 
WON'T HAPPEN IN TIME FOR THE 
LONG WEEKEND.
LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
THE HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS", 
VASSY KAPELOS AND CATHERINE 
CULLEN IN OTTAWA.
VASSY, I'LL START WITH YOU.
JUST ON WHAT YOU MIGHT KNOW ON 
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
>> Vassy: WHAT I KNOW SO FAR IS 
THEY'RE NOT HUGELY SUBSTANTIAL, 
BUT LITTLE BITS AND PIECES AND 
I DEPENTS ON WHAT YOUR 
INTERESTS ARE.
I THINK DEFINITELY WHEN IT 
COMES TO PARKS, THAT IS 
SOMETHING -- AND HISTORICALLY, 
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT JOINS?
WITH SO MUCH OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN 
TALKING ABOUT OVER THE PAST 
FOUR OR FIVE DAY AND THAT IS 
THE RE-OPENING OF VARIOUS 
PROVINCES, THE RELAXING OF 
CERTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING 
RESTRICTIONS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY AREA 
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS 
JURISDICTION OVER.
SO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WILL 
BE, AGAIN, LIKE SO MUCH ELSE 
THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT, A 
PHASED-OUT APPROACH.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
PROBABLY NOT IN TIME FOR THE 
LONG WEEKEND.
BUT AS THE WARM WEATHER DOES 
WARM UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER 
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THERE WILL 
BE AT LEAST SOME MORE PLACES 
THAT YOU CAN ACCESS TO GET 
OUTSIDE.
I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, 
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M 
INTERESTED TO HEAR ABOUT FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER INCLUDE AN 
UPDATE ON TWO PROGRAMS THAT WE 
ARE WAITING DETAILS FOR AND YOU 
SPOKE TO MINISTER MORNEAU ABOUT 
BOTH OF THEM LAST NIGHT ON A 
SPECIAL, ROSIE.
THE FIRST IS THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAM.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET DETAILS 
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL 
RE-OPEN AND THE SECOND IS THE 
COMMERCIAL RENT PROGRAM.
WE'RE VERY QUICKLY INCHING 
TOWARDS JUNE 1.
A LOT OF PROVINCES HAVE NOT PUT 
A MORATORIUM ON COMMERCIAL 
EVICTIONS.
I AM HEARING DAILY FROM PEOPLE 
ABOUT THAT REALITY, WHO RUN A 
BUSINESS AND WORRIED ABOUT THAT 
REALITY AND DEPENDS ON 
LANDLORDS TAKING PART IN THE 
PROGRAM AND EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW 
IS JUST SHORT ON DETAILS.
SO, THERE ISN'T A HUGE UPTAKE 
OR WE HAVE FORMAL NUMBERS BUT 
ANECDOTELY I'M HEARING LAND 
LORDS SAYING I'M PROBABLYING 
NOT GOING TO DO THIS BECAUSE I 
DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS.
SO, WE ARE WAITING FOR DETAILS 
ON THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND TO WRAP ALL OF THAT 
TOGETHER, I THINK THERE'S BEEN 
SOME REALLY INTERESTING 
COMMENTARY OVER THE PAST FEW 
DAYS AROUND THE LEVEL OF 
TESTING.
AND WHAT, IF ANY, ROLE THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS IN 
ENSURING THAT THIS COUNTRY 
TESTS A WHOLE LOT MORE.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES IN OTHER 
JURISDICTIONS OF THE WORLD, 
EVEN IN THE EPICENTER OF THIS 
PANDEMIC, IN WUHAN, WHERE OVER 
THE NEXT 10 DAYS, THEY'RE GOING 
TEST 11 MILLION PEOPLE.
WE HAVE NOWHERE NEAR THE GOALS 
THAT EVEN INDIVIDUAL PROVINCES 
HAVE SET.
IN SOME INSTANCES IN THE WORST 
CASES IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC, 
THEY'RE FAR SHORT, EVEN HALFWAY 
THERE, IN QUEBEC, FOR EXAMPLE, 
TO THE GOALS THAT THEY HAVE SET 
THEMSELVES.
AND EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE 
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING 
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ARE SAYING THAT 
WE HAVE TO BE FAR AHEAD OF 
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW TO START 
RELAXING PHYSICAL DISTANCING 
MEASURES OR RE-OPENING 
ECONOMIES.
A PROCESS WHICH I SHOULD 
MENTION IS UNDER WAY IN MOST 
PROVINCES ALREADY AT THIS POINT.
SO I THINK THERE IS SORT OF 
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER ABOUT IS THERE A 
SPECIFIC ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HERE.
IS THERE A GUIDELINE THAT 
SHOULD BE SET BY THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT?
I KNOW THE FEDS ARE HELPING 
INCREASE CAPACITY.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROCURING 
THOSE TESTS FOR PROVINCES OR 
HELPING TO.
BUT DO THEY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY 
IN ENSURING THE LEVEL OF 
TESTING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE 
IN ORDER TO RE-OPEN ECONOMIES 
IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE.
NOT JUST PLEDGING TO BE.
>> Rosemary: RIGHT.
TO GO BACK TO THE COMMERCIAL 
RENT SITUATION.
AND IN CASE OTHER PEOPLE 
WEREN'T WATCHING IT LAST NIGHT, 
MINISTER MORNEAU SEEMED TO 
SUGGEST THAT HE HAD SOME 
NUMBERS.
I'M NOT SURE IF THOSE WERE 
CONCRETE NUMBERS OR ANECDOTETAL 
NUMBERS ABOUT UPTAKE ON THE 
COMMERCIAL RENT.
SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO 
KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE 
YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK EVERYONE 
HAS BEEN HEARING QUITE THE 
OPPOSITE, THAT LANDLORDS AREN'T 
INTERESTED IN IT.
HE ALSO MADE THE POINT, WHICH I 
HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT 
BEFORE, IS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT ONLY HAS CONTROL 
OVER SORT OF MORTGAGES, THAT IS 
WHY IT IS LIMITED IN TERMS OF 
HOW IT PROVIDES THE HELP FROM 
THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IF MORE 
HAS TO BE DONE, THEN IT HAS TO 
COME FROM THE PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION AND THE SUGGESTION 
WAS THAT LANDLORDS SHOULD DO 
THIS BECAUSE IT AT LEAST 
GUARANTEES THEM SOME MONEY.
BUT I THINK WHAT I'VE BEEN 
HEARING AND I'M SURE YOU, TOO, 
VASSY, IS THAT SOME LANDLORDS 
ARE SAYING NO, I WANT ALL THE 
MONEY.
SO, IF YOU DON'T TAKE THIS 
PROGRAM, THEN YOU JUST GO AND 
FIND -- YOU JUST GO AND FIND ME 
THE MONEY IF YOU ARE THE RENTER 
AND THAT IS THE DISCONNECT 
THERE, THAT I'M NOT SURE THEY 
HAVE ADDRESSED YET AND I'M NOT 
SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD WHETHER 
THAT WAS COMING EITHER FROM THE 
MINISTER.
>> Vassy: YEAH.
NEITHER DID I.
FOR SOME LANDLORDS, IT IS NOT A 
CASE -- FOR SOME IT IS FOR SURE 
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE LESS MONEY.
BUT FOR OTHERS IT'S I CAN'T.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SECURE A 
MORTGAGE DEFERRAL AND IT IS 
CONFUSION AS WELL BECAUSE THERE 
IS A TWEET FROM MINISTER 
MORNEAU, I THINK LAST WEEK, 
SAYING WE'RE GOING FIGURE OUT A 
WAY TO DO THIS EVEN FOR PEOPLE 
WITHOUT MORTGAGES.
I'M PARAPHRASING HERE.
SO, THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTES -- I 
DON'T KNOW HOW THEY HAVE 
NUMBERS BECAUSE EVERY LANDLORD 
I TALK TO ANTENANL -- AND 
TENANT I TALK TO IS CONFUSED 
ABOUT THOSE DETAILS.
THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF 
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION HERE 
AND A LOT OF PRESSURE, 
PARTICULARLY ON THE ONTARIO 
GOVERNMENT, TO PUT A MORATORIUM 
ON EVICTIONS RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE WAITING 
FOR THE DETAILS AND SEE HOW 
THIS PROGRAM WORKS OUT BEFORE 
WE MAKE A DECISION ON THAT.
>> Rosemary: I'LL TURN TO 
CATHERINE NOW FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.
BUT TELL PEOPLE THAT THE 
GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF CANADA 
WAS OUT THIS MORNING, STEPHEN 
POLOZ, STILL THE GOVERNOR FOR A 
COUPLE MORE MONTHS AND IT WAS 
NOT A SUPER OPTIMISTIC 
VIEWPOINT ON HOW THINGS WERE 
GOING IN THE ECONOMY.
CERTAINLY SUGGESTING THAT WE'RE 
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS AND 
POINTING TO POTENTIAL 
BANKRUPTCIES, FRANKLY, FOR MANY 
COMPANIES DOWN THE ROAD.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
YOU SAW STARTING OUT BY TRYING 
TO OFFER THAT REASSURANCE THAT 
WE OFTEN HEAR FROM STEPHEN 
POLOZ THAT ULTIMATELY THE 
STRUCTURE OF THE CANADIAN 
ECONOMY IS ABLE TO WITHSTAND 
THIS.
HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN 
ECONOMIC SHAPE GOING INTO THIS 
SITUATION AND THERE IS 
REASSURANCE TO BE HAD THERE.
HE DID NOTE THAT THIS IS 
PROBABLY THE GREATEST FINANCIAL 
CHALLENGE THAT MOST OF US WILL 
SEE IN OUR LIFETIMES AND THERE 
ARE CHALLENGES STILL TO COME.
HE WAS ASKED, FOR INSTANCE, HOW 
THE BANK OF CANADA -- WHAT THEY 
THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF.
WE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT A 
SECOND WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC IN 
TERMS OF THE EFFECTS THAT IT 
MIGHT HAVE ON ALL OF US IN 
TERMS OF OUR HEALTH.
BUT HE WAS ASKED WHAT ABOUT THE 
SECOND WAVE OF PANDEMIC IN 
TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON THE 
ECONOMY.
AND ESSENTIALLY SAID YES, WE 
WILL HAVE TO ADAPT OUR 
FORECASTS IF, INDEED, THAT DOES 
HAPPEN.
BUT, AGAIN, THIS SENSE OF THE 
UNKNOWN, ROSEMARY THAT WE'RE 
ALL DEALING WITH IN SO MANY 
DIFFERENT WAYS AND SHAPES AND 
FORMS, WHAT THE ULTIMATE IMPACT 
OF ALL OF THIS MIGHT BE.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE 
GOOD.
YOU HEARD STEPHEN POLOZ TALKING 
ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE -- PARDON 
ME, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT 
THERE.
TALKING ABOUT DEBT, I WAS GOING 
TO SAY.
>> Rosemary: YES.
>> Reporter: AND THE INPUT THAT 
THAT IS GOING TO HAVE IN ALL OF 
THIS.
BUT THE EXACT SHAPE IS STILL TO 
COME.
>> Rosemary: I'M GOING LEAVE 
YOU BOTH AS WE AWAIT THE PRIME 
MINISTER TO EMERGE TO TURN TO 
ANOTHER ISSUE WE'RE EXPECTING 
THE PRIME MINISTER TO ANNOUNCE 
TODAY AND THE MINISTER OF 
INDIGENOUS SERVICES WHO WILL BE 
AT THE BRIEFING AT NOON AND 
THEY HAVE FLAGED THIS OBVIOUSLY 
BEFORE THAT INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES IN THIS COUNTRY 
FACE A POTENTIALLY MORE SEVERE 
OUTCOME WHEN I COMES TO THE 
PANDEMIC.
THIS PAST WEEK, IN FACT, 
MINISTER MARC MILLER, THE 
INDIGENOUS SERVICES MINISTER, 
DID SAY THAT CANADA MUST 
IMPROVE ITS DATA COLLECTION 
EFFORTS FOR FIRST NATIONS, 
INUIT AND MÉTIS COMMUNITY AND 
FOR MORE ON THIS, I'M JOINED BY 
JANET SMILEY, AND SHE IS IN 
TORONTO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
>> Rosemary: SO HOW CONCERNED 
ARE YOU ABOUT THE LACK OF DATA 
AROUND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE RIGHT 
NOW?
BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM AS THOUGH 
WE HAVE ONE SET OF DATA FOR ON 
RESERVE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND 
THEN SORT OF A VAGUE NOTION OF 
WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IN THE 
POPULATION WRIT LARGE.
>> YES.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED RIGHT NOW 
AND, IN FACT, I'VE BEEN VERY 
CONCERNED IN WORKING WITH 
OTHERS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS 
COMPLICATED PROBLEM SINCE THE 
ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC HERE IN 
CANADA.
>> Rosemary: AND WHY IS THIS SO 
HARD TO GET?
WHY IS IT SO COMPLICATED TO TRY 
AND COLLECT THIS DATA AND HOW 
WOULD IT HELP?
>> WE ARE DEALING WITH HISTORIC 
AND CURRENT POLICY LEGACIES.
SO, IN ORDER FOR FIRST NATIONS, 
INUIT AND MÉTIS PEOPLES TO BE 
IDENTIFIED IN THE EXISTING 
COVID DATASETS, WHAT NEEDS TO 
HAPPEN IS THEY NEED TO BE IN A 
CONTEXT WHERE THEY COULD BE 
ACCURATELY IDENTIFIED AS FIRST 
NATIONS INUIT AND MÉTIS AT 
TESTING OR IN TESTING FOLLOW-UP.
SO, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IN A 
WHY THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND 
SAFE, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE AN 
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROCESSES 
AND PARTNERSHIPS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DOESN'T 
EXIST FOR MOST FIRST NATION, 
INUIT AND MÉTIS PEOPLE WHERE 
THEY LIVE.
THERE HAS BEEN INVESTMENT OVER 
TIME FOR FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE 
LIVING ON RESERVE AND IN THE 
NORTH AND FOR INUIT COMMUNITIES 
IN THE NORTH, PARTNERSHIPS 
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
AND INUIT AND FIRST NATIONS 
LEADERSHIP TO SET A KIND OF 
PLATFORM.
OF COURSE, THEY'RE SHARED 
HEALTH SERVICES, FIRST NATIONS 
AND INUIT LEADERSHIP AND THE 
DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES.
THESE ARE CONTEXTS WHERE 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE IN THE 
MAJORITY SO THEY MAY FEEL 
COMFORTABLE IDENTIFYING AND 
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BE 
IDENTIFIED.
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF 
THINGS LIKE THE INDIAN ACT, 
PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING OUTSIDE 
OF FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES, 
PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE 
RECOGNIZED AS STATUS FIRST 
NATIONS PEOPLE, MÉTIS PEOPLE 
AND INUIT LIVING IN THE SOUTH, 
LIVE IN A VERY DIFFERENT 
CONTEXT.
AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE IS 
VERY UNDERDEVELOPED.
SO THAT IS THE COMPLEX PROBLEM.
>> Rosemary: AND THE MINISTER, 
BACK ON SATURDAY, WAS VERY 
FRANK  ABOUT IT, THAT THERE WAS 
A DATA GAP AND I WAS CONCERNING 
AND THAT THEY DID NEED TO FIND 
A WAY TO FIX IT.
GIVE US A SENSE, THOUGH, IN 
WHAT WAY SORT OF THE SOCIAL 
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT WE 
MEASURE IN FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS 
AND INUIT COMMUNITIES ARE 
ALREADY SORT OF WORKING AGAINST 
MANY OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WHEN 
IT COMES TO THE PANDEMICS.
>> YES.
IT'S A TRICKY VIRUS AND WE'RE 
GOING TO LEARN LOTS OFLESS  -- 
LESSONS AND SOMETIMES IT 
MAGNIFIES THINGS THAT ARE 
EXISTING SOCIAL CHALLENGES.
SO, OF COURSE, WE KNOW FROM 
H1N1 THAT FIRST NATIONS, INUIT 
AND MÉTIS PEOPLE HAVE EXISTING 
CONDITIONS.
AGAIN, KIND OF LINKED TO 
EXISTING INEQUITIES AND OF 
DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH AND 
SOCIAL  RESOURCES, LIKE HIGHER 
RATES OF CHRONIC DISEASE AND 
OVERCROWDED HOUSING AND THAT 
HAPPENS IN THE CITIES AS WELL.
SO, A CITY LIKE TORONTO WHERE I 
LIVE IN WHERE THERE'S 70,000 
FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND MÉTIS 
PEOPLE OFTEN ONLY ABOUT ONE OUT 
OF FIVE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS 
PARTICIPATING IN THE CENSUS AND 
ABOUT ONE OUT OF THREE OF THAT 
POPULATION OF 70,000 WHICH HAS 
BEEN THE LARGEST INDIGENOUS 
POPULATION THE COUNTRY IS 
EXPERIENCING HOUSING SHORTAGE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF STRENGTHS, 
THOUGH, TOO, AS FIRST NATIONS 
AND INUIT AND MÉTIS PEOPLE.
WE'VE HAD TO LIVE THROUGH MANY 
CHALLENGES.
SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY ADAPTABLE 
AND WE HAVE VERY STRONG SOCIAL 
NETWORKS.
THOSE SOCIAL NETWORKS ACTUALLY, 
I THINK, ARE ADAPTABILITY AND 
THE EXISTING GOODWILL AND 
ABILITY TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP 
ACROSS JURISDICTION ARE GOING 
TO GET US THROUGH THIS.
>> Rosemary: I AM GOING TO TALK 
TO SOMEONE FROM LA LOCHE A 
LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE 
PROGRAM, HOPEFULLY.
BUT HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT 
THAT OUTBREAK IN LA LOCHE AND 
IN THE FIRST NATION RIGHT 
BESIDE IT?
>> OF COURSE, ANYTIME -- LIKE 
AS A MÉTIS CREE PERSON WITH 
FAMILY TIES TO SASKATCHEWAN, 
YEAH, THIS IS -- IT STRIKES US 
AS VERY CONCERNING.
BUT I DO KNOW THOSE COMMUNITIES 
AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT 
OF STRENGTH, THERE'S A LOT OF 
VERY STRONG FIRST NATIONS AND 
MÉTIS LEADERS.
AND A LOT OF GOODWILL.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY 
IS WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT IS WHAT'S GOING GET US 
THROUGH, RIGHT?
STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, WORKING 
TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE 
PEOPLE, AND THEN ACTUALLY KIND 
OF WISE SCIENCE OR WISE 
PRACTICES.
SO, YEAH.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE 
COMMUNITIES, BUT I FEEL 
CONFIDENT BECAUSE WE'VE MADE IT 
THROUGH MANY DIFFICULTIES IN 
THE PAST SO THERE'S THAT 
RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY AND 
HISTORY OF COMMUNITIES COMING 
TOGETHER.
>> Rosemary: LET ME ASK ONE 
MORE QUESTION BEFORE THE PRIME 
MINISTER COMES OUT THE FRONT 
DOOR HERE.
IF WE TALK ABOUT FIXING THINGS 
THAT AREN'T WORKING THROUGHOUT 
THIS PANDEMIC, IF ONE OF THOSE 
THINGS THAT WAS FIXED WAS THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABLE TO 
PROVIDE A DIFFERENT ROLE IN 
GATHERING INFORMATION, HOW MUCH 
-- HOW MUCH WOULD THAT HELP, I 
GUESS, KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND 
SAFER?
>> IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR 
FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND MÉTIS 
PEOPLE TO BE COUNTED IN TO OUR 
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, 
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY CHOOSE 
TO LIVE.
OR WHERE THEY NEED TO LIVE.
SO CURRENTLY, WE'RE KIND OF 
FACED WITH A FEDERAL 
JURISDICTIONAL HOT POTATO AND 
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT ONLY IN 
THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES 
BUT IN OUR HEALTH INFORMATION 
SYSTEM.
SO, I ACTUALLY SEE AN TOUNLS 
BRIDGE THAT GAP AND RECOGNIZE 
THAT WE'RE ALL RELATED AND IT'S 
VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS 
INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION 
AND IT SHOULD BE LED BY 
INDIGENOUS FIRST NATIONS INUIT 
MÉTIS LEADERS AND INDIGENOUS 
HEALTH AGENCIES AND THAT IS 
GOING TO HELP US MOVING FORWARD 
AND AVOID SITUATIONS LIKE WE 
HAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> Rosemary: DOCTOR, REALLY 
GOOD OF YOU TO NATIONAL 
CONVENTION TIME AND TALK TO US 
ABOUT THIS ISH YAOUFM I 
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS DR. JANET 
SMYLIE.
SHE IS IN TORONTO.
YESTERDAY T MINISTER OF CROWN 
AND INDIGENOUS RELATIONS 
ANNOUNCED $2.3 MILLION FOR THAT 
AREA OF NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN, 
LA LOESH  -- LOBER BECAUSE OF 
THE CASES THAT HAVE HAPPENED ON 
THE RESERVE OR IN THE COMMUNITY 
OF LA LOCHE AND HAVE TOUCHED 
OTHER PEOPLE, MÉTIS AND OTHER 
DENE WHO LIVE OFF RESERVE.
WE'LL EXPECT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT 
THAT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND THE MINISTER AT THE NOON 
BRIEFING.
I'LL BRING BACK VASSY KAPELOS 
AND CATHERINE CULLEN AS WE WAIT 
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER, KNOWING 
PROBABLY CUT YOU OFF.
I'LL TRY TO GET TO THIS ANYWAY.
CATHERINE, I WANTED TO ASK 
ABOUT YOUR STORY AROUND THE 
CERB FRAUD AND IT'S SOMETHING 
THAT YOU WERE TALKING TO 
MINISTER QUALTROUGH YESTERDAY 
AND YOU HAD DETAILS YESTERDAY, 
TOO.
>> Reporter: WE HEARD FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER HIMSELF THAT 
WHEN IT COMES TO CATCHING 
PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN 
COMMITTING FRAUD BY APPLYING 
FOR THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT, EVEN IF THEY 
HAVEN'T LOST THEIR JOB AND 
DON'T MEET THE CRITERIA BUT 
JUST GOING AHEAD AND SAYING 
THAT THEY DO, OFFICIALS HAVE 
SAID, LISTEN, THE CLEANUP IS 
REALLY GOING TO BE ON THE 
BACKEND.
AND SO WE LEARNED FROM THE 
C.R.A. YESTERDAY THAT THEY'RE 
GOING TO BE INTRODUCING NEW 
MEASURES, ROSEMARY, A NOTABLE 
ONE, CERTAINLY IS THAT THEY'LL 
BE ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION 
FROM  EMPLOYERS ABOUT WHEN 
SPECIFICALLY CANADIANS WERE 
WORKING THIS YEAR.
NORMALLY EMPLOYERS HAND OUT THE 
INFORMATION IN YOUR T-4, A 
SUMMARY OF THE MONEY THAT MADE 
THIS YEAR.
NO, THIS TIME AROUND THEY WILL 
BE ASKING EMPLOYERS FOR A MONTH 
BY MONTH ACCOUNTING OF WHAT 
PEOPLE WERE MAKING OVER THE 
COURSE OF PANDEMIC.
THEY WILL COMPARE THAT 
INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WHO 
APPLIED FOR THE EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT AND TRY TO 
CATCH THEM IN INACCURACIES 
THERE.
ONE THING THAT OFFICIALS SAID 
AND THIS ALSO CAME UP IN 
VASSY'S INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER 
QUALTROUGH, IF YOU'VE BEEN 
ACCESSING THE THE BENEFIT AND 
YOU SHOULDN'T BE, THE IDEA IS 
THEY WANT THE MONEY BACK.
WILL THERE BE ADDITIONAL 
PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WILLFULLY 
DISHONEST IN ALL OF.
THAT?
THAT IS NOT WHERE THE FOCUS S. 
AND WE HEARD FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, 
THEIR REAL FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS 
ABOUT GETING THE MONEY OUT THE 
DOOR TO A LOT OF ARE IN NEED.
THIS CONCERN THAT SOME PEOPLE 
ARE ABUSING THE PROGRAM DOES 
SEEM TO BE A MORE MINOR ONE IN 
THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
>> Rosemary: EXCELLENT TIMING.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS EMERGED 
FROM HIS FRONT DOOR.
WE'LL TALK TO YOU BOTH ABOUT 
THIS AFTER.
HERE'S THE PRIME MINISTER ON 
THIS THE THURSDAY.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: OVER 
THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE SEEN 
OUR WOMEN AND MEN IN UNIFORM 
STEP UP TO THE PLATE AGAIN AND 
AGAIN.
IN SENIORS HOMES, IN NORTHERN 
COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE THERE FOR 
WHERE WE NEED THEM MOST.
BECAUSE THEY RESPOND TO THE 
CALL OF DUTY WITHOUT 
HESITATION, WHENEVER THEY'RE 
CALLED UPON, IT CAN BE EASY TO 
FORGET THE TOLL THIS WORK CAN 
TAKE.
MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN 
AROUNDED FORCES HAVE ALWAYS 
BEEN THERE TO DO TOUGH, 
DANGEROUS JOBS.
SO AFTER A LIFETIME OF SERVICE, 
FAR TOO MANY VETERANS LIVE WITH 
CHRONIC PAIN.
TODAY, WE ARE LAUNCHING THE 
CHRONIC PAIN CENTER OF 
EXCELLENCE FOR CANADIAN 
VETERANS AT McMASTER YAOUFRMENTS
 -- UNIVERSITY.
THIS CENTER WILL FOCUS ON 
NATIONAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING TO PROVIDE 
VETERANS WITH THE SUPPORT THEY 
DESERVE.
NO ONE, LEAST OF ALL THOSE WHO 
HAVE WORN THE MAPLE LEAF, 
SHOULD BE WITHOUT THE CARE THEY 
NEED.
LATER TODAY, I'LL ALSO BE 
MEETING WITH NURSES HERE IN 
OTTAWA TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR 
OUTSTANDING WORK.
I KNOW I SPEAK FOR ALL 
CANADIANS WHEN I SAY THAT WE 
ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THE 
WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE KEEPING 
US SAFE RIGHT NOW.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: OUR MEN AND 
WOMEN IN UNIFORM HAVE ALWAYS 
BEEN THERE FOR US.
AND WE HAVE TO BE THERE FOR 
THEM AS WELL.
TODAY, WE ARE LAUNCHING THE 
CHRONIC PAIN CENTER OF 
EXCELLENCE FOR CANADIAN 
VETERANS AT McMASTER UNIVERSITY.
THAT CENTER WILL FOCUS ON 
RESEARCH, TRAINING AND 
EDUCATION RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY TO PROVIDE OUR VETERANS 
WITH THE SERVICES THAT THEY 
NEED.
TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED 
CANADA, THANK YOU.
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS GRATEFUL 
TO YOU AND WE WILL BE THERE TO 
SUPPORT YOU.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: OVER 
THE LAST TWO MONTHS, A LOT OF 
CANADIANS HAVE FACED VERY 
CHALLENGING SITUATIONS AND VERY 
DIFFICULT CHOICES.
JUST TAKE WORKERS IN THE 
FISHERIES INDUSTRY.
YOU CAN'T HARVEST LOBSTER FROM 
INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
SO THAT LEAVES YOU TRYING TO 
FIGURE OUT HOW TO EITHER SPACE 
PEOPLE OUT ON A FISHING BOAT OR 
CANCEL YOUR OPERATIONS.
IT'S NOT AN EASY CALL TO MAKE.
ON TOP OF THAT, PRICES AND 
DEMAND HAVE GONE DOWN, PUTTING 
FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON FISHERS 
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TAKEN TOGETHER, THIS ADDS UP TO 
A REALLY TOUGH TIME.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT 
WE'RE LISTENING.
THAT YOUR LOCAL M.P.s ARE 
MAKING SURE YOUR CONCERNS ARE 
HEARD.
AND, ABOVE ALL, THAT HELP IS ON 
THE WAY.
TODAY, I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT 
WE'RE INVESTING ALMOST $470 
MILLION TO SUPPORT FISH 
HARVESTERS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE CREATING 
THE FISH HARVESTERS BENEFIT.
IF YOU'RE EXPECTING A 25% DROP 
IN INCOME THIS SEASON, YOU'LL 
GET SUPPORT THAT COVERS 75% OF 
YOUR LOSSES, UP TO ABOUT 
$10,000.
AND AS A REMINDER, IF YOU 
QUALIFY FOR THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY INSTEAD, 
REMEMBER THAT WE'LL  BE 
EXTENDING IT BEYOND JUNE.
WE'RE ALSO INTRODUCING 
ADDITIONAL NONREPAYABLE GRANTS 
OF UP TO $10,000 FOR FISH 
HARVESTERS WHO OWN THEIR OWN 
BUSINESS AND NEED SUPPORT TO 
BRIDGE TO BETTER TIMES.
AND FOR WORKERS WHO ARE WORRIED 
ABOUT NEXT YEAR, WE WILL CHANGE 
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RULES SO 
THAT FISH HARVESTERS CAN APPLY 
FOR E.I. BENEFITS, BASED ON THE 
EARNINGS OF PREVIOUS YEARS.
THIS ALL BUILDS ON THE 
INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE FOR FISH 
AND SEAFOOD PROCESSORS.
AND FOR FARMERS AND AQUACULTURE 
FISHERIES, WE'RE ALSO LAUNCHING 
$100 MILLION AGRICULTURE AND 
FOOD BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FUND TO 
FARM CREDIT CANADA.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER OPTION TO 
HELP AGRI-FOOD COMPANIES FACING 
UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL STRAIN.
WHETHER YOU'RE A FISHER, A FOOD 
PROCESSOR OR A FARMER, WE'VE 
GOT YOUR BACK.
AND I KNOW ALL CANADIANS DO, 
TOO.
AND TO EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO 
SHOW THEIR SUPPORT, BUY 
CANADIAN, PICK UP SOME CANADIAN 
CHEESE TO HELP OUT A LOCAL 
DAIRY FARMER, HAVE A FISH FRY 
OR BUY CANADIAN LOBSTER.
NOT ONLY WILL IT TASTE GREAT, 
BUT IT WILL HELP THE PEOPLE WHO 
KEEP PUTTING FOOD ON OUR PLATES.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: A NUMBER OF 
INDUSTRIES ARE GOING THROUGH 
TOUGH TIMES RIGHT NOW AND THE 
FISHERIES ARE NO EXCEPTION.
NOT ONLY MUST PEOPLE SLOWDOWN 
OR EVEN STOP ALL THEIR ACTIVITY 
TO PROTECT THEIR WORKERS, BUT 
PRICES AND DEMAND FOR THESE 
PRODUCTS HAS ALSO DECLINED.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE INTRODUCING 
THE FISH HARVESTERS BENEFIT.
IF YOU ARE A HARVESTER WHO IS 
EXPECTING A 25% DROP IN YOUR 
INCOME THIS SEASON, THIS 
MEASURE WILL HELP YOU.
IT WILL COVER UP TO 75% OF YOUR 
LOSSES, UP TO ABOUT $10,000.
AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE 
TO THE EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY, 
WE WILL BE EXTENDING THE 
PROGRAM BEYOND JUNE AS WE 
ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.
WE WILL ALSO BE OFFERING OTHER 
NONREPAYABLE SUBSIDIES OF A 
MAXIMUM VALUE OF $10,000 TO 
FISHERS WHO ARE ALSO OWNERS OF 
THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND NEED 
HELP TO COME THROUGH THESE 
TOUGH TIMES.
AND FOR WORKERS WHO ARE 
CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMING 
YEAR, WE WILL BE CHANGING THE 
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RULES SO 
THAT FISHERS CAN APPLY FOR E.I. 
BASED ON THEIR INCOME FROM 
PREVIOUS YEARS.
YOU ARE FEEDING OUR FAMILIES.
WE ARE LISTENING TO WHAT YOU 
NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS CRISIS 
AND WE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TALK ABOUT 
WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SUPPORT THE 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO HAVE 
PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES DURING 
THIS PANDEMIC.
WE SET ASIDE $306 MILLION TO 
PROVIDE INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND 
NONREPAYABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES.
WITH RESPECT TO FIRST NATIONS, 
INUIT AND MÉTIS STUDENTS, WE 
ARE PROVIDING TARGETED SUPPORT 
OF MORE THAN $75 MILLION AS 
WELL AS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE 
FIND JOB IN THEIR COMMUNITY 
THIS SUMMER AND FOR WOMEN AND 
CHILDREN -- INDIGENOUS WOMEN 
AND CHILDREN WHO ARE FLEEING 
VIOLENCE, WE HAVE TESTED $10 
MILLION IN EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT 
PROGRESS, BUT WE KNOW THAT 
THERE IS STILL MORE TO BE DONE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
SINCE DAY ONE, OUR GOVERNMENT 
HAS BEEN ENGAGING WITH INUIT 
NATION LEADERS IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST THIS VIRUS.
IN PLACES LIKE NORTHERN 
SASKATCHEWAN THAT ARE DEALING 
WITH COVID-19 OUTBREAKS, IT'S 
BECOME VERY CLEAR THAT 
COMMUNITIES NEED THIS WORK TO 
CONTINUE.
THAT'S WHY YESTERDAY WE 
ANNOUNCED SUPPORT FOR THE 
MEADOW LAKE TRIBAL COUNCIL AND 
MÉTIS NATION SASKATCHEWAN FOR 
THEIR PANDEMIC RESPONSE PLAN.
THROUGH THIS PLAN, WE'RE 
PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES TO 
PROVIDE OVER $2.3 MILLION FOR 
EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO 
SUPPLIES.
WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.
TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE 
COORDINATING TO MAKE SURE THAT 
HAPPENS.
I WANT TO END TODAY BY 
RECOGNIZING THAT THE MAY LONG 
WEEKEND IS COMING UP.
IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN 
NORMAL BECAUSE LOTS OF PLACES, 
INCLUDING OUR NATIONAL PARKS, 
ARE STILL CLOSED.
BUT THIS ISN'T FOREVER.
CANADIANS HAVE BEEN DOING THE 
RIGHT THING THESE PAST MANY 
WEEKS AND THAT IS WHY WE CAN 
ANNOUNCE TODAY SOME GOOD NEWS 
FOR THE WEEKS AHEAD.
AS OF THE BEGINNING OF JUNE, 
SOME NATIONAL PARKS WILL BE 
PARTIALLY RE-OPENING SO THAT 
PEOPLE IN THE AREA CAN USE 
TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES WHERE 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS POSSIBLE.
GETTING FRESH AIR IS IMPORTANT, 
BUT WE ALL HAVE TO BE 
RESPONSIBLE ABOUT IT.
AND WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO 
MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED.
THAT'S WHY, WITH THE WEATHER 
GETTING BETTER, WE'RE BRINGING 
IN NEW REGULATIONS ON BOATING 
AS OF JUNE 1 TO PROTECT 
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE 
NORTH.
NO  PLEASURE CRAFT WILL BE 
PERMITTED TO OPERATE IN 
CANADA'S ARCTIC COASTAL WATERS 
OR IN THE COASTAL AREAS OF 
NORTHERN QUEBEC AND LABRADOR.
OF COURSE, THIS BAN DOES NOT 
INCLUDE BOATS USED FOR 
ESSENTIAL FISHING AND HUNTING 
OR FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY USE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: NATIONAL PARKS 
WILL REMAIN CLOSED OVER THE 
WEEKEND.
BUT SOME WILL BE RE-OPENING AS 
EARLY AS JUNE 1.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF OUTDOOR TRAILS AND 
GREEN SPACES WHILE STILL 
PRACTICING PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
BUT WE MUST REMAIN CAUTIOUS AND 
WE HAVE TO BE READY TO ADJUST 
TO NEW CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO STARTING ON JUNE 1, PLEASURE 
CRAFT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO 
OPERATE IN THE COASTAL WATERS 
OF THE CANADIAN ARCTIC OR THE 
COASTAL AREAS OF NORTHERN 
QUEBEC AND LABRADOR.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN 
ORDER TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT 
THIS WILL NOT BE FOREVER.
IF EVERYONE DOES THEIR PART, WE 
WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER.
WE'LL NOW GO TO THE PHONES FOR 
QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA.
JUST ONE QUESTION, ONE 
FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
FIRST QUESTION, JANICE DICKSON, 
THE "GLOBE AND MAIL".
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: HI, PRIME MINISTER.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE 
CANADA-U.S. BORDER.
A CANADIAN AND EXPECTANT MOTHER 
LIVING HERE SAY BORDER GUARDS 
HAVE PROHIBITED THE FATHER OF 
HER BABY FROM CROSSING INTO THE 
U.S. AND THE BORDER GUARDS TOLD 
HIM BEING HERE FOR THE BIRTH OF 
HIS SON WAS NONESSENTIAL.
DO YOU THINK SOMEONE IN THIS 
CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD BE ABLE TO 
CROSS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
KNOW CANADIANS ARE MAKING 
EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICES 
THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
LOVED ONES WHO ARE SAYING 
GOOD-BYE TO THEIR PARENTS AND 
GRANDPARENTS VIA FACETIME 
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE THEM IN 
PERSON.
PEOPLE LIVING THROUGH VERY 
DIFFICULT DISTANCING THAT IS 
CAUSING A REAL IMPACT ON PEOPLE.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE 
SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN DO THE 
THINGS THAT ARE MOST ESSENTIAL.
BUT EVEN AS WE WERE GRIEVING 
OVER THE PAST WEEKS IN NOVA 
SCOTIA AND ELSEWHERE, WE NEEDED 
TO MAKE SURE WE WERE RESPECTING 
THE RULES IN PLACE TO KEEP 
PEOPLE SAFE.
I CAN UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY 
AND THE CHALLENGE THAT CLOSING 
THE BORDERS TO ALL BUT 
NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL IS CAUSING 
ON MANY, MANY FAMILIES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 
DECISIONS ARE TAKEN THAT ARE 
GOING TO PROTECT PEOPLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENT 
DECISIONS COULD BE MADE ON A 
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, BUT WHAT WE 
ARE DOING NOW IS WHAT WE NEED 
TO DO TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE 
FOR THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS.
>> FOLLOW-UP, JANICE?
>> Reporter: YES.
THE AMERICAN MAN I MENTIONED 
WAS TOLD BY AN OFFICER THAT THE 
ONLY WAY HE COULD SEE HIS SON 
IS IF HIS EXPECTANT PARTNER WAS 
HIT BY A CAR AND THEY NEEDED 
SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF THE 
BABY.
IS THERE NOT ANY ROOM FOR 
COMPASSION IN THESE CASES?
HE WANTS TO TRY AGAIN AFTER HIS 
SON IS BORN.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THIS 
SPECIFIC EXAMPLE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: SO 
WE'VE SEEN FAMILIES SPLIT UP, 
EVEN INTERNALLY IN CANADA 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
IT IS DIFFICULT ON EVERYONE AND 
I CAN'T COMMENT ON EVERY CASE, 
OBVIOUSLY.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT CANADIANS 
FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST 
ARE MAKING TREMENDOUS 
SACRIFICES IN ORDER TO PROTECT 
THEIR LOVED ONES, THEIR 
COMMUNITIES, THEIR PARENTS, 
THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND 
PREVENTING OUR HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEMS FROM GETTING OVERLOADED.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, APTN.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Reporter: HI, PRIME MINISTER.
YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING IN 
FRENCH ABOUT STUDENTS AND 
INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
I'M SORRY I MISSED IT.
I WAS EXPECTING A [INAUDIBLE] 
TRANSLATION.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WAS SAID 
THERE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
ARE MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS 
IN FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS AND 
INUIT COMMUNITIES GET EXTRA 
SUPPORT AND WE'RE ALSO 
INVESTING IN SUPPORT FOR 
FAMILIES, WOMEN AND CHILDREN 
FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY.
WE'VE MADE A LARGE NUMBER OF 
INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORTING 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY THROUGH THIS 
PANDEMIC BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE 
THE LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY AND 
I CAN TELL YOU THAT MINISTER 
MILLER WILL BE AT THE NOON 
UPDATE, AS HE IS EVERY WEEK, TO 
HIGHLIGHT THE INITIATIVES FOR 
MOVING FORWARD WITH INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES.
>> FOLLOW-UP, JIMMY?
>> Reporter: YES.
MY FOLLOW-UP IS CONCERNING THE 
RAPID TESTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED 
TO BE COMING OUT A COUPLE OF 
WEEKS AGO.
I KNOW INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES 
HAVE TESTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT 
RAPID TESTS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: AS 
WAS HIGHLIGHTED LAST WEEK, I 
BELIEVE, THERE HAVE BEEN 
CHALLENGES AROUND THE RAPID 
TESTS THAT I BELIEVE AN OTTAWA 
COMPANY PUT FORWARD.
THEY'VE GONE BACK TO TRY AND 
IMPROVE THEM OR REPAIR THEM.
WE'VE SEEN MANY, MANY NEW 
TECHNOLOGIES COME FORWARD IN 
TERMS OF HELPING.
WE MOVE VERY QUICKLY ON THEM, 
BUT ALSO REQUIRES US TO ADJUST 
WHEN THINGS AREN'T WORKING 
EXACTLY THE WAY THEY WERE HOPED 
TO BE WORKING.
SO I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORKING 
VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE 
THAT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES 
AND, INDEED, REMOTE NORTHERN 
COMMUNITIES GET THE TESTING 
CAPACITY THEY NEED AS QUICKLY 
AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE NEED MAKE SURE THEY ARE 
RELIABLE TESTS.
>> THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
LA PRESSE CANADIAN.
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
I JUST WANT TO COME BACK TO THE 
WAGE SUBSIDY THAT WILL BE 
EXTENDED BEYOND JUNE.
AND THAT THERE WILL BE FURTHER 
DETAILS THIS WEEK.
CAN YOU TELL US HOW LONG IT 
WILL BE EXTENDED?
WE'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT 
THAT TOMORROW, I BELIEVE.
BUT OBVIOUSLY BUSINESSES ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY WANT TO HAVE SOME 
CERTAINTY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE 
TO REHIRE THEIR WORKERS AND 
KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE 
ABLE TO OPERATE.
AS THE ECONOMY RE-OPENS.
AND THE WAGE SUBSIDY IS A VERY 
IMPORTANT TOOL IN TERMS OF 
KEEPING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN 
EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS AND WE 
WANT IT TO BE AS EFFICIENT AND 
QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
SO, YES, WE WILL EXTEND IT AND 
WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL DETAILS 
TO SHARE WITH YOU VERY SOON.
FOLLOW-UP?
YES, AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO 
CANADIANS WHO ARE WONDERING 
WHAT TO DO ACTION THEIR SUMMER 
VACATION?
SHOULD THEY STAY IN CANADA?
SOME WOULD LIKE THE TRAVEL 
BETWEEN THE PROVINCES.
AND IS THE UNITED STATES AN 
OPTION FOR THEM OR SHOULD IT BE 
FORGOTTEN ABOUT ALL TOGETHER 
FOR THIS SUMMER?
I GUESS WE ALL WANT TO KNOW 
WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN 
THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.
BUT THE ONLY THING WE KNOW NOW 
IS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT 
THING AND A CONTINUE TO 
PRACTICE DISTANCING, STAY HOME 
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THAT IS THE WAY WE CAN PROTECT 
OURSELVES AND ENSURE THAT WE 
CAN COME OUT OF THIS AS QUICKLY 
AS POSSIBLE.
THE DECISIONS MADE BY FAMILIES 
WITH RESPECT TO THIS SUMMER 
WILL DEPEND TO A GREAT EXTENT 
ON THE REGION AND PROVINCE 
WHERE THEY LIVES AND THE RULES 
THAT ARE IN PLACE STARTING IN 
JULY.
WE'RE STILL A BIT -- IT IS 
STILL A BIT TOO EARLY TO 
PREDICT WHAT THAT WILL LOOK 
LIKE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS WILL NOT 
BE A SUMMER LIKE OTHERS IN THE 
PAST.
WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE 
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WILL 
HAVE TO MAKE VARIOUS DECISIONS 
THAT WILL BE DPRIFRNLS WHAT 
THEY EXPECTED SIX MONTHS BEFORE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Reporter: [SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
NOW AS THE PANDEMIC IS 
WORSENING IN MONTREAL, WE'RE 
SEEING THAT SOME PARKS WILL BE 
RE-OPENING THERE ON JUNE 1.
WHAT WILL THE CRITERIA BE FOR 
THAT RE-OPENING?
WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE SEEING 
THAT RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 
THERE ARE VARIOUS SITUATIONS 
AND WE WILL BE MATCHING OUR 
FEDERAL ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
FEDERAL PARKS WITH THOSE IN THE 
PROVINCES.
NOW THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE 
ABOUT THOSE PARKS IN VARIOUS 
REGIONS.
BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE FAR 
NORTH, NEAR INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITY, THERE IS VERY LITTLE 
CHANCE THAT THEY WILL OPEN ON 
JUNE 1.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHERS THAT 
WILL BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND 
LESS PROBLEMATIC AND THEY CAN 
OPEN.
WE'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT 
THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS AS TO 
WHICH PARKS WILL BE RE-OPENING.
BUT OUR GOAL IS TO ALIGN OUR 
DECISIONS WITH THOSE BEING MADE 
BY LOCAL AND REGIONAL 
AUTHORITIES REGARDING 
PROVINCIAL PARKS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
KNOW THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS HIT 
DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
AND, THEREFORE, THERE WILL BE 
DIFFERENT PHASES OR DIFFERENT 
STEPS IN RE-OPENING OF NATIONAL 
PARKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE WILL TRY AND ALIGN WITH THE 
LOCAL JURISDICTION, WHAT THE 
PROVINCIAL PARKS NEARBY ARE 
GOING TO BE DOING SO THAT IT IS 
CLEARER FOR PEOPLE IN TERMS OF 
WHAT THEY CAN DO IN THEIR OWN 
PARTICULAR REGION.
BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, ARCTIC PARKS 
WON'T RE-OPENING ANYTIME SOON.
CERTAIN PARKS THAT ARE IN CLOSE 
PROXIMITY TO INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES WILL TAKE A LITTLE 
LONGER TO OPEN BECAUSE OF 
VULNERABILITIES.
WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY IN THE 
COMING WEEKS IN TERMS OF WHICH 
PARKS WILL BE OPENING UP.
BUT WE KNOW PEOPLE WILL WANT TO 
GET OUTSIDE AND THEY'LL WANT TO 
DO THAT SAFELY.
AS OF JUNE 1, WE WILL BE 
FACILITATING THAT TO A CERTAIN 
EXTENT, ALWAYS STAYING CAREFUL 
AND RESPONSIBLE IN THE WAY WE 
DO IT.
>> Interpreter: FOLLOW-UP?
YES, MR. TRUDEAU.
WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS 
MORNING IN THE "NATIONAL POST" 
THAT WHEN EDSC ASKS PEOPLE TO 
APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS FOR 
THE BENEFIT, THEY ARE NOT 
ALLOWED TO REFUSE THEM OF 
PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE VOLUNTARILY 
LEFT THEIR JOBS.
WELL, I THINK CANADIANS RECALL 
THE NUMBERS WE SAW LAST WEEK.
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS HAVE LOST 
THEIR JOBS IN RECENT MONTHS.
NOW, AS A GOVERNMENT, WE 
DECIDED TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE 
AND TO HELP THEM QUICKLY.
THAT IS WHAT HAD TO BE DONE.
IF WE HAD INTRODUCED A SYSTEM 
THAT WAS DEMANDING COMPLETE 
CHECK ON EVERY PERSON'S 
APPLICATION ND EACH TIME, THERE 
ARE MILLIONS OF CANADIANS THAT 
WOULD STILL BE WAITING TO 
RECEIVE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT.
WE KNOW THAT 99% OF CANADIANS 
WHO ARE APPLYING UNDER THESE 
PROGRAMS REALLY NEED THE MONEY.
AND A IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE 1% 
OF FRAUDSTERS THAT WE'RE GOING 
TO SLOW DOWN OR PREVENT 
MILLIONS OF OTHER CANADIANS 
HAVE RECEIVING THE HELP THAT 
THEY SO DEARLY NEED.
WE HAVE INTRODUCED MEASURES TO 
COUNTER FRAUD AND WE WILL BE 
ENSURING THAT THAT HAPPENS IN 
THE COMING MONTHS.
BUT THE PRIORITY NOW IS TO HELP 
CANADIANS THAT NEED HELP AND 
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN 
DOING.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s I 
THINK PEOPLE REMEMBER WELL THE 
JOB NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT JUST 
LAST WEEK THAT SHOWED THAT 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS HAVE LOST 
THEIR JOBS.
WE MADE THE CHOICE AS A 
GOVERNMENTS FROM THE VERY 
BEGINNING THAT WE WOULD HELP 
THOSE MILLIONS OF CANADIANS.
AND GETTING THAT HELP TO 99% OF 
THE CANADIANS WHO NEEDED IT 
QUICKLY AND RAPIDLY, IF IT 
MEANT EVEN ACCEPTING THAT 1% OR 
2% MIGHT MAKE FRAUDULENT CLAIMS 
WAS THE CHOICE THAT WE GLADLY 
MADE.
WE NEEDED TO GET HELP TO 
CANADIANS IMMEDIATELY AND 
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
IF WE HAD ASKED THE PUBLIC 
SERVICE TO PERFORM BACKGROUND 
CHECKS ON EVERYONE APPLYING FOR 
CERB, WE WOULD STILL BE WAITING 
TO GET THOSE CHEQUES OUT AND 
PEOPLE NEEDED THAT MONEY.
NOW THEY NEEDED THAT MONEY LAST 
MONTH WHEN WE DELIVERED IT.
SO, SAYING WE HAVE PUT IN 
STRONG MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT 
ANYONE WHO IS TRYING TO DEFRAUD 
THE SYSTEM WILL GET CAUGHT AND 
THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.
BUT THAT WAS NOT OUR PRIORITY.
OUR PRIORITY WAS HELPING PEOPLE 
IMMEDIATELY AND THE FRAUD 
MEASURES WILL KICK IN IN THE 
COMING MONTHS.
>> Reporter: KEVIN GALLAGHER 
WITH CTV NEWS.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT THOSE 
MEASURES OR MECHANISMS ARE?
AND YESTERDAY YOU SAID THE 
C.R.A. WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FAR 
LOT OF THAT WITH THE CERB AND 
FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
IS THE C.R.A. GOING TO NEED 
MORE RESOURCES TO TACKLE THE 
POTENTIAL FRAUD THAT HAS COME 
FROM THESE VITAL FEDERAL 
PROGRAMS DURING THIS PANDEMIC?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL 
OVER SEVEN MILLION CANADIANS 
HAVE APPLIED FOR THE CERB.
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS ARE 
RECEIVING THE CERB.
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS HAVE LOST 
THEIR JOBS.
WE NEEDED TO HELP THEM RAPIDLY 
AND EFFICIENTLY.
THAT MEANS TO GET THE CERB, 
PEOPLE SIMPLY NEEDED TO FILL 
OUT AN ATTESTATION, TO MAKE 
COMMITMENTS THAT THEY WERE IN A 
SITUATION THAT THEY DESERVED TO 
GET THE CERB.
OF COURSE THERE IS GOING TO BE 
A FEW PEOPLE WHO WILL 
MISREPRESENT THEMSELVES AND TRY 
AND DEFRAUD THE SITUATION.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THE PRIORITY 
WAS GETTING HELP TO PEOPLE WHO 
NEEDED IT AND THAT IS EXACTLY 
WHAT WE DID.
INCLUDING BY INCREASING THE 
CAPACITY OF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER THESE 
CHECKS AND SUPPORT C.R.A. AND 
OTHER GOVERNMENT WORKERS.
THE CHOICE WE MADE WAS TO GET 
THE MONEY OUT TO PEOPLE WHEN 
THEY NEEDED IT, IMMEDIATELY, SO 
WE COULD DO THE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING AND A STAY HOME WHEN 
WE NEEDED TO AND MAKE SURE THAT 
THE FRAUDSTERS GET CAUGHT AS WE 
MOVE FORWARD.
>> Reporter: YOU DIDN'T REALLY 
ANSWER IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE 
MORE RESOURCES FOR THE C.R.A. 
TO DO THIS.
I'M ALSO WONDERING, AS 
PROVINCES ARE TO RE-OPEN THEIR 
ECONOMIES, NONESSENTIAL 
BUSINESSES START TO OPEN UP, 
THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE WORKERS 
THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT 
RETURNING TO WORK FOR THEIR OWN 
SAFETY, EITHER THEIR THEY'RE 
IMMUNO-SUPPRESSED AND HAVE 
DIFFICULTY FINDING ADEQUATE 
OPTIONS OR PERHAPS UNSATISFIED 
WITH THE WORKPLACE SAFETY 
PROTOCOLS BECAUSE OF THE 
CORONAVIRUS.
WILL THOSE WORKERS HAVE AN 
OPTION TO REMAIN ON THE CERB, 
FOR EXAMPLE, OR OTHER FEDERAL 
PROGRAMS?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO FEDERAL 
WORKERS WITH CONCERNS OVER 
THEIR SAFETY AND NOW MIGHT HAVE 
TO GO BACK TO WORK?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s ON 
THE FIRST PART OF YOUR 
QUESTION, THE MEASURES WE'VE 
PUT IN HAVE REQUIRED THE PUBLIC 
SERVICE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY TO 
STEP UP IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS.
AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY 
GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AS 
THEY DELIVER IN A RAPID WAY, IN 
A RELIABLE WAY THE SUPPORT THAT 
MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS ARE NEEDING.
AND WE NEED TO THANK THEM FOR 
THE WORK THEY'RE DOING AND, OF 
COURSE, WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE 
SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE 
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO DO THE 
THINGS THAT CANADIANS NEED THEM 
TO DO AND DO THEM AS INCREDIBLY 
WELL AS THEY HAVE BEEN.
AS THE ECONOMY BEGINS TO 
RE-OPEN, AS PEOPLE START 
LOOKING AT GOING BACK TO WORK, 
THERE ARE GOING TO BE LOTS OF 
QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY AND 
CHILD CARE AND ABOUT NEXT STEPS 
AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK VERY 
CLOSELY WITH THE PROVINCES, 
WITH INDUSTRIES, WITH 
EMPLOYERS, WITH PEOPLE TO GIVE 
AS MUCH CLARITY AS WE POSSIBLY 
CAN.
WE'RE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED 
SITUATION.
WE'RE FIGURING THIS OUT STEP BY 
STEP AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AS WE 
GET INTO THE NEXT PHASES OF 
THIS.
BUT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, OUR 
FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON KEEPING 
PEOPLE SAFE FIRST AND FOREMOST.
THAT NEEDS TO BE THE PRIORITY 
THAT ALL CANADIANS PUTS AT THE 
TOP OF THE LIST.
>> Interpreter: IN THE COMING 
WEEKS, THERE WILL BE MANY 
QUESTIONS ASKED AS TO HOW WE 
CAN RE-OPEN THE ECONOMY, HOW 
PEOPLE CAN RETURN TO WORK AND 
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH 
DAYCARE CENTERS AND WHAT IS 
GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT 
INDIVIDUAL ISSUES.
AND WE WILL BE WORKING VERY 
HARD TOGETHER TO FIND ANSWER AS 
TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED 
SITUATION AND THERE ARE NO EASY 
ANSWERS.
WE'LL BE COLLABORATING, AS WE 
HAVE BEEN WITH THE PROVINCES, 
WE WILL BE THRONG CANADIANS' 
CONCERNS AND FIND THE BEST WAY 
TO ENSURE EVERYONE'S SAFETY 
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME LOOKING 
AT A GRADUAL RE-OPENING AND 
RECOVERY OF THE ECONOMY.
RADIO-CANADA.
GOOD MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
WE'RE SEEING THAT THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY IS NOT BEING USED VERY 
MUCH BY THE EMPLOYERS.
THE CERB SEEMS TO BE HARMING 
THAT PROGRAM.
DO YOU THINK IT'S TIME TO GET 
RID OF THE CERB EARLIER THAN 
WHAT WAS EXPECTED?
WELL, THE FACT IS THAT THERE 
ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO 
HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND HAVE 
NO ACCESS TO THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
SO, THE CERB HAS A VERY 
IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.
BUT AS WE SAID, BY EXTENDING 
THE FEDERAL WAGE SUBSIDY, WE'RE 
HOPING THAT MORE AND MORE 
EMPLOYEES WILL BE REHIRED BY 
THEIR EMPLOYER SO THAT WE CAN 
FOCUS ON THE RECOVERY THAT IS 
TO COME.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS 
A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN 
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.
AND WE WANT TO FIND THE RIGHT 
WAYS TO ENSURE THAT THE 
RECOVERY IS QUICK AND EFFICIENT.
NOW COULD YOU NOT MODEL IT A 
LITTLE BIT LIKE EMPLOYMENT 
INSURANCE AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO 
GET PART OF THE CERB?
WOULD THAT NOT BE A BETTER WAY 
TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY 
WORK?
WELL, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE 
LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ALL ABOUT DETERMINING HOW 
WE CAN RE-OPEN THE ECONOMY AND 
HOW WE CAN GO FROM A SITUATION 
WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT HOME, 
PROTECTING THEMSELVES, TO ONE 
WHERE THEY'RE GOING OUT, GOING 
BACK TO WORK AND WE NEED TO 
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MODIFY 
CERTAIN PROGRAMS, MAYBE 
EXTENDING OTHER ONES.
THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS WE'RE 
LOOK AT RIGHT NOW.
-- WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE STILL IN AN 
EMERGENCY AND WE'RE STILL 
SUPPORTING PEOPLE SO THAT THEY 
CAN STAY HOME AND WE CAN 
CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
AND, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE 
NEXT STEPS, WE WILL, IN FACT, 
BE CHANGE THOSE PROGRAMS.
BUT HOW?
THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
FOR NOW, WE'RE SAYING THAT 
WE'RE EXTENDING THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY BECAUSE THAT WILL BE 
KEY TO KEEPING PEOPLE AT WORK.
>> Reporter: I JUST WANT TO 
PICK UP ON TALKING EARLIER 
ABOUT WORKERS AND SAFETY.
MORE THAN 40 INSPECTORS FOR THE 
CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY 
ARE GETTING SICK GOING TO WORK 
IN THE MEAT PACKING PLANTS.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO 
PROTECT THESE INSPECTORS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
KNOW THE SITUATION IS EXTREMELY 
DIFFICULT IN MANY MEAT PACKING 
PLANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT HAS BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE 
AND WE ALWAYS ARE TRYING TO 
FIND THAT BALANCE BETWEEN 
ASSURING A SAFE AND RELIABLE 
FOOD SUPPLY FOR CANADIANS WHICH 
IS FUNDAMENTAL AND NECESSARY 
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, 
ENSURING THE PROTECTION OF THE 
WORKERS WHO ARE THERE.
THAT OBVIOUSLY INCLUDES THE 
FOOD INSPECTORS AND WE NEED TO 
MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS 
TO THE RIGHT KINDS OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND THE 
RIGHT CONDITIONS TO KEEP THEM 
SAFE.
AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS TO KEEP 
OUR ECONOMY GOING AND GET FOOD 
ON THE TABLE, WE ALSO NEED TO 
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE 
PRIORITIZING WORKER SAFETY.
>> Reporter: AND JUST TO FOLLOW 
UP ON THAT.
THE UNION REPRESENTING THESE 
MEAT INSPECTORS SAY THEY HAVE 
BEEN GIVE.
AND "WORK OR ELSE" ORDER FROM 
THE AGENCY AND IF THEY REFUSE 
TO GO TO WORK, THEY WILL BE 
DISCIPLINED.
SO, I'M JUST WONDERING WHY 
THEY'RE BEING ORDERED TO GO TO 
WORK IF THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK GETTING THAT BALANCE 
RIGHT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT 
ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE THE 
FOOD SUPPLY CONTINUE TO FLOW TO 
CANADIANS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE 
SURE THAT WE'RE DOING 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP 
WORKERS SAFE.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
WITH LABOR, WITH INDUSTRY, WITH 
PROVINCIAL PARTNERS TO MAKE 
SURE THAT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS 
ARE BEING DONE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
>> Interpreter: WE KNOW THAT WE 
MUST CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE 
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.
AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF 
CANADIANS.
THAT'S CRITICAL.
BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICAL TO 
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL 
WORKERS.
SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
WITH THE UNIONS AND WITH THE 
EMPLOYERS AND THE PROVINCES TO 
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO THAT EVERYONE IS WORKING IN 
SAFE CONDITIONS.
>> Reporter: HELLO, PRIME 
MINISTER.
TOM PARRY, CAPE CORAL.
THE W.H.O.'S EMERGENCIES CHIEF, 
DR. MICHAEL RYAN, HE WAS QUOTED 
TODAY SAYING THAT THIS VIRUS 
MAY NEVER GO AWAY THAT IT COULD 
BECOME JUST ANOTHER ENDEMIC 
VIRUS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AS A GOVERNMENT, HOW DO YOU 
PLAN FOR THAT KIND OF SCENARIO?
AND YOU ARE LOOSENING UP 
RESTRICTIONS ON NATIONAL PARKS 
TODAY.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CANADIANS 
WHO MIGHT HEAR THIS AND A THINK 
THAT THINGS ARE NEVER GOING TO 
GET BACK TO NORMAL?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE 
THINGS THAT WE TOOK FOR GRANTED 
LAST YEAR AND YEARS BEFORE THAT 
HAVE CHANGED.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS WORLD CHANGE 
RAINEDLY OVER THE YEARS.
YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO GET ON A 
PLANE WITHOUT TAKING OFF YOUR 
SHOES FIRST.
WE HAVE SEEN MEASURES BROUGHT 
IN THAT HAVE MADE SHIFTS IN OUR 
SOCIETY, SOME FOR THE BETTER, 
SOME FOR THE WORST.
COVID-19 WILL BE ONE OF THOSE 
THINGS THAT CREATES CHANGES IN 
OUR SOCIETY.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A 
SOCIETY, AS GOVERNMENTS S TO 
TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO 
MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS 
OF THOSE CHANGE WHILE 
MAXIMIZING THE SAFETY OF 
CANADIANS.
THERE WILL BE ADJUSTMENTS.
BUT RE-OPENING NATIONAL PARKS, 
FOR EXAMPLE, ON JUNE 1, MEANS 
THAT WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T 
PREVENT CANADIANS FROM GOING 
OUTSIDE WHEN THE WEATHER IS 
NICE.
YOU JUST HAVE TO HELP THEM DO 
IT SAFELY.
CONTINUE TO IMPRESS UPON THEM 
THE NEED FOR PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, RECOGNIZE CERTAIN 
AREAS ARE MORE VULNERABLE THAN 
OTHERS AND WILL NEED TO REMAIN 
CLOSED.
BUT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
CANADIANS' WELL-BEING, FOR 
THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WHILE AT 
THE SAME TIME PROTECTING THEIR 
PHYSICAL HEALTH.
GETTING THAT BALANCE RIGHT IS 
SOMETHING WE'RE DOING IN  
SHORT-TERM, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE 
WILL BE PLENTY OF REFLECTIONS 
OVER THE COMING MONTHS AND 
YEARS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE 
THAT CANADIANS AND PEOPLE 
AROUND THE WORLD ARE KEPT SAFE 
FROM THIS PANDEMIC OR FROM 
POTENTIAL NEXT PANDEMICS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] TREP WE HAVE 
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THINGS WILL 
CHANGE IN OUR WORLD.
EVEN AFTER THE END OF THIS 
PANDEMIC AND EVEN AFTER WE HAVE 
A VACCINE.
WE WILL HAVE LEARNED LESSONS 
THAT WILL LEAD TO CHANGES IN 
OUR BEHAVIOR AND CHANGES IN THE 
WAY THAT WE OPERATE AS A 
SOCIETY AND AS A PLANET.
AT THE SAME TIME, OUR 
RESPONSIBILITY AS A SOCIETY AND 
A GOVERNMENT IS TO MINIMIZE ANY 
DISRUPTION WHILE MAXIMIZING 
PROTECTION AND SAFETY FOR ALL 
CITIZENS.
SO, IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE 
THAT WE WILL BE SEEKING.
NOW WITH REPRESENT TO NATIONAL 
PARKS, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO RE-OPEN SOME 
OF THEM ON JUNE 1, BUT WE WILL 
ALSO BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO 
CONTINUE TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
BUT WE KNOW THAT GOING OUTSIDE, 
GETTING SOME AIR AND OUTDOOR 
ACTIVITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO 
PEOPLE'S HEALTH.
AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE 
CAN ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT MORE 
SAFELY SO THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT 
BE VULNERABLE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE WILL 
BE REFLECTING ON HOW WE HAVE TO 
BEHAVE IN THE COMING WEEKS AND 
YEARS, WHETHER WE HAVE A 
VACCINE OR NOT.
BUT FOR THE TIME BEING, WE'RE 
MAKING THE BEST POSSIBLE 
DECISION SO THAT WE CAN ALL 
HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE 
AND ALL BE SAFE.
>> Reporter: YOU'VE ANNOUNCED 
SUPPORT FOR FIRST NATIONS AND 
THEY FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT 
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED ON 
SUNDAY IN SASKATCHEWAN.
A FIRST NATIONS THERE SAID THAT 
THE RCMP INTERRUPTED AN 
IMPORTANT CEREMONY OVER 
CONCERNS ABOUT PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
PREMIER SCOTT MOE SAYS THERE 
CAN BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE 
PROVINCE'S RULES ABOUT PUBLIC 
GATHERINGS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY 
LEADERSHIP KNOWS THAT WE NEED 
TO BE KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND 
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITH 
THEM TO DEVELOP WAYS OF 
CONTINUING WITH IMPORTANT 
CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES FOR THEM 
IN A WAY THAT ABIDES BY HEALTH 
RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING FOR 
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMUNITY 
TO TAKE ON AND WE, OF COURSE, 
WILL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM.
MERCI BEAUCOUP.
>> Rosemary: THAT IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA ON THIS 
THURSDAY GIVING US AN UPDATE ON 
THE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.
TODAY THE FOCUS ON FISH 
HARVESTERS, PRIMARILY, WHO WERE 
WAITING FOR DETAILS AFTER AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT AROUND FISH 
PROCESSING PLANTS ABOUT A WEEK 
AGO.
AND SOME ADDITIONAL NEWS THAT 
WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, THE 
NATIONAL PARKS WILL RE-OPEN AS 
OF JUNE 1.
I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES 
VASSY KAPELOS AND CATHERINE 
CULLEN FOR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON 
WHAT WE HEARD THERE.
I THOUGHT THE FIRST QUESTION 
TOM PARRY ASKED, OUR COLLEAGUE, 
WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT 
ALLOWED THE PRIME MINISTER TO 
REFLECT A LITTLE BIT ON THE 
FACT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR 
US TO RETURN TO WHATEVER THIS 
NEW NORMAL IS AND THE 
GOVERNMENT'S JOB IS TO TRY AND 
MINIMIZE RISK.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT 
THAT, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS 
INTERESTING TO HEAR HIM REFLECT 
ON HOW YOU MAKE THOSE DECISIONS 
AS A GOVERNMENT.
>> Vassy: AND IT FOLLOWS, I 
THINK WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING 
FROM PREMIERS AS WELL AND IT'S 
SORT OF ALMOST LIKE LISTENING 
TO THE INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS IN 
THEIR HEADS, RIGHT?
AND DURING DAY, I LISTENED TO 
ALL THE VARIOUS PREMIERS AND 
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ALL SORT OF 
ROLLING OUT HOW THEY ENVISION 
THE ECONOMY LOOKING, SOCIETY 
LOOKING OVER THE COMING MONTHS 
AND YOU HEAR THEM QUITE 
HONESTLY MOST OF THE TIME, 
ACTUALLY SAY WE KNOW WE CAN'T 
LIMIT YOU FROM MOVING, RIGHT?
YOU CAN'T STAY IN YOUR HOUSE 
FOREVER.
AND THEN THE NEXT STEP IS 
FIGURING OUT HOW DO YOU ADDRESS 
THE DESIRE OF PEOPLE TO BE 
OUTSIDE, WHEN THE WEATHER IS 
WARMER, TAKING THAT AS AN 
EXAMPLE.
BUT ALSO STILL MITIGATE THE 
RISK FOR PEOPLE IN YOUR 
PROVINCE OR IN THE COUNTRY AND 
IT SOUNDS LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, 
WITH THE PARKS, IT WILL BE VERY 
MUCH DONE IN CONCERT WITH 
PROVINCES.
SO IF THE NATIONAL PARK IS IN 
ALBERTA, WELL IT IS GOING TO 
DEPEND HOW ALBERTA HAS 
RE-OPENED PARKS THERE OR WHAT 
THE CASE LOAD IS THERE.
THAT KIND OF THING.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THE 
DETAILS OF THAT WERE COMING.
HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE IN THE 
NEXT WEEK.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS JUMPED 
OUT FOR ME AND BUILDING ON WHAT 
YOU AND CATHERINE WERE 
DISCUSSING PRIOR TO THE PRESS 
CONFERENCE FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER, AND THAT IS ALL OF 
THIS CONVERSATION AROUND THE 
CERB.
SO THAT IS THE $2,000 PEOPLE 
CAN ACCESS FOR FOUR MONTHS, UP 
TO FOUR MONTHS, IF THEY'VE LOST 
THEIR JOB OR HAVE TO STAY HOME 
AND CAN'T WORK, FOR WHATEVER 
REASON DUE TO COVID-19.
THERE IS A BIG SORT OF 
POLITICAL DISCUSSION HAPPENING 
RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS 
AFTER THE FOUR MONTHS IS UP.
DO YOU FIND A WAY TO TRANSITION 
AWAY FROM THE CERB, MAKE IT 
LOOK SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE MORE 
LIKE E.I. WHERE IT DEPENDS ON 
HOW MUCH YOU'RE WORKING INSTEAD 
OF IT ALL BEING TAKEN AWAY IF 
YOU EARN $1 MORE THAN $1,000 A 
MONTH?
AND THERE SEEMED TO BE MAYBE -- 
I READ IT AS MORE WILLINGNESS 
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.
HE SAID THAT IS AN EVENTUALITY.
SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN AFTER.
BUT HE REITERATED THE IDEA THAT 
NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE 
RIGHT NOW AND HE STILL VIEWS 
THE NEED FOR THAT KIND OF AID 
AS ACUTE.
THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS, AND 
YOU REFERENCED THIS WITH 
CATHERINE, TOO, ABOUT THE LEVEL 
OF FRAUD OR FRAUD OCCURRING AND 
HE WAS PRETTY DIRECT TODAY 
SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO 
HAPPEN.
FINALLY DIRECT, I SHOULD SAY.
BECAUSE HE WASN'T IN THE PAST 
FEW DAYS.
THAT IS NOT GOING HAPPEN UNTIL 
AFTER.
THE ISSUE AT HAND IS WHETHER OR 
NOT THERE WAS A QUOTE-UNQUOTE 
MEMO WRITTEN TO BUREAUCRATS WHO 
ARE IN CHARGE OF THESE 
APPLICATIONS, SAYING EVEN IF 
YOU THINK IT'S FRAUDULENT, KEEP 
GOING, STILL PAY.
THE MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT 
KARLA QUALTROUGH SAID IT WAS 
WRITTEN GUIDANCE IN THE CASE OF 
THE CERB.
THAT GUIDANCE DOESN'T YET, FOR 
EXAMPLE, EXIST WHEN IT COMES TO 
THE STUDENT BENEFIT, WHICH 
STUDENTS CAN APPLY FOR TOMORROW.
THEY'LL HAVE TO ASSESS HOW MANY 
PEOPLE APPLY FOR THAT BEFORE 
THEY DECIDE HOW THEY PROCEED.
BUT IT IS LIKELY GOING TO BE 
SOMETHING SIMILAR, BECAUSE OF 
THE WAY YOU ACCESS THAT MONEY 
THROUGH THE C.R.A. WITH A 
SIMPLE ATTESTATION IS PRETTY 
SIMILAR AS WELL.
I THINK THIS STUFF IS, I THINK, 
VERY INTERESTING BUT ALSO JUST 
LENDS ITSELF TO THAT BROADER 
DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT -- WHEN 
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT 
THINGS LOOK LIKE OVER THE 
COMING MONTHS, OVER APPARENTLY 
THE COMING YEARS, WHAT IS THE 
GOVERNMENT'S ROLE, WHAT KIND OF 
FINANCIAL AID IS BEST -- THE 
MOST SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE WHO 
WANT TO STAY SAFE, BUT ALSO 
WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK OR 
PARTICIPATE IN THE RE-OPENING 
OF ECONOMIES.
AND I REALLY -- I MEAN, WE'RE 
NOT AT THE POINT RIGHT NOW 
WHERE WE HAVE ANY CONCRETE 
ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT THAT 
ASSISTANCE OR THAT AID LOOKS 
LIKE TWO MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> Marcy: I WILL SAY THAT HE 
DID SAY THAT THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
DETAILS WILL COME OUT TOMORROW.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
>> Rosemary: I WOULD LIKE THE 
THINK THE PRIME MINISTER WAS 
MORE FRANK IN HIS RESPONSE 
BECAUSE OF YOUR REPORTING.
WHO KNOWS?
[LAUGHTER]
>> Vassy: I LIKE THAT IDEA, TOO.
>> Rosemary: LET'S GO WITH IT.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW 
FIRED UP HE WAS GETING IN 
DEFENSE OF THE WAY THEY ROLL 
OUT THIS PROGRAM.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS 
THAT I WANTED TO DRILL DOWN ON.
NOTABLY THE PERCENTAGES.
HE SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO 
PUNISH 99% OF PEOPLE IF 1% OF 
PEOPLE SEEK TO COMMIT FRAUD.
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT A 
LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE WHAT WE HEARD FROM 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THAT, 
OVERALL, THE RATE OF FRAUD WITH 
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS IS BELOW 1%.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AN 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND GOOD FEW 
MORE DETAILS FROM THE C.R.A. 
OFFICIALS I SPOKE TO YESTERDAY.
THERE'S AN ANALYSIS THAT THIS 
IS A PROGRAM THAT'S EASY TO 
FRAUD.
YOU JUST HAVE TO SIGN AN 
ATTESTATION AND SAY, YES, THIS 
APPLIS TO ME, I WANT TO RECEIVE 
THE MONEY.
THE OFFICIAL I SPOKE WITH 
YESTERDAY SAID A MORE RISKY 
PROGRAM, YOU MIGHT BE SEEING 
FRAUD IN THE LEVELS OF PERHAPS 
2% OR 3%.
CONSIDER THIS IS A $35 BILLION 
PROGRAM AND THAT'S THE PRICE 
TAG THEY PUT ON IT SO FAR AND 
WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT 
THE VARIOUS EXTENSION OF THESE 
PROGRAMS.
IT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT 
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
BUT THE PRIME MINISTER MAKING 
THE POINT, LISTEN, THERE A LOT 
OF PEOPLE IN NEED.
WE PUT THAT FIRST AND HE IS 
HAPPY TO STAND BY THAT DECISION.
I WOULD NOTE SOME OF THE THINGS 
THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT 
IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE 
ACCESSING THIS PROGRAM AND 
AREN'T ELIGIBLE, ONE OF 
CONCERNS THAT HAS BEEN RAISED 
TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS REALLY 
THE PROSPECT OF UNFORESEEN 
CONSEQUENCES HERE.
PERHAPS SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO 
ARE ASKING THIS -- ACCESSING 
THIS MONEY DO FEEL A BIT 
FINANCIALLY DESPERATE IN THIS 
UNCERTAIN TIME, EVEN IF THEY 
HAVEN'T -- THEY DON'T MEET THE 
CRITERIA SPECIFICALLY.
THEY REALLY DO FEEL THEY ARE IN 
NEED OF THIS MONEY.
WHAT THEY MAY NOT REALIZE IS 
THAT THE MONEY IS TAXABLE AND 
ALSO IF YOU ARE A PARTICULARLY 
LOW-INCOME CANADIAN AND YOU'RE 
RECEIVING SOME OTHER SORT OF 
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO HELP YOU 
OUT, BE IT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING 
AND THE G.S.T. CREDIT, THAT IF 
YOU ARE TAKING IN THIS EXTRA 
INCOME, THAT IS GOING SHOW UP 
IN YOUR TAX AT TEND OF THE 
YEARS AND YOU COULD LOSE ACCESS 
TO BENEFITS.
CERTAINLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE 
THAT I SPOKE TO WHO DEAL WITH 
LOW-INCOME CANADIANS ARE VERY 
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS MIGHT 
MEAN FOR THEM.
SO I THINK WE CAN ALL TAKE THE 
PRIME MINISTER'S POINT THAT 
THERE ARE A LOT OF CANADIANS IN 
NEED.
THAT IS WHERE THEIR FOCUS IS.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ASK 
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING 
TO HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO MAY 
HAVE ACCESSED THIS MONEY.
I WOULD SAY AS WELL, C.R.A. 
OFFICIALS TELLING US YESTERDAY 
THAT THE POINT IS NOT GOING TO 
BE TO PENALIZE PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
BEEN WILLFULLY DISHONEST, BUT 
RATHER TO GET THE MONEY BACK.
AGAIN, CLAWBACKS FROM 
LOW-INCOME CANADIANS, WHAT 
WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE, WHO 
SPECIFICALLY WOULD THEY GO 
AFTER.
THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS TO BE 
ANSWERED THERE.
>> Rosemary: OK.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
I'M GOING GET SOME REACTION TO 
AT LEAST PART OF THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY 
AND THAT IS IN RELATION TO FISH 
HARVESTERS, $470 MILLION FOR 
THEM ANNOUNCED.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED A LARGE 
CHUNK OF CHAINS FOR FISH 
PROCESSORS BUT THIS IS THE 
SECOND PART OF THAT 
ANNOUNCEMENT MUCH NEEDED ON THE 
COASTAL COMMUNITY.
MELANIE SONENBERG JOINS ME FROM 
GRAND MANAN ISLAND IN NEW 
BRUNSWICK.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> 
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
>> Rosemary: $470 MILLION AND 
THIS SPECIFIC BENEFIT FOR FISH 
HARVESTERS.
HOW BIG OF A DIFFERENCE WILL 
THIS MAKE TO PEOPLE?
>> WELL, THIS A WELCOMED 
ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.
IT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR US.
WE'RE PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT'S MADE A COMMITMENT 
TO THE FISHING INDUSTRY.
AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT ITSELF 
ACKNOWLEDGES SOME OF THE 
CHALLENGES THAT THE HARVESTERS 
HAVE HAD FIING INTO THE CURRENT 
PROGRAM.
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BOARD, 
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT WHAT 
WE'VE HEARD TODAY.
NOW, OF COURSE, WE'LL NEED TO 
REVIEW THE DETAILS AND SEE HOW 
THAT UNFOLDS.
CERTAINLY THIS IS WELCOMED NEWS 
TODAY.
[PLEASE STAND BY]
>> IN OUR CASE, THIS WILL BE
TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT TO
BRIDGING THE GAP AS WE GO
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
>> Rosemary:  I HAVE NO PROBLEM
BUYING INTO THAT IDEA.
JUST GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT
PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH IN TERMS
OF LOSS, IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF
THAT.
>> WELL, THE FISHERY IS SO
DIVERSE AND IT'S ALL RELATIVE.
IF YOU'RE AN INDIVIDUAL ON YOUR
BOAT IN THE GULF OF
ST. LAWRENCE, THE UNCERTAINTY
ABOUT THE MARKET HAS RAISED THE
ANXIOUSNESS OF THE INDUSTRY UP.
THAT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE IN
B.C. OR NEWFOUNDLAND.
ALL OF THE HARVESTERS, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF ALL OF
THE UNKNOWNS, AND IT'S THE SAME
FOR EVERY SECTOR IT'S THAT
UNCERTAINTY AND HOW TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
TODAY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT STARTS
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.
THERE ARE STILL THINGS TO TALK
ABOUT WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND
THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR NEW
HARVESTERS THAT HAVE BOUGHT INTO
THE FISHERY, THAT THEY'RE
PROTECTED OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE
MADE BIG INVESTMENTS, THEY'LL
HAVE TO BE RECOGNISED HERE AND
WE'LL HAVE TO FIND A BRIDGE FOR
THEM IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE
DEBT LOAD WE HAVE.
FOR EVERYBODY, IT'S THE UNKNOWN
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE ANY
DIFFERENT IN THIS SECTOR.
>> Rosemary:  THANK YOU,
MELANIE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary:  I'M ROSEMARY
BARTON AND YOU'RE WATCHING OUR
SPECIAL COVERAGE ON "CBC NEWS
NETWORK" OF THE PRIME MINISTERS
AND THE GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
WE'RE STANDING BY AT THIS HOUR
FOR A BRIEFING FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND CABINET
MINISTERS AS MORE DETAILS ON
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER GAVE US
THIS MORNING.
THERE IS A VIRTUAL COVID
COMMITTEE HEARING OF THE
PARLIAMENTARIANS AND THERE WILL
BE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 1:30
EASTERN FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
OF ONTARIO.
HE WILL SET PHASE ONE OF THE
PROVINCE'S REOPENING PLAN AND
CBC NEWS, THOUGH, HAS LEARNED A
FEW OF THE DETAILS BECAUSE CBC'S
MIKE CRAWLEY, THAT'S WHAT HE
DOES AND MIKE, GIVE US A SENSE
OF WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE
PREMIER, THEN.
>> Reporter:  THANKS FOR THE
PLUG, ROSIE.
ONE THING TO CLARIFY, WHAT I SAW
WAS A DRAFT OF A NEWS RELEASE
ABOUT TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT.
SO QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THINGS
COULD CHANGE AND THIS THING WAS
IN SUCH A DRAFT FORM THAT IT
SAID ON IT, ONTARIO WILL BEGIN
STAGE ONE OF THE REOPENING ON,
INSERT DATE HERE IN THE
BRACKETS.
ON THE RETAIL SIDE, THIS
PROPOSED RETAIL SHOPS THAT ARE
NOT LOCATED IN MALLS WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO OPEN AND THEY WOULD
HAVE TO HAVE PHYSICAL DISTANCING
RULING IN PLACE, LIKE THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE PER SQUARE FOOT AND
THAT KIND OF THING ALLOWED IN A
SHOP AT ONE TIME.
ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE,
THERE'S BEEN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
ESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ALLOWED
TO GO AHEAD IN ONTARIO, BUT
NONESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WOULD
BE FREED UP TO GO AND A NUMBER
OF OTHER THINGS, PET GROOMERS,
VETERINARIANS, HOUSEHOLD
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE AND
SEASONAL BUSINESSES COULD GET
GOING, GOLF COURSES, MARINA ANDS
WE'RE HEARING THERE WILL BE
SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF
SCHEDULED SURGERIES, WHICH THE
GOVERNMENT HAD SAID WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN AND DIDN'T HAVE DETAILS
ABOUT THAT.
SO STILL LOTS TO FIND OUT FROM
THE PREMIER'S ANNOUNCEMENT AT
1:30.
BUT THAT'S GIVING YOU A SENSE OF
THE SCOPE OF WHAT WOULD REOPEN
IN THIS LIMITED PHASE OF
REDUCING THE COVID-19
RESTRICTIONS.
>> Rosemary:  IT SEEMS TO FOLLOW
THE PATTERN OF A LOT OF OTHER
PROVINCES, I HAVE TO SAY, IN
TERMS OF HOW YOU DO THIS.
I DO KNOW, THAT THE PREMIER HAS
PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT THE
PRESSURE HE WAS UNDER FROM
GOLFERS OR GOLF LOBBYING GROUPS,
IF SUCH A THING EXIST.
SO DO WE FEEL LIKE THAT MADE A
DIFFERENCE AND THAT IS SOMETHING
WE WILL SEE?
>> Reporter:  AT THE SAME TIME,
ON THE GOLF COURSE'S THING, LOTS
OF SPACE TO STAY AWAY FROM OTHER
GOLFERS IF YOU'RE OUT THERE AND
YOU CAN SEE HOW SOME OUTDOOR
TYPE OF ACTIVITIES WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO GO AHEAD.
INTERESTING THING, AGAIN, IN
THIS DRAFT OF THE NEWS RELEASE,
IT PROPOSES THAT INDIVIDUAL
SPORT COMPETITIONS COULD GO
AHEAD AND THE EXAMPLES THAT WERE
NAMED WERE HORSE RACING, TRACK
AND FIELD AND TENNIS.
I'M A BIG TENNIS FAN.
SO THAT COULD BE THE ROGER'S CUP
IN TORONTO IN AUGUST, BUT WITH
NO FANS IN THE STANDS.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE
KINDS OF OUTDOOR-RELATED
ACTIVITIES THAT COULD RESUME
UNDER THIS PLAN.
>> Rosemary:  MIKE, THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING US UP TO DATE ON
WHAT TO EXPECT IN AN HOUR AND A
HALF TIME.
MIKE IS IN TORONTO THERE.
BEFORE, AS WE WAIT FOR OUR PRESS
CONFERENCE AT NOON AND THE
FEDERAL COVID COMMITTEE AT
12:15, I WANT TO TRY TO GET IN
OUR NEXT GUEST.
OVERNIGHT, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT'S
SPENDING $2.3 MILLION.
THE FUNDS WILL BE SHARED BY
PROVISIONAL, MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS, AS WELL AS FIRST
NATIONS AND THE METIS NATION AND
GLENN MCCALLUM IS THE PRESIDENT
AND WE'VE REACHED HIM.
TELL ME WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT THE SITUATION IN NORTHERN
SITUATION IN LA LASH AND OUTSIDE
OF LA LASH.
>> MAYBE SOME BACKGROUND ON
WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
>> Rosemary:  OF COURSE.
>> WE ACTED QUICKLY IN REGARDS
TO THE COVID-19 THAT CAME OUT
EARLY IN MARCH FOR US AND WE SET
UP A TASK FORCE WITHIN OUR
OFFICE AND IT'S GOING REALLY
WELL AT OUR PROVISIONAL METIS
COUNCIL CONFERENCE CALL AND
ROLLED OUT OUR PROGRAMMES.
THE FIRST NATIONS DID THE SAME.
I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONDING AT
THAT TIME TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH
THE METIS NATION AND FIRST
NATION'S PEOPLE, TO BE ABLE TO
DEAL WITH THE COVID-19
SITUATION.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, SOME OF THE
ISOLATED COMMUNITIES IN SWATCH
SASKATCHEWAN HAD A TOUGHER TIME.
WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH A
MONITORING POINTS TO KNOW WHO'S
COMING AND GOING.
AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW THERE'S
QUITE A FEW COMMUNITIES WHO
HAVEN'T HAD COVID-19.
BUT FOR SOME, THERE HAS BEEN AND
ONE OF THE THEM IS THE COMMUNITY
OF LA LOCHE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED
AND OTHER COMMUNITIES AND OTHER
INCIDENTS ARE POPPING UP IN
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE REACTION THAT WE GAVE
RIGHT AWAY WHERE WE SET UP, THE
MONITORING POINTS SLOWED DOWN
THAT PROCESS IN REGARDS TO
SPREADING THE VIRUS AND SO WE'RE
WORKING WITH THE PROVINCE NOW,
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE IN
REGARDS TO WHAT IS THE BEST
MOVING FORWARD PLAN TO BE ABLE
TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE.
>> Rosemary:  I KNOW THAT IN LA
LOCHE, FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S A
LOT OF PEOPLE GOING DOOR TO DOOR
TO SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE DOING AND
DO TESTS.
I KNOW THEY'VE SENT UP MOBILE
UNITS IN CASE PEOPLE HAVE TO
SELF-ISOLATE AND WHAT WILL THIS
MONEY HELP YOU GUYS DO IN
NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN?
$2.3 MILLION IS A LOT BUT THESE
ARE REMOTE COMMUNITIES AND IT'S
POSSIBLE YOU NEED A LOT THERE.
>> YES, WE DO NEED A LOT AND
LIKE YOU SAY, YOU'RE RIGHT IN
REGARDS TO THE LACK OF CAPACITY,
THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE, BUT
THE MAYOR OF LA LOCHE HAS BEEN
DOING A GREAT JOB IN REGARDS TO
RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS THAT WE
NEED TO PUT IN PLACE.
THE METIS NATION HAS PUT
RESOURCES IN PLACES, BUT BECAUSE
LA LOCHE AND THERE'S A RESERVE
NOT VERY FAR AND SO THEY'RE
WORKING TOGETHER AND SO IT
COMPLIMENTS THE EFFORTS IF
REGARDS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE HAVE PUT SOME TRAILERS OUT
THERE FOR PEOPLE TO USE AND
WE'LL CONTINUE.
THIS MONEY THAT'S COMING, THE
$2.3 MILLION THAT IS COMING FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REALLY
HELPS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING
COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE
CAPABILITY ORHE FACILITIES TO
BE ABLE TO ISOLATE CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED OR JUST ISOLATION,
WHERE THEY COULD TRAVEL FROM OUT
OF THE PROVINCE OR DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES.
SO IT REALLY HELPS.
>> Rosemary:  HOW DIFFICULT IS
IT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE A LOT OF
SASKATCHEWAN IS DOING WELL WITH
CASES AND THE PROVINCE IS SLOWLY
REOPENING AND ALLOWING SOME
THINGS TO OPEN UP.
BUT MEANTIME, YOU HAVE A PATCH
OF A LOT OF CASES, FRANKLY, THIS
NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN THAT'S
TROUBLING.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT PEOPLE --
ARE YOU PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM
COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY?
IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING
TO DO IN LA LOCHE OR ON THE
FIRST NATION?
>> LET ME SAY FIRST THAT THE
PROVINCE, WHEN THIS STARTED,
REACTED IN A POSITIVE WAY AND
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE MANY
CASES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
SASKATCHEWAN, BUT THE 
REACTION -- THE THINGS THAT THE
NORTH DID WEREN'T WELL SUPPORTED
BECAUSE WE WANTED TO KEEP THE
COMMUNITIES SAFE AND THE MAYORS
AND THE CHIEF PUT MONITORING
POINTS IN PLACE AND WE HAD TO
WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO COME
TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN
COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER.
SO AS WE BEGAN TO DO THOSE
MONITORING POINTS, IT REALLY
SLOWED DOWN.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF ISOLATION.
IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
SASKATCHEWAN, PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS
TO HOSPITALS, BUT IF YOU GO
NORTH, THE COMMUNITIES ARE
ISOLATED, ONE HUNDRED TO
200 KILOMETERS APART.
THERE'S ONE THIS LA LOCHE AND
ISLAND CROSS AND THE REST OF THE
TIME WE HAVE TO COME NORTH.
THERE'S AN NAD LINE, NORTHERN
ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT AND
THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS USING
AS FAR AS ISOLATION IN NORTHERN
SASKATCHEWAN AND THAT'S WHY THE
MONITORING POINTS ARE THERE, BUT
WE HAVE TO KEEP SUPPORTING WITH
DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM
RUNNING.
AND IT'S GOING WELL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I GET
OFF THIS INTERVIEW, I WILL BE
TALKING, THE CHIEF AND I.
RICHARD BEN AND I HAVE BEEN
TALKING TO THE MINISTERS TO HOW
WE CAN PUT OUR BEST FOOT
FORWARD, SO TO SPEAK, IN THE
BEST INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE.
SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND
RECOGNISEDDING THAT THE NORTH IS
A UNIQUE PLACE AND ISOLATED,
LIKE I SAID, AND DON'T HAVE THE
FACILITIES THAT ARE NEEDED AND
THERE'S MORE CAPACITY THAT'S
NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE
NORTH AND THAT'S WHAT'S
HAPPENING FROM THE METIS AND
FIRST NATIONS AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
>> Rosemary:  I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE I GOT TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S
AN IMPORTANT STORY.
THANKS FOR MAKING THE TIME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> Rosemary:  OUR PLEASURE.
>> STAY SAFE.
>> Rosemary:  YOU, TOO, SIR.
THE PRESIDENT OF METIS NATION IN
SASKATCHEWAN.
AS WE STAND BY AND WAIT FOR OUR
BRIEFING FROM THE MINISTER OF
INDIGENOUS SERVICES, WE'LL TALK
MORE ABOUT THAT AND I'LL BRING
IN THE HOST OF "POWER &
POLITICS," VASSY KAPELOS I THINK
THEY'RE ENTERING SO I WON'T DO
THAT.
WE'LL START WITH THIS BRIEFING
TODAY, BUT I WILL REMIND YOU
THAT THE COVID-19 COMMITTEE ALSO
WILL GET UNDERWAY AND WE'LL
BRING YOU, PROBABLY, SOME OF
THAT FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS,
THREE, THAT GOES TO THE PRIME
MINISTER FROM OPPOSITION LEADERS
OR CABINET MINISTERS.
AND THIS IS THE MINISTER OF
INDIGENOUS SERVICES, MARC
MILLER, ACCOMPANIED BY THE
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER IN
INDIGENOUS SERVICES, AS WELL.
THIS ALSO HIT THE NEIGHBOURING
FIRST NATION, THE MEADOWLAKE
TRIBAL COUNCIL AND EVERYTHING IS
WORKING TOGETHER.
HERE IS THE MINISTER NOW.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH THE
MINISTRY OF FISHERY AND OCEANS,
MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
TOM WONG, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
OF INDIGENOUS SERVICE'S CANADA.
WE WILL SPEAK IN THE FOLLOWING
ORDER.
MINISTER GEORGIAN, MINISTER
WILKINSON, DR. WONG AND FINALLY
MYSELF.
PUT WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
MINISTER JORDAN, PLEASE.
>> BERNADETTE.
>> MINISTER JORDAN.
LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO MINISTER
WILKINSON AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK
TO BERNADETTE.
MINISTER WILKINSON.
>> THANK YOU, MARC.
MELLOW.
>> THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED
AT SEVERAL NATIONAL PARKS,
CONSERVATION SITES ON 
JUNE 1st.
THIS WILL ALIGN PROVIDED WITH
RESPECTIVE PROVISIONAL HEALTH
AUTHORITIES AND NOT APPLY TO ALL
PARKS AND IT WILL BE IMPORTANT
TO CHECK FOR THE STATUS OF YOUR
LOCAL PARK.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> THESE OPENINGS AIM TO ENABLE
LOCALS TO USE AND TO ENJOY PARKS
NEAR THEIR HOMES.
WITH SPRING COMING, IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR CANADIANS TO HAVE
SPACES BEFORE THEY CAN EXERCISE
AND DISCOVER NATURE IN A MANNER
THAT RESPECTS PHYSICAL
DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS.
WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT TO
GET OUTSIDE AND BE IN NATURE.
IT IS GOOD FOR OUR MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL HEALTH.
THIS PARTIAL REOPENING WILL
ALLOW VISITORS TO HAVE ACCESS TO
TRAILS, GROUNDS, AND GREEN
SPACES WHERE PHYSICAL DISTANCING
IS POSSIBLE.
THE FACILITIES SUCH AS WASHROOMS
AND COMFORT STAYINGS WILL BE
MADE AVAILABLE TO VISITORS AND I
WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT SERVICES
WILL BE VERY LIMITED TO BEGIN
WITH.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL HOPE
TO EXPAND THE RANGE OF SERVICES.
THIS IS TO BE DONE IN APRUDENT
MANNER.
WE MUST ENJOY THESE PLACES
SAFELY AND FOLLOW THE ADVICE AND
GUIDANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERTS AND PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK
AHEAD ON WEBSITES TO PLAN THEIR
VISIT AND PREPARE APPROPRIATELY
AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
FOR IN-TIME UPDATES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE'LL GO BACK TO MINISTER
JORDAN AND SEE IF EVERYTHING IS
WORKING.
BERNADETTE.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> WOMEN AND MANY WHO WORK IN
THE SEAFOOD SECTOR ARE THE
DRIVERS OF COASTAL COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE BEEN FEEDING COMMUNITIES
FOR GENERATIONS AND WE NEED FOR
THEM TO DO SO SAFELY IN THESE
CHALLENGING TIMES.
THE FISHING SECTOR FACES
CHALLENGING THAT ARE UNIQUE AND
REQUIRE DIRECT SOLUTIONS.
THAT'S WHY TODAY, OUR GOVERNMENT
IS ANNOUNCING $469 MILLION IN
FUNDING TO ESTABLISH THE NEW
FISH HARVESTER BENEFIT AND THE
FIRST HARVESTERS GRANT.
THIS IS THE SINGLE LARGEST
INVESTMENT TO THE FISHERIES IN
NEARLY 20 YEARS, ENSURING THAT
CANADA'S HARD-WORKING FISH
HARVESTERS GET THE SUPPORT THEY
NEED NOW AND WHILE POSITIONING
THE SECTOR FOR A STRONG
RECOVERY.
THIS WILL PROVIDE UP TO
$267 MILLION INCOME SUPPORT FOR
ELIGIBLE SELF-EMPLOYED FISH
HARVESTERS AND SHARE PERSON'S
CREW WHO CANNOT ACCESS THE
CANADA WAGE.
THIS WILL GO TO THOSE WHO
EXPERIENCE 25% OR MORE, UP TO
$847 PER WEEK FOR UP TO 12
WEEKS.
THE NEW FISH HARVESTER GRANT HAS
DEDICATED FUNDING FOR UP TO
$201 MILLION IN NONREPAYABLE
SUPPORT TO LICENSED
SELF-EMPLOYED FISH HARVESTERS
WHO CANNOT ACCESS THE BUSINESS
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT.
THEY CAN USE THESE FUNDS TO
COVER THE COSTS OF RUNNING THEIR
FISHING BUSINESSES INCLUDING
INCREASES IN COST DUE TO THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
LASTLY, FIRST HARVESTERS CAN
APPLY FOR EI BENEFITS BASED ON
EARNINGS FROM LAST YEAR AND
WE'LL SUPPORT YOU NOW AND INTO
THE FUTURE.
WE CONTINUE TO ASSESS AND
RESPOND TO THE COVID-19 AND TAKE
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS AS NEEDED TO
SUPPORT CANADIANS, STABILIZE THE
ECONOMY AND MITIGATE THE IMPACTS
OF THIS PANDEMIC.
CANADIAN HARVESTERS ARE
RESILIENT AND DETERMINED AND
TODAY, I AM URGING CANADIANS TO
SHOW SUPPORT BY SHOWING LOCAL
PRODUCTS AT YOUR LOCAL GROCER.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME
TO BUY A CANADIAN FISH AND
SEAFOOD PRODUCT.
MOST WHO WILL BE HEADING OUT FOR
THE SPRING TIME TOMORROW, THEY
CAN CONTINUE THE WORK KNOWING
THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF
GOVERNMENT IS HERE TO SUPPORT
THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
>> TOM, THE CHIEF MEDICAL
OFFICER OF INDIGENOUS SERVICE'S
CANADA.
>> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
ARE ON THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
OF THE ALGONQUIN PEOPLE.
AS OF MAY 13th, A TOTAL OF 185
CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED AMONG
FIRST NATIONS IN PROVINCES AND
THIS REPRESENTS LESS THAN 0.3%
OF REPORTED CANADIAN CASES.
WHEREAS FIRST NATIONS ON RESERVE
IN CANADA CONSTITUTES ABOUT 1.5%
OF THE CANADIAN POPULATION.
OF THE 185 CASES, 63% HAVE
RECOVERED.
18 CASES AND THAT IS 10% REQUIRE
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THERE HAVE
BEEN TWO DEATHS ON RESERVE.
THE FIRST NATIONS ON RESERVE
CASE FATALITY RATE IS CURRENTLY
AT 1% AND IS BELOW THE CANADIAN
OVERALL CASE FATALITY RATE OF
7%.
WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
THAT NATIONALLY THE FIRST
NATIONS ON RESERVE CURVE
CONTINUES TO SHOW SIGNS OF
FLATTENING.
IF THERE IS NO FUTURE SPREAD OF
COVID IN FIRST NATIONS
COMMUNITIES.
THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY
USING PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES,
INCLUDING LOCKDOWN, PHYSICAL
DISTANCING, PROMPT ISOLATION,
AVOIDING CROWDS, HAND AND COUGH
HYGIENE AND IT HAS PAID OFF.
BEYOND INFECTIONS IN FIRST
NATIONS LIVING ON RESERVE, THERE
ARE MANY MORE CASES ELSEWHERE IN
CANADA INVOLVING FIRST NATION'S,
METIS AND INNUIT WITH COVID-19
BEING REPORTED TO THE PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES.
TIMELY, EPIDEMIOLOGY DATA
COLLECTED BY SERVICE'S CANADA IS
ONLY AVAILABLE FOR FIRST NATIONS
LIVING ON RESERVE.
WE NEED HELP FROM PROVISIONAL
AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO
SUPPORT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO
GET A COMPREHENSIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY
PICTURE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNISE THE
INHERENT RIGHTS AND
SELF-DETERMINATION OF FIRST
NATIONS, INNUIT AND METIS
PEOPLE.
COMMUNITIES WILL DECIDE WHAT IS
BEST FOR THEM IN THE UNIQUE
CONTEXT OF REMOTENESS, ACCESS TO
HEALTH SERVICES, LIVING
CONDITIONS AND THE PREVALENCE OF
UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> COMMUNITIES WILL DECIDE WHAT
SYSTEM BEST IN THE CONTEXT, THE
UNIQUE CONTEXT OF REMOTENESS,
ACCESS OF HEALTH SERVICES,
LIVING CONDITIONS AND REV LENSE
OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
HOWEVER, WE MUST REMAIN
EXTREMELY VIGILANT DURING THE
GRADUAL REOPENING OF THE
ECONOMY.
IN ORDER TO PREVENT INTRODUCTION
OF THIS VIRUS TO INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES.
MERCI AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
AS TODAY IS INDIGENOUS NURSE'S
DAY, I WOULD LIKE TO BY SAYING
THANK YOU, MERCI.
, TO ALL FIRST
NATIONS AND NURSES FOR PROVIDING
SAFELY HEALTHCARE DURING THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AS WE ARE LEARNING FROM PAST
EXPERIENCES RESPONDING TO
PANDEMICS IN CANADA AND
SPECIFICALLY IN FIRST NATION'S
INNUIT AND METIS COMMUNITIES
DURING THE H1N1 VIRUS, WE NEED
TO RECOGNISE AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THEY HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF BEING
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
COVID-19.
THE FIRST NATIONS INNUIT HEALTH
BRANCH PROVIDES EFFECTIVE,
SUSTAINABLE AND APPROPRIATE
HEALTH SERVICES THAT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE REDUCTION OF GAPS AND
HEALTH STATUS BETWEEN FIRST
NATIONS AND INNUIT AND OTHER
CANADIANS AND I WOULD LIKE TO
REMIND EVERYONE IMPROVING THE
HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN
CANADA IS A SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN FEDERAL,
PROVISIONAL, TERRITORIAL AND
INDIGENOUS PARTNERS.
OUR GOAL CONTINUES TO WORK WITH
ALL IN PARTNERSHIP TO RECEIVE
THE CARE THEY NEED.
BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE
SAVING LIVES.
AS OF MAY 13th, WE HAVE SEEN
185 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19
IN FIRST NATION'S COMMUNITIES,
16 CASES IN NUNAVUT, NORTHERN
QUEBEC.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN CLOSELY MONITOR
THE CASE IN NORTHWESTERN
SASKATCHEWAN AND TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES IN RESPONSE, WE'LL
BE PROVIDING $2.3 MILLION IN
FUNDING WHICH WILL GO TOWARDS
THE NORTHWEST PANDEMIC RESPONSE
PLAN.
THIS PANDEMIC PLAN IS A
COLLECTIVE EFFORT BETWEEN FIRST
NATION'S METIS, PROVISIONAL AND
FEDERAL PARTNERS, AND METIS
SASKATCHEWAN HAVE TAKEN RESPONSE
TO THE SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK.
THE FUNDING WILL COMPLIMENT THIS
IN SUPPORT OF SECURITY
CHECK-POINTS AND IMPACTED
COMMUNITY MEASURES TO ADDRESS
FOOD SECURITY, PROVISION OF
HOMECARE SUPPLIES AND
ENHANCEMENT OF REGIONAL CAPACITY
INCLUDING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THE NORTHWEST COMMUNITY'S
COMMAND CENTRE, INCLUDING THE
AREA TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO
INCREASED TESTING AND HAND
SURVEILLANCE, STRONG CONTACT
TRACING AND INFECTION PREVENTING
AND CONTROL MEASURES.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE HEALTH
RESPONSE THAT WILL SAVE LIVES
AND I WANT TO REASSURE
INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP WE'RE
COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND
ACTIVATING THEIR PANDEMIC PLANS
AND PROVIDING THE SUPPORT IN
COLLABORATION WITH PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES THAT BEST RESPOND TO
EACH COMMUNITY'S NEEDS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
I WOULD ALSO LIVE TO GIVE A
QUICK UPDATE.
THE ONTARIO MINISTER ADVISES
THAT RISK OF FLOODING HAS BEEN
DOWNGRADED TO MODERATE TO LOW
ALONG THE ALBANY RIVER.
WHILE THE DOWNGRADE IS
ENCOURAGING, WE STAND READY FOR
CONTINGENCY PLANS.
THE REPATRIATION BEGAN YESTERDAY
FOR WHICH WE HAVE SUPPORTED AIR
TRANSPORTATION TO THE COMMUNITY
TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF ALL MEMBERS.
WE WILL WORK IN CLOSE
COORDINATION IN CONCERNS OF
FLOODING AND EVACUATION IN THE
AREA.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING THE
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, URBAN AND
ON-RESERVE FIRST NATIONS, INNUIT
AND FIRST NATION'S COMMUNITIES
ARE FACING UNIQUE CHALLENGES.
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS,
AS WELL AS INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP
HAVE BEEN WORKING 24/7 TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT COVID-19 HAS PLACED
INCREASED STRESS ON OPERATIONS.
WE WILL SUPPORT THIS THROUGH THE
SUPPORT FUND AND $15 MILLION
HAVE BEEN EARMARKED FOR ORIGINAL
INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AS
WELL AS URBAN ORGANIZATIONS.
THESE TO ORGANIZATIONS CAN ALSO
RECEIVE FUNDS FROM OTHER FEDERAL
INITIATIVES UNDER THE ECONOMIC
RESPONSE PLAN.
 AND INCREASED
FUNDING FOR WOMEN'S SHELTER AND
CENTRES TO HELP SEXUAL ASSAULT
VICTIMS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FOOD
BANKS HAVE ALSO BEEN PLACED AT
THE DISPOSAL OF THE INDIGENOUS
ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO MEET
URGENT NEEDS.
IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL FUNDING,
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
CAN SUPPORT THESE ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGH CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND
THIS IS CRITICAL.
HOWEVER, MORE SUPPORT IS
NECESSARY AND WE ARE WORKING
WITH COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY THE
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND THE
SUPPORT THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO EXPLORE
FURTHER POSSIBILITIES.
 TO ASSIST
URBAN ORGANIZATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
SUMMER IS FAST APPROACHING, A
TIME OF YEAR THAT IS USUALLY
MARKED BY SACRED CEREMONIES AND
EVENTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WHILE BANNING SUNDANCES AND
OTHER SPIRITUAL PRACTISES,
UNFORTUNATELY, A SPARK STAIN ON
CANADA'S HISTORY, I WANT TO
ENSURE EVERYONE LISTENING THAT
EVEN IN THE FACE OF A HISTORIC
PANDEMIC, CANADA MUST NOT AND
WILL NOT PROHIBIT THESE
IMPORTANT PRACTISES.
ANY DECISION TO CANCEL OR
POSTPONE THESE EVENTS IS AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE HEALTH
MEASURES WE HAVE BEEN REPEATING.
TOGETHER, WE CAN SLOW THE SPREAD
OF COVID-19 BY MAKING A
CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO KEEP A
PHYSICAL DISTANCE, AVOIDING
SPACES AND CONTACT WITH PEOPLE
AT HIGHER RISK SUCH AS ELDERS.
FIRST NATION'S LEADERSHIP WILL
ULTIMATELY DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED
SAFELY IN THIS CONTEXT AND I
WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE LEADERS
TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE BEST
AVAILABLE HEALTH PRACTISE TO
ADAPT THESE CEREMONIES.
IN CLOSING, TUESDAY MARKED 150
YEARS SINCE MANITOBA JOINED
CONFEDERATION UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF LOUIE RIELLE AND
THE METIS PEOPLE.
THE METIS NATION WOULD ALSO FORM
ITS OWN DISTINCT CULTURE THAT
WOULD FURTHER SHAPE MANITOBA'S
IDENTITY AND PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE
AND ESTABLISHING MANITOBA AS A
CONFEDERATION.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
CANADIANS TO REFLECT ON THE PAST
AND PRESENT AND TO LOOK FORWARD
TO THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF THE
PROVINCE.
PART OF OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE
IS WALKING THE PATH OF
RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES.
WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE PAST
WRONGS AND CHART A NEW PATH
FORWARD WITH RESPECT,
COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP.
WHILE COVID-19 IS IMPACTING THE
CELEBRATIONS THAT ARE FITTING
FOR SUCH A SIGNIFICANT
ANNIVERSARY, WE ENCOURAGE
CANADIANS FROM COAST TO COAST TO
COAST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
MANITOBA'S HISTORY AND CULTURE
AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MANY
VIRTUAL MANITOBA 150
CELEBRATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
BEING OFFERED ONLINE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER AND WE'LL
START ON THE PHONE WITH THREE
QUESTIONS AND TURN TO THE ROOM,
WITH ONE FOLLOW-UP.
>> Operator:  IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, PRESS STAR 1 ON YOUR
TELEPHONE KEYPAD.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> Operator:  THE FIRST QUESTION
IS BRETT FORESTER FROM THE
NATIONAL NEWS.
>> Question:  HOW CONCERNED
SHOULD WE BE ABOUT A SECOND WAVE
AS PROVINCES BEGIN TO LOOSEN UP
RESTRICTIONS?
>> WE SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED,
BRETT.
AS WE KNOW, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A
VACCINE IS FOUND AND DISTRIBUTED
AND ADMINISTERED, THE RISK OF
SECOND AND THIRD WAVES IS VERY
REAL AND WHILE REMOTENESS HAS
SHELTERED A NUMBER OF
COMMUNITIES, THANKS MOST
IMPORTANTLY TO THE LEADERSHIP
THAT MEDICAL STAFF IN THE
COMMUNITY, MEDICAL LEADERSHIP,
HEALTH OFFICERS AND POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP HAVE ENSURED, WE NEED
TO REMAIN VIGILANT.
AND THE CHALLENGE THAT WE ALL
FACE AS A SOCIETY, AS
RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED, IT IS
VERY DIFFICULT FROM A POLITICAL
PERSPECTIVE TO ASK INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES TO DO SOMETHING WE WOULD
NOT BE PREPARED TO DO.
WE LOOK AT THE VARIOUS MEASURES
THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN AND
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP
AND SUPPORTING WHAT IS PROPER TO
THEM AND THEY SEE IS IMPORTANT
TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WITH THAT, IS REQUIRED A
CONSTANT DIALOGUE, CONSTANT
VIGILANCE AND FAX WITH
WITH INDIGENOUSSERVICE'S CANADAE
PRACTISES ARE FOLLOWED IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT WILL POSE WITH IT IS A
NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT
IS PEOPLE SEEKING TO COME IN AND
OUT OF COMMUNITIES AND OBSERVING
RESTRICTIONS THAT AREN'T
NECESSARILY OBSERVED IN URBAN
SETTINGS AND I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING WE HAVE STARTED TO
TURN OUR MINDS TO WITH FOOD
SECURITY AND ALL SUPPORTS THE
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES NEED TO
WEATHER THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
>> BRETT, FOLLOW-UP?
>> Question:  YES, THANK YOU.
WE HEARD AT COMMITTEE THAT URBAN
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OFTEN DEAL
WITH A NUMBER OF RISK FACTORS
AND SOME OF THEM ARE THE SAME AS
FOLKS ON RESERVE, SUCH AS
OVERCROWDING AND UNDERLYING
CONDITIONS AMONG OTHERS.
AND WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO
FIRST NATIONS TO INNUIT AND
METIS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CITIES
AND MAY BE FEELING IGNORED OR A
BIT LESS BEHIND RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, AS WE'VE TRACED THE
COURSE OF THIS PANDEMIC, BRETT,
SOME THINGS ARE BECOMING VERY
OBVIOUS.
ONE THAT THIS PANDEMIC HITS THE
MOST VULNERABLE, PARTICULARLY
THOSE IN CROWDING CONDITIONS,
PARTICULARLY IF OLDER SEGMENTS
OF THE POPULATION.
AND WE ARE LEARNING FROM THIS.
WE KNOW THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
OF HEALTH THAT HAVE RENDERED
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ON A LESS
EQUAL FOOTING THAN NONINDIGENOUS
AND THAT IS RESTRICTED TO ON
RESERVE.
INDEED, IN CERTAIN URBAN
SETTINGS, THERE ARE POPULATIONS
THAT YOU CAN SAY ARE EVEN MORE
VULNERABLE.
WE HAVE DEPLOYED $15 MILLION TO
SUPPORT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, 94
ORGANIZATIONS, THE NATIONAL
FRIENDSHIP CENTRE AND WE'VE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IS NOT
SUFFICIENT.
WE'RE WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SUPPORTS,
A DEDICATED NUMBER OF WOMEN'S
SHELTERS.
IN PARTICULAR, TO SUPPORT THOSE
IN NEED, ABOUT $40 MILLION, 10
MILLIONS OF WHICH WAS DEDICATED
TO INDIGENOUS SHELTERS ON
RESERVE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER
INITIATIVES.
I'M AT A LOSS TO TRANSLATE IT IN
MY MIND AT THIS POINT.
BUT ALSO THE SUPPORTS FOR
HOMELESS INITIATIVES THAT HAVE
BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE PRIME
MINISTER, AS WELL AS FOOD
SECURITY INITIATIVES.
ALL THIS TO SAY, BRETT, THAT WE
ABSOLUTELY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS
NOT ENOUGH.
THERE IS NO WAY TO PIN-POINT
EXACTLY WHAT THE OUTCOME OF WHAT
THIS PANDEMIC WILL BE.
WE WILL ACT PROACTIVELY TO
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES IN NEED
AND THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DO
A GREAT JOB WITH LITTLE
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THOSE
COMMUNITIES IN NEED.
>> OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION,
PLEASE.
>> Operator:  THE NEXT QUESTION
IS FROM RADIO-CANADA.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question:  HELLO,
Mr. MILLER, MY FIRST QUESTION
IS FOR YOU.
LAST WEEK, YOU SAID YOU WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE
REOPENING IN MONTREAL AND YOU
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT A SECOND
WAVE AND AN INCREASE IN DEATH.
WE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT SCHOOLS
WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL
SEPTEMBER AND CHILDCARE SERVICES
WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST
THE FIRST OF JUNE.
NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE SO FAR
ABOUT THE OPENING OF RETAIL IN
MONTREAL.
DOES THIS STEP BY THE QUEBEC
GOVERNMENT REASSURE YOU AT ALL?
>> Answer:  THANK YOU.
FROM THE BEGINNING, BOTH OR
PRIME MINISTER AND THE QUEBEC
PREMIER HAVE BASED THEIR
POLITICAL DECISIONS ON
SCIENTIFIC DATA AND SOMETIMES
THESE POLICY DECISIONS HAVE BEEN
VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE IN
REAL-TIME.
WE ALL RECOGNISE WHAT IS
OCCURRING IN MONTREAL.
 MONTREAL ALONG WITH
THE CONCERNS I EXPRESSED WITH
PEOPLE DYING IN TERRIBLE
CONDITIONS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS STILL
OCCURRING AND WE'RE NOT OUT OF
THE WOODS YET.
SO I CONGRATULATE THE LEGAULT
GOVERNMENT ON THE DECISION TO
DEFER THIS REOPENING.
OF COURSE, WE ARE STILL CLOSELY
MONITOR THE EPIDEMIC CURVE.
DECISIONS CAN HAVE AN IMPACT IN
SEVERAL WEEKS.
THIS IS A VIRUS SO THE DECISIONS
WE MAKE TODAY COULD HAVE
REPERCUSSIONS THAT WON'T SHOW UP
RIGHT AWAY BUT IN A WEEK OR
MORE.
THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF BLAMING
PEOPLE BUT REALIZING WE'RE
MAKING DECISIONS IF REAL-TIME.
AND IF, ULTIMATELY, IT'S
NECESSARY TO CHANGE DECISIONS,
THAT SHOULD BE DONE BASED ON
SOLID DATA.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO OUR CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
A VERY VULNERABLE SETTING AND
THAT WORK WILL CONTINUE UNTIL
PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN A SAFE
POSITION ONCE AGAIN.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS THE
QUESTION.
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
YES.
>> Question:  ANOTHER CONCERN.
YOU MUST HAVE HEARD FROM ANOTHER
OF BUSINESS PEOPLE IN MONTREAL,
FOR EXAMPLE, WHO ARE SAYING THAT
THE CERB IS LEADING TO A
SITUATION WHERE SOME BUSINESSES
ARE HAVING TROUBLE REHIRING.
THE WAGE SUBSIDY MAY NOT BE AS
MUCH AS THEY HOPED FOR.
MY QUESTION, WILL CERB BE OVER
AT THE FOUR MONTHS OR ARE YOU
CONSIDER MODIFYING IT TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO
WORK?
WILL THE CERB JUST BE COMPLETELY
OVER AFTER THE FOUR-MONTH PERIOD
OR ARE YOU THINKING OF MODIFYING
IT?
>> Answer:  IN ALL REAL-TIME
DECISION MAKING, WITH THE TYPE
OF ECONOMIC IMPACTS THAT YOU
DESCRIBED, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
READJUST AND MODIFY OUR
DECISIONS WHEN WE SEE THAT THE
SITUATION WAS WITH DECISIONS.
I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE WITH
CERB WOULD REFUSE TO WORK.
PEOPLE WANT TO WORK AND JOB
SUPPORT WAS ANNOUNCED A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO AND WE NEED TO ALLOW
THAT TO HAVE AN IMPACT OVER
TIME, TRACE THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS
AND ULTIMATELY MODIFY OUR
APPROACH, IF NECESSARY.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Operator:  THE NEXT QUESTION
IS FROM ANDREA GUNN, FROM THE
CHRONICLE HERALD.
>> Question:  HI, MINISTER.
MY QUESTION IS FOR MINISTER
JORDAN.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE NEEDS TO
BE LEGISLATION PASSED FOR THESE
FISHERIES AND IF SO, HOW LONG
THEY CAN EXPECT TO WAIT BEFORE
THEY CAN START SEEING MONEY FOR
CERTAIN THINGS SUCH AS THE WAGE
BENEFIT.
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
THERE IS TO LEGISLATION THAT IS
REQUIRED FOR THIS.
WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW AROUND
THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
GET THE BENEFITS OUT AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT TO MAKE SURE THE
FISHERIES HAS THE SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED AND THAT THEY'VE BEEN
VERY MUCH LOOKING FOR.
SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO
MAKE SURE WE GET THAT OUT AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> Question:  MY SECOND QUESTION
IS, WILL IT BE AVAILABLE FOR --
IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T WANT TO GO
FISHING BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO
WORRIED ABOUT BEING IN CLOSE
QUARTERS OR THEY DON'T HAVE ANY
TRUSTED FAMILY MEMBERS THEY'RE
FISHING WITH THAT ARE CERTAIN
THEY DON'T HAVE COVID, WILL THEY
BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS BENEFIT?
>> SO THESE BENEFITS ARE
THREE-FOLD.
FIRST OF ALL, TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER QUALIFY ARE
ABLE TO USE THEIR INCOME FROM
LAST YEAR IN ORDER TO CONTINUE
THEIR EI, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE
THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCESS THE
WAGE SUBSIDY EQUIVALENT THAT
THEY DO NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE OF
THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THEIR
BUSINESS.
OF COURSE, HAVING THE GRANT IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN
MEET THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE
IMMEDIATELY TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS THEY HAVE.
IT'S A $10,000 GRANT.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE'RE
WORKING ON AND MAKING SURE THEY
HAVE THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED, TO
GO FISHING, MAKING SURE THEY'RE
ABLE TO COLLECT THEIR EI.
IT'S BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE HER A
LOT ABOUT FROM FISHER'S FOR THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THAT'S
WHY WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE THOSE SUPPORTS IN PLACE FOR
THEM.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE'LL NOW TURN TO THE ROOM,
STARTING WITH Mr. GALLAGHER.
>> Question:  YOU'VE COMMENTED
ON THE $15 MILLION FOR
OFF-RESERVE INNUIT FIRST NATIONS
METIS ISN'T ADEQUATE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO COMMENT
ON THE CONDITIONAL REVIEW FOR
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES, SAYING THE
FUNDING IS INADEQUATE IS
DISCRIMINATORY FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
>> THANKS, KEVIN.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION AND
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I AM NO
POSITION TO DICTATE TO ANY
POSITION TO ANY ORGANIZATION HOW
THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS.
WE HAVE MOVED FROM THE BEGINNING
TO DISTRIBUTE MONEY TO SERVICE
PROVIDERS ON THE FRONTLINE AND
WE HAVEN'T FUNDED, PER SAY, ANY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AS SUCH.
AND SO, THE QUESTION IN
DETERMINING THE FUNDING WAS
REALLY TO GET IT OUT TO THE
PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST AT
THAT POINT IN TIME, KNOWING
THERE'S A $15 MILLION BUCKET
THAT INDIGENOUS SERVICE'S CANADA
ADMINISTERS.
I WOULD SAY THEY DID RECEIVE A
QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS AND
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM COMMITTEE
YESTERDAY, IT WAS THEIR
INTENTION TO RETURN THE FUNDS.
BUT THAT SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANY
PARTICULAR COMMENT ON THE WAY
THEY EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS AND,
INDEED, IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO DO
SO.
>> Question:  CAN YOU GIVE ME AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE VENTILATOR
CAPACITY OF FIRST NATION?
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY, IF THERE
IS AN INCREASE IN CASES AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT WOULD
REQUIRE THAT TYPE OF MEDICAL
INTERVENTION?
IT'S A MAJOR CONCERN IN BIG
URBAN CENTRES BUT I IMAGINE
VENTILATORS ARE HARD TO COME BY
IN ISOLATED FIRST NATIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
ONE OF THE KEY THING FOR US, IT
IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE PROTECT THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
YOU KNOW, THE WAY TO APPROACH
THE VENTILATION NEEDS HAS TO BE
A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLANNED
PROCESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS VERY UNSAFE
TO HAVE VENTILATORS IN NURSING
STATIONS, IN REMOTE AREAS.
WHY?
BECAUSE YOU NEED SPECIALISTS.
YOU NEED INTENSIVE CARE TRAINED
SPECIALISTS IN MEDICINE AND IN
NURSING.
YOU NEED A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST
AND THOSE ARE ALL SPECIALISTS
AND THEY ARE VERY HARD TO COME
BY, TO ACTUALLY BE IN A REMOTE
AND ISOLATED AREAS, EVEN IN
.EVEN IN URBAN AREAS, THERE'S A
SHORTAGE.
THE WAY TO ENSURE THIS IS WE
WORK WITH PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES TO INCREASE THE
CAPACITY OF EXISTING HOSPITALS
SO THAT THEY HAVE MORE BEDS,
THEY HAVE MORE ICU BEDS IN CASE
THERE'S A NEED, YOU KNOW, TO
ACTUALLY USE THOSE BEDS.
ALSO FROM A PREVENTION
STANDPOINT, ALSO, THE NEED TO
TRY TO IDENTIFY FOR HIGH-RISK
INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS EDERLY, FOR
EXAMPLE.
WHO HAVE A LOW THRESHOLDWHO MAKY
BECOME SICK, IT WOULD BE AT THE
VERY, VERY EARLY STAGE TO TRY TO
SUPPORT THEM CLOSER TO THE
HOSPITAL SHOULD THEY NEED THAT
TYPE OF TERCIARY CARE.
>> Question:  IT SOUNDS TO ME
PEOPLE ON A REMOTE FIRST NATION
THAT MIGHT NEED THAT TYPE OF
MEDICAL INTERVENTION, A
VENTILATOR, THEY WOULD HAVE TO
BE TRANSPORTED, THEN, TO A MAJOR
CENTRE.
CENTRE, BUT A HOSPITAL THAT'S
EQUIPPED, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
>> Question:  WHAT IS THE PLAN
FOR THAT?
HOW WOULD THAT TRANSPORTATION
WORK?
>> THAT'S PLANNED FOR IN THE
PROBLEMS AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
>> THERE'S A GENERAL QUESTION I
THINK YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE
EPIDEMIC PLAN FOR COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AND
THERE IS 96 FIRST NATION'S
COMMUNITIES YOU FLY INTO.
THAT'S A GENERALIZED APPROACH
AND THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES
WHERE IT'S ADVISABLE TO FLY OUT
TO GIVE BIRTH OR TRANSPORT OUT
OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A
PANDEMIC AND PLANS THAT ARE
ATTACHED TO IT, THE COMMUNITIES
HAVE, DEPENDING ON THE CAPACITY
AND NUMBER OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL
IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A CONCERNED APPROACH TO
FIGURE OUT WHY IT MAKES MORE
SENSE SO FLY SOMEONE OUT.
TOM HAS EXPLAINED THE THE 
INTRICACIES AROUND THAT AND THIS
IS PART OF A MORE GENERALIZED
PLAN OF USING HUBS AND GETTING
PEOPLE OUT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES
AND BACK INTO REGIONAL HEALTH
CENTRES WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE
FACILITIES AND GET BACK INTO
COMMUNITY IN A SAFE WAY.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, CONCERN,
TO PARTICIPATE.
>> Rosemary:  WE'LL PULL AWAY
FROM THIS MEDICAL BRIEFING.
THEY WERE TALKING PRIMARILY
ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY,
2.5 MILLION FOR NORTHERN
SASKATCHEWAN TO DEAL WITH AN
OUTBREAK THERE AND THEN A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY,
470 MILLION FOR FISH HARVESTERS
WAITING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
I WILL BRING IN VASSEY KAPELOS
AND CATHERINE CULLEN TO HELP ME
WRAP UP WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
IN MONTREAL, AT THE TOP OF THE
HOUR, WE ARE EXPECTING THAT THE
PREMIER WILL PUSH BACK OPENING
DATES FOR SCHOOLS AND OTHER
THINGS AGAIN, REALIZING THAT
MONTREAL CONTINUES TO BE THE HOT
SPOT IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE
PANDEMIC AND DONALD TRUMP, AS
WELL, SAID THAT A DECISION ON
FUNDING FROM THE UNITED STATES
TO THE W.H.O. WILL COME SOON.
 OR
SOME DECISION ON HOW THE UNITED
STATES WILL INTERACT WITH THE
W.H.O. MOVING FORWARD, WHICH, OF
COURSE, IS VERY IMPORTANT GIVEN
THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS
SUSPENDED FUNDING AND THEY ARE
THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE
W.H.O.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE YOU WANT TO
GO WITH ANY OF THAT, VASSY.
>> Vassy:  I'M FASCINATED TO SEE
WHAT THE PRESIDENT MAY HAVE TO
SAY ABOUT THE W.H.O.
TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO, WE WERE
SITTING HERE WHEN THE PRESIDENT
ANNOUNCED IT WOULD SUSPEND
FUNDING TO THE W.H.O.
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF AT THE END
OF JANUARY WAS COMPLIMENTARY
TOWARDS CHINA AND THAT POSTURE
HAS CHANGED.
WE'LL BE WATCHING FOR THAT
ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEN THE ONE
MORE CLOSE TO HOME THAT I THINK
IS RELEVANT TO A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WATCHING IS WE'VE HEARD
FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
MONTREAL, WHICH YOU'RE RIGHT HAS
BECOME, BASICALLY, THE EPICENTRE
OF THE VIRUS AND PANDEMIC IN
QUEBEC.
THEY ARE GOING TO DELAY, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE REOPENING OF
SCHOOLS, NOT JUST A WEEK, BUT
UNTIL THE FALL, SPECIFICALLY IN
MONTREAL.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND I COULD
BE WRONG, THAT I THOUGHT PREMIER
LEGAULT WAS TOURING WITH THE
MAYOR THROUGHOUT MUCH OF
MONTREAL.
WE KNOW SOME OF THE LONG-TERM
CARE HOMES IN MONTREAL HAVE BEEN
PARTICULARLY HARD HIT, AS WELL.
SO NOT NECESSARILY A HUGE
SURPRISE THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
WOULD BE COMING, GIVEN TWO WEEKS
AGO THE PREMIER FOR SAYING
SCHOOL WOULD REOPEN.
THERE WAS A TONNE OF SURPRISE,
GIVEN THE CASELOAD, AND THE
COUNTS WERE STILL INTO THE HIGH
TRIPLE DIGIT AND DEFINITELY
GOING TO WATCH FOR THAT PRESS
CONFERENCE AT 1:00 EASTERN TO
SEE WHAT THE RATIONALE IS AND
WHAT SOME OF THE FURTHER
IMPLICATIONS ARE.
I'VE TALKED TO PARENTS IN
GATINEAU WHO HAVE THEIR KIDS IN
SCHOOL THIS WEEK AND MONTREAL
WILL BE A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
>> Rosemary:  I'LL GET CATHERINE
TO TALK ABOUT THAT, TOO.
IT IS PARTLY THE MAYOR, I THINK,
OF MONTREAL PUSHING BACK
FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE PREMIER'S
IDEA THAT THINGS COULD REOPEN
NORMALLY, WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S
141 OR SO OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM
CARE CENTRES AND TESTING IS
STILL NOWHERE NEAR WHERE IT
SHOULD BE IN THE PROVINCE OR IN
THE CITY, FOR THAT MATTER.
>> WE KNOW THE PROVINCE HAS SET
TARGETS FOR ITSELF THAT IT HAS,
IT SEEMS, FAILED TO REACH AT
THIS POINT.
THERE HAS A SCOPE SAYING NO
SCHOOL UNTIL SEPTEMBER AND NO
CHILDCARE UNTIL JUNE 1st AND
THAT THE DECISION IS YET TO BE
MADE WHEN IT COMES HOW MONTREAL
WILL DEAL WITH BUSINESSES.
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SO
INTERESTING IN THAT NEWS
CONFERENCE WAS THE RESPONSE BY
MINISTER MILLER WHO IS WITH THE
DOWNTOWN CORE OF MONTREAL.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE A
SHIFT BETWEEN WHAT HE WAS SAYING
OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND
WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT WHAT WAS
GOING IN MONTREAL AND HOW HE
RESPONDED FROM THIS NEWS FROM
RADIO-CANADA.
HE SAID I AM CONCERNED PEOPLE
WILL CONTINUE TO DIE IN
INDIGNITITY IN GREAT NUMBERS,
YOU KNOW, IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS
THIS SITUATION AND IF WE ARE TOO
QUICK IN OPENING THINGS BACK UP
AND DECONFINEMENT IS THE TERM
THAT CAMPAIGNED POPULARITY IN
MONTREAL.
TODAY YOU HEARD A FAIR BIT OF
PRAISE AND A LOT OF
UNDERSTANDING, I THINK, TOO, FOR
THE LEGAULT GOVERNMENT.
EVEN IF THINGS GO WRONG, THIS IS
TO THE ABOUT BLAME, BUT WE ALL
NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE
THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE.
Mr. MILLER SAYING WE'RE ON THE
SAME PAGE WANTING TO BE GUIDED
BY SCIENCE.
IT'S A FINE LINE OFFICIALS ARE
TRYING TO WORK, EXPRESSING
CONCERN BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
NOT OVERSTEPPING, OVERBEARING
AND WHATNOT.
SO CERTAINLY A POSITIVE REACTION
FROM MINISTER MILLER AND WE'LL
ALL WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW
FRANÇOIS LEGAULT EXPLAINS THIS
DECISION TODAY.
>> Rosemary:  IF I'M ALLOWED TO
PLUG MY OWN THINGS, WE DISCUSS
IT ON MY PODCAST TODAY ON
PARTYLINES ON THE WAY THINGS ARE
SO DIFFERENT ON THE ISLAND OF
MONTREAL, AS WELL AS HOW THINGS
ARE LOOKING IN THE UNITED
STATES.
IF YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE
TOPIC, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO
START.
I AM EMBARRASSED FOR PLUGGING
THAT NOW.
YOU CAN WATCH VASSY ON "POWER &
POLITICS" AND KATHERINE CULLEN
ON "THE NATIONAL."
>>> LET'S TURN TO ALBERTA
BECAUSE YESTERDAY THEY GOT PLANS
TO REOPEN IN MUCH OF THE
PROVINCE, EXCEPT FOR CALGARY AND
BROOKS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF
COVID-19 CASES EXIST.
SO RESTAURANTS AND SOME OTHER
BUSINESSES THERE WILL REMAIN
CLOSED FOR NOW.
ASIA LAPOINTE OWNS A RESTAURANT
SAYING SHE WOULDN'T OPEN RIGHT
NOW EVEN IF SHE COULD AND SHE
JOINS ME RIGHT NOW FROM CALGARY.
SO YOU'RE RESTAURANT SOUNDS VERY
COOL.
I LOVE THE NAME OF IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary:  TELL ME WHY YOU
WOULDN'T OPEN EVEN IF YOU WERE
ALLOWED TO?
>> I THINK WHAT HAPPENED
YESTERDAY IS AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE, THAT THINGS CAN CHANGE
ON A DIME AND THE POTENTIAL FOR
A START AND STOP, PARTICULARLY
IN OUR INDUSTRY, COULD BE
CATASTROPHIC, IF NOT FATAL FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO UNTIL THINGS BECOME MORE, I
GUESS, IN STONE IN TERMS OF
TIMELINES AND WE UNDERSTAND
WHERE WE'RE AT, SINCE IT'S SUCH
EARLY DAYS, THAT WILL BE
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
UNCOMFORTABLE DOING.
>> Rosemary:  SO THE DATE NOW,
THINK, IS MAY 25th.
DO YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD
REASONABLY BE READY TO REOPEN BY
THEN?
>> I THINK IF WE WERE TO
MOBILIZE TODAY, THAT THAT IS A
POSSIBILITY, BUT I THINK THE
POTENTIAL FOR THAT DATE TO NOT
HAPPEN GIVEN HOW QUICKLY THINGS
CHANGED YESTERDAY WITH HOURS'
NOTICE OF TODAY'S POTENTIAL
RELAUNCH, WE WILL DEFINITELY
REFRAIN FROM MAKING THAT MOVE.
WE STILL ARE QUITE UNCOMFORTABLE
WITH THE GUIDELINES THAT WE'VE
BEEN OFFERED AND DON'T FEEL THAT
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR
TEAM ARE BEING CONSIDERED.
WE JUST NEED MORE CONSIDERATION
AND MORE TIME.
>> Rosemary:  OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE
A LOT OF FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON
YOU, AS WELL.
>> YES.
>> Rosemary:  YOU'RE DECIDING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT IS MORE
IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND TELL ME
ABOUT THE FINANCIAL PART OF IT
AND HOW YOU'RE KEEPING GOING.
>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS AN
EXCELLENT QUESTION.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FEDERAL
SUPPORT INITIATED WHICH IS
AWESOME.
SORRY IF YOU CAN HEAR MY DOG
BARKS.
>> Rosemary:  THAT'S OK.
[ Laughter ]
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SUPPORT
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT,
UNFORTUNATELY, TEN FOOT HENRY
HAS NOT BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF
ANY OF THOSE ACTIONS AS OF YET.
AND SO WE ARE JUST STANDING
STRONG, HOPING THAT WE CAN MAKE
IT SAFE TO OPEN AND THAT REMAINS
TO BE SEEN.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THE
START-AND-STOP POTENTIAL, THAT
IF THEY PUSH THAT BACK AGAIN OR
MOBILIZE, REOPEN AND THERE
BECOMES AN OUTBREAK, THAT MEANS
THAT WE NEED TO STOP AGAIN, I
THUNDERBAY THAT WOULD BE MORE
CATASTROPHIC FOR US.
>> Rosemary:  YOU TALKED ABOUT
THE GUIDELINES, YOU'RE NOT
FEELING GREAT ABOUT THEM AND CAN
YOU GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT THEY
ARE AND ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD BE
EQUIPPED OR WHERE YOU WOULD GET
THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
NEED TO PROTECT EVERYBODY.
>> YEAH, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION.
NOW I CAN'T ANSWER ALL OF THOSE
QUESTIONS BECAUSE WHILE THEY DID
WORK VERY QUICKLY TO TRY TO MAKE
RESTAURANT AND INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC
GUIDELINES, THEY STILL HAVE OPEN
FOR A LOT OF INTERPRETATION, IN
MY OPINION, AND CONSIDERING THE
LIABILITY AS OPERATORS, WE JUST
DON'T FEEL THEY'RE ROBUST AT
THIS STAGE ENOUGH FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO SAFELY ACTION ALL OF
THEM.
THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME LEAD
TIME AND FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
TO MAKING IT ALL WORK AND WE
JUST NEED TO BE CERTAIN WHEN WE
DO ACTION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN
BE CONFIDENT THAT THE ECONOMY
AND THE MARKET IS READY TO GO
AND THE SAFETY OF OUR PATRONS IS
FIRST IS FOREMOST.
>> Rosemary:  I THINK THAT IS
REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE I
KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE ARE, LIKE,
I'LL OPEN BUT I DON'T KNOW IF
ANYONE WILL COME.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT, IN PART, TO
THE UNITED STATES.
AND YOU ARE SMART TO THINK ABOUT
THE SAFETY PART OF BECAUSE IT'S
A REAL CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE 50% OCCUPANCY AND TWO METRES
BETWEEN CHAIRS, IF THERE'S NOT
PEOPLE THERE, WE WON'T BE ABLE
TO SURVIVE.
WE'LL STICK IT OUT AND HOPE FOR
THE BEST AND WORK REALLY HARD TO
GET SAFE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> Rosemary:  AJA LAPOINTE, STAY
SAFE.
>> TAKE CARE.
>> Rosemary:  THANK YOU.
WE ARE STANDING BY, OF COURSE,
FROM BRIEFINGS FROM PROVINCES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING
MORE DETAILS ON ONTARIO'S
REOPENING WITH THE PREMIER AT
1:30 EASTERN AND DETAILS ABOUT
PUSHING BACK SOME OF THOSE
REOPENING DATES IN MONTREAL FROM
THE QUEBEC PREMIER AND THAT'S
HAPPENING AT THE TOP OF THE
CLOCK.
THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT HERE FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT TODAY, $470 MILLION
FOR FISH HARVESTERS AND THEY
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT.
I'M R BARTON AND YOU'RE WATCHING
"CBC NEWS NETWORK."
OUR COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH
