 
JOINING US, EITHER ON CBC NEWS 
NETWORK, STREAMING AROUND THE 
WORLD ON OUR APP OR OUR WEBSITE.
WE'RE STANDING BY FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S UPDATE ON THE 
COVID-19 CRISIS.
HE'LL BE SPEAKING AT ANY MOMENT 
AT 11:00 A.M. EASTERN.
WE'RE EXPECTING AN UPDATE ON 
THE GOVERNMENT'S PROCUREMENT OF 
P.P.E., INCLUDING THINGS LIKE, 
OF COURSE, VENTILATORS, MASKS, 
GOWNS, GLOVES, HAND SANITIZER, 
SPECIFICALLY HOW MUCH OF WHAT 
WAS ORDERED ABOUT TWO MONTHS 
AGO HAS ACTUALLY ARRIVED AND 
HOW THAT DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN 
HAS RAMPED UP.
FOR INSTANCE, OF THE 29,000 
VENTILATORS ORDERED, JUST OVER 
200 HAVE BEEN DELIVERED BUT WE 
KNOW THAT THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY 
CHAIN FOR THOSE VENTILATORS IS 
EXPECTED TO BE ONLINE SOON AND 
THOUSANDS MORE ARE EXPECTED IN 
THE NEXT NUMBER OF WEEKS.
SO, WE'RE GOING HEAR MORE ABOUT 
THAT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.
AND PERHAPS MORE QUESTIONS, 
TOO, ABOUT ONGOING CHALLENGES 
WITH TESTING SPECIFICALLY IN 
THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO.
I SHOULD NOTE THAT QUEBEC MET 
ITS TESTING GOAL FOR THE FIRST 
TIME YESTERDAY.
SO THAT'S SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS 
FOR THAT PROVINCE.
WHILE WE WAIT, I'LL BRING IN MY 
COLLEAGUES, THE HOST OF "POWER 
& POLITICS", VASSY KA PEL 
LOCALS AND THE CBC'S DAVID 
COCHRANE.
MAY NOT HAVE VERY LONG, KNOWING 
-- DEPENDING ON HOW TIMELY THE 
PRIME MINISTER IS TODAY.
BUT WE ARE EXPECTING HIM TO 
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 
P.P.E. SITUATION.
VASSY?
>> Vassy: YEAH.
I THINK THIS IS A HIGHLY 
ANTICIPATED UPDATE AS FAR AS 
PROCUREMENT GOES, ONLY BECAUSE 
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW 
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING 
OVER THE PAST WEEK AND A HALF 
OR SO IS THE RE-OPENING OF 
PROVINCIAL ECONOMIESFUL AS THEY 
RE-OPEN, THERE IS NOT ONLY THE 
CONTINUED DEMAND IN THE HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEM FOR PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT BUT 
OUTSIDE OF THE HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM AS WELL AND THERE HAVE 
BEEN ISSUES WITH PROCUREMENT SO 
FAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH N-95 MASKS.
THAT WOULD BE IN THE HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEM.
WE KNOW WE HAVEN'T REACHED 
CAPACITY, THAT THE MEASURES 
THAT EVERYONE TOOK WORKED AND 
THAT THE HOSPITAL CAPACITY 
WASN'T OVERLOADED.
BUT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH 
PROCURING MASKS THAT ARE UP TO 
CANADIAN STANDARDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, FROM CHINA, THE 
MAJORITY THAT HAVE ARRIVED AND 
THAT IS STILL FAR SHORT OF THE 
MAJORITY THAT WERE ORIGINALLY 
ORDERED WERE NOT UP TO CANADIAN 
STANDARDS.
THEN THERE IS THE DOMESTIC 
FRONT, A YOU MENTIONED, AND 
THERE IS THE PROVINCE'S ROLES.
PROVINCES ARE PROCURING A LOT 
OF THIS EQUIPMENT AS WELL.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET A SENSE, 
I THINK, OF WHERE WE STAND.
AT LEAST I FOUND IT CONFUSING 
SO FAR.
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH, HOW MUCH 
MIGHT WE NEED FOR THE SECOND 
WAVE, THE POTENTIAL OF THE 
SECOND WAVE AND WHAT ABOUT IN 
THE MEANTIME, AS ECONOMIES 
RE-OPEN.
ARE WE -- WHAT IS THE SORT OF 
OVERALL NEED, ARE WE MEETING 
IT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO SO?
AND IT'S THE SORT OF FEDERAL 
COMPONENT AND THE PROVINCIAL 
COMPONENT AND THEN IT'S ALSO 
THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN 
WHICH, OF COURSE, KICKED OFF 
WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED AS 
WELL.
THE GOVERNMENT FOCUSED ITS 
EFFORTS ON THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY 
CHAIN, RAMPING IT UP, TRYING TO 
BE ABLE TO MEET DEMAND 
DOMESTICALLY, BUT I'M NOT SURE 
WHERE THIS PROCESS STANDS RIGHT 
NOW, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE 
GETTING CERTIFIED OR UP TOED 
THES.
THAT IS A LONG PROCESS NOT 
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS 
OVERNIGHT.
>> Rosemary: IF YOU LOOK AT THE 
FIGURES LAST WEEK VERSUS THIS 
WEEK.
WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF EXAMPLE 
WHERE IS WE'VE SEEN NO CHANGE.
SO, GLOVES.
THERE HASN'T BEEN MORE N-95 
RESPIRATORS AS YOU POINT OUT, 
PROBLEMATIC.
AND THE VENTILATOR, ALTHOUGH WE 
HEARD FROM FLAVIO VOLE WHO SAYS 
THOSE ARE IN LINE TO COME IN 
THE THOUSANDS VERY, VERY SOON.
DAVID, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO 
PEOPLE AND ALSO ABOUT THE ROLE 
THE PROVINCES PLAY VERSUS THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN 
EVERYBODY WHO HAS A BUSINESS 
WHO NOW WANTS SOME OF THESE 
THINGS, NOT THE MEDICAL GRADE 
THINGS BUT THE OTHER THINGS 
THAT ARE THERE.
>> David: A COUPLE OF THINGS TO 
KEEP IN MIND.
THE NUMBER FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS A MINORITY OF THE 
PROCUREMENT THAT IS HAPPENING 
IN THIS COUNTRY.
IN NORMAL NONPANDEMIC TIMES, 
100% OF THIS IS DONE BY THE 
PROVINCES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 
THE EMERGENCY NATIONAL 
STOCKPILES THAT THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH AGENCY MAINTAINS.
WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS 
DOING IS TRY TO BACKSTOP AND 
SUPPLEMENT THAT.
OBVIOUSLY THE USAGE RATES AND 
BURN RATES OF DISPOSABLE 
EQUIPMENTS LIKE GLOVES AND 
MASKS IS THROUGH THE ROOF 
DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
WE'VE SEEN LOW NUMBERS OF 
VENTILATORS DELIVERED TO THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT IT WAS 
GOING TO BE MAY OR JUNE BEFORE 
THE DOMESTIC CAPACITY RAMPED UP 
TO THE POINT AND EVEN COMPANIES 
LIKE THORNHILL MEDICAL WHICH 
HAVE BEEN TASKED TO PROVIDE 
SOME OF THESE, THEY TOLD US 
THEY WERE GOING TO DELIVER 
THEIR VENTILATORS TO ONTARIO 
FIRST.
BECAUSE THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT 
WAS ALSO A BIG CUSTOMER OF 
THEIRS IN THIS PREPARATION FOR 
THE PANDEMIC.
THE OTHER THING ON THE N-95s, 
THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH 
QUALITY FOR THE MASKS THAT ARE 
COMING FROM CHINA.
HUGE PERCENTAGE OF A FEDERAL 
SHIPMENT WAS FOUND NOT TO BE UP 
TO FIRST WORLD STANDARDS.
>> Rosemary: 9.8 MILLION.
>> David: EXACTLY.
THOSE ARE USED IN AREAS THAT DO 
NOT REQUIRE AN N-95 STANDARD AS 
A SURGICAL MASK REPLACEMENT OR 
SUPPLEMENT.
BUT THE PROVINCES, IT IS 
IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, HAVE 
THEIR OWN SUPPLY LINES LARGELY 
WITH 3M IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO THEY HAVE A CONSISTENT 
SUPPLY COMING IN.
WHETHER IT'S ENOUGH OR A 
SURPLUS, THAT'S UNCLEAR.
BUT THERE IS A STEADY SUPPLY OF 
MASKS UP TO THE STANDARD 
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, COMING 
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS WHY THAT EXEMPTION THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP GRANTED CANADA 
A MONTH OR SO BACK.
WAS SO CRITICAL.
BECAUSE IF THE N-95s FROM THE 
UNITED STATES WERE GETTING 
STOPPED AT THE CANADA-U.S. 
BORDER THERE WOULD BE A 
FULL-BLOWN P.P.E. CRISIS IN THE 
CANADIAN HEALTH SYSTEM BECAUSE 
OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE 
CHINESE SUPPLY.
SO RIGHT NOW N-95s SEEM TO BE 
OK, I GUESS, IS THE PHRASE THAT 
I WOULD USE.
THE CONCERN IS IF YOU GET INTO 
A SECOND WAVE IN THE FALL, AND 
YOU GET A MASSIVE SURGE COMING 
INTO YOUR HOSPITALS THEN, THIS 
IS WHERE THE SURPLUS 
VENTILATORS MAY BE REQUIRED BUT 
ALSO WHERE THE N-95 QUALITY 
ISSUES FROM CHINA BECOME AN 
ACUTE PROBLEM.
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T RELY ON 
THE BIG BULK ORDERS FROM CHINA, 
THEN ONCE YOU GET INTO A 
WAREHOUSE IN HAMILTON OR 
TORONTO AND REALISE THEY'RE NOT 
UP TO SNUFF, THAT IS WHERE YOU 
HAVE A REAL ISH YAOUFM MEDICOM 
IS WHAT THEY TASKED TO BE PART 
OF THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN.
IT IS AN N-95 MANUFACTURER BUT 
IT IS WEEKS AWAY IF NOT A MONTH 
OR MORE AWAY.
AND THEY SET UP A WHOLE NEW N.
-- N-95 PRODUCTION LINE IN 
CANADA.
THEY HAVE TO GET IT UP AND 
RUNNING.
THAT PART OF THE DOMESTIC 
SUPPLY CHAIN IS STILL A WAYS 
AWAY, BUT THE GOOD 
MANUFACTURERS TO THE SOUTH AND 
THE U.S. HAVE BEEN A VITAL PART 
OF THIS.
>> Rosemary: WE'LL TALK TO 
LOGISTICAL UNICO-ERSINGER, ONE 
OF THE COMPANIES MAKING GOWNS 
AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE HIGHLY 
COVETED RIGHT NOW, TOO.
BUT AS WE POINT OUT, THE 
PROVINCES WHO HAVE PROCURED 
P.P.E. ON THEIR OWN DIRECTLY 
FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEMS, SOME ARE DOING VERY 
WELL.
ALBERTA, FOR INSTANCE, HAS NOT 
ONLY SENT P.P.E.S TO OTHER 
PROVINCES AND VENTILATORS TO 
OTHER PROVINCE, BUT IT IS NOW 
ALLOWING COMPANIES, PRIVATE 
COMPANIES TO BUY P.P.E. FROM 
THE PROVINCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE 
ENOUGH AND OBVIOUSLY BUSINESSES 
AS THEY START TO RE-OPEN NEED 
MORE OF IT.
IT DOES MAKE ME WORRY A LITTLE 
BIT AFTER HEARING SOMEONE, ONE 
OF THE TOP DOCTORS AT THE 
W.H.O., VASSY, SAY TODAY OR 
YESTERDAY, AT TEND OF THE DAY 
YESTERDAY, THAT THE SECOND PEAK 
COULD ACTUALLY COME IN THE 
FIRST WAVE.
SO, SOME OF THIS WAS ABOUT 
PREPARING FOR THE SECOND WAVE.
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY UNKNOWNS 
AROUND THE VIRUS AND A 
POTENTIAL THAT THINGS WOULD GET 
MUCH WORSE MUCH FASTER THAN WE 
ANTICIPATED.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE NEED FOR A 
LARGE AMOUNT OF P.P.E. BECOMES 
MORE URGENT.
>> 
>> Vassy: AND WE HAVE LEARNED 
THAT YOU HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE 
WORST-CASE SCENARIO BECAUSE 
THAT WASN'T THE CASE IN MOST 
PROVINCE AND FEDERALLY, AT 
LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO, FOR 
EXAMPLE, THE EMERGENCY 
STOCKPILES FOR P.P.E. WHEN IT 
COMES TO THE FIRST WAVE OR THE 
POTENTIAL SORT OF FIRST PART OF 
THIS PANDEMIC.
IN THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU PROUD 
FOR ALBERTA, IT'S A TEST CASE 
AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT WONKY.
BUT THE WAY IN WHICH HEALTH 
CARE IS DELIVERED OR THE 
ADMINISTRATION OF ALBERTA, IT 
WENT THROUGH A DECADE AGO A 
CONTROVERSIAL PROCESS WHERE IT 
WAS ALL CENTRALIZED AND THIS 
IS, OF COURSE, A DISCUSSION IN 
ONTARIO AS WELL AS SOME OTHER 
PROVINCES.
AND WHILE AT THE TIME THAT WAS 
A VERY CONTROVERSIAL MOVE 
BECAUSE IT AFFECTED THE 
DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE 
THROUGHOUTS THE PROVINCE.
WHEN IT COMES TO PROCUREMENT, 
IT ENDED UP BEING A HUGE 
BENEFIT TO ALBERTA BECAUSE IT 
WAS CENTRALIZED, BECAUSE THEY 
ONLY HAD BASICALLY ONE OFFICE 
WORKING ON THE IDEA OF WHAT 
THEY MIGHT NEED.
THEY STARTED A LOT EARLIER THAN 
OTHER PROVINCES AND AS A RESULT 
EVEN NOW YOU MENTIONED THE 
VENTILATORS.
THEY LOANED, I THINK, OVER 20 
TO QUEBEC.
THEY SEEMED TO HAVE ENOUGH 
SUPPLIS THAT THEY HAD A SURPLUS 
AT A CERTAIN POINT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE SECOND 
WAVE, THAT MIGHT BE AN EVEN 
BIGGER CONCERN FOR PROVINCES.
YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST 
MONTH FAR LESS OUTCRY FROM 
PREMIERS, FOR EXAMPLE.
COMPARED TO THE FIRST MONTH OF 
THIS PANDEMIC WHERE THEY WERE 
WORRIED ABOUT HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE 
PROCUREMENT SIDE FOR PROVINCES, 
THINGS HAVE STABILIZED THE AT 
LEAST.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS 
FOR THE SECOND WAVE.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE FEDERAL 
PICTURE AND DAVID IS ABSOLUTELY 
RIGHT, THIS IS ALMOST LIKE A 
BACKSTOP FOR THE PROVINCIAL 
SUPPLY, I THINK THERE ARE SOME 
WORRYING TRENDS AND YOU POINTED 
OUT THE N-95 RESPIRATORS.
OF THE 104 MILLION THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE 
ORDERED, DESPITE WHAT'S 
HAPPENING WITH THE UNITED 
STATES FROM CHINA, JUST LESS 
THAN 12 MILLION HAVE ARRIVED 
AND 9.8 MILLION AS YOU POINTED 
OUT, OF THOSE 12 DON'T ACTUALLY 
MEET OUR STANDARDS.
THERE ARE BIG ISSUES WITH CHINA.
THE MINISTER OF PROCUREMENT HAS 
TALKED ABOUT THEM, HOW IT IS A 
WILD WEST OUT THERE.
I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS 
EVEN THE SMALL PORTION WE'RE 
GETTING ARE NOT UP TO OUR 
STANDARDS.
SO IF THAT SORT OF 
UNPREDICTABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH 
THE UNITED STATES WERE TO BE 
AFFECTED AGAIN, THAT IS A 
CONCERN GOING FORWARD, 
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 
THE POTENTIAL FOR A SECOND WAVE 
OR SUBSEQUENT SMALLER WAVES 
THEREAFTER.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WILL 
STOP OVERNIGHT SO THE NEED, AND 
I THINK THE CONCERNS AROUND 
CHINA, WILL REMAIN FOR A WHILE 
AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: OK.
AND WE ARE EXPECTING THE PRIME 
MINISTER IN ABOUT A MINUTE'S 
TIME.
SO, WE'LL JUST STAY ON HIS 
FRONT DOOR AS WE WAIT FOR HIM 
TO COME OUT AND TALK MORE ABOUT 
P.P.E. 
I WILL ALSO BRING YOU UP TO 
DATE ON THE STATE HERE IN 
ONTARIO BECAUSE WE TALKED -- WE 
TALKED A LOT ABOUT IN THE PAST 
WEEK OR SO ABOUT HOW CASES IN 
THIS PROVINCE SEEM TO BE ON AN 
UPWARD TREND.
REPORTS TODAY SAY THEY ARE AT 
287 CORONAVIRUS CASES, WHICH IS 
THE LOWEST NUMBER IN MORE THAN 
A MONTH.
IT MIGHT BE A ONE-OFF GIVE THAN 
WE KNOW THE FRIEND IS HEADING 
IN WORRYING DIRECTIONS.
GOOD TO SEE THAT THE NUMBERS 
ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER TODAY 
AND OF COURSE IT HAPPENED AS 
THE PREMIER HAS MADE THE 
DECISION TO ENCOURAGE MORE AND 
MORE PEOPLE TO GET TEST.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE 
SYMPTOMS, YOU CAN SHOW UP AT 
THOSE COVID-19 ASSESSMENT 
CENTRES AND GET TESTED TO SEE 
IF PERHAPS YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE 
ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS.
THERE IS 129 OF THOSE 
ASSESSMENT CENTRES ACROSS 
ONTARIO.
SO, AS ONTARIO TRIES TO GET A 
HANDLE REALLY ON WHAT IS A 
WORRYING TREND AND RAMP UP 
TESTING AS I MENTIONED OFF THE 
TOP, QUEBEC HAS FINALLY MET ITS 
TARGET OF 14,000 DAILY TESTS IN 
THAT PROVINCE.
AND ENCOURAGING NEWS AS 
EVERYONE TRIES TO RAMP UP NOW.
HERE NOW THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: OVER 
THE LAST FEW WEEKS OUR WOMEN 
AND MEN IN UNIFORM HAVE BEEN 
WORKING TO HELP THE MOST 
VULNERABLE CANADIANS AS WE DEAL 
WITH THIS PANDEMIC.
AND AS THE NEED FOR THEIR HELP 
CONTINUES, WE'VE RECEIVED NEW 
REQUESTS TO EXTEND THIS PERIOD 
OF DEPLOYMENT IN BOTH ONTARIO 
AND QUEBEC.
AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP.
MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE 
JOB, JUST LIKE ALWAYS.
THEY ARE SERVING WITH 
DISTINCTION FOR OUR 
GRANDPARENTS, OUR PARENTS, OUR 
ELDERS.
IN ONTARIO, THEY'VE MADE SOME 
EXTREMELY TROUBLING 
OBSERVATIONS ABOUT SEVERAL 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN 
WHICH THEY'VE BEEN SERVING AND 
WE HAVE SHARED THIS INFORMATION 
WITH THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, WE 
NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF 
CARING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT 
THIS COUNTRY.
THE GREATEST GENERATION SAW US 
THROUGH WORLD WAR II AND WE 
NEED TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT 
THEM PROPERLY.
THROUGH THIS GLOBAL CRISIS.
I SPOKE WITH PREMIER FORD ON 
THIS EARLIER THIS MORNING TO 
LET HIM KNOW THAT, OF COURSE, 
WE WOULD BE THERE TO HELP AS HE 
TAKES ACTION ON IMPROVING CARE 
FOR SENIORS IN LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES.
OUR GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO 
SUPPORT ONTARIANS THROUGH THIS 
AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING 
THE PREMIER WILL BE ADDRESSING 
IN GREATER DETAIL AT HIS PRESS 
CONFERENCE LATER TODAY.
THIS MORNING, I ALSO WANTED TO 
PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
IN THE LAST 10 WEEKS ALONE, 
OVER 40 FLIGHTS HAVE ARRIVED IN 
CANADA CARRYING MUCH NEEDED 
P.P.E. 
THIS REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF 
THOUSANDS OF ITEMS, EVERYTHING 
FROM MASKS TO HOSPITAL GOWNS 
THAT WE'VE SHIPPED TO OUR 
FRONTLINE WORKERS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO 
INVESTING IN PRODUCTION HERE AT 
HOME.
AND ON THAT FRONT, TODAY WE'RE 
TAKING YET ANOTHER CRITICAL 
STEP FORWARD.
I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT WE SIGNED A 
CONTRACT WITH GENERAL MOTORSS 
TO PRODUCE 10 MILLION FACE 
MASKS.
AS WE SPEAK, G.M. EMPLOYEES ARE 
ALREADY MAKING THESE MASKS.
THEY WILL KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND 
HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF 
COVID-19.
AND FOR AUTOWORKERS IN OSHAWA, 
THIS CONTRACT WILL SUPPORT 
GOOD, WELL-PAYING JOBS AND AN 
INDUSTRY THAT'S FACED TOUGH 
TIMES.
ON TESTING, WE'RE ALSO MAKING 
PROGRESS.
WE'RE SUPPORTING COMPANIES AND 
RESEARCH CENTRES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY AS THEY DEVELOP NEW, 
IMPROVED COVID-19 TEST KITS AND 
PRODUCTS.
AND FOR LIFE-SAVING HEALTH CARE 
EQUIPMENT, WE SIGNED A NEW 
CONTRACT FOR 10,000 VENTILATORS 
THAT ARE BEING PRODUCED THROUGH 
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CANADIAN 
NOBEL LAUREATE, DR. ART 
McDONALD, HIS TEAM AND VEXOS.
DELIVERIES WILL BEGIN THIS 
SUMMER, BRINGING OUR TOTAL OF 
MADE-IN-CANADA VENTILATORS TO 
40,000.
ON THIS, AND ON OTHER SUPPLIES 
FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS, I KNOW 
THAT MINISTER BAINS AND 
MINISTER ANAND WILL HAVE MORE 
DETAILS TO SHARE A LITTLE LATER 
TODAY.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: IN 
THE LAST 10 WEEKS, MORE THAN 40 
FLIGHTS CARRYING PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT HAVE 
ARRIVED IN CANADA.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF 
THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT ITEMS, 
INCLUDING HOSPITAL GOWNS AND 
MASKS THAT HAVE BEEN 
DISTRIBUTED TO OUR FRONTLINE 
WORKERS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE 
WORKING WITH COMPANIES RIGHT 
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY TO RAMP UP 
OUR DOMESTIC CAPACITY TO 
PRODUCE THESE ARTICLES HERE IN 
CANADA.
TODAY I'M ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT 
WE HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH 
GENERAL MOTORS TO PRODUCE 10 
MILLION FACE MASKS.
AT THIS POINT, G.M. EMPLOYEES 
HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO DO THAT 
WORK AND THE FIRST BATCH OF 
MASKS WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE.
WITH RESPECT TO TESTING, WE ARE 
ALSO MAKING PROGRESS.
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE 
ARE SUPPORTING RESEARCH CENTRES 
THAT ARE DESIGNING NEW TEST 
KITS FOR COVID-19.
AND WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING 
ON VENTS LAY TOS.
-- VENTILATORS.
WE HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT TO 
PRODUCE 10,000 VENTILATORS THAT 
WILL BE MADE THROUGH A 
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ART 
McDONALD, HIS TEAM AND THE 
COMPANY VEXOS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: OVER 
THE PAST TWO MONTHS WE ROLLED 
OUT TARGETED SUPPORT FOR 
SECTORS HIT HARD BY COVID-19.
AND WE KNOW THAT MORE NEEDS TO 
BE DONE.
JUST LOOK AT THE FOOD INDUSTRY.
WITH THE GROWING SEASON UNDER 
WAY, FARMERS ARE WORKING HARDER 
THAN EVER TO KEEP CANADIANS FED.
BUT BECAUSE OF COVID-19, MANY 
ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING 
WORKERS.
SO, TODAY I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT 
OUR GOVERNMENT IS FUNDING UP TO 
700 YOUTH JOBS IN THAT INDUSTRY.
THIS WILL SUPPORT THE PEOPLE 
WHO PUT FOOD ON OUR PLATES 
WHILE CREATING NEW 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THIS BUILDS ON WHAT WE'VE 
ALREADY DONE, FOR CONNECTING 
CANADIANS OF EVERY AGE WITH 
WORK IN THE SECTOR TO 
SUPPORTING SEASONAL WORKERS.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: AT 
THE THIS TIME OF YEAR, FARMERS 
ARE WORKING HARDER THAN EVER TO 
FEED CANADIANS BUT BECAUSE OF 
COVID-19, A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS 
HAVE HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE 
FINDING WORKERS TO HELP THEM 
OUT.
SO WE WILL BE FUNDING UP TO 700 
YOUTH JOBS IN THAT SECTOR.
THAT WILL HELP OUT THOSE WHO 
FEED OUR FAMILIES WHILE AT THE 
SAME TIME CREATING 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THIS 
SUMMER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: IN 
THE LAST WEEK, CANADIANS HAVE 
BEEN FOCUSED ON OUR FAMILIES 
AND ON OUR NEIGHBOURS, ON OUR 
COMMUNITIES AND OUR COUNTRY.
BUT WE'VE ALSO BEEN CLOSELY 
ENGAGED WITH HOW THE WORLD IS 
MANAGING COVID-19.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY 
TO FRUILI END THIS VIRUS IN 
CANADA IS TO END IT EVERYWHERE, 
BUT BECAUSE AS A TRADING 
NATION, WITH CANADIANS WHO 
TRACE THEIR ORIGINS TO EVERY 
CORNER OF THE PLANET, WE 
UNDERSTAND BETTER THAN MOST HOW 
CONNECTED THE WORLD HAS BECOME.
CANADIAN JOBS AND BUSINESSES 
DEPEND ON STABLE AND PRODUCTIVE 
ECONOMIS IN OTHER COUNTRIES SO 
IT MATTERS TO US HOW EVERYONE 
WEATHERS THIS STORM.
FOR SO MANY, THIS PANDEMIC IS 
DEVASTATING.
MORE THAN 300 MILLION PEOPLE 
AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE OUT OF 
WORK.
AND MORE THAN 30 MILLION PEOPLE 
WILL BE PUSHED INTO EXTREME 
POVERTY.
WE CAN'T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO ACT.
IT'S NOT IN OUR SELF-INTEREST 
AND IT'S JUST NOT WHO WE ARE.
WE CAN AND WE MUST SEIZE THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WE CAN 
TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER AND MORE 
PROSPEROUS, TO CREATE AN 
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM WHO 
RECOGNIZES WHO'S LEFT BEHIND 
AND STRIVES TO LIFT THEM UP.
THIS IS NO SMALL TASK.
BUT I KNOW WE'RE UP TO IT.
CANADA IS READY TO DO OUR PART 
AS WE HELP BRING THE WORLD 
TOGETHER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST 
COVID-19.
ON THURSDAY, I WILL BE 
CONVENING A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING 
WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE TO 
CONSIDER GLOBAL ECONOMIC 
CHALLENGES AND HOW TO BETTER 
SUPPORT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
WE'RE BRINGING TOGETHER LEADERS 
FROM EVERY REGION OF THE WORLD, 
AS WELL AS THE HEADS OF 
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, TO 
WORK ON SHARED STRATEGIES TO 
PROTECT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, 
SUPPORT OUR CITIZENS AND HELP 
THE MOST VULNERABLE.
I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO MANY 
LEADERS ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND 
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL 
COOPERATION.
THIS INCLUDES CHANCELLOR MERKEL 
OF GERMANY AND A PRESIDENT 
MACRON OF FRANCE JUST YESTERDAY 
AND LEADERS FROM THE CARIBBEAN 
AND FROM ACROSS AFRICA, LATIN 
AMERICA AND THE PACIFIC.
AND TO KEY INTERNATIONAL 
FINANCIAL EXPERTS, LIKE 
CANADA'S OWN MARK CARNEY, ARE 
GETTING INVOLVED, TOO.
TO ADDRESS THIS PANDEMIC, TO 
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, TO HELP OUR 
ECONOMIES WEATHER THE STORM, WE 
NEED TO COLLABORATE.
AND WITH THIS FORUM, CANADA 
WILL BE THERE TO HELP LEAD THE 
WAY FORWARD.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: 
CANADA IS A TRADING NATION WITH 
TRADING THE LINKS WITH MANY 
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
OUR WORKERS, OUR ECONOMIES, 
DEPEND ON A GLOBAL ECONOMY THAT 
IS HEALTHY, AND IN THE MIDST OF 
A PANDEMIC, WE CANNOT CLOSE OUR 
EYES TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.
WE MUST NOT FORGET THE MOST 
VULNERABLE.
WHETHER THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO LIVE 
IN REMOTE REGIONS OR PEOPLE IN 
THE CARIBBEAN.
FOR MANY OF THEM, THE PANDEMIC 
HAS BEEN A DISASTER.
AS CANADIANS, WE KNOW THAT WE 
HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
WE CAN AND WE MUST BUILD A 
SAFER AND MORE PROSPEROUS WORLD 
FOR EVERYONE AND ENSURE THAT 
OUR INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM IS 
FAIR AND MORE EQUAL FOR ALL.
THIS IS QUITE A TASK.
BUT I KNOW WE'RE UP TO IT.
ON THURSDAY, I WILL BE 
CONVENING A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING 
WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF 
THE U.N. AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
OF JAMAICA TO ADDRESS THE 
CURRENT CHALLENGES AND LOOK AT 
VARIOUS WAYS OF HELPING 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 
LEADERS TO GET TOGETHER AND 
DEVELOP STRATEGIS TO PROTECT 
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, SUPPORT OUR 
CITIZENS AND HELP THE MOST 
VULNERABLE.
I DISCUSSED THOSE MATTERS WITH 
A NUMBER OF LEADERS.
YESTERDAY, I SPOKE TO 
CHANCELLOR MERKEL OF GERMANY 
AND PRESIDENT MACRON OF FRANCE 
AND I'VE ALSO HAD DISCUSSIONS 
WITH LEADERS FROM THE 
CARIBBEAN, LATIN AMERICA AND 
THE PACIFIC REGION.
OF COURSE, KEY FINANCIAL 
EXPERTS AS WELL, SUCH AS THE 
CANADIAN MARK CARNEY.
THEY WILL ALSO BE PARTICIPATING.
IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, AND WE 
REMAIN FOCUSED ON WHAT WE MUST 
DO, I KNOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO 
GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
AND COME BACK STRONG AFTERWARDS.
THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL NOW GO TO THE PHONE 
FOR QUESTIONS.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
FOR QUESTIONS, STAR 1.
[Speaking French] 
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: GOOD 
MORNING, PRIME MINISTER.
FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT THE 
MILITARY.
YOU TALKED ABOUT EXTENDING 
THEIR MISSION, BUT YOU DIDN'T 
SAY UNTIL WHEN.
DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT 
MISSION WILL BE EXTENDED?
WELL, IT'S ONLY IN RECENT DAYS, 
YESTERDAY FROM QUEBEC, FOR 
EXAMPLE, WE RECEIVED A REQUEST 
FOR AN A EXTENSION SO WE HAVE 
TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE 
TWO PROVINCES.
BUT, OF COURSE, WE WILL BE 
THERE TO HELP THEM.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
JUST RECEIVED THE REQUEST FOR 
ASSISTANCE IN THE PAST DAYS, 
INCLUDING ONLY YESTERDAY FOR 
QUEBEC.
SO, WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH 
THE PREMIER'S OFFICES.
BUT, OF COURSE, WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO HELP.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: ARE 
THERE OTHER ASYLUM WORKERS 
WORKING IN LONG-TERM HOMES?
NOW IS YOUR GOVERNMENT PREPARED 
TO PROCESS THEIR APPLICATIONS 
QUICKLY AS MANY ARE ASKING?
WELL, FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS 
NOW, THE MINISTER OF 
IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN WORK ON 
THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME 
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE DOING 
HEROIC WORK IN OUR LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES.
AND WE MUST LOOK AT HOW WE CAN 
HELP THEM AND THAT'S PRECISELY 
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
>> [Speaking French].
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, MIA RABSON, THE 
CANADIAN PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, IF YOU CAN 
EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THE 
DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE 
SPECIAL COVID-19 COMMITTEE 
BEING SAFE TO SIT IN PARLIAMENT 
IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE 
FOR THE FULL HOUSE OF COMMONS 
TO SIT IN REDUCED NUMBERS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK IT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT 
THAT WE'VE HAD A PARLIAMENT AND 
DEMOCRACY THAT HAS CONTINUED TO 
FUNCTION.
OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF WEEKS, 
WE'VE HAD THREE DAYS A WEEK OF 
SESSIONS WHERE THE OPPOSITION 
CAN BRING FORWARD THEIR 
QUESTIONS, MAKE THEIR 
SUGGESTIONS AND DEMONSTRATE TO 
ALL CANADIANS THAT OUR 
INSTITUTIONS CONTINUE TO 
FUNCTION.
WE KNOW THAT CONTINUING THAT 
APPROACH FOUR DAYS A WEEK WILL 
BE IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO 
RESPOND TO THIS EXTRAORDINARY 
CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME.
WE ARE, HOWEVER, CONTINUING TO 
WORK ON THE ISSUE OF VOTING.
BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD ON 
VOTING, WE WANT TO TRY AND MAKE 
SURE, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THAT 
WE ARE ABLE TO BRING IN REMOTE 
VOTING.
I KNOW THAT THE PROC COMMITTEE 
OF PARLIAMENT IS STUDYING THAT 
CAREFULLY.
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE 
THAT CANADIANS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY HAVE AN ABILITY TO MAKE 
THEIR VOICES AND THEIR 
DECISIONS HEARD IN PARLIAMENT, 
THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THAT CONTINUES TO BE SOMETHING 
THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
>> AND A FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: YEAH.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS, GIVE THAN YOU 
HAD A KNOWN EXPOSURE TO 
COVID-19 EARLY ON, WHEN THE 
SEROLOGICAL TESTING BECOMES 
AVAILABLE, DO YOU PLAN TO GET 
ONE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: YES, 
I DO.
I THINK SEROLOGICAL TESTING IS 
AN IMPORTANT PART OF 
UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY HOW 
COVID-19 HAS BEEN PRESENT IN 
THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN 
PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T DISPLAYED 
ANY SYMPTOMS AT ALL.
AND AS SOON AS THOSE TESTS 
BECOME MORE LARGELY AVAILABLE 
TO CANADIANS, I WILL CERTAINLY 
ENSURE THAT I'M ONE OF THEM.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: I 
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW 
TO WHAT EXTENT COVID-19 HAS 
SPREAD AMONG OUR POPULATION, 
INCLUDING AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE 
UNSYMPTOMATIC, INCLUDING 
POSSIBLY MYSELF.
SO, WHEN THOSE TESTS WILL BE 
MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE, I INTEND 
TO BECOME TESTED.
>> THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French]
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: GOOD 
MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO THE 
ASYLUM-SEEKERS ISSUE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW -- DO YOU 
AGREE WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF 
REGULARIZING THE STATUS OF 
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS OR 
EXPEDITING THE PROCESSING OF 
THEIR APPLICATION OR EVEN 
PUTTING THEM IN THE IMMIGRANT 
PROCESS AS QUEBEC SEEMS TO BE 
REQUESTING?
WELL, FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, 
WE'VE REALISED THAT PEOPLE 
COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY MAKE A 
STRONG CONTRIBUTION TO OUR 
PROTECTION AND OUR SUCCESS AS A 
COUNTRY.
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN 
OPEN TO IMMIGRATION AND HAS 
ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE PEOPLE 
WHO COME INTO THIS COUNTRY.
WHEN IT COMES TO ASYLUM SEEKERS 
WHO CAME INTO THE COUNTRY 
THROUGH IRREGULAR MEANS AND ARE 
NOW WORKING IN OUR LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES AND ARE DOING HEROIC 
WORK TO PROTECT CANADIANS, 
WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT HOW 
WE CAN RECOGNIZE THAT WORK AND 
EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
AND THE MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION 
IS WORKING PRECISELY ON THAT.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French].
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: I 
KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A 
CHANGE OF POSITION ON THE PART 
OF MS. FREELAND.
A WEEK AGO SHE WAS SAYING WE 
ARE A COUNTRY THAT ABIDES BY 
THE RULE OF LAW.
WE HAVE TO USE THE REGULAR 
PROCESSES.
BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE 
PREPARED TO DO THINGS SOMEWHAT 
DIFFERENTLY.
WELL, WE ARE IN A SITUATION 
THAT IS QUITE EXCEPTIONAL AND 
UNPRECEDENTED.
COVID-19 IS DEMANDING THAT WE 
REVIEW CERTAIN WAYS OF DOING 
THINGS AND THAT INCLUDES OUR 
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.
NOW THAT SYSTEM IS FOCUSED ON 
ABIDING BY THE REGULAR 
PROCESSES AND TREATING EVERYONE 
FAIRLY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO 
FOLLOW THOSE PROCESSES.
BUT IN AN EXCEPTIONAL 
SITUATION, WE CAN, OF COURSE, 
CONSIDER EXCEPTIONS.
>> MERCI.
OPERATOR?
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French]
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: GOOD 
MORNING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW ON IMMIGRANTS, MR. TRUDEAU, 
HOW MANY IRREGULAR ASYLUM 
SEEKERS DO YOU THINK ARE -- 
HAVE BEEN COMING IN?
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU AGREE WITH 
THE PRINCIPLE, BUT WHAT ARE THE 
PROBLEMS THAT COULD SURROUND 
SECURING THEIR STATUS?
WELL, I THINK PEOPLE RECOGNIZE 
THAT HEROES WHO ARE DOING 
EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN A VERY 
DIFFICULT SITUATION SHOULD BE 
RECOGNIZED AS SUCH.
AND WE HAVE AN A IMMIGRATION 
SYSTEM THAT IS ROBUST AND 
RIGOROUS AND COMPLEX.
THEREFORE, THE MINISTER OF 
IMMIGRATION IS CURRENTLY 
LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT WHAT 
THIS KIND OF APPROACH WOULD 
INVOLVE AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT 
PEOPLE FEEL THERE IS A NEED TO 
THANK THOSE INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE 
ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S 
DONE PROPERLY.
FOLLOW-UP?
YES.
AS A FOLLOW-UP, MR. TRUDEAU, ON 
ANOTHER ISSUE, THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, THE LEADER OF THE BLOC 
QUÉBÉCOIS HAS BEEN SUGGESTING 
THAT YOU ARE NOT BEING A MORAL 
LEADER ON THAT ISSUE.
HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU 
COULD BE ASKING FOR THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
AND AS THE LEADER OF YOUR 
PARTY, WILL YOU DEMAND THAT 
YOUR PARTY NOT USE THAT WAGE 
SUBSIDY OR WILL YOU GO AHEAD 
WITH IT?
THE WAGE SUBSIDY WAS INTRODUCED 
TO HELP ALL ORGANISATIONS, ALL 
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SEEN A 
DECLINE IN THEIR REVENUE.
IN ORDER TO HELP THE WORKERS.
THE SUBSIDY DOES NOT JUDGE THE 
TYPE OF WORK OR THE TYPE OF 
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION THAT IS 
INVOLVED.
WE SIMPLY LOOK AT HOW WE CAN 
HELP PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THAT 
JOB TO KEEP THEIR PAYCHEQUE AND 
TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR 
FAMILY AND BUY THEIR GROCERIES.
NOW IN POLITICAL PARTIES, THERE 
ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK AS 
TRANSLATORS, AS ACCOUNTANTS, AS 
RECEPTIONISTS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO 
IMPORTANT WORK FOR THEMSELVES 
AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND WE 
CREATED THE WAGE SUBSIDY TO 
HELP PRECISELY THEE KINDS OF 
PEOPLE TO HELP THEIR -- TO KEEP 
THEIR JOBS RATHER THAN BEING 
LAID OFF POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A 
DECLINE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S 
REVENUE.
AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR 
SPEECH, YOU REFERED TO THE 
SOLDIERS WORKING IN THE 
LONG-TERM CARES THAT HAVE MADE 
SOME TROUBLING OBSERVATIONS.
IS THAT ONLY IN ONTARIO OR ALSO 
IN QUEBEC?
AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
DISTRESS?
NEGLIGENCE?
COULD YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC 
ABOUT THOSE TROUBLING 
OBSERVATION AND HOW DID YOU 
FEEL ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU HEARD 
THIS?
WELL, I READ THE REPORT 
YESTERDAY COMING FROM THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AND I CAN 
TELL YOU THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY 
TROUBLING.
I GOT THAT -- WE SENT THAT 
REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 
ONTARIO OVER THE WEEKEND AND WE 
WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT FURTHER 
AND WE WILL BE THERE TO HELP.
BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE 
MUST DO MUCH BETTER WHEN IT 
COMES TO SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS 
IN THESE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT REPORT TALKS SPECIFICALLY 
ABOUT THE SITUATION IN ONTARIO, 
BUT WE CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I -- 
I READ THE REPORT IN FULL 
YESTERDAY.
WE -- I SHARED I WITH THE 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF 
ONTARIO OVER THE WEEKEND.
IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING.
THERE ARE THINGS IN THERE THAT 
ARE EXTREMELY TROUBLING.
AND WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION AND 
I SPOKE WITH THE PREMIER THIS 
MORNING TO ASSURE HIM THAT, OF 
COURSE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
WOULD BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM 
AS THEY DEAL WITH THIS 
SITUATION.
WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF 
TAKING CARE OF OUR ELDERS IN 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, IN 
ONTARIO AND, INDEED, RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE PREMIER WILL BE SHARING 
THIS REPORT WITH CANADIANS IN 
THE COMING HOURS AND WE'LL BE 
SPEAKING AT MORE LENGTH ON IT 
AND I WILL LEAVE THAT FOR HIM.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: NOW 
WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAILS 
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO 
[INAUDIBLE] THE PREMIER OF 
ONTARIO, WHAT BOTHERED YOU THE 
MOST IN THAT REPORT?
AND IN TERMS OF YOUR OWN 
EMOTIONS, WERE YOU SAD, 
DISGUSTED, SHOCKED?
HOW DID YOU RESPOND?
THE ANSWER WAS, YES, I WAS 
SHOCKED, SAD AND DISAPPOINT, I 
WAS ANGRY.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE TALKING 
ABOUT A SITUATION THAT CLEARLY 
IS REALITY ASSOCIATED WITH 
COVID-19, BUT HAS ALSO EXISTED 
FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
AND WE MUST, AS A COUNTRY, 
IMPROVE THE SITUATION IN THOSE 
CARE HOMES, BUT I WILL ALLOW 
PREMIER FORD TO COMMENT ON 
THIS, BUT AS I SAID SEVERAL 
TIMES SINCES THE BEGINNING OF 
THIS PANDEMIC, THESE ARE 
SENIORS SUFFERING THE MOST AS A 
RESULT OF COE VIDS AND WE HAVE 
TO DO BETTER TO SUPPORT THEM 
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL 
BE THERE TO TAKE PART IN ANY 
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL TAKE 
PLACE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE TO 
IMPROVE THAT SUPPORT FOR THE 
PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS COUNTRY.
I HAD OBVIOUSLY A RANGE OF 
EMOTIONS OF ANGER, OF SADNESS, 
OF GRIEF.
IT IS EXTREMELY TROUBLING AND, 
AS I'VE SAID FROM THE VERY 
BEGINNING OF THIS, WE NEED TO 
DO A BETTER JOB OF SUPPORTING 
OUR SENIORS IN LONG-TERM CARE 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND 
BEYOND.
THIS IS A SITUATION THAT HAS 
GONE ON FOR A LONG TIME.
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION AS A 
COUNTRY.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO SUPPORT PROVINCES IN 
THEIR JURISDICTIONS ON DEALING 
WITH THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> Reporter: TOM PARRY WITH CBC.
YOU READ THIS REPORT.
ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE 
PROBLEMS THAT IT REVEALS ARE 
NOT LIMITED ONLY TO ONTARIO, 
AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY CAN THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO RIGHT NOW 
TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THERE TO 
HELP.
WE HAVE STEPED UP WITH MEMBERS 
OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IN 
A NUMBER OF LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES ACROSS THE PROVINCE 
AND ONTARIO AND QUEBEC.
BUT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY 
THIS SYSTEM OF LONG-TERM CARES 
IS LARGER THAN JUST THE PLACES 
THAT THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 
ARE SHOWING UP IN.
SO, WE NEED TO HAVE A 
CONVERSATION AND WE NEED TO 
TAKE ACTION AS A COUNTRY ON 
IMPROVING CARE.
THERE ARE MANY EXTRAORDINARY, 
EXCELLENT LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
THERE ARE SOME THAT OBVIOUSLY 
NOT DOING AS WELL.
THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT 
WE'RE IMPROVING THE STANDARDS 
OF CARE AND THE SUPPORT FOR 
CANADIANS AS THEY RETIRE, AS 
THEY REACH THAT PHASE OF THEIR 
LIVES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS I 
SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, HOW WE 
MOVE FORWARD, LEARN FROM THIS 
CRISIS AND WHAT WE LEARNED 
THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
AND MOVE FORWARD.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: WE 
ARE FACING A SITUATION.
THAT CLEARLY HAS EXISTED SINCE 
LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IN A 
NUMBER OF LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE SUPPORT 
GIVEN.
OUR SENIORS IS NOT UP TO 
SCRATCH.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE 
SENIORS RESIDENCES AND CENTRES 
THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARY.
IN TERMS OF THE WAY THEY CARE 
FOR OUR SENIORS AND ELDERS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER  
FACILITIES THAT DO NOT MEET OUR 
STANDARDS.
AS A SOCIETY AND AS A COUNTRY, 
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO 
IMPROVE THE CARE WE PROVIDE TO 
OUR SENIORS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO SUPPORT THE PROVINCES 
IN THAT WORK.
>> Reporter: WE WERE TALKING 
ABOUT THE FLIGHTS THAT HAVE 
ARRIVED BUT WHAT ABOUT 
BOTTLENECKS?
WHAT IS PREVENTING US FROM 
GETTING MORE OF THIS EQUIPMENT?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
THERE ARE GLOBAL  CHALLENGES 
AROUND PROVISIONS OF P.P.E. 
WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED WITH 40 
FLIGHTS AND HUNDREDS OF 
THOUSANDS OF ITEMS, MANY IN THE 
MILLIONS, THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED 
AND DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
THAT WE ARE PROVIDING FOR 
CANADIANS AS WE -- AS WE NEED 
TO.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE RECOGNIZE 
THAT AS THE ECONOMY RE-OPENS, 
AS PROGRAMMES A SECOND WAVE 
MIGHT HIT US, WE NEED TO BE 
READY AND THAT IS WHY WE 
CONTINUE TO DRAW ON EVEN MORE 
P.P.E., WE CONTINUE TO GO 
THROUGH STRINGENT AND RIGOROUS 
QUALITY CONTROL BECAUSE WE HAVE 
SEEN A RISE IN COUNTERFEIT 
PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTS THAT 
DON'T MEET A RIGOROUS CANADIAN 
CHALLENGE STANDARDS.
WE HAVE ENSURED THAT EVERY ITEM 
THAT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED IN 
CANADA HAS MET OUR STANDARDS.
BUT IT'S WHY WE'VE ALSO MOVED 
TOWARDS INCREASING AND CREATING 
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION FOR P.P.E. 
AND CANADIANS STEPPING UP TO 
HELP CANADIANS IS WHAT THIS 
COUNTRY IS ALL  ABOUT AND WE'LL 
CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK 
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE HAVE THE 
P.P.E. NECESSARY TO MOVE 
FORWARD SAFELY.
OK.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: FROM 
THE VERY BEGINNING, WE HAVE 
BEEN WORKING TO ENSURE THAT 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 
IS DISTRIBUTED RIGHT ACROSS 
THIS COUNTRY.
THAT IT IS OF HIGH QUALITY AND 
WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ITEMS 
FROM COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE 
CREATING LOCAL DOMESTIC 
PRODUCTION HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW 
THAT, AS THE ECONOMY RE-OPENS, 
WE WILL NEED EVEN MORE P.P.E. 
AND WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR A 
SECOND WAVE.
AND WE WILL BE READY BECAUSE 
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TOWARDS 
-- WORKING TOWARDS AS A COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: WAS IT THE 
FINDINGS RELATED TO THE 
CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE 
LIVING IN IN LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES OR DID IT RISE, IN YOUR 
VIEW, TO THE LEVEL OF ABUSE?
IN EITHER CASE, WHAT WOULD YOU 
SAY TO PEOPLE IN ONTARIO WHOSE 
FAMILY MEMBERS ARE IN THESE 
HOMES RIGHT NOW, WHEN THEY'RE 
HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT THIS.
WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: AS I 
SAID, THE REPORT THAT WE 
RECEIVED, WE PASSED ALONG 
IMMEDIATELY TO ONTARIO.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM ON THE 
NEXT STEPS.
BUT I WILL LEAVE IT TO PREMIER 
FORD TO SHARE THAT REPORT AND 
DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS IN A 
COUPLE OF HOURS WHEN HE MOVES 
FORWARD FOR HIS PRESS 
CONFERENCE.
>> Reporter: AS YOU KNOW 
TOMORROW, WE'RE EXPECTING A 
DECISION ON MENG WANZHOU'S 
EXTRADITION AND THIS WILL UPSET 
PEOPLE ON ONE SIDE OR THE 
OTHER, THE CHINESE OR AMERICANS.
WHAT LEVEL OF INTERACTION 
THERE'S BEEN BETWEEN YOUR 
GOVERNMENT AND YOUR 
COUNTERPARTS ON THE CHINESE 
SIDE AND THE AMERICAN SIDE, 
PREPARING FOR ONE OF THOSE TWO 
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES.
ARE YOU CONCERNED, AND HAVE YOU 
SPOKEN TO THEM ABOUT THE 
POSSIBILITY OF RETALIATION IF 
IT GOUNLT THEIR WAY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
HAVE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE 
DIPLOMATICALLY WITH OUR 
PARTNERS, BOTH THE AMERICANS 
AND CHINESE, ON THE ISSUE OF 
MENG WANZHOU AND, INDEED, OF 
THE TWO MICHAELS WHO HAVE BEEN 
ARBITRARILY DETAINED IN CHINA.
BUT ONE OF THE GOOD THING 
ACTION HAVING A TRULY 
INDEPENDENT JUSTICE SYSTEM IS 
THAT WE DON'T NEED TO APOLOGIZE 
OR EXPLAIN FOR THE DECISIONS 
TAKEN BY OUR INDEPENDENT 
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THAT 
SYSTEM, IN ITS INDEPENDENCE AND 
WE, OF COURSE, WILL CONTINUE TO 
ABIDE AND DEFEND OUR SYSTEM.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: OF 
COURSE, THERE IS CONSTANT 
DIPLOMACY BETWEEN CANADA AND 
THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA ON 
VARIOUS ISSUES, INCLUDING THE 
CANADIANS DETAINED IN CHINA.
BUT ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF A 
FULLY INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL 
SYSTEM IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO 
EXPLAIN OR MAKE EXCUSES FOR OUR 
SYSTEM.
WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE 
JUDGMENT THAT COMES OUT OF THAT 
SYSTEM AND THE APPROACH TAKEN 
BY PEOPLE IN OUR INDEPENDENT 
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
AND THAT IS A MAJOR ADVANTAGE 
WE HAVE IN CANADA.
>> Reporter: PRIME MINISTER, 
JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON EXTENDING 
THE MILITARY'S MISSION IN 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND 
THE HORRIBLE CONDITIONS THE 
REPORT SHOWED THAT THEY HAVE 
FOUND.
PUBLIC SAFETY MINISTER BILL 
BLAIR RECEIVED THE LETTER BACK 
ON MAY 14.
OUTLINING THESE ALLEGATIONS OF 
ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
DO YOU KNOW WHY THE MINISTER 
AND HIS OFFICE WOULD HAVE SAT 
ON THIS LETTER FOR 10 DAYS 
BEFORE ACTING?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WHEN 
WE RECEIVED THIS REPORT, WE 
SHARED IT WITH ONTARIO.
I FOUND OUT THE EXISTENCE OF 
THIS REPORT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
ON THE WEEKEND, WE SHARED IT 
WITH ONTARIO.
I READ THE REPORT YESTERDAY.
AND IT IS BEING MADE PUBLIC 
TODAY.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED 
TO MOVE QUICKLY ON.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED 
TO -- WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON 
AND, AS I SAID, THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT WILL BE THERE TO 
SUPPORT ONTARIO AND OTHER 
PROVINCE AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.
>> AND JUST TO SWITCH GEARS A 
BIT, ONE OF YOUR VANCOUVER 
M.P.s HAS A WE CHAT GROUP SHE 
USES TO COMMUNICATE WITH 
CANADIANS.
SHE HAS PUBLICLY TID ON THIS 
GROUP AND INVITED PEOPLE TO 
JOIN SO IT'S LIKE A Facebook 
PAGE, IF YOU WILL.
AND SHE'S ALLOWED THE GROUP TO 
BE USED TO APPEAL TO CANADIANS 
TO DONATE TO A LAWSUIT AGAINST 
A GLOBAL NEWS JOURNALIST FOR A 
STORY THAT THEY DON'T LIKE.
THE M.P. I'M TALK ABOUT IS YOUR 
DIGITAL MINISTER FOR 
GOVERNMENT, MS. JOYCE MOREY.
HER MANDATE LETTER CALLS FOR 
HER TO WORK WITH THE MEDIA IN, 
QUOTE A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
I'M WONDERING WHY YOU'RE 
ALLOWING THIS MINISTER AND HER 
STAFF TO USE THE WEB PRESENCE 
TO FUND RAISE ON A LAWSUIT 
AGAINST A JOURNALIST.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THIS 
IS THE FIRST I HEAR OF THIS 
SITUATION.
AND WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: THIS 
IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD 
ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND WE 
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP.
MERCI.
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: 
THANK YOU, ALL.
>> Rosemary: AND THAT IS THE 
PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA WITH 
HIS DAILY BRIEFING TO THE 
COUNTRY TODAY.
ACTUALLY WITH SOME PRETTY 
SHOCKING DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE 
WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT, FIRST AT 
A TECHNICAL BRIEFING BY THE 
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT AT 12:30 AND 
THEN A FULL RELEASE BY THE 
PREMIER AT 1:30 EASTERN.
I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES 
VASSY AND DAVID TO TALK MORE 
ABOUT REPORTS THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID CANADIAN FORCES 
SAW IN ONTARIO LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES THAT HE CALLED 
EXTREMELY DISTURBING.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING YOUR 
SOURCES TO FIND OUT WHAT MIGHT 
BE IN THIS REPORT AND HOW THIS 
UNFOLDED.
I'LL START WITH YOU, VASSY.
>> Vassy: IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER -- I SHOULD 
REITERATE WHAT HE SAID, AS YOU 
MENTIONED, HE SAID HE 
EXPERIENCED ANGER, FRUSTRATION 
AND GRIEF WHEN READING THE 
MILITARY REPORT ON WHAT'S GOING 
ON IN SOME ONTARIO LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE MILITARY IS IN 
FIVE OF THOSE FACILITIES MOST 
IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA.
ORCHARDVILLE IN PICKERING AND 
ONE IN SCARBOROUGH, ETOBICOKE, 
NORTH YORK AND BRAMPTON.
WHAT I'M TOLD IS THAT -- AND 
YOU HEARD THE PRIME MINISTER 
TALK ABOUT IT -- HE IS IN 
RECEIPT OF THE REPORT AS OF 
FRIDAY.
THERE WAS A QUESTION FROM 
GLOBAL NEWS THAT BILL BLAIR'S 
OFFICE, THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC 
SAFETY, MIGHT HAVE HAD THE 
REPORT SINCE MAY 14.
AND I'M WORKING TO FRY AND 
CONFIRM THAT AT THIS POINT.
WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM TWO 
SEPARATE SOURCES IN THE 
MILITARY IS THAT THIS REPORT 
ASKS THE PROVINCE TO 
INVESTIGATE AND TAKE SOME SORT 
OF CORRECTIVE ACTION.
THEY FOUND EVIDENCE OF FEW 
RULES BEING FOLLOWED, LACK OF 
STAFF TRAINING AND LACK OF 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, INADEQUATE 
RESOURCE OVERALL.
PEOPLE PASSING AWAY AND NOT 
ADEQUATELY BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
MY SOURCE SAYS THERE ARE 
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES PROVIDED IN 
THE REPORT.
AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING, 
ACCORDING TO THE PREMIER'S 
OFFICE, THE FULL REPORT TO BE 
RELEASED IN A FEW HOURS' TIME.
THERE IS A TECHNICAL BRIEFING 
ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF IT ABOUT 
12:30 EASTERN.
BOTTOM LINE, THOUGH, THE 
MILITARY WITNESSED SOME AWFUL 
THINGS IN THE SHORT TIME 
THEY'VE BEEN IN THESE LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES.
WE KNOW AS WELL THAT THE 
PROVINCES OF BOTH ONTARIO AND 
QUEBEC HAVE REQUESTED AN 
EXTENSION OF THE PRESENCE OF 
THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN THE 
PROVINCE.
HE SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING THAT 
EXTENSION RIGHT NOW.
MY GUESS THAT IT WILL BE 
GRANTED GIVEN THAT THE ISSUES 
THAT PERSIST IN THOSE HOMES.
BUT ESSENTIALLY YOU HAVE THE 
MILITARY ACTING AS 
WHISTLEBLOWER ABOUT WHAT'S 
GOING ON IN THESE HOMES.
WE KNOW FROM SPEAKING WITH 
PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELATIVESES, 
WHO HAVE LOVED ONES IN THEM 
THAT THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS.
WE KNOW FROM THE SPREAD OF THE 
VIRUS, THE SHEER DATA THAT 
THESE HOMES HAVE BEEN HIT, 
PARTICULARLY HARD, BUT IT 
APPEARS WHAT THE MILITARY HAS 
WITNESSED IN THE HOMES IS SO 
AWFUL, SO TROUBLING AS THE 
PRIME MINISTER PUT IT, THAT 
THEY PUT IT DOWN IN WRITING AND 
THAT THEY ARE ASKING THE 
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO TO TAKE 
CROAKIVE ACTION.
-- CORRECTIVE ACTION, AS A 
RESULT.
>> Rosemary: OK.
A COUPLE OF REMINDERS ABOUT THE 
STATE OF CANADA'S MILITARY IN 
THESE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES, 
AS YOU SAID, FIVE OF THEM IN 
ONTARIO.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE 
INCIDENTS OCCURRED.
BUT THERE ARE 250 MEMBERS OF 
THE MILITARY WORKING IN THOSE 
FIVE CENTRES IN ONTARIO.
THERE ARE 25 LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES IN QUEBEC THAT HAVE THE 
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OF THE 
MILITARY.
1350 SOLDIERS WORKING INSIDE 
THOSE CARE CENTRES AND WE HAVE 
HEARD, OF COURSE, VERY 
TROUBLING STORIES AS WELL.
EVEN BEFORE THE MILITARY 
ARRIVED AND THE DIFFERENCE IS 
THAT THE MILITARY WORKING THERE 
WAS CONCERNED ENOUGH TO FLAG 
THIS SO THAT THE PROVINCE COULD 
TAKE STEPS.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THOSE STEPS ARE.
IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE SOME 
NEGLIGENCE.
>> David: YOU HAVE A REMARKABLE 
SITUATION WHERE THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES ARE ACTING AS 
WHISTLEBLOWERS IN TERMS OF WHAT 
THEY'VE SEEN IN THESE FIVE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN ONTARIO.
WE'VE NOTICED FROM DOUG FORD'S 
PRESS SECRETARY THAT THEY WILL 
BE RELEASING THE FULL REPORT ON 
THE FIVE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
THAT THE MILITARY HAS BEEN 
INSISTING AT AT 1:30 TODAY.
THERE IS -- HANG ON.
JUST GETTING A BIT OF 
INFORMATION HERE.
OK.
THE MAY 14 DATE THAT CAME OUT 
WAS APPARENTLY A LETTER SENT TO 
BILL BLAIR OR ALERT.
I'M TOLD BY A SENIOR GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIAL THAT THEY DID NOT GET 
THE FULL REPORT FROM THE 
MILITARY UNTIL FRIDAY.
SO IT'S COME VERY QUICKLY FROM 
WHEN THE FORMAL REPORT WAS 
COMPILED AND SENT TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S OFFICE FROM WHEN IT 
WAS READ, SHARED WITH THE 
PREMIER'S OFFICE AND THEN MADE 
PUBLIC.
IT IS UNCLEAR TO ME, AT LEAST, 
WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN KNOWN BY 
MINISTER BLAIR'S OFFICE ON THE 
14TH OF MAY IF THAT WAS SOMEONE 
FROM THE MILITARY OR MEDIA OR 
REPORT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN 
VARIOUS REPORTS ABOUT  
DEFICIENCIES IN CANADA.
THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECT.
-- NEGLECTFUL IN PROTECTING THE 
STAFF.
THAT WORK THERE AND PREVENTING 
THE SPREAD AND PROVIDING THEM 
WITH A LIVING WAGE SO THEY CAN 
REDUCE THEIR EXPOSURE BY 
WORKING IN MULTIPLE HOMES JUST 
TO COBBLE TOGETHER ENOUGH OF AN 
INCOME TO STAY SOLVENT IN 
REGULAR TIMES, LET ALONE DURING 
A PANDEMIC.
NOW TO HAVE THE MILITARY 
DEPLOYED TO SORT OF STILL IN 
THE GAPS, BY STAFF IN THESE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES GETTING 
SICK AND HAVE THE MILITARY WALK 
INTO SOMETHING SO TROUBLING AND 
SOLDIERS SEE SOME THINGS, IT 
WAS SO TROUBLING THEY FELT TO 
FORMALLY MAKE A COMPLAINT AND 
SEND A WHISTLE BLOWER AND WHAT 
HAS BEEN A SERIES OF STARTLING 
THINGS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL 
MONTHINGS.
THIS IS -- MONTHS.
I THINK WHAT WE'LL HEAR FROM 
THE PREMIER IN ABOUT AN HOUR 
AND A HALF IS GOING TO BE 
PRETTY HORRIBLE.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE 
IS A TECHNICAL BRIEFING WHICH 
IS NOT -- WILL NOT BE MADE 
PUBLIC SO WE CAN'T TELEVISE IT.
BUT OUR REPORTERS WILL BE 
CALLING IN, OF COURSE, TO GET 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT 
TECHNICAL BRIEFING.
THE PREMIER, FORD, WILL BE WITH 
THE ATTORNEY GENERALLE.
IS THAT ANY INDICATION OF THE 
SERIOUSNESS OF THIS MATTER WHEN 
HE SPEAKS TO THE ENTIRE REPORT 
WHICH WILL BE MADE PUBLIC.
I'M SURE PEOPLE WILL BE 
RE-ASSURED TO SEE THE FULLNESS 
OF THAT REPORT.
THE MINISTER OF LONG-TERM CARE 
WILL ALSO BE AT THAT PRESS 
CONFERENCE AT 1:30.
OF COURSE, WE'LL BRING THAT TO 
YOU LIVE.
I WILL JUST SAY THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER DID SEEM, YOU KNOW A 
LITTLE -- HE OBVIOUSLY WAS 
FRUSTRATED AND UPSET ABOUT IT.
HE ALSO SAID THAT HE OFFERED 
HIS SUPPORT TO ONTARIO AS THE 
COUNTRY REALLY HAS TO MOVE 
FORWARD WITH A DIFFICULT 
CONVERSATION AND CLEARLY THESE 
SOLDIERS WERE BROUGHT INTO 
THESE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES 
BECAUSE THEY WERE SOME OF THE 
MOST AS A RESULT VERBAL AND THE 
CENTRES THAT NEED -- MOST 
VULNERABLE AND THE CENTRES THAT 
NEEDED THE MOST HELP.
BUT IT'S UPSETTING ENOUGH FOR 
THEM TO REPORT IT UP TO THEIR 
SUPERIORS.
WE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THEM 
AND DIDN'T GET A SENSE OF THIS.
BUT WE WILL GET MORE 
INFORMATION LATER IN THE 
AFTERNOON.
>> David: ROSEY, I WAS ASKING 
ABOUT THIS LETTER AND WHAT I'M 
BEING TOLD IS THAT THIS LETTER 
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE 
14 *9.
THERE WAS A PACKAGE DELIVERED 
ON FRIDAY.
AND IN THAT PACKAGE, ONE OF THE 
DOCUMENTS DATED MAY 14TH.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN 
COMPILED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THERE MAY BE DOCUMENTS THAT 
WERE DATED THIS TIME AND SHARED 
AT CERTAIN LEVELS.
BUT WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD FROM 
OFFICIALS IN THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S OFFICE IS BLAIR DID 
NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON THE 14TH 
OF MAY.
THE PACKAGE THAT ARRIVED HAD 
DOCUMENTS DATED ON THE 14TH OF 
MAY.
THAT MAY CONTRADICT OTHER 
REPORTING.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TOLD IN OUR 
INQUIRIES.
>> Rosemary: WE'LL LET YOU WORK 
YOUR SOURCE FOR A MOMENTS IF 
YOU DON'T MIND AS WE WAIT FOR 
THE FEDERAL BRIEFING FROM 
FEDERAL CABINET MINISTERS AND 
HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT START AT 
NOON.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL BRING IN 
A GUEST, COLIN FERNESS IS AN 
ASSISTANT EPIDEMIOLOGY 
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF 
TORONTO.
HELLO.
>> HELLO.
>> Rosemary: ALL THE 
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS IN THIS COUNTRY 
HAVE BECOME FAMOUS NOW AND 
WELL-KNOWN FACES TO US AND WE 
APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME.
I KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR FIELD OF 
EXPERTISE, BUT MAYBE GET YOU TO 
WEIGH IN ON THESE REVELATIONS 
THAT WE DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH 
ABOUT AT THIS STAGE, THAT 
SOLDIERS HAVE WITNESSED SOME 
TROUBLING THINGS INSIDE 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
CERTAINLY WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS 
A SITUATION THAT WOULD HAVE TO 
BE CORRECTED GOING FORWARD.
JUST YOUR THOUGH ON WHAT YOU 
HEARD THERE FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> WE KNOW HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE 
SAFE.
WE HAVE THIS EXPERTISE.
WE DO IT IN HOSPITALS ALL THE 
TIME.
AND I'M SURE THE PRIME MINISTER 
WAS SHOCKED TO GET THAT REPORT.
I'M SURE WE'RE ALL SHOCKED.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK WE 
KIND OF KNOW THAT MARGINALIZED 
POPULATIONS AND OLD FOLKS ARE 
ONE, PRISONERS ARE ANOTHER, 
HOMELESS ARE ANOTHER.
WE DON'T SPEND THE MONEY THAT 
WE NEED TO SPEND IN ORDER TO 
HAVE THEM AT THE STANDARD THAT 
WE KNOW WE CAN DO AND THAT WE 
DO DO IN ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS.
>> Rosemary: OK.
LET'S TALK MORE PARTICULARLY 
ABOUT THE SITUATION IN ONTARIO.
WHICH I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE 
ARE LOOKING AT IT AND NOT 
UNDERSTANDING WHY THE TREND 
LINE IS NOT GOOD RIGHT NOW.
IT IS FRANKLY TROUBLING.
WHAT SHOULD WE TAKE FROM THAT?
>> WELL, THERE'S TWO PIECES, I 
THINK WE NEED TO SORT OUT.
THE FIRST IS, IS THE REGULATORY 
FRAMEWORK THAT IS APPLIED TO 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES ADEQUATE?
ARE THE REGULATIONS ADEQUATE?
THAT IS NUMBER ONE.
AND NUMBER TWO, GIVEN THOSE 
REGULATIONS, IS THE 
ENFORCEMENT, IS THE COMPLIANT 
AND THE ENFORCEMENT ADEQUATE?
AND ATHINK THAT IS GOING TO -- 
THAT MAY TAKE AN INQUIRY TO 
ACTUALLY SORT OUT.
REALLY TRY TO DIFFERENTIATE 
THOSE.
>> Rosemary: IN THE BROADER 
TERM, THOUGH, IN ITEMINGERS OF 
HOW ONTARIO IS DOING, WE'RE 
STILL NOT DOING GREAT.
TODAY IT WAS THE LOWEST NUMBER 
WE'VE HAD IN A MONTH.
286 CASES.
YOU KNOW, BUT OVER TIME, OVER I 
THINK 13, 14 DAYS NOW WE'RE OF 
HAVING STILL A HIGH NUMBER OF 
CASES.
WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS THERE?
>> WELL, WE CAN'T READ TOO MUCH 
INTO THE DAILY UPS AND DOWNS.
THERE'S NOISE THERE.
YOU NOTICE IF YOU LOOK 
CAREFULLY WE TEND TO HAVE FEWER 
CASE ON WEEKENDS THAN WEEKDAYS 
SOPHOMORE THERE'S WORK FLOW 
ISSUES THERE.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A LONG VIEW.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU REALLY NEED 
TO LOOK AT A TWO, THREE, 
FOUR-WEEK PATTERN.
I SEE IN THE MODEL THAT I 
MAINTAIN THAT WE ARE ALMOST 
EXACTLY PERFECTLY TREADING 
WATER.
WE ARE MAKING ZERO PROGRESS AT 
THIS POINT.
IT IS NOT ACTUALLY REALLY 
GETTING WORSE, BUT WE ARE 
MAKING ZERO PROGRESS.
SO, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A 
WAVE.
WE'RE PAST THE PEAK AND IT IS 
JUST -- IT IS CONTINUING IN A 
VERY FIXED WAY.
>> Rosemary: THAT DOESN'T SOUND 
GREAT AT ALL.
THERE IS NO URGENCY TO THE NEXT 
STAGE OF RE-OPENING AND WE ARE 
STILL DOING CERTAIN THINGS.
DO YOU THINK THAT IS HAPPENING, 
GIVEN TOO QUICKLY THEN?
>> WHERE THERE IS COMMUNITY 
SPREAD SUCH AS IN TORONTO, FOR 
EXAMPLE, THERE'S NO QUESTION 
IT'S TOO EARLY.
AND OUR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER 
OF HEALTH SAID SO.
HIS STANDARD IS HE WANTED TO 
SEE FEWER THAN 200 CASES A DAY.
I THINK THAT WAS TOO HIGH.
YOU'D WANT TO SEE LOWER STILL 
AND THAT WAS OVERRULED AND NOT 
ONLY THAT, WE OPENED EVERYWHERE 
AT ONCE.
IN TORONTO AND URBAN AREAS WE 
SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.
>> Rosemary: THEY DON'T SEEM AT 
ALL INTERESTED IN THAT IDEA 
THAT THE MANY TIMES FOR 
INSTANCE MY COLLEAGUE HAS ASKED 
THE PREMIER, WHETHER IT BE 
NORTHERN ONTARIO, WHICH IS IN A 
VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION, EVEN 
IN OTTAWA, NOT THE SAME 
SITUATION AS TORONTO AND PEEL.
WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS SUCH 
A RELUCTANCE TO -- JUST TO MAKE 
IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT GIVEN 
THAT IT'S A DIFFERENT PICTURE 
ACROSS THE PROVINCE.
>> IT FEELS LIKE THE NEED TO 
CONTROL, CENTRAL CONTROL.
AS SOON AS YOU HAVE DIFFERENCE 
REGION, YOU NEED TO  DIVOLVE A 
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFORMATION 
TO SAY THIS IS THE WAY OF DOING 
THINGS.
BUT ONTARIO IS VAST.
IT'S VAST IN POPULATION AND 
VAST IN TERRITORY.
IT'S ABSURD TO ME THAT ONE SET 
OF RULES SHOULD APPLY, GIVEN 
THE VARIABILITY THAT WE HAVE.
>> Rosemary: WHAT DO YOU THINK 
ABOUT THE INCREASE IN TESTING 
NOW, THE ATTEMPT TO REALLY RAMP 
UP TESTING IN THIS PROVINCE, 
MEANING THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T 
HAVE SYMPTOMS CAN NOW SHOW UP 
TO A TESTING CENTRE?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT AND 
SHOULD THAT HAVE BEEN DONE 
SOONER?
>> WELL, IT'S ABOUT TWO MONTHS 
LATER THAN IT OUGHT TO HAVE 
BEEN AND THERE'S BAN LOT OF 
ILLNESS AND DEATH THAT WAS 
AVOIDABLE.
WE'RE STILL NOT USING THE RIGHT 
STRATEGY.
SO, WE'RE OBSESSED WITH 
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TESTS 
AFTERNOON WE DO NEED TO DO THAT.
BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO STOP 
BEING REACTIVE.
SETTING UP ASSESSMENT CENTRES 
GREAT BUT WE NEED TO GO WHERE 
THE RISK IS.
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS 
OCCUPATIONAL RISK AND WE NEED 
MOBILE UNITS TO GO TO 
WORKPLACES LIKE GROCERY STORES, 
LIKE TAXI GARAGES, WHERE THERE 
ARE WORKERS WHO HAVE A LOT OF 
EXPOSURE TO THE PUBLIC AND WE 
NEED TO DO THAT TESTING 
PROACTIVELY.
NOT SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR 
PEOPLE TO FIND THEIR WAY, BUT 
TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR 
INFECTIONS.
>> Rosemary: IT DOES SEEM AS 
THOUGH THERE Z SEEMS TO BE A 
LOT OF MIXED MESSAGING FROM 
EITHER THE PREMIER OR THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
IT'S ALL VERY COMPLICATE.
I WONDER IF PEOPLE CAN EVEN 
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE 
ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING 
BECAUSE IT IS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR 
TO ME, FRANKLY.
>> THE DISCOURSE OUGHT TO BE ON 
TESTING STRATEGY RATHER THAN 
JUST THE NUMBER OF TESTS.
OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE RELATED.
BUT I THINK THE RIGHT TESTING 
STRATEGY WOULD REQUIRE 
SOMETHING LIKE 10 TIMES THE 
CAPACITY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
SO, THE STRICT YOU NEED TO 
FIGURE OUT YOUR STRATEGY FIRST.
IT NEEDS TO BE A PROACTIVE 
STRATEGY AND THEN YOU CAN START 
TALK ABOUT CAPACITY AND THE 
NUMBER OF TESTS.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE THE 
DISCOURSE HAS BEEN KIND OF 
BACKWARDS.
>> Rosemary: OK.
COLIN FURNESS IN TORONTO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> Rosemary: HE IS INFECTION 
CONTROL EPIDEMIOLOGIST.
WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK AS WE 
WAIT FOR FEDERAL BRIEFING.
OF COURSE, AWAITING MORE NEWS 
FROM THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO 
AND THE TROUBLING NEWS THAT 
SOLDIERS HAVE SPOTTED INCIDENTS 
OF CONCERN IN SOME OF THE FIVE 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRE WHERE IS 
THEY'RE WORKING.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS. 
INSIDE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES, AND
IN A SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT, THE
PRIME MINISTER SAID THE MILITARY
HAS COMPILED A REPORT THAT HE 
CALLS DEEPLY DISTURBING ABOUT 
SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THEY 
FOUND IN SOME SENIORS' 
RESIDENCES IN ONTARIO, 
OBSERVATIONS THAT HE SAYS 
PROVOKED FEELINGS OF ANGER, 
FRUSTRATION AND GRIEF FOR THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
THE PREMIER, DOUG FORD, IS 
EXPECTED TO SHARE DETAILS FROM 
THAT REPORT AT 1:30 EASTERN, AT 
12:30 EASTERN THERE WILL BE A 
BRIEFING FOR THE MEDIA ON SOME 
OF THE DETAILS INSIDE THAT 
REPORT.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE 250 
SOLDIERS WORKING IN FIVE 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
LET ME SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT 
MORE OF WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
HAD TO SAY JUST MOMENTS AGO. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE'VE
RECEIVED NEW REQUESTS TO EXTEND 
THIS PERIOD OF DEPLOYMENT IN 
BOTH ONTARIO AND QUEBEC, AND WE 
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP.
MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE 
JOB, JUST LIKE ALWAYS.
THEY ARE SERVING WITH 
DISTINCTION FOR OUR 
GRANDPARENTS, OUR PARENTS, OUR 
ELDERS.
IN ONTARIO THEY HAVE MADE SOME 
EXTREMELY TROUBLING OBSERVATIONS
ABOUT SEVERAL LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES IN WHICH THEY HAVE 
BEEN SERVING, AND WE HAVE SHARED
THIS INFORMATION WITH THE 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, WE NEED
TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CARING FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS 
COUNTRY.
THE GREATEST GENERATIONS SAW US 
THROUGH WORLD WAR II, AND WE 
NEED TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM
PROPERLY THROUGH THIS GLOBAL 
CRISIS.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, AND AS WE 
AWAIT, OF COURSE, FOR THAT FULL 
REPORT TO BE RELEASED, THE 
PREMIER'S OFFICE SAYS IT WILL 
BE, AND FOR THE PREMIER AND 
OTHERS TO TAKE QUESTIONS ABOUT 
WHAT ACTIONS THEY WILL TAKE NOW 
THAT THESE OBSERVATIONS HAVE 
BEEN MADE BY CANADIAN FORCES AND
THIS REPORT DELIVERED TO THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN TO 
THE PROVINCE, I'LL BRING IN MY 
COLLEAGUES VASSY KAPELOS AND 
DAVID COCHRANE.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN ON THE 
PHONE OR EMAILING TO TRY AND GET
MORE INFORMATION FROM THEIR 
SOURCES ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT HEAR
THAT DOES APPEAR TO BE EXTREMELY
DISTURBING AT THE VERY LEAST.
I'M GOING TO START WITH DAVID 
THIS TIME AND THEN OVER TO 
VASSY. 
>> David: CREDIT WHERE CREDIT 
WAS DUE, THIS WAS FIRST REPORTED
BY GLOBAL NEWS BY MERCEDES 
STEPHENSON AND ROBERT BELL, 
VERIFIED THE INFORMATION WITH A 
GOVERNMENT SOURCE WHO HAS SEEN 
THE REPORT THAT WAS SENT TO THE 
MILITARY.
WHAT THEY FOUND, SOLDIERS IN 
SOME OF THESE HOMES, WERE 
COCKROACHES, FLIES AND ROTTEN 
FOOD, RESIDENTS LEFT IN SOILED 
DIAPERS, SOME RESIDENTS HAD NOT 
BEEN BATHED IN WEEKS.
NO SEPARATION BETWEEN INFECTED 
PATIENTS AND UNINFECTED 
RESIDENTS IN A ROOM WITH JUST A 
CURTAIN BETWEEN THEM, WHICH IS A
VIOLATION OF ALL OF THE HEALTH 
PROTOCOLS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD
ON HOW TO ISOLATE PEOPLE AND TO 
STOP THEM FROM GETTING SICK.
SO YOU HAD ESSENTIALLY A FAILURE
NOT ONLY OF MEDICAL PROTOCOL, AN
ALLEGED FAILURE OF IT, BUT OF 
BASIC SANITARY ISSUES OF PEOPLE 
NOT BEING BATHED FOR WEEKS AND 
SITTING FOR DAYS AND HOURS IN 
SOILED DIAPERS.
WE HAD SEEN SIMILAR REPORTS LIKE
THIS IN SOME OF THE MORE 
TROUBLED HOMES IN QUEBEC, FOR 
EXAMPLE, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT 
WAS FORCED TO GO IN AND TAKE 
CONTROL BEFORE QUEBEC BECAME THE
FIRST PROVINCE TO SORT OF SIGNAL
THE NEED FOR MILITARY 
INTERVENTION THERE, AND THE 
MILITARY IS IN 25 HOMES IN 
QUEBEC, ONLY FIVE IN ONTARIO.
BUT THE SPECIFICS OF, YOU KNOW, 
COCKROACHES AND PEOPLE IN DIRTY 
DIAPERS FOR HOURS AND NOT BEING 
BATHED FOR WEEKS, ALL OF THAT 
WITNESSED BY CANADIAN SOLDIERS 
AND DEEMED TO BE SERIOUS ENOUGH 
THAT THEY WROTE IT UP IN A 
REPORT THAT WAS SENT TO THE 
PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE ON 
FRIDAY AND WILL BE MADE PUBLIC 
IN A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR BY THE 
PREMIER OF ONTARIO, DOUG FORD.
>> Rosemary: VASSY, YOU TOO HAVE
LEARNED DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WE 
MIGHT HEAR LATER.
>> Vassy: THERE IS A REASON THAT
THE MILITARY PUT IT IN WRITING, 
THAT EVERYTHING THAT DAVID JUST 
DESCRIBED AND I WOULD ADD ONE 
OTHER EXAMPLE I WAS PROVIDED 
WITH, THE RE-USE OF SYRINGES ON 
SENIORS.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY SAW, AND 
IT DIDN'T TAKE THEM LONG TO 
OBSERVE IT, WAS SO TROUBLING TO 
THEM THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE 
SURE THAT IT WAS IN WRITING, 
THAT IT WAS PRESENTED IN A 
REPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE -- YOU 
KNOW, THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN, AT 
LEAST AS IS BEING RELAYED TO ME,
IS SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT IT 
AND QUICKLY.
I THINK THIS DOES INCREASE THE 
PRESSURE THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN 
MOUNTING ON THE FORD GOVERNMENT 
TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT WHAT IS 
HAPPENING TO CONDUCT WHAT THE 
OPPOSITION HAD BEEN ASKING FOR 
WAS A FULL PUBLIC INQUIRY.
THEY HAD ANNOUNCED I THINK IT 
WAS LAST WEEK THAT THEY WOULD 
SET UP A COMMISSION, BUT THERE 
WAS STILL CRITICISM FROM THE 
OPPOSITION THAT THAT DIDN'T GO 
FAR ENOUGH.
I THINK THAT THE -- THIS REPORT 
AND BASED ON WHAT DAVID IS 
REPORTING AND THE INFORMATION 
THAT I HAVE, INSTANCES OF 
NEGLECT, NO RULES, A LACK OF 
STAFF TRAINING, LACK OF MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS PEOPLE -- 
MEMBERS WITNESSING PEOPLE DYING,
AND THEY WERE NOT BEING TAKEN 
CARE OF ADEQUATELY, I THINK WHEN
THAT IS ALL LAID OUT BEFORE THE 
PROVINCE, YOU KNOW, THAT 
PRESSURE TO CONDUCT SOME SORT OF
PUBLIC INQUIRY, SOMETHING WITH 
AN ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM 
BUILT IN, IS GOING TO INCREASE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
I'M ALREADY HEARING FROM PEOPLE 
WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, SOME IN
THESE FIVE SPECIFIC LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES, BUT OUTSIDE OF THEM 
AS WELL, WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, 
DISTURBED JUST TO HEAR HOW 
DISTURBED THE PRIME MINISTER WAS
READING THIS REPORT.
THEY ARE VERY WORRIED OF COURSE 
BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS AROUND
COVID-19 MANY OF THEM CAN'T 
GO -- MOST OF THEM CAN'T GO IN 
TO VISIT THEIR LOVED ONES, AND 
AS A RESULT THIS IS SORT OF 
HEIGHTENING THEIR CONCERN AROUND
THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEIR 
LOVED ONES ARE LIVING.
AGAIN, THOUGH, I THINK THE 
PRIMARY THING THAT'S BEING 
CONVEYED TO ME IS THERE IS A 
REASON THIS IS IN WRITING.
THE MILITARY, AND MY 
UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S IN ALL OF 
THE HOMES.
LIKE, THERE'S AT LEAST SOME 
REPORTS OF THIS TO VARYING 
DEGREES, BUT THAT IN ALL FIVE 
HOMES SOMETHING WAS WITNESSED.
THE REASON THEY PUT IT IN 
WRITING IS BECAUSE OF HOW 
TROUBLED THEY ARE AND THAT THEY 
WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF EMPHASIS 
BEING PUT ON THAT TO ME.
>> Rosemary: THAT WOULD ALSO 
INDICATE SOME LIABILITY ISSUES 
TOO, QUITE FRANKLY, TO PROTECT 
THE MILITARY AND IF THIS GETS TO
A POINT WHERE THERE IS LEGAL 
MEASURES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN, 
THEN THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY 
SHORE THAT UP.
GO AHEAD, DAVID. 
>> David: I AM BEING TOLD 
ACCORDING TO SOMEONE WHO HAS 
SEEN THE REPORT, THE 
WHISTLE-BLOWER REPORT IS WHAT 
I'M GOING TO CALL IT FROM THE 
MILITARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, IS 
THAT SENIORS WITH COVID WERE 
ALLOWED TO ROAM THROUGHOUT THE 
FACILITY IN SOME CASES.
WE KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGE TO STOP
COVID FROM GETTING INTO THE 
FACILITY AND THEN CONTAIN IT, 
BUT ALLOWING INFECTED SENIORS TO
ROAM IS A PROBLEM, AND WORKERS 
GOING FROM INFECTED TO 
NON-INFECTED ROOMS WEARING THE 
SAME GOWNS AND GLOVES THAT THEY 
HAD JUST BEEN USING TO TREAT 
SOMEONE WHO HAD MAYBE BEEN 
INFECTED.
THAT THEN BECOMES A VECTOR FOR 
TRANSMISSION INSIDE THE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOME WHERE THE 
POPULATION IS EXTREMELY 
VULNERABLE AND WHERE THE 
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE 
DEATHS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE 
BEEN.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN ISSUES WITH
FUNGAL INFECTIONS IN SOME 
PATIENTS DUE TO LACK OF HYGIENE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THE 
SPECIFICS ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S 
DAYTIME TELEVISION, AND EXPIRED 
DRUGS BEING FOUND INSIDE THE 
FACILITIES.
ALL OF THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS AND
FINDINGS BY THE MILITARY 
CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT THAT 
WILL BE MADE PUBLIC TODAY LATER 
BY THE PREMIER OF ONTARIO.
>> Rosemary: CERTAINLY THEY ARE 
ALLEGATIONS, BUT THEY ARE 
OBSERVATIONS BY CANADIAN FORCES 
MEMBERS WHICH GIVES THEM A 
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEIGHT, 
UNDOUBTEDLY, AND WILL FORCE THE 
GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND IN A 
SERIOUS MANNER WHEN THE PREMIER 
COMES OUT AT 1:30.
I JUST REMIND PEOPLE TOO THAT 
TODAY THE QUEBEC OMBUDSMAN, SORT
OF THE CITIZEN OMBUDSMAN, SAID 
THAT SHE WAS GOING TO LAUNCH AN 
INQUIRY INTO THE STATE OF 
AFFAIRS AT LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES IN QUEBEC.
SHE SAID THAT SHE'S VERY 
CONCERNED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE 
THERE HAVE BEEN TREATED.
OF COURSE THE SITUATION MUCH 
BIGGER IN QUEBEC.
THERE ARE 25 LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES WHERE MORE THAN 1300 
SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN SENT.
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN THESE KINDS 
OF OBSERVATIONS THAT WE KNOW OF 
MADE BY SOLDIERS IN THESE 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES BY 
CANADIAN FORCES MEMBERS, BUT WE 
DO KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT 
BOTH OF YOU ARE DETAILING HERE, 
WE FIRST SAW BACK AT THE HERON 
RESIDENCE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRE 
IN MONTREAL WHERE MANY OF THE 
PATIENTS -- RESIDENTS, I SHOULD 
SAY, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE 
PEOPLE LIVE, WERE BEING 
MISTREATED AND WORKERS AT THAT 
CENTRE BASICALLY ABANDONED THEIR
POSTS FOR FEAR OF GETTING COVID,
CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR OWN SAFETY 
AND BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T BEING 
PAID ADEQUATELY.
SO MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE 
JUST LEFT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE 
MANY OF THE SAME KINDS OF 
CONDITIONS.
AS WE WAIT FOR THIS FEDERAL 
BRIEFING, WHICH WILL GIVE US AN 
UPDATE ON THE OTTAWA RESPONSE, 
OBVIOUSLY I THINK THE CONCERN 
HERE NOW SHIFTS TO, YOU KNOW, 
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS TALKED 
MANY TIMES ABOUT THE 
CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO 
HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD AND THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE PART 
OF IT.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT
EVEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES SOMEHOW 
GET FOLDED INTO FEDERAL 
JURISDICTION UNDER THE CANADA 
HEALTH ACT, BUT I WONDER NOW IF 
THE URGENCY FOR AN ACTUAL 
INQUIRY THAT COULD EVEN BE 
DIRECTED BY THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT ISN'T MORE REAL AND 
MORE URGENT, BECAUSE IF WE'RE 
MOVING INTO A DIFFERENT PHASE OF
THIS, ANTICIPATING A SECOND 
WAVE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN 
SIT AROUND AND WAIT TO FIGURE 
OUT HOW TO MAKE SOME PRETTY 
MASSIVE CHANGES TO LONG-TERM 
CARE CENTRES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
BECAUSE OF COURSE IT HAS BEEN 
PRIMARILY IN QUEBEC, SOME IN 
ONTARIO, BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO 
SAY THAT THIS COULDN'T HAPPEN IN
OTHER PLACES.
VASSY?
>> Vassy: YEAH, I THINK THAT'S 
AN EXCELLENT POINT, AND I 
ACTUALLY THINK THAT IS THE GIST 
OF THE POINT THAT WAS MADE TO 
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IN 
ONTARIO LAST WEEK.
CAN YOU REALLY WAIT AROUND FOR A
COMMISSION?
AND THE PREMIER'S RESPONSE WAS, 
WELL, A COMMISSION MIGHT BE 
FASTER THAN AN INQUIRY.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE SEMANTICS 
RIGHT NOW, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE 
IS YOU CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE 
PANDEMIC IS OVER TWO YEARS FROM 
NOW TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE 
CHANGES.
IT'S APPARENT JUST FROM THE 
DETAILS THAT HAVE EMERGED BASED 
ON WHAT THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES IS ALLEGING, BASED ON 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THEY 
OBSERVED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO 
CHANGE IMMEDIATELY, AND SO I 
THINK THAT WILL BE THE GIST OF 
THE QUESTIONS TO THE PREMIER.
YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER, AND I 
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, THAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER INDICATED AND
EVERY TIME HE MENTIONED IT THAT 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE FOR ONTARIO.
THERE ARE NO SPECIFICS THERE.
I MEAN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
HAS NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THIS 
POINT SAID IT WILL CONDUCT AN 
INQUIRY OR IT WILL CONDUCT A 
COMMISSION.
IT HAS SAID IT'S OPEN TO ONE.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS YOU RIGHTLY 
POINT OUT ABOUT CHANGING THE 
JURISDICTIONS.
SO FAR PREMIERS HAVE WIDELY 
RESISTED THOSE.
THEY WANT TO KEEP THEMSELVES, 
THEY WANT TO STAY IN CHARGE OF 
LONG-TERM CARE.
THEY SAY THAT THEY KNOW THE 
SYSTEM BEST AND WHAT PEOPLE OR 
RATHER THOSE HOMES NEED BEST.
THEY ARE OPEN, OF COURSE, TO 
LOOKING INTO WHAT WENT WRONG, 
BUT THEY CERTAINLY DON'T WANT 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE 
OVER JURISDICTION.
I THINK THAT THE QUESTION, 
THOUGH, OF WHAT ROLE DOES THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLAY NOW IS 
LESS OF A QUESTION FOR MONTHS 
FROM NOW OR YEARS FROM NOW.
I THINK IT'S A QUESTION FOR 
TODAY BASED ON WHAT THE PREMIER 
MIGHT SAY, YOU KNOW.
LIKE, IF THE PREMIER DOES NEED 
MORE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MAKE 
THESE CHANGES, AND PREVIOUS 
HEALTH MINISTERS HAVE INDICATED 
IF YOU WANT A LONG-TERM CARE 
HOME TO RUN LIKE A HOSPITAL, 
IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT MORE 
MONEY.
IF THAT IS THE CASE, DOES THAT 
MONEY NEED TO COME FROM THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
I WOULD IMAGINE SO, GIVEN HOW 
THE SORT OF FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
THAT PROVINCES ARE FACING RIGHT 
NOW.
AND TO WHAT END.
WE HAD TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE 
PROSPECT OF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL 
ENVELOPES OF MONEY FOR LONG-TERM
CARE AND ATTACHING STRINGS TO 
THEM, AKA A SET OF STANDARDS 
THAT HAD TO BE MET.
CLEARLY IN THIS CASE THE CAF IS 
LAYING OUT HOW STANDARDS ARE NOT
BEING MET, RIGHT, AND HOW 
TROUBLING IT IS AND THE SORT OF 
EVIDENCE OF THAT.
I THINK ALL OF THAT BECOMES PART
OF THE DISCUSSION, BUT TO YOUR 
POINT, ROSIE, IT'S NOT A 
DISCUSSION TO BE HAD IN THE 
FUTURE NOW.
IT FEELS VERY IMMINENT AND IT 
FEELS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE 
MAKING THOSE DECISIONS RIGHT NOW
SO THAT THE SITUATION CAN BE 
RECTIFIED, AND OF COURSE MY 
SOURCES ARE TELLING ME THAT THE 
MILITARY'S PACKAGE, THE LETTER 
TODAY, THE FILE TODAY WILL 
SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR ACTION TO 
BE TAKEN.
>> Rosemary: YES, OKAY.
DAVID, YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION
TOO.
AND THEN WE'LL BRING UP THE 
BRIEFING.
>> David: JUST QUICKLY ON THAT, 
FROM SPEAKING WITH SENIOR 
OFFICIALS WHAT THEY SAY IS THEY 
BELIEVE THE MILITARY COMPILED 
THIS SO CAREFULLY AND 
COMPREHENSIVELY AS THEY DID 
BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT 
SOME OF THIS COULD BE CRIMINAL 
LIABILITY ISSUES.
WE'LL NEED TO HEAR MORE FROM THE
PREMIER THERE.
IMPORTANT PIECE OF CONTEXT.
WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT CAN DO.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT 
WHAT THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 
HAS DONE OR HASN'T DONE.
I WANT TO POINT PEOPLE TO 
REPORTING ON THE 15TH OF APRIL 
LOOKING AT RESIDENT QUALITY 
INFECTIONS OF ONTARIO, 626 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES.
2015, 16, 17, MOST OF THEM GOT 
AN IN-PERSON INSPECTION.
2018, ONLY A LITTLE MORE THAN 
HALF GOT AN INSPECTION.
IN 2019, LAST YEAR, THE YEAR 
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, ONLY NINE 
OF 626 LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
RECEIVED A RESIDENT QUALITY 
INSPECTION.
I'VE TWEETED THAT STORY OUT.
IT'S IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR 
TODAY.
GREAT WORK DONE BY DAVID COMMON 
AND HIS TEAM IN TORONTO.
OTHERS HAVE BEEN LEADING OUR 
COVERAGE ON THE LONG-TERM CARE 
ISSUE THROUGHOUT. 
>> Rosemary: IT SHOWS YOU THERE 
WILL BE TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL 
ABOUT CHOICES THEY MADE AROUND 
FUNDING AND LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES AND HOW THEY WERE 
ADDRESSING THOSE.
YOU CAN SAY THAT THERE WASN'T 
ENOUGH MONEY AND THAT MAY WELL 
BE THE CASE, BUT DECISIONS WERE 
MADE, OBVIOUSLY, AND THESE WERE 
CHOICES MADE THAT THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE TO DEFEND.
I WOULD POINT OUT TWO OTHER 
THINGS BEFORE WE GO TO THE 
BRIEFING THAT THE PROVINCE HAS 
PUT TWO HOSPITALS ALREADY IN 
CHARGE OF LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES, TWO LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES IN ONTARIO THAT WEREN'T 
ABLE TO LIVE UP TO WHAT THE 
MEASURES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE, 
AND ALTHOUGH AS VASSY SAID 
EARLIER, THERE IS NOW THE 
PROMISE OF AN INDEPENDENT 
COMMISSION INTO ALL OF THIS, 
THERE WAS NOT THE PROMISE OF AN 
INQUIRY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT
MIKE CRAWLEY WROTE ABOUT 
EXTENSIVELY ABOUT AS WELL, 
BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN 
INQUIRIES INTO MANY OTHER CASES 
THAT ARE DEEPLY DISTURBING IN 
THIS PROVINCE AND PERHAPS THIS 
WILL NOW PUT SOME PRESSURE ON 
THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE TO A MORE
FORMAL INQUIRY WHICH WOULD 
RESULT IN CONSEQUENCES.
BUT AGAIN, NOT SOMETHING THAT --
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD TAKE
SOME TIME.
OBVIOUSLY WE WILL EXPECT SOME 
MORE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE
GOVERNMENT AT 1:30.
LET'S GO NOW, THOUGH, TO THE 
FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH BRIEFING.
THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO 
COVID-19, AND WE HAVE 
DR. THERESA TAM, CHIEF PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICER SPEAKING NOW.
>> -- DURING THE PANDEMIC AND 
BEYOND.
I ENCOURAGE ALL CANADIANS WITH 
AN INTEREST IN IMPROVING THE 
LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH PAIN
TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS AND 
EXPERIENCES WITH THE CANADIAN 
PAIN TASK FORCE.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU, DR. TAM.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
NOW DR. HOWARD NJOO, YOU HAVE 
THE FLOOR.
>> Dr. Howard Njoo: THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
AS USUAL, I WILL START WITH THE 
LATEST NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN 
CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 85,998 CASES, 
INCLUDING 6,566 DEATHS AND 
44,911 PEOPLE ARE NOW RECOVERED.
LABS ACROSS CANADA HAVE TESTED 
OVER 1,500,000 TESTS AND ABOUT 
5% OF THESE TESTED POSITIVE 
OVERALL.
OVER THE PAST WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN
TESTING AN AVERAGE OF 22,300 
PEOPLE DAILY -- ACTIVITIES WE 
HAVE STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE 
CASES OF CANADIANS DEALING WITH 
CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND THE UNIQUE
CHALLENGES THEY FACE DURING THIS
UNUSUAL TIMES.
IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR 
THESE PEOPLE TO FIND NEW WAYS OF
LIVING WITH COVID-19.
FOR SOME, THEIR MEDICAL 
CONDITIONS OR THEIR MEDICATIONS 
THEY TAKE MAY PLACE THEM AT 
HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE ILLNESS 
DUE TO COVID-19.
THAT'S INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE WHO
CARE FOR THEM WILL NEED TO 
CONSIDER CAREFULLY HOW BEST TO 
MANAGE THEIR ILLNESS WHILE 
NAVIGATING THE DIRECT RISK OF 
COVID-19.
OTHERS MAY BE STRUGGLING TO 
ACCESS THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL 
SERVICES THEY NEED TO COPE WITH 
THE DAY-TO-DAY REALITIES OF 
THEIR ILLNESS.
PEOPLE MAY BE ANXIOUS ABOUT 
ACCESSING THESE SERVICES, EVEN 
AS THEY BECOME MORE AVAILABLE IN
THE COMING WEEKS.
DELAYING CARE CAN LEAD TO WORSE 
HEALTH OUTCOMES, SO I ENCOURAGE 
CANADIANS TO CONTACT YOUR CARE 
PROVIDERS TO LEARN ABOUT THE 
IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS 
AVAILABLE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS 
SAFELY.
TODAY I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT 
CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO LIVE 
WITH CHRONIC PAIN, WHICH AFFECTS
ONE IN FIVE CANADIANS, AND IS 
OFTEN INVISIBLE TO OTHERS.
WE KNOW THAT UNMANAGED PAIN CAN 
LEAD TO DECREASED MOBILITY, 
MENTAL ILLNESS, PROBLEMATIC 
SUBSTANCE USE, AND EVEN SUICIDE.
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT 
TO ENSURE ACCESS TO PAIN CARE 
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, EVEN 
DURING TIMES OF CRISIS.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE NEEDS
HELP MANAGING PAIN, PLEASE KNOW 
THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE.
THE CANADIAN PAIN TASK FORCE AND
ADVISORY BODY STARTED BY HEALTH 
CANADA HAS COMPILED A LIST OF 
RESOURCES ON THE TASK FORCE 
WEBSITE FOR CANADIANS LIVING 
WITH PAIN DURING COVID-19.
UNTIL THE END OF THIS WEEK, THE 
TASK FORCE IS CONSULTING 
CANADIANS THROUGH THE LET'S TALK
HELP.CA PORTAL TO HELP THE 
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA BETTER 
UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS
OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH PAIN 
DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND.
I ENCOURAGE ALL CANADIANS WITH 
AN INTEREST IN IMPROVING THE 
LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH PAIN
TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS AND 
EXPERIENCES WITH THE CANADIAN 
PAIN TASK FORCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. NJOO.
[ End of Interpretation ]
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR MINISTER
OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND 
PROCUREMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO 
THANK THE DOCTORS, NURSES AND 
CAREGIVERS AND ALL OF THOSE ON 
THE FRONT LINES FOR THEIR 
TIRELESS EFFORTS IN THE BATTLE 
AGAINST COVID-19.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO HAVE 
CONTINUED TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY 
FUNCTIONING DURING THIS 
CHALLENGING PERIOD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
I'M THINKING ABOUT MEMBERS OF 
OUR SECURITY FORCES 
[INDISCERNIBLE] IN THE FOOD 
SECTOR AS WELL AS ALL THOSE WHO 
ARE TRANSPORTING PEOPLE AND 
GOODS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU.
[ End of Interpretation ]
TURNING TO SUPPLIES FOR COVID-19
TESTING, AS WE ENTER A NEW PHASE
IN THE PANDEMIC AND RESTRICTIONS
ARE SLOWLY LIFTED, WE KNOW THAT 
TESTING WILL PLAY AN 
INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE SO 
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY NEW
CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND 
TRACK THE EFFICACY OF OUR 
EFFORTS TO PROTECT PUBLIC 
HEALTH.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO 
SUPPORT PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES ON THIS FRONT, 
PARTICULARLY BY PROVIDING THEM 
WITH ALL THAT THEY NEED FOR 
TESTING, LIKE REAGENTS AND 
SWABS.
AS I STATED BEFORE, BECAUSE THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT, A CONTRACT 
HAS BEEN SIGNED WITH THE 
CORPORATION LE MIN ULTRA IN NEW 
BRUNSWICK TO PRODUCE REAGENTS IN
QUANTITIES THAT COULD ENABLE US 
TO CARRY OUT 500,000 TESTS A 
WEEK UP UNTIL MARCH 2021.
[ End of Interpretation ]
-- BACKDROP WE HAVE ALSO PLACED 
LARGE ORDERS OF REAGENT WITH 
FOUR PREMIER SUPPLIERS THAT WORK
CLOSELY WITH PROVINCIAL 
LABORATORIES.
THESE CONTRACTS WILL ALLOW 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO 
ACCESS REAGENT AND OTHER LAB 
PRODUCTS REQUIRED FOR TESTING 
WHILE WE REMAIN IN NEGOTIATION 
WITH OTHERS.
I AM ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
LAST WEEK SIX LETTERS OF 
INTEREST WERE SENT TO FIVE 
COMPANIES AND POST-SECONDARY 
INSTITUTIONS TO PROCURE CHEMICAL
AGENTS FOR THE DOMESTIC 
PRODUCTION OF REAGENT.
WHEN IT COMES TO SWABS, WE HAVE 
ORDERED CLOSE TO 12 MILLION AND 
HAVE RECEIVED OVER 3.MILLION SO 
FAR.
THE SPECIFIC TYPES OF SWABS 
NECESSARY FOR COVID TESTING 
REMAIN IN VERY SHORT SUPPLY 
GLOBALLY, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH
DOMESTIC SUPPLIERS WITH CAPACITY
FOR 3-D PRINTING OF SWABS AND 
WITH TECHNIQUES FOR SWAB 
STERILIZATION.
IN THIS PROCESS, WE ARE 
COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH 
MINISTER HAJDU AND HEALTH CANADA
IN THE AREA OF RAPID TESTING AND
SEROLOGICAL TESTING TO BUILD A 
BASE SUPPLY AS TESTS BECOME 
APPROVED AND MORE WIDELY 
AVAILABLE.
TURNING NOW TO DOMESTIC SUPPLIES
OF P.P.E., IN TERMS OF OVERALL 
DOMESTIC SUPPLY OF P.P.E. HERE 
AT HOME, CAPACITY IS ON THE 
RISE, AND WE ARE SEEING 
TREMENDOUS INGENUITY ON THE PART
OF CANADIANS AS THEY RAMP UP, 
RE-TOOL PRODUCTION LINES.
I CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH 
MINISTER BAINS ON THIS FRONT, 
AND OUR EFFORTS TO DATE HAVE 
RESULTED IN 24 CONTRACTS WITH 
CANADIAN COMPANIES TO HELP 
CANADA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST 
COVID-19.
TODAY, AS THE PRIME MINISTER 
MENTIONED, WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO 
ANNOUNCE A CONTRACT WITH GM 
CANADA.
UNDER THIS CONTRACT, 10 MILLION 
SURGICAL MASKS AND FACE 
COVERINGS FOR CANADIANS WILL BE 
PRODUCED HERE AT HOME IN OSHAWA,
ONTARIO OVER THE COMING YEAR.
GM JOINS A GROWING LIST OF 
COMPANIES RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY WHO ARE USING THEIR 
MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES AND 
SKILLED WORKFORCE TO HELP SHORE 
UP THE SUPPLIES THAT CANADA 
NEEDS.
TURNING NOW TO INTERNATIONAL 
PROCUREMENT, WHILE DOMESTIC 
PRODUCTION OF ALL TYPES OF 
P.P.E. RAMPS UP, WE MUST STILL 
CONTINUE TO PROCURE FROM ABROAD 
TO MEET OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS ARE 
STRETCHED ACROSS THE BOARD WITH 
GLOBAL DEMAND FOR VITAL SUPPLIES
CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
-- ARE NOW ARRIVING THE COUNTRY 
REGULARLY.
JUST LAST WEEK SEVEN CARGO 
FLIGHTS SUPPLIED MORE CARGO TO 
CANADA REPRESENTING IN TOTAL 42 
CARGO FLIGHTS FROM CHINA OVER 
THE LAST TEN WEEKS.
WE NOW INTEND TO RESORT TO 
MARITIME TRANSPORTATION 
CONSIDERING THE SIGNIFICANT 
VOLUME OF P.P.E. THAT COULD BE 
SHIPPED.
[ End of Interpretation ]
IN THE PAST WEEK ALONE, MAJOR 
SHIPMENTS HAVE ARRIVED FROM OUR 
OWN CHARTERED FLIGHTS AND FROM 
OUR SUPPLIERS.
TWO OF THE BIGGEST MODELS OF 
PLANES IN THE WORLD DELIVERED 
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEDICAL
GOWNS TO CANADA BRINGING OUR 
WEEKLY TOTAL OF GOWNS RECEIVED 
TO MORE THAN HALF A MILLION AS 
PART OF 1.9 MILLION OVERALL.
IN ADDITION, LARGE SEA 
CONTAINERS OF HAND SANITIZER ARE
ALSO EN ROUTE, COMPLEMENTING THE
5.2 MILLION LITRES OF HAND 
SANITIZER THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED 
TO DATE, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH 
WAS PRODUCED RIGHT HERE AT HOME 
BY FLUID ENERGY OUT WEST AND 
IRVING OIL IN ATLANTIC CANADA.
ON N-95s, WE RECEIVED HUNDREDS 
OF THOUSANDS OF N-95 RESPIRATORS
THAT THIS WEEK PASSED TESTING 
AND ARE NOW BEING DISTRIBUTED TO
THE PROVINCES.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED 7.6 
MILLION MORE SURGICAL MASKS THIS
WEEK, BRINGING OUR AGGREGATE 
TOTAL TO MORE THAN 87 MILLION 
SURGICAL MASKS. 
FINALLY IN THE PAST WEEK ALONE, 
THE NUMBER OF GLOVES RECEIVED 
HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED, BRINGING 
OUR TOTAL TO 31 MILLION PAIRS, 
WHICH WE NOW KNOW ARE IN NEED IN
SOME OF OUR PROVINCES.
IN CONCLUSION, WITH EVERY ORDER 
AND EVERY DELIVERY, CHALLENGES 
REMAIN TO BE OVERCOME.
AT THIS POINT WE ANTICIPATE 
DEMAND TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE
IN CANADA AND AROUND THE WORLD.
IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I 
MUST STRESS THAT WHILE THE 
NUMBERS OF DELIVERIES ARE 
ENCOURAGING AND WE ARE 
DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT 
DIRECTION, MY MESSAGE TO MY TEAM
IS TO BE VIGILANT.
WE MUST KEEP GOING.
THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT OUR 
GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DO.
I WANT CANADIANS TO KNOW THAT WE
WILL REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR 
EFFORTS TO SEND SAFE AND 
EFFECTIVE SUPPLIES TO OUR 
FRONT-LINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS 
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU ANITA.
AND NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR 
MINISTER OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE 
AND INDUSTRY, BY VIDEO, NAVDEEP 
BAINS.
NAV, PLEASE.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AN UPDATE
ON THE MOBILIZATION OF THE 
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR TO FIGHT 
COVID-19.
[ End of Interpretation ]
THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD OF 
CRISIS, WE HAVE SEEN AND 
CONTINUE TO SEE CANADIAN 
COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
MAKING TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
TO FACE THE CRISIS, MANY PEOPLE 
AND GETTING TOGETHER AND 
ADOPTING NEW TOOLS AND 
OBJECTIVES TO INNOVATE LIKE 
NEVER BEFORE.
CANADIANS CAN BE VERY PROUD OF 
THIS.
[ End of Interpretation ]
THE SPEED AT WHICH COMPANIES ARE
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND THE
INGENUITY AND CREATIVITY THEY 
ARE BRINGING WITH THEM IS 
INCREDIBLE.
SINCE WE ISSUED THE CALL TO 
ACTION, OVER 6,300 COMPANIES 
HAVE CONTACTED US TO OFFER THEIR
EXPERTISE AND CAPACITY, AND OF 
THOSE, MORE THAN 700 HAVE 
RE-TOOLED TO SUPPLY PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
WE ACTED QUICKLY TO LAUNCH A 
CALL FOR ACTION, ANALYZED 
LETTERS OF INTENT AND ISSUED 
PURCHASE ORDERS. 
[ End of Interpretation ]
workingwithoneofCanada's
NobelPrizewinningresearchersDr. 
artMcDONALDWEHAVEBEENABLETO
FINALIZEA
ORDER OF 10,000 VENTILATORS.
THE DOCTOR HAS LED A SEAM FROM 
AROUND THE WORLD TO PRODUCE AN 
EASY TO USE VENTILATOR OFF THE 
SHELF, EASILY ACCESSIBLE PARTS, 
AND WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH
HIM IN MARKHAM, ONTARIO TO BRING
THIS VISION TO REALITY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT 
WE HAVE SIGNED SIX NEW LETTERS 
OF INTENT TO STRENGTHEN CANADA'S
DOMESTIC TESTING CAPACITY, A 
CRITICAL TOOL NECESSARY TO 
GETTING OUR ECONOMY BACK TO 
NORMAL.
OAKVILLE-BASED GL CAM TECK, 
BIO-BASIC CANADA IN MARKHAM, AND
EDMONTON-BASED RON 
PHARMACEUTICAL WILL BE PRODUCING
KEY CHEMICAL INPUTS FOR TESTING.
-- SCIENCES FROM MONTREAL, AS 
WELL AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN 
MCGILL UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR 
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND THE 
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF 
CANADA ARE WORKING ON PRODUCING 
KEY INPUTS AND ENZYMES.
QUEBEC-BASED PLASTIC MORE IS 
RE-TOOLING TO MANUFACTURE 
CRITICAL PLASTIC COMPONENTS 
NECESSARY FOR COVID TESTING.
WE ARE ALSO FINDING THROUGH THE 
NRC INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SIX NEW EARLY
STAGE TESTS, SOME OF WHICH WILL 
EXPAND CANADA'S EXISTING 
CAPACITY TO DIAGNOSE COVID-19 
INFECTION, AND OTHERS WHICH WILL
BE ABLE TO DETECT ANTIBODIES IN 
A PATIENT'S BLOOD.
R TRON BIO RESEARCH IN BURNABY, 
CUSTOM BIOLOGICS IN TORONTO, AND
BIO LITICAL LABS IN RICHMOND ARE
DEVELOPING POINT-OF-CARE TESTING
KITS.
AS MENTIONED, A COMPANY IN 
FREDERICTON IS PRODUCING 
LAB-BASED TEST KITS AND REAGENT.
TWO COMPANIES, LONDON'S 
DIAGNOSTIC BIO CAM CANADA AND 
RESPONSE BIOMEDICAL IN VANCOUVER
ARE DEVELOPING SEROLOGICAL TESTS
TO DETECT COVID-19 ANTIBODIES.
AND A FEW WEEKS AGO, AS PART OF 
OUR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS CANADA 
CHALLENGE, THE NRC ASKED SMALL- 
AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES TO 
COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE 
MATERIALS THAT COULD BE USED IN 
LARGE QUANTITIES TO MANUFACTURE 
N-95 RESPIRATORS AND SURGICAL 
MASKS FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
THREE COMPANIES WERE SELECTED 
FROM THAT PROCESS.
STEADFAST FROM GRANBY, ROSWELL 
TECHNOLOGIES BASED IN CALGARY, 
AND PERFORMANCE BIO FILAMENTS IN
VANCOUVER.
THESE COMPANIES WILL WORK ON 
SOLUTIONS TO THIS CHALLENGE 
USING MATERIALS SOURCED AND 
MANUFACTURED RIGHT HERE IN 
CANADA.
IN OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS WE'VE
ALSO LEVERAGED OUR INNOVATION 
SUPER-CLUSTERS BY TAPPING INTO 
THEIR NATIONAL NETWORK OF OVER 
2,400 MEMBERS.
THE -- SUPER-CLUSTER HAS BEEN 
SUPPORTED COVID-19-RELATED 
PROJECTS INCLUDING ONE LED BY 
ELLIPSE AUTOMATION IN CAMBRIDGE 
WHICH IS RETROFITTING 
TRADITIONAL N-95 MACHINES TO BE 
ABLE TO PRODUCE NEW CANADIAN 
MASK DESIGNS WITH CANADIAN 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
AND THE DIGITAL SUPER CLUSTER 
HAS APPROVED A NUMBER OF 
PROJECTS FOCUSED ON EXPANDING 
OUR ABILITY TO DETECT COVID-19 
CASES, PROVIDING VIRTUAL CARE 
AND ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF VACCINES AND TREATMENTS USING
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE 
CANADIAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY, I 
HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON 
BREAKTHROUGH SOLUTIONS, RE-TOOL 
WHERE WE CAN, AND SCALE UP TO 
MEET OUR NEEDS DURING THE CRISIS
IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MERCI BEAUCOUP.
>> THANK YOU, NAV.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
NOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
TREASURY BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, CHRYSTIA.
GOOD DAY, EVERYONE.
THE PRIME MINISTER AND MY 
COLLEAGUES MADE SOME IMPORTANT 
ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING THAT 
FIRST HAD TO DO WITH CANADA'S 
ROLE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE 
TO FIGHT AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT 
AND POVERTY THAT IS CREATED BY 
COVID-19.
THE SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN
MADE BY MINISTERS BAIN AND ANAND
CONCERNING THE SIGNIFICANT 
PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE 
REGARDING SUPPLIES AND 
DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL 
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS,
FUNDING OF 700 POSTS FOR YOUNG 
PEOPLE IN THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR, 
AND ALSO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
HAVING RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR AN
EXTENSION OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF 
ARMED FORCES IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES IN ONTARIO AND 
QUEBEC.
>> THANK YOU.
NOW WE ARE READY TO TAKE YOUR 
QUESTIONS.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> AS USUAL WE WILL START ON THE
PHONE WITH THREE QUESTIONS AND 
THREE QUESTIONS FROM THE ROOM 
AND SO ON.
ONE QUESTION AND ONE FOLLOW UP.
OPERATOR, OVER TO YOU.
>> Operator: THANK YOU, MERCI.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE 
PRESS STAR ONE ON YOUR TELEPHONE
KEY PAD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
QUESTION FROM DEVOIR.
>> Reporter: GOOD DAY.
TODAY MR. TRUDEAU SAID THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS OPEN TO 
REGULARIZING THE SITUATION OF 
FARM -- WHO WORK IN THE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME, ARE WE 
ONLY TALKING ABOUT REGULARIZING 
ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO ARRIVED 
ILLEGALLY THROUGH ROCKSHAM OR 
OTHER MEANS, OR ARE WE TALKING 
ABOUT ALL REFUGEES WHO 
[INDISCERNIBLE] COULD YOU PLEASE
CLARIFY THAT SITUATION?
>> I WILL TRY.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER SAID, WE 
ALWAYS -- WE HAVE ALWAYS 
UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF 
IMMIGRATION FOR OUR COUNTRY.
GOVERNMENT IS OPEN TO 
IMMIGRATION.
TODAY WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE 
PEOPLE OF CANADA AND OF QUEBEC 
ARE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE OF 
THE WORK THAT THESE ASYLUM 
SEEKERS ARE DOING, AND PEOPLE 
WANT TO THANK THOSE PEOPLE FOR 
THE WORK.
WE DO UNDERSTAND.
AT THE SAME TIME WE BELIEVE THAT
WE NEED TO DO THINGS PROPERLY.
WE NEED TO LOOK INTO HOW WE CAN 
DO THAT.
YESTERDAY I SPOKE WITH MINISTER 
OF IMMIGRATION, AND AS THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID, MARCO IS LOOKING 
INTO THAT ISSUE IN CLOSE 
COLLABORATION WITH QUEBEC TO 
FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> Reporter: FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
COULD YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT 
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, KEEP THE 
IRREGULAR ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO 
CAME IN THROUGH ROXHAM OR ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT ALL REFUGEES?
AND COULD YOU TELL US WHAT YOU 
DISCUSSED WITH PREMIER LEGAULT 
ABOUT THAT?
>> COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE 
ANSWER IN ENGLISH?
I'LL COME BACK TO THAT.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> THE PRIME MINISTER SAID TODAY
CANADA IS THE COUNTRY BUILT ON 
IMMIGRATION AND OUR GOVERNMENT 
IS VERY OPEN TOWARDS AND 
WELCOMING OF IMMIGRANTS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THE 
VERY SPECIFIC SITUATION RIGHT 
NOW WHERE MANY PEOPLE IN CANADA 
AND IN QUEBEC ARE PARTICULARLY 
GRATEFUL TO THE REFUGEE 
CLAIMANTS WHO ARE DOING SUCH 
IMPORTANT WORK TAKING CARE OF 
OUR ELDERS.
PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL.
PEOPLE WANT TO EXPRESS THAT 
GRATITUDE, AND WE REALLY 
UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE KNOW ALSO THAT IT'S VERY 
IMPORTANT IN ALL ISSUES, VERY 
MUCH INCLUDING IMMIGRATION, TO 
DO THINGS PROPERLY AND 
CAREFULLY.
OUR MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION IS 
LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE VERY 
CAREFULLY AND CLOSELY AS THE 
PRIME MINISTER SAID TODAY.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
CONCERNING YOUR OTHER QUESTION, 
THE SPECIFIC ISSUE WE BELIEVE 
CONCERNS ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO ARE 
DOING ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY 
AND ESSENTIAL WORK NOW.
THAT BEING SAID, YOU WERE RIGHT.
THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.
THE MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION, 
JUST AS THE PRIME MINISTER SAID,
IS LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WE MUST AWAIT 
AND WILL -- IN CLOSE 
COLLABORATION WITH QUEBEC.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRIME 
MINISTER.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION?
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KELSEY
JOHNSON FROM REUTERS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THE LINE IS NOW OPEN. 
>> Reporter: HI, THERE.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY 
QUESTION.
MY QUESTION IS FOR DR. TAM.
DR. TAM, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
A HEAT WAVE, AND MANY OF THE 
TRADITIONAL PLACES THAT 
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WOULD GO 
TO COOL OFF, LIKE SWIMMING 
POOLS, SPLASH PADS, MALLS, MOVIE
THEATRES ARE ALL CLOSED TO SLOW 
THE SPREAD OF THE PANDEMIC.
I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR ADVICE 
IS TO MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER 
OFFICIALS WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE 
TO FIND A WAY TO ENSURE 
RESIDENTS CAN COOL DOWN IN THE 
NEXT THREE DAYS WHILE ENSURING 
THE COVID OUTBREAK DOESN'T 
SPREAD.
>> YES, SO ADDRESSING MULTIPLE 
HEALTH ISSUES IS OBVIOUSLY GOING
TO BE A CHALLENGE.
I THINK FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH 
PERSPECTIVE WE KNOW THAT IT'S 
THE -- YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO 
THIS WHILE RESPECTING ACTUAL 
DISTANCING OR PROVIDING OTHER 
MEASURES IS THE KEY.
I THINK WHATEVER MAUNLT  -- 
MUNICIPALITIES COME UP WITH AS 
INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS, LIKE OTHER
SPACES THAT COULD HELP TO BE 
OPENED UP, FOR EXAMPLE, MUST 
STILL RESPECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES.
AND THEY NEED A PLAN IN TERMS OF
ENSURING SICK PEOPLE STILL STAY 
SORT OF -- YOU KNOW, AT THEIR 
RESIDENCE AS MUCH AS PEOPLE CAN 
ASSIST WITH THAT.
AND THEN ALL THE OTHER MEASURES 
INCLUDE THE HI GENIC MEASURES 
THAT SHOULD BE IN PLACE.
PLAN VERY QUICKLY WITH THE LOCAL
PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES ON HOW
DO YOU MAINTAIN PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, POTENTIAL NEED FOR 
MASK USE IF YOU CAN'T, 
HANDWASHING, ALL OF THOSE 
MEASURES WILL STILL APPLY, 
UNFORTUNATELY, SO THAT WOULD BE 
ONE ASPECT OF THIS THAT PEOPLE 
HAVE TO RESPECT.
>> KELSEY, FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: YEAH, JUST AS A 
FOLLOW-UP, IS THERE ANY 
SITUATION WHERE FACILITIES LIKE 
A SPLASH PAD OR A BEACH OR THAT 
COULD BE OPENED UP WITHOUT THE 
RISK OF SCENES LIKE WE SAW IN 
TORONTO WITH JUST TOO MANY 
PEOPLE IN ONE SPACE?
>> I THINK WITH THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICERS THAT THERE ARE 
WAYS, PARTICULARLY OUTDOORS, IN 
MINIMIZING THE RISK WHILE 
REDUCING OTHER NEGATIVE HEALTH 
IMPACTS.
SO IF YOU ARE ON A BEACH, THEN 
RESPECTING THOSE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING MEASURES CAN STILL BE
DONE.
MORE OF A CHALLENGE I THINK IS 
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO USE COMMUNAL
SORT OF ENVIRONMENTS LIKE 
WASHROOMS AND THOSE THINGS, THAT
THOSE KIND OF SERVICES, WHILE 
YOU'RE AT THOSE OUTDOOR SPACES, 
IS I THINK WHERE THE MEDICAL 
OFFICERS ARE LOOKING AT THAT IN 
PARTICULAR.
SO THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT 
CAN BE ACCOMMODATED MAY NOT BE 
NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, DUE TO 
THE RESTRICTIONS OF THAT OPEN 
SPACE BUT DUE TO SORT OF ACCESS 
TO THESE COMMON SERVICES.
SO THEY WILL HAVE THEIR SPECIFIC
PLANS TO DEAL WITH THAT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY VERY DETAILED 
PLANNING THAT -- SO LISTEN TO 
YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH FOR 
SURE.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
QUESTION FROM LA PRESSE 
CANADIAN.
>> Reporter: HELLO.
TO CONTINUE THE SAME VEIN, MY 
QUESTION IS FOR DR. NJOO OR 
DR. TAM.
THERE'S A HEAT WAVE NOW.
YESTERDAY WE COULD NOT GET ANY 
ANSWER TO THE FACT THAT THE 
[INDISCERNIBLE] LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES HAD TO TAKE CARE OF 
SENIORS.
THERE WAS NO CLEAR INDICATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
AUTHORITIES IN QUEBEC.
THIS IS MY QUESTION.
WHAT ARE YOU RECOMMENDING THAT 
THESE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES 
DO?
HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH THE 
CURRENT HEAT WAVE?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
THIS IS DR. NJOO HERE.
AS DR. TAM ALREADY SAID, YES, WE
KNOW THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
STRATEGIES, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE ENFORCED, PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE 
TWO METRES, AND GOOD HYGIENE 
PRACTICES LIKE CONSTANTLY 
WASHING OUR HANDS, ALL THOSE 
MEASURES REMAIN IN FORCE.
GIVEN THE SITUATION OF THE HEAT 
WAVE, WE KNOW IT'S MORE 
DIFFICULT.
THERE ARE TWO MEASURES THAT CAN 
BE TAKEN, FOR EXAMPLE, USING 
FANS TO HELP CIRCULATE.
MAYBE SEPARATING PEOPLE ALREADY 
CONTAMINATED IN A LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITY, SEPARATING THEM FROM 
THOSE WHO ARE NOT ILL.
IF IT'S POSSIBLE.
IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE EACH 
SITUATION IN THE LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITY IS UNIQUE.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S ALWAYS BETTER 
TO BE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE 
EVIDENCE SHOWS THE RISK MAY BE 
HIGHER INSIDE.
WITH THE GOOD WEATHER, IF 
POSSIBLE PEOPLE MAY GO INTO THE 
YARD, MAYBE THE RESIDENTS MAY GO
OUT IN TURN WHILE MAINTAINING 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING OF TWO 
METRES, JUST TO GET SOME FRESH 
AIR OUTSIDE.
MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A 
TIMETABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT 
EVERYBODY HAS SPENT SOME TIME 
OUTSIDE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE STAYS 
WELL HYDRATED.
DOES EVERYONE HAVE ENOUGH WATER 
TO DRINK?
THESE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE 
STILL IN FORCE.
WE KNOW THAT CHALLENGES REMAIN 
ON THE GROUND.
LOOK AT HOW HEALTH AUTHORITY AND
ALSO THE OFFICIALS OF THE 
VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS WOULD HAVE 
TO PLAN AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY 
IMPLEMENT THE CURRENT PUBLIC 
HEALTH MEASURES ACCORDING TO THE
CONTEXT.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Reporter: TO CLARIFY, 
DR. NJOO, WOULD YOU BE ISSUING 
NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS OR IS 
IT REALLY UP TO THE LOCAL 
AUTHORITIES TO DECIDE?
LOCAL AUTHORITIES DO NOT HAVE 
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO GIVE.
THEY ARE RELYING ON THE 
INSTITUTIONS.
WOULD YOU BE ISSUING 
COUNTRY-WIDE RECOMMENDATIONS OR 
WILL YOU BE LEAVING IT UP TO THE
INSTITUTIONS?
>> IT'S VERY CONCERNING.
WE DID NOT REALLY DISCUSS IT IN 
DETAIL WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS OF 
THE SPECIAL ADVISORY GROUP.
THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO
DISCUSS IN FURTHER DETAIL.
FOR AS LONG AS WE AGREE ON 
PRINCIPLES, ULTIMATELY IT'S ON 
THE GROUND THAT THINGS HAVE TO 
BE DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WE KNOW THAT EVEN BEFORE 
COVID-19 SOMEONE LIKE ME, I 
WORKED AT A LOCAL LEVEL WITH THE
HEAT WAVE, IT'S THE SAME 
PRINCIPLES.
PEOPLE SHOULD STAY WELL 
HYDRATED, ALL THOSE MEASURES 
STILL APPLY.
THE CHALLENGE NOW IS HOW TO 
IMPLEMENT MEASURES FOR HEAT WAVE
CONSIDERING THE REALITY OF 
COVID-19.
SO YES, THAT'S SOMETHING WE 
COULD DISCUSS WITH OUR 
COUNTERPARTS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS 
OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE, 
BUT ULTIMATELY I THINK IT WILL 
BE MORE REALISTIC FOR LOCAL 
AUTHORITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE
ONES WHO KNOW BETTER WHAT IS 
HAPPENING ON THE FIELD THAN 
THOSE OF US HERE AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> WE WILL NOW TURN TO THE ROOM.
>> Reporter: TOM PERRY WITH CBC.
IT'S A QUESTION FOR MINISTER 
HAJDU.
IN REGARDING THIS REPORT BY THE 
CANADIAN FORCES ABOUT THE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, I'M 
JUST WONDERING WHAT SPECIFICALLY
CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO 
RIGHT NOW IN CONJUNCTION WITH 
THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT TO 
IMPROVE THE SITUATION IN THESE 
HOMES, AND MOVING AHEAD, MAKING 
SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN 
AGAIN?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE 
QUESTION.
AS YOU KNOW, SINCE THE OUTBREAK 
OF COVID-19 WE HAVE BEEN WELL 
AWARE OF SOME OF THE FRAGILITIES
IN LONG-TERM CARE AND THE 
LONG-TERM CARE SECTOR, AND AS 
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID AND I 
HAVE ALSO READ THE REPORT, IT IS
EXTREMELY DISTURBING, AND WE 
WILL BE THERE FOR ONTARIO.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS, AS YOU KNOW,
IS A PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION IN 
THAT THEY HAVE THE DIRECT LINE 
OF SIGHT INTO FACILITIES, BUT 
THAT WE CAN BE THERE TO SUPPORT 
THEM IN MAKING SURE THAT SENIORS
HAVE DIGNIFIED LIFE.
AND AS I SAID EARLIER, IN MANY 
REMARKS, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING 
THAT I THINK ANY CANADIAN WANTS 
TO SEE TO CONTINUE.
SO I KNOW THAT THE WORK WILL BE 
DIFFICULT, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED 
TO BEING THERE FOR PROVINCES, 
INCLUDING ONTARIO.
>> Reporter: CAN I ASK, 
SPECIFICALLY, THOUGH, YOU SAY 
SUPPORT.
IS THAT MONEY?
IS IT -- WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO
TRY TO FIX THIS NOW?
>> SO THANKS FOR THE COMMENT.
I THINK THE THINGS THAT THE 
PROVINCES HAVE INDICATED THEY 
NEEDED HELP WITH WE'VE BEEN 
THERE WITH THAT HELP, AND THAT 
HAS INCLUDED, AS YOU KNOW, 
FINANCIAL RESOURCES, BUT ALSO 
PEOPLE, ALSO EXPERTISE IN THE 
FORM OF BRINGING IN HIGHLY 
TRAINED MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR 
WHOM, BY THE WAY, WE ARE 
EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR 
SERVICE AND THEIR ABILITY TO DO 
SO SO QUICKLY.
I THINK THAT THAT IS A 
CONVERSATION THAT WE WILL BE 
HAVING WITH PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES IN TERMS OF WHAT 
SUPPORT PRACTICALLY WILL MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE.
AND I THINK CANADIANS EXPECT US 
TO BE THERE FOR OUR ELDERS, AND 
WE WILL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH 
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO
UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO DO THAT.
>> AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD 
ONE THING, TOM, JUST FOLLOWING 
ON WHAT PATTY HAS SAID ABOUT THE
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.
I THINK WE ARE ALL SO GRATEFUL 
TO THEM FOR THEIR LITERALLY 
LIFE-SAVING WORK, AND I AM 
REALLY GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE 
DOING THIS WORK WHO HAD THE 
COURAGE TO STEP FORWARD AND 
WRITE THIS REPORT.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, 
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE 
THAT THEY DID THAT.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: RADIO-CANADA ON 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
SO ANYONE CAN ANSWER IN FRENCH 
OR IN ENGLISH.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EQUIPMENT 
THAT WAS ORDERED AND WHAT WE -- 
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Rosemary: WE'RE GOING TO PULL
AWAY FROM THIS FEDERAL BRIEFING 
NOW.
YOU CAN CONTINUE WATCHING IT ON 
OUR WEBSITE, BUT I'LL BRING BACK
VASSY KAPELOS AND DAVID COCHRANE
WHO BOTH HAVE BEEN DOING AN 
EXCELLENT JOB GETTING 
INFORMATION FOR ALL OF US AS WE 
AWAIT THE OFFICIAL RELEASE OF 
THIS REPORT, WRITTEN BY THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES, ABOUT THE
SITUATION IN LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES IN ONTARIO.
IT DOES TOUCH ON, AS YOU 
MENTIONED THERE, VASSY, ALL FIVE
PLACES WHERE THE CANADIAN FORCES
HAVE BEEN LOCATED FOR THE PAST 
COUPLE OF WEEKS, 250 OF THEM, 
VASSY.
>> Vassy: YES, IT DOES, AND THE 
PRIME MINISTER REMARKED AND YOU 
JUST HEARD HEALTH MINISTER HAJDU
AS WELL AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
CHRYSTIA FREELAND SAY THE 
RESULTS OF THAT OR THE CONTENT 
OF THAT REPORT IS VERY 
DISTURBING.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT 
JUMPED OUT TO ME, FIRST OF ALL 
JUST PICK UP ON WHAT WE JUST 
HEARD OUR COLLEAGUE TOM PERRY 
WAS ASKING THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY WHAT 
THEY MEAN WHEN THEY SAY WE WILL 
BE THERE FOR ONTARIO.
THAT'S WHAT HEALTH MINISTER 
PATTY HAJDU SAID AND ALSO WHAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID NOT TOO 
LONG AGO.
DOES THAT MEAN EXTRA MONEY?
DOES THAT MEAN ADDITIONAL 
RESOURCES?
DOES IT MEAN A CHANGE IN 
JURISDICTION?
ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
THE HEALTH MINISTER INDICATED 
THAT, OF COURSE, THE PROVINCES 
HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THIS.
SHE REITERATED THAT SOME EXTRA 
MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN 
DELIVERED, AS WELL AS RESOURCES.
I IMAGINE SHE MEANS THERE THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER CALLED
THEM COURAGEOUS FOR COMING 
FORWARD AND REPORTING WHAT THEY 
DID IN THE CONTENTS OF THIS 
REPORT, BUT THERE WAS NO 
SPECIFIC ANSWER ON DOES THIS 
MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, AN INQUIRY, 
WILL IT MEAN EXTRA MONEY.
I KNOW THAT THE WAY IT WORKS IS 
THAT THE PROVINCE ASKS FOR THE 
EXTRA HELP AND THEN THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER
TO DO THAT.
WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN AN ASK 
FROM BOTH ONTARIO AND QUEBEC TO 
EXTEND THE TIME THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES IS SPENDING IN 
THESE HOMES AND THAT THAT 
REQUEST IS CURRENTLY UNDER 
CONSIDERATION.
BUT I DID FIND THAT LINE OF 
QUESTIONING VERY INTERESTING, 
AND I THINK IT WILL BE OF 
INCREASED IMPORTANCE WHEN THE 
PUBLIC SEES THE CONTENTS OF THIS
REPORT, WHEN WE HEAR FROM THE 
PREMIER.
MAYBE THE PREMIER WILL HAVE 
SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT HE NEEDS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO 
ADDRESS THAT, BUT BASED ON WHAT 
I'VE HEARD SO FAR, THERE IS AN 
ASK IN THIS REPORT BY THE 
MILITARY THAT THE PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING, 
INVESTIGATE AND DO SOMETHING 
ABOUT THIS, AND TO THAT END, I 
KNOW DAVID HAS MORE INFORMATION 
ON THIS, MY SOURCES IN THE 
MILITARY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE
IS A FORTHCOMING REPORT ON THE 
SITUATION IN LONG-TERM CARE IN 
QUEBEC AS WELL.
THIS ONE OF COURSE IS FOCUSED ON
ONTARIO, THE FIVE HOMES THAT THE
MILITARY IS HELPING OUT IN IN 
ONTARIO.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS
SOMETHING COMING ON QUEBEC AS 
WELL, AND I KNOW DAVID HAS MORE 
ON THAT.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, DAVID, WHY 
DON'T YOU PICK UP THERE.
>> David: YEAH, IT'S NOT MUCH IN
THE WAY OF SPECIFICS, BUT ROSIE,
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN THE 
ONTARIO REPORT WAS DELIVERED TO 
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE, 
SENIOR OFFICIALS WERE TOLD THAT 
THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE COMING AND
THIS ONE WOULD BE ON QUEBEC.
A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT THERE, 
THE MILITARY IS HELPING IN 25 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN QUEBEC, 
ONLY FIVE IN ONTARIO.
OBVIOUSLY IF THINGS WERE RUNNING
GREAT IN QUEBEC YOU WOULDN'T 
HAVE THE MILITARY IN 25 OF THESE
HOMES.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE QUESTION OF 
DEGREE, APPARENTLY WHAT WAS 
WITNESSED IN ONTARIO WAS OF A 
MORE SEVERE NATURE IS THE 
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SENIOR 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WE'RE 
SPEAKING WITH HAVE OF THE 
SITUATION.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER FINDING 
FROM THE MILITARY OF SOME SORT 
EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED TO THE 
GOVERNMENT AS TO WHAT IS 
HAPPENING IN QUEBEC.
AND THIS DOES RAISE A LOT OF 
THESE QUESTIONS OF HOW DO YOU 
FIX THIS GOING FORWARD, RIGHT?
BECAUSE THIS -- THESE ISSUES ARE
IN QUEBEC'S JURISDICTION.
THEY ARE IN ONTARIO'S 
JURISDICTION, BUT, ROSIE, THIS 
IS A NATIONAL SHAME.
AND THERE WILL BE A CALL FOR 
NATIONAL ACTION ON THIS, EVEN 
BEFORE THE DUST SETTLES, BECAUSE
AS WE HEAR EVERY DAY FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS, WE ARE BRACING
FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A SECOND 
WAVE IN THE FALL, AND YOU CANNOT
GO INTO THE TRADITIONAL 
INFLUENZA SEASON COMPOUNDED BY 
THE RISKS OF THE COVID-19 
PANDEMIC WITHOUT ADDRESSING 
THESE SYSTEMIC FAILURES THAT 
EXIST IN THE LONG-TERM CARE 
SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.
SO THIS REPORT THAT THE PREMIER 
WILL RELEASE IN ABOUT 30, 35 
MINUTES IS GOING TO BE QUITE 
SHOCKING AND EXPLOSIVE FOR 
PEOPLE TO SEE BASED ON THE 
INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN 
PROVIDED, AND PERHAPS A 
LESS-DISTURBING SEQUEL TO COME 
ON THE FINDINGS OF WHAT HAS 
HAPPENED IN QUEBEC AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: JUST A REMINDER FOR
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LONG-TERM 
CARE CENTRES, IT'S MORE THAN 
70 -- I THINK WE ARE VERGING ON 
80% OF THE DEATHS IN CANADA DUE 
TO COVID-19.
QUEBEC ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 
HALF OF THOSE CASES, ALMOST 60% 
OF THE DEATHS.
SO A COUPLE OTHER POINTS, IN 
QUEBEC, I MENTIONED THE CASE OF 
THE HERON LONG-TERM CARE CENTRE.
I SHOULD ALSO MENTION NOW THAT 
POLICE AND THE CORONER ARE 
INVESTIGATING WHAT HAPPENED AT 
THAT FACILITY.
SO WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE 
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE 
BEGUN IN QUEBEC.
IN THAT CASE THERE WERE MORE 
THAN 31 DEATHS IN A MONTH.
NOT ALL OF THEM DUE TO COVID, 
ACCORDING TO INITIAL REPORTS, 
ANYWAY.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN 
ONTARIO ANNOUNCED THAT 
INDEPENDENT COMMISSION LAST 
WEEK, THEY POINTED OUT THAT 1400
PEOPLE HAD DIED, INCLUDING FIVE 
STAFF AT LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
THE DIFFERENCE, I GUESS, BETWEEN
AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AND AN
INQUIRY WOULD BE A LEGAL ONE, 
UNDOUBTEDLY, IN TERMS OF THE 
CONSEQUENCES OF IT.
BUT IT DOES SOUND, FROM WHAT 
YOU'VE BOTH SAID ABOUT WHAT THE 
CANADIAN FORCES HAVE SEEN AND 
WHAT THEY ARE REPORTING BACK, 
AND THE WAY THE REPORT SEEMS TO 
BE WRITTEN, THAT THIS MAY 
REQUIRE MORE IMMEDIATE ACTION 
RATHER THAN A COMMISSION OR AN 
INQUIRY.
IT MAY ACTUALLY HAVE TO INVOLVE 
SOME LEGAL AUTHORITIES TO TRY 
AND GET A HANDLE ON THINGS.
AND I SHOULD SAY, WE KNOW FROM 
PAST REPORTING THAT, YOU KNOW, 
THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE NECESSARILY 
TO BLAME.
IT COULD BE LOTS OF THINGS, 
RIGHT, IN TERMS OF THE WORKERS 
NOT BEING WELL EQUIPPED, FEARFUL
OF LOSING THEIR JOBS, NOT BEING 
WELL TRAINED.
IT COULD BE MANY THINGS AT PLAY 
HERE, AND THAT REPORT CERTAINLY 
WILL GIVE US A BETTER SENSE OF 
THAT.
I'LL JUST GET A COUPLE MORE 
COMMENTS FROM BOTH OF YOU, 
VASSY.
>> Vassy: I WAS JUST GOING TO 
SAY AS YOU LISTED THAT OUT, I 
WAS REMINDED OF THE ELIZABETH 
WET LAYOFFER INQUIRY, RIGHT, 
WHICH LOOKED AT SOME ISSUES THAT
ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSING AND WHAT IS 
BEING LAID OUT BY THE CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES.
IN FACT, MANY OF THE CONCLUSIONS
REACHED ALREADY BY THE PEOPLE 
WHO WORK IN THE SYSTEM, SUCH AS 
INADEQUATE STAFFING, STAFF WHO 
ARE PAID TOO LITTLE, SHIFT 
PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE 
WORKING IN MORE THAN ONE HOME, 
ALL OF THOSE ISSUES WHICH HAVE 
BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THIS PANDEMIC
WERE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED IN THAT
INQUIRY AS WELL, AND IN FACT, 
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WAS 
DUE TO RESPOND TO THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT INQUIRY 
IN JULY.
SO IT BRINGS TO MIND KIND OF I 
THINK THERE IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY
ASPECT OF ALL OF THIS, AND I 
WONDER IF IT INFORMS THE 
RESPONSE TODAY INSOFAR AS THERE 
ARE ALL THESE CALLS FOR 
INQUIRIES, AND CERTAINLY THEY 
HAVE TO HAPPEN, BUT THERE HAVE 
BEEN A LOT OF INVESTIGATIONS 
INTO THE ISSUES THAT PLAGUED THE
LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN 
ONTARIO IN THIS CASE, AND THERE 
ARE ALREADY RECOMMENDATIONS AND 
CONCLUSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN 
REACHED.
SO THERE PROBABLY ARE THINGS THE
PROVINCE COULD DO TODAY THAT 
WOULD MAKE AN IMPACT.
AND I KNOW SOME THINGS HAVE 
ALREADY BEEN DONE, SOME CHANGES 
HAVE ALREADY BEEN UNDERTAKEN, 
BUT THERE IS ALREADY A BODY OF 
RESEARCH, A BODY OF WORK THAT 
HAS BEEN COMPLETED THAT THEY 
COULD ACT ON IMMEDIATELY, AND I 
WOULD IMAGINE THOSE QUESTIONS 
WILL BE PUT TO THE PREMIER.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, SOME OF THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS CAME EVEN OUT OF
THE SARS PANDEMIC TOO.
DAVID, 30 SECONDS TO YOU.
>> David: YEAH, THE EXPECTATION 
AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL 
IS THAT THIS REPORT WILL BE 
REFERRED TO THE CORONER IN 
ONTARIO BY ONTARIO PREMIER DOUG 
FORD.
GLOBAL NEWS IS ALREADY REPORTING
THAT THAT WILL BE THE CASE.
SO THAT WILL LEAD TO SOME SORT 
OF FORMAL INQUIRY.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF 
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JURISDICTION
AND RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THE 
FINDINGS ESSENTIALLY AS WE KNOW 
THEM IS THAT SENIORS WERE 
ALLOWED TO SIT IN THEIR FILTH, 
SURROUNDED BY FLIES AND 
COCKROACHES AND ROTTING FOOD.
I'M NOT SURE CANADIANS WILL 
TOLERATE A DEBATE OVER 
JURISDICTION.
THEY WILL WANT TO HEAR ABOUT 
SOLUTIONS. 
>> Rosemary: THANK YOU BOTH FOR 
MUCH FOR YOUR EXCELLENT 
REPORTING THROUGHOUT THIS.
I APPRECIATE IT.
VASSY KAPELOS AND THE CBC'S 
DAVID COCHRANE.
WE WILL LEAVE OUR COVERAGE 
THERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE WILL 
TRACK THIS IMPORTANT STORY 
THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON WITH 
ANDREW NICHOLS.
I'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "CBC NEWS
NETWORK."
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
