WE ARE STANDING BY FOR JUSTIN 
TRUDEAU'S ADDRESS ON THE 
COVID-19 RESPONSE.
EXPECTED TO START A LITTLE 
EARLIER TODAY, PROBABLY IN THE 
NEXT MINUTE OR SO.
IN HIS USUAL LOCATION, BACK TO 
HIS USUAL LOCATION TODAY, JUST 
OUTSIDE HIS HOME AT RIDEAU 
COTTAGE, AND WE ARE ALSO 
EXPECTING HIM TODAY TO TALK 
ABOUT A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL 
AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN 
NEGOTIATED FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS
NOW TO TRY AND FIND A WAY TO TOP
UP WAGES FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, 
AND THOSE CAN BE ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS AT LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
OR ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN ANY 
OTHER PART OF THE ECONOMY WHERE 
PEOPLE MIGHT BE GOING TO WORK IN
SPITE OF THE PREPONDERANCE  -- 
PANDEMIC.
FINDING WAYS TO INCREASE THEIR 
SALARIES, TO THANK THEM FOR THE 
WORK THEY ARE DOING AND TO KEEP 
THEM IN THOSE JOBS.
SPECIFICALLY THE PRIME MINISTER 
HAS TALKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE 
MAKING LESS THAN $2500 A MONTH, 
AND YES, THAT WOULD, OF COURSE, 
ALSO APPLY TO LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES.
CARE HOMES REALLY AS WE'VE BEEN 
TALKING ABOUT SINCE THE 
BEGINNING OF THIS, THE EPICENTRE
OF THE PANDEMIC HERE IN CANADA 
WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF 
CANADIANS HAVE DIED, AND THAT IS
PARTICULARLY IN QUEBEC, AND 
ONTARIO JUST EARLIER TODAY THE 
MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE 
TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF 
SOLDIERS NOW DEPLOYED INTO 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN BOTH 
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC, MORE THAN A 
THOUSAND OF THEM IN SOME 25 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN QUEBEC 
AND FIVE HERE IN ONTARIO.
THIS IS, AGAIN, AN AGREEMENT 
THAT HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 
PROVINCES.
FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, IT WILL
BE A FAIRLY FLEXIBLE DEAL, 
ALLOWING PROVINCES TO DECIDE 
JUST WHO IS AN ESSENTIAL WORKER 
AND WHO WILL NEED THIS KIND OF 
BENEFIT, WAGE TOP-UP, IF YOU 
WILL.
AND HERE NOW, THE PRIME MINISTER
OF CANADA WITH MORE DETAILS FOR 
US.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
WANT TO BEGIN WITH A FEW WORDS 
ABOUT THE TERRIBLE HELICOPTER 
CRASH THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 
SIX ARMED FORCES MEMBERS LAST 
WEEK.
YESTERDAY I ATTENDED A CEREMONY 
IN THEIR HONOUR.
I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO PAY MY RESPECTS.
I GOT TO SPEAK WITH MOTHERS, 
FATHERS AND STEPFATHERS, 
GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS, SONS AND 
DAUGHTERS, FIANCEES, PARTNERS 
AND LOVED ONES.
ALL OF THEM WERE HEARTBROKEN.
ALL OF THEM WERE ALSO IMMENSELY 
PROUD OF THE LIFE OF SERVICE 
CHOSEN BY THEIR LOVED ONE, AS 
ARE WE ALL.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR 
SERVICE.
THEY WILL LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS,
AND I KNOW THE THOUGHTS OF ALL 
CANADIANS ARE WITH THE FAMILIES 
AND LOVED ONES WHO WERE GOING 
THROUGH AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT 
TIME.
WE STAND WITH THEM AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO STAND WITH THEM.
AS TIME AND TIME AGAIN MEMBERS 
OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 
STEP UP TO HELP THOSE IN NEED, 
WHETHER IT BE AS A PART OF A 
NATO MISSION IN EUROPE OR IN THE
WAKE OF A NATURAL DISASTER HERE 
IN CANADA, THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE
FOR US, EAGER TO HELP, READY TO 
SERVE, AND THIS PANDEMIC IS NO 
EXCEPTION.
WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT RECEIVED 
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM 
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC, OUR MEN AND 
WOMEN IN UNIFORM ONCE AGAIN 
ANSWERED THE CALL.
IN ONTARIO, 265 CAF MEMBERS HAVE
NOW BEEN DEPLOYED TO FIVE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
THEY ARE SUPPORTING OUR 
FRONT-LINE WORKERS, CARING FOR 
OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, 
AND BRINGING SOME COMFORT TO THE
FAMILIES.
IF YOU'VE LOST A LOVED ONE IN 
ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES, OR IF 
YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE YOU HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO VISIT FOR WEEKS, 
YOU'RE WORRIED SICK ABOUT WHAT 
TOMORROW WILL BRING AND YOU HOPE
THAT THEY ARE GETTING THE CARE 
THEY DESERVE, SEEING OUR CAF 
MEMBERS OFFER THEIR HELP AND 
TALENTS DURING THESE TIMES IS A 
REASSURING SIGHT FOR MANY OF 
THESE FAMILIES, SO I WANT TO 
THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
DEPLOYED AND ALL THE FRONT-LINE 
WORKERS WHO CONTINUE TO WORK 
HARDER THAN EVER TO KEEP OUR 
SENIORS SAFE.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ABOUT 1200 
CANADIAN RANGERS HAVE BEEN 
DEPLOYED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE 
IN ORDER TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF 
VIRUS TO A NUMBER OF REGIONS, 
INCLUDING 200 RANGERS TO NUNAVUT
AND TO THE LOWER NORTH SHORE, 
AND ACROSS QUEBEC THERE ARE NOW 
MORE THAN 670 CAF PERSONNEL IN 
20 LONG-TERM CARE HOMES WITH 350
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO PROVIDE 
SUPPORT.
WE EXPECT THAT NEXT WEEK THERE 
WILL BE A TOTAL OF 1350 MILITARY
PERSONNEL AS PART OF THAT 
OPERATION TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN 
25 FACILITIES.
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES ARE THE 
FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN 
HARDEST HIT BY COVID-19, AND OUR
MEMBERS ARE THERE TO PROVIDE 
ASSISTANCE.
THEY ARE NOW LOOKING AFTER OUR 
PARENTS AND OUR GRANDPARENTS.
THEY ARE SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE 
WHO ARE THERE, INCLUDING NURSES 
AND FRONT-LINE WORKERS WHO ARE 
WORKING VERY LONG HOURS IN VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO 
THANK ALL OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL
THAT HAVE STEPPED UP TO LEND A 
HAND.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE 
INCREDIBLE WORK THAT OUR 
FRONT-LINE WORKERS HAVE BEEN 
CARRYING OUT SINCE THE BEGINNING
OF THIS CRISIS.
NOT ONLY IN LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
BUT ELSEWHERE.
YOU ARE A SOURCE OF MOTIVATION 
FOR ALL OF US.
YOU'RE LOOKING AFTER OUR 
PARENTS.
YOU'RE LOOKING AFTER THE ILL, 
AND YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF US.
YOU ARE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT 
AGAINST COVID-19, AND HAVE BEEN 
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS 
CRISIS.
AND YOU DESERVE MORE THAN JUST 
OUR GRATITUDE.
YOU DESERVE TO BE PROPERLY PAID 
FOR THE ESSENTIAL WORK THAT YOU 
ARE DOING.
TODAY I AM ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT
WE HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT 
WITH ALL THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES WITH A VIEW TO 
TOPPING UP THE WAGES OF 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
WE ARE NOW FINALIZING THE 
DETAILS WITH SOME PROVINCES, BUT
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS
A JOINT EFFORT.
ALL THE PREMIERS AGREE WE MUST 
SUPPORT OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR HAVING 
SHOWN A TEAM SPIRIT IN 
ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED THOSE
WORKERS, AND WE WILL BE THERE 
FOR THEM.
THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES WILL DETERMINE 
EXACTLY WHICH WORKERS WILL 
RECEIVE THE WAGE TOP-UP, BUT 
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
IF YOU ARE RISKING YOUR HEALTH 
IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THIS 
CRISIS AND YOU ARE RECEIVING 
MINIMUM WAGE, YOU DESERVE TO 
EARN MORE.
[ End of Interpretation ]
TODAY I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT WE 
HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ALL THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO 
PROVIDE A WAGE TOP-UP FOR 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FOR CANADIANS
WHO ARE WILLING CALLED TO GO TO 
WORK EVERY DAY, FOR CANADIANS 
WHO ARE PROVIDING US WITH 
ESSENTIAL SERVICES SO WE CAN 
CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES 
SAFE AND HEALTHY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE FINALIZING THE 
DETAILS WITH THE LAST PROVINCES,
AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT 
THIS HAS BEEN A TRULY 
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
PREMIERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED TO 
SUPPORT OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, 
AND I THANK THE PREMIERS FOR THE
CONTINUED TEAM CANADA APPROACH.
WE ARE RELYING ON THESE WORKERS 
NOW MORE THAN EVER, AND WE WILL 
BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM.
IT WILL BE UP TO EACH PROVINCE 
AND TERRITORY TO DETERMINE WHO 
EXACTLY QUALIFIES FOR THIS WAGE 
INCREASE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THIS: IF YOU'RE RISKING YOUR 
HEALTH TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY 
MOVING AND YOU'RE MAKING MINIMUM
WAGE, YOU DESERVE A RAISE.
I WANT TO CLOSE BY NOTING THAT 
TODAY BUDDHISTS IN CANADA AND 
AROUND THE WORLD WILL MARK THEIR
MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVAL.
WHILE THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS 
WILL BE A BIT DIFFERENT, THE 
BUDDHA'S MESSAGE OF PEACE, 
SELFLESS SERVICE AND COMPASSION 
TO THOSE IN NEED IS MORE 
IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
I WANT TO WISH A HAPPY AND 
PEACEFUL VESAK TO ALL THOSE 
CELEBRATING.
I'M NOW HAPPY TO TAKE PEOPLE'S 
QUESTIONS.
[ No Interpretation ]
>> Operator: [ No Interpretation
].
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT 
THAT IT TOOK SUCH A LONG TIME TO
AGREE WITH THE PROVINCES ON THE 
WAGE TOP-UP?
THEY ARE OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS, 
AND HAVE YOU AGREED ON A 
SPECIFIC FIGURE, $4 OR $5 MORE 
PER HOUR, SAY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
ONCE AGAIN WE KNOW THAT THE 
PROVINCES ARE FACING DIFFERENT 
CIRCUMSTANCES RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY BECAUSE OF COVID-19, AND
THEY ARE ALSO TAKING DIFFERENT 
APPROACHES TOWARDS THE WORK OF 
THEIR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
SO AS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE 
WANTED TO HELP THE PROVINCES 
WITH THREE QUARTERS OF THE 
FUNDING THAT THEY WILL NOW HAVE 
AVAILABLE TO THEM TO SUPPORT 
THEIR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT $4 MILLION FOR 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS RIGHT ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY, BUT THE PROVINCES 
WILL BE THE ONES DETERMINING 
EXACTLY HOW AND WHO WILL RECEIVE
THAT FUNDING.
>> A FOLLOW-UP, CATHERINE?
>> Reporter: YES, THANK YOU.
SO I UNDERSTAND THERE WON'T BE A
CONSISTENT WAGE TOP-UP ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
NOW YOUR SCIENCE ADVISOR HAS 
CRITICIZED THE LACK OF A CLEAR 
PLAN IN QUEBEC, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
ALREADY STARTED TO RELAX THE 
LOCKDOWN.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO 
DO MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF TESTING
IN THE COMING MONTHS IN ORDER TO
REOPEN THE ECONOMY AND TO KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE.
ALL THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES MUST DO MORE.
WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT 
IMPROVEMENT, EVEN JUST IN THE 
LAST FEW DAYS, INCLUDING IN 
QUEBEC.
AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE 
PROVINCES TO IMPROVE THE 
TESTING.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO MORE 
TESTING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO DO 
MORE.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> THANK YOU.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU, MERCI, 
NEXT QUESTION, "NATIONAL POST".
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: YEAH, GOOD MORNING,
PRIME MINISTER.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN GIVE US
AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS PROGRAM 
WILL COST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OVERALL, AND GIVEN THAT YOU SEEM
TO BE LEAVING THIS UP TO THE 
PROVINCES, LIKE, WHAT SORT OF 
GUIDELINES HAVE YOU GIVEN THEM 
ABOUT HOW TO SPEND THOSE FEDERAL
DOLLARS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY PEOPLE 
WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES IN 
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, IN OUR 
SENIORS CARE SYSTEMS, IN OUR 
LONG-TERM CARE, IN OUR HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEMS AND ELSEWHERE WHO 
ARE MAKING VERY LOW WAGES WHILE 
DOING EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT 
WORK.
THAT'S WHY WE ANNOUNCED A NUMBER
OF DAYS AGO THAT WE WANTED TO 
MOVE FORWARD WITH A TOP-UP TO BE
DELIVERED BY THE PROVINCES TO 
THOSE WORKERS WHO NEEDED THAT 
EXTRA SUPPORT.
WE PUT FORWARD AROUND $4 BILLION
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO 
BE MATCHED THREE QUARTERS FROM 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONE 
QUARTER FROM THE PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT ON HELPING THOSE 
WORKERS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE VARIANTS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BOTH OF THE 
COVID-19 SITUATION AND OF A 
DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, 
INCLUDING HEALTH CARE, WE FELT 
THAT IT WAS BEST THAT PROVINCES 
MOVE FORWARD IN CHOOSING EXACTLY
HOW THEY CAN BEST HELP THE 
WORKERS WHO ARE DOING SUCH 
IMPORTANT WORK RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF
HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME TOGETHER,
COLLABORATE, WORK TOGETHER TO 
SUPPORT CANADIANS THROUGH THIS 
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME.
>> AND A FOLLOW-UP, RYAN?
>> Reporter: YEAH, WHAT ABOUT 
NON-MEDICAL WORKERS, I GUESS 
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN GROCERY 
STORES AND DELIVERY DRIVERS, 
SOME OF THOSE WORKERS, LIKE YOU 
SAY, ARE WORKING MINIMUM WAGE.
ARE THEY GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE 
FOR THIS TOP-UP?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: AS I 
SAID, THOSE ARE DETERMINATIONS 
TO BE MADE BY THE PROVINCES.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF PROVINCES HAD
ALREADY PUT OUT LISTS OF WORKERS
THAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE 
ESSENTIAL, AND MANY OF THEM ARE 
DRAWING FROM THOSE LISTS IN 
TERMS OF WHO GETS THE TOP-UP.
WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE 
PROVINCES WILL DETERMINE EXACTLY
HOW BEST TO HELP CANADIANS IN 
THIS TIME.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTED TO
BE THERE, AND WE KNOW THAT 
OFFERING THIS MONEY TO WORKERS 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL 
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, AND WE 
TRUST THE PROVINCES TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED IT GETS 
THIS HELP.
>> THANK YOU.
[ No Interpretation ]
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, 
MR. TRUDEAU.
WITH RESPECT TO TODAY'S 
ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE WAGE 
TOP-UP, THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A LONG
TIME, BUT YOU'RE NOT GIVING ANY 
SPECIFIC NUMBERS.
CAN YOU TELL US EXACTLY WHAT YOU
THINK THE FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION 
WILL COST AND SPECIFICALLY FOR 
QUEBEC WILL THERE BE ANY 
COMPENSATION THROUGH A QUEBEC 
PROGRAM?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
WE HAVE SEEN -- WE HAVE SIGNED 
AGREEMENTS WITH ALL THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, OR 
ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO, 
AND ALL THE PROVINCES MUST WORK 
TOGETHER IN THIS CONTEXT.
SO FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN 
INVESTMENT OF $4 BILLION FOR ALL
ESSENTIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
WE WILL BE SUPPORTING ABOUT 
THREE QUARTERS OF THE COST OF 
THE PROVINCE'S PROGRAMS.
IN THE CASE OF QUEBEC, WE HAVE 
REACHED AN AGREEMENT, AND I KNOW
THAT THEY ARE HAPPY THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE THERE
TO HELP OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
>> A FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: YES.
WITH RESPECT TO THE CAF 
PERSONNEL IN LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES, WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A 
PROBLEM WITH MEDICAL PERSONNEL 
GOING FROM ONE FACILITY TO 
ANOTHER.
NOW WILL THEY BE ASSIGNED TO ONE
FACILITY ONLY?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFIC 
INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH YOU ON
THAT.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT C.A.F. 
PERSONNEL ARE TAKING ALL 
POSSIBLE PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE 
THAT THEY REMAIN SAFE AND, OF 
COURSE, THAT THEY CAN ENSURE THE
SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE THEY ARE 
SERVING.
AND THAT'S WHY THE C.A.F. 
PERSONNEL ARE BEING ASSIGNED TO 
SPECIFIC LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 
BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP AND NOT 
RUN THE RISK OF SPREADING THE 
VIRUS EVEN MORE.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Operator: NEXT QUESTION, 
THERESA WRIGHT, THE CANADIAN 
PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
EARLIER THIS WEEK THE CHINESE 
EMBASSY TWEETED THAT THE N-95 
MASKS WHICH WERE REJECTED BY 
CANADA LAST MONTH WERE THE 
RESULT OF A CONTRACTUAL ISSUE 
THAT HAS NOW BEEN RESOLVED.
YOUR DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND 
HEALTH MINISTER SAID THAT THEY 
WOULD LOOK INTO IT BUT HAVE YET 
TO RESPOND TO EXPLAIN WHAT 
HAPPENED.
WAS THERE A CONTRACT PROBLEM 
THAT LED TO 1 MILLION MASKS FROM
CHINA BEING REJECTED?
WHAT WAS THE ISSUE AND HAS IT 
BEEN RESOLVED? 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
HAVE OVER THE PAST WEEKS 
RECEIVED MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS 
OF ITEMS OF P.P.E. FROM AROUND 
THE WORLD, INCLUDING FROM CHINA.
OVER THE COURSE OF THIS TIME, 
THERE HAVE BEEN A SMALL NUMBER 
THAT HAVE BEEN NOT TO THE LEVELS
THAT CANADIANS EXPECTED.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW UP 
AND WORK ON IT, TO MAKE SURE 
THAT THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE 
DELIVER TO OUR FRONT-LINE 
WORKERS, TO OUR HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IS 
AT CANADIAN STANDARDS.
WE WILL BE RECEIVING FLIGHTS OF 
P.P.E. FROM CHINA ANDTHER 
PLACES ALMOST DAILY OVER THE 
COMING WEEKS.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NEEDING TO 
ENSURE ENOUGH HIGH-QUALITY 
EQUIPMENT FOR CANADIANS RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE'RE 
CONTINUING TO DO JUST THAT.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS NOW WE 
HAVE RECEIVED SOME 20 PLANE 
LOADS FULL OF P.P.E., PRIMARILY 
FROM CHINA, BUT ALSO FROM OTHER 
PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND WE KNOW 
THAT WITH THE MILLIONS AND 
MILLIONS OF P.P.E. THAT WE'VE 
RECEIVED THERE IS A SMALL 
PERCENTAGE THAT DID NOT MEET OUR
EXPECTATIONS AND CANADIAN 
STANDARDS.
SINCE WE MUST PROVIDE THIS 
EQUIPMENT TO OUR FRONT-LINE 
WORKERS.
AND WE'RE SETTING THAT EQUIPMENT
ASIDE AND WE'RE WORKING TO 
ENSURE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE OTHER
P.P.E. THAT MEETS OUR STANDARDS.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE 
PLANE LOADS OF P.P.E. EVERY 
SINGLE DAY IN THE COMING WEEKS, 
AND WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH 
HIGH-QUALITY P.P.E. FOR ALL 
CANADIANS.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: PEOPLE WORKING IN 
GROCERY STORES AND ON FARMS AND 
IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES 
HAVE OFTEN COME FROM 
MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, AND 
NOW THEY ARE CONSIDERED 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
ARE WE PLACING TOO HIGH A BURDEN
ON MARGINALIZED PEOPLE IN THIS 
PANDEMIC?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT 
WE'RE SEEING THROUGH THIS 
PANDEMIC IS THAT THERE ARE 
PEOPLE WHO ARE TREMENDOUSLY 
ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE AND 
VULNERABLE IN OTHER WAYS IN OUR 
SOCIETY WHO ARE EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT TO THE FUNCTIONING OF 
OUR SOCIETY.
AS WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH THIS 
PANDEMIC SO FAR, WE'VE BEEN 
FOCUSING ON SUPPORTING THESE 
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE, AND THIS
TOP-UP FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS 
DELIVERED BY THE PROVINCES IS 
ANOTHER PIECE OF SUPPORT FOR 
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT IN ORDER TO 
GET THROUGH THIS TIME AS BEST WE
CAN AS A COUNTRY.
WE KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT ONCE WE 
GET THROUGH THIS IN THE MONTHS 
AND YEARS TO COME WE'RE ALSO 
GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE 
REFLECTIONS ABOUT HOW WE MANAGE 
AND HOW WE MAINTAIN OUR 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, HOW 
WE SUPPORT ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO
ARE VERY LOW PAID, HOW WE MOVE 
FORWARD AS A SOCIETY TO MAKE 
SURE THAT OUR VULNERABLE ARE 
PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF AND 
PROPERLY REWARDED FOR THE 
IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
I THINK WE WILL ALL BE 
REFLECTING IN THE COMING MONTHS 
AND YEARS ON HOW WE CAN ENSURE 
THAT THE PEOPLE CARRYING OUT 
THAT ESSENTIAL WORK ARE PROPERLY
PAID.
THEY ARE ECONOMICALLY 
VULNERABLE, AND SO THAT IS 
CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE
TO REFLECT ON OVER THE LONGER 
TERM.
IN THE SHORT TERM, HOWEVER, WE 
ARE SUPPORTING EVERYONE WE CAN, 
TRYING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS WITH 
VARIOUS MEASURES, INCLUDING THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT, BUT ALSO WITH WHAT 
WE'RE ANNOUNCING TODAY, A WAGE 
TOP-UP FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
SO WE HAVE TO COME THROUGH THIS,
BUT OF COURSE WE WILL HAVE A LOT
TO THINK ABOUT AS A SOCIETY IN 
THE COMING YEARS TO SEE HOW WE 
CAN IMPROVE THE LOT OF SOME.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
KEVIN GALLAGHER WITH CTV NEWS.
CARGILL MEAT PACKING IN HIGH 
RIVER, ALBERTA.
THE WORKERS HAVE GONE BACK.
MANY ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT 
THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORK 
CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO OUTSIDE OF 
THE FACTORY IN THEIR 
COMMUNITIES, MANY ARE 
EXPERIENCING RACISM AND 
DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE THEY WORK
AT THE PLANT.
MANY OF THEM, OF COURSE, ARE NEW
CANADIANS.
YOU HAVE SAID THAT WORKERS 
SAFETY REALLY FALLS UNDER 
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION, BUT AT 
WHAT POINT DOES THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HAVE TO STEP IN TO 
ENSURE WORKER SAFETY AT CARGILL 
AND OTHER FOOD PROCESSING 
FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY? 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: ONE 
OF THE THINGS THAT THIS CRISIS 
HAS SHOWN US IS VARIOUS POINTS 
OF VULNERABLE, BOTH IN OUR 
SUPPLY CHAINS, BUT ALSO IN TERMS
OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN JOBS WE 
FIND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR FEEDING 
CANADIANS, FOR ALLOWING OUR 
ECONOMY TO RUN.
THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE 
MANY REFLECTIONS WE'RE GOING TO 
HAVE TO HAVE AS A SOCIETY IN THE
COMING MONTHS AND YEARS ON HOW 
WE MAKE SURE THE COUNTRY IS FAIR
AND THE COUNTRY IS SUPPORTIVE 
AND PROTECTING EVERYONE IN THE 
IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY DO.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE 
PROVINCES ON ASSURING BOTH 
CONTINUED FLOW OF FOOD SUPPLY 
CHAINS, BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT 
THERE IS PROPER SUPPORT FOR THE 
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THESE 
INDUSTRIES AND IN THESE -- IN 
THIS PROCESSING AND IN 
AGRICULTURE.
THAT WAS PART OF WHAT OUR 
ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY, WHICH 
WAS A FIRST AND INITIAL 
INSTALMENT, OUR FIRST INVESTMENT
IN SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL 
WORKERS AND PRODUCERS TO BE ABLE
TO BE SAFE WHILE THEY DO SUCH 
IMPORTANT WORK FOR CANADIANS.
>> Reporter: WE ARE TALKING 
ABOUT, LIKE, THE LARGEST 
OUTBREAK IN NORTH AMERICA HERE, 
SO HOW DO YOU EVALUATE THE 
PROVINCIAL REGULATORS HERE?
YOU KNOW, HAS THE PROVINCE DONE 
ENOUGH, IN YOUR VIEW, TO KEEP 
THOSE WORKERS SAFE?
>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF 
QUESTIONS BEING ASKED OF HOW 
VARIOUS PROVINCES HAVE HANDLED 
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS 
PANDEMIC.
I WILL BE TALKING WITH THE 
PREMIERS TONIGHT TO OFFER AGAIN 
IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS HOW 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN HELP.
WHAT WE JUST ANNOUNCED TODAY AS 
A TOP-UP FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS 
IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS WORKING 
TOGETHER ON PROTECTING 
CANADIANS.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE ALWAYS 
THINGS TO LEARN, ALWAYS THINGS 
THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER, AND 
AS THE PROVINCES LOOK TO STEP UP
AND DO MORE AND DO DIFFERENTLY 
AND DO BETTER, THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT WILL BE THERE TO 
SUPPORT THEM.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: RADIO-CANADA.
I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO TODAY'S
ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE WAGE 
TOP-UP.
IS THIS NOT PROOF THAT THE OTHER
RESPONSE BENEFIT THAT YOU 
BROUGHT IN WAS TOO GENEROUS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WELL,
WE WILL BE SEEING SOME NUMBERS 
TOMORROW ABOUT JOB LOSSES IN 
APRIL.
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CANADIANS 
OUT THERE WHO LOST THEIR 
PAYCHEQUE, WHO LOST THEIR JOB 
AND WHO DON'T -- WHO WOULD NOT 
HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUY 
GROCERIES FOR THEIR FAMILY OR 
PAY THEIR RENT.
THE EMERGENCY BENEFIT WAS THERE,
IS THERE FOR MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT
THEY NEED AT A TIME WHEN WE MUST
ALL PRETTY MUCH STAY HOME.
THIS WAS AN ESSENTIAL MEASURE, 
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW 
CANADIANS SUPPORT EACH OTHER AT 
DIFFICULT TIMES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME WE ALSO 
KNOW THAT THERE ARE WORKERS WHO 
CARRY OUT ESSENTIAL WORK FOR OUR
SOCIETY WHO DESERVE A WAGE 
TOP-UP.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE VERY 
PLEASED TO HAVE WORKED WITH THE 
PROVINCES TO DELIVER SUPPORT FOR
THOSE WORKERS.
>> Reporter: I'D LIKE TO COME 
BACK TO TESTING.
OTHER THAN THE CONCERNS ABOUT 
THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR THAT WERE
RAISED, IS IT NOT NECESSARY TO 
HAVE A CONSISTENT APPROACH TO 
TESTING AND ENSURE THEY HAVE THE
RIGHT TOOLS TO FOLLOW THE 
RESULTS OF THAT TESTING?
>> WELL, I THINK THE PROVINCES 
ARE LOOKING AT VERY DIFFERENT 
CIRCUMSTANCES RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
SO A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT WOULD 
BE APPLIED CONSISTENTLY ACROSS 
THE BOARD WOULD NOT BE THE RIGHT
SOLUTION.
WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES AND HELP THEM WITH 
RESOURCES AND MATERIAL, HELP 
THEM TO ESTABLISH BETTER PLANS 
SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH
ENOUGH TESTING TO TRY AND REOPEN
THE ECONOMY WHILE STILL KEEPING 
CANADIANS SAFE AND SECURE.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
HARD.
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR 
IMPROVEMENT, BUT WE WILL BE 
THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND TO 
WORK WITH THEM IN THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
AS A LOT OF GOVERNMENTS ARE 
LOOKING TOWARDS RECOVERY FROM 
THIS, THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY HERE
IN CANADA, HOW WILL YOU ABLE TO 
HELP THE CANADIAN ECONOMY GET 
BACK ON ITS FEET FROM THIS 
REDUCED SPENDING AND YET ALSO 
RESPECT SOME OF THE PROMISES 
THAT YOU MADE IN THE ELECTION 
LIKE AFFIRM  -- PHARMACARE AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS BECOME THE 
PRIORITY WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
IT'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT THE 
LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN 
IN OVER 70 YEARS ON CANADIANS 
FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST, ON
FAMILIES, ON BUSINESSES, ON 
SECTORS, AND THE MEASURES THAT 
WERE PUT FORWARD WERE HISTORIC 
AND WITHOUT PRECEDENT IN TERMS 
OF SUPPORTING FAMILIES, IN 
SUPPORTING WORKERS, IN 
SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES, 
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE 
GONNA HELP US GET THROUGH, AND 
OUR PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS 
HELPING PEOPLE HOLD ON WHILE WE 
HAVE TO STAY ISOLATED BECAUSE OF
COVID-19 AND THEN START -- 
RE-STARTING CAREFULLY THE 
ECONOMY IN A GRADUAL AND 
PROGRESSIVE WAY WITH THE RIGHT 
MEASURES IN PLACE.
ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS, THERE 
WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK 
ABOUT WHAT THE LONGER TERM LOOKS
LIKE, WHAT THE FUTURE OF CANADA 
LOOKS LIKE, WHAT IS NEEDED FOR 
VARIOUS SECTORS, FOR VARIOUS 
CANADIANS.
WE'VE SEEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW 
NEEDS POPPED UP THAT WE HAD NOT 
PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO OVER THE 
PAST YEARS, LIKE THE PLIGHT OF 
MOST VULNERABLE WORKERS.
I MEAN, WE HAD AS A GOVERNMENT 
INVESTED MASSIVELY IN REDUCING 
POVERTY OVER THE PAST FIVE 
YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN OVER A MILLION PEOPLE
LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY, BUT 
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY MUCH MORE TO 
DO, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE 
TO FOCUS ON THAT.
I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE 
TIME TO TALK ABOUT LONG-TERM 
PLANS AS WE GET THROUGH THIS.
RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS ON 
GETTING CANADIANS THROUGH THIS.
>> Reporter: RIGHT, BUT OTHER 
GOVERNMENTS ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON 
RECOVERY AND WHAT THEY WILL DO 
AS PART OF THAT RECOVERY.
THE U.K., FOR EXAMPLE, ITS 
CLIMATE ADVISORS ARE SAYING THAT
ALL RECOVERY WILL HAVE A GREEN 
FOCUS.
THEY HAVE A NET ZERO BY 2050 
COMMITMENT, JUST AS YOUR 
GOVERNMENT DOES.
SO HOW WILL THE RECOVERY TAKE 
INTO ACCOUNT YOUR CLIMATE CHANGE
PROMISES IN THE LAST ELECTION? 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT 
WE'RE VERY MUCH THINKING ABOUT 
IS HOW DO WE BUILD BACK BETTER, 
HOW DO WE LOOK AT WHAT THIS 
PANDEMIC HAS CHALLENGED US WITH,
WHAT IT HAS HIGHLIGHTED AROUND 
NEEDS OR GAPS IN CANADA AND HOW 
DO WE LOOK TO REBUILD AND 
RECOVER IN A WAY THAT ADVANCES 
US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
OBVIOUSLY LESS POLLUTION, 
GREENER OUTCOMES ARE GOING TO BE
A PART OF IT.
MORE DIGITAL, MORE CONNECTED IS 
GOING TO BE A PART OF IT.
BETTER SUPPORTS FOR VULNERABLE 
CANADIANS AND MORE EQUALITY 
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE 
PART OF IT AS WELL.
THESE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT WE'RE 
LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW AND 
REFLECTING ON HOW WE GO FORWARD,
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO.
>> Reporter: PRIME MINISTER, 
JANET SILVER, GLOBAL NEWS.
YESTERDAY GREEN PARTY 
PARLIAMENTARY LEADER ELIZABETH 
MAY SAID THE OIL SECTOR IN 
CANADA IS BASICALLY DEAD, AND 
THE BLOC LEADER WENT ON TO SAY 
PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THAT 
BUSINESS IS A VERY BAD IDEA.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU SHARE 
THIS ASSESSMENT, AND WILL YOUR 
GOVERNMENT GIVE MORE MONEY TO 
THIS INDUSTRY, GIVEN THE 
OPPOSITION AND GIVEN HOW LOW OIL
PRICES ARE AND IS EXPECTED TO 
CONTINUE FOR THE UNSEEABLE 
FUTURE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
DON'T SHARE THAT ASSESSMENT.
I KNOW THAT IF WE ARE TO MOVE 
FORWARD IN TRANSFORMING OUR 
ECONOMY TOWARDS LOWER EMISSIONS 
AND CLEANER PROCESSES, WORKERS 
AND INNOVATORS IN ALBERTA AND 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE ENERGY
SECTOR ARE GOING TO BE AN 
ESSENTIAL PART OF THAT 
TRANSFORMATION AS WE MOVE 
FORWARD TOWARDS A DIFFERENT 
ENERGY MIX, AS WE MOVE FORWARD 
TO LOWER FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS, 
LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
WE NEED THE INNOVATION, THE HARD
WORK AND THE VISION AND THE 
CREATIVITY OF PEOPLE WORKING 
RIGHT NOW IN THE ENERGY SECTOR.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT ALBERTANS AND
OTHER PEOPLE WORKING IN THE 
ENERGY SECTOR THROUGH THIS 
INCREDIBLE DIFFICULT TIME AS 
FAMILIES, AS WORKERS, AS 
COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST BECAUSE 
THAT'S WHAT WE DO AS CANADIANS 
BUT BECAUSE WE NEED THEIR 
CAPACITY TO INNOVATE AND FIGURE 
OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE 
FORWARD TOWARDS OUR GREATER 
GREENER GOALS.
WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM, AND
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP 
SUPPORTING THEM IN THE RIGHT 
WAYS.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
NO, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT 
ASSESSMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD AS A COUNTRY IS TO 
HAVE THE ENERGY INDUSTRY AS A 
PARTNER, TO CREATE LONG-TERM 
SOLUTIONS, TO REDUCE OUR 
EMISSIONS AND TO INNOVATE IN THE
AREA OF NEW TECHNOLOGY.
FOR ALL OF THAT, WE NEED 
INNOVATIVE AND HARD-WORKING 
INDUSTRIES, SUCH AS THE ONES IN 
OUR ENERGY SECTOR.
WE CANNOT MEET OUR TARGETS 
UNLESS WE HAVE PARTNERS IN THE 
ENERGY SECTOR WHO WILL BE 
WORKING WITH US TO FIND THE 
RIGHT SOLUTIONS AND TRANSFORM 
THAT ENERGY SECTOR SO WE NEED 
THOSE FAMILIES, THOSE WORKERS, 
THOSE COMMUNITIES IN ALBERTA AND
ELSEWHERE.
THEY ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION, 
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO 
SUPPORT THEM.
WE WILL SUPPORT THEM NOT ONLY 
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO 
DO AS CANADIANS.
WE'RE ALWAYS THERE FOR EACH 
OTHER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO 
SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE 
ESSENTIAL ALLIES IN TRANSFORMING
OUR ECONOMY AND A BETTER FUTURE 
FOR ALL OF US.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Reporter: -- FRANCE AND 
AUSTRALIA AND WHAT THEY ARE 
DOING WHEN IT COMES TO TECH 
GIANTS LIKE GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK 
BEING FORCED TO SHARE AD REVENUE
WITH CANADIAN NEWS CONTENT 
PROVIDERS.
GIVEN HOW MANY NEWS CONTENT 
PROVIDERS ARE STRUGGLING, 
ESPECIALLY IN SMALL TOWNS, AND 
IN SOME CASES CLOSING, AND HOW 
VITAL THOSE ARE TO THOSE SMALL 
TOWNS, YOU SAID YOU WOULD 
ADDRESS THE MATTER.
I'M JUST WONDERING ARE YOU 
PREPARED TO DO SO NOW, 
ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A VITAL TIME 
FOR TRUTH AND NEWS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: IT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE 
SUPPORT OUR NEWS SECTOR BECAUSE 
CANADIANS NEED THE INFORMATION 
TO KEEP THEM SAFE, TO PLAN FOR 
THEIR FUTURES, TO LEAN ON EACH 
OTHER.
WE NEED THE MEDIA NOW DURING A 
CRISIS MORE THAN WE EVER HAVE, 
AND THAT'S WHY, AS A GOVERNMENT,
WE HAVE PUT FORWARD SIGNIFICANT 
MEASURES TO SUPPORT NEWS MEDIA, 
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO 
DO JUST THAT.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT MINISTER 
GUILBAULT IS WORKING VERY HARD 
AND VERY CLOSELY WITH ALLIES 
AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT 
THEY ARE DOING AND WITH THE 
SECTOR HERE IN CANADA TO ENSURE 
THAT CANADIANS GET TOP QUALITY 
INFORMATION, THAT DECISIONMAKERS
AND POLITICIANS CONTINUE TO BE 
HELD TO ACCOUNT AND THAT WE 
CONTINUE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED
ON FACTS AND A SHARED 
UNDERSTANDING OF THE REALITY 
WE'RE FACING.
THE WORK THAT THE MEDIA DOES IS 
ESSENTIAL.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
THE NEWS MEDIA AND INFORMATION 
NETWORKS ARE MORE IMPORTANT NOW 
THAN EVER BEFORE.
WE KNOW THAT HAVING ACCESS TO 
CONCRETE AND ACCURATE 
INFORMATION DURING THIS PANDEMIC
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR 
CITIZENS WHO WANT TO MAKE THE 
RIGHT DECISIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE TO ENSURE THE 
ACCOUNTABILITY OF DECISIONMAKERS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT CANADIANS
ARE PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT 
EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN 
THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE 
WORLD, AND THAT'S WHY WE WILL 
ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR INFORMATION 
AND MEDIA NETWORKS.
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY 
INVESTED MONEY TO HELP THEM 
THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
MINISTER GUILBAULT IS NOW 
WORKING WITH THE MEDIA AND OUR 
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO SEE 
WHAT CAN BE DONE, BECAUSE WE 
KNOW THAT THIS WILL ALWAYS BE A 
PRIORITY IN CANADA WHEN IT COMES
TO ENSURING THAT THE INFORMATION
INDUSTRY IS THERE FOR US.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT, THIS IS 
THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA 
GIVING US HIS DAILY BRIEFING ON 
HOW HIS GOVERNMENT IS RESPONDING
TO THE PANDEMIC.
IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR'S TIME HE 
WILL APPEAR IN FRONT OF THE 
COVID-19 COMMITTEE, THE VIRTUAL 
COMMITTEE, AND IS EXPECTED TO 
ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS THERE.
WE WILL BRING YOU SOME OF THAT 
AS WELL.
TODAY AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REACHED 
AN AGREEMENT WITH PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES, A COST-SHARING 
AGREEMENT TO BUMP UP WAGES FOR 
QUOTE UNQUOTE ESSENTIAL WORKERS 
IN THIS COUNTRY.
$3 BILLION COMING FROM OTTAWA TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND ANOTHER 
BILLION EXPECTED TO BE PUT ON 
THE TABLE BY THE PROVINCES.
LET'S BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
THE HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS", 
VASSY KAPELOS, AND THE CBC'S 
CATHERINE CULLEN, BOTH HERE 
LISTENING WITH ME.
SO THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
VASSY, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN 
TRACKING IT CLOSELY, BECAUSE IT 
WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE EASIEST 
NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE 
PROVINCES TO GET TO THIS POINT.
>> Vassy: YEAH, NO, NOT AT ALL, 
ROSIE, AND IT TOOK A NUMBER OF 
WEEKS FOR THOSE NEGOTIATIONS TO 
END UP WHERE THEY ARE TODAY, AND
THAT IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, WITH 
AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE.
I WOULD NOTE THAT SOME OF THE 
DETAILS IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID WITH SOME 
PROVINCES, THERE ARE A FEW I 
GUESS LEFT IN WHICH THE DETAILS 
HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT, BUT THE 
AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE IS THERE.
THE PRICE TAG IS A BIG ONE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, $3 BILLION.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS 
PROVINCES WILL CONTRIBUTE A 
BILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO 
THAT.
A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAIN, 
THOUGH, ABOUT HOW EXACTLY THAT 
WILL WORK.
IT'S LARGELY A FUNCTION OF THE 
FACT THAT MOST OF THAT WILL BE 
UP TO THE PROVINCE ITSELF.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHO IS DEEMED AN
ESSENTIAL WORKER, THAT WILL BE 
UP TO THE PROVINCE.
AND THEN THE WAY IN WHICH THE 
MONEY -- I GUESS THE AMOUNT OF 
THE TOP-UP, AND THAT WAS A BIT 
CONFUSING TO ME, BECAUSE THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM 
INITIALLY FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER WAS THAT ANYONE WHO 
MAKES UNDER $2500 WOULD GET SOME
SORT OF A TOP-UP.
I KNOW FROM SPEAKING WITH 
VARIOUS PREMIERS THAT THERE WERE
CONCERNS AT THAT POINT ABOUT A 
LACK OF FLEXIBILITY.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN NOVA SCOTIA, 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS THERE THE 
PREMIER SAID ALREADY MADE THAT 
AMOUNT OF MONEY, SO THEY DIDN'T 
WANT TO NOT QUALIFY FOR IT.
I THINK THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS 
SHOULD BE DIRECTED DEFINITELY AT
THE PROVINCES, WHO EXACTLY WILL 
GET THIS IN YOUR PROVINCE AND 
HOW MUCH WILL THEY GET.
HOW WILL THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY 
FOR IT.
I THOUGHT THE QUESTION ALSO TO 
THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT, LIKE, 
WHAT KIND OF STRINGS.
I'M PARAPHRASING, BUT WHAT KIND 
OF STRINGS ARE ATTACHED TO THIS.
IS THERE A BASIC LEVEL THAT 
PROVINCES OR SET OF REQUIREMENTS
THAT PROVINCES HAVE TO MEET IN 
ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THAT MONEY.
HE DIDN'T REALLY GIVE A SPECIFIC
ANSWER, SO I AM SORT OF LOOKING 
FOR THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS.
IS IT JUST SORT OF A HANDOVER OF
MONEY?
WILL PROVINCES HAVE FULL 
JURISDICTION OVER THOSE 
DECISIONS OR WILL THERE BE SOME 
SORT OF PARAMETERS SET BY THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
I IMAGINE THERE WILL BE SOME, 
BUT DEFINITELY THAT'S WHERE I'M 
INTERESTED GOING FORWARD.
JUST QUICKLY BEFORE I TURN IT 
BACK TO YOU, THE OTHER THING 
THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS 
JUMPING OFF A CONVERSATION, 
POLITICAL CONVERSATION 
YESTERDAY, ELIZABETH MAY, LEADER
OF THE GREEN PARTY -- OR FORMER 
LEADER OF THE GREEN PARTY.
AND YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET, THE 
LEADER OF THE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS, 
BOTH COMING OUT AND SAYING OIL 
IS DEAD, THE OIL SANDS ARE OVER.
THE PRIME MINISTER REALLY 
REBUKED THAT STATEMENT TODAY I 
THOUGHT, WHICH WAS VERY 
INTERESTING, AND SORT OF SET 
SOME GROUNDWORK I THINK FOR WHAT
MAY BE ADDITIONAL HELP FOR THE 
OIL SECTOR.
THOUGH THE SECTOR IS ANXIOUS TO 
HEAR WHAT THAT HELP MIGHT BE, 
AND CERTAINLY POLITICIANS OUT 
WEST HAVE BEEN SAYING, HEY, 
WHERE IS THIS EXTRA STUFF YOU'VE
BEEN PROMISING NOW SINCE THE END
OF MARCH.
IT DID SOUND LIKE THE PRIME 
MINISTER WAS NOT HOLDING BACK AT
ALL FROM THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT.
AND HE CERTAINLY SAID VERY 
UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT HE DISAGREED 
WITH THE ASSESSMENT PUT FORWARD 
BEFORE THOSE OTHER POLITICIANS.
>> Rosemary: I WILL ALSO SAY 
THAT THE PROVINCES, BACK TO THE 
TOP-UP ISSUE, IS PROVINCES HAVE 
ACTUALLY DONE A BIT OF THAT WORK
ON THEIR OWN.
MY PRODUCER PHIL PUT TOGETHER A 
HANDY LIST FOR ME.
QUEBEC HAS DONE THAT, ONTARIO 
HAS DONE IT.
SASKATCHEWAN, ALBERTA.
BUT THIS IS ALL CONCENTRATED ON 
LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS, AND I 
THINK, VASSY, ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
TO THE PROVINCES WILL BE 
INTERESTING.
CATHERINE, THIS MONEY COULD GO 
TO ANYONE THEY DEEM TO BE AN 
ESSENTIAL WORKER WHO'S NOT 
GETTING PAID ENOUGH, AND IT'S 
POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, PUTTING 
THEIR HEALTH AT RISK BY GOING TO
WORK EVERY DAY.
>> YEAH, I THOUGHT SOME OF THE 
MOST POIGNANT QUESTIONS DURING 
THIS Q&A HAD TO DO WITH THE 
VULNERABILITY OF THOSE WHO WILL 
BE RECEIVING THIS MONEY.
NOT ONLY HAS THIS HIGHLIGHTED 
THE FACT THAT THESE PEOPLE IN 
THESE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES, 
OUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, 
AUNTS, UNCLES, THAT THEY ARE 
VULNERABLE, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE 
CARING FOR THEM ARE VULNERABLE 
AS WELL, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A 
SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE 
LOOKED AT WELL BEYOND THE SCOPE 
OF THIS PANDEMIC.
I THINK IF YOU JUST TAKE A STEP 
BACK AT BOTH OF THE 
ANNOUNCEMENTS -- LOOKING AT BOTH
OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY, BOTH
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
ANNOUNCED AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT 
OF EARLIER TODAY THAT MEMBERS OF
THE CANADIAN FORCES, A GREATER 
NUMBER ARE GOING TO BE IN 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IN 
QUEBEC.
ALSO MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN 
FORCES AT LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES IN ONTARIO.
I THINK IT ONCE AGAIN 
UNDERLINES, POINTS OUT THE 
FRAGILITY OF THIS SYSTEM.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID A FEW 
WEEKS AGO THAT THIS WHOLE THING 
WAS, TO SOME EXTENT, IT POINTS 
TO A FAILURE, RIGHT?
SOLDIERS SHOULDN'T BE TAKING 
CARE OF OUR SENIORS, AND I THINK
EVERYTHING WE'RE SEEING TODAY, 
IT IS BEING CELEBRATED AS A TEAM
CANADA EFFORT.
EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER ON 
THESE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT WE ALL 
ALSO I THINK HAVE TO KEEP IN 
MIND THE FACT THAT THERE IS A 
VERY BIG PROBLEM HERE ON MANY 
FRONTS, NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE 
WORKING IN THESE FACILITIES, BUT
OF COURSE THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER 
OF DEATHS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN 
ALL OF THEM, AND A GREAT DEAL 
MORE WORK THAN THIS IS GOING TO 
BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, I SHOULD SAY 
IN QUEBEC THEY GAVE A $4 PER 
HOUR PAY HIKE FOR WORKERS IN 
PRIVATE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES, 
BUT TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT 
THEY ARE ACTUALLY MAKING, IT'S 
ABOUT $24 AN HOUR TO ATTRACT NEW
WORKERS, AND GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF
WORK THAT THEY ARE HAVING TO DO 
AND BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH
PEOPLE, SO THE NUMBER OF 
PATIENTS AND PEOPLE THEY ARE 
CARING FOR, YOU COULD ARGUE 
THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.
I THOUGHT TOO THE PRIME MINISTER
HAD SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO 
SAY ABOUT HOW THIS PANDEMIC HAS 
EXPOSED THE WAY WE TREAT THE 
PEOPLE THAT WE RELY ON EVERY 
SINGLE DAY, MAYBE WITHOUT ALWAYS
REALIZING, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WE
RELY ON THEM.
THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS, THOUGH,
ABOUT NOT ONLY HOW THE PROVINCES
DO THIS, VASSY, BUT ALSO THEN A 
LITTLE BIT LIKE THE ANDREW 
SCHEER CONVERSATION AROUND CERB,
HOW IT GETS PULLED BACK.
BECAUSE IF IN -- YOU KNOW, 
HOWEVER LONG THE PROGRAM LASTS, 
LET'S SAY FOUR MONTHS, HOW DO 
YOU THEN GO BACK TO PAYING 
SOMEONE WHO YOU'VE PRIORITIZED 
AS AN ESSENTIAL WORKER, YOU'VE 
SAID DESERVES MORE THAN MINIMUM 
WAGE, AND NOW WE TURN THE CORNER
ON THE PANDEMIC AND SUDDENLY 
THIS PERSON IS EXPECTED TO EXIST
ON A LOWER SALARY?
I JUST WONDER IF IT'S GOING TO 
LEAD TO A BIGGER CONVERSATION 
ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE PAID IN 
THIS COUNTRY, AND MAYBE FOR 
BETTER EVEN.
>> Vassy: YEAH, I THINK THAT 
THAT CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING, 
AND IT WILL PERSIST WELL AFTER 
THIS IS DONE FOR SURE.
I THINK THERE'S TWO PARTS TO 
THAT QUESTION.
THE FIRST IS, SO WHAT DO THEY DO
WITH THE ACTUAL PROGRAM AND IS 
THAT GOING TO BE LEFT UP TO 
PROVINCES AS WELL?
HOW WILL THAT RELATIONSHIP MOVE 
GOING FORWARD, AND WHAT HAPPENS?
JUST LIKE AS YOU SAID WITH THE 
CERB OR THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAM, I MEAN, THESE ARE BIG 
DECISIONS THAT GOVERNMENTS ARE 
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE PRETTY 
SHORTLY, ACTUALLY.
THE SECOND PART OF IT IS NOT 
JUST AROUND I THINK, YOU KNOW, 
THE WAGE ITSELF, BUT I 
UNDERSTAND THAT THE MONEY IS 
FUNNELLED THROUGH TO PEOPLE WHO 
WORK IN THESE SCENARIOS IN 
GROCERY STORES OR IN LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES, BUT I THINK PART OF 
THAT CONVERSATION THAT WILL 
EXIST AFTER THIS IS TO -- YOU 
KNOW, THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT HERE AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENTS ARE ESSENTIALLY 
HAVING TO PAY WORKERS IN 
PRIVATELY-RUN PLACES, WHETHER IT
BE A GROCERY STORE, WHETHER IT 
BE A LONG-TERM CARE HOME, I 
THINK THERE ARE SOME, YOU KNOW, 
DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, MAYBE EVEN 
NOW, FOR -- THAT TAXPAYERS MAY 
HAVE.
THESE PEOPLE DESERVE MORE MONEY,
CERTAINLY, AND I KNOW THAT 
MARKET CONDITIONS ARE DIFFERENT 
DEPENDING ON THE BUSINESS, BUT 
YOU KNOW, IT IS INTERESTING THAT
WE'RE USING TAX MONEY TO PAY 
PEOPLE MORE IN A PRIVATELY RUN 
HOME AND THERE ARE SO MANY 
QUESTIONS IN THE WAY WHICH THOSE
HOMES ARE BEING RUN BY THOSE 
PRIVATE COMPANIES AND IF, IN 
FACT, THOSE COMPANIES ARE TAKING
HOME HUGE PROFITS, AND I'M NOT 
SAYING ALL OF THEM ARE, BUT IF 
THEY ARE, YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHY
THEY ARE NOT PAYING THEIR 
EMPLOYEES MORE AS WELL.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, I WILL LEAVE 
IT THERE WITH BOTH OF YOU JUST 
FOR A MOMENT, IF YOU DON'T MIND,
VASSY AND CATHERINE, TO BRING IN
ANOTHER VOICE, A FAMILY MEDICINE
RESIDENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF 
TORONTO, AND HE'S BEEN TRYING TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE STAFF, 
SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT
DOCTORS AND NURSES, KEEP 
HOSPITALS GOING, AND HE'S IN 
TORONTO.
WE TRIED TO TALK TO YOU, DOCTOR,
LAST WEEK AND DIDN'T GET TO YOU.
I'M GLAD WE GOT BACK TO YOU 
TODAY.
JUST TELL ME WHY YOU WANTED TO 
DO THIS.
BECAUSE THIS IS SORT OF THE 
PEOPLE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
TODAY IS TALKING ABOUT, THESE 
FRONT-LINE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T 
DOCTORS AND NURSES, ALL THE 
PEOPLE SUPPORTING YOU.
>> Interview: YEAH, YOU KNOW, I 
THINK THE PUBLIC IS RIGHTLY 
GALVANIZED BEHIND PHYSICIANS AND
NURSES AS TRUE FRONT-LINE 
WORKERS.
WE ARE RIGHT THERE WITH 
PATIENTS, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF 
OTHER FRONT-LINE WORKERS MAKING 
GENUINE SACRIFICES THAT ARE KIND
OF JUST LIKE QUIETLY WORKING 
AWAY IN THE HOSPITAL AND MAYBE A
LITTLE BIT INVISIBLE, BUT THEY 
REALLY ENABLE THE ECOSYSTEM OF 
THE HOSPITAL TO REALLY WORK, AND
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT THE 
PRIME MINISTER HAS STARTED TO 
RECOGNIZE, THE JANITORS, THE 
BARISTAS, THE PERSONAL SUPPORT 
WORKERS, CLEANING STAFF, 
CLEANING OUR SCRUBS, MAKING 
ROOMS CLEAN, DELIVERING FOOD.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THESE 
PERHAPS UNDER-APPRECIATED AND 
UNDER-RECOGNIZED FOLKS IN THE 
HOSPITAL THAT IT REALLY ENABLES 
DOCTORS TO DO THEIR JOBS AND 
NURSES TO DO THEIR JOBS TO KEEP 
PEOPLE SAFE.
>> Rosemary: SORRY TO INTERRUPT 
YOU.
SO YOU DECIDED TO -- WE WERE 
JUST SHOWING SOME OF THE PHOTOS.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THOSE
ARE YOUR PHOTOS, THAT YOU FOUND 
A WAY TO TRY AND HIGHLIGHT THEM 
AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM.
>> Interview: YEAH, YOU KNOW 
WHAT, I JUST WASN'T HEARING A 
LOT OF RECOGNITION FOR THOSE 
FOLKS.
LIKE I SAID, DOCTORS AND NURSES 
WERE GETTING A LOT OF CREDIT, 
AND I THINK IT'S VERY DESERVED 
CREDIT, BUT I WANTED TO PUT A 
NAME AND A FACE TO SOME OF THESE
OTHER FOLKS TO REALLY RECOGNIZE 
THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR 
VERY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION, 
THEIR SACRIFICES, AND SIMPLY 
SAYING, YOU KNOW, I SEE YOU, I 
RECOGNIZE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR 
WHAT YOU ARE DOING, AND IT WAS A
VERY EASY THING FOR ME TO DO, 
AND KIND OF LOW-HANGING FRUIT, 
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD WAY 
TO, YOU KNOW, DRIVE A SENSE OF 
CAMARADERIE AND UNITY ON THE 
FRONT LINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN 
THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY 
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS.
STARTING AT MID-MARCH, WHEN 
THINGS WERE REALLY IN QUESTION.
SO I HOPE IT PROVIDED SOME LEVEL
OF RECOGNITION AND SENSE OF 
UNITY.
>> Rosemary: I LOVE IT.
I THINK IT'S SUCH A GREAT IDEA 
AND SO GOOD OF YOU TO DO.
YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE, THOUGH, I 
GUESS, AS THE PRIME MINISTER AND
THE PROVINCES HAVE TODAY, THAT A
LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT PAID
ENOUGH.
I JUST WONDER IF YOU HAVE 
THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT AND WHETHER 
YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT 
MIGHT CHANGE IN A BIGGER WAY 
OVER TIME NOW.
>> Interview: YEAH, YOU KNOW, MY
INITIAL GOALS OF THIS WERE NOT 
POLITICAL IN ANY WAY. 
>> Rosemary: SURE.
>> Interview: BUT THESE ARE 
FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH IN THE 
HOSPITAL WE ALL WORK WITH AND WE
ALL KNOW, AND WE I THINK HAD A 
RECOGNITION THAT THEY WERE 
OFTENTIMES MARGINALIZED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME 
SALARIES AS OTHER PEOPLE 
ACCEPTING RISK.
THEY DON'T HAVE HAZARD PAY, AND 
THEY ARE STILL EXPOSED QUITE 
REGULARLY, AND UNFORTUNATELY 
THEY ARE FROM MARGINALIZED 
COMMUNITIES A LOT OF THE TIMES, 
AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT SENSE 
OF EMPOWERMENT OR SENSE OF VALUE
TO REALLY SPEAK UP BECAUSE THEY 
ARE JUST NOT EMPOWERED, SO I 
THINK THIS PANDEMIC HAS REALLY 
HIGHLIGHTED WHAT WE VALUE IN 
SOCIETY AND HOW WE VALUE PEOPLE,
AND I'M VERY ENCOURAGED WHAT THE
PRIME MINISTER AND THE FORD 
GOVERNMENT IN ONTARIO STARTED TO
GIVE SOME OF THAT PANDEMIC PAY 
FOR PEOPLE.
HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE ONE OF 
THE SILVER LININGS OF THIS CAN 
BE SORT OF RECOGNITION AND 
APPRECIATION OF THOSE FOLKS, AND
A LOT OF THE TIMES THE WAY WE DO
THAT IN OUR SOCIETY IS THROUGH, 
YOU KNOW, SECURITY AND MORE 
MONEY AND MORE APPRECIATION.
SO I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT THAT 
WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN, AND I 
THINK IT'S A VERY POSITIVE THING
FOR EVERYONE.
>> Rosemary: DR. MOONEN, HOW ARE
YOU HOLDING UP?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR 
EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THROUGH 
THIS, WHETHER YOU'VE HAD TO 
TREAT PEOPLE.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Interview: YEAH, I'M DOING 
WELL.
I MEAN, I THINK I'M AS WELL AS 
EVERYONE CAN BE.
I MEAN, WE'RE FEELING WELL 
TRAINED.
WE HAVE APPROPRIATE P.P.E., AT 
LEAST AT MY INSTITUTION.
WE HAVE GOOD TRANSPARENT 
LEADERSHIP.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON OBSTETRICS 
AND URGENT CARE AND COVID 
CLINICS AND ALL THAT, SO I'VE 
BEEN BUSY, BUT I THINK MY 
COLLEAGUES AND I, AS LONG AS 
WE'RE DOING IT SAFELY, I THINK 
THAT, TO BE HONEST, WE FEEL A 
REALLY STRONG SENSE OF PURPOSE 
IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IN A CERTAIN WAY, AT LEAST 
PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE I SIGNED
UP FOR THIS WHEN I WENT INTO 
MEDICINE, AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN 
HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT RIGHT 
NOW, SO I'M HAPPY TO BE DOING 
WHAT I'M DOING, AND TO BE 
HONEST, LIKE, I PERSONALLY 
WOULDN'T BE DOING ANYTHING ELSE.
SO I'M HAPPY TO BE DOING IT AND 
ACCEPTING SOME RISK, BUT I THINK
THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR IT.
>> Rosemary: WELL, DR. MOONEN, 
WE WANTED TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE
YOU WERE PAYING TRIBUTE TO SOME 
PEOPLE WHO NEEDED THAT, BUT LET 
US ALSO THANK YOU AT THIS MOMENT
FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND ALL 
YOUR COLLEAGUES.
>> Interview: THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: WE REALLY 
APPRECIATE IT.
STAY SAFE AND STAY HEALTHY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> Interview: APPRECIATE IT.
YOU TOO.
TAKE CARE.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S DR. MOONEN 
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.
AND I'LL TWEET OUT THE LINK TO 
HIS PHOTOS OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE 
HELPING HIM DO HIS JOB AS A 
DOCTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF 
TORONTO.
WANT TO TURN TO ANOTHER STORY 
THAT WE ARE TRACKING, AND I'LL 
GET VASSY AND CATHERINE TO WEIGH
IN AFTER THIS INTERVIEW TOO, 
BECAUSE THE OTHER THING WE ARE 
STILL WAITING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID TO EXPECT 
SOMETHING WITHIN DAYS, IS AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT AROUND SENIORS IN 
THIS COUNTRY.
MANY OF YOU HAVE EMAILED AND 
TWEETED ME ABOUT THE FACT THAT 
YOU NEED A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT 
TOO.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS INDICATED
THAT IS TO COME, BUT WE WANTED 
TO REACH OUT AND TALK TO SOMEONE
WHO IS WAITING TO HEAR MORE, AND
THAT IS DON ROBERTSON.
HE'S 82 YEARS OLD AND HE LIVES 
IN VANCOUVER.
HE'S A RETIRED UNITED CHURCH 
MINISTER, AND HE SAYS THAT THIS 
HAS EXPOSED, INDEED, THE NEGLECT
OF SENIORS AND THAT THERE ARE 
MORE THINGS THE GOVERNMENT CAN 
DO TO HELP THEM.
DON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
NICE OF YOU TO MAKE THE TIME.
>> Interview: THANK YOU, 
ROSEMARY.
GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
>> Rosemary: GREAT.
SO TELL ME, FIRST OF ALL TELL ME
HOW YOU'RE DOING.
I THINK IT'S YOU AND YOUR WIFE.
>> Interview: THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE DOING VERY WELL, ACTUALLY.
WE HAVE BEEN QUITE BUSY DURING 
THIS TIME.
WE HAVE -- ZOOM, I CONTINUE TO 
BE INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH ON THE
DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE AND WE HAVE 
COMMITTEE MEETINGS WITH ZOOM AND
HAPPY FOUR WITH FRIENDS AT 5:00 
OVER ZOOM AND MEET WITH THE 
GRANDKIDS IN MONTREAL WITH ZOOM.
AND DOING SOME WRITING AND 
PREPARING FOR A COURSE I'M 
TEACHING ON SENIORS AND 
TRANSITIONS COME JUNE.
>> Rosemary: AMAZING.
>> Interview: SO I'VE BEEN BUSY.
>> Rosemary: I THINK YOU MIGHT 
BE BUSIER THAN I AM.
YOU CERTAINLY FIGURED OUT ZOOM 
BETTER THAN I HAVE.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, I HAVE 
ACTUALLY GOTTEN A LOT OF EMAILS 
FROM SENIORS WHO ARE STRUGGLING 
A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THERE ARE 
COSTS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT ARE 
INCREASING THROUGHOUT THIS, 
WHETHER IT BE THE COST OF FOOD 
AND OTHER THINGS, AND THEY ARE 
LOOKING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL 
SUPPORT.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR 
FRIENDS OR FOR YOURSELF IN TERMS
OF WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE NEEDED?
>> Interview: WELL, CERTAINLY 
SENIORS ARE, GENERALLY SPEAKING,
IN THE VULNERABLE GROUP.
I MEAN, SOME OF US ARE DOING 
JUST FINE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF 
SENIORS THAT ARE LIVING ON THE 
EDGE, NOT ONLY THOSE IN ASSISTED
LIVING BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE 
LIVING ON THEIR OWN, IN 
APARTMENTS, AND THEY BECOME PART
OF KIND OF THE INVISIBLE SENIOR 
IN OUR SOCIETY, AND IT'S 
IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND WAYS OF 
MAINTAINING THE CONNECTION WITH 
THE PEOPLE WHO BECOME SO EASILY 
INVISIBLE, AND I THINK THAT MORE
OF THE ECONOMICS.
I THINK IT'S A QUESTION, 
ROSEMARY, OF HOW WE THINK OF 
SENIORS AND WHAT ROLE THEY HAVE 
IN OUR SOCIETY.
I THINK OF OUR FIRST NATIONS IN 
CANADA AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN 
ABOUT THE POSITION OF ELDERS IN 
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
I THINK IN SOME WAYS WE DISMISS 
SENIORS IN OUR SOCIETY, AND I 
THINK WE HAVE TO REINVENT WHAT 
WE UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE TO BE. 
>> Rosemary: I AGREE WITH YOU 
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE
ALL BEEN SORT OF EXPOSED TO IN 
THIS IN A TRAGIC WAY IN SOME 
CASES, BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU 
GIVING VOICE TO IT AS WELL.
I THINK YOU DO DEPEND ON A 
SENIORS CENTRE FOR SOME MEALS, 
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND I 
WONDER IF YOU'RE STILL DOING 
THAT OR HOW YOU'RE COPING WITH 
SORT OF PRACTICAL PARTS OF LIFE 
GIVEN THAT, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU 
ARE A MORE VULNERABLE PART OF 
THE POPULATION FOR THIS 
PANDEMIC, AND LEAVING THE HOUSE 
ISN'T EVEN REALLY THE BEST IDEA 
EITHER.
>> Interview: WELL, THE SENIORS 
CENTRE IS TERRIFIC.
WE GO OVER THERE -- I RIDE OVER 
ON MY BIKE WITH MY BACKPACK AND 
PICK UP DINNERS AND SOMETHING 
FOR TEA IN THE AFTERNOON, AND 
THEY ARE OPEN FROM 11 TO 2, AND 
THE PRICES ARE RIGHT, SO IT'S A 
GREAT SERVICE.
AND GROCERY STORES ARE REALLY 
STEPPING UP TOO.
WE HAVE A GREAT DELIVERY SYSTEM 
FROM THE GROCERY STORE HERE, SO 
WE GET OUR GROCERIES DELIVERED 
RIGHT TO THE DOOR, AND THAT'S A 
HUGE SERVICE.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S GREAT.
>> Interview: PRACTICALLY, I 
THINK WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, IT SOUNDS 
LIKE IT.
OTHER THAN THE CONVERSATION 
ABOUT HOW WE BETTER VALUE OLDER 
CANADIANS IN OUR SOCIETY, IS 
THERE SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT 
COULD DO RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD 
EASE THINGS A LITTLE BIT FOR 
WHETHER IT'S YOU OR SOME OF OUR 
FRIENDS, FINANCIALLY?
>> Interview: WELL, THERE'S 
ALWAYS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT 
KIND OF SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENTS 
GIVE TO SENIORS, AND I THINK 
IT'S AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.
I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN 
THE PRIME MINISTER EARLIER WAS 
TALKING ABOUT YEARS.
I THINK WE NEED TO -- THE 
GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFITS MAYBE
NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE 
CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT QUESTION
AS TO HOW WE CAN SUPPORT SENIORS
IN THIS SOCIETY, BECAUSE I 
REALLY FEEL I NEED TO BE 
ELEVATED IN TERMS OF HOW WE VIEW
THEM AND HOW WE THINK OF 
SENIORS.
SO SOME KIND OF -- SOME HAVE 
SUGGESTED A ROYAL COMMISSION.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT I 
THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE 
OVERALL PICTURE.
ANOTHER THING I THINK WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE, THIS DECISION TODAY 
COMES BELATEDLY, AND THAT'S VERY
UNFORTUNATE.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT 
THERE'S BEEN A SACRIFICE MADE ON
THE PART OF SENIORS AND WORKERS 
TO BRING US TO THIS POINT.
IN FACT, HUNDREDS HAVE DIED 
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CARE 
AND/OR BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE
TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY AND HAVING 
TO MOVE FROM CARE HOME TO CARE 
HOME.
SO THAT SACRIFICE I THINK NEEDS 
TO BE RECOGNIZED IN SOME WAY.
IT'S A HUGE SACRIFICE.
>> Rosemary: IT SURE IS.
DON, WHAT A PLEASURE TO TALK 
WITH YOU AND HEAR ABOUT HOW 
YOU'RE COPING WITH ALL OF THIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING VERY
WELL, I MUST SAY, AND I'M GLAD 
TO HEAR THAT.
>> Interview: YES, I THINK WE 
ARE.
NOW YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EACH 
OTHER, AND THAT'S A HUGE PLUS.
I THINK WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN,
IT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE, BUT 
THERE'S SO MANY WAYS NOW THAT 
YOU CAN BE IN TOUCH WITH THE 
WORLD OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF.
I THINK SOME TRAINING IN 
TECHNOLOGY FOR SOME SENIORS IS 
AVAILABLE AT SENIORS CENTRES, 
BUT THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN GET 
TAKING THAT THE BETTER BECAUSE 
IT CERTAINLY CREATES A CONTACT 
WITH THE WORLD BEYOND YOURSELF.
>> Rosemary: WELL, THAT'S GREAT 
AT 82 IF YOU'RE PICKING ALL THAT
UP AND DOING THAT AS A RESULT OF
THIS.
I MUST SAY, I ADMIRE IT A LOT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DON 
ROBERTSON.
SAY HI TO YOUR WIFE FOR ME AND 
WE'LL SPEAK AGAIN.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> Interview: THANK YOU VERY 
MUCH, ROSEMARY.
>> Rosemary: DON ROBERTSON IN 
VANCOUVER.
WE ARE EXPECTING, AS I SAID, 
SOME SORT OF ANNOUNCEMENT FROM 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AROUND 
SENIORS IN THE COMING DAYS.
NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THAT WILL 
ENTAIL, BUT AS YOU HEARD THERE 
FROM DON, DEFINITELY SOME HOLES 
THAT COULD BE FILLED IN FOR SOME
OF THE OLDER CANADIANS IN 
SOCIETY WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY 
IN THOSE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES 
BUT ARE MANAGING TO LIVE BY 
THEMSELVES ALONE RIGHT NOW 
DURING A DIFFICULT TIME FOR 
EVERYONE.
WE WANT TO PUT A LITTLE, LIKE A 
LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENT NEWS IN,
IF WE CAN.
IT'S ALSO NOT GREAT NEWS, BUT 
ANYWAY, OFFICIALS IN 
NEWFOUNDLAND ARE IN FACT 
CANCELLING THIS SUMMER'S 
ST. JOHN'S REGATTA.
THIS IS NOT UNLIKE WHAT HAPPENED
IN CALGARY WITH THE STAMPEDE.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN ST.
JOHN'S HISTORY THAT THIS HAD 
BEEN CANCELLED IN SOME 80 YEARS.
SO OBVIOUSLY A HUGE EVENT IN 
THAT PART OF THE WORLD.
IT DRAWS MANY CROWDS, ATHLETES, 
SPECTATORS, TOURISTS, AND THE 
CBC'S CHRIS O'NEAL YATES JOINS 
US NOW, AND IT WOULD BE THE 
CROWDS THAT WOULD BE THE 
PROBLEM, BUT I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE
VERY DEVASTATED EVEN IF THIS 
EXPECTED THIS DECISION.
>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY, AND I 
GUESS WE KIND OF KNEW, BUT RIGHT
NOW IT'S OFFICIAL.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME THE 
REGATTA WAS CANCELLED WE WERE AT
WAR.
IT WAS IN 1940, AND NEWFOUNDLAND
WASN'T EVEN PART OF CANADA YET, 
SO THAT'S HOW LONG IT'S BEEN.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE 203RD 
RIGHT HERE ON THE BANKS OF THE 
QUIDI VIDI LAKE.
THIS EVENT USED TO BE DONE IN 
THE ST. JOHN'S HARBOUR, AND IT 
MOVED HERE, AND IT'S BEEN ONE OF
THOSE EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE GOT 
TOGETHER.
IT USED TO BE KIND OF LIKE A 
TOWNY, A ST. JOHN'S EVENT, BUT 
IT'S EXPANDED BEYOND THAT.
IT'S A GREAT TOURIST DRAW THESE 
YEARS, AND SOME 50,000 PEOPLE 
NOW SHOW UP EVERY YEAR.
SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS 
THAT'S PART OF THE CULTURE OF 
ST. JOHN'S.
PEOPLE COME AND THEY PLAY GAMES 
OF CHANCE.
THERE'S A LOT OF MUSIC.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOOD TO TRY.
SOME THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, 
YOU'RE NOT EATING EVERY DAY, BUT
NONETHELESS, IT'S ONE OF THOSE 
EVENTS.
THE SAD PART AS WELL, THE FACT 
THAT IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN 
LESS MONEY COMING IN TO THE 
ECONOMY IS THAT A LOT OF 
CHARITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT
RAISE MONEY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS 
THE BIGGEST FUNDRAISING 
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM THROUGHOUT 
THE YEAR, SO THE FACT THAT THIS 
IS CANCELLED IS GOING TO LEAVE 
THEM IN A BIT OF A ROUGH SPOT AS
WELL.
SO ALL AROUND IT'S A SAD THING, 
BUT YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE 
TIMES WE LIVE IN, AND THIS 
FELLOW HERE NEXT TO ME IS AN 
EMBLEM OF EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING 
ON IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW AND 
WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN 
ST. JOHN'S.
NO REGATTA THIS YEAR FOR THE 
FIRST TIME IN 80 YEARS.
NOT SOMEONE ANYONE WANTS TO 
THINK ABOUT, BUT HERE WE ARE.
THESE ARE THE TIMES WE LIVE IN.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, SORRY YOU HAD
TO BRING US THAT BAD NEWS, BUT 
AS WE SAY, THIS IS HAPPENING 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND I'M AT 
LEAST GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S NOT 
BAD WEATHER IN ST. JOHN'S TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME, ROSIE.
>> Rosemary: WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
A SHORT BREAK.
WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL BRING 
YOU THE COVID COMMITTEE THAT 
WILL BE HAPPENING VIRTUALLY.
THE PRIME MINISTER EXPECTED TO 
APPEAR.
VASSY KAPELOS AND CATHERINE 
CULLEN WILL JOIN ME AFTER THIS 
SHORT BREAK AS WELL.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
WE'LL SEE YOU IN JUST A MINUTE.
♪
♪
>> Announcer: For the latest
Coronavirus pandemic updates,
breaking news, and top stories.
Download the CBC News app now.
♪♪
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>> Rosemary: HI AGAIN, I'M 
ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN THE 
NATION'S CAPITAL.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CBC 
NEWS NETWORK" AND STREAMING 
WHEREVER YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT 
AROUND THE WORLD, EITHER ON OUR 
APP OR cbc.ca.
WE'RE HERE, OF COURSE, AS WE ARE
TRACKING THE TOP STORIES ON 
COVID-19 IN THIS COUNTRY.
ESSENTIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY TO BE DEFINED BY THE 
PROVINCES WILL BE EXPECTED TO 
SEE A SLIGHTLY BIGGER PAYCHEQUE.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REACHED A
$4 BILLION DEAL TO INCREASE 
WAGES FOR QUOTE UNQUOTE 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
HE SAYS DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT
WITH THE PROVINCES ARE STILL 
BEING FINALIZED, AND THE 
PROVINCES AND THE TERRITORIES 
WILL DECIDE HOW THE MONEY GETS 
SPENT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE THE TOP-UP
ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE SAME 
DAY THAT DEFENCE MINISTER HARJIT
SAJJAN SAYS THAT BY THE MIDDLE 
OF MAY MORE THAN 1300 MILITARY 
PERSONNEL WILL BE DEPLOYED IN 
SOME 25 LONG-TERM CARE HOMES IN 
QUEBEC.
SO THAT'S NEARLY THREE QUARTER 
OF CANADA'S COVID-19 DEATHS ARE 
LINKED TO SENIORS' RESIDENCES.
THAT IS REALLY THE PART OF THE 
COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN HIT THE 
HARDEST.
WE WAIT FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH BRIEFING THAT WE WILL 
USUALLY GET AT THE TOP OF THE 
HOUR HERE.
WE'RE NOT EXPECTING ANY FEDERAL 
MINISTERS THERE TODAY BECAUSE 
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM EITHER
WORKING OR GOING TO BE PART OF 
THIS COVID-19 COMMITTEE 
VIRTUALLY WHERE THEY TAKE 
QUESTIONS FROM OPPOSITION 
PARTIES ABOUT THEIR RESPONSE.
AND WE WILL BRING YOU THAT AS 
WELL WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER 
POPS UP FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF 
THOSE QUESTIONS.
LET ME BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
THE HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS" 
VASSY KAPELOS AND THE CBC'S 
CATHERINE CULLEN IN OTTAWA.
I DID WANT TO START OFF WHERE I 
LEFT LAST HOUR WITH MY NEW 
FRIEND DON ROBERTSON WHO I'M 
HOPING WILL INVITE ME TO SOME OF
HIS ZOOM COCKTAIL PARTIES, AND 
THAT IS THE SENIORS PIECE THAT 
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR 
MORE ABOUT.
AND I THINK THE LAST THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID WAS COMING DAYS, 
AND I WONDER IF WE KNOW ANYTHING
MORE OR WHAT WE SPECULATE COULD 
BE THERE IN ORDER TO HELP SOME 
SENIORS WHO HAVE BEEN HARDEST 
HIT.
VASSY?
>> Vassy: THE PRIME MINISTER HAS
SIGNALLED THAT IT'S COMING IN 
THE COMING DAYS, SO I WAS 
ANTICIPATING IT AS EARLY AS 
TODAY, BUT I'M GUESSING IT COULD
HAPPEN SOMETIME THIS WEEKEND OR 
PERHAPS TOMORROW.
BASICALLY HOW ARE THEY GOING TO 
ADDRESS PARTICULARLY LOW-INCOME 
SENIORS WHO ARE FINDING THAT 
THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS 
BECAUSE OF SORT OF THEIR NEEDS 
AND THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETIMES 
GETTING GROCERIES IS MORE 
EXPENSIVE.
THE PRICE OF FOOD HAS GONE UP A 
BIT, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO 
ACCESS THAT, OR EVEN GET THERE, 
THAT KIND OF THING.
SO WE -- AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE ARE INUNDATED WITH EMAILS AND
TWEETS AND MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE 
WHO ARE REALLY ANXIOUS TO FIND 
OUT WHAT EXACTLY THE 
GOVERNMENT -- AND I MEAN, THEY 
DON'T BEGRUDGE THE HELP, FOR 
EXAMPLE, GIVEN TO STUDENTS, BUT 
THEY DO WONDER WHY, YOU KNOW, 
IT'S TAKEN A COUPLE MORE WEEKS 
TO GET THEM SOME HELP.
SO AS FAR AS WHERE THAT MONEY 
MIGHT COME FROM, THE PRIME 
MINISTER HAS INDICATED ALREADY 
THAT WHERE LOW-INCOME SENIORS 
ARE CONCERNED, THERE IS A GST 
CREDIT AVAILABLE TO THEM, $400, 
$600 FOR A COUPLE.
I WONDERED DOES IT COME THROUGH 
THE GUARANTEED INCOME 
SUPPLEMENT, WILL THAT GET A 
BOOST WHICH IS ALREADY 
ADDRESSING LOW-INCOME SENIORS 
THROUGH THE PENSION PROGRAM, 
ESSENTIALLY.
THE LEADER OF THE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS
HAS ASKED FOR PENSION PROGRAMS 
TO BE EXPANDED, FOR THE MONEY TO
COME THROUGH THERE.
I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH
MONEY IS IT GOING TO BE.
IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE.
WHO WILL QUALIFY AND WHAT 
PROGRAM WILL DELIVER IT.
I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T HAVE 
MUCH DOUBT THAT THERE WILL BE 
SOMETHING.
I MEAN, THE PRIME MINISTER HAS 
BEEN PRETTY EXPLICIT ABOUT THAT.
I THINK, AGAIN, AS I KEEP SAYING
I FEEL LIKE ALL DAY, THE DEVIL 
WILL BE IN THE DETAILS.
IT WILL ALSO BE INTERESTING TO 
SEE IF THIS IS PURELY 
ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT OR IF THERE IS SOME 
PROVINCIAL COLLABORATION 
ALONGSIDE IT.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND IT HAS 
BEEN REALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE 
SENIORS, SENIORS WHO ARE ON OLD 
AGE SUPPLEMENTS OR THE 
GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPLEMENT, 
YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT MIGHT SEE 
TOP-UPS.
THERE WERE SOME REQUESTS FOR 
SENIORS WHO ARE BETTER OFF WHO 
ARE RRSPS OR INVESTMENTS TO FIND
WAYS TO GIVE THEM A BIT OF A TAX
BREAK IF THEY NEED TO PULL ANY 
OF THAT EXTRA MONEY OUT TO 
SUPPORT THEMSELVES DURING THIS 
TIME.
SO WE'LL SEE.
I ALSO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THIS 
WEEK.
WE'LL SEE, THERE'S STILL ONE DAY
LEFT IN THE WEEK, THE WORKWEEK, 
ANYWAY, SO PERHAPS TOMORROW.
CATHERINE, LET'S JUST TALK 
BEFORE WE HEAR FROM DR. TAM AND 
DR. NJOO ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT 
TODAY, BECAUSE IT IS A BIG ONE.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT WILL
BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT 
UNFOLDS TOO.
>> YEAH, AND I WOULD SAY BIG 
PICTURE, ROSEMARY, THAT BOTH THE
DISCUSSION THAT YOU WERE HAVING 
WITH VASSY ABOUT SENIORS AND THE
ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, ALL OF THIS 
IS A BIT OF A REALITY CHECK.
FOR SO MANY DAYS THE DISCUSSION 
HAS BEEN ABOUT RE-STARTING 
PROVINCES, REOPENING.
OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THE SITUATION 
CHANGES FROM ONE PROVINCE TO THE
NEXT, BUT TODAY IS A POWERFUL 
REMINDER OF SOME OF THE 
CHALLENGES FACING SENIORS, 
FACING LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES 
AND FACING THE PEOPLE WHO WORK 
IN THOSE CENTRES.
WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT 
THE FACT THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT 
TODAY, A TOTAL OF $4 BILLION, $3
BILLION THAT'S COME FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, ANOTHER BILLION 
THAT'S EXPECTED TO COME FROM THE
PROVINCES AS THEY TRY TO GET 
MONEY OUT THE DOOR TO WHOMEVER 
THE PROVINCES DEEM ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS.
WE NO IN MANY CASES WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT WORKERS IN 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES, WORKERS 
IN THE HEALTH CARE SECTORS, 
PEOPLE IN SOME CASES WORKING IN 
GROCERY STORES AND WHATNOT.
THIS IS ALL A REMINDER OF THE 
FACT THAT THIS IS PART OF A 
BIGGER SYSTEMIC ISSUE THAT NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED, AND THAT EVEN 
AS WE TALK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS
OF RE-STARTING AND REOPENING 
PROVINCES, THERE ARE SOME VERY 
ACUTE PROBLEMS.
WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE 
CANADIAN FORCES INCREASING THE 
NUMBER OF SOLDIERS THAT THEY ARE
GOING TO BE MAKING AVAILABLE IN 
QUEBEC GOING TO NEW LONG-TERM 
CARE CENTRES.
OBVIOUSLY QUEBEC, AGAIN, A VERY 
ACUTE CASE.
THE ISLAND OF MONTREAL IN 
PARTICULAR AND THE SURROUNDING 
AREA, BUT STILL A LOT OF MAJOR 
CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE 
ADDRESSED AND DEALT WITH.
EARLIER TODAY I SAW AN AD FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC 
ADVERTISING THEIR PROGRAM, 
REACHING OUT TO LOW-INCOME 
WORKERS, SO CERTAINLY SOME HOPE 
THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE UPTAKE 
FOR THIS BECAUSE WE DEPEND SO 
MUCH ON THESE PEOPLE.
WE DID BEFORE THE OUTBREAK.
WE MAYBE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT 
VERY MUCH, BUT NOW WE REALIZE 
HOW MUCH WE DEPEND ON THEM AND 
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO PUT THEIR 
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN JEOPARDY.
>> Rosemary: AND SO MANY PEOPLE 
NOW JUST VOLUNTEERING TO GO INTO
THE LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES TO 
HELP OUT IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.
I'M GOING TO START WITH OUR 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS BRIEFING
US TODAY ON THIS FEDERAL, THE 
NATIONAL PICTURE, AND THEN WE'LL
TAKE YOU TO THE COVID COMMITTEE 
WHEN IT GETS UNDER WAY.
THIS IS DR. THERESA TAM.
>> -- INCLUDING 4,280 DEATHS.
AND OVER 28,000 CASES OR 44% NOW
RECOVERED.
LABS ACROSS CANADA HAVE TESTED 
OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE FOR 
COVID-19 TO DATE.
WITH ABOUT 6% OF THESE TESTING 
POSITIVE.
IN THE PAST WEEK, WE'VE TESTED 
AN AVERAGE OF OVER 25,000 PEOPLE
DAILY.
AS MENTAL HEALTH WEEK CONTINUES,
TODAY'S FOCUS IS ON CHILDREN AND
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT UNEXPECTED 
THAT KIDS WILL HAVE LOTS OF 
QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19.
PROVIDING CHILDREN AND YOUTH 
WITH INFORMATION AND EXTRA 
NURTURING CAN GO A LONG WAY TO 
OFFER REASSURANCE AND HELP TO 
BUILD UP THEIR RESILIENCE.
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN FIND 
LOTS OF GOOD TIPS TO HELP KIDS 
AND YOUTH ON WEBSITES SUCH AS 
THE KIDS' HELP PHONE.
THINGS LIKE HOW TO CHECK IN 
OFTEN, TO COMMUNICATE AND SHARE 
INFORMATION, CALM THEIR FEARS, 
HELP THEM TO PRACTISE ONLINE 
SAFETY, AND TO ENGAGE IN 
ACTIVITIES THAT CAN NURTURE 
MENTAL HEALTH.
AS I SAID YESTERDAY, TALKING 
THINGS OUT CAN HELP TO PROCESS 
OUR THOUGHTS AND LIFT THE WEIGHT
OF OUR EMOTIONS, AND THIS IS AS 
TRUE FOR KIDS AS IT IS FOR 
ADULTS.
AND WHEN YOU START THE 
CONVERSATION AND SHARE YOUR 
THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS IT CAN 
HELP CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO OPEN 
UP AND VOICE THEIR OWN 
STRUGGLES.
WHILE KIDS MAY BE MISSING THEIR 
FRIENDS AND OTHER FAMILY 
MEMBERS, MAINTAINING VIRTUAL 
CONNECTIONS REMINDS US ALL THAT 
WE ARE NOT ALONE.
ONE THING THAT HELPS US ALL IS 
THE FEELING THAT WE ARE HELPING.
A KEY WAY THAT CHILDREN AND 
YOUTH HELP LIFT OUR SPIRITS IS 
THROUGH CREATIVITY AND 
INGENUITY.
THEIR IMAGINATION IS AN 
INSPIRATION.
THEY HAVE ADORNED WINDOWS WITH 
RAINBOW SIGNS AND MESSAGES FOR 
NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS AND 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THEY HAVE CREATED VIRTUAL 
CHOIRS, APPS AND TRACKERS.
REINFORCING THE POSITIVE ENERGY 
OF YOUTH IS A BIG STEP TOWARDS 
BUILDING RESILIENCE, NOT JUST 
FOR THEM BUT FOR ALL OF US.
THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Dr. Howard Njoo: GOOD 
AFTERNOON.
AS USUAL I WILL START WITH THE 
LATEST NUMBERS ON COVID-19 IN 
CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 63,875 CASES 
INCLUDING OVER 4,000 DEATHS AND 
28,000, OR 44% NOW RECOVERED.
LABS ACROSS CANADA HAVE TESTED 
OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE FOR 
COVID-19 TO DATE.
AND 6% OF THESE TESTED POSITIVE.
IN THE PAST WEEK WE'VE TESTED, 
ON AVERAGE, OVER 25,000 PEOPLE 
DAILY.
AS MENTAL HEALTH WEEK CONTINUES,
TODAY'S FOCUS IS ON CHILDREN AND
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.
IT IS CERTAINLY NOT UNEXPECTED 
THAT KIDS WILL HAVE LOTS OF 
QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19, 
PROVIDING CHILDREN AND YOUTH 
WITH INFORMATION AND EXTRA 
NURTURING CAN GO A LONG WAY TO 
OFFER REASSURANCE AND HELP TO 
BUILD UP THEIR RESILIENCE.
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN FIND 
LOTS OF GOOD TIPS TO HELP KIDS 
AND YOUTH ON WEBSITES SUCH AS 
KIDS HELP PHONE.
THINGS LIKE HOW TO CHECK IN 
OFTEN, TO COMMUNICATE AND SHARE 
INFORMATION, CALM THEIR FEARS, 
HELP THEM TO PRACTISE ONLINE 
SAFETY, AND TO ENGAGE IN 
ACTIVITIES THAT CAN NURTURE 
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.
AS I SAID YESTERDAY, TALKING 
THINGS OUT CAN HELP TO PROCESS 
OUR THOUGHTS AND LIFT THE WEIGHT
OF OUR EMOTIONS.
THIS IS AS TRUE FOR KIDS AS IT 
IS FOR ADULTS.
AND WHEN YOU START THE 
CONVERSATION AND SHARE YOUR OWN 
THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, IT CAN 
HELP CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO OPEN 
UP AND VOICE THEIR OWN 
STRUGGLES.
WHILE KIDS MAY BE MISSING THEIR 
FRIENDS AND OTHER FAMILY 
MEMBERS, MAINTAINING VIRTUAL 
CONNECTIONS REMINDS US ALL THAT 
WE ARE NOT ALONE.
ONE THING THAT HELPS US ALL IS 
THE FEELING THAT WE ARE HELPING.
A KEY WAY THAT CHILDREN AND 
YOUTH HELP LIFT OUR SPIRITS IS 
THROUGH CREATIVITY AND 
INGENUITY.
THEIR IMAGINATION IS AN 
INSPIRATION, AND THEY HAVE 
ADORNED WINDOWS WITH RAINBOW 
SIGNS AND MESSAGES FOR 
NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS AND 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THEY HAVE CREATED VIRTUAL 
CHOIRS, APPS AND TRACKERS.
REINFORCING THE POSITIVITY OF 
YOUTH IS A BIG STEP TOWARDS 
BUILDING RESILIENCE, NOT JUST 
FOR THEM BUT FOR ALL OF US.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> THANK YOU, DOCTORS.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE LINE TO 
QUESTIONS.
WE ASK THAT YOU LIMIT YOURSELF 
TO ONE QUESTION AND ONLY ONE 
FOLLOW-UP.
FOR THOSE ASKING A QUESTION IN 
THE ROOM, WE DO ASK THAT YOU 
MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO THE 
FREE-STANDING MICS.
OPERATOR, OVER TO YOU.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
OUR FIRST QUESTION [ No 
Interpretation ]
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOUR LINE IS NOW OPEN.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: HELLO, DR. NJOO.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS 
ON HOW WELL CANADIANS ARE 
FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS.
CANADIANS HAVE FOLLOWED ALL THE 
DIRECTIVES AND ADVICE AND 
GUIDANCE SINCE THE BEGINNING, 
THAT YOU KEEP REPEATING.
WITH NEW DIRECTIVES IT'S NOT 
CLEAR IN EACH OF THE PROVINCES, 
FROM ONE PROVINCE TO THE NEXT, 
AND SOMETIMES FROM ONE REGION TO
THE NEXT.
DO YOU FEEL WE MUST BE 
PARTICULARLY VIGILANT WITH 
CANADIANS ADHERENCE TO THESE 
DIRECTIVES?
OR DO YOU FEAR THAT THINGS WILL 
RELAX TOO MUCH?
>> Dr. Howard Njoo: THANK YOU 
FOR THE QUESTION.
I THINK SO.
DR. TAM AND I ARE CONSTANTLY 
DISCUSSING CURRENT ISSUES WITH 
OUR PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL 
COUNTERPARTS.
CERTAINLY IN EACH PROVINCE AND 
TERRITORY, AS YOU SAID, THE 
RELAXING OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
GUIDELINES ARE BEING DONE WITH 
GREAT PRUDENCE.
WE AGREE WITH THE FUNDAMENTAL 
PRINCIPLES.
AS EACH PROVINCE AND TERRITORY 
MOVES AHEAD, OF COURSE ONE MUST 
CONTINUE GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES,
KEEPING OUR SOCIAL DISTANCING, 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING FROM OTHERS,
WASHING OUR HANDS, AND ALL THE 
OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES.
WHICH, AS YOU SAY, WE KEEP 
REINFORCING AND REPEATING.
BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE 
MEASURES IN EACH PROVINCE AND 
TERRITORY DEPENDS SOMEWHAT ON 
THE EPIDEMIOLOGY.
EVEN IN EACH PROVINCE, FOR 
EXAMPLE, IN MONTREAL, THE 
SITUATION IS FAR DIFFERENT FROM 
THE SITUATION IN LAC ST. JEAN, 
SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE 
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND WHAT'S GOING ON
ON THE GROUND.
OF COURSE THE CONTEXT OF A LARGE
CITY WILL BE QUITE DIFFERENT 
FROM WHAT WE SEE IN A NORTHERN 
TERRITORY.
BUT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE 
ULTIMATELY, AND PLANS THAT HAVE 
BEEN MADE PUBLIC BY VARIOUS 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, IT 
SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY ARE STILL 
RESPECTING THE SAME FUNDAMENTAL 
PRINCIPLES.
NOW THE RATE OF CHANGE MAY BE 
DIFFERENT FROM ONE PROVINCE TO 
ANOTHER.
IN SOME PROVINCES THEY OPEN 
SCHOOLS, IN OTHERS NO.
SO THESE ASPECTS MAY BE A BIT 
DIFFERENT.
AS LONG AS WE'RE JUST KEEPING AN
EYE ON THE CURVE AND THE 
EPIDEMIOLOGY, BECAUSE OF COURSE 
WHAT TOOK PLACE IN BRITISH 
COLUMBIA IS DIFFERENT FROM 
WHAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON IN 
QUEBEC.
SO WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE AND 
EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE, AND
I THINK CANADIANS UNDERSTAND 
QUITE WELL WHAT ALL THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH AUTHORITIES, NOT JUST AT 
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT IN EACH 
PROVINCE AND TERRITORY, ARE 
QUITE WELL ALIGNED, IN FACT.
THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Reporter: MY NEXT QUESTION 
HAS TO DO WITH A VERY SPECIFIC 
EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SEE 
THEIR WAY THROUGH THESE NEW 
DIRECTIVES.
PEOPLE BETWEEN AGE 60 AND 69 IN 
QUEBEC WHO COULD GO BACK TO WORK
IN SCHOOLS, IN DAYCARE CENTRES 
AND WHO -- SCHOOL BUSES, BUT WE 
DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY 
THESE PEOPLE CANNOT -- 
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE 
GOING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS BRIEFING
TODAY.
THEY DO CONFIRM THAT THERE HAVE 
NOW BEEN 1 MILLION TESTS DONE IN
CANADA FOR COVID-19, 6% OF THE 
POPULATION TESTING POSITIVE.
LET'S BRING YOU TO SOMETHING 
ELSE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE 
NATION'S CAPITAL.
THIS IS THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON
COVID-19.
THAT MEETING IS HAPPENING OVER 
VIDEO CONFERENCE, AS YOU CAN SEE
THERE.
ON THE VERY TOP LEFT OF YOUR 
SCREEN YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY MPs 
HAVE CALLED IN, 141 OF THEM ON 
VIDEO, 107 NOT WANTING TO SHOW 
THEIR BACKGROUNDS AT THIS STAGE.
THIS IS GREEN PARTY -- INTERIM 
GREEN PARTY LEADER ELIZABETH MAY
TRYING TO MAKE A POINT OF ORDER.
THIS CAN BE A LITTLE CHAOTIC, 
BUT WE WILL LISTEN IN FOR WHEN 
QUESTIONS START HERE TO CABINET 
MINISTERS.
LET'S LISTEN.
>> SHE WAS ALSO NAMED BY THE -- 
>> I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ANYONE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S SPEAKING, SO 
I'LL JUST START TALKING MYSELF.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE 
HONOURABLE MEMBERS TO HAVE 
RESPECT IN THEIR QUESTIONS AND 
IN THEIR ANSWERS.
WHEN YOU REFER TO SOMEONE, 
PLEASE PREFER TO THEM 
RESPECTFULLY.
THIS IS A COMMITTEE OF THE 
HOUSE, AND I WOULD EXPECT NO 
LESS OF THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS.
WE'LL GO ON TO THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER WHO WILL ANSWER THAT 
QUESTION.
THEY HAVE 16 SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. SPEAKER.
AS I POINTED OUT THIS MORNING IN
MY PRESS CONFERENCE, WE CANNOT 
MOVE FORWARD ON TRANSFORMATION 
OF OUR ENERGY SECTOR WITHOUT 
SUPPORTING THE WORKERS IN THAT 
ENERGY SECTOR.
WE NEED THEIR INNOVATION.
WE NEED THEIR HARD WORK IF WE 
ARE GOING TO LOWER OUR 
EMISSIONS, IF WE'RE GOING TO 
REACH OUR -- 
>> WE WILL GO TO MS. FAULK 
AGAIN.
>> MR. SPEAKER, IT HAS BEEN 43 
DAYS SINCE THE FINANCE MINISTER 
PROMISED LIQUIDITY THROUGH THE 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF 
CANADA, AND NOW FOR 43 DAYS THE 
FINANCE MINISTER HAS FAILED TO 
DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE.
THESE DELAYS COST JOBS AND THEY 
ARE COSTING US CANADIAN 
BUSINESSES.
IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T STEP 
UP TO SUPPORT OUR ENERGY SECTOR,
THEY ARE IN EFFECT DOUBLING DOWN
ON THEIR SUPPORT FOR FOREIGN 
UNETHICALLY SOURCED OIL.
MR. SPEAKER, WHEN WILL THE 
CREDIT OPTIONS BE AVAILABLE TO 
CANADA'S SMALL AND MEDIUM ENERGY
FIRMS?
>> The Chair: I WANT TO REMIND 
THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT WE 
DO HAVE INTERPRETERS WHO ARE 
LISTENING AND TRANSLATING.
SO IN CONSIDERATION TO THEM, 
PLEASE SPEAK AT A REASONABLE 
PACE SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND
AND THEN TRANSLATE.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FROM 
THE VERY BEGINNING OUR PRIORITY 
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND THIS 
CRISIS HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT 
WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE SENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO WORKERS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN ALBERTA 
AND SASKATCHEWAN, IN B.C., IN 
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, IN 
THE ENERGY SECTOR TO SUPPORT 
THEM TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT 
TIME.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON SECTORAL 
SUPPORTS RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, AND THOSE WILL BE 
ANNOUNCED IN DUE COURSE, BUT OUR
FOCUS FROM THE GET-GO HAS 
BEEN -- 
>> The Chair: WE WILL GO ON TO 
MS. FAULK. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, ANOTHER GROUP 
THAT HAS BEEN IGNORED BY THE 
LIBERALS IS OUR FARMERS.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO DATE FALL 
WELL SHORT OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO 
MAINTAIN A STEADY SUPPLY OF 
AFFORDABLE AND HEALTHY FOOD -- 
INSTEAD OF RESPONDING TO THE 
SPECIFIC COVID-19 CHALLENGES.
OUR FARMERS ARE FACING THE 
LIBERALS RE-ANNOUNCED $125 
MILLION THAT WAS ALREADY 
BUDGETED IN THE AGRI RECOVERY 
PROGRAM.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER FINALLY 
STEP UP AND TAKE OUR FOOD SPLINE
CHAIN SERIOUSLY OR IS 
AGRICULTURE JUST AN AFTERTHOUGHT
FOR HIM?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: ON 
THE CONTRARY, MR. SPEAKER, WE 
TAKE AGRICULTURE AND OUR 
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR EXTREMELY 
SERIOUSLY, WHICH IS WHY WE 
ANNOUNCED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS 
OF DOLLARS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO 
TO RESPOND TO PRESSING NEEDS, 
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE 
INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE BOTH THE 
SAFETY OF WORKERS IN OUR 
AGRICULTURAL SECTORS, SAFETY OF 
OUR COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE 
CONTINUED FLOW OF HIGH-QUALITY 
CANADIAN FOOD ON TO OUR TABLES 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE WHO 
PRODUCE OUR FOOD IS A PRIORITY 
FOR THIS GOVERNMENT AND WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE.
>> The Chair: MS. FAULK. 
>> WELL, MR. SPEAKER, RECYCLED 
PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS DO NOT 
RESPOND TO THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS 
FACING OUR FARMERS.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
OUR FARMERS ARE FACED WITH 
RAISING OPERATIONAL COST, A 
DISRUPTIVE SERVICE INDUSTRY, 
LABOUR SHORTAGES AND A REDUCED 
CAPACITY AT PROCESSING PLANTS.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS A 
RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE DOMESTIC 
FOOD SECURITY SERIOUSLY.
WHEN WILL THE PRIME MINISTER 
DELIVER ADEQUATE SUPPORT TO 
ADDRESS THE CRITICAL CHANGES 
FACING OUR AG INDUSTRY?
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
WOULD SUGGEST WITH RESPECTFULLY 
THAT THE HONOURABLE MEMBER TAKE 
A LOOK ONCE AGAIN AT THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT WE MADE, WHICH 
ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTS SIGNIFICANT 
NEW INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT OUR 
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THERE IS 
MORE TO DO EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION 
WE HAVE BEEN MOVING FORWARD ON 
DOING MORE, ON ADJUSTING, ON 
INVESTING MORE.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR 
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND THE 
PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD TO PUT 
FOOD ON CANADIANS' TABLES.
>> The Chair: MS. FAULK.
>> MR. SPEAKER, CANADIANS EXPECT
TO FIND HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE 
FOOD AT THEIR GROCERY STORES, 
BUT IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT 
TAKE ACTION NOW, THAT'S NOT A 
GIVEN.
OUR FARMERS ARE TRYING TO KEEP 
CANADIANS FED WHILE KEEPING 
THEIR HEADS ABOVE WATER.
THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT'S OWN 
FAILED FEDERAL CARBON TAX IS 
WEIGHING THEM DOWN.
IT IS AN ENORMOUS HIT TO THEIR 
BOTTOM LINE AND THE RECENT 
CARBON TAX HIKE IS TAKING MORE 
MONEY OUT OF THE POCKETS OF 
FARMERS AT A TIME WHEN THEY CAN 
AFFORD IT THE LEAST.
MR. SPEAKER, WILL THE PRIME 
MINISTER EXEMPT ALL FARM 
OPERATIONS FROM THE CARBON TAX 
AND REIMBURSE THE MONEY THAT 
THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN FROM 
THEM?
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S A SHAME TO 
HEAR THE MEMBER OPPOSITE 
ACCIDENTALLY UNINTENTIONALLY, 
I'M CERTAIN, MISLEAD THE HOUSE 
AND CANADIANS.
THE PRICE ON POLLUTION ACTUALLY 
PUTS MORE MONEY INTO CANADIANS' 
POCKETS, AND THAT INCLUDES FARM 
FAMILIES, PEOPLE WHO MAKE -- WHO
PAY THE COST OF THE PRICE ON 
POLLUTION ON AVERAGE RECEIVE 
MORE MONEY BACK.
THIS IS A WAY OF CREATING A 
BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS AND 
GRANDKIDS, WHICH I KNOW PEOPLE 
IN COMMUNITIES RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, INCLUDING OUR FARM 
COMMUNITIES, WANT TO SEE HAPPEN.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN A 
RESPONSIBLE WAY TO PUT A PRICE 
ON POLLUTION AND PUT MORE 
MONEY -- 
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> The Chair: WE WILL NOW MOVE 
ON TO MS. GILL.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY ARE 
FRAGILE, AND I'M THINKING MORE 
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE 
FISHERIES.
IN THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS WE HAVE 
THE LOBSTER FISHERS ON THE 
SHORE, PEOPLE FISHING IN GASPÉ 
AS WELL.
IMPORTS HAVE STOPPED.
THERE'S ALSO A DROP IN THE 
DOMESTIC MARKET BECAUSE OF THE 
TOURISM SECTOR, RESTAURANTS, 
ET CETERA, SO WE NEED TO PROVIDE
SOME ASSISTANCE TO FISHERS.
WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE 
SINCE THE START OF THE CRISIS TO
SUPPORT FISHERS?
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
FISHERS DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB 
AND ARE CONTRIBUTING TO FEEDING 
CANADIANS AND TO OUR EXPORTS 
ABROAD.
THIS CRISIS HAS HIT THEM HARD, 
AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT IN PLACE 
MONEY TO SUPPORT PROCESSORS.
WE HAVE MADE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO 
HELP FISHERS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION, A 
DIFFICULT SITUATION.
>> The Chair: MS. GILL?
>> I THANK THE PRIME MINISTER, 
BUT IN FACT WHAT I'M ASKING FOR 
IS ASSISTANCE.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE $62.5 
MILLION FOR PROCESSORS THAT WILL
GO TO FREEZING THE PRODUCT.
BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE
DOING THE FISHING THEMSELVES.
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IS SUCH 
THAT FISHERS ARE FACING HEALTH 
RISKS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE
ARE THE ISSUES, PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR 
THEM.
SO THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS 
THEY NEED TO PAY OUT IN ORDER TO
PARTICIPATE IN THEIR REGULAR 
ACTIVITIES, THEIR FISHING 
ACTIVITIES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME
THEY'RE GOING TO BE FACING A 
DEFICIT BECAUSE OF THE COST OF 
RESOURCES THEY'RE GOING TO BE 
RUNNING A DEFICIT NOW.
THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE 
ECONOMY, THE AGRICULTURAL 
ECONOMY.
FISHERS, DECKHANDS AND OTHERS, 
SEASONAL WORKERS, DON'T KNOW 
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE 
GOING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE 
FOR THEIR FAMILIES NEXT YEAR.
SO WILL YOU BE DOING SOMETHING 
ELSE IN ADDITION TO THE $62.5 
MILLION?
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN FACING 
UNCERTAINTY FOR A LONG TIME NOW,
AND THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED.
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: WE 
WILL BE MAKING ADDITIONAL 
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT CANADIANS
IN A NUMBER OF SECTORS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT FISHERS ARE 
FACING CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES 
TO PHYSICAL DISTANCING, THE 
SEASONAL NATURE OF THEIR WORK IN
MANY CASES, AND WE'RE GOING TO 
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE 
INDUSTRY TO HELP FISHERS WITH 
COMMUNITIES IN COASTAL AREAS SO 
THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE 
IN THEIR CAPACITY AND IN THEIR 
FUTURE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE 
GOVERNMENT TO BE THERE FOR 
PEOPLE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO.
THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS,
AND AGAIN WE CAN SEE THAT 
ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND 
TO HELP FISHERS AND THE FISHING 
INDUSTRY.
>> The Chair: MS. GILL. 
>> IT'S A DIFFICULT CRISIS.
WE NEEDED TO BE THERE FROM THE 
OUTSET.
WE KNOW FULL WELL THAT SEVERAL 
WEEKS WENT BY.
THEY NEED TIME TO PREPARE FOR 
FISHING ACTIVITIES, AND THERE 
ARE MANY CHANGES THAT COULD 
BE -- ADJUSTMENTS THAT COULD BE 
MADE TO CURRENT PROGRAMS WHEN IT
TO THE SIZE OF THE COMPANIES, 
FOR EXAMPLE.
THE $40,000 IS SOMETHING THAT 
COULD BE HELPFUL, BUT THEY DON'T
HAVE THE PAYROLL.
THE 75%, BECAUSE OF THE DATES, 
THEY CAN'T QUALIFY FOR THAT AS 
WELL.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF 
SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN -- I CAN 
SHARE WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND 
THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES TO 
COME TO THEIR ASSISTANCE 
QUICKLY, TO HELP THEM.
THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 
CRISIS EFFORT, BUT AT THE SAME 
TIME THEY HAVE NO GUARANTEES 
THAT THEY WILL HAVE SUPPORT THEY
NEED.
SO I'D LIKE A GUARANTEE THAT 
THEY WILL BE SUPPORTED AND THAT 
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO, IN FACT, 
PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLES AND 
FEED THEIR COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE 
THE FISHING INDUSTRY IS A MAJOR 
INDUSTRY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: SINCE
THE OUTSET, MINISTER JORDAN HAS 
BEEN WORKING WITH FISHERS, WITH 
THE INDUSTRY, WITH COMMUNITIES 
THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS.
WE HAVE PUT FORTH A NUMBER OF 
SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT 
COMMUNITIES, TO SUPPORT THEIR 
FAMILIES.
THE SITUATION IS UNPRECEDENTED, 
AND FROM THE OUTSET OUR 
OBJECTIVE WAS TO HELP CANADIANS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN ALL 
INDUSTRIES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS.
AND WE HAVE DONE SO.
WE WILL CONTINUE, AS WELL, TO 
WORK FOR -- TO HELP PEOPLE WHO 
ARE FACING UNCERTAINTY.
THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT OF 
THE GOVERNMENT.
>> The Chair: BEFORE WE GO TO 
THE NEXT QUESTION, I'D LIKE TO 
REMIND MEMBERS TO SPEAK SLOWLY 
AND TO SPEAK THROUGH THE CHAIR.
NOT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OTHERS.
THANK YOU.
[ End of Interpretation ]
WE WILL NOW GO ON TO 
MR. BACHARAK. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, MUNICIPALITIES 
ACROSS CANADA ARE FACING A 
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
THEY HAVE SEEN REVENUES 
PLUMMETS, AND AT THE SAME TIME 
THE COST OF DELIVERING MUNICIPAL
SERVICES HAS RISEN.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER KNOWS, 
MUNICIPALITIES ARE UNABLE TO RUN
DEFICITS, AND SO THEY ARE FACING
THE REALITY OF CUTBACKS AND 
SERIOUS CUTS TO THE SERVICES 
THAT CANADIANS DEPEND ON.
WE KNOW THAT MUNICIPALITIES ARE 
VITAL DURING THIS TIME TO 
PROVIDE SERVICES TO CANADIANS, 
AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE EVEN 
MORE IMPORTANT DURING THE 
RECOVERY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT 
COMES TO DELIVERING ON THE 
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS BEFORE 
US.
FCM, THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES, AND MAYORS 
ACROSS CANADA HAVE CALLED FOR 
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR 
THE MUNICIPAL SECTOR.
MY QUESTION TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT
FEDERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 
ARRIVE.
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, NO GOVERNMENT IN 
CANADA'S HISTORY HAS DONE MORE 
TO WORK WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES,
WITH OUR CITIES, WITH THE 
FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES TO RESPOND TO THE
CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING, TO 
PARTNER WITH THEM, THINGS FROM 
INFRASTRUCTURE TO INVESTMENTS 
THAT HAVE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE 
QUALITY OF LIFE OF CANADIANS IN 
TOWNS LARGE AND SMALL FROM COAST
TO COAST TO COAST.
BUT AS I'M SURE THE MEMBER WELL 
KNOWS, OUR CONSTITUTION REQUIRES
THAT MOST OF THE FUNDING FOR 
MUNICIPALITIES FLOW THROUGH THE 
PROVINCES.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE 
PROVINCES AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH THE CITIES TO ENSURE THAT 
WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THESE -- 
THIS ORDER OF GOVERNMENT THAT 
DELIVERS THE VAST MAJORITY OF 
SERVICES TO CANADIANS WITH VERY 
LITTLE FINANCIAL MEANS.
WE KNOW HOW -- 
>> The Chair: WE WILL GO BACK TO
THE MEMBER, NOW.
>> MR. SPEAKER, IT WOULD SEEM 
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS 
THE FISCAL CAPACITY AND THE 
RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP 
MUNICIPALITIES WEATHER THIS 
CRISIS.
TRANSIT SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN HIT 
PARTICULARLY HARD AND HAVE SEEN 
THE BULK OF THE LAYOFFS IN THE 
MUNICIPAL SECTOR.
THESE TRANSIT SERVICES CARRY 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO WORK, 
WHETHER THEY ARE HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS OR GROCERY STORE 
WORKERS, JANITORS A OTHERS.
THE RISK IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO 
SEE HIGHER FARES TO DEAL WITH 
THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE SERVICE 
CUTBACKS PRECISELY AT A TIME 
WHEN WE WANT TO BE EXPANDING 
TRANSIT AND IMPROVING TRANSIT IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
DOES THE PRIME MINISTER 
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND 
SAFEGUARD AND PROTECT CANADA'S 
TRANSIT SERVICES?
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THIS 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES 
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SUPPORT 
ALL CANADIANS, WHICH IS WHY WE 
PUT FORWARD UNPRECEDENTED 
MEASURES TO HELP MILLIONS UPON 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS WITH THE 
CERB AND WITH THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
THE PROVINCES WHO HAVE 
JURISDICTION OVER THE 
MUNICIPALITIES.
I WILL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION 
WITH ALL OTHER FIRST MINISTERS 
TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT A BROAD 
RANGE OF ISSUES.
I CAN HIGHLIGHT THAT THE ISSUE 
OF TRANSIT FUNDING HAS COME UP, 
AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE 
WITH THEM.
BUT AGAIN, MR. SPEAKER, IT IS 
IMPORTANT TO RESPECT THE 
CONSTITUTION AND UNDERSTAND THAT
FUNDING FOR A MUNICIPALITY AND 
CITY DOES GO THROUGH THE 
PROVINCES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS HAPPY 
TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT, BUT IT 
MUST -- 
>> The Chair: WE WILL GO ON TO 
MR. BACHARACH AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I'M WONDERING HOW THE PRIME 
MINISTER COULD EXPLAIN TO A BUS 
DRIVER IN VANCOUVER WHO HAS BEEN
LAID OFF THAT AS A PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKER SHE CANNOT ACCESS THE 
FEDERAL WAGE SUBSIDY WHILE AN 
EQUIVALENT WORKER IN THE AIRLINE
INDUSTRY GETS TO KEEP HER JOB 
WITH THE FEDERAL HELP OF THAT 
PROGRAM.
COULD THE PRIME MINISTER EXPLAIN
HOW THAT IS FAIR.
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I'M 
HAPPY TO EXPLAIN TO THE MEMBER 
AND TO ALL CANADIANS THAT OUR 
CONSTITUTION CREATES FEDERAL 
AREAS OF JURISDICTION AND 
PROVINCIAL AREAS OF 
JURISDICTION, AND THE AIRLINE 
INDUSTRY, LIKE BANKING, LIKE 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, IS A FEDERAL
AREA OF JURISDICTION.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE 
FORWARD ON THAT.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE HAVE 
BROUGHT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT AND THE WAGE SUBSIDY TO 
ALL INDUSTRIES ACROSS THIS 
COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNEW WE 
NEEDED TO -- 
>> The Chair: WE'LL GO BACK TO 
MR. BACHARACH. 
>> FACED WITH MINIMAL HEALTH 
CARE CAPACITY, REMOTE INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES IN MY RIDING ARE 
TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN 
HANDS.
THE NEW HOCK HAVE PUT UP A 
CHECKPOINT ON HIGHWAY 20 TO 
PROTECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND 
PREVENT NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL, 
AND IN PARTICULAR TO PROTECT THE
THREE REMAINING FLUENT SPEAKERS 
OF THE LANGUAGE, THESE CHERISHED
ELDERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE HAIDA ON HAIDA GWAII HAVE 
SET UP A SIMILAR CHECKPOINT, AS 
HAVE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT 
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
YET THE FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AMOUNTS 
TO ONLY $39 MILLION FOR ALL OF 
THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN 
B.C.
DOES THE PRIME MINISTER NOT 
AGREE THAT MORE SUPPORT IS 
WARRANTED TO HELP INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES IN MY RIDING AND 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> The Chair: THE RIGHT 
HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: FROM 
THE VERY BEGINNING WE MADE FUNDS
AVAILABLE TO CANADIANS RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY
PEOPLE IN INDIGENOUS, REMOTE OR 
NORTHERN COMMUNITIES WHO WE KNEW
WERE GOING TO BE FACING MORE 
DIFFICULT CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF 
THEIR EXISTING VULNERABILITIES 
IN THEIR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND 
IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE HAVE MADE UNPRECEDENTED 
INVESTMENTS, AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE 
INVESTMENTS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT 
INDIGENOUS CANADIANS AND INDEED 
ALL CANADIANS HAVE THE SUPPORTS 
THEY NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH 
THIS CRISIS.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> The Chair: WE ARE GOING TO 
CONTINUE ON WITH MR. BERTHOLD.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH THE AREA 
OF JURISDICTION THAT THE 
MINISTER TALKED ABOUT AND THE 
INCOMPETENCE OF THE LIBERALS TO 
DELIVER INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS.
MY QUESTION IS TO THE MINISTER 
OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
COMMUNITIES.
AS THE PROVINCES ARE GRADUALLY 
REOPENING THEIR ECONOMIES, CAN 
THE MINISTER TELL US HOW MANY 
PROJECTS SUBMITTED BY THE 
PROVINCES ARE CURRENTLY WAITING 
FOR GOVERNMENT'S APPROVAL?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
PRIME MINISTER.
OR THE HONOURABLE MINISTER.
SOMEBODY.
IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO WILL -- 
WHO IS ON MUTE?
WHO WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THE 
QUESTION?
>> I HOPE THAT THIS TIME WILL 
NOT BE TAKEN OFF FROM MY TIME. 
>> The Chair: NO, NO.
THE CLOCK HAS STOPPED.
I THINK IT'S MS. McKENNA WHO 
WILL ANSWER. 
>> I'M SORRY, I WAS ON MUTE.
SO MR. CHAIR, I'M VERY HAPPY TO 
SEE HOW WELL WE'RE WORKING WITH 
THE PROVINCES AND THE 
TERRITORIES.
I HAVE WORKED AND TALKED TO ALL 
MY COUNTERPARTS IN THE PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES IN RELATION TO 
THIS HISTORICAL PROGRAM RELATING
TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD IN MY 
DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE THE 
PROJECTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO 
CONTINUE TO DO SO.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE 
CONTINUE.
>> The Chair: MR. BERTHOLD.
>> WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN 
ANSWER.
HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE WAITING 
GOVERNMENT APPROVAL?
I KNOW THAT THE MINISTER HAS 
BEEN HOLDING MORE AND MORE 
VIRTUAL MEETINGS, BUT THERE ARE 
STILL HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS 
AWAITING APPROVAL FROM THE 
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT.
INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE RIGHT
POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY TO UNBLOCK
THESE FILES, WILL THE MINISTER 
COMMIT TODAY TO RESPECT THE 
PROVINCES AND APPROVE ALL THE 
PROJECTS THAT ARE SITTING ON HER
DESK BY NEXT WEEK?
>> The Chair: MS. McKENNA?
>> MR. CHAIR, I AM VERY HAPPY TO
SAY HOW WELL WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, 
THAT WE ARE APPROVING PROJECTS, 
AND SO IF THE MEMBER WANTS TO 
SPEAK WITH THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES, HE'LL SEE HOW WELL 
WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, AND 
WE'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE 
PROJECTS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT 
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND 
ECONOMIES AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO 
CREATE GOOD JOBS.
>> The Chair: MR. BERTHOLD.
>> DOES THE MINISTER UNDERSTAND 
THAT SHE HASN'T TOLD US HOW MANY
PROJECTS ARE STILL AWAITING AND 
THAT THE CONSTRUCTION SEASON IS 
VERY SHORT AND THAT A PROJECT 
APPROVAL IN JULY MEANS THAT WORK
CANNOT BEGIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR?
AND SO THIS WILL NOT HELP US TO 
RE-START THE ECONOMY.
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. CHAIR, I CAN CLARIFY THAT
WE HAVE APPROVED HUNDREDS OF 
PROJECTS IN THE LAST WEEKS AND 
THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH 
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
AND MUNICIPALITIES, AS WELL AS 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, TO GO 
FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS.
>> The Chair: SO WE'LL GO BACK 
TO MR. BERTHOLD.
>> MR. CHAIR, WHILE THE MINISTER
IS TALKING ABOUT THE GREEN 
RECOVERY OF THE COUNTRY'S 
ECONOMY, PUBLIC TRANSIT IS IN 
JEOPARDY.
SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL 
DRIVE DOWN THE USE OF PUBLIC 
TRANSIT FOR MONTHS TO COME.
THERE'S A STUDY THAT THE UMQ 
ESTIMATES THAT MONTHLY LOSSES 
ARE UP TO $100 MILLION.
OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE INCLUDED 
TRANSIT PANDEMIC PROGRAMS.
WHY NOT CANADA?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER. 
>> MR. CHAIR, WE RECOGNIZE HOW 
IMPORTANT IT IS TO SUPPORT 
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR ECONOMY 
BECAUSE THERE ARE ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT, 
AND WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY 
WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND ARE 
LISTENING TO THEM, BUT AS THE 
PRIME MINISTER STATED, IT'S UP 
TO THE PROVINCES TO -- 
>> The Chair: MR. BERTHOLD.
>> ONCE AGAIN WE ARE SAYING THAT
THE PUCK IS BEING PASSED ON TO 
THE PROVINCES AND THE MINISTER 
ISN'T ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS 
RELATING TO THE PROJECTS THAT 
ARE ON THE MINISTER'S DESK, AND 
IT'S TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT TO 
TALK ABOUT THE APPROVAL OF THESE
PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY IN VARIOUS 
LARGE MUNICIPALITIES.
AND AS WE KNOW, AS THERE HAS 
BEEN A REDUCTION OF 80 AND 90% 
IN TERMS OF RIDERSHIP, AND THE 
FEDERATION OF CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES, LARGE CITIES AND
SMALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY NEED HELP.
WHY IS THE MINISTER IGNORING THE
NEEDS OF THE CANADIAN 
MUNICIPALITIES?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER. 
>> MR. CHAIR, I CAN REASSURE THE
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT THAT WE'RE 
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE 
MUNICIPALITIES, THAT WE'RE 
LISTENING TO THEM TO SEE WHAT 
THEIR ISSUES ARE, HOW WE CAN 
SUPPORT THEM, BUT OF COURSE WE 
NEED HELP FROM THE PROVINCES AND
THE TERRITORIES, AND AS CONCERNS
OF THE PROJECT THAT HAVE BEEN 
APPROVED, I WILL BE HAPPY TO 
PROVIDE YOU WITH THE PRECISE 
NUMBER OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT 
MY DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED ON IN 
THE LAST WEEKS TO APPROVE THOSE 
PROJECTS SUCH THAT THEY CAN GO 
FORWARD.
>> MR. CHAIR, IS THERE STILL 
TIME?
>> The Chair: NO, THAT'S IT. 
[ End of Interpretation ]
WE'LL NOW GO ON TO MR. FAST.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THIS QUESTION IS DIRECTED TO THE
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
ON MARCH 28, HE PERSONALLY 
TWEETED OUT A THANK YOU TO THE 
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR 
DONATING P.P.E.S TO CANADA.
THIS TWEET HAPPENED WITHIN THREE
HOURS OF CHINA ANNOUNCING THAT 
GIFT.
NOW AS IT TURNED OUT MANY OF 
THESE P.P.E.S WERE DEFECTIVE AND
COULD NOT BE USED.
MORE RECENTLY TAIWAN DONATED 
HALF A MILLION SURGICAL MASKS TO
CANADA, AND YET HERE WE ARE TWO 
WEEKS LATER AND THE MINISTER HAS
YET TO PERSONALLY THANK TAIWAN 
FOR ITS GENEROSITY.
WILL THE MINISTER NOW THANK THIS
FREE AND DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY FOR 
ITS GENEROUS GIFT TO CANADIANS?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO 
THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR THE 
QUESTION.
INDEED WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO 
EVERY NATION FOR HELPING CANADA.
THIS IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WHICH 
KNOWS NO BORDER.
WE HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING OUR 
THANKS TO MANY NATIONS WHO HAVE 
CONTRIBUTED.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
IT IS IMPORTANT IN A TIME OF 
PANDEMIC, MR. SPEAKER, THAT WE 
DON'T PLAY POLITICS, THAT 
HUMANITY COMES TOGETHER.
I CAN SAY TO MY COVID FOREIGN 
MINISTERS CALL, THE WORLD 
COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER TO 
MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD MAKE 
SURE THAT SUPPLY CHAIN WOULD 
REMAIN IN TACT, THAT WE WOULD 
HAVE TRANSIT OPS AND BRIDGES AND
WE WOULD CONTINUE, MR. SPEAKER, 
TO WORK WITH EVERY NATION WHEN 
IT COMES TO HEALTH.
THIS IS A PUBLIC GOOD THAT WE 
WANT TO WORK TOGETHER -- 
>> The Chair: WE WILL GO BACK TO
MR. FAST NOW. 
>> WELL, THERE SPEAKER, I DIDN'T
HEAR A THANK YOU THERE, SO I'M 
GOING TO TRY AGAIN.
ON MAY 4 THE GOVERNMENT OF 
TAIWAN DELIVERED 25,000 SURGICAL
MASKS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
ON HAND WERE B.C.'S MINISTER OF 
CITIZENS SERVICES AND MINISTER 
OF STATE FOR CHILD CARE WHO, AS 
MINISTERS, OFFICIALLY THANKED 
THE GOVERNMENT OF TAIWAN FOR ITS
DONATION.
AGAIN, WILL THE MINISTER NOW DO 
THE RIGHT THING AND ON BEHALF OF
CANADIANS RECOGNIZE THE 
GENEROSITY OF TAIWAN AND THANK 
ITS GOVERNMENT FOR THAT TIMELY 
DONATION?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, AS I SAID TO YOU
BEFORE, CANADA IS GRATEFUL TO 
ALL WHO HAVE GIVEN SUPPLIES TO 
CANADA.
THIS IS A COMMON ENDEAVOUR.
WE ARE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO 
EVERY NATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, LIKE 
I SAID, WHEN IT COMES TO GLOBAL 
HELP, WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING 
EACH OTHER, I THINK IT IS A DUTY
FOR ALL TO COME TOGETHER, AND WE
ARE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR 
ALL THOSE WHO HAVE AGREED TO 
HELP CANADA AND CANADIANS FROM 
COAST TO COAST TO COAST IN TIMES
OF NEED AND I'VE REPEATED THAT 
AND SAID THAT IN MANY TIMES IN 
MANY FORUMS, MR. SPEAKER, THAT 
WE ARE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL TO 
ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE HELPING 
CANADA.
>> The Chair: MR. FAST.
>> WELL, NO SPECIFIC THANK YOU 
TO TAIWAN AGAIN.
THE GOVERNMENT OF TAIWAN HAS 
BEEN THE WORLD LEADER IN 
SUCCESSFULLY FIGHTING THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND WE HAVE A
LOT TO LEARN FROM THEM AND THEIR
RESPONSE.
SADLY, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
CHINA CONTINUES TO OPPOSE 
TAIWAN'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
WILL THE MINISTER NOW DO THE 
RIGHT THING AND ASSURE CANADIANS
THAT HE WILL FULLY SUPPORT 
EFFORTS TO GRANT TAIWAN 
MEMBERSHIP IN THE WORLD HEALTH 
ORGANIZATION?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO 
THANK THE MEMBER.
AS A FORMER TRADE MINISTER, HE'S
VERY WELL AWARE OF CANADA'S ONE 
CHINA POLICY.
THAT BEING SAID, MR. SPEAKER, WE
SUPPORT TAIWAN TO CONTINUE 
MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN 
INTERNATIONAL MULTILATERAL 
FORUM, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT 
COMES TO HEALTH, MR. SPEAKER.
THIS IS A GLOBAL GOOD AND WE 
WANT TO SUPPORT EVERY NATION AND
WE RECOGNIZE THAT TAIWAN AND 
OTHERS HAVE BEEN DOING VERY WELL
IN FIGHTING THIS PANDEMIC.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT TAIWAN'S 
ROLE AS AN OBSERVER IN THE WORLD
HEALTH ASSEMBLY MEETING IS OF 
INTEREST TO THE WORLD HEALTH 
COMMUNITY.
>> The Chair: WE WILL NOW GO 
BACK TO MR. FAST.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL PIVOT TO REPATRIATION.
THE MINISTER HAS SAID THAT OVER 
20,000 STRANDED CANADIANS HAVE 
BEEN REPATRIATED FROM ABROAD.
CAN HE TELL US HOW MANY 
CANADIANS REMAIN ABROAD THAT 
HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO 
BE REPATRIATED?
>> I'M HAPPY TO UPDATE MEMBERS 
THAT AS OF TODAY WE HAVE 
REPATRIATED MORE THAN 20,000 
CANADIANS ON 232 FLIGHTS FROM 87
COUNTRIES, AND I WOULD SAY 
[INDISCERNIBLE] MR. SPEAKER, IT 
KNOWS NO PARTIES, EVERY MEMBER 
OR MANY MEMBERS I SHOULD SAY 
HAVE WRITTEN TO ME TO MAKE SURE 
THAT WE TAKE CARE.
IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE.
WE HAVE REPATRIATED THOUSANDS 
AND THOUSANDS.
WE CONTINUE BECAUSE WE KNOW 
THERE ARE STILL POCKETS OF 
TRAVELLERS, OF CANADIAN 
TRAVELLERS WHICH ARE STRANDED 
ABROAD.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER AND I HAVE
SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, WE WILL
USE OUR BEST EFFORTS TO 
REPATRIATE EVERYONE THAT WANTS 
TO COME BACK HOME.
>> The Chair: WE WILL GO ON TO 
MR. MOORE NOW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MR. CHAIR, CANADIANS NEED TO 
HAVE FAITH IN THEIR JUSTICE 
SYSTEM, EVEN IN TIME OF CRISIS.
MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED 
CORRESPONDENCE FROM CANADIANS 
CONCERNED THAT TRIAL DELAYS DUE 
TO COVID-19 MAY RESULT IN 
CRIMINALS WALKING FREE.
AS THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN 
WORKING OVERTIME TO CRIMINALIZE 
LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WITH NEW 
USELESS GUN LAWS, WILL THE 
MINISTER OF JUSTICE ENSURE THAT 
REAL CRIMINALS WILL NOT WALK 
FREE DUE TO DELAYS IN THE 
JUSTICE SYSTEM?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I THANK THE HONOURABLE MEMBER 
FOR HIS QUESTION.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, 
MR. SPEAKER, WITH MY PROVINCIAL 
COUNTERPARTS ACROSS CANADA, AS 
WELL AS WITH THE VARIOUS COURTS,
FEDERAL, THE FEDERAL COURTS, BUT
ALSO THROUGH MY PROVINCIAL 
COUNTERPARTS WITH THE SUPERIOR 
COURTS AND COURTS OF APPEAL 
ACROSS CANADA.
WE EACH PARTICULAR JURISDICTION 
HAS TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE 
THAT A BASIC NUMBER OF ESSENTIAL
SERVICES WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM
ARE MAINTAINED THROUGH A VARIETY
OF MEANS.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE -- 
>> The Chair: WE WILL GO BACK TO
THE MEMBER NOW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MR. CHAIR, THE REGIONAL RELIEF 
AND RECOVERY FUND WAS ANNOUNCED 
WEEKS AGO AS WAY TO HELP SMALL- 
AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN 
RURAL COMMUNITIES, LIKE THOSE IN
MY RIDING.
IN ATLANTIC CANADA, THIS WAS TO 
BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE ATLANTIC 
CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT
WITH NO DETAILS FROM THIS 
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT.
CAN THE MINISTER CLARIFY, ARE WE
DAYS AWAY OR WEEKS AWAY FROM 
THIS SUPPORT FLOWING TO THE 
BUSINESSES THAT NEED IT SO 
DESPERATELY?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH 
MANY OF THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
AND BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGHOUT 
ATLANTIC CANADA, AND WE HEAR 
THEIR ANXIETY.
THAT'S WHY ACOA IS DOING GREAT 
WORK ON THE GROUND TO MAKE SURE 
THAT WE CAN HELP THEM THROUGH 
THIS VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD.
NOW THE MEMBER IS RIGHT, WE HAVE
INCREASED THE BUDGET OF ACOA, 
GOOD NEWS, AND I WILL BE COMING 
UP WITH THE DETAILS VERY SOON, 
AND IT WILL BE A PLEASURE TO 
COLLABORATE WITH HIM TO MAKE 
SURE THAT WE CAN HELP MANY 
BUSINESS AND BUSINESS OWNERS 
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC REGION.
>> The Chair: MR. MOORE?
>> MR. CHAIR, MY OFFICE HAS -- 
HAD MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS 
THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME, AND
I KNOW HAVE REACHED OUT TO MANY 
OF MY COLLEAGUES AND PROBABLY 
ALL OF US HERE TODAY WHO ARE 
FRUSTRATED BY THE ELIGIBILITY 
REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME OF THE 
FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
IN PARTICULAR, THEY ARE UNABLE 
TO ACCESS THE EMERGENCY BUSINESS
ACCOUNT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE
A PAYROLL, AND THIS COULD BE 
LIKE THE HAIR SALON IN MY RIDING
WHO SUBCONTRACTS OUT THEIR 
CHAIRS.
THERE'S HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS 
OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS VERY
SITUATION, VITAL SMALL 
BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, 
BUT THEY DO NOT MEET THIS 
REQUIREMENT.
THESE BUSINESSES, MANY OF THEM 
ARE WEEKS AWAY FROM SHUTTING 
DOWN PERMANENTLY.
WHAT DOES THE MINISTER OF 
FINANCE HAVE TO SAY TO THESE 
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE 
SUFFERING RIGHT NOW?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO THANK 
MY HONOURABLE COLLEAGUE FOR THAT
REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION, AND I
WANT ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT HE 
IS TALKING ABOUT AND ALL OF THEM
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO KNOW 
THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK VERY, 
VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU 
ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH THIS 
DIFFICULT PERIOD.
SO MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE, 
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT 
WORK.
WE KNOW THAT BUSINESSES ARE 
BEING SUPPORTED THROUGH GETTING 
ACCESS TO THE WAGE SUBSIDY TO 
KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES TOGETHER, 
AND THEY ARE GETTING HELP, 
WHETHER IT'S RENT OR WHETHER 
IT'S HELPING DEFRAY COSTS BY 
KEEPING THEIR COSTS LOW BY 
DEFERRING PAYMENTS, GST 
PAYMENTS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES.
>> The Chair: MR. MOORE, A BRIEF
QUESTION, I HOPE.
LESS THAN 20 SECONDS, PLEASE.
>> MR. CHAIR, IT'S A VERY 
SPECIFIC ISSUE.
IT'S SMALL BUSINESSES, THOUSANDS
OF THEM, THAT DO NOT HAVE A 
PAYROLL OR SOME WHO HAVE A 
PERSONAL ACCOUNT RATHER THAN A 
BUSINESS ACCOUNT THAT THEY HAVE 
DEALT WITH OVER THE YEARS, AND 
THAT MAKES THEM INELIGIBLE.
THESE BUSINESSES NEED HELP RIGHT
NOW.
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER, IN 20 SECONDS OR LESS,
PLEASE. 
>> I AGREE WITH THE HONOURABLE 
MEMBER.
THOSE BUSINESSES ABSOLUTELY NEED
THE SUPPORT FROM US.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING TO 
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED.
>> The Chair: WE'LL GO TO 
MR. CUMMINGS NEXT.
>> MR. SPEAKER, SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY 
TO SURVIVE AND NO AMOUNT OF 
LOANS OR SUBSIDIES CAN 
SUBSTITUTE THE NEED TO BE OPEN 
AND SERVING THEIR CUSTOMERS.
CAN THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRM THAT 
A SECTORAL RISK ANALYSIS HAS 
TAKEN PLACE TO ASSIST THE 
PROVINCES IN REOPENING THE 
ECONOMY?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, I CAN ASSURE THE
MEMBER THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY 
CLEAR IN TERMS OF OUR STRATEGY 
AROUND REOPENING THE ECONOMY, 
THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT 
WE FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THE 
EXPERTS AND THE HEALTH 
AUTHORITIES TO DO TO IN A MANNER
THAT DOES NOT COMPROMISE THE 
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF 
CANADIANS.
WE OF COURSE WILL HAVE A 
SECTORAL LENS, AND AS YOU CAN 
SEE BY SOME OF THE INITIATIVES 
AND THE SUPPORT PACKAGES THAT WE
HAVE PUT FORWARD -- 
>> The Chair: WE WILL GO BACK TO
MR. CUMMINGS NOW.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THOUSANDS OF 
BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE A LIVING 
AND THEY UTILIZE DIVIDENDS AS 
THEIR SALARY.
THEY ALSO USE INDEPENDENT 
CONTRACTORS.
CAN THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRM THE 
CURRENT PROGRAMS IN PLACE WILL 
BE EXPANDED FOR THESE 
HARD-WORKING CANADIANS.
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO ASSURE
THE HONOURABLE MEMBER THAT WE 
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND I WANT TO 
THANK HIM FOR RAISING THIS VERY 
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND I WANT TO ASSURE OUR 
CANADIAN SMALL BUSINESSES THAT 
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO 
THIS WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU 
ARE SUPPORTED.
>> The Chair: MR. CUMMINGS. 
>> CAN THE MINISTER GIVE ME A 
DATE TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE TO 
THESE BUSINESSES THAT THEY WILL 
BE ELIGIBLE?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER. 
>> I WANT TO ASSURE OUR CANADIAN
SMALL BUSINESSES HOW IMPORTANT 
THEY ARE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS 
THAT THEY MAKE TO ALL OF OUR 
COMMUNITIES AND KNOW THAT WE 
CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND WE WILL 
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED 
AND CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED -- 
>> The Chair: MR. CUMMINGS. 
>> MINISTER, THEY NEED MORE THAN
ASSURANCE.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A DATE WHEN I 
CAN TELL THESE THOUSANDS OF 
BUSINESSES THAT THEY WILL BE 
SUPPORTED IF THEY PAY DIVIDENDS 
OR IF THEY USE CONTRACTORS 
WITHIN THEIR BUSINESS?
>> The Chair: THE HONOURABLE 
MINISTER.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THESE BUSINESSES
ARE ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, AND 
THEY ARE GETTING SUPPORT THROUGH
A RANGE OF MEANS, AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THESE 
BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT 
THEY CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED 
THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD.
>> The Chair: MR. CUMMINGS.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, WE'RE GOING 
TO PULL AWAY FROM THE COVID-19 
VIRTUAL COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE ABOUT 300 
PARLIAMENTARIANS THERE ASKING 
SOME QUESTIONS, INITIALLY OF THE
PRIME MINISTER, BUT THEN OF 
OTHER MINISTERS.
I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, THE
HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS", 
VASSY KAPELOS AND THE CBC'S 
CATHERINE CULLEN BOTH WITH ME 
HERE IN OTTAWA.
WE'LL END ON THAT LAST POINT 
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN 
THINKING ABOUT THAT A LOT TOO, 
VASSY, THE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE 
DIVIDENDS OR CONTRACT WORK OUT.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO 
DO WORK FOR YOUR BUSINESS BUT 
THEY ARE NOT YOUR EMPLOYEES, 
THESE ARE STILL PROBLEMS WITHIN 
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE,
AND IT DIDN'T SOUND TO ME LIKE 
THE MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS 
HAD MUCH TO OFFER THERE.
>> Vassy: YEAH, AND THOSE HAVE 
BEEN PERSISTENT QUESTIONS RIGHT 
FROM THE START OF THIS WHEN THE 
GOVERNMENT FIRST ANNOUNCED WHAT 
KIND OF FINANCIAL AID THEY WOULD
BE OFFERING BUSINESSES, SO THESE
BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR CAN'T 
QUALIFY FOR THE EMERGENCY LOAN.
THEY CAN'T QUALIFY FOR THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN 
CONTINUALLY ASKING, IS THERE 
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR US, AND 
THE MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS, 
MARY NG THERE, HAS TALKED IN THE
PAST, AND OTHERS MINISTERS HAVE 
REFERRED THEM TO, FOR EXAMPLE, 
ACCESS TO CERB.
SO THEY WILL GET $2,000 A MONTH.
BUT WHILE THAT MAY HELP IN THEIR
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT 
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR 
BUSINESS.
IT DOESN'T HELP THEM, FOR 
EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY HAVE TO PAY 
RENT.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN HEARING A 
LOT FROM THEM FOR I WOULD SAY 
ALMOST SIX WEEKS NOW.
THERE WAS NO CLEAR ANSWER THERE 
FROM THE MINISTER ON WHAT CAN BE
EXPECTED.
MELANIE JOLY AT ONE POINT A 
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TOLD ME THAT
THE SORT OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES, WHICH SHE MENTIONED 
WOULD BE SEEING AN INCREASE IN 
BUDGETS, COULD BE THE PLACE FOR 
THEM TO GO.
BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE NO 
SPECIFICS ON THAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO FLAG, 
AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING 
YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING AS WELL, 
IS AROUND MUNICIPALITIES.
SO MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TALKED 
FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS NOW ABOUT 
THE HIT THEY ARE TAKING.
THEY OBVIOUSLY -- THEIR TAX 
BASE, THEIR MEANS OF REVENUE HAS
BEEN SEVERELY CONTRADICTED.
THEY ARE ALL -- CONSTRICTED.
ALL THE CITIES, BIG AND SMALL, 
ARE FACING HUGE BUDGETARY 
SHORTFALLS.
THEY CAN'T RUN DEFICITS BY LAW, 
99.9% OF THEM.
THEY ARE ASKING FOR A $10 
BILLION EMERGENCY FUND FROM THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE PRIME MINISTER GOT A NUMBER 
OF QUESTIONS ON THAT, AND 
SPECIFICALLY AROUND TRANSIT AS 
WELL.
THE ESTIMATION FROM THE CANADIAN
MUNICIPALITIES IS PUBLIC TRANSIT
IS LOSING $400 MILLION A MONTH I
BELIEVE IS THE ESTIMATE.
NO CLEAR ANSWERS FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER IF THERE WOULD BE HELP 
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR 
THAT.
PROVINCES SO FAR HAVE -- 
OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE JURISDICTION
OVER MUNICIPALITIES, BUT AS THE 
MP WHO WAS ASKING QUESTIONS OF 
THE PRIME MINISTER POINTED OUT, 
PROVINCES ARE IN A BIND RIGHT 
NOW AS WELL.
SO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE I GUESS AS
WE MOVE AHEAD IF IN FACT THERE 
WON'T BE ANY HELP FROM THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THAT 
WERE THE CASE BECAUSE MAYORS 
HAVE BEEN TELLING US THAT THEIR 
CONVERSATIONS WITH DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER CHRYSTIA FREELAND HAVE 
SO FAR BEEN ENCOURAGING, BUT 
THEY HAVE ASKED FOR A HUGE CHUNK
OF CHANGE.
THEY WILL EVENTUALLY AT THE END 
OF THE YEAR HIT A WALL WHEN IT 
COMES TO THEIR BUDGETARY 
DEFICITS, AND TRANSIT WILL BE A 
BIG ISSUE AS ECONOMIES REOPEN.
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO GET TO THEIR
JOBS ESPECIALLY IN LARGER 
CENTRES VIA THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT.
NO CLEAR ANSWERS FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT ON THAT EITHER. 
>> Rosemary: YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS
A JURISDICTIONAL ISSUE, AND 
THAT'S WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
KEPT SAYING IN HIS ANSWERS.
THERE IS THE GAS TAX FUND WHICH 
ALLOWS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
FUNNEL MONEY TO MUNICIPALITIES 
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS 
LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S NOT AS THOUGH IT 
COULDN'T BE DONE.
IT'S JUST WHEN YOU DO IT, HOW 
MUCH YOU DO IT AND HOW THAT 
WOULD ACTUALLY WORK.
CATHERINE, ANYTHING STOOD OUT 
FOR YOU THERE?
>> YEAH, WELL, PICKING UP ON 
THAT POINT, I THOUGHT IT WAS 
INTERESTING SEEING PERHAPS TO 
SOME EXTENT GIVEN HOW LOCAL B.C.
AND JOHN HORGAN HAVE BEEN ABOUT 
THIS ISSUE.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A SURPRISE 
TO SEE AN NDP MP FROM B.C. 
RAISING THIS QUESTION, BUT IT 
WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO SEE THE 
CONSERVATIVES CHIMING IN.
MR. BERTHOLD SAYING HE HAD 
QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR 
CATHERINE McKENNA AROUND 
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSIT.
INTERESTING TO SEE THE PUSH 
ACROSS PARTY LINES THERE.
I THOUGHT THE MOST INTERESTING 
EXCHANGE WAS THE ONE BETWEEN ED 
FAST AND THE MINISTER ABOUT 
TAIWAN.
MAYBE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY AN 
ISSUE THAT'S ON THE MINDS OF ALL
CANADIANS, BUT MR. FAST REALLY 
PUSHING THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
MINISTER THERE, SAYING CAN'T YOU
JUST SAY THANK YOU TO TAIWAN FOR
THESE MASKS.
WE SAW -- IT WAS CLEAR THE 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER DID NOT
WANT TO SAY THE WORD "TAIWAN" IN
THE FIRST FEW ANSWERS.
OBVIOUSLY CANADA IS IN A BIT OF 
A SENSITIVE SITUATION HERE, EVEN
BEFORE THIS OUTBREAK.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TENSION WITH 
CANADA AND CHINA RELATING TO THE
DETENTION OF MENG WANZHOU AND 
NOW OF COURSE THESE TWO 
CANADIANS, THE MICHAELS, WHO ARE
STILL LANGUISHING IN CHINA, BUT 
ALSO NOW AN ADDED LAYER OF 
CANADA'S DEPENDENCE ON CHINA TO 
GET PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT.
SO A VERY POLITICALLY SENSITIVE 
SITUATION, AND THE CONSERVATIVES
REALLY SORT OF POKING AT THE 
MINISTER THERE, TRYING TO DRAW 
HIM OUT ON THIS ISSUE.
>> Rosemary: OKAY, THANK YOU FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THAT TOO.
VASSY KAPELOS, CAN YOU SEE HER 
ON HER PROGRAM LATER TONIGHT AT 
5 EASTERN.
CATHERINE CULLEN WILL BE 
EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE YOU WANT
TO SEE HER.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR 
YOUR HELP WITH OUR COVERAGE.
APPRECIATE IT.
JUST REMIND YOU THAT THE PRIMARY
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER TODAY WAS REALLY ABOUT 
TRYING TO BOOST THE HELP, THE 
SALARIES, THE WAGES OF ESSENTIAL
WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY, $4 
BILLION TO TRY AND DO THAT 
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
AND THE PROVINCES.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME FROM 
PROVINCES.
WE WANT TO LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A 
SCENE THAT TOOK PLACE JUST A 
LITTLE BIT AGO IN QUEBEC CITY.
THAT'S THE SNOWBIRDS TAKING OFF 
A SHORT TIME AGO.
THEY ARE CONTINUING THEIR TOUR 
OF CANADA TO HONOUR FRONT-LINE 
WORKERS AND GIVE US MAYBE A MOST
NEEDED BOOST AS WELL.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
COVERAGE CONTINUES HERE ON "CBC 
NEWS NETWORK" WITH ANDREW 
NICHOLS.
♪
