.
TIME AND TIME AGAINST
WE'VE BEEN TOLD WITH
REGARD TO MEASURES,
WHETHER THEY BE CLOSING
THE U.S. BORDERS ARE
CLOSING RESTAURANTS, OR
WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, WHEN
WE ASKED ABOUT THEM, IT'S,
WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET.
LIKE GRETZKY SAYS, YOU GO
TO WHERE THE PUCK IS GOING
TO BE, AND NOT WHERE IT
IS.
IS THIS THE TIME WITH
QUEBEC CLOSING -- NOT
CLOSING BUT PUTTING IN
CHECK POINTS, IS THIS THE
TIME NOW FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO START
LIMITING DOMESTIC TRAVEL?
>> Chrystia Freeland:
YOU ANTICIPATED THE
METAPHOR I WAS GOING TO
USE.
I GREW UP IN NORTHERN
ALBERTA, SO I AM 100% A
WAYNE GRETZKY FAN.
AND THAT NOTION OF SKATING
TO WHERE THE PUCK IS GOING
TO BE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A
GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR OUR
GOVERNMENT.
QUEBEC HAS TAKEN SOME
STRONG MEASURES TODAY.
THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC HAS
OUR SUPPORT AND ADMIRATION
FOR SHOWING REAL
LEADERSHIP THERE, AS DOES
THE CITY OF TORONTO, WHICH
INTRODUCED SOME VERY
SIGNIFICANT MEASURES
TODAY.
THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE
RIGHT THINGS FOR CANADA'S
BIGGEST CITY.
AND, AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE
TO REALLY COMMEND THE
LEADERSHIP THAT JOHN TORY
AND DR. EILEEN DE VILLA
HAVE SHOWN.
WE HAVE HEARD SOME VERY
SOBERING MESSAGES FROM DR. TAM Y
THIS MORNING.
THIS IS VERY SERIOUS.
IT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE
IT GETS BETTER.
AND WE CAN ALL DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS TO
MAINTAIN PHYSICAL
DISTANCING.
GOVERNMENTS CAN HELP
PEOPLE TO DO THAT BY
INTRODUCING THESE TOUGH
MEASURES.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I HOPE AND BELIEVE AND
TRUST THAT THAT IS WHAT
CANADIANS ARE DOING.
AS TO WHETHER FURTHER
MEASURES ARE BEING
CONTEMPLATED, OF COURSE
THEY ARE.
EVERYTHING IS ON THE
TABLE.
>> I'LL GET BACK TO THAT.
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS
ARE GOING TO TAKE
DIFFERENT MEASURES BASED
ON THEIR OWN EPIDEMIOLOGY
AND THEIR OWN REALITIES.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS WELL
WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION
TO DO THAT.
BUT I WILL ALSO SAY WHERE
WE KNOW, AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL WE NEED TO REDOUBLE
OUR EFFORTS TO ACTUALLY
BRING DOWN THE NUMBER OF
CASES ACROSS CANADA,
CONTACT TRACING BEING ONE
OF THEM, WHICH IS WHY
WE'RE MOBILIZING HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
SUPPORT PROVINCES WITH
THAT VERY ONEROUS TASK.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUT UP
THEIR HAND TO ASK FOR
HELP, AND WE WOULD URGE
OTHER PROVINCES TO REACH
OUT, BECAUSE WE WILL BE
INCREASING HAVING NUMBERS
OF PROVIDING BODIES AND
PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP THEM
WITH THAT WORK.
SECONDLY, ISOLATING PEOPLE
WHO ARE SYMPTOMATIC.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
ISOLATE PEOPLE WHO ARE
ILL, EVEN MILDLY SO.
IN SOME CASES, PEOPLE DO
HAVE FAMILY HOMES IN WHICH
THEY CAN ISOLATE, AND IN
OTHER CASES PEOPLE CANNOT.
SO THE WORK THAT IS
HAPPENING AT THE
PROVINCES' AND
TERRITORIES' LEVEL IS TO
FIND ACCOMODATIONS TO
ISOLATE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN A
PRIVATE RESIDENCE.
THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY IN
REDUCING CASES.
WHILE PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES AND THE
GOVERNMENT TAKE A VARIETY
OF MEASURES TO PREVENT
CLOSE CONTACT OF PEOPLE
AND INCREASED MOBILITY
THAT WE KNOW IN SOME CASES
PUTS ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON
SYSTEMS, I THINK THE
PRACTICAL STEPS OF
DOUBLING DOWN ON SOME OF
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ARE INCREASINGLY
IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHERE I, AS THE
MINISTER OF HEALTH, HAVE
MY FOCUS ON.
IS THE PRACTICAL THINGS
THAT CAN HELP PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES RIGHT NOW
UNDERSTAND WHO IS ILL, WHO
THEY'VE HAD CONTACT WITH,
AND HOW WE ENSURE THE
ISOLATION OF THOSE
PARTICULAR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
COME INTO CLOSE CONTACT
WITH THE VIRUS.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE'LL TAKE THREE LAST
QUESTIONS ON THE PHONE AND
CALL IT A DAY.
OPERATOR?
>> THANK YOU.
MERCÍ.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
PHILLIP, RADIO CANADA.
[Speaking French]
>> GO AHEAD.
[Speaking French]
>> Caller:[Speaking through
interpreter]
HI, DR. TAM AND MINISTER.
SOME THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID
ABOUT POSSIBLE SHORTAGES
OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, AND
ALSO ABOUT HEALTH SYSTEMS
WHICH ARE NOT AT ALL READY
FOR A SUBSTANTIAL SURGE
AND RISE IN CASES.[Speaking thrh
interpreter]
>> Doctor: THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION.
DR. NJOO HERE.
THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.
THERE COULD BE A SHORTAGE
OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT.
MINISTER HAJDU HAS ALREADY
SAID THAT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT ARE WORKING
TOGETHER CLOSELY.
AND DR. TAM AND I ARE
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
OUR COUNTERPARTS.
WE ARE WORKING TO GET OUR
HANDS ON EQUIPMENT ALL
OVER THE WORLD.
THERE IS HUGE DEMAND IN
THE GLOBAL MARKET RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE ALSO INCREASING
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT.
MADE IN CANADA SOLUTIONS.
OUR GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO
FLATTEN THE CURVE.
MODELING SHOWS US THAT IF
WE DO NOTHING, IT WILL BE
A CATASTROPHE.
30, 50, 60% OF THE
POPULATION COULD CONTRACT
THE CORONAVIRUS.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD
NEED I.C.U. CARE.
AND WE WANT TO AVOID THOSE
WORST-CASE SCENARIOS.
THAT'S WHY MEASURES, LIKE
PHYSICAL DISTANCING, ARE
CRUCIAL.
ALL CANADIANS NEED TO
CONTINUE TO DO THEIR PART.
THAT'S NECESSARY TO
FLATTEN THE CURVE.
HOSPITALS AND I.C.U.s,
HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING,
PERHAPS A THOUSAND PEOPLE
MIGHT NEED AN ARTIFICIAL
VENTILATOR.
BUT IF ALL 1,000 HAVE THIS
NEED IMMEDIATELY, WITHIN
ONE WEEK, THAT'S DIFFERENT
THAN HAVING A NEED FOR A
THOUSAND ARTIFICIAL
VENTILATORS OVER A FEW
WEEKS, OVER A FEW MONTHS.
THAT'S THE GOAL, TO REALLY
FLATTEN THE CURVE, TO
FLATTEN AND STRETCH OUT
NEEDS.
AND HEALTH AUTHORITIES, IN
ALL PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES, ARE WORKING
WITH US.
WE'RE ALL WORKING ON
PREPARATION, ON
PREPAREDNESS.
WE ARE WORKING ON
TEMPORARY FIELD HOSPITALS,
AND WE ARE CALLING BACK
RETIRED HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS TO HELP OUT
IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE OTHER
HEALTH CONDITIONS, WE ARE
LOOKING AT WAYS TO CARE
FOR THEM OUTSIDE OF
HOSPITAL SETTINGS.
WE ARE WORKING SO HARD ON
SO MANY LEVELS IN ORDER TO
AVOID THE WORST-CASE
SCENARIO.
>> Question: FOLLOWUP
QUESTION.
YES, BUT WITH ALL OF THE
HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST?
>> THE PRIME MINISTER SAID
THIS MORNING IT COULD LAST
THROUGH JULY, BUT IT COULD
ALSO LAST MUCH LONGER.
IN YOUR PREDICTIONS AND
YOUR MODELING, WITH THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF
CANADA, DO YOU THINK IT
WILL LAST UNTIL JULY?
>> Answer: IT IS TOO
SOON TO TELL.
ALL CANADIANS ARE
CURRENTLY TAKING THIS
SERIOUSLY.
COUNTLESS CANADIANS ARE
PRACTICING PHYSICAL
DISTANCING.
AND HERE IS WHAT WE'RE
NOTICING WITH THE EPIDEMIC
CURVE: THE CASES THAT
WE'RE SEEING APPEARING NOW
ARE CASES WHERE EXPOSURE
OCCURRED TWO OR THREE
WEEKS AGO.
WE'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT
HAPPENS IN THE NEXT TWO OR
THREE WEEKS TO SEE WHETHER
WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS
HAVING AN AFFECT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE FOLLOWING CLOSELY.
WE CANNOT PREDICT WHAT
WILL HAPPEN IN TWO OR
THREE WEEKS.
THAT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
I THINK IT IS BEST IF WE
TAKE THINGS ONE WEEK AT A
TIME.
LET'S FOCUS ON THE FACT
THAT WHAT WE DO THIS WEEK
WILL LEAD TO RESULTS IN A
WEEK OR TWO.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD
FOCUS ON.
>> I'D LIKE TO ADD
SOMETHING.
THE PRIORITY IS WHAT WE DO
NOW WILL ACTUALLY
DETERMINE HOW MUCH WE'RE
STUCK IN THIS PLACE.
MAYBE YOU CAN TRANSLATE
THIS SO I DON'T SOUND LIKE
A 7-YEAR-OLD.
ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF
THE DAY, IF WE DON'T ACT
TOGETHER AND TAKE THE
SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES
THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH HAS
DESCRIBED TO US, MAKE SURE
WE ARE PHYSICAL DISTANCING
OURSELVES, LISTENING TO
PUBLIC HEALTH, ALL THAT
DOES IS LENGTHEN THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE'LL
BE IN THIS SITUATION.
IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS
I READ RECENTLY THAT I
THOUGHT WAS FASCINATING,
IF WE ALL STOPPED MOVING
FOR TWO WEEKS AND NOBODY
TALKED TO ANYBODY FOR TWO
WEEKS, AND WE ALL JUST
STAYED PUT, IN FACT, WE
WOULD SEE THIS VIRUS DIE.
THAT IS THE REALITY.
THE VIRUS NEEDS HOSTS TO
CONTINUE TO INFECT IN
ORDER TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
AND SO HOW LONG WE ARE IN
THIS ACTUALLY DEPENDS ON
OUR ACTIONS TODAY.
DR. TAM IS TOO KIND WHEN
SHE SAYS THAT OUR ACTIONS
TODAY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
BECAUSE WHAT SHE IS NOT
SAYING IS THAT EACH OF US
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
LENGTH OF TIME THAT THIS
WILL TAKE FOR THESE STRICT
MEASURES TO BE IN PLACE.
AND IF EACH OF US CAN TAKE
THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES
AND SHOW THE
SELF-DISCIPLINE, STAYING
AT HOME, REALLY ONLY GOING
OUT IF ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY.
WHEN WE'RE OUT WALKING,
AVOIDING PEOPLE, STAYING
SIX FEET AWAY, WAITING FOR
THE NEXT ELEVATOR IF THERE
IS ANOTHER PERSON ON THE
ELEVATOR, EACH OF THOSE
THINGS WE DO TODAY TO
PRACTICE APPROPRIATE
SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL
DISTANCING, WILL SHORTEN
THE DURATION THAT WE ARE
STUCK.
I'LL WILL TURN TO JEAN AND
MAYBE YOU CAN TRANSLATE
FOR SEMI.[Speaking through ME.[h
interpreter]
THE MESSAGE IS VERY CLEAR:
IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING,
IT RESULT WOULD BE
CATASTROPHIC.
BUT CANADIANS AND
QUEBECERS ARE LISTENING TO
INSTRUCTIONS WITH REGARDS
TO PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND
BASIC HYGIENE,
HANDWASHING.
THE GOVERNMENTS ARE
WORKING VERY HARD AS WELL,
NOT ONLY WITH REGARD TO
PUBLIC HEALTH, ALSO HEALTH
CARE ON THE GROUND AND
FRONTLINE WORKERS, BUT,
ALSO, WHAT WE SAW
YESTERDAY WITH REGARD TO
THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND
PROVIDE IT BECAUSE WE'RE
GOING TO NEED THAT IN THE
COMING WEEKS.
>> THANK YOU,
MR. DECLAUDE.
TWO QUESTIONS ON THE
PHONE.
OPERATOR, THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS
FROM HEALTH POST CANADA.
YOUR LINE IS NOW OPEN.
[Speaking French]
[Speaking French][Speaking throh
interpreter]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE
MONEY BASICALLY BEING
AVAILABLE.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE
ARE OBVIOUS GAPS IN THE
SYSTEM THAT HAVEN'T BEEN
ANNOUNCED SO FAR.
SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE --
NOT ALL, BUT SOME HAVE
SEEN A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN
THEIR INCOME FROM
COVID-19.
AS WE HEARD FROM PREMIER
LEGAULT LAST WEEK, PEOPLE
WHO MAKE MINIMUM WAGE MAY
NOT EVEN MAKE $2,000 AT
THE END OF EACH MONTH.
I KNOW YESTERDAY THE PRIME
MINISTER TALKED ABOUT
WORKING WITH THE
PROVINCES, BUT CAN YOU
GIVE US AN IDEA WHAT
EXACTLY IS ENVISIONED?
THESE PEOPLE ARE NOW
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND
EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES IT --
WHAT IS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THINKING OF
DOING IF THE PEOPLE ARE
STILL SHOWING UP FOR WORK
AND THEY'RE NOT BEING
FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED,
COMPARED TO PEOPLE WHO
STAY AT HOME.
>> Chrystia Freeland: DO
YOU MIND IF WE GIVE CARLA
THE FIRST SHOT.
SHE HAS JOINED US BY
VIDEO.
>> OF COURSE.
>> Caller: THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> WITH RESPECT TO ANYONE
WHO HAS REDUCED HOURS OR
REDUCED INCOME, THEY'RE
NOT THE TARGET WORKERS FOR
THE C.C. R.B.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKERS
WHO HAVE LOST THEIR INCOME
COMPLETELY.
THOSE ARE THE WORKERS WE
WANT TO COVER BY THE 
C.C.R.B.
THERE ARE DETAILS TO
FOLLOW VERY SHORTLY
THROUGH OTHER MINISTERS OF
FINANCE AND SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND THEY'RE
TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT THE
LARGER COHORT OF WORKERS
WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP
THEM ON, OR EMPLOYERS HAVE
REDUCED HOURS FOR, WITH
RESPECT SPECIFICALLY TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE
SELF-EMPLOYED, THAT IS A
POPULATION OF WORKERS
WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE
OUT WHERE THEY FIT IN, IF
THEIR HOURS ARE SIMPLY
REDUCED.
IF THEY HAVE NO INCOME,
THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE C.C.R.B.
IF YOUR HOURS OR REDUCED,
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW THAT WORKS.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, IT IS
FOR WORKERS WHO HAVE NO
SOURCE OF INCOME.
>> IF I MAY, IN ADDITION
TO WHAT CARLA JUST SAID, A
MESSAGE FROM THE CANADIAN
AGENCY, WHICH I SAID IN
FRENCH, IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR CANADIANS TO
PREPARE FOR THE CANADA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT.
IT IS TO BETTER PREPARE
FOR THE LARGE EXPECTED
IN-FLOW OF THE AMOUNT WE
EXPECT FOR THE NEW CANADA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT.
WE ARE LAUNCHING TODAY THE
WEBSITE, WHICH IS COMMON
FOR EVERYONE
CANADA.CA/coronavirus.
AND WE'RE ASKING
CANADIANS TO PUT IN THEIR
DEMAND STARTING ON
APRIL 6th, ACCORDING TO
THEIR BIRTH MONTH.
THAT IS FOR THOSE BORN IN
JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND
MARCH, THE APPLICATION ON
APRIL 6th.
ON APPLICATION APRIL 7th
FOR THOSE BORN IN APRIL,
MAY, AND JUNE.
APRIL 8th FOR THOSE BORN
IN JULY, AUGUST, AND
SEPTEMBER.
AND APRIL 9th FOR THOSE
BORN IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER,
AND DECEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
A FOLLOWUP?
>> Caller: YEAH.
NOBODY ACTUALLY RESPONDED
TO THE MINIMUM WAGE
WORKERS.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKING
TOWARDS WHEN THE PRIME
MINISTER SAYS IT IS
WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES
IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
WORKING FULL-TIME ARE AT
LEAST MAKING -- AT LEAST
TAKE HOME $2,000.
IF I COULD JUST ADD AS A
FOLLOWUP: HAS ANY THOUGHT
BEEN GIVEN TO THE
FAMILIES, UNFORTUNATE AS
IT MAY BE, MEDICAL WORKERS
WHO END UP DYING BECAUSE
OF COVID-19, DEATH
BENEFITS AS WE GIVE TO
CANADIAN FORCES MEMBERS?
>> THE MINIMUM WAGE --
>> AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE,
AND WE DIDN'T IN ANY's WAY
DISENFRANCHISE OR IN AWAY
REDUCE THE VALUE AND THE
CONTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE WHO
WORK IN ESSENTIAL SERVICE
INDUSTRIES, BUT ALSO WHO
GET MINIMUM WAGE.
WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE
OUT A WAY TO RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS
THEY'RE MAKING.
WHETHER IT LEADS TO
IMEs, AND AS THE
MINISTER SAID, THAT IS A
CONVERSATION HAPPENING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE
PROVINCES TO MAKE SURE
THERE AREN'T THESE GAPS.
AS YOU CAN APPRECIATE,
WE'RE DOING PUBLIC POLICY
WORK THAT WOULD TAKE
YEARS, IN A MATTER OF
DAYS.
AND AS NEW GROUPS
IDENTIFY, THEY IDENTIFY
THAT HAVEN'T YET FIT INTO
ANY OF THESE BENEFITS.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT, IS
WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
MAYBE ONE LAST QUESTION ON
THE PHONE.
>> THANK YOU.
MERCÍ.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
LINA DIBB.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
[Speaking French][Speaking throh
interpreter]
QUESTION.
YES.
HELLO.
I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK
TO THE SHORTAGE OF MASKS
IN QUEBEC.
MR. TRUDEAU SAID RIGHT
NOW, IN A VERY SHORT TIME
MASKS WOULD BE DELIVERED
TO QUEBEC FROM OTTAWA'S
STOCKPILE.
BUT A FEW MINUTES AGO,
MINISTER HAJDU GAVE A MORE
NUANCED ANSWER.
WILL QUEBEC RECEIVE MASKS
FROM OTTAWA IN THE NEXT
FEW DAYS.
>> Answer: I CAN CONFIRM
YES.
>> Caller: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLEAR
AND SHORT ANSWER.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS THIS:
YOU SAID FROM THE
BEGINNING THAT IT IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR
SUPPLY CHAINS TO BE LEFT
OPEN WITH THE UNITED
STATES BECAUSE OF THE
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT IS
COMING FROM THE U.S., AND
NOT JUST WITH REGARD TO
COVID-19.
BUT I WONDER, HAVE YOU
RECEIVED RECENT GUARANTEES
FROM THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, GIVEN WHAT
IS GOING ON THERE, THE
200,000 CASES THERE --
HAVE YOU RECEIVED
GUARANTEES FROM THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION THAT THE
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE SENT TO
CANADA, BE IT FOR COVID-19
OR FOR ANY OTHER MEDICAL
NECESSITIES?
>> Answer: WE DISCUSSED
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA DAILY.
WE DISCUSSED TRADE ISSUES
BETWEEN CANADA AND THE
U.S. EVERY DAY.
AND WE DISCUSS THE HEALTH
SITUATION IN CANADA AND IN
THE UNITED STATES ON A
DAILY BASIS.
>> Caller: SO NO
GUARANTEES.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE
PRESS CONFERENCE.
[End of translation]
>> Rosemary: THAT IS OUR
FEDERAL WRAP OF PRESS
CONFERENCES BY THE PRIME
MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER AND OTHER HEALTH
OFFICIALS TODAY.
A COUPLE OF BITS OF NEWS
FOR EVERYONE TO KEEP IN
MIND.
PARLIAMENT WILL BE
RECALLED IN THE DAYS AHEAD
TO DEAL WITH WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS QUALIFYING
AS THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC
PROGRAMME A GOVERNMENT HAS
EVER PUT IN PLACE.
AND THAT HAS DO COULD WITH
THE WAGE SUBSIDY AND THE
EMERGENCY RELIEF BENEFIT.
THE OTHER PIECE OF NEWS
YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND,
THAT PORTAL, THAT WEBSITE,
IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE
$2,000 A MONTH, IS NOW
OPEN, AND THEY WILL START
TO ACCEPT THOSE
APPLICATIONS NEXT MONDAY.
I'VE TWEETED OUT THAT
LINK, AND WE'LL PUT IT UP
ON OUR WEBSITE AND ON THE
SCREEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY
AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT'S IT FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR
NOW.
WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF
COVERAGE FROM PROVINCES
THROUGH THE DAY AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AS THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE.
I WILL SAY GOOD-BYE FOR
NOW, AND I'LL SEE YOU
TOMORROW.
MY COLLEAGUE, ANDREW
NICHOLS, WILL TAKE OVER.
NOW, LET'S BRING YOU THE
UPDATE FROM ONTARIO AND
DOUG FORD IS SPEAKING TO
ONTARIANS NOW.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
>> Premier: I'LL PASS
THIS OVER TO MINISTER
ELLIOT, AND SHE'LL GIVE
YOU MORE INFORMATION ON
THAT.
>> Minister: WELL, THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE
ONLY BECOME MORE RECENTLY
AWARE OF AS A CONCERN, BUT
DR. WILLIAMS HAS ISSUED A
DIRECTIVE TODAY, ISSUING
HIS STRONG RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE LOCAL MEDICAL
OFFICERS OF HEALTH USE
THEIR POWERS, UNDER
SECTION 22 OF THE HEALTH
PROTECTION PROMOTION ACT,
TO REQUIRE THAT PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH
COVID-19 MAINTAIN THAT
STATUS AND STAY IN
SELF-ISOLATION.
THIS IS GOING TO BE
FOLLOWED UP ON BY THE
LOCAL MEDICAL OFFICERS OF
HEALTH.
AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
FINES FOR PEOPLE TO NOT DO
THAT.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING IS THAT THEY WILL BE
FOLLOWED UP WITH THEIR
LOCAL MEDICAL OFFICERS OF
HEALTH TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE CONTINUING THAT
SELF-ISOLATION.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM HAYLEY COOPER FROM
NEWS TALK 1010.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
PREMIER.
WE'VE HAD ROB AND CYNTHIA
NOW ASKING ABOUT MODELING
AND PROJECTIONS, AND I WAS
GOING TO ASK MYSELF, AND
WE STILL HAVEN'T BEEN
GIVEN ANY NUMBERS.
SO WHY DOES IT APPEAR THE
GOVERNMENT IS HESITATING
IN GIVING THOSE NUMBERS?
PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS A
FLUID SITUATION, BUT THEY
ALSO WANT TO KNOW, YOU
KNOW, WORST-CASE SCENARIO,
WHAT IS THE PROVINCE
LOOKING AT.
SO WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT
NOT GIVING THE NUMBERS
THAT IT HAS SEEN?
>> Premier: WELL, AS THE
MINISTER OF HEALTH
MENTIONED, THERE ARE
DIFFERENT MODELS.
THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT
MODELS.
IF WE PICK ONE MODEL OVER
ANOTHER, IT SENDS REALLY
TWO DIFFERENT MESSAGES.
OUR MESSAGE IS VERY CLEAR:
WE'RE GOING THROUGH SOME
TURBULENT WATERS OVER THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS.
AND WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE
SELF-ISOLATE.
WE'VE BEEN SAYING IT OVER
AND OVER AGAIN EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
THOSE MODELS CAN
DRASTICALLY, DRASTICALLY
CHANGE.
IF WE UNDERESTIMATE ON ONE
SIDE AND WE OVERESTIMATE
ON THE OTHER AND CREATE A
PANIC IF WE OVERESTIMATE,
BUT THE FACTS ARE, AND IT
IS VERY CLEAR: WE'RE GOING
THROUGH VERY TURBULENT
WATERS.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T
CONGREGATE.
LAST WEEKEND IT WAS A
LITTLE SHOCKING TO ALL OF
US THAT WE SEE PARKS AND
BEACHES PACKED.
WE ACTED IMMEDIATELY,
MAKING SURE THAT WE
BROUGHT THROUGH AN ORDER
TO MAKE SURE WE CLOSED THE
PARKS AND CLOSED THE
BEACHES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE WE
CAN SAY OUTSIDE OF STAY IN
YOUR HOME.
SELF-ISOLATE WHEN YOU CAN.
GO OUT ONE PERSON AT A
TIME TO GO BET YOUR
GROCERIES.
AND IF YOU HAVE SENIORS,
YOUR PARENTS OR
GRANDPARENTS, MAKE SURE
THEY STAY INSIDE.
ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 70,
STAY INSIDE.
WE CAN'T EMPHASIZE IT
ENOUGH.
>> Question: AND SO THE
WORST-CASE SCENARIO, THE
NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE
SEEN, ARE THEY WORSE THAN
WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING?
DO YOU THINK THAT
ONTARIANS WILL HEAR THE
NUMBERS AND THINK THAT IT
IS WORSE THAN WHAT THEY
WERE EXPECTING?
>> Premier: NO.
THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO
CAN GET BAD.
WE WERE SAYING -- AND
WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR --
WE CAN HAVE TWO WAYS TO GO
HERE: WE GO THE ROUTE OF
ITALY AND SPAIN AND WE SEE
THE NUMBERS OVER THERE.
OR WE CAN TAKE THE OTHER
ROUTE, SOUTH KOREA AND
GERMANY.
WE ALL WANT TO GO THE
ROUTE SOUTH KOREA HAS
GONE, MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE SELF-ISOLATE, THEY
DON'T SPREAD THE VIRUS.
AS I SAID EARLIER ON, THE
VIRUS DOESN'T SPREAD
ITSELF.
IT SPREADS BEING ON
PEOPLE.
AND THE FURTHER WE CAN
KEEP AWAY, SOCIAL
DISTANCING, PRACTICE THAT,
THE QUICKER WE'RE GOING TO
GET THROUGH THIS.
>> OKAY.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST
QUESTION.
>> THE LAST QUESTION COMES
FROM MARETTA FROM GLOBAL
NEWS.
>> HI.
WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE
OF LOVED ONES AT LONG CARE
FACILITIES, AND EVEN
THOUGH THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS ARE NOT TESTING
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19,
THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THESE
MEMBERS.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
THERE IS ONE CASE WHERE
SOMEONE ACTUALLY DID
BECOME POSITIVE AFTER
THEIR FAMILY WAS -- IS
THIS AN ORDER THAT THEY
CAN'T LEAVE THE LONG-TERM
CARE HOMES TO GET CARE?
>> Premier: AGAIN, WE
PUT THAT ORDER IN, THAT
PEOPLE CAN'T GO AND VISIT
THEIR LOVED ONES.
I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION
THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE
THEM OUT.
I'M GOING TO, AGAIN, PASS
THIS OVER TO THE MINISTER
OF HEALTH.
AND THEN I HAVE A FOLLOWUP
AFTER THIS.
>> Minister: THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WAS
HAPPENING BEFORE WITH
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE
COMING TO THE HOMES,
TAKING THEIR FAMILY MEMBER
OUT, MAYBE TAKING THEM
HOME FOR DINNER OR
SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEN
BRINGING THEM BACK.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE CHANGED
THE RULES SO THAT PEOPLE
AREN'T ALLOWED TO LEAVE
THE HOME.
HOWEVER, IF FAMILY MEMBERS
WANT TO TAKE THEIR LOVED
ONE AND HAVE THEM JOIN
THEM AND STAY WITH THEM,
OF COURSE THEY'LL HAVE TO
BE CLEARED FOR COVID-19
BEFORE THAT HAPPENS
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM
TO INFECT THEIR FAMILIES.
IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT,
THEY CAN DO THAT, BUT THEN
THEY CAN'T COME BACK IN
WHILE COVID-19 IS STILL
WITH US.
SO I THINK WHAT WE WERE
REALLY TRYING TO STOP
HAPPENING WAS A SITUATION
WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE
BEING TAKEN OUT JUST FOR
THE DAY AND RETURNED.
>> FOLLOWUP.
>> MR. PREMIER?
>> Premier: IF YOU HAVE
A FOLLOWUP QUESTION ON
HEALTH, I CAN BRING THE
MINISTER BACK UP.
>> PREMIER, IF YOU WANT TO
GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR
ANSWER, GO AHEAD.
>> Premier: OH, NO.
IT IS A SEPARATE ITEM.
PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE
ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> Question: WE'VE HEARD
FROM WORKERS THAT THEY'RE
BEING FORBIDDEN FROM
WEARING MASKS ON SHIFTS.
WHEN WE ASKED DR. YAFFE
AND DR. WILLIAMS ON THIS,
THEY SAID THE POLICY FOR
IT BEING MANDATORY FOR ALL
THOSE IN THE LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES TO WEAR
MASK WAS UNDER REVIEW.
IF YOU'RE HEARING FROM
FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE
WORKERS THEY DO NOT FEEL
SAFE ON THE JOB --
>> Premier: I'VE BEEN
SAYING FROM DAY ONE, I
TAKE THE ADVICE OF OUR
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF
HEALTH AND OUR HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS.
I UNDERSTAND IT IS
DIFFICULT.
I DON'T OVERRULE -- I WANT
TO STRESS THIS, I LISTEN
TO THE HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS, ARE YOU
SAFER WITH THE MASK?
ABSOLUTELY YOUR SAFER.
I CAN'T STAND UP HERE AND
SAY YOU WOULDN'T BE SAFER
WITHOUT A MASK.
IN MY OPINION, YOU WOULD
BE SAFER WITH A MASK.
BUT, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO
STICK WITH THE ADVICE FROM
THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
OF HEALTH AND THE HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS THAT GIVE ME
ADVICE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> Premier: I JUST --
YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS
TIME, I COME UP HERE AND
TALK ABOUT THE ONTARIO
SPIRIT.
THE ONTARIO SPIRIT THAT
COMPANIES AROUND THIS
GREAT PROVINCE ARE
STEPPING UP.
I GOT A PHONE CALL THE
OTHER DAY FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL
BRANDS, A GREAT COMPANY UP
IN NEW MARKET.
HIS NAME IS MARK.
I USUALLY DON'T GIVE LAST
NAMES, SO I'LL SAY MARK,
THE C.E.O. UP THERE,
CALLED UP AND SAID,
PREMIER, WE HAVE A
DONATION FOR THE PROVINCE.
AND THIS IS A BIG
DONATION.
40,000 BOTTLES OF HAND
SANITIZER.
HE SAID, I HAVE 10 SKIDS,
WHERE DO THEY GO?
THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT, COMPANIES STEPPING
UP.
I WAS ON A PHONE CALL
TODAY WITH ONE OF THE
RADIO STATION BY BRUCE
COUNTY, AND BRUCE POWER,
THE C.E.O. GOT ON, AND
THEY SAID THEY'RE DONATING
6,000 P.P.E.s, HAND
SANITIZER -- THAT'S
PROBABLY ONE OF THE
LARGEST DONATIONS WE'VE
HAD FROM BRUCE POWER.
AND WE THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO SAY, KEEP IT
COMING.
BECAUSE WITH THE POWER
THAT THESE COMPANIES HAVE,
WE'RE AN ECONOMIC
POWERHOUSE AROUND THE
WORLD, AND THEY'RE
STEPPING UP AND SUPPORTING
THE CAUSE.
ANOTHER SHOUT-OUT THAT I
WANT TO DO THAT DOESN'T
GET VERY MUCH RECOGNITION
AT ALL, BUT SHOWS UP EVERY
SINGLE DAY, THE HELP WITH
THE SIGN LANGUAGE IS
CHRISTOPHER BEHIND ME.
AND, CHRISTOPHER, DO YOU
HAVE A MINUTE JUST TO COME
UP HERE FOR ONE MINUTE.
I APOLOGIZE, YOU CAN TAKE
OVER THE SIGN LANGUAGE.
BUT THIS GENTLEMAN SHOWS
UP, NEVER COMPLAINS, NEVER
SAYS A WORD.
I TOLD HIM TODAY HOW MANY
COMMENTS AND E-MAILS AND
PHONE CALLS I GET ABOUT
YOU, MY FRIEND.
YOU'RE A CHAMPION.
YOU'RE A ROCK STAR,
HELPING PEOPLE IN THE DEAF
COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THE
ROLE YOU'RE PLAYING.
AND I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT
MOVING FORWARD, YOU'RE NO
LONGER GOING TO BE WITH US
PHYSICALLY HERE, BUT
YOU'LL BE WITH US AS A
TEAM.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YES.
MAY I?
>> Premier: GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WILL STILL BE PART OF
THE TEAM, AND I MAY BE
BEHIND THE CAMERAS AND
SUPPORTING THE
INTERPRETERS THAT ARE
HERE.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT ALL DEAF ONTARIANS
HAVE ACCESS.
AND WE'RE MOVING TO
INCLUDE DEAF INTERPRETERS.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT
INCLUDING DEAF CHILDREN
AND DEAF ADULTS AND
EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND
THE MESSAGE CLEAR TO KEEP
THEMSELVES SAFE FROM
COVID-19 AND BE ABLE TO
FOLLOW THE VERY IMPORTANT
MESSAGING THAT PREMIER
FORD IS SHARING WITH US.
WE WILL BE CHANGING A
LITTLE BIT, BUT I WILL
STILL BE IN THE BUILDING.
>> Premier: THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
PEOPLE LIKE THIS, LIKE
CHRISTOPHER, REAL
CHAMPIONS, STEPPING UP AND
NEVER COMPLAINING.
ONE MORE SHOUT-OUT, THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,
YOU'RE GOING IN THERE, AND
WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED THEM
YET, BUT THEY'RE DEALING
WITH YOU DAY IN AND DAY
OUT, MAKING SURE THAT THE
ECONOMY IS FLOWING, AND
THE MONEY IS FLOWING, AND
THEY'RE SITTING THERE AT
THE TELLER'S BOOTH, AND I
WANT TO THANK THEM AND ALL
ONTARIANS.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOLKS.
>> Andrew: AND THAT WAS
THE PREMIER OF ONTARIO,
DOUG FORD, ALONG WITH
MINISTERS.
HELLO, I'M ANDREW NICHOLS.
WE HEARD FROM THE ONTARIO
PREMIER SAYING HE WAS
ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
SOME OF THE MODELING THAT
WE HAVE HEARD, ESPECIALLY
WITH SOME OF THE NUMBERS,
THE SHOCKING NUMBERS
COMING OUT OF THE UNITED
STATES IN TERMS OF THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COULD
DIE.
AND THE PREMIER DID NOT
SPECIFICALLY SAY WHAT
NUMBER WE COULD BE LOOKING
AT IN THE PROVINCE OF
ONTARIO, BUT WE DO KNOW
SOME SPECIFIC NUMBERS,
THAT THERE ARE 2400 CASES
OF COVID-19 IN ONTARIO.
41 DEATHS.
10,00
