 
cbcnews.ca.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR MORE 
INFORMATION FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO 
PROCURE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, THAT IS THE EQUIPMENT
NEEDED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL 
INSIDE HOSPITALS TO STAY SAFE, 
ALL OF THOSE NEEDED IN THE 
FRONTLINE FIGHT AGAINST 
COVID-19.
THE GOVERNMENT SAID THEY ARE 
WORKING HARD TO BUILD THE 
FEDERAL STOCKPILE FOR PROVINCES 
THAT FEEL THEY DON'T HAVE 
ENOUGH.
I THINK WE HAVE A SHOT OF RIDEAU
COTTAGE, THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
HOME, WHERE HE IS CONTINUING HIS
SELF-ISOLATION.
HE IS EXPECTED TO SPEAK TO US AT
11:15 EASTERN.
LET ME BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS 
AND DAVID COCHRANE TO JOIN ME 
NOW.
A COUPLE OF UPDATES IN TERMS OF 
WHERE THINGS SIT IN THE COUNTRY.
ONTARIO HAS NOW EXTENDED ITS 
PROVINCIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY BY
TWO WEEKS.
WE'RE EXPECTED TO HEAR MORE 
INFORMATION TODAY ABOUT SCHOOL 
CLOSURES HERE IN THIS PROVINCE, 
IN ONTARIO.
I WILL SAY THAT YESTERDAY 
ONTARIO HAD 351 NEW CASES IN ONE
DAY ALONE, AND THAT'S THE 
LARGEST SINGLE-DAY INCREASE 
SINCE THE OUTCOME.
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THOSE
CASES REFLECT HISTORY RATHER 
THAN THE FUTURE, BUT THE FACT 
THAT THERE ARE MORE CASES SPEAKS
TO A COUPLE OF THINGS, COMMUNITY
SPREAD, MORE TESTING, AND THE 
FACT THAT ONTARIO LAGS BEHIND 
SOME OTHER PROVINCES IN THAT 
TESTING, INCLUDING QUÉBEC, B.C.,
AND ALBERTA.
VASSY, WHAT ARE WE THINKING 
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER?
>> Vassy: A COUPLE OF THINGS 
THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED AND THAT IS
THE PROCUREMENT UPDATE.
LAST WEEK MINISTER BAINS, THE 
MINISTER IN CHARGE OF THIS FILE,
SAID WE ARE RETOOLING THE 
INDUSTRY TO FIGHT AGAINST 
COVID-19.
WE ARE EXPECTING AN UPDATE FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER 
BAINS AND WHICH COMPANIES HAVE 
BEEN RETOOLED.
WHAT CAN CANADIANS EXPECT, WILL 
IT BE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT AND VENTILATORS.
WE HAVE SEEN THOSE DISCUSSIONS 
ONGOING IN THE UNITED STATES.
EXPECT THOSE DETAILS TODAY.
APPARENTLY THERE ARE ALSO SOME 
COMPANIES WE CAN EXPECT.
FOR EXAMPLE, HOME DEPOT.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT SPECIFICS
OF WHAT THEY ARE DONATING, BUT 
THERE ARE SOME CORPORATIONS IN 
THIS COUNTRY AND OUTSIDE OF THIS
COUNTRY THAT HAVE STEPPED-UP AND
ARE GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING 
THROUGH THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY
DONATIONS OF THAT KIND OF 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT OR PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
STAY TUNED FOR THAT.
I THINK WE'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR 
A LOT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER ON
THIS, BUT WE ARE EAGERLY AND I 
THINK MANY BUSINESS OWNERS 
EAGERLY AWAITING MORE DETAILS 
TODAY.
WE WERE PROMISED THEY WERE 
COMING AROUND QUALIFICATIONS FOR
THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THEY MADE 
LAST FRIDAY AND UPDATED 
YESTERDAY, WHERE BUSINESS HEALTH
IS CONCERNED, THAT'S THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY UP TO 75% OF WAGES, NO 
LIMIT ON NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE SUBSIDY 
WILL BE MEASURED.
A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS SAYING 
THEY'VE BEEN CLOSED AND 
WONDERING HOW THIS WILL APPLY.
THE QUESTIONS PERSIST AND WE'VE 
BEEN TOLD TO ANTICIPATE ANSWERS 
FROM THE FINANCE MINISTER, BUT 
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN.
I THINK THOSE WILL BE QUESTIONS 
UNTIL THEY GET ANSWERS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ANXIOUS ABOUT 
THAT.
>> Rosemary: THOSE DETAILS 
SUPPOSED TO COME FROM THE 
FINANCE MINISTER AND OTHER 
MINISTERS, NOT AT THE NOON 
BRIEFING FROM WHAT WE 
UNDERSTAND, BUT SOME CRITICAL 
QUESTIONS FOR THE BUSINESSES, 
SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, WHO ARE 
HOPING TO TAP INTO THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY AS AN ATTEMPT, AS WE 
TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, TO KEEP 
THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE 
COMPANY AND THE EMPLOYEE AND GET
THINGS BACK UP RUNNING QUICKLY 
ONCE THIS IS ALL OVER.
IT WILL END AT SOME POINT.
WE DO HAVE CONFIRMATION NOW FOR 
ONTARIO PARENTS AND STUDENTS 
THAT SCHOOL WON'T BE BACK FOR 
ONTARIO'S STUDENTS UNTIL AT 
LEAST MAY.
SO THAT'S HOW THINGS ARE LOOKING
IN THIS PROVINCE AND I EXPECT 
OTHER PROVINCES WILL GET UPDATES
AS THEY ARE CONTAINING THE 
OUTBREAK.
>> David: COMPANIES STEPPING UP 
FOR PROCUREMENT, I DON'T KNOW 
THE SPECIFICS, BUT I KNOW DOUG 
FORD HAD BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE 
HEAD OF HOME DEPOT.
STUFF SUCH AS MASKS.
THE MASKS THEY HAVE ARE SIMILAR 
TO THOSE THAT ARE USED IN 
HOSPITALS.
THERE ARE SUPPLIES THAT EXIST 
FOR INDUSTRIAL WORK THAT CAN BE 
REDEPLOYED FOR MEDICAL WORK.
WE ARE SEEING EXAMPLES OF THAT 
FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR ACROSS 
THE WORLD DIGGING INTO THEIR 
STOCKPILES AND CONTRIBUTING TO 
THE NATIONAL EFFORT AGAINST 
COVID-19.
ONE THINK ABOUT BILL MORNEAU IS 
THAT HE IS SELF-ISOLATING 
BECAUSE OF CONTACT WITH A U.N. 
OFFICIAL THAT LATER TESTED 
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
THAT IS PARTLY RIGHT AND PARTLY 
WRONG.
HE DID HAVE CONTACT, BUT THAT 
WAS 20 DAYS AGO.
HE IS SELF MONITORING, NOT 
SELF-ISOLATING AND IT IS 20 DAYS
SINCE THE CONTACT HAPPENED.
WHEN WE DO HEAR FROM HIM, AS 
VASSY SAID, WE ARE AWAITING FOR 
THE CRITICALS DETAILS FROM HIM 
AND THE MINISTER NG ABOUT THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY ANNOUNCED.
THE 30% REVENUE DROP IS ONE THAT
I KNOW ALL OF US HAVE HAD A LOT 
OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ON TWITTER OR
E-MAIL, HOW EXACTLY IS IT GOING 
TO WORK, HOW DO I PROVE THIS.
DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE A FINANCIAL
STATEMENT.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM SPEAKING 
WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
IS THIS IS GOING TO BE A PAY 
FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER, LIKE
THEY ARE DOING WITH THE CERB AND
GETTING MONEY TO PEOPLE.
THERE WILL BE COMPLIANCE WORK 
DONE AFTER THE FACT WHERE THEY 
WILL LOOK AND SEE IF YOU HAD A 
REVENUE DROP.
IF YOU DIDN'T HIT THE THRESHOLD,
YOU WOULD SEE SOME REPAYMENT, 
EITHER PARTIAL OR FULL WHETHER 
YOU NEEDED THIS SUBSIDY.
IF THERE IS AN ATTEMPT TO RIP 
OFF THE GOVERNMENT, THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID THERE WOULD BE 
SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES.
I DON'T THINK THE INTENT IS TO 
MAKE IT LABOURIOUS FOR PEOPLE.
THEY WANT TO GET CASH OUT THE 
DOOR. 
>> Rosemary: A COUPLE OF THINGS 
ABOUT BILL MORNEAU, HE IS SELF 
MONITORING.
THIS IS ATTACHED TO THIS MEETING
WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 
THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, BUT IT 
HAPPENED ON MARCH 11.
THERE IS NOT MUCH CONCERN ABOUT 
THINGS.
HE HAS NO SYMPTOMS, HE'S AT GOOD
HEALTH, AND HE WILL BE AT THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY TODAY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL 
HAPPEN.
A LOT OF BUSINESSES ASKING ABOUT
TOMORROW BEING APRIL 1 AND THAT 
BEING A CONCERN IF YOU ARE A 
RENTER BUT ALSO A CONCERN IF YOU
LEASE A PLACE FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT 
WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
SHOULD DO ANYTHING MORE THERE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S 
RESPONSE WOULD BE THAT'S WHY 
WE'VE OFFERED $40,000 IN LOANS 
INTEREST FREE, WITH $10,000 
FORGIVABLE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE OFFERED MORE 
OPPORTUNITY TO CREDIT THROUGH 
THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF
CANADA AND E.D.C. TO TRY TO 
PROVIDE THAT CREDIT TO EXTEND 
YOUR ABILITY TO STAY IN YOUR 
PLACE OF BUSINESS.
I KNOW THAT'S ON THE MINDS OF 
LOTS OF PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S THE 
RESPONSE.
I'LL PUT YOU BOTH ON HOLD AS WE 
WAIT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER.
THERE HAVE BEEN THREE MORE 
DEATHS FROM COVID-19 AT A 
NURSING HOME IN ONTARIO.
12 RESIDENTS HAVE NOW DIED FROM 
THE VIRUS AT THE PINECREST 
NURSING HOME IN BOBCAYGEON, 
BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 
DEATHS AT THAT FACILITY TO 13.
A WOMAN WHOSE MOTHER DIED THERE 
SPEAKS TO US.
>> IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO 
GRIEVE BECAUSE THE WHOLE WORLD 
IS INVOLVED.
IT'S LIKE YOUR PARENT OR YOUR 
PERSON IS IN THE PRESS AND IT'S 
A BIG THING.
IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO BE WITH 
WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHICH IS YOU 
LOST YOUR MOM.
I'VE BEEN LUCKY BECAUSE MY MOM 
IS 82 AND IN MY PEER GROUP MOST 
OF MY FRIENDS HAVE LOST THEIR 
PARENTS ALREADY.
I HAD HER FOR A GOOD, LONG TIME.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE HER 
WITHOUT BEING WITH HER.
THAT IS THE HARDEST PART. 
>> Rosemary: THIS IS ONE OF THE 
CONCERNS OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS THAT COVID-19 GETS 
INTO THESE VULNERABLE 
POPULATIONS IN NURSING HOMES.
WE SAW THAT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 
AND NOW WE'RE SEEING IT IN 
BOBCAYGEON, 150 KILOMETRES 
NORTHEAST OF TORONTO.
CHRIS GLOVER IS STANDING BY 
THERE.
IT SEEMS GRIM, CHRIS, WITH THE 
NUMBER OF DEATHS AND WORKERS 
INFECTED.
>> Chris: ROSEMARY, IT CERTAINLY
IS GRIM AND THAT UNEASINESS IS 
SETTLING IN WITH A LOT OF THE 
RESIDENTS I'VE BEEN SPEAKING 
WITH HERE IN BOBCAYGEON, 
ESPECIALLY AS THEY LEARN THESE 
NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE IN THIS
SMALL TOWN A COUPLE HOURS NORTH 
OF TORONTO.
WE KNOW THE VIRUS HAS CLAIMED, 
AS YOU MENTIONED, 13 LIVES.
THE FEAR IS THAT NUMBER COULD 
STILL RISE.
THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THIS 
FACILITY BEHIND ME SAYS MANY OF 
THE OTHER PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS
AT THIS FACILITY ARE ALSO 
SHOWING SYMPTOMS AND SOME OF 
THEM ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
HER CONCERN IS CERTAINLY THAT 
THERE WILL BE MORE DEATHS.
BUT YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE 
STAFF.
IT'S TRUE, THERE ARE SEVERAL 
STAFF MEMBERS, AT LAST COUNT 24,
WHO ARE SICK AND MANY OF THEM 
ARE OFF SICK.
AS A RESULT, THE PROVINCE AND 
NURSING ORGANIZATIONS AND 
ASSOCIATIONS HAVE HAD TO STEP UP
TO GET SOME REINFORCES HERE TO 
HELP WITH THE SICK AND THE 
DYING.
AND THE THANK YOUS ARE ALSO 
POURING IN FROM OFFICIALS AND 
RESIDENTS IN TOWN.
THERE HAVE BEEN CARS DRIVING BY 
AND HONKING HORNS.
YESTERDAY AT 7:30 P.M., JUST 
LIKE WE'VE BEEN SEEING DISPLAYS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LAST NIGHT 
AT THIS FACILITY THERE WAS A 
CAVALCADE OF VEHICLES PLAYING 
MUSIC, SOME HAD THEIR WINDOWS 
DOWN AND WERE WAVING.
SOME OF THE STAFF CAME OUT AND 
WAVED AND SAID THANK YOU.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE.
I WAS SPEAKING WITH ONE RESIDENT
WHO SAID IT FEELS GOOD TO SEE SO
MANY STEPPING UP.
>> Rosemary: CHRIS GLOVER IN 
BOBCAYGEON, ONTARIO.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>>> I WANT TO BRING YOU A VIEW 
OF WHAT IT'S LIKE IN ANOTHER 
WAY.
DR. DAVID CARR IS AN EMERGENCY 
ROOM PHYSICIAN IN TORONTO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.
>> Interview: THANKS FOR HAVING 
ME.
>> Rosemary: THANKS FOR BEING 
HERE.
TELL ME WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK 
IN AN E.R. RIGHT NOW.
>> Interview: YEAH, IT'S 
DIFFERENT TIMES 
[ Indiscernible ] -- IN TERMS OF
HOW THINGS ARE.
IT'S FRIGHTENING.
MOST OF US LOVE WHAT WE DO AND 
BEING AN EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR 
IS FRIGHTENING.
IT'S CHANGING DAY-TO-DAY AND 
IT'S HARD AS WE'RE TRYING TO 
KEEP PACE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE.
AS IT EVOLVES, WE'RE ON THE 
FRONTLINE.
>> Rosemary: WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO
HEAR FROM THE PRIME MINISTER WE 
EXPECT ABOUT COMPANIES IN CANADA
STEPPING UP TO MAKE EQUIPMENT 
THAT YOU NEED.
WHAT'S THE STATE NOW, DO YOU 
HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN 
TERMS OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT?
IS. 
>> Interview: YEAH, I THINK AT 
THE CURRENT MOMENT I FEEL SAFE 
WORKING AND SHOWING UP TO WORK.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS A POWERFUL ENEMY
AND A WEAPON.
YOU SEE OTHER COUNTRIES AND 
THEIR EXPERIENCES.
YOU HOPE THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE 
HAVE.
IT'S NOT LIKE CANADIANS TO RELY 
ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND 
PRIVATATION, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW
AS FRONTLINE PHYSICIANS AND 
NURSES WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO 
EFFECTIVELY TREAT PATIENTS.
>> Rosemary: YOU SAY IT'S 
FRIGHTENING DOING YOUR JOB.
I CAN'T IMAGINE DOING YOUR JOB.
WHAT IS SO FRIGHTENING?
>> Interview: IT'S FRIGHTENING 
OF THE UNKNOWN.
WE'VE SEEN CASES OF MENINGITIS, 
TUBERCULOSIS, WE KNOW SCARY 
DISEASES, BUT WE HAVE A HISTORY 
BEHIND THOSE AND WE KNOW WHAT TO
EXPECT.
I THINK THE UNKNOWN IS 
FRIGHTENING.
WHEN YOU SEE 10% OF THE ITALIAN 
EPIDEMIC IS HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
WE'RE CONCERNED.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO 
PROTECT OUR WORKERS, WE JUST 
NEED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE IT.
IS IT FRIGHTENING?
SURE, BECAUSE WE NEVER WANT TO 
BRING THAT STUFF HOME.
>> Rosemary: HOW ARE YOU 
MITIGATING WORK LIFE AND WHAT 
MIGHT BE HAPPENING THERE AND 
COMING HOME AND MAKING SURE YOUR
HOME LIFE IS SAFE?
>> Interview: IT'S A BALANCE.
OUR HOUSE HAS TURNED INTO A HOT 
AND COLD ZONE.
I'M NOT LAUNDERING ANY OF MY 
CLOTHES ANYMORE.
WEARING SCRUBS AND DISPOSING 
THEM AT THE HOSPITAL.
METICULOUSLY HAND WASHING, 
COMING THROUGH A SEPARATE 
ENTRANCE AND WIPING EVERYTHING 
DOWN AND NOT SEEING MY LOVED 
ONES UNTIL I DECONTAMINATE AT 
HOME.
>> Rosemary: HOW ARE YOUR FAMILY
MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE KIDS OR A 
FAMILY, DO THEY GET WHAT'S GOING
ON?
DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE 
TO DO THAT?
>> Interview: YEAH, WE HAVE 
KIDS.
THE MOST COMFORTABLE THING FOR 
US AS PARENTS IS WE BELIEVE 
CHILDREN DO WELL.
MY KIDS ARE SCHOOL-AGED KIDS.
I DON'T HAVE WORRIES FOR  THEIR 
HEALTH.
I WANT TO KEEP MY PARENTS SAFE.
NOW YOU HAVE TIME WITH THEM.
THIS IS A TIME TO ENGAGE WITH 
THEM.
WE'VE GOT TO BE THERE TO 
MITIGATE WHAT IS REALLY 
AFFECTING THEM, WHICH IS A 
REALLY BIG ADJUSTMENT IN THEIR 
LIVES.
>> Rosemary: I'M WAITING FOR THE
PRIME MINISTER AND I MAY CUT YOU
OFF AND EXCUSE ME IF I DO.
HOW IS THIS VIRUS DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.
WHAT IS THE THING YOU'RE SEEING 
PEOPLE TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT IS 
MOST TROUBLING TO YOU?
>> Interview: I THINK WHAT IS 
DIFFERENT AND HAVING GONE 
THROUGH SARS AT THE START OF MY 
CAREER IS WE'RE SEEING 
ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE IT 
AND CAN SPREAD IT.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGING THINGS IS
THE REAL HEROES OF THIS DISEASE 
ARE THE PEOPLE WATCHING TV, NOT 
THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT
UP IN A SOCIETY WHERE YOU GO TO 
YOUR PHYSICIAN, PHYSICIAN'S 
ASSISTANT, NURSES, THEY HELP 
YOU, GIVE YOU MEDICATIONS, GET 
YOU BETTER.
WHAT GETS YOU BETTER IS 
PREVENTING YOU FROM GETTING THE 
DISEASE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE NEED TO PUSH THROUGH THE 
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
>> Rosemary: THE PRIME MINISTER 
IS UP.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PEOPLE 
WATCHING THE TV THAT ARE BRAVE, 
IT'S ALSO YOU.
TAKE GOOD CARE.
HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES
CONTINUE TO GRIEVE AND SEEK 
ANSWERS.
I WANT TO ASSURE THEM AND ALL 
CANADIANS THAT WE HAVE BEEN 
WORKING HARD TO GET 
ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE, EVEN
AS WE FIGHT THIS PANDEMIC.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE ALSO 
BEEN DEVELOPING A STRATEGY WITH 
OTHER INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO 
MAKE SURE SUCH A TRAGEDY NEVER 
HAPPENS AGAIN.
TODAY I'M APPOINTING THE 
HONOURABLE RALPH GOODALE AS THE 
PERSON RESPONSIBLE WITH THE 
DOWNING OF FLIGHT 742.
RALPH HAS THE RIGHT EXPERTISE TO
GUIDE US THROUGH THIS DISASTER 
AND TO INFORM ON BEST PRACTICES 
GOING FORWARD.
HE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH TO SEE 
FAMILIES PROPERLY COMPENSATED.
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO DO IS
TO SHARE A STORY WITH YOU.
A FEW WEEKS AGO DAVE CAPUTO, THE
OWNER OF A START-UP IN THE 
WATERLOO REGION CALLED A MEETING
WITH HIS EMPLOYEES.
WITH MOUNTING CONCERNS AROUND 
COVID-19, DAVE ASKED HIS TEAM 
HOW THEY COULD REPURPOSE THEIR 
FACTORY TO MAKE PRODUCTS 
HOSPITALS NEEDED.
A FEW DAYS LATER THEY HAD FOUR 
PROTOTYPES DRAWN UP.
THEY DECIDED TO MAKE LARGE 
PANELS THAT HOSPITALS COULD USE 
TO SUBDIVIDE ROOMS AND ISOLATE 
PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 FROM 
OTHER PATIENTS.
ON MONDAY PANELS MADE OF FULLY 
RECYCLED MATERIALS WERE 
DELIVERED AT NO COST TO SEVERAL 
HOSPITALS IN THE REGION, 
INCLUDING GRAND RIVER, 
ST. MARYS, AND GUELPH GENERAL 
HOSPITAL.
DAVE AND HIS TEAM SHOWED WHAT 
CANADIANS DO IN DIFFICULT TIMES.
WE DON'T BACK DOWN FROM A 
CHALLENGE.
WE ROLL-UP OUR SLEEVES AND WE 
GET TO WORK.
I KNOW THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS 
BEEN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGING FOR 
PEOPLE RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE BEST 
OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CANADIAN.
FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST, 
BUSINESSES ARE RETOOLING TO 
PRODUCE FACE SHIELDS, 
VENTILATORS, HAND SANITIZER, AND
OTHER SUPPLIES OUR HEALTHCARE 
PROFESSIONALS NEED TO MAKE IT 
EASIER FOR COMPANIES TO HELP OUT
DURING THIS CRITICAL TOWN, WE 
LAUNCHED CANADA'S PLAN TO FIGHT 
COVID-19.
WE'VE SPOKEN TO OVER 3,000 
COMPANIES WHO OFFERED THEIR 
HELP.
BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, I WANT TO 
THANK ALL THE COMPANIES WHO 
OFFERED TO HELP.
THIS VITAL SUPPORT COMES AT A 
CRITICAL TIME.
WHEN YOU SAY HOW CAN I KEEP 
MYSELF SAFE IN THIS TIME?
THIS IS A SIGN OF LEADERSHIP AND
WHAT CANADIANS DO BEST.
IN TOUGH TIMES WE PULL TOGETHER,
WE'RE THERE FOR EACH OTHER, WE 
PUT UP OUR HANDS AND ASK HOW WE 
CAN HELP.
I WANT IN THE SAME VEIN TO THANK
EVERYONE MAKING, SHIPPING, AND 
DELIVERING THESE PRODUCTS.
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE 
MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN TERMS OF
GETTING PEOPLE THE ITEMS THEY 
NEED ARE ON THE FRONTLINES OF 
THIS FIGHT.
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU THROUGH 
THESE TOUGH TIMES AND WE THANK 
YOU DEEPLY FOR EVERYTHING YOU 
DO.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I WANT TO ANNOUNCE 
THE PLAN TO MOBILIZE INDUSTRIES 
TO FIGHT COVID-19.
WE SAID WE WERE REACHING 
AGREEMENTS WITH NUMEROUS 
COMPANIES.
TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE 
SIGNATURE OF SUPPLY CONTRACTS 
WITH THESE COMPANIES TO 
MANUFACTURE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
SUCH AS RESPIRATORS, SURGICAL 
MASKS, AND OTHER MATERIALS.
MINISTER BAINS PLAYED ONE OF THE
FOREMOST ROLES IN MAKING THIS 
HAPPEN.
WE HAVE SIGNED LETTERS OF INTENT
WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER 
COMPANIES.
BY MOBILIZING INDUSTRY, WE CAN 
PRODUCE THE GOODS THAT ARE 
NEEDED BY OUR HEALTHCARE 
PROFESSIONALS RIGHT HERE IN 
CANADA IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR
HELP, TO PROTECT OTHER PATIENTS,
AND TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE 
VIRUS.
[End of Translation] WE SAID 
THAT WE WERE CLOSE TO REACHING 
AGREEMENTS WITH THORNHILL 
MEDICAL, MEDICOM, AND SPAR TAN 
BIOSCIENCE.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH 
CONTRACTS WITH THESE COMPANIES 
TO MAKE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT 
WORK MINISTER BAINS HAS DONE TO 
MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
WE'VE SIGNED LETTERS OF INTENT 
WITH PRECISION BIOMONITORING, 
IRVING OIL, CALCO GROUP AND 
STALFIELD.
WE KNOW THE DEMAND FOR SUPPLIES 
WILL GROW IN THE COMING WEEKS, 
SO WE NEED A SUSTAINABLE, STABLE
SUPPLY OF THESE PRODUCTS.
THAT MEANS MAKING THEM AT HOME 
AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY 
WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COMING 
WEEKS.
SO TODAY I'M ALSO ANNOUNCING 
THAT OUR EXISTING 
NEXT-GENERATION MANUFACTURING 
SUPER CLUSTER WILL BE LEADING 
COMPANIES IN DEVELOPING AND 
SCALING UP NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO 
TEST AND TREAT CANADIANS.
DEMAND FOR THESE GOODS IS GOING 
UP, SO WE'RE MAKING SURE CANADA 
IS READY TO KEEP UP.
THAT'S WHY OUR GOVERNMENT IS 
ALSO ALLOCATING $2 BILLION TO 
PURCHASE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING FOR BULK 
PURCHASES WITH PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES.
THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE MORE 
MASKS AND FACE SHIELDS, GOWNS, 
VENTILATORS, TEST KITS AND SWABS
AND HAND SANITIZER.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS
ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO ARE ON 
THE FRONTLINE OF THIS FIGHT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT MORE IS 
NEEDED, AND EVERYONE IS WORKING 
DAY AND NIGHT TO RECEIVE 
ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES.
WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY, AND THE 
EXPERTS TO MAKE SURE OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS GET 
EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR 
GOVERNMENT AND WE WILL CONTINUE 
TO SOURCE NEW SOLUTIONS EVERY 
DAY.
WE'RE EXPECTING SHIPMENTS TO 
COME IN IN THE COMING DAYS AND 
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
TIRELESS TO GET THESE SUPPLIES 
TO WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] A NUMBER OF 
COMPANIES HAVE DONATED MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT TO FIGHT COVID-19.
ALI BABA SENT UP 500,000 
SURGICAL MASKS AND 10,000 
TESTING KITS TO HELP US.
THE GROUP COVID-19 MEDICAL GROUP
THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ENGINEERS, 
ENTREPRENEURS, AND OTHER 
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IS 
WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF 
COMPANIES TO PROVIDE MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT.
UP UNTIL NOW, THEY HAVE BEEN 
ABLE TO GET A COMMITMENT FROM 
BOMBARDIER, 3M, AND METRONIC TO 
PRODUCE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT.
TOYS "R" US HAS PLEDGED TO 
PROVIDE MONITORS FOR BABIES SO 
THERE CAN BE BETTER 
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN PATIENTS 
AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
THOSE MONITORS WILL ALSO HELP TO
PRODUCE UNNECESSARY TRAVEL 
WITHIN THE FACILITIES.
I WANT TO THANK THE MANY 
COMPANIES WHO HAVE MADE A 
DONATION FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP 
AND GENEROSITY.
YOU ARE DOING YOUR SHARE AND ALL
CANADIANS WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW 
YOUR LEAD.
[End of Translation] WE WILL 
NEED MORE MASKS, VENTILATORS, 
AND TESTING KITS, BUT HOW MANY 
MORE WE NEED DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON
YOU.
IF YOU STAY HOME AND FOLLOW 
PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS, 
YOU CAN SLOW THE SPREAD, AND 
THAT MEANS FEWER PATIENTS IN OUR
HOSPITALS, FEWER PEOPLE TO TEST,
FEWER VENTILATORS TO USE ON 
CRITICAL PATIENTS.
SO KEEP DOING YOUR PART AND HELP
US KEEP CANADA SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, MERCI.
THE FIRST QUESTION MORA FOREST.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: YESTERDAY YOU WERE 
ASKED ABOUT PIPELINE 
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUING ON THE 
TRANS MOUNTAIN EXPANSION AND YOU
SAID YOU WOULD HAVE A BETTER 
ANSWER TODAY.
NOW JASON KENNEY IS SAYING 
CONSTRUCTION WILL START ON THE 
KEYSTONE PIPELINE AS EARLY AS 
APRIL 1.
YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT 
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUING ON THESE
PROJECTS.
>> Answer: I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT
ALL CROWN CORPORATIONS ARE 
FOLLOWING ALL THE BEST MEDICAL 
ADVICE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I CAN ASSURE YOU 
THAT ALL CROWN CORPORATIONS ARE 
FOLLOWING ALL THE ADVICE 
PROVIDED BY OUR MEDICAL 
PROFESSIONALS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: YES, THAT DIDN'T 
REALLY ANSWER MY QUESTION.
I GUESS THAT MEANS YOU'RE 
COMFORTABLE WITH CONSTRUCTION 
CONTINUING.
MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IS ABOUT 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
YOU INITIALLY PROMISED IT AT 
10%, AND THEN LAST WEEK IT WAS 
HIKED TO 75% AND SEEMS TO BE 
TARGETED TO SMALL- AND 
MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES AND NOW 
IT'S AVAILABLE TO ALL 
BUSINESSES.
WHY HAVE YOU TAKEN SUCH AN 
INCREMENTAL APPROACH TO THIS 
MEASURE, GIVEN THAT YOU'VE ASKED
EMPLOYERS TO HIRE BACK 
EMPLOYEES?
>> Answer: WE'RE PUTTING IN 
PLACE UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES TO 
RESPOND TO THE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE
ARE EXPRESSING ON HOW WE ARE 
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH 
THIS TOGETHER AND STAY HOME, 
SELF-ISOLATE, NOT GO INTO WORK, 
AND YET STILL BE ABLE TO PICK UP
OUR ECONOMY WHEN WE'RE THROUGH 
THIS PARTICULAR CRISIS.
THAT IS THE FOCUS WE'VE HAD AND 
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OFFERING IS A 
75% WAGE SUBSIDY TO COMPANIES 
LARGE AND SMALL, NON-PROFIT 
SECTOR AND CHARITABLE SECTOR 
INCLUDED, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN 
STAY ON THE PAYROLL WHILE THEY 
STAY HOME AND STAY ISOLATED, SO 
THAT WE CAN ENSURE WE DO BOUNCE 
BACK STRONGLY FROM THIS ONCE 
WE'RE THROUGH THIS PERIOD.
>> NEXT QUESTION, MIKE 
LANSFIELD, "THE CANADIAN PRESS."
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
YOU TALKED ABOUT SHIPMENTS 
COMING IN THE COMING DAYS AND 
THE FACT THAT MORE WILL BE 
NEEDED OBVIOUSLY.
SO I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO 
DO, IS CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH 
YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS 
AROUND THE CABINET TABLE.
HOW YOU DECIDE HOW THESE SQUARES
MEDICAL RESOURCES WILL BE 
ALLOCATED IN THE COMING -- IN 
THE NEAR FUTURE.
HOW PRECISELY IN DETAIL DO YOU 
DECIDE WHAT GOES WHERE?
>> Answer: THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR 
YOUR QUESTION.
IT'S A GOOD ONE.
I CAN TELL YOU WE DON'T DECIDE 
AROUND THE CABINET TABLE.
IT IS NOT POLITICIANS WHO DECIDE
HOW RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED.
WE RELY ON EXPERTS, ON MEDICAL 
OFFICIALS, ON COORDINATION 
BETWEEN MEDICAL OFFICIALS IN ALL
DIFFERENT PROVINCES TO MAKE THE 
DETERMINATION ON WHERE THINGS 
ARE MOST NEEDED.
WE FOLLOW THE DIRECT ADVICE OF 
MEDICAL EXPERTS IN TERMS OF HOW 
TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE 
EVERYWHERE HAS THE EQUIPMENT 
THEY NEED.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
>> Question: YES.
SO WHAT INPUT THEN ARE YOU 
LOOKING FOR FROM PROVINCES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES AS THEY STRUGGLE 
WITH THIS.
AND THIS RAMP-UP PRODUCTION, 
DOES THIS MEAN THIS HAS TO BE A 
MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTION AND WE 
CAN'T RELY ON IMPORTS?
>> Answer: WE CONTINUE TO WORK 
CLOSELY WITH THE PROVINCES PHONO
WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, WHAT THE 
SUPPLIES ARE, WHERE POTENTIAL 
GAPS MIGHT BE DEPENDING ON TREND
LINES AND MODELLING.
WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
TO ENSURE THAT THE RESOURCES 
NEEDED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY WILL GET THERE WHEN 
THEY'RE NEEDED.
ON THE SECOND QUESTION, YES, ON 
PROCUREMENT, THE ENTIRE WORLD IS
TRYING TO GET ITS HANDS ON THE 
VARIOUS EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO 
FIGHT THIS VIRUS.
THAT IS WHY WE KNOW THAT IT WILL
BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE 
MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTIONS.
I AM INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY 
PROUD OF CANADIAN COMPANIES, 
CANADIAN SUPPLIERS AND 
MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE STEPPING 
UP AND SAYING, WE WANT TO HELP.
WE WILL MAKE VENTILATORS.
WE WILL HELP MAKE MASKS AND 
GOWNS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE
ARE GOING TO NEED IN THE COMING 
WEEKS.
IT HAS BEEN A TRULY AMAZING AND 
INSPIRING STORY TO SEE HOW MANY 
FACTORIES AND MANUFACTURERS ARE 
STEPPING UP.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE 
CONTINUING TO WORK VERY HARD ON 
PROCUREMENT SOLUTIONS TO GET THE
ITEMS THAT WE NEED FOR THE 
COMING WEEKS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] FIRST OF ALL, I'M 
VERY MUCH INSPIRED BY WHAT 
CANADIAN COMPANIES AND 
MANUFACTURERS ARE DOING.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A 
HUGE DEMAND RIGHT AROUND THE 
WORLD FOR THIS EQUIPMENT, AND 
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE 
MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTIONS SO THAT
WE CAN MEET OUR OWN NEEDS IN THE
WEEKS AND MONTHS TO  COME.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE WORKING 
WITH THE PROVINCES TO LOOK AT 
THEIR NEEDS AND TO COORDINATE 
ALL OF THAT WORK SO THAT THEY 
GET THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT WHEN
AND WHERE THEY NEED IT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE WORKING
ON DELIVERING THAT EQUIPMENT IN 
THE COMING DAYS.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF 
ASSURANCES HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN 
FROM COMPANIES, THE FIVE NEW 
COMPANIES YOU JUST ANNOUNCED, 
THAT THIS MATERIAL WILL BE 
AVAILABLE IN TIME IN ORDER TO 
MEET NEEDS.
>> Answer: WE ARE TRYING TO 
EXPEDITE ALL THOSE PROCESSES, 
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IT 
WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, 
PROBABLY A FEW WEEKS, BEFORE 
THAT EQUIPMENT ARRIVES FROM OUR 
CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE CONTINUING TO 
RECEIVE SHIPMENTS OF MATERIAL 
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
>> Question: YES.
AND WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPANY 
PRODUCING N95 MASKS, HOW MANY 
MASKS ARE READY NOW OR WILL BE 
READY VERY SOON?
>> Answer: NUMBER OF THAT 
INFORMATION, BUT I KNOW THAT 
THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE
FOLLOWING THIS ONE WHERE MORE 
INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE 
ABOUT PROCUREMENT.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO 
CONSTRUCTION WORK THAT IS 
PROCEEDING ON T.M.X.
YOU SAY THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING 
MEDICAL ADVICE, BUT THERE ARE 
SOME WORKERS WHO ARE VERY 
WORRIED ABOUT THESE PEOPLE 
COMING BACK INTO THE REGION.
WHY NOT SUSPEND THAT WORK TO 
PROTECT THE RESIDENTS?
>> Answer: WELL, WE KNOW THAT 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN CANADA
ARE VERY VULNERABLE, AND THAT'S 
WHY SPECIAL MEASURES ARE BEING 
TAKEN RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
TO ENSURE THAT COVID-19 DOES NOT
SPREAD TO THOSE COMMUNITIES 
WHICH ARE ALREADY QUITE STRESSED
IN TERMS OF THEIR OWN MEDICAL 
SYSTEM AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 
WHO LIVE IN HOUSING UNITS.
SO WE KNOW THERE'S MORE THAT 
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
NOW, WITH RESPECT TO 
CONSTRUCTION WORK, I AM 
CONFIDENT THAT THE COMPANY IS 
TAKING ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS 
TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
>> Question: MY FOLLOW-UP IS ON 
ANOTHER TOPIC.
NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THE 
EMERGENCY BENEFIT, NOW YOU'RE 
SAYING THIS WILL AMOUNT TO 
$2,000 A MONTH, BUT WHAT ABOUT 
SOMEONE WHO IS ON MINIMUM WAGE, 
ARE YOU NOT CONCERNED THAT 
SOMEBODY OR SOME PEOPLE WILL 
WANT TO GET THAT BENEFIT RATHER 
THAN CONTINUING TO WORK?
>> Answer: WELL, THIS IS A VERY 
DIFFICULT SITUATION.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO ENSURE 
THAT PEOPLE CAN SELF-ISOLATE AND
TAKE WHATEVER STEPS ARE NEEDED 
TO STAY SAFE AND KEEP THEIR 
FAMILIES SAFE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT 
THERE ARE SOME JOBS THAT ARE 
MORE ESSENTIAL THAN OTHERS.
I'M QUITE CONFIDENT THAT BY 
WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES THAT 
WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT 
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WILL BE 
DONE AND THAT CANADIANS HAVE THE
MONEY THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO 
PAY THEIR RENT AND DO THEIR 
GROCERIES.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK ON TOGETHER.
[End of Translation] WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE NEED MONEY
TO BE ABLE TO STAY HOME AND PAY 
THEIR RENTS AND BE ABLE TO BUY 
GROCERIES.
THIS IS A SITUATION THAT IS 
UNPRECEDENTED AND IT WAS REALLY 
IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET MONEY 
INTO PEOPLE'S POCKETS QUICKLY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE 
GOING TO BE CHALLENGES AROUND 
CERTAIN ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH 
PROVINCES AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE 
TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL 
ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY SAFE WHILE 
THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB THEY
NEED TO DO.
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER, I'M
WONDERING, YOU'VE TALKED A LOT 
AND YOUR CABINET MINISTERS HAVE 
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THERE BEING 
ENOUGH PROTECTIVE GATHER FOR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, BUT WE'RE 
HEARING FROM THEM THAT THEY'RE 
BEING RATIONED AND THEY'RE 
AFRAID TO GO TO WORK.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT 
DIFFERENCE?
>> Answer: ONE OF THE ISSUES 
WE'RE FACED WITH IS WE'RE 
LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
MODELS, WHERE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIOS ARE DIRE, BUT THIS IS 
SOMETHING WE THINK WE WILL BE 
ABLE TO MANAGE.
I THINK HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND 
EVERYONE NEEDS TO KEEP IN MIND 
WHAT THE POTENTIAL WORST-CASE 
SCENARIOS ARE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO PREPARE FOR EVERY EVENTUALITY
AND BE CAREFUL AND RESPONSIBLE 
ABOUT HOW WE USE THE EQUIPMENT 
WE HAVE, BUT ALSO IMPRESS UPON 
CANADIANS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS 
THAT THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE 
TODAY, HOW AND WHETHER YOU DO GO
OUT, WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT 
ON THE NEED HEALTHCARE 
PROFESSIONALS WILL BE FACING A 
WEEK FROM NOW, 10 DAYS FROM NOW.
THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT 
FOR EVERYONE TO KEEP PRESSURE 
OFF OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS BY 
STAYING HOME AND MAKING CHOICES 
THAT KEEP US SAFE.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] JUST AS A
FOLLOW-UP, WE HAVE NURSES THAT 
ARE SAYING THAT THE HOSPITALS 
ARE TELLING THEM TO TAKE THOSE 
MASKS, TO TAKE THEM HOME, WASH 
THEM, AND BRING THEM HOME THE 
NEXT DAY.
IS THERE SUCH A SERIOUS SHORTAGE
THAT HEALTHCARE WORKERS SHOULD 
BE ENDANGERING THEIR OWN HEALTH?
>> Answer: WELL, I THINK WE HAVE
TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY 
EVENTUALITY.
I THINK THAT'S THE RESPONSIBLE 
THING TO DO.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS OF 
ASSURING THAT WE HAVE A PROPER 
SUPPLY OF ALL EQUIPMENT BASED ON
POTENTIAL SCENARIOS IN THE 
COMING DAYS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU WE ARE WORKING 
TO PROVIDE SHIPMENTS OF OTHER 
EQUIPMENT AND WE ARE WORKING 
WITH CANADIAN COMPANIES TO 
PRODUCE MORE EQUIPMENT.
ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE REMINDING 
CANADIANS THAT THE CHOICES WE 
MAKE TODAY WILL HAVE A DIRECT 
IMPACT ON THE DEMANDS PLACED ON 
OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHY EVERYONE HAS TO DO 
THEIR PART.
[End of Translation] IT IS 
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE
TO DO THEIR PART AND STAY HOME 
SO THAT WE ARE NOT OVERWHELMED 
IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A RANGE OF 
MODELS THAT COULD LEAD TO A 
DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE 
WORST-CASE SCENARIOS, BUT 
WORKING TOWARDS AND HOPING FOR A
BEST-CASE SCENARIO, THAT 
ENTIRELY DEPENDS ON CITIZENS 
BEING RESPONSIBLE IN THEIR 
CHOICES.
AS FOR DECISIONS MADE BY MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS ON MANAGING THE 
SUPPLIES THAT THEY HAVE, I CAN 
ONLY SALUTE THEM FOR THE WORK 
THEY'RE WORKING SO HARD AND THE 
DECISIONS THEY'RE MAKING TO KEEP
US ALL SAFE AS A COUNTRY AND TO 
KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE SO THEY CAN
KEEP KEEPING US SAFE.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] NOW, AT 
THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, THERE 
IS A MINI WAR WHERE PEOPLE ARE 
TRYING TO GET EQUIPMENT.
DOES THAT CONCERN YOU?
DO YOU THINK CANADA COULD END UP
WITH A SHORTAGE?
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?
>> Answer: WELL, I THINK THERE 
ARE A LOT OF THINGS OF CONCERN 
TO US IN THIS SITUATION, THE 
HEALTH OF ALL CANADIANS IS MY 
PRIMARY CONCERN.
AND OF COURSE THE HEALTH OF OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO ARE 
TRYING TO KEEP US SAFE.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR 
EMBASSIES INTERNATIONALLY TO 
ENSURE A PROPER SUPPLY OF OTHER 
EQUIPMENT, AND WE EXPECT TO 
RECEIVE MORE EQUIPMENT IN THE 
COMING DAYS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE TO 
ACCEPT THOSE DELIVERIES, BUT AT 
THE SAME TIME IT'S VERY 
IMPORTANT TO MOBILIZE INDUSTRY 
SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT 
EQUIPMENT PRODUCED HERE IN 
CANADA AND HAVE OUR OWN SUPPLY 
CHAIN MOBILIZED HERE IN CANADA.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING 
NOW.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK CANADIAN 
MANUFACTURERS AND BUSINESSES WHO
HAVE STEPPED UP TO ADJUST THEIR 
PRODUCTION AND PROVIDE THAT 
EQUIPMENT IF IT'S NEEDED FOR 
CANADA AND AROUND THE WORLD.
[End of Translation] WE ARE OF 
COURSE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE
WE RECEIVE SHIPMENTS OF NEEDED 
SUPPLIES IN THE COMING DAYS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT OUR 
EMBASSY STAFF AROUND THE WORLD 
IS STRONGLY ENGAGED IN EXACTLY 
THAT.
THAT'S ALSO WHY IT IS SO 
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE 
MADE-IN-CANADA SUPPLY CHAINS TO 
PROVIDE US WITH THIS ESSENTIAL 
EQUIPMENT FOR THE COMING WEEKS, 
FOR THE COMING MONTHS.
THAT'S WHY I AM SO PLEASED TO BE
ABLE TO THANK THE MANUFACTURERS 
AND PRODUCERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHO HAVE SWITCHED THEIR 
PRODUCTION OVER TO MAKING THIS 
NECESSARY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
BECAUSE IT WILL ENSURE THAT WE 
HAVE SOLUTIONS IN CANADA THAT 
MR. COVER OUR NEEDS. 
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
THE AMERICANS ARE SAID TO BE 
MOST AGGRESSIVELY SCOOPING UP 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ON
THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'VE FOUND 
THAT TO BE THE CASE.
IF SO, HAVE YOU PREVAILED ON 
PRESIDENT TRUMP TO WORK TOGETHER
TO COME UP WITH A COMMON 
NORTH AMERICAN STRATEGY, IF YOU 
CAN SHIP VENTILATORS AND OTHER 
EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE CONTINENT 
TO PRIORITY AREAS?
>> Answer: WE ARE WORKING HARD 
TO ENSURE CANADA RECEIVES THE 
EQUIPMENT WE NEED, IN THE SHORT 
AND MEDIUM TERM, CREATING 
PRODUCTION FACILITIES TO ENSURE 
WE CAN COVER OUR NEEDS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT COUNTRIES 
AROUND THE WORLD ARE TAKING 
THEIR OWN APPROACHES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE 
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT EVERY 
STEP OF THE WAY OUR PRIORITY 
WILL BE ENSURING THAT CANADA IS 
ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ITS OWN.
>> Question: ARE YOU WORKING 
WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP ON A 
NORTH AMERICAN STRATEGY?
ALSO, CAN YOU TELL US EXACTLY 
HOW MUCH MEDICAL GEAR HAS BEEN 
DEPLOYED AND DELIVERED SO FAR?
>> Answer: WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO 
COVER ALL OUR NEEDS UP UNTIL 
THIS POINT AND EXPECT TO BE ABLE
TO COVER OUR NEEDS FOR MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT IN THE FORESEEABLE 
FUTURE, BUT THAT IS WHY IT IS 
IMPORTANT TO RAMP UP 
PRODUCTIONLE AS WELL AND WITH 
THE UNITED STATES WE CONTINUE TO
COORDINATE ON A BROAD RANGE OF 
ISSUES.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE WILL CONTINUE TO
COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS WITH THE 
UNITED STATES ON MANY DIFFERENT 
ISSUES, BUT OUR PRIORITY WILL BE
TO ENSURE CANADIANS HAVE THE 
EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO STAY SAFE
AND HEALTH.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: 
[ Indiscernible ] -- 
>> Answer: THAT'S A QUESTION FOR
THE MINISTERS.
>> Question: WITH RENT DUE 
TOMORROW, MANY SMALL- AND 
MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES ARE 
WORRIED ABOUT PAYING THEIR 
LANDLORDS.
WHAT CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
DO?
IS RENT FORGIVENESS ON THE 
TABLE?
>> Answer: WE'VE WORKED WITH 
CMHC TO MAKE SURE RENTS AND 
MORTGAGES CAN BE DEFERRED.
WE'VE PUT MONEY IN THE POCKETS 
OF CANADIANS AT 75% THAT WILL 
TAKE OFF THIS PRESSURE.
WE'VE MADE AVAILABLE A $40,000 
LOAN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT 
WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE BANKS 
INTEREST FREE FOR THE FIRST 
YEAR.
AND $10,000 UNDER CERTAIN 
CONDITIONS WILL BE FORGIVEN AT 
THE END.
THERE ARE DIRECT MEASURES FOR 
COMPANIES TO GET THE LIQUIDITY 
NECESSARY TO GET THROUGH THE 
COMING MONTHS SO WE CAN BE 
STRONG ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS 
CRISIS AT THE END OF IT. 
>> Question: TWO FIRST NATIONS 
COMMUNITIES IN MANITOBA AND 
OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE REQUESTING
MILITARY HOSPITALS BE SET UP.
IS THIS SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT
IS CONTEMPLATING?
>> Answer: WE KNOW THE MEN AND 
WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY ARE ALWAYS
READY TO SERVE AND HELP IN A 
BROAD RANGE OF WAYS CANADIANS 
WHO NEED THAT SUPPORT.
FIELD HOSPITALS IS CERTAINLY A 
CAPACITY THAT THE CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES HAVE.
WE WILL ALL MAKE DETERMINATIONS 
ABOUT HOW AND WHERE WE CAN BEST 
HELP IF IT COMES TO THAT. 
>> Question: CANADIANS OF COURSE
ARE PUTTING LOTS OF MONEY ON 
THEIR CREDIT CARDS.
THEY'RE RAKING UP INTEREST.
LAST WEEK YOU SAID YOU WOULD 
TALK TO BANKS ABOUT DEFERRING 
THAT INTEREST.
ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT?
>> Answer: THOSE CONVERSATIONS 
CONTINUE WITH THE BANKS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO EASING 
CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS SO THEY 
CAN SHIFT THEIR BANK AND CREDIT 
CARD BALANCES TO A 
LOWER-INTEREST LINE OF CREDIT.
THESE ARE THINGS WE ARE 
CONTINUING TO WORK ON BECAUSE WE
RECOGNIZE CANADIANS DON'T WANT 
TO COME THROUGH THIS WITH 
IMPOSSIBLE LEVELS OF DEBT AND 
WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM OUT.
>> Question: IN FRENCH, PLEASE.
>> Answer: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT 
PEOPLE NOT COME OUT OF THIS 
CRISIS IN EVEN MORE DEBT THAN 
BEFORE.
THAT'S WHY WE PROVIDED THE 
EMERGENCY BENEFIT AND THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY FOR BUSINESSES TO KEEP 
PEOPLE ON THE PAYROLL.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE CAN WORK 
WITH THE BANKS AND THAT'S WHAT 
WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING, IN ORDER 
TO TRY AND GET SOME CHANGES WITH
RESPECT TO CREDIT CARDS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT EASIER 
ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS
SO THAT IF THEY BORROW MONEY, IT
WILL COST LESS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: THERE ARE REPORTS 
THAT CHINA WILL ALLOW CANADIAN 
EXPORTS OF CANOLA.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT AND IS THIS
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO 
COUNTIES?
>> Answer: WE ARE IN A GLOBAL 
SITUATION WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT 
FOR COUNTRIES TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE HAVE SEEN SIGNS OF POSITIVE 
ASPECTS OF THESE ISSUES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT 
OUR FARMERS, EXPORTER CONTINUE 
TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE MARKETS IN
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH OUR FARMERS AND 
PRODUCERS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE 
MARKETS FOR THEIR GOODS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS A TIME
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK 
TOGETHER AND COUNTRIES AS WELL 
MUST WORK TOGETHER.
I'M HAPPY TO POSITIVE SIGNS THAT
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA GIVING HIS 
DAILY BRIEFING TO CANADIANS 
TODAY, LARGELY FOCUSED ON 
PROCURING AND CREATING THE 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE 
NEEDED, THAT IS ALREADY NEEDED 
BY FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
BEFORE I GET TO MY COLLEAGUES, 
LET ME GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON 
ANOTHER STORY WE WERE TRACKING 
AT THE END OF LAST WEEK.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THERE WERE A 
LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 
POSSIBILITY THAT AMERICAN TROOPS
WOULD BE DEPLOYED NEAR THE 
CANADIAN BORDER, NOT AT THE 
CANADIAN BORDER, BUT NEAR THE 
CANADA-U.S. BORDER IN AN ATTEMPT
TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOBODY 
CROSSING WITH SIGNS OF COVID-19.
IN FACT, WE CAN CONFIRM NOW THAT
IT IS NO LONGER UNDER 
CONSIDERATION, THAT THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 
HAS FORMALLY DROPPED THAT ASPECT
OF THEIR REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.
THAT IS INFORMATION JUST COMING 
INTO CBC NOW.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND 
WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT THE 
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
MADE THEIR CASE STRONGLY TO 
AMERICAN OFFICIALS THAT THAT WAS
NOT NEEDED AND WOULD BE VIEWED 
AS DAMAGING TO THEIR 
RELATIONSHIP.
SO, IN FACT, THE DEPARTMENT OF 
HOMELAND SECURITY MOVING AWAY 
FROM THAT CHANGE ENTIRELY.
LET ME BRING IN THE HOST OF 
"POWER & POLITICS," VASSY 
KAPELOS, AND DAVID COCHRANE.
I WANTED TO CLOSE THE CIRCLE ON 
THAT STORY THAT SEEMS TO BE 
PETERING OUT TO SAY THE LEAST.
AND I'M NOT SURE HOW EXACTLY 
THEY CAME TO THIS DECISION, 
WHETHER IT WAS CANADIAN 
INFLUENCE OR PRESSURE, OR 
WHETHER THEY JUST DECIDED IT 
DIDN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF 
SENSE.
VASSY, OVER TO YOU I GUESS ON 
THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT AROUND CANADIAN 
COMPANIES STEPPING UP TO CREATE 
SOME OF THIS EQUIPMENT AND HOW 
THE GOVERNMENT MOVES FORWARD 
WITH THAT.
>> Vassy: A COUPLE OF THINGS, 
ROSIE, THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME.
THE FIRST POSITIVE NEWS, IF 
THERE IS ANY, IS WHEN WE HEARD 
MINISTER BAINS AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER I THINK OVER A WEEK AGO
INITIALLY SAY WE'RE GOING TO 
RETOOL EVERYTHING, FOCUS ON 
COVID-19, LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN
HELP, APPARENTLY 3,000 COMPANIES
REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNMENT IN
THAT PERIOD OF TIME TO OFFER 
THEIR HELP.
THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THE
FORMALIZING OF EIGHT CONTRACTS 
THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING 
WITH EIGHT COMPANIES ON MOVING 
FORWARD WITH THIS TYPE OF 
EQUIPMENT, TRYING TO 
MANUFACTURING THIS KIND OF 
EQUIPMENT, MASKS, VENTILATORS, 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, 
TESTING KITTS, ALL OF THAT.
THEY PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE TO IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND $2 
BILLION ON IT.
THE PRIME MINISTER GOT A LOT OF 
QUESTIONS, AND RIGHTLY SO, ABOUT
THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR ALL
OF THIS, MEANING THERE ARE SO 
MANY COUNTRIES RIGHT NOW TRYING 
TO ACQUIRE THE SAME EQUIPMENT 
AND OUR COLLEAGUE POINTED TO THE
UNITED STATES THAT IS 
AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO ACQUIRE 
THAT EQUIPMENT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR CANADA'S
ABILITY TO DO SO.
THE PRIME MINISTER POINTED TO 
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A DOMESTIC 
RAMP-UP IN THAT KIND OF 
MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION AND
SAID WE EXPECT TO HAVE THIS 
EQUIPMENT IN THE COMING DAYS.
HE ALSO INSISTED THAT THE 
CURRENT LEVEL OF NEED IS BEING 
MET.
EVEN THOUGH WE KEEP HEARING FROM
VARIOUS PEOPLE IN HEALTHCARE 
THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT 
NOT BEING THE CASE IN THE 
FUTURE, HE SAID IT WOULD BE MET 
IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
BUT I THINK THERE IS CAUSE FOR 
SCRUTINY IN THAT LINE THAT WE'RE
GETTING, IT'S IN THE COMING 
DAYS.
I REALIZE THIS IS A MOVING 
TARGET, THAT THIS IS A 
HUGE-SCALE EFFORT THAT HASN'T 
BEEN UNDERTAKEN BEFORE, BUT 
THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC TIMELINES 
ABOUT WHEN THIS EQUIPMENT WILL 
BE RECEIVED AND IN WHAT FASHION.
AND I THINK LACKING THAT, IT'S 
DIFFICULT TO KNOW FOR SURE THAT 
THE NEEDS ARE BEING MET OR WILL 
BE MET AND FOR HOW LONG.
THERE IS A BIG QUESTION HANGING 
OVER EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW WHEN IT
COMES TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, 
THE ABILITY TO DO AS MANY TESTS 
AS POSSIBLE, THE ABILITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT EQUIPMENT IS 
AVAILABLE.
I THINK WE ARE STILL LACKING THE
SPECIFIC TIMELINES THAT WOULD 
PROVIDE THOSE ASSURANCES. 
>> Rosemary: THE PRIME MINISTER 
DID MENTION $2 BILLION TO HELP 
PURCHASE THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT FOR BULL YOU CAN 
PURCHASES FOR THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES, WHICH IS DIFFERENT 
HOW IT'S HAPPENING IN THE 
UNITED STATES.
THEY ARE COMPETING AMONGST EACH 
OTHER RATHER THAN HAVING A 
COORDINATED RESPONSE.
HE SAID IT WILL TAKE A FEW WEEKS
TO GET THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE 
SWITCHING OVER UP AND RUNNING.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STILL 
RECEIVING SHIPMENTS FROM AROUND 
THE WORLD AND SAYING THEY ARE 
PREPARING FOR THE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIOS, NOT THE BEST-CASE, 
WHICH IS NOT NICE TO HEAR.
BUT YOU WOULD PREFER THE 
GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING FOR THE 
WORST AND KNOW THAT THERE ARE 
COMPANIES WHO CAN CREATE THIS 
STUFF DOWN THE ROAD.
>> David: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF 
THINGS TO UNPACK.
THE $2 BILLION IS A COMMITMENT 
TO BUY.
THAT IS NOT $2 BILLION ALREADY 
IN STOCKPILES.
THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
WE HAVE A NEWS RELEASE FROM 
THORNHILL AND THEY ARE GOING TO 
PRODUCE 500 MOBILE VENTILATOR 
UNITS.
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER WAS 
SAYING ABOUT WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY
TOTAL CHAOS ON THE INTERNATIONAL
PROCUREMENT MARKET IS THE BIG 
CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW.
THIS INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY TO 
BUILD VENTILATORS, TO MAKE 
MASKS, TO DO GOWNS, TO DO HAND 
SANITIZER, THAT ALL EXISTS IN 
CANADA, BUT IT TAKES TIME TO GET
READY.
MAYBE THIS CAN HAPPEN IN TWO 
WEEKS TO USE A NUMBER, THAT IS A
SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE 
LIFESPAN OF A COMPANY AND 
COUNTRY.
THAT IS NOT A SHORT AMOUNT OF 
TIME IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF A 
VIRUS LIKE COVID-19.
THE BIG QUESTION PEOPLE HAVE AND
THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM 
FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS IS 
THERE ENOUGH PVMED PVMED -- 
P.P.E. WHERE SUPPLY WILL NO 
LONGER BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE YOU 
CAN ACCELERATE IT AND NO LONGER 
HAVE IT IN PLACE.
IN THE U.S. THEIR HOSPITALS ARE 
OVERFLOWING AND THEY ARE 
SCRAMBLING AND COMPETING, 
HOSPITALS IN NEW YORK BIDDING 
AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THE ABILITY TO COOPERATE IN A 
REASONABLE FASHION WITH ANOTHER 
COUNTRY IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY I 
THINK GIVEN THE STATE OF PLAY.
CANADA HAS PROMISED TO BUY THEIR
FUTURE PRODUCTION WHILE INDUSTRY
RETOOLS ITSELF TO DO THIS 
MADE-IN-CANADA SOLUTION THAT THE
PRIME MINISTER IS TALKING ABOUT.
MINISTER BAINS HAS MOVED 
QUICKLY.
THE PROCUREMENT MINISTER IS THE 
ONE UNDER THE GUN BECAUSE SHE IS
COMPETING IN THE MOST INTENSE 
MARKETPLACE WHERE SOME COUNTRIES
HAVE PUT TRADE RESTRICTIONS ON 
THIS EQUIPMENT.
THERE IS NOTHING COMING OUT OF 
THE EUROPEAN UNION.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME COMING OUT OF 
CHINA WHICH HAS BEEN SENT BACK 
BECAUSE IT IS DEFECTIVE.
ROSIE, IT'S NOT JUST THIS WAVE.
WE'VE SEEN IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF 
VIRUS PANDEMICS THERE CAN BE A 
SECOND AND THIRD WAVE.
IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO 
HAVE THIS FUTURE DOMESTIC SUPPLY
CHAIN IN CASE THIS COMES BACK IN
SOME SHAPE OR FORM.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S AGAIN ONE OF
THE REASONS WHY THE GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS AND THE PRIME MINISTER
TELLING PEOPLE TO PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
THE MORE WE CAN TAKE THE 
PRESSURE OFF THE HEALTH SYSTEM, 
THE LESS THEY WILL NEED THESE 
THINGS.
ONE THING ON BANKS.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE 
GOVERNMENT IS MAKING ANY 
PROGRESS THAT THEY ARE WILLING 
TO TALK ABOUT WITH BANKS EASING 
UP ON INTEREST RATES, WHETHER 
WITH CREDIT CARDS.
WE'VE HEARD LOTS OF PROBLEMS 
AROUND MORTGAGE DEFERRALS.
IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE 
ON.
I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE IS A LACK
OF COOPERATION OR WHAT MORE THE 
GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO FORCE THEIR
HAND A LITTLE BIT.
I KNOW A LOT OF CANADIANS ARE 
STRUGGLING WITH THOSE INTEREST 
RATES.
>> David: ROSIE, IT COULD BE THE
SEQUENCING HOW THEY HAVE TO DO 
THE PROGRAMS.
FLOATING THE MONEY COULD HAVE 
BEEN THE FIRST THING THEY WANTED
TO GET OUT THE DOOR AND WORK ON 
THE INTEREST RELIEF.
ONE IS IMPORTANT BUT COULD BE 
NUMBER TWO ON THE LIST. 
>> Rosemary: WE'LL ASK FOR 
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT FROM THE 
FINANCE MINISTER LATER TODAY.
THANK YOU BOTH.
WE'RE BACK AT THE TOP.
WE ARE HEARING MORE CASES IN 
WINDSOR-ESSEX.
ONE-THIRD OF THE CASES ARE 
HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL WHO WORK IN
THE U.S.
WE DID TALK TO A NURSE FROM 
WINDSO WHO WAS DOING THE BACK 
AND FORTH WORK.
SHE WAS WORRIED BUT SEEMED TO BE
WELL EQUIPPED.
THIS IS THE CONCERN THAT 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS GET THE VIRUS
AND THEY BRING IT BACK INTO 
CANADA.
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS.
TELL US MORE.
>> Chris: LET'S START WITH JENNA
MALONE, SHE CROSSES THE BORDER 
EVERY DAY TO GO TO WORK AT A 
HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES.
EVERY DAY SHE COMES BACK HOME, 
CROSSES THE BORDER.
SHE'S AN ESSENTIAL WORKER.
WHEN SHE GOES HOME, SHE CHANGES 
IN HER GARAGE, GOES IN A 
SEPARATE BATHROOM AND WEARS 
P.P.E. IN THE COMMON AREAS TO 
NOT GET HER FAMILY INFECTED.
NOW THERE'S A TENSION EXISTING 
IN WINDSOR-ESSEX ABOUT HOW CAN 
WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY 
STAYS SAFE AND THESE HEALTHCARE 
PROFESSIONALS, APPROXIMATELY 
1,500 OF THEM WHO CROSS EVERY 
DAY TO WORK ON THE FRONTLINES 
STAY SAFE.
THERE WERE SOME NEW 
RECOMMENDATIONS LAID OUT AND ONE
OF THEM IS IF SOMEONE IS WORKING
ACROSS THE BORDER THEY STAY IN 
THAT COUNTRY UNTIL THEIR WORK 
WEEK IS OVER.
FOR JENA, THAT WOULD MEAN SHE 
GOES TO DETROIT AND STAYS THERE.
THERE WAS A PITCH FOR ADDITIONAL
SCREENING AT THE BORDER.
TEMPERATURE CHECKS, STUFF LIKE 
THAT.
OUR MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH 
SAID THAT THAT SCREENING ALREADY
EXISTS AT THE HOSPITALS SO THEY 
DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE AS 
VALUABLE TO FIND A WAY THAT 
THESE HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT 
ARE NEEDED IN WINDSOR AND THOSE 
IN MICHIGAN, TO MAKE SURE THAT 
THEY'RE SAFE AND THERE'S NO 
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.
AGAIN, AS WE DEAL WITH A THIRD 
OF OUR CASES HERE IN 
WINDSOR-ESSEX COMING FROM THOSE 
WORKING IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
IN MICHIGAN.
>> Rosemary: LET ME BRING PEOPLE
UP TO SPEED ON WHERE WE ARE AND 
WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR.
THE REGULAR NOON BRIEFING FROM 
FEDERAL CABINET MINISTERS AND 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
THE MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT 
WAS ON HOW TO PROCURE PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR MEDICAL
STAFF, FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS.
THE PRIME MINISTER NAMING A 
NUMBER OF CANADIAN COMPANIES WHO
HAVE STEPPED UP TO SWITCH OVER 
WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING IN ORDER 
TO CREATE A DOMESTIC SUPPLY 
CHAIN FOR THOSE MEDICAL 
SUPPLIES.
THE GOVERNMENT ALSO OFFERING UP 
$2 BILLION TO HELP PURCHASE BULK
PURCHASES FOR PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES THAT NEED HELP WITH 
THAT AS WELL.
WE ARE ALSO EXPECTING MORE 
DETAILS ON THE WAGE SUBSIDY FOR 
75% OF WAGES FOR COMPANIES BIG 
AND SMALL THAT LOSE 30% OF THEIR
REVENUE DUE TO COVID-19.
ALL THOSE DETAILS STILL TO COME.
FOR NOW WE WILL LEAVE YOU ON CBC
TELEVISION.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP WATCHING, 
WE'RE ON CBC NEWS NETWORK AND 
cbcnews.ca.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
[♪♪♪] 
>> Rosemary: I'M ROSEMARY BARTON
LIVE FROM OTTAWA.
WELCOME TO CBC NEWS.
YOU MAY BE WATCHING US ON CBC 
NEWS NETWORK.
YOU MIGHT BE WATCHING US AROUND 
THE WORLD ON THE CBC NEWS APP OR
ON cbcnews.ca.
WE ARE BRINGING YOU THE LATEST 
COVID-19 COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE
DAY.
IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE WILL 
HEAR FROM FEDERAL CABINET 
MINISTERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS ON CANADA'S ATTEMPT TO
CONTAIN THE PANDEMIC AND HOW WE 
ARE RESPONDING.
WE ARE ALSO WAITING TODAY TO 
HEAR MORE SPECIFICS FROM FINANCE
MINISTER BILL MORNEAU ABOUT THE 
ECONOMIC RESPONSE TO THE 
PANDEMIC.
JUST MOMENTS AGO THE PRIME 
MINISTER THANKED THOUSANDS OF 
CANADIAN COMPANIES, 3,000 OR 
MORE, THAT HAVE HELPED THE 
GOVERNMENT SECURE MUCH-NEEDED 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, 
THE MASKS, THE GLOVES, THE GOWNS
THAT FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS 
NEED TO FIGHT COVID-19.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: WE KNOW THAT THE DEMAND
FOR CRITICAL EQUIPMENT AND 
SUPPLIES WILL GROW IN THE COMING
WEEKS, SO WE NEED A SUSTAINABLE,
STABLE SUPPLY OF THESE PRODUCTS.
THAT MEANS MAKING THEM AT HOME.
WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY WILL 
BE AVAILABLE IN THE COMING 
WEEKS.
SO TODAY I'M ALSO ANNOUNCING 
THAT OUR EXISTING 
NEXT-GENERATION MANUFACTURING 
SUPER CLUSTER WILL BE LEADING 
COMPANIES IN DEVELOPING AND 
SCALING UP NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO 
TEST AND TREAT CANADIANS.
DEMAND FOR THESE GOODS IS GOING 
UP, SO WE'RE MAKING SURE CANADA 
IS READY TO KEEP UP.
THAT'S WHY OUR GOVERNMENT IS 
ALSO ALLOCATING $2 BILLION TO 
PURCHASE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT INCLUDING FOR BULK 
PURCHASES FOR PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES.
THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE MORE 
MASKS AND FACE SHOOELEDS, GOWNS,
VENTILATORS, TEST KITS, SWABS, 
AND HAND SANITIZER.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS
ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO ARE ON 
THE FRONTLINES OF THIS FIGHT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT MORE IS NEEDED
AND EVERYONE IS WORKING DAY AND 
NIGHT TO RECEIVE ESSENTIAL 
SUPPLIES.
WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY, AND THE 
EXPERTS TO MAKE SURE OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS GET 
EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR 
GOVERNMENT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO SOURCE NEW SOLUTIONS EVERY 
DAY.
WE'RE EXPECTING SHIPMENTS TO 
COME IN IN THE COMING DAYS, AND 
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
TIRELESSLY TO GET THE SUPPLIES 
TO WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S DAILY MESSAGE AND 
UPDATE FOR CANADIANS TODAY.
"POWER & POLITICS" HOST, VASSY 
KAPELOS, AND DAVID COCHRANE ARE 
BACK.
I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN 
CANADIAN INDUSTRIES HAVE JOINED 
HANDS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL 
CANADIANS.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE A WAR TIME 
EFFORT WOULD BE SIMILAR.
WILL IT BE ENOUGH AND WILL IT BE
BETTER WHICH IS THE OBVIOUS 
QUESTIONS WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND
THE QUESTIONS YOU ALWAYS ASK.
WE KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, THIS WEEK
THERESA TAM HAS SAID IS A 
CRITICAL WEEK, THE NEXT SEVEN TO
10 DAYS TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING 
TO FLATTEN THE CURVE.
THEY WANT TO HAVE AS MANY SUPPLY
CHAINS AS THEY CAN IN CASE 
THINGS ARE THE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIO.
>> Vassy: IT'S HARD TO GAUGE, 
RIGHT, EXACTLY WHAT THE NEED 
WILL BE BECAUSE IT VERY MUCH 
DEPENDS ON THE ACTIONS YOU AND I
AND EVERY CANADIAN IS TAKING 
RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE HEARD FROM
ALL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY OVER THE 
PAST FEW WEEKS.
THAT'S WHY STAYING HOME IS SO 
IMPORTANT.
WHAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR 
PARTICULARLY FROM HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS IS IN, IN FACT, THIS 
DOESN'T GO AS PLANNED OR AS 
HOPED AND THINGS ARE LEANING 
TOWARDS MORE OF A BAD CASE OR 
WORST-CASE SCENARIO, THE NEED 
FOR THAT EQUIPMENT WILL BE 
GREATER THAN THE SUPPLY.
THAT'S NOT CONSISTENT 
EVERYWHERE, BUT IT DEPENDS ON 
THE PROVINCE AND FACILITY YOU'RE
IN.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF ACCOUNTS 
FROM PEOPLE WORKING ON THE 
FRONTLINE.
>> Rosemary: SURE. 
>> Vassy: AT THE SAME TIME, WE 
HEAR THE NEED IS THERE.
THE MESSAGE TODAY WAS AIMED AT 
THAT.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID THE NEEDS WERE 
COVERED AS OF NOW AND IN THE 
FORESEEABLE FUTURE, BUT 
OBVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED $2 BILLION 
TOWARDS PROCURING MORE OF THAT 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS OF THE 
TIMELINE OF THAT EQUIPMENT 
BECOMING AVAILABLE TO CANADA OR 
HOW IT GETS INTO OUR HANDS IF IT
WILL MATCH UP WITH THE NEED.
WE CAN'T PREDICT THE NEED.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF IT 
WILL WORK OUT.
THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF SPECIFICS
PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT WHEN 
THAT STUFF STARTS COMING IN IN 
THE COMING DAYS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT 
GO INTO THAT, BUT WE JUST KEPT 
HEARING IN THE COMING DAYS.
WE HAVE ASSURANCES THE NEEDS 
WILL BE MET, BUT WE DON'T KNOW 
HOW GREAT THE NEED WILL BE. 
>> Rosemary: THEY KEEP SAYING WE
ARE PLANNING FOR THE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIO AND OVER PREPARING.
WE'LL TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD.
THAT IS THE QUESTION, WHETHER 
THESE THINGS LINE UP.
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE 
MODELLING THEY ARE DOING BASED 
ON THE DATA THEY'RE RECEIVING 
FROM PROVINCES, THEY'RE ABLE TO 
PLOT OUT WHAT THE WORST-CASE 
SCENARIO WOULD BE.
IT IS INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM 
FRONTLINE WORKERS THE VAST 
DIFFERENCES IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
WE HAD AN EMERGENCY WORKER ON 
JUST BEFORE THE PRIME MINISTER 
SPOKE WHO FELT TOTALLY SAFE AND 
WELL EQUIPPED.
BUT WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER 
NURSES AND HOSPITALS WHERE 
THEY'RE RATIONING MASKS.
VASSY, I'M GOING TO GET YOU TO 
TOUCH ON THIS ONCE MORE AROUND 
THE TROOPS.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING 
ABOUT IT.
WE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS 
ABOUT IT.
NOW IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT 
HAPPENING.
>> Vassy: YEAH, SO WHAT THE 
ORIGINAL DISCUSSION WAS IS THERE
WAS A PROPOSAL FROM THE WHITE 
HOUSE TO BASICALLY ARM, TO 
MILITARIZE, THE BORDER BETWEEN 
THE U.S. AND CANADA.
THE IDEA WAS 1,000 ARMED FORCES 
ABOUT 30 KILOMETRES BACK FROM 
THE BORDER.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD WAS 
BEING DISCUSSED.
IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP A FEW 
DAYS PRIOR.
IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING WITH 
COVID-19, THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES DISCUSSED IT, 
SPEAKING THAT HE WANTED TO HAVE 
EQUAL TREATMENT OF THE SOUTHERN 
AND THE NORTHERN BORDER.
WE KNOW IMMEDIATELY FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, SUCH AS 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND, MINISTER HARJIT 
SAJJAN, THE PUBLIC SAFETY 
MINISTER, BILL BLAIR, BEGAN 
SPEAKING TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS 
ABOUT IT AND PUSHING BACK ON THE
IDEA.
WE WERE TOLD BY THE NEW AMENDS 
TO THE UNITED STATES THAT IT 
WOULD SEND A REALLY BAD OR 
SIGNAL, CONSIDERING THAT THE 
BORDER IS DEMILITARIZED AT THIS 
POINT.
WHAT CBC WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM 
TODAY IS THAT THAT PROPOSAL IS 
NOW OFFICIALLY OFF THE TABLE.
IT HAD BEEN REPORTED IN THE 
"WALL STREET JOURNAL" THAT THEY 
DROPPED THE PROPOSAL AND NOW IT 
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE CONFIRMATION 
THAT THAT IS THE CASE.
THE U.S. IS NO LONGER MOVING 
FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL TO ARM
OR MILITARIZE THE BORDER BETWEEN
OUR COUNTRY AND THEIRS. 
>> Rosemary: SUCH STRANGE DAYS 
AND STORIES MOVE VERY QUICKLY 
AND COME UP AND DIE AWAY VERY 
QUICKLY.
I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON PAUSE 
FOR A MINUTE AS WE WAIT FOR THE 
CABINET MINISTERS.
WE HAVE BEEN CHECKING IN WITH 
CANADIANS WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED
WITH THE VIRUS, INCLUDING SOME 
ON THE MEND BECAUSE THAT'S 
HAPPENING AND THAT IS A GOOD 
PART OF THIS STORY.
ONE IS JESSE RIVIER.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> Interview: PRETTY GOOD.
PRETTY MUCH SYMPTOM-FREE.
>> Rosemary: TELL US HOW YOU 
THINK YOU GOT COVID-19 AND HOW 
YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE IT.
>> Interview: I TRAVELLED TO 
SCOTLAND WITH MY WIFE ON MARCH 
6.
WE ARRIVED IN LONDON WHERE AT 
THE TIME EVERYTHING WAS, LIKE, 
NORMAL -- THERE AT LEAST.
OBVIOUSLY THE WORLD WAS ALREADY 
DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.
EVERYBODY WAS JUST ACTING AS 
NORMAL.
THERE WAS NO PRECAUTIONS BEING 
TAKEN.
WE WERE THERE A FEW DAYS.
BY THE TIME I GOT TO SCOTLAND, I
STARTED TO FEEL CONGESTED.
NOTHING TO THE POINT OF 
DIFFICULTY BREATHING, BUT 
DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WAS 
OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR ME.
YEAH, SO KIND OF WE JUST WENT 
THROUGH IT.
THEN THE CALLS CAME TO COME 
HOME.
SO WE CUT OUR TRIP SHORT.
THAT PROCESS, WE WERE EXPOSED TO
A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE 
AIRPLANE AND THE AIRPORT.
WHEN I GOT HOME, I JUST FELT 
THIS CHEST PAIN CONTINUED.
I GOT TESTED AND CAME BACK AS 
POSITIVE.
THEN I REALIZED THAT I HADN'T 
BEEN SMELLING ANYTHING FOR DAYS 
AND THAT'S A SYMPTOM THAT WASN'T
VERY PUBLICIZED AT THAT POINT.
>> Rosemary: SO THE TESTING PART
WAS, WHAT?
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOME DIAGRAMS 
OF WHAT IT FEELS LIKE AND LOOKS 
LIKE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW DETAILED YOU 
WANT TO GET.
HOW DID IT FEEL LIKE FOR THE 
TESTING PART OR NON-INVASIVE AND
NO BIG DEAL?
>> Interview: IT WAS 
UNFORTUNATELY.
FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING 
TESTED, I HAD A TICKLE IN MY 
NOSE FOR HOURS AFTER.
THAT WAS BASICALLY THE WORST OF 
IT.
THEY DO PUT THE SWAB DEEP IN 
YOUR NOSE.
IT WAS SURPRISING.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO 
HAPPEN.
IT'S A SMALL DISCOMFORT TO TAKE 
FOR GETTING THE RESULTS AND 
BEING IDENTIFIED.
>> Rosemary: SO YOU -- WHAT WAS 
THE WORST THEN THAT YOU WERE, 
JUST A CHEST PAIN OR DID YOU 
HAVE A HIGH FEVER OR HEADACHES 
OR WHAT ELSE DID YOU EXPERIENCE?
>> Interview: THIS IS A THING, 
AS WE LEARN MORE AND MORE COMING
OUT.
EVERYBODY KIND OF DEALS WITH 
THIS DIFFERENTLY.
THE FEVER, THE COUGH, I THINK 
THOSE ARE MORE AGGRESSIVE 
SYMPTOMS THAT ARE HAPPENING A 
LOT.
BUT IN THIS CASE JUST A LIGHT 
PRESSURE ON MY CHEST.
OBVIOUSLY I LOST THE SENSE OF 
SMELL.
IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WAS A
SYMPTOM, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A 
VERY CLEAR INDICATOR.
AT TIMES THE PAIN WAS LIKE SO 
ACUTE THAT I WAS WORRIED THAT IT
COULD BE DOING DAMAGE TO MY 
LUNGS LONG TERM.
BUT THANKFULLY ON THE 14TH DAY 
TOWARDS THE END, I GOT MY SMELL 
BACK AND THE PAIN IS GONE FROM 
MY CHEST.
IT LOOKS LIKE I CAN BE ADDED TO 
THE 170,000 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE WHO
HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS OR AT 
LEAST WHO HAVE BEEN TESTED AND 
GOTTEN THROUGH IT. 
>> Rosemary: I DON'T THINK 
YOU'RE VERY OLD.
YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING YOUR 
AGE?
>> Interview: I JUST TURNED 30 
YEARS OLD AT THE AIRPORT 
ARRIVING BACK.
>> Rosemary: THERE IS A CONCERN 
THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T TAKING 
IT SERIOUSLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WAS 
YOUR CONCERN.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOME 
YOUNGER CANADIANS WHO ARE -- WHO
DON'T THINK THEY WILL GET 
INFECTED OR WHO DON'T REALIZE 
THAT THEY COULD PASS IT ALONG TO
SOMEONE?
JUST A MESSAGE I GUESS TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN I AM, MORE 
YOUR AGE.
>> Interview: NO, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK EARLY ON THE MESSAGING 
WAS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WEREN'T 
GOING TO BE AFFECTED AND ALL 
THOSE THINGS.
I THINK AT LEAST IF YOU HAVE A 
FEAR OF GETTING ILL YOURSELF, 
GENERALLY IF YOU'RE HEALTHY 
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT
RELATIVELY UNSCATHED.
BUT THE THING IS THAT YOU MIGHT 
HAVE IT AND NOT KNOW IT.
THEN YOU MIGHT INFECT SOMEONE 
ELSE AND THEY MIGHT INFECT 
SOMEONE WHO IS MORE VULNERABLE.
JUST BY YOU THINKING YOU CAN GO 
ABOUT YOUR LIFE REGULARLY, YOU 
MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMEONE
DYING.
THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE 
RESPONSIBILITY.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EVEN HAVE ANY
SYMPTOMS, YOU MAY BE CARRYING 
IT.
YOU NEED TO STAY HOME, FIGURE 
OUT A WAY TO AMUSE YOURSELF, AND
JUST BE RESPONSIBLE.
HERE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO 
ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND 
IT'S NOT THROUGH ANYTHING MORE 
LABOURSOME THAN STAYING INSIDE 
AND MAKING SURE IF YOU GO 
OUTSIDE, TO BE SMART ABOUT IT.
YOU CAN HAVE NO SYMPTOMS AND 
STILL HAVE THIS THING. 
>> Rosemary: JESSIE, THAT'S A 
GOOD MESSAGE FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE.
I HOPE YOU'RE DOING BETTER AND 
YOUR WIFE AS WELL.
>> Interview: THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> Rosemary: THAT WAS JESSIE 
RIVIER, NOW RECOVERED FROM 
COVID-19, SPEAKING TO US FROM 
MONTREAL.
IT'S GOOD TO DO SOME OF THE 
RECOVERED CASES AS WELL BECAUSE 
THIS CAN BE A GRIM STORY.
TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING 
OUT THE OTHER SIDE AND DOING 
BETTER AND OKAY, THAT'S 
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
AS WE WAIT FOR CABINET MINISTERS
AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, I'M
GOING TO GO BACK TO DAVID 
COCHRANE TO PICK HIS BRAIN ABOUT
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO HEAR FROM 
NAVDEEP BAINS AND THE MINISTER 
OF PROCUREMENT.
I'M NOT SURE OF HER EXACT TITLE.
THEY WILL TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW
QUICKLY THESE NEW SUPPLY CHAINS 
CAN COME ONLINE.
>> David: I THINK SOME SPECIFICS
ON THE NUMBERS AND AMOUNTS OF 
THE EQUIPMENT THEY'VE SECURED 
CONTRACTS ON.
IT'S NOT IN THE GOVERNMENT'S 
NEWS RELEASE, BUT WE KNOW FROM 
THORNHILL MEDICAL THAT THEY WILL
MAKE 500 VENTILATORS.
THEY USUALLY MAKE VENTILATORS 
FOR BATTLE-FIELDS.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO RETOOL.
THE COUNTRY IS ON A NATIONAL 
MISSION TO BUY SUPPLIES AND 
TIME.
THE SUPPLIES ARE IN THIS 
GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE MARKET THAT
IS REALLY KIND OF CRAZY RIGHT 
NOW AS THEY TRY TO BUTTRESS THE 
SURGE CAPACITY THAT THEY HAVE 
AND WHAT'S ALREADY IN HOSPITALS,
TO BUY THE TIME UNTIL ALL THESE 
CANADIAN COMPANIES ARE ANSWERING
THE CALL AND RETOOLING TO 
DELIVER THE SUPPLIES 
DOMESTICALLY AND IN BULK, BUT 
THEY NEED TIME TO GET READY -- 
OH, CHRYSTIA FREELAND IS 
TALKING.
I SHOULD STOP TALKING.
>> Rosemary: NO, I WAS GOING TO 
CUT YOU OFF.
LET'S GO TO CHRYSTIA FREELAND.
>> WE MUST STAY STRONG AND STAY 
AT HOME.
UNLESS YOU ARE DOING ESSENTIAL 
WORK LIKE STOCKING GROCERY 
SHELVES OR WORKING ON THE 
FRONTLINES OF OUR AMAZING 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, PLEASE STAY 
HOME.
YOU CAN GO FOR A WALK OR A RUN, 
BUT MAINTAIN YOUR DISTANCE AND 
WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU GET 
HOME.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY HARD, 
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT CANADIANS 
ARE RESILIENT AND I KNOW THAT WE
CAN DO THIS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THIS IS A CRITICAL 
WEEK IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE 
VIRUS.
CANADIANS MUST PRACTICE SOCIAL 
AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
REMAIN STRONG AND STAY AT HOME 
UNLESS YOU'RE DOING ESSENTIAL 
WORK SUCH AS STOCKING SHELVES OR
PROVIDING HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
YOU CAN GO OUT FOR A WALK OR GO 
FOR A RUN, BUT REMAIN FAR FROM 
OTHERS AND WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN 
YOU GET HOME.
I KNOW THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT, 
BUT CANADIANS ARE RESILIENT AND 
I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
[End of Translation] TODAY WE 
WILL HEAR FROM CANADA'S CHIEF 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, 
DR. THERESA TAM, THE MINISTER OF
PUBLIC SERVICES AND PROCUREMENT,
ANITA ANAND, THE MINISTER OF 
SCIENCE AND INNOVATION, NAVDEEP 
BAINS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE PRESIDENT OF 
TREASURY BOARD AND THE 
VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CABINET 
COMMITTEE ON COVID-19, JEAN-YVES
DUCLOS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE 
ON THE NUMBER OF CASES.
I'M GOING TO USE THE NUMBER 
PUBLISHED THIS MORNING ON OUR 
WEBSITE.
THIS IS A DYNAMIC SITUATION WITH
DIFFERENT PROVINCES ANNOUNCING 
DIFFERENT THINGS.
IN CANADA AS OF 9:00 A.M. THIS 
MORNING THERE WERE 7,708 CASES 
OF COVID-19, INCLUDING 89 
DEATHS.
IN ADDITION AT ANY POINT IN TIME
THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE 
UNDER INVESTIGATION AWAITING LAB
RESULTS, OR NOT YET TESTING.
EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING OF 
CASES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT 
DOESN'T MEAN THERE ARE NO CASES 
AND THERE ARE NO EXPOSURES 
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
SO WE NOW HAVE COMPLETED TESTS 
FOR OVER 236,000 PEOPLE IN 
CANADA, WITH ABOUT 3.5% OF 
PEOPLE CONFIRMED AS POSITIVE AND
OVER 93% CONFIRMED AS NEGATIVE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] OUR GREATEST 
CONCERNS AT THE MOMENT RELATE TO
THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF 
THE VIRUS IN ENCLOSED SETTINGS 
WHERE VULNERABLE PEOPLE RESIDE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NUMBER OF 
ONGOING OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES, CASES IN FIRST 
NATIONS AND INUIT COMMUNITIES, 
AND A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
THESE EVENTS ARE DEEPLY 
TROUBLING, BOTH BECAUSE THEY 
RESULT IN OUTBREAKS THAT 
ACCELERATE THE SPREAD OF THE 
VIRUS, BUT MORE SO BECAUSE OF 
THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF 
THESE HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS.
HOWEVER, THE YOUNG ARE NOT 
SPARED FROM SEVERE OUTCOMES.
ADULTS UNDER 40 ACCOUNT FOR 10% 
OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.
JUST YESTERDAY THERE WAS A 
REPORT OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN THEIR
30s WHO DIED OF COVID-19.
[End of Translation] OF GREATEST
ALTERNATE AT THE MOMENT IS THE 
INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF THE 
VIRUS IN ENCLOSED SETTINGS WHERE
VULNERABLE PEOPLE RESIDE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NUMBER OF 
ONGOING OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES, CASES IN FIRST 
NATIONS AND INUIT COMMUNITIES, 
AND A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
THESE EVENTS ARE DEEPLY 
TROUBLING, BOTH BECAUSE THEY 
RESULT IN OUTBREAKS THAT 
ACCELERATE THE SPREAD OF THE 
VIRUS, BUT MORE SO BECAUSE OF 
THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR 
THOSE HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS.
HOWEVER, THE YOUNG ARE NOT 
SPARED FROM SEVERE OUTCOMES.
ADULTS UNDER 40 ACCOUNT FOR 10% 
OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.
JUST YESTERDAY THERE WAS A FIRST
REPORT OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN THEIR
30s WHO DIED OF COVID-19.
WE MUST PREVENT INTRODUCTION 
INTO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AT 
ALL COSTS, AS WELL AS PREVENT 
NEW TRAVEL-RELATED CASES FROM 
SPARKING COMMUNITY SPREAD.
AS ALL CANADIANS CONTINUE TO 
STRICTLY ADHERE TO PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
AND OTHERS, WE EXPECT ALL 
TRAVELLERS COMING INTO CANADA TO
JOIN THESE EFFORTS.
MOREOVER BECAUSE OF AN INCREASED
RISK OF COVID-19 OUTSIDE OF 
CANADA, THE QUARANTINE ORDER 
REQUIRES THESE TRAVELLERS GO 
DIRECTLY HOME UPON ARRIVAL AND 
QUARANTINE THEMSELVES FOR 14 
DAYS.
WE ALL NEED TO KEEP UP PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING WHILE MAINTAINING 
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. TAM.
NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR 
MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND 
PROCUREMENT, ANITA ANAND.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND HELLO TO EVERYONE.
AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH 
THIS TRULY EXTRAORDINARY 
SITUATION, I WANT TO THANK 
CANADA'S ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
YOUR WORK IS HELPING TO CONTAIN 
THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND WE 
ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
[End of Translation] AS PART OF 
THESE EFFORTS, PUBLIC SERVICES 
AND PROCUREMENT CANADA IS 
AGGRESSIVELY BUYING IN BULK FROM
ALL AVAILABLE SUPPLIERS AND 
DISTRIBUTORS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE ORDERED 
MILLIONS OF SWABS, GLOVES, 
MASKS, AND OTHER VITAL 
EQUIPMENT.
I'LL TAKE A MOMENT NOW TO 
HIGHLIGHT ADDITIONAL PROGRESS 
THAT WE ARE MAKING.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE HAVE SIGNED A 
CONTRACT WITH MEDICOM TO PROVIDE
AN IMPORTANT SUPPLY OF SURGICAL 
MASKS.
[End of Translation] INCLUDING 
THIS ORDER, WE HAVE NOW MANAGED 
TO SECURE MORE THAN 157 MILLION 
SURGICAL MASKS TO SUPPORT THE 
RESPONSE.
TO DATE, WE HAVE ALSO ORDERED 
MORE THAN 60 MILLION N95 MASKS, 
A KEY PIECE OF PROTECTION FOR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
DELIVERY OF THESE WILL BEGIN 
THIS WEEK.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE ARE ALSO WORKING
WITH SPARTAN, THE OTTAWA-BASED 
COMPANY THAT WILL PROVIDE KITS.
[End of Translation] THIS WILL 
ALLOW US TO TEST MANY MORE 
CANADIANS OVER AND ABOVE THE 
MILLIONS OF TESTS WE HAVE 
ALREADY ORDERED.
ON VENTILATORS, WE HAVE A 
SIGNIFICANT ORDER THROUGH 
THORNHILL MEDICAL IN TORONTO, 
PART OF THE 1,570 VENTILATORS 
THAT WE HAVE ORDERED FROM 
COMPANIES IN CANADA, EUROPE, THE
UNITED STATES, AND OVERSEAS.
WE ARE WORKING TO SECURE UPWARDS
OF 4,000 ADDITIONAL VENTILATORS 
AND VERY POSSIBLY MORE.
CANADIANS HAVE ALWAYS RISEN TO 
THE OCCASION IN TIMES OF 
CHALLENGE.
THE COMPANIES WITH WHOM WE ARE 
WORKING FROM EVERY REGION IN 
CANADA AND ABROAD ARE CLEAR 
EXAMPLES OF THIS IMPORTANT 
POINT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK SUNCOR AND 
HOME DEPOT FOR STEPPING UP WITH 
GENEROUS DONATIONS OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE KNOW THAT THIS 
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS VERY 
IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19.
WE WILL BE INVESTIGATING $2 
BILLION ADDITIONALLY IN TERMS OF
PURCHASING P.P.E. AS WELL AS 
BULK PURCHASING IN COORDINATION 
WITH THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES.
[End of Translation] WE KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT THESE SUPPLIES ARE TO 
THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
WE WILL SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL 
$2 BILLION INVESTMENT IN THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA 
TO PURCHASE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING FOR BULK 
PURCHASES WITH PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES.
THESE FUNDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE 
DEDICATED TO PURCHASING THE 
EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR OUR 
DOCTORS AND NURSES, HOSPITALS, 
AND OTHER FRONTLINE HEALTH 
WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] OUR GOAL IS TO BE 
AS BEST PREPARED AS POSSIBLE AND
CANADIANS CAN REST ASSURED THAT 
WE'RE EXPLORING EVERY POSSIBLE 
OPTION.
[End of Translation] I ALSO WANT
CANADIANS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE 
WORKING TOGETHER IN THESE 
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.
I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MY 
PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL 
COUNTERPARTS TO ENSURE THAT WE 
HAVE STRONG AND ESTABLISHED 
LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH 
REGARD TO PROCUREMENT IN 
ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT IS 
ALREADY BEING DONE BY MINISTERS 
OF HEALTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I HAVE REACHED OUT 
TO MY PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL
COUNTERPARTS TO ASSURE WE HAVE 
STRONG AND ESTABLISHED LINES OF 
COMMUNICATION WITH REGARD TO 
PROCUREMENT IN ADDITION TO THE 
WORK BEING DONE BY MINISTERS OF 
HEALTH.
[End of Translation] 
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES ARE 
REQUIRED IN THESE EXTRAORDINARY 
TIMES.
TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19,
PROTECT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
AND ENSURE THAT CANADA HAS THE 
SUPPLIES REQUIRED, OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS LEAVING NO STONE 
UNTURNED.
IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK RIGHT 
NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM THE MINISTER
OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE, AND 
INDUSTRY, NAVDEEP BAINS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO OUR 
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED CANADA'S 
PLAN TO MOBILIZE INDUSTRY TO 
FIGHT COVID-19.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THIS PLAN AIMS TO 
PROVIDE CRITICAL MEDICAL 
SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND 
PRIORITIZES THE HEALTH AND 
SAFETY OF CANADIANS.
[End of Translation] SINCE THEN,
WE'VE ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE 
PROGRESS.
AS WAS JUST ANNOUNCED, WE'VE 
ADVANCED TO THE PROCUREMENT 
STAGE WITH THE THREE COMPANIES 
WE HIGHLIGHTED LAST WEEK.
ON MEDICOM I WILL SAY ANYTHING 
TO THE IMMEDIATE MASK 
PROCUREMENT, WE ARE IN THE 
PROCESS OF FINALIZING AN 
AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF MANUFACTURING 
CAPACITY IN CANADA.
IT'S STRENGTHENING OUR DOMESTIC 
SUPPLY THAT REMAINS A CORE 
OBJECTIVE OF OURS TO MAKE SURE 
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD 
THESE MASKS IN CANADA.
ANOTHER PART OF OUR LAST 
ANNOUNCEMENT INCLUDED A CALL TO 
ACTION, ASKING COMPANIES TO STEP
UP IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST 
COVID-19.
WHILE AS OF NOON YESTERDAY, WE 
HAVE RECEIVED OVER 3,200 E-MAILS
FROM COMPANIES AND WE HAVE 
DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH OVER 
2,900 OF THEM.
WHETHER IT'S COMPANIES WITH 
READY-TO-GO PRODUCTS, WITH 
PRODUCTS NOT YET AUTHORIZED, OR 
COMPANIES WHOSE PRODUCTS NEED 
MORE DEVELOPMENT OR NEED HELP 
SCALING UP.
IF YOU TELL US YOU WANT HELP, WE
WILL CONNECT YOU WITH THE 
RELEVANT FEDERAL SUPPORT TO MAKE
SURE WE INCREASE DOMESTIC 
MEDICAL SUPPLIES SO WE HAVE 
CANADIAN SOLUTIONS READY TO 
PROTECT AND SUPPORT CANADIANS.
WE HAVE NOW SIGNED ADDITIONAL 
LETTERS OF INTENT WITH FIVE 
COMPANIES WHO HAVE SIGNALLED 
THEY CAN ASSIST IN THE 
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO 
COVID-19, SUPPLYING TESTING 
KITS, HAND SANITIZERS, PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND 
MEDICAL APPAREL.
AS I SAID, WE'RE REFOCUSSING OUR
INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND ARE 
DEPLOYING FUNDS ON AN 
ACCELERATED BASIS THROUGH 
SHORTER APPLICATIONS AND FASTER 
APPROVALS.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS STRATEGY
TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] IT'S BEEN 
ENCOURAGING TO WATCH COMPANIES 
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE.
OFTEN JOINING OTHERS TO EQUIP 
OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS WITH THE 
TOOLS AND PROTECTION THEY NEED.
[End of Translation] WE'RE ALSO 
BRINGING TOGETHER INDUSTRY 
PARTNERS, FROM THE COSMETIC 
ALLIANCE OF CANADA TO CANADIAN 
CONSUMER SPECIALTY ASSOCIATION 
AND SPIRITS CANADA.
TOGETHER THEY'RE WORKING TO 
FACILITATE THE SUPPLY OF KEY 
INGREDIENTS TO INCREASE THE 
MANUFACTURE OF HAND SANITIZER.
ANOTHER STEP WE'VE TAKEN IS 
ADVANCING THE NEXT-GENERATION 
MANUFACTURING SUPER CLUSTER 
INITIATIVE WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER
MORE THAN 970 MEMBERS INTO A 
CANADA-WIDE MANUFACTURING 
NETWORK.
IT RECENTLY PUT OUT A CALL FOR 
PROPOSALS TO ITS MEMBERS AND 
IT'S MAKING $50 MILLION 
AVAILABLE TO DEVELOP AND SCALE 
UP NEW PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT 
THAT ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.
WITHIN 48 HOURS OF ISSUING THIS 
CALL, THE SUPER CLUSTER REVIEWED
AND ADDITIONALLY APPROVED THREE 
PROJECTS FOR INNOVATIVE 
MANUFACTURERS TO PRODUCE 
VENTILATORS, TESTING KITS, AND 
FACE SHIELDS.
IT'S MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, I 
WANT TO RECOGNIZE GENERAL 
MOTORS, FORD, LINIMAR, SUNCOR, 
HOME DEPOT, CANADA GOOSE.
ALL OF THEM HAVE OFFERED TO 
DON'T PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT.
I ENCOURAGE OTHER COMPANIES TO 
FOLLOW THEIR LEAD IN GENEROUSLY 
DONATING WHATEVER THEY CAN IN 
THIS CHALLENGING TIME.
LET ME WRAP UP BY REMINDING 
EVERYONE THAT WE'RE IN THIS 
TOGETHER AND I'M PROUD OF HOW 
INDUSTRY HAS STEPPED UP TO FIGHT
COVID-19.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE ALL HAVE OUR 
ROLE TO PLAY TO FLATTEN THE 
CURVE AND TO SUPPORT CANADA'S 
ECONOMY.
THANK YOU.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THANK YOU, NAV.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] AND NOW I GIVE THE 
FLOOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF 
TREASURY BOARD, MR. DUCLOS.
>> TODAY WE'RE DOING AN 
ASSESSMENT OF TWO IMPORTANT 
STRENGTHS, THAT IS THE CAPACITY 
OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO 
PROVIDE SUPPLIES AND THE 
CAPACITY OF THE INDUSTRIAL 
NETWORK OF THIS COUNTRY TO 
SUPPORT THIS COUNTRY.
SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS 
INVESTMENT OF $2 BILLION IN 
PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS OF THE 
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE 
TO BUY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, TESTS,
AND ACCELERATED TESTS IN THE 
PURCHASE OF P.P.E. AND 
DISINFECTANT AND HAND SANITIZERS
IN THE POSSIBILITY OF BUYING 
MEDICATION TO TREAT PEOPLE WHO 
ARE ILL AND ALSO TO PROVIDE 
VENTILATORS.
WE'RE ALSO SPEAKING ABOUT THE 
IMPORTANCE OF MOBILIZING THE 
PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE 
GOVERNMENT AND OF PRIVATE 
COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE 
COUNTRY.
THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES ARE 
MOBILIZING TO SUPPORT THE 
EFFORTS OF THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT, TO SUPPORT THE 
HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 
AGENCY ACTIVITIES.
THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WITH 
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CANADA TO 
ENSURE AND ACCELERATE THIS 
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN 
COMPANIES AND THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> SO NOW WE'RE READY TO ANSWER 
YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> SO WE'RE GOING TO START FROM 
THREE QUESTIONS FROM THE PHONE.
[End of Translation]. 
>> OPERATOR.
>> IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, 
PLEASE PRESS STAR 1 ON YOUR 
TELEPHONE KEY PAD.
WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM MICHELLE
LAFLAMME OF RADIO-CANADA.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR 
GOAL IS TO BECOME 
SELF-SUFFICIENT FOR THE 
PRODUCTION OF P.P.E. OR TO 
BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT REGARDING
CERTAIN EQUIPMENT THAT'S 
DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ON THE 
INTERNATIONAL MARKET AND WHAT 
ARE THE DEADLINES THAT YOU'RE 
LOOKING AT.
>> I THINK THAT ANITA AND NAV 
WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE 
QUESTIONS.
>> Answer: THANK YOU VERY MUCH 
FOR YOUR QUESTION.
WE'RE WORKING AND COLLABORATING 
WITH THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT AND 
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROVINCES 
AND TERRITORIES AND INDUSTRY IN 
ORDER TO OBTAIN THE GOODS AND 
SERVICES THAT WE NEED IN THIS 
EXTRAORDINARY PERIOD.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE
DOING AT THIS STAGE.
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL 
METHODS POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN ALL 
THE ESSENTIAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
FOR CANADA.
WE'RE LOOKING OVERSEAS AS WELL 
TO SUPPORT PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES AND CANADIANS AND 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AS WELL.
SO PERHAPS MY COLLEAGUE WOULD 
LIKE TO ADD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
>> NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
ANITA.
OUR STRATEGY IS VERY CLEAR.
SHE'S CORRECT IN THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH OTHER 
JURISDICTIONS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN
THE ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT THAT IS 
REQUIRED, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO 
HAVE A STRATEGY FOR 
MANUFACTURING HERE IN CANADA.
THAT'S WHY TODAY WE ANNOUNCED 
THAT THERE ARE THREE COMPANIES 
THAT CAN MANUFACTURE THE 
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT HERE IN 
CANADA.
SO OUR STRATEGY IS TO TRY AND 
MEET CANADA'S NATIONAL 
REQUIREMENTS, BUT ALSO WE'RE 
GOING TO TRY AND CONTINUE TO BUY
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT FROM 
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Question: YOU TALKED ABOUT 
MEDICOM.
YOU SAID THERE MIGHT BE AN 
AGREEMENT SHORTLY TO THE 
PRODUCTION OF NEW COMPANIES.
COULD YOU BE A LITTLE BIT MORE 
PRECISE IN THAT REGARD.
>> Answer: YES.
WE ARE GOING TO INVEST A LOT OF 
MONEY.
I CAN'T CONFIRM THE AMOUNT AT 
THIS POINT, BUT I HOPE I'LL BE 
ABLE TO DO SO SHORTLY.
WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN A PLANT
THAT'S GOING TO MANUFACTURE 
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT IN MONTREAL 
ONLY FOR CANADIANS AT THE TIME, 
BUT I HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE 
TO MANUFACTURE FOR OTHER 
JURISDICTIONS, BUT IT'S A 
PRIORITY FOR CANADIANS HERE.
[End of Translation] WE ARE 
GOING TO INVEST IN MEDICOM 
THROUGH THE STRATEGIC INNOVATION
FUND TO PRODUCE MASKS HERE FOR 
CANADIANS SO WE HAVE DOMESTIC 
CAPACITY.
THE GOAL IS NOT ONLY TO MEET THE
DOMESTIC CAPACITY REQUIREMENT, 
BUT ULTIMATELY TO PRODUCE MASKS 
FOR OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN THE 
FUTURE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM BRIAR 
STEWART, CBC NEWS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: THANK YOU.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR DR. TAM.
I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY 
NATIONAL TRACKING GOING ON 
REGARDING THE NUMBER OF 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT HAVE 
BECOME INFECTED WITH COVID-19?
>> Answer: YEAH, THAT'S A VERY 
IMPORTANT QUESTION AND IT IS 
PART OF THE DATA THAT WE WISH TO
GET CONFIRMED BY THE PROVINCES 
AND TERRITORIES.
SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO DO
THAT.
OF COURSE WE DO KNOW OF A NUMBER
OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY 
OUTBREAKS THAT YOU'VE HEARD 
ABOUT.
SOME OF THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS 
WERE THE INITIAL CASES, FOLLOWED
BY THE RESIDENTS.
SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF 
SETTINGS WHERE THAT IS GOING ON.
SO WE DO HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT 
THOSE PARTICULAR OUTBREAKS.
>> Question: I'M WONDERING AS A 
FOLLOW-UP, WE'VE HEARD FROM 
OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE FURTHER
DOWN THE ROAD THAT THERE ARE 
SOME TIMES WHERE DOCTORS, AS 
MANY AS ONE IN FOUR, ARE OFF 
SICK BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
I'M WONDERING WHAT KIND OF 
CONTINGENCY PLANS ARE IN PLACE 
IN CANADA IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN
HERE. 
>> Answer: I THINK PROTECTING 
THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE 
FIRST PLACE IS IMPORTANT.
IT WOULD GO ALL THE WAY FROM 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO 
TRAVELLED, WE NEED TO PAY 
SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THEM, 
MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT 
SICK AND THEY'RE NOT SPREADING 
OF COURSE THE VIRUS IN BOTH 
THEIR FAMILY CONTEXT OR IN THE 
HOSPITAL CONTEXT.
THAT'S REALLY KEY.
HAVING PROCESSES TO SCREEN AND 
STOP INFECTION FROM SPREADING IN
THOSE HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS 
PROTECTS THE HEALTH WORKERS AS 
WELL AS THE PATIENTS OR THE 
RESIDENCES.
OF COURSE THE PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU'VE
JUST TALKED ABOUT.
BUT AS A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, I 
THINK WE ALL HAVE TO ALSO 
PRACTICE EVERYTHING THAT WE 
PREACH, INCLUDING SOCIAL 
DISTANCING, PROTECTING OUR 
PATIENTS AND OUR FAMILY.
BUT FOR SURE PROTECTING THE 
HEALTH WORKFORCE IS ABSOLUTELY 
CRITICAL.
SECONDLY, LOOKING AT SURGE 
CAPACITY.
SO WITH THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES HAVING ALREADY 
ENGAGED MEDICAL COLLEGES, 
RETIRED HEALTHCARE 
PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS WHO ARE 
STUDYING IN THE MEDICAL 
PROFESSIONAL FIELD, AND ALL OF 
THOSE ENGAGEMENTS ARE NOW TAKING
PLACE WITH PROVINCES ALREADY 
ENGAGING THAT KIND OF SURGE 
CAPACITY AS THEY NEED TO DO, FOR
EXAMPLE, CONTACT TRACING FOR THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE AS WELL AS 
SURGE FOR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 
ITSELF.
SO THAT PLANNING IS EXTREMELY 
ACTIVE RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE 
MAINTAIN THAT HEALTH WORKFORCE.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING.
MR. LEGAULT, THE PREMIER OF 
QUÉBEC, YESTERDAY SAID HE MIGHT 
BE TRYING TO SEE WHAT TO DO FOR 
THOSE WORKING IN ESSENTIAL 
SERVICES.
MS. FREELAND, YOU WERE REFERRING
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE STOCKING 
GROCERY SHELVES.
HE WAS LOOKING TO SEE HOW THEY 
MIGHT BE COMPENSATED BECAUSE 
THEY ARE PAID ON A MINIMUM 
SALARY BASIS AND THEY'RE EARNING
LESS THAN WHAT THE C.R.B. WOULD 
PROVIDE TO THEM.
ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK AT THIS 
OPTION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE 
UNDERPAID IN THE ESSENTIAL 
SERVICES, THAT THEY'RE NOT PUT 
IN A VERY UNFAIR SITUATION.
>> Answer: THANK YOU VERY MUCH 
FOR YOUR QUESTION.
THE PRIORITY FOR OUR GOVERNMENT 
FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE WAS
FIRSTLY TO BE CERTAIN THAT ALL 
WORKERS CAN REMAIN AT HOME IF 
NECESSARY OR TO SELF-ISOLATE OR 
TO HELP OTHERS OR CHILDREN WHO 
ARE NOT AT SCHOOL OR OTHER 
MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY WHO 
MIGHT BE SICK OR TO HELP WORKERS
WHO MIGHT HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS 
BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF 
COVID-19.
THAT WAS THE FIRST PRIORITY.
THE SECOND PRIORITY, AND THIS IS
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, WE WANTED 
TO HELP WORKERS AT WORK TO HELP 
COMPANIES TO MAINTAIN THE LINK 
BETWEEN THE EMPLOYER AND THE 
EMPLOYEE.
THIS IS WHAT WE DID AS WELL.
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE ARE 
INDUSTRIES AND SECTORS, 
INCLUDING THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
SECTOR, WHEREBY THERE IS A 
SITUATION WHERE OUR COUNTRY HAS 
AN EXTREME NEED FOR THOSE PEOPLE
TO CONTINUE WORKING IN THE 
ESSENTIAL SERVICES SECTOR, BUT 
AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE 
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF
THE NECESSARY POLICIES THAT HAVE
BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS IN 
AGREEMENT WITH MR. LEGAULT AS 
TOT CONSEQUENCES OF THESE 
POLICIES.
WE MUST FIND A FAIR WAY TO TREAT
ALL WORKERS IN CANADA, INCLUDING
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CARRYING 
OUT ESSENTIAL WORK, SUCH AS 
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN GROCERY 
STORES.
>> Question: DO YOU HAVE A 
TIMELINE OR A GOAL IN TERMS OF 
THE PROVISION OF A FAIR SOLUTION
IN THE COMING DAYS, WHERE -- OR 
WILL PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT AND 
SEE?
>> Answer: WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY 
SAID, THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY 
TIMES AND OUR GOVERNMENT HAS 
UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S IMPORTANT 
TO ACT QUICKLY.
THIS IS WHAT THE CONTEXT 
REQUIRES.
HOWEVER, ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES
OF ADOPTING POLICIES MORE 
QUICKLY THAN IN A NORMAL CONTEXT
IS THE FACT THAT WE ANNOUNCE A 
POLICY AND WE START DOING 
SOMETHING IN RELATION TO IT, BUT
IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS WE HAVE TO
ESTABLISH ALL THE DETAILS 
SURROUNDING SUCH A POLICY.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE 
DOING.
TODAY I CANNOT ANNOUNCE THE 
DETAILS CONCERNING THE SITUATION
THAT YOU HAVE ASKED ABOUT, BUT I
CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'RE IN 
AGREEMENT WITH PREMIER LEGAULT 
WHO IS DOING EXCELLENT WORK, 
THAT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT 
SITUATION.
WE MUST THINK ABOUT IT AND DO 
SOMETHING.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
WE'LL STAY IN THE ROOM.
>> Question: 
[ Indiscernible ] -- THAT THE 
UNITED STATES ON THE BASIS OF 
PUBLIC HEALTH.
GIVEN THAT YOU CAN SPEAK 
INDEPENDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT, 
I'M WONDERING IF YOU THINK THIS 
WILL HELP PUBLIC HEALTH, IF THIS
IS PUTTING PEOPLE AT MORE RISK, 
IF WE SEE PEOPLE SPEAK  -- 
SNEAKING AROUND WITHOUT 
REPORTING.
AND WHAT DID YOU ADVISE THE 
GOVERNMENT ABOUT THESE 
CROSSINGS?
>> Answer: I THINK BOTH IN TERMS
OF PROTECTING WHOEVER IS 
CROSSING AND THE REST OF THE 
POPULATION IS EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT FOR MANAGING THIS 
PARTICULAR EPIDEMIC.
SO I THINK FROM OUR PUBLIC 
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, WHETHER TO 
DO THE SCREENING AND MAKING SURE
THAT TOGETHER WITH CBSA ANYONE 
WHO IS SICK IS PROPERLY MANAGED.
OF COURSE A REDUCTION IN THE 
NUMBER OF TRAVELLERS FROM ANY 
ENTRY POINTS CAN POTENTIALLY 
REDUCE INTRODUCTION OF COURSE TO
CANADA.
SO IT'S JUST A -- DIFFERENT 
LAYERS OF MEASURE I THINK, BUT I
THINK THAT'S PARTLY IT.
AND OF COURSE WE NEED TO LOOK 
AFTER EACH OTHER ON BOTH SIDES 
OF THE BORDER.
AS MUCH AS WE ARE WORKING ON OUR
SIDE, I THINK THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE BORDER ARE ALSO MANAGING 
ANYONE WHO IS SICK AS WELL. 
>> Question: MINISTER FREELAND, 
YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS TALKED ABOUT
A NATION-TO-NATION RELATIONSHIP 
WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
WE ARE SEEING SOME FIRST NATIONS
ASK FOR MILITARY SUPPORT.
I'M WONDERING IF THEY'RE UNDER 
THE THUMB OF THE PROVINCES, IF 
THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE
PROVINCES.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH A 
FIRST NATION -- WE'RE EXPECTING 
A FLOOD RISK IN MANITOBA THIS 
YEAR.
I WONDER IF YOU WOULD BE 
PRIORITIZING THAT OVER A 
MILITARY HOSPITAL IN A FIRST 
NATIONS COMMUNITY.
>> Aarti: THANK YOU VERY MUCH 
FOR THE QUESTION AND THANK YOU 
FOR YOUR FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS 
ISSUES.
LOOK, TO THE FLOOD POINT, WE ARE
VERY AWARE THAT THERE ARE 
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IN CANADA 
EVERY YEAR, EVEN IN THE YEARS 
WHEN WE ARE NOT FACING A GLOBAL 
PANDEMIC.
MINISTER BLAIR AND MINISTER 
MILLER HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY 
HARD WITH THEIR TEAMS 
SPECIFICALLY -- AND I SHOULD 
ALSO SAY MINISTER SAJJAN.
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS 
TO PREPARE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM 
AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CANADIANS TO 
APPRECIATE THAT.
FLOODS HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE BEEN SEEING MORE EXTREME
WEATHER EVENTS.
SO WE APPRECIATE THAT WE NEED TO
BE READY TO HANDLE THOSE 
POTENTIAL EXTREME WEATHER 
EVENTS, EVEN AS WE CONTINUE TO 
WORK HARD TO FIGHT THE GLOBAL 
PANDEMIC.
THAT IS THE PARTICULAR 
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MINISTER 
OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HE IS 
DEFINITELY ON IT.
THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND 
D.N.D. IS VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON 
THE MILITARY'S PARTICULAR ROLE 
THIS SEASON AND THIS YEAR TO 
DEFEND AND SUPPORT CANADIANS.
THAT'S WHY WE HEARD FROM THEM 
YESTERDAY.
WHEN IT COMES TO INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR, 
MINISTER MILLER IS VERY, VERY 
FOCUSED ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS.
WE HEARD FROM DR. TAMS  -- TAM 
JUST NOW THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS 
ON THESE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN
COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THESE 
COMMUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT 
THEY NEED AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT 
WE WILL NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT 
THEM.
NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE.
>> Question: I THINK THIS IS FOR
MINISTER ANAND AND BAINS.
JUST GOING BACK TO THE COMPANIES
YOU'RE WORKING WITH TO PRODUCE 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND OTHER 
EQUIPMENT BEING PROCURED 
INTERNATIONALLY, WHEN ARE WE 
GOING TO SEE THESE COMPANIES 
PRODUCE EQUIPMENT AND GET THAT 
IN THE HOSPITALS, SPECIFICALLY A
TIMELINE ON THAT.
AND ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THESE 
COMPANIES TO PRODUCE EQUIPMENT 
THAT WE THEN SELL 
INTERNATIONALLY OR DONATE TO 
OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE 
WORLD?
>> Answer: I'LL BEGIN AND THEN 
HAND IT OVER TO NAV.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY TALKING ABOUT
WHAT WE DO AT PUBLIC SERVICES 
AND PROCUREMENT EVERY SINGLE 
DAY, 24/7.
WE ARE PURCHASING A BROAD RANGE 
OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE RECEIVED ALREADY MASKS, 
SURGICAL, AND N95, GLOVES, 
SWABS, AND ADDITIONAL MASKS IN 
THE FUTURE.
WE ARE TAKING AN AGGRESSIVE AND 
PROACTIVE APPROACH TO 
PROCUREMENT EVERY DAY.
WE ARE WORKING 24/7.
THIS COUNTRY HAS NEVER SEEN 
PROCUREMENT LIKE IT IS OCCURRING
RIGHT NOW.
IT IS BROAD-BASED AND 
AGGRESSIVE.
ON THAT BASIS, I WILL SAY THAT 
THE TIMELINE IS AMONG.
WE ARE ENGAGED IN PROCUREMENT 
IMMEDIATELY AS WELL AS IN THE 
LONG TERM TO ENSURE THAT 
CANADIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT 
THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP FRONTLINE
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND BEYOND 
SAFE.
IN TERMS OF THE PARTICULAR 
COMPANIES, WE ARE EXPECTING 
SUPPLIES THIS WEEK, VENTILATORS 
IN PARTICULAR.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO NAV, WHO 
CAN CONTINUE WITH THE 
EXPLANATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANITA.
JUST TO BUILD ON WHAT ANITA HAS 
SAID.
WE ARE DEALING WITH GLOBAL 
DEMAND.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THE GLOBAL 
SUPPLY CHAINS HAVE AN ENORMOUS 
AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND THEY ARE 
UNSTABLE.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE PARTNERING 
WITH INDUSTRY TO BUILD CAPACITY.
THE MEDICOM EXAMPLE IS AN 
EXAMPLE OF BUILDING UP THAT 
CAPACITY.
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF 
PROVIDING ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT 
FOR CANADIANS.
SO THESE ARE CANADIAN COMPANIES 
THAT ARE RETOOLING TO PROVIDE 
SOLUTIONS TO CANADIANS, 
PARTICULARLY FOR FRONTLINE 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND TO 
SUPPORT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
SO THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE 
OBJECTIVE.
IN THE LONG TERM, IF WE'RE IN A 
POSITION TO BUILD UP SUCH 
SIGNIFICANT DOMESTIC CAPACITY TO
HELP OTHER JURISDICTIONS, I 
THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON US TO 
CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A 
GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT 
PROTECTING CANADIAN LIVES, BUT 
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO 
OTHER COUNTRIES.
OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO 
RECOGNIZE THAT GLOBAL DEMAND IS 
GOING UP, GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS 
ARE UNSTABLE.
WE NEED TO BUILD UP DOMESTIC 
CAPACITY.
>> Question: SO THEY ARE 
MANDATED TO KEEP WHAT THEY ARE 
PRODUCING IN CANADA FOR 
CANADIANS?
>> Answer: WE ARE IN AN 
ARRANGEMENT WITH THEM TO HELP 
THEM RETOOL OR RESCALE, CLEARLY 
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE SURE WE
MEET WITH THE DEMANDS AND 
REQUESTS MADE BY THE PROVINCES 
AND TERRITORIES.
THAT IS THE OBJECTIVE.
SAYING WE ARE GOING TO HELP YOU 
SCALE UP OR RETOOL SO THAT YOU 
CAN PROVIDE THOSE ESSENTIAL 
MEDICAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, 
FOR CANADIAN FRONTLINE 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
THAT IS CLEARLY THE OBJECTIVE.
AS I WAS SAYING IN THE LONG 
TERM, AS MINISTER ANAND JUST 
MENTIONED, SOME OF THIS 
EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO BE MADE 
AVAILABLE IN DAYS, NOT WEEKS.
DOWN THE ROAD IF WE'RE IN THE 
FORTUNATE POSITION WHERE WE HAVE
THE ABILITY TO HELP OTHER 
JURISDICTIONS OUT, WE WILL 
CONSIDER THAT.
THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO 
SUPPLY CANADIANS.
>> THAT WAS A FOLLOW-UP -- 
>> Question: MY SECOND QUESTION 
WAS -- 
>> ONE QUESTION AND ONE 
FOLLOW-UP.
>> Question: MY SECOND WAS ABOUT
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS
IN EUROPE ABOUT MASKS COMING 
FROM CHINA BEING DEFECTIVE.
THE CHINESE EMBASSY HERE DONATED
THEY WERE DONATED SOME MASKS.
IS THERE WORK BEING DONE TO MAKE
SURE THE MASKS WE GET FROM CHINA
ARE FUNCTIONAL AND EFFECTIVE?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION.
THAT QUESTION PERTAINS TO GOODS 
ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST TO 
CHINA.
PUBLIC HEALTH HAS SPECIFICATIONS
AND REQUIREMENTS THAT NEED TO BE
MET IN ORDER FOR P.P.E. TO BE 
DISTRIBUTED AND UTILIZED SAFELY 
FOR FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS.
I WILL SAY ONCE THE SHIPMENT 
COMES IN AND I'LL ASK DR. TAM IF
SHE WOULD LIKE TO ADD IN ON THIS
POINT, THERE IS INSPECTION TO 
MAKE SURE THAT THE 
SPECIFICATIONS ARE MET.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE MAKING SURE 
THAT IN CHINA THERE IS QUALITY 
CONTROL ON THE GROUND THERE.
I HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH 
AMBASSADOR DOMINIC BARTON 
ACTUALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY TO 
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE ON
THE GROUND IN CHINA WHO ARE 
ASSISTING US WITH OUR 
PROCUREMENTS THERE.
THEY ARE PERFORMING AN EXCELLENT
AND USEFUL SERVICE FOR CANADIANS
ON THE GROUND IN CHINA.
AND THAT MAKES THE PROCUREMENT 
PROCESS IN MANY, MANY RESPECTS 
MUCH MORE SMOOTH.
DR. TAM.
>> YES, I CAN CONFIRM ANY KIND 
OF DONATION, WE WILL NEED TO 
MAKE SURE IT MEETS THE STANDARDS
IN CANADA.
HEALTH CANADA HAS POSTED THE 
CRITERIA AND GUIDANCE, BUT EACH 
OF THOSE DONATIONS WILL BE 
CHECKED IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEY
MEET THE STANDARDS.
>> Question: I'M NOT SURE IF 
THIS IS FOR MS. FREELAND OR FOR 
DR. TAM.
WE KNOW THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF 
THE 65 POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES 
IN WINDSOR-ESSEX ARE CANADIAN 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO CROSS THE
BURROED, THEY WORK IN DETROIT 
AND COME BACK WITH THE VIRUS.
IS IT TIME TO STOP THE BACK AND 
FORTH?
>> Answer: I'LL START BECAUSE 
LAST NIGHT I HAD A GOOD 
CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR OF 
WINDSOR ABOUT PRECISELY THIS 
ISSUE.
HE IS VERY FOCUSED ON IT, AS ARE
THE LOCAL M.P.s.
HE HAS BEEN IN VERY CLOSE TOUCH 
WITH ALL -- HE REPORTED TO ME 
THAT HE'S BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH 
WITH BOTH THE CANADIAN HOSPITALS
AND THE U.S. HOSPITALS.
IT'S A MEASURE OF HOW CLOSELY 
INTERTWINED OUR ECONOMIES ARE 
THAT THERE ARE IN WINDSOR BOTH 
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO 
EVERY DAY CROSS THE BORDER TO 
WORK IN DETROIT.
THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE WHO CROSS 
THE BORDER FROM THE 
UNITED STATES EVERY DAY TO WORK 
IN THE CANADIAN HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEM.
STEPPED-UP MEASURES HAVE BEEN 
PUT IN PLACE AT THE HOSPITALS, 
BOTH ON THE U.S. AND CANADIAN 
SIDE OF THE BORDER, TO VERY 
CAREFULLY CHECK THE HEALTH OF 
THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, TO BE 
SURE WHEN THEY GO TO WORK AND 
WHEN THEY LEAVE WORK THAT THEY 
ARE HEALTHY AND WELL.
AND ALSO, OPPORTUNITIES HAVE 
BEEN OFFERED TO THEM IF THEY 
WOULD PREFER NOT TO GO HOME TO 
THEIR FAMILIES, TO BE ABLE TO 
STAY IN HOTELS CLOSE TO WHERE 
THEY ARE WORKING.
SO A LOT OF VERY HARD, VERY 
IMPORTANT WORK IS BEING DONE ON 
THE GROUND IN WINDSOR.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY THE MAYOR 
IS COMPLETELY ON IT.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS HARD
WORK.
IT IS A SITUATION THAT WE ARE 
MONITORING CLOSELY AND WE NEED 
TO MONITOR CLOSELY.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO 
THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IF DR. TAM WANTS TO ADD 
SOMETHING.
>> I THINK JUST TO ADD THAT 
WE'RE ALSO CONNECTING WITH 
ONTARIO AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS IN TERMS OF THE 
PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES THAT 
THEY'RE PUTTING IN PLACE AS WELL
FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, BUT NOT 
MUCH MORE TO ADD.
THANK YOU.
>> Question: MY SECOND QUESTION 
IS TO EITHER MS. FREELAND OR TO 
DR. TAM.
AGAIN, THE FACT THAT FOR THE 
PAST FEW DAYS EVERYONE HAS BEEN 
SAYING THIS IS A CRUCIAL WEEK TO
SEE IF PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND 
STAYING AT HOME AND 
SELF-ISOLATING IS WORKING.
I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHAT 
HAPPENS IF IT'S NOT AND 
INFECTIONS CONTINUE TO RISE, IS 
THERE A PLAN B?
>> Answer: LOOK, I'LL START JUST
TO SAY WE ALL NEED TO BE 
PREPARED FOR THE REALITY, WHICH 
IS THE SITUATION IS GOING TO GET
WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.
THAT IS THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH OF
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
I'M DELIGHTED BY THE WAY YOU 
FRAMED YOUR QUESTION, BECAUSE IT
SHOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE 
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CAN 
ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU KNOW, WE MUSTN'T BE 
FATALISTIC ABOUT THIS.
IF WE TAKE THE RIGHT ACTIONS, WE
CAN HAVE THE LEAST BAD OUTCOME 
FOR CANADA.
TAKING THE RIGHT ACTIONS MEANS 
FIRST AND FOREMOST CANADIANS 
EVERY DAY PRACTISING PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
THIS IS A PARTICULAR KIND OF 
CRISIS WHERE EVERY SINGLE PERSON
IN THE COUNTRY CAN MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING 
REALLY HARD AND I CAN'T 
EMPHASIZE TOO STRONGLY THE NEED 
TO DO THAT.
I THINK THE FIRST ANSWER TO THE 
QUESTION IS LET'S DO EVERYTHING 
WE CAN, AND EACH ONE OF US HAS 
POWER HERE, TO AVERT THE 
WORST-CASE SCENARIO.
HAVING SAID THAT, OF COURSE IT 
IS INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US IN 
GOVERNMENT TO DO EVERYTHING WE 
CAN TO PREPARE FOR A LESS GOOD 
OUTCOME.
THAT'S WHY YOU'VE HEARD TO DO 
FROM ANITA AND NAV ON THE TRULY 
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS WE'RE 
MAKING IN PROCUREMENT 
INTERNATIONALLY AND GETTING 
CANADIAN COMPANIES WHO HAVE BEEN
TERRIFIC WORKING HARD TO BUILD 
WHAT WE NEED AT HOME.
I ALSO REALLY WANT TO COMMEND 
THE WORK OF PREMIERS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW 
FOCUSED THE PREMIERS ARE ON 
BEING READY FOR WORST-CASE 
OUTCOMES.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT JUST THIS 
MORNING I WAS ON A CONFERENCE 
CALL WITH DOUG FORD AND FRANCOIS
LEGAULT WHICH PREMIER FORD 
ORGANIZED ON HIS PHONE TO WORK 
ON PROCUREMENT.
AND I HAD A TEXT WITH PREMIER 
HORGAN ALSO WITH SPECIFIC 
QUESTIONS.
THIS IS A REAL CANADA-WIDE 
EFFORT.
THE PREMIERS ARE DOING 
EXTRAORDINARY WORK.
WE ARE GETTING READY FOR A LESS 
GOOD OUTCOME.
AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN AS WE SAY
THAT, LET'S ALL OF US REMEMBER 
THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TODAY IS
DO THE BEST WE CAN TO AVERT 
THAT.
I THINK WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO 
HEAR FROM DR. TAM AS WELL ABOUT 
THIS.
[ PLEASE STAND BY ]
>> Doctor: SO WE'VE BEEN
THINKING OF HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE THAT EVERY
JURISDICTION HAS THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DO
THAT CONTACT TRACING.
CONTACT TRACING IS QUITE
INTENSIVE.
IF YOU GET A CLUSTER OR
OUTBREAK, YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO TRACE ALL OF THE
PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED.
IT IS A REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT ASPECT.
SO DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT.
ALSO, THE CONCEPT OF
REDUCING AND EXTINGUISHING
THIS IS PREDICATED BY THE
FACT THAT WE WANT ANY
INFECTED INDIVIDUALS TO
NOT PASS IT ON TO MORE
THAN ONE PERSON.
IF ONE PERSON THAT IS
INFECTED PASSES IT ON TO
TWO, YOUR EPIDEMIC WILL
CONTINUE.
SO THAT IS AN ULTIMATE
GOAL.
TO DO THAT, THIS IS WHY --
ESSENTIALLY PHYSICAL
DISTANCING IS SO IMPORTANT
FOR CANADIANS BECAUSE YOU
WANT TO REDUCE THAT RISK
OF TRANSMISSION.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT ASPECT
OF THE RESPONSE IS SO
SERIOUS.
SO YOU'VE SEEN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SYSTEM BEGINNING MORE AND
MORE TO RESTRICT THOSE
MOVEMENTS IN SOME WAY.
SO MASS GATHERINGS, WHEN
WE STARTED, ABSOLUTELY YOU
SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO
CONFERENCES OR THESE MASS
GATHERINGS, AND IT WENT
DOWN TO 250 AND THEN 50,
AND NOW PRETTY MUCH
EVERYONE SAYING, WE NEED
TO REALLY BUCKLE DOWN AND
DO OUR MAXIMUM PHYSICAL
DISTANCING.
MAKING SURE VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS STAY HOME AND
SUPPORT THEM, SO THAT
THEY'RE NOT AT RISK OF
INFECTION, POTENTIALLY IN
THE COMMUNITY OR OTHER
SETTINGS.
AND ALL OF THE SORT OF
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, HAVING
THEM MAKE SURE, GROCERY
STORES OR OTHER PLACES
WHERE PEOPLE DO HAVE TO
VISIT, ARE ALSO PRACTICING
SOCIAL DISTANCING
MEASURES.
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHERE, I THINK, YOU
KNOW, AS WE SPEAK, WE'RE
STILL ENHANCING THOSE
MEASURES.
AND WE'LL WANT TO EXCEED
THOSE ABSOLUTELY.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, AT
THE SAME TIME, PREPARING
FOR THE SCENARIOS WHERE
YOU CAN INCREASED INFLUX
OF PATIENTS.
ALTERNATIVE SITES FOR
EVALUATING PATIENTS.
HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE WHO
ARE MILDLY SICK BUT CAN'T
BE SELF-ISOLATING AT HOME,
HAVING HOTELS AND OTHER
THINGS.
HOMELESS SHELTERS CANNOT
MANAGE THESE OUTBREAKS.
SO YOU NEED ALTERNATIVE
SITES TO MANAGE AND
ISOLATE PEOPLE FROM THOSE
VULNERABLE SETTINGS.
ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW.
SO I THINK -- THAT'S WHY I
SAY THIS WEEK, AGAIN,
DOUBLE DOWN AND KEEP
GOING.
AND IT'S A WHOLE OF
SOCIETY RESPONSE.
>> THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, WE'LL TAKE THREE
MORE QUESTIONS ON THE
PHONE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
REMONT.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
[Speaking French]
>> Caller:
[Speaking French][Speaking throh
interpreter]
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THE DOCTORS AND NURSES ON
THE FRONT LINES, AND THE
HOSPITALS AS WELL, ARE
AFRAID OF A LACK OF MASKS.
PREMIER LEGAULT IS TALKING
ABOUT A LACK OF THE MASKS
IN THE NEXT THREE TO SEVEN
DAYS.
IS THERE A DANGER IN THAT
REGARD?
>> MERCÍ BEAUCOUP.[Speaking thrh
interpreter]
ANSWER: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION.
IT IS TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE MASKS
AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR
DOCTORS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING ON THE FRONT
LINES.
AND I WANT TO ASSURE YOU
THAT WE OBTAINED MASKS,
DIFFERENT TYPES OF MASKS
FOR THE WORKERS.
[End of translation]
>> AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE
ORDERED 60.9 MILLION N95
MASKS, AND 157.5 MILLION
SURGICAL MASKS, AND SOME
OF THOSE ARE BEING
PRODUCED RIGHT HERE IN
CANADA.
[Speaking French][Speaking throh
interpreter]
SO IT IS TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT, AND WE'RE
WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO
OBTAIN THE EQUIPMENT FOR
CANADIANS.
[Speaking French]
>> Question: BUT MY
QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE
IS A DANGER OF A LACK OF
MASKS?
IS THERE A DANGER OR A
RISK OF A SHORTAGE?
[Speaking French]
>> Answer:[Speaking through
interpreter]
AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE
WORKING NIGHT AND DAY TO
PURCHASE MASKS.
[End of translation]
>> AND WE'RE WORKING VERY
HARD TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THAT EQUIPMENT TO
DISTRIBUTE NOT ONLY TO
QUEBEC, BUT TO EVERY
SINGLE PROVINCE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
I WILL ADD THAT OUR
EFFORTS ARE SUPPLEMENTARY
TO THE EFFORTS THAT
INDIVIDUAL PROVINCES
THEMSELVES ARE MAKING.
AND SO, SAY, AS CHRYSTIA
FREELAND SAID, WE'RE
WORKING AS A COUNTRY, WITH
THE PROVINCES, EVERY
SINGLE DAY, TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT
THAT FRONT LINE HEALTH
CARE WORKERS REQUIRE TO
KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE AND
TO FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
[Speaking French]
>> Answer:[Speaking through
interpreter]
IF I CAN REASSURE YOU,
WHAT YOU'RE HEARING THIS
MORNING IS THAT THE
PROCUREMENT CAPACITY OF
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
AND THE INDUSTRIAL
CAPACITY OF CANADA ARE
MOBILIZE TO OVERPRODUCE
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT,
TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE
MAXIMUM PRODUCTION OF
P.P.E. AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
THAT HEALTH CARE WORKERS
ABSOLUTELY NEED.
OF COURSE WE'RE SUPPORTING
THE WORK AND THE ESSENTIAL
ACTIVITIES THAT THAT THE
PROVINCES, INCLUDING THE
QUEBEC GOVERNMENT, ARE
UNDERTAKING BECAUSE WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS
SUFFICIENT SUPPLY, BUT
THERE IS THIS CURRENT
CONCERN OF BEING
OVERPROTECTED AND
OVERPRODUCING, SUCH THAT
THE INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY OF
THE COUNTRY CAN PROVIDE
SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF
P.P.E.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
[End of translation]
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS
FROM PHILIPPE FRANÇOIS.
GO AHEAD.
>> Caller:[Speaking through
interpreter]
JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU
JUST SAID, I'M NOT SURE I
UNDERSTOOD.
ARE YOU ABLE TO SAY THAT
TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, IF WE
HAVE AN INCREASE IN CASES,
AS WE'RE SEEING AT THIS
POINT IN TIME, THAT TWO
WEEKS FROM NOW ALL THE
NURSES, DOCTORS, AND
PATIENTS WHO NEED A
VENTILATOR WILL HAVE THE
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT?
IS THAT YOU'RE TELLING US,
IN TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS,
EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THE
EQUIPMENT?
WE WON'T NEED TO MAKE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS
RELATING TO VENTILATORS?
>> Answer: WHAT WE'RE
SAYING IS WE HAVE TO
PRODUCE THE MAXIMUM
CAPACITY OF CANADA'S
INDUSTRIAL ABILITIES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PRODUCE
A GREAT AMOUNT IN THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE
AN INDIVIDUAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE BEST
SCENARIOS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT BEST
MOBILIZED ALL OF THE
INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY OF THE
COUNTRY TO ENSURE WE HAVE
THE MAXIMUM OF RESOURCES
IN THE COMING WEEK, AND
SUCH THAT WE'LL BE READY
FOR ANY TYPE OF SCENARIO
THAT MIGHT ARISE.[Speaking throh
interpreter]
>> Question: BUT I GUESS
I ASK ONE QUESTION --
>> ONE QUESTION, ONLY.
>> I'M SORRY.
I MISCOUNTED.
>> Caller: FOLLOWUP
QUESTION: CAN WE SAY TO
CANADIANS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT PROMISES WE'LL
HAVE EQUIPMENT FOR THE
WORST-CASE SCENARIO?
>> Answer: WE'RE HAVING
TROUBLE HEARING YOU
BECAUSE OF THE BREAK UP IN
YOUR SPEECH.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT
WE CAN SAY IS THAT THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT IS
READY TO MOBILIZE AS IF WE
WERE AT WAR.
AND SO WE'RE MOBILIZING
ALL OF OUR EFFORTS,
INDUSTRIAL AND THE
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS, TO
ENSURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT
IS PROVIDED TO PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES IN THE
COMING WEEKS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
PROVINCES AND THE
TERRITORIES TO ENSURE THAT
THAT EQUIPMENT IS
AVAILABLE AT THE RIGHT
TIME.
AND WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
PROVINCES, AND, OF COURSE,
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE WORST-CASE SCENARIOS,
WE HOPE IF THEY WERE TO
OCCUR, THAT THEY WOULD BE
THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO
POSSIBLE.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS
FROM MICHELLE.[Speaking through
interpreter]
>> Question: MY FIRST
QUESTION IS FOR MINISTER
FREELAND.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE
AN UPDATE TO PROVIDE
(indescernable) TO THE
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN WHEN
THE UNITED STATES SENDS
THEM BACK.
DO YOU HAVE ANY
INFORMATION IN THAT
REGARD?
>> Answer: I CAN TELL
YOU THAT THIS IS A
SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT
ISSUE FOR US.
THE WORK IS CONTINUING ON.
I WAS SPEAKING TO MINISTER
BLAIR LAST NIGHT AND THIS
MORNING REGARDING THIS
ISSUE.
HE IS VERY COMMITTED AND
ENGAGED, AS IF OUR
AMBASSADOR HILMAN IN THE
UNITED STATES, WHO IS
ENGAGED IN THIS ISSUE WITH
OUR AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS.
AND I CAN REASSURE
CANADIANS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT TAKES SERIOUSLY
OUR INTERNATIONAL
OBLIGATIONS CONCERNING
ASYLUM-SEEKERS.
AND CANADA WILL NEVER DO
ANYTHING THAT WILL GO
AGAINST THOSE OBLIGATIONS.
>> Caller: MR. DE
CLAUDE, QUESTION: WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE
BANKS IN ESTABLISHING
INTEREST RATES FOR THE
CREDIT CARDS, SOMETIMES
THEY ARE 20% TO 30%
INTEREST RATES.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
FROM THESE LARGE BANK OF
BANKS TOENSURE CANADIANS DON'T
BECOME FURTHER INDEBTED.
>> Answer: , WHAT WE
WANT TO DO IS THAT THE
BANKS ARE COMMITTED TO
DEFERRING INTEREST AND
CAPITAL PAYMENTS ON
MORTGAGES.
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN STUCK AND
DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO
PAY THEIR MORTGAGE AS THEY
WOULD DO IN NORMAL TIMES.
BUT WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING
FROM THE BANKS AND
DESJARDINS IS NOT ONLY TO
BE AWARE OF THE PRECARIOUS
SITUATION OF MANY FAMILIES
IN CANADA, BUT ALSO TO
ENSURE THAT THE WAY IN
WHICH THEY PROVIDE LOANS
THROUGH CREDIT CARDS OR
OTHER MEANS, BE ADAPTED TO
THE PRESENT CONTEXT.
WE KNOW THAT CREDIT CARDS
LEAD TO VERY HIGH INTEREST
RATES.
IN NORMAL CONTEXT, PEOPLE
WOULD HAVE TROUBLE
REIMBURSING THOSE INTEREST
RATES.
SO WE'RE EXPECTING THAT
THEY WOULD OFFER TO
INDIVIDUALS OTHER MEANS TO
PAY BACK THEIR LOANS AND
TO PAY LOWER INTEREST
RATES IN THE COMING WEEKS
AND MONTHS.
THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN
EXPLAINED TO THE BANKS AND
DESJARDINS, AND WE HOPE
THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL
LEAD TO PRACTICAL
SITUATIONS FOR FAMILIES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION ON
THE PHONE.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS
FROM CHRISTY FROM THE
"GLOBE AND MAIL".
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
[End of translation]
>> Caller: HI, GOOD
AFTERNOON.
THANKS AGAIN FOR DOING
THIS.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR
DR. TAM.
RIGHT OFF THE TOP YOU
MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY NOW
CASES WITHIN INUIT AND
FIRST NATIONS'
COMMUNITIES.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU
COULD PLEASE PROVIDE ANY
MORE SPECIFICS ON WHICH
COMMUNITIES YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT CONFIRMED CASES.
>> Doctor: YES, THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF
COMMUNITIES.
I MENTIONED YESTERDAY THAT
NUNAVIK, WHICH IS IN THE
NORTHERN ASPECTS OF
QUEBEC, HAVE EXPERIENCED
THEIR FIRST CASE.
AND SOME LARGE FIRST
NATIONS' COMMUNITY IN
ONTARIO, AND ALSO, I
BELIEVE IN SOME OF THE
PRAIRIE PROVINCES.
EVEN ONE CASE IN ANY OF
THESE COMMUNITIES IS
EXTREMELY SERIOUS.
AND THE LEADERSHIP IN THE
COMMUNITIES HAVE TAKEN
VERY RAPID ACTION IN TERMS
OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND
RESTRICTED MEASURES WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY.
AND, OF COURSE, COLLEAGUES
FROM INDIGENOUS SERVICES
CANADA ARE IN CLOSE TOUCH
TO LOOK AT WHAT MEANS
THERE ARE.
BUT THOSE -- AND ALSO, AS
WE ARE REPORTING, NOT
NECESSARILY SPECIFICALLY
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES,
BUT THE NORTH OF CANADA,
SO YUKON AND NORTHWEST
TERRITORIES BOTH HAVE
CASES.
AND THEY ARE INTRODUCED
INTO THE COMMUNITY FROM
TRAVELERS.
AND ALL OF THOSE NORTHERN
TERRITORIES ARE TAKING
VERY AGGRESSIVE PUBLIC
HEALTH MEASURES TO TRY TO
PREVENT INTRODUCTION, AND
ALSO ADAPTING WHAT SOCIAL
DISTANCING MEANS IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY
WHERE THEY HAVE CROWDED
LIVING CONDITIONS, LOOKING
FOR ALTERNATIVE SITES, FOR
EXAMPLE, IN MANAGING THEIR
SITUATION.
AND, ALSO, THE HEALTH
SYSTEM IS ALSO REVVING UP
TO LOOK AFTER DIFFERENT
PATIENTS.
AND HAVING VERY CLOSE
PLANNING WITH PROVINCES
LINKED TO THEM IN TERMS OF
MEDICAL CARE AND
TRANSPORTATION.
SO ALL OF THAT PLANNING IS
BEING DONE.
BUT ANY SINGLE CASE IN
THOSE COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE
TO REALLY TAKE IT
EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY.
>> Caller: AND JUST AS A
FOLLOWUP, THE INDIGENOUS
FILE IS A BIG PART OF THE
WORK I'M HEARING.
AND SOME LEADERS, FOR
EXAMPLE, IN NORTHERN
ONTARIO -- I'VE HEARD THEY
HAVE ZERO TEST KITS IN
SOME COMMUNITIES.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING,
YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T
FIGURE OUT WHO HAS
COVID-19, IF THERE ARE NO
TEST KITS AVAILABLE, HOW
CAN WE REALLY GET A HANDLE
ON HOW WIDESPREAD THIS IS
AND ALSO TREATMENT?
I KNOW TESTING IS AN ISSUE
IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE
IS SERIOUS CONCERN FROM
LEADERSHIP ABOUT THEIR
CAPACITY TO TEST AT ALL.
>> Doctor: YEAH.
AND IT WILL BE LINKED TO
THE BIGGER SYSTEM OF THE
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES
AS WELL.
BUT, I THINK THERE IS
ABSOLUTELY A GAP THAT WE
HAVE TO FILL BECAUSE EVEN
THE SAMPLES HAVE TO BE
FLOWN VAST DISTANCES TO
LABORATORIES.
SO ONE OF THE PRIORITIES
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND
WE'RE EVALUATING SOME
TESTING MECHANISMS WHERE
THEY CAN DO THAT MUCH
CLOSER TO THE PATIENT, AND
SO THE MAXIMUM
MICROBIOLOGY LAB IS NOW
ACTUALLY DOING SOME OF
THOSE TESTS ON THOSE MUCH
MORE -- ON THE PATIENT
TEST KITS THAT CAN BE
USED.
THAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE
INFORMATION AS THAT
PROGRESSES.
THE GOAL IS THEN TO EQUIP
THE TERRITORIES OR THE
MORE REMOTE AREAS WITH
THEIR OWN CAPACITY SO THEY
DON'T HAVE TO TRANSFER
SPECIMENS.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
[End of translation]
>> Chrystia Freeland:
AND THIS BRINGS THE PRESS
CONFERENCE TO AN END.
>> THE MAIN MESSAGE WAS
ABOUT HOW THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WITH
PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO RAMP
UP PROCUREMENT OF MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE
NEEDED NOW AND IN THE
WEEKS AHEAD.
WHILE WE WERE DOING THAT,
QUEBEC WAS GIVING US A
BRIEFING, WHERE THEY HAVE
732 NEW CASES, AN
ADDITIONAL SIX DEATHS.
WE WANT TO TAKE YOU NOW TO
TORONTO.
THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT IS
SPEAKING ABOUT ITS
RESPONSE TO THE
CORONAVIRUS, AND NOTABLY
THAT SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE
TO BE OUT UNTIL MAY 4th.
HERE IS PREMIER DOUG FORD.
>> Premier: WE'RE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
SCHOOL BOARDS TO FIND WAYS
TO HELP STUDENTS COMPLETE
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THEY CAN ADVANCE TO THE
NEXT YEAR AND EARN CREDITS
AND GRADUATE.
WE'RE EASING THE FINANCIAL
BURDEN ON UNIVERSITY AND
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES BY PROVIDING A
SIX-MONTH GRACE PERIOD
THROUGH THE ONTARIO
STUDENT ASSISTANT
PROGRAMME.
THESE NEW MEASURES WILL
HELP STUDENTS CONTINUE
THEIR STUDIES AND GET
THEIR DIPLOMA.
WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS FOR
OUR STUDENTS, FOR
FAMILIES, AND FOR SENIORS,
FOR EVERYONE.
AND WE WILL SUCCEED THANKS
TO THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS
OF OUR MANY ONTARIO HEROS.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT OUR
GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE AN ARMY BEHIND US.
AN ARMY OF 14.5 MILLION
PEOPLE, THE HARD-WORKING
PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT
PROVINCE.
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING
DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
THAT'S HOW I KNOW WE WILL
GET THROUGH THIS.
THE FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE
WORKERS COMING IN DAY
AFTER DAY, THE BUSINESSES
AND WORKERS WHO ARE
STEPPING UP, KEEPING VITAL
PARTS OF OUR ECONOMY
GOING, AND RETOOLING AND
MAKING ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
RIGHT HERE IN ONTARIO.
THE TEACHERS GOING ABOVE
AND BEYOND TO KEEP
STUDENTS LEARNING.
AND, MOST OF ALL, EVERY
SINGLE PERSON OUT THERE
THAT ARE TAKING OUR
ADVICE, STAYING HOME AND
DOING THEIR PART.
WE ALL NEED TO BE ROLLING
IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
AND TOGETHER WE WILL GET
THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS
THE PEOPLE OF ONTARIO.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO
MINISTER LECCE.
>> Minister: GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
[Speaking French]
[End of translation]
>> Minister: AS THE
PREMIER MADE CLEAR, WE
WILL DO EVERYTHING IT
TAKES TO KEEP STUDENTS AND
STAFF SAFE FROM COVID-19.
AND TAKE THE RECENT ADVICE
FROM DR. DAVID WILLIAMS,
OUR GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN
CLOSED UNTIL MAY 4th.
WE'RE TAKING THE NEXT
STEPS TO PROVIDE CONTINUED
LEARNING FOR OUR CHILDREN,
THAT WILL KEEP STUDENTS
LEARNING WHILE AT HOME.
[Speaking French]
[End of translation]
>> Minister: THE SECOND
PHASE OF "LEARN AT HOME"
CREATES SOME
PREDICTABILITY FOR OUR
PARENTS, STUDENTS AND
EDUCATORS.
WE'RE PROVIDING
EXPECTATIONS THAT PARENTS
CAN COUNT ON.
WE'RE ENHANCING SUPPORT
FOR STUDENTS.
WE'RE ENSURING THE
TEACHER-STUDENT
RELATIONSHIP IS RESTORED
THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD.
OUR AIM IS TO PROVIDE ALL
OF THEM WHEN SOME SENSE OF
SECURITY AND HOPE DURING
THIS EXTRAORDINARY PERIOD.
THE FIRST IS TO KEEP YOUR
CHILD SAFE, AND THE SECOND
IS TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN
LEARNING.
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE
SITUATION IDEAL.
WE RECOGNIZE THE
DIFFICULTY THAT PARENTS
WILL FACE AS WE GO
FORWARD.
THIS PANDEMIC HAS PERHAPS
MADE THE CASE SO CLEAR: WE
MUST COME TOGETHER,
HARNESS OUR COLLECTIVE
ENERGY, AND PUT OUR
EFFORTS FORWARD TO IMPROVE
THE SITUATION OF EVERY
CHILD AND KEEP THEM SAFE
FROM COVID-19.
WE'RE WITH YOU, PROVIDING
THE GUIDANCE, THE
RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT
TO ENSURE YOU GET THROUGH
THIS.
TODAY THE PREMIER
ANNOUNCED THE NEXT PHASE
OF OUR AMBITIOUS PLAN TO
KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED IN
LEARNING.
WITH PHASE TWO OF "LEARN
AT HOME," WE'RE LAYING OUT
NEW EXPECTATIONS THAT
PARENTS AND STUDENTS CAN
COUNT ON.
WE WILL RECONNECT STUDENTS
WITH TEACHERS WITH MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES.
WE'RE ENSURING THE
REESTABLISHMENT OF
TEACHER-LED LEARNING WITH
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS OF
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BY
GRADE.
WE'RE REQUIRING FINAL
REPORT CARDS FOR ALL
STUDENTS, MEANING THIS
MATERIAL WILL BE GRADED BY
YOUR TEACHER AS WE RESPOND
TO THIS UNPRECEDENTED
CHALLENGE.
STUDENTS CAN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO COMPLETE
CREDITS UNDER WAY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT FOR SENIOR-LEVEL
STUDENTS.
WE'RE ALSO PRIORITIZING
STUDENTS' SCHEDULE TO
GRADUATING.
WE'RE LENDING DIGITAL
RESOURCES, EMBRACING ALL
FORMS OF STUDENT-TEACHER
CONNECTIVITY, BASED ON THE
STUDENTS' ACCESS TO
TECHNOLOGY.
EVERY CHILD SHOULD AND
WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
LEARNING THROUGH THE
CURRICULUM, SUPPORTED BY
THEIR TEACHER.
WE'VE ALSO DEVELOPED A
TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR
EDUCATORS, TO SUPPORT THEM
IN VIRTUAL LEARNING.
IT IS CLEAR WE HAVE TO
STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITIES
OF SOME EDUCATORS USING
ONLINE TOOLS.
MANY DO THIS ALREADY AND
DO IT WELL.
NOW OUR AIM IS TO ENSURE
ALL TEACHERS HAVE THAT
DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE
LEARNING FOR THEIR KIDS.
WE RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING
THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN
LEARN AND GET SHADE DURING
THIS PERIOD.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT NO
CHILD FALLS BEHIND.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOARDS
AND EDUCATION, WE'RE
DISTRIBUTING LAPTOPS.
AT MINISTRY LEVEL, WE'RE
WORKING WITH
TELECOMMUNICATION PARTNERS
THROUGH THE ONTARIO
TOGETHER PORTAL TO
LEVERAGE THE SUPPORT TO
GET TECHNOLOGY TO THOSE
WHO NEED IT.
WE'RE ALSO ENSURING THAT
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL
EDUCATION NEEDS GET THE
SUPPORT THEY RIGHTFULLY
DESERVE.
THESE PARENTS ARE TRULY
WORKING SO HARD TO SUPPORT
THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME.
AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW
THAT WE RECOGNIZE THIS
DIFFICULTY.
AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
PARENT SUPPORTS AND GUIDE
TANS FOR YOU.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE WORKING
HARD TO IMMEDIATELY
ACTIVATE THE EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT
THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR
EDUCATORS, WE KNOW A LOT
OF THESE ARE DESIGNED FOR
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, BUT
WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT
TAKES TO HELP YOUR CHILD.
WE WILL NEVER LOSE SIGHT
OF THOSE KIDS, TODAY OR
INTO THE FUTURE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT MENTAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES ARE
REAL, FACING MANY
STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY
ANXIETY AND CONFUSION
ABOUT WHAT THIS ALL MEANS
TO THEM AND THEIR FUTURE.
WE'RE ENCOURAGING KIDS TO
REACH OUT AND TO TEXT THE
WORD "CONNECT," TO 686868
RIGHT NO IF YOU'RE IN
NEED.
AND WE'RE WORKING TO
IMMEDIATELY UNLEASH THE
FULL SUPPORTS OF MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
INCLUDING PSYCHOLOGIST AND
SOCIAL WORKERS, TO START
CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS
IN A SECURE MANNER.
WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT
TAKES, MOVING AT LIGHTNING
SPEED TO GIVE YOUR CHILD
THE EDUCATION THEY
DESERVE.
WE'RE DOING THIS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH DIRECTORS
AND CHAIRS AND TRUSTEES
AND ADMINISTRATORS AND
SCHOOL BOARDS, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH TEACHERS
AND WORKER UNIONS AND WITH
YOU, THE PARENT.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER.
IT WILL REQUIRE ALL OF US
TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE
GOOD OF OUR STUDENTS.
THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED
TIMES.
IF WE CAN PROTECT SOME OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR, SHOULD IT
BE SAFE, THEN OUR INSTINCT
IS TO DO SO.
IF WE CAN SALVAGE PART THE
YEAR FOR IN-SCHOOL
INSTRUCTION, OF COURSE
FOLLOWING THE CHIEF
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
THEN WE WILL.
OUR AIM IS TO BE
FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO
COVID-19.
BUT ONLY IF IT IS SAFE.
IF IT IS NOT AND
DR. WILLIAMS RECOMMENDS A
FURTHER EXTENSION, WERE LE
WE WILLDO SO.
I WANT TO SPEAK TO
STUDENTS IN GRADES 11 AND
12, WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT
TAKES TO ENSURE YOU
GRADUATE.
I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
MY COLLEAGUE MINISTER TO
ENSURE THERE WILL BE NO
BARRIERS TO ACCESSING
POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS.
WE HAVE YOUR BACK AND WE
WANT YOU TO SUCCEED.
FINALLY, I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT-OUT TO THE ENTIRE
SCHOOL COMMUNITY, BOARDS
FROM TORONTO TO HALTON TO
UPPER GRAND, HAVE DONATED
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT TO
COUNTER COVID-19.
THANK YOU FOR OUR
PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTINUED
COLLABORATION.
THIS IS THE PERIOD OF
ONTARIO.
TO BE GENEROUS, TO BE
GRATEFUL, AND TO BE
OPTIMISTIC.
WE WILL OVERCOME THIS
CHALLENGE AND WE'LL DO SO
TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE PARTNERS IN
THIS MINISTRY IS WORKING
WITH MINISTER LARENTO, WHO
IS A FATHER AND PARENT,
WHO WANTS ALL OF OUR
CHILDREN TO SUCCEED.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MINISTER LECCE, FOR
THOSE WORDS AND FOR THAT
INTRODUCTION.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK
OUR PREMIER SO MUCH FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS
COMMITMENT, AND HIS
HANDS-ON APPROACH THAT HAS
BEEN SO CRITICAL IN
NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS
CRISIS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK
MINISTERS PHILIPS --
>> Andrew: YOU'VE BEEN
LISTENING TO THE PREMIER
OF ONTARIO AND THE
EDUCATION MINISTER,
PROVIDING US WITH THE NEWS
THAT STUDENTS IN THE
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO WILL
NOT BE GOING BACK TO CLASS
UNTIL AS LEAST MAY, MAY
4th, AND THAT COULD BE
EXTENDED BEYOND MAY 4th.
MAY 1st FOR TEACHERS.
AND BEGINNING NEXT WEEK,
THERE WILL BE TEACHER-LED
ONLINE LEARNING FOR
STUDENTS IN THE PROVINCE
OF ONTARIO.
WE SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU
ABOUT SOME NEWS COMING OUT
OF QUEBEC.
THERE HAS BEEN A BIG SURGE
IN THE NUMBER OF COVID-19
CASES IN THAT PROVINCES,
WITH ABOUT HALF OF THE
CASES IN THE PROVINCE OF
QUEBEC, 732 NEW CASES, SIX
ADDITIONAL DEATHS, FOR A
TOTAL OF 4,162.
THE CANADIAN TOTAL IS
8,486.
LET'S LISTEN.
>> Premier:[Speaking through
interpreter]
I WILL START WITH THE
OVERVIEW OF THE LAST DAY.
WE, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE
SIX NEW DEATHS.
A TOTAL NOW OF 31.
SO, OF COURSE, I OFFER MY
CONDOLENCES TO THE
FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES OF
THOSE VICTIMS.
THESE ARE NOT STATISTICS.
THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE.
WE NOW HAVE 4,162 CASES
THAT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.
THAT IS AN INCREASE OF
732.
WE HAVE 286 PEOPLE BEING
HOSPITALIZED.
THAT IS AN INCREASE OF 51.
AND WE HAVE 82 PEOPLE IN
INTENSIVE CARE, AN
INCREASE OF ONLY FOUR.
SO THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS
OF THE DAY.
VERY FEW PEOPLE, KEEPING
IN MIND THE PROPORTIONS,
WHO ARE IN INTENSIVE CARE.
OUR GREAT PRIORITY RIGHT
NOW IS REALLY EVERYTHING
THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR
PROTECTION.
I'M TALKING ABOUT MASKS,
IN PARTICULAR.
THE PROCEDURAL MASKS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT GLOVES,
THE GOWNS.
EVERY DAY WE HAVE A VERY
DETAILED OVERVIEW WITH THE
MINISTRY OF HEALTH, THE
GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE
GOVERNMENT, WHO IS ALSO
INVOLVED, AND TODAY I WANT
TO BE CLEAR, I WANT TO
TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
FOR SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT,
WE HAVE FOR THREE TO SEVEN
DAYS.
SO IT IS PRETTY TIGHT.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE ORDERS
THAT SHOULD ARRIVE IN THE
NEXT FEW DAYS.
AND WE HAVE GOOD HOPES TO
BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH.
SO I DON'T WANT TO WORRY
ANYBODY.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY
GOOD FRIEND DOUG FORD, WHO
TRANSFERRED TO US CERTAIN
EQUIPMENT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
GESTURE ON THE PART OF THE
ONTARIO PREMIER.
I ALSO WISH TO THANK
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CHRYSTIA
FREELAND, WHO ARE WORKING
REALLY HARD AT SECURING
CERTAIN ORDERS FROM
FOREIGN LANDS THROUGH
EMBASSIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR HELP.
I ALSO WISH TO SALUTE
BUSINESSES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MASKS
AMONGST THEM, ONE HAS 1.3
MILLION MASKS, AND THEY
HAVE ACCEPTED TRANSFERRING
THEM TO US.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO REPEAT
THE MESSAGE THAT I'VE BEEN
GIVING FOR A FEW DAYS TO
THE HEALTH CARE STAFF.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, IF
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
MASKS THROUGH THE ENTIRETY
OF THE CRISIS, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE USE THE
MASKS ONLY WHEN IT IS
ESSENTIAL, WHEN IT IS
NECESSARY THAT WE USE
THEM.
THE GOAL IS TO GET ANOTHER
TEAM SENDING GUIDELINES
ABOUT WHEN TO USE THEM AND
HOW TO USE THEM.
BUT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER -- AND, LISTEN,
WE'RE NO DIFFERENT THAN
ANYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING
TO NEWS, WHETHER IT BE IN
THE U.S. OR EUROPE,
EVERYWHERE, THERE IS A
RACE TO GET THE EQUIPMENT
TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE.
WE ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM
OTHERS.
AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM IN
WHAT WE CALL THE PEAK,
WHEN WE GET TO THE PEAK OF
THE CURVE.
SO WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME
SITUATION.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO
SEND A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
ISOLATED, THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE ALONE.
IT IS NORMAL THAT YOU'RE
FINDING IT DIFFICULT ON A
DAILY BASIS, AND THAT IS
WHY TODAY I'M ASKING
EVERYBODY WHO IS NOT
ALONE, WHO ARE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO BE LIVING WITH
SOMEBODY, A SPOUSE, A
FAMILY MEMBER, PARENTS,
CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL
SOMEBODY WHO IS ALONE
TODAY.
GIVE YOURSELF THAT AS A
TASK OF RESPONSIBILITY.
I WAS TELLING THAT TO MY
TWO BOYS YESTERDAY.
CALL YOUR GRANDMOTHER.
IT IS GOING TO MAKE HER
HAPPY.
IT IS THAT SIMPLE.
IF EVERYBODY CALLS ONE
PERSON WHO IS ALONG TODAY,
I THINK IT WILL MAKE A LOT
OF QUEBECERS FEEL GOOD.
MY DAILY THANKS: I REALLY
WANT TO GIVE THEM TO OUR
RESEARCHERS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF
RESEARCHERS RIGHT NOW IN
QUEBEC WHO ARE WORKING
NIGHT AND DAY TO BE ABLE
TO FIND MEDICATION,
VACCINES, AND I'M THINKING
ABOUT THE DOCTORS, AMONGST
OTHERS, AT THE INSTITUTE
OF CARDIOLOGY.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE OUT A
MESSAGE IN HIS NAME.
RIGHT NOW HE NEEDS
THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS
FOR HIS RESEARCH, FOR HIS
STUDIES.
IT TAKES PEOPLE WHO HAVE
COVID-19, PEOPLE WHO ARE
INFECTED.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE
COORDINATES OF THE DOCTOR
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S
WEBSITE.
BUT IT COULD ALLOW US TO
SAVE LIVES.
SO IF YOU HAVE COVID-19
AND YOU ACCEPT
PARTICIPATING IN THIS VERY
PROMISING RESEARCH OF THE
DOCTOR, I WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK ALL OF THE
RESEARCHERS, THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON A LOT OF
DIFFERENT PROJECTS, AND
WHO WE HOPE ARE GOING TO
LEAD TO SOMETHING FRUITFUL
VERY QUICKLY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO END
WITH: DON'T GO OUT UNLESS
IT IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY.
IF YOU DO GO OUT, KEEP TWO
METRES BETWEEN YOU AND
ANOTHER PERSON.
AND WHEN YOU COME HOME,
YOU WASH YOUR HANDS WITH
SOAP FOR 20 SECONDS.
I THINK THAT IF WE RESPECT
THAT PLAN, WE ARE GOING TO
BE SAVING THE LIVES OF
QUEBECERS.
SO IT IS WORTH DOING IT,
AND I COUNT ON YOU.
[End of translation]
>> Premier: MY BIGGEST
CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS FOR
THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
CURRENTLY, FOR SOME
EQUIPMENT WE HAVE ONLY FOR
THREE TO SEVEN DAYS.
NEW SHIPMENTS SHOULD
ARRIVE IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY
FRIENDS, PREMIER DOUG
FORD, WHO ACCEPTED THIS
MORNING TO TRANSFER US
SOME EQUIPMENT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK, ALSO,
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU AND
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
CHRYSTIA FREELAND.
THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD
TO SECURE SOME ORDERS IN
OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT IS VERY APPRECIATED.
AND IT IS REALLY THE TOP
PRIORITY RIGHT NOW, TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL HAVE
ENOUGH MEDICAL SUPPLIES
AND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
AND I WANT TO ASK AGAIN TO
THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
PLEASE USE ONLY THE
SUPPLIES WHEN IT IS
NECESSARY.
SO TO GET THROUGH THIS
FIGHT, WE MUST REMAIN
UNITED.
TODAY I ASK QUEBECERS TO
GIVE A CALL TO SOMEONE WHO
IS ALONE.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM
ISOLATION.
A PHONE CALL CAN MAKE A
BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THEM.
WE MUST ALSO CONTINUE TO
FOLLOW OUR THREE
PRIORITIES: ONE, DON'T GO
OUT UNLESS IT IS
NECESSARY.
TWO, IF YOU DO GO OUT,
KEEP YOUR DISTANCES.
AND, THREE, WHEN YOU COME
BACK HOME, WASH YOUR
HANDS.
THAT ALL WILL SAVE LIVES.
THANK YOU ALL.
[Speaking French][Speaking throh
interpreter]
THANK YOU, MR. PREMIER.
NOW FOR THE QUESTION
PERIOD.
>> Question:
MR. PREMIER, THERE IS A
MOVEMENT BEING DRAWN RIGHT
NOW, SUPPORTED BY DOCTORS,
AMONGST OTHERS.
DR. BUBE, WHO IS HEAD OF
ORTHOPEDIC SERVICES, WHO
IS SUGGESTING WEARING THE
MASKS FOR THE POPULATION
IN GENERAL.
THERE IS A MOVEMENT
STARTING RIGHT NOW CALLED
"MASKS FOR ALL."
NOT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
FR
