G
ON THE CBC NEWS APP AND AROUND 
THE WORLD ON cbcnews.ca.
CANADA HAS HIT A MILESTONE IN 
THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES, 
MORE THAN 10,000 NOW.
WE ARE EXPECTED TO HEAR MORE 
ABOUT THAT IN THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S BRIEFING OUTSIDE HIS 
HOME AT RIDEAU COTTAGE.
WE WILL BE HAVING UPDATES FROM 
OFFICIALS AND HEALTH AUTHORITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE KNOW THAT CANADA'S PREMIERS 
AND THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE 
SPEAKING LATER TODAY, WE HEAR 
ABOUT 5:00 EASTERN, ABOUT THE 
SITUATION IN THEIR PROVINCES AND
WHETHER EACH PROVINCE HAS ENOUGH
SUPPLIES.
WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT AS 
THE DAY GOES ON.
MORE THAN 10,000 CASES OF 
COVID-19.
1,800 CANADIANS NOW RECOVERED 
FROM THE VIRUS.
WE KNOW OF COURSE THAT THESE 
NUMBERS ARE NOT UP-TO-DATE BY 
THE MINUTE AND THEY DON'T REALLY
PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT IS 
HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THE 
PANDEMIC INSIDE OUR COUNTRY.
THE BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS LIKE THE 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES, 
PARTICULARLY THE ONE EVERYONE IS
WATCHING IN BOBCAYGEON THAT HAVE
BEEN HIT HARD, BUT ALSO 
COMMUNITY SPREAD WHICH NOW 
ACCOUNTS FOR 67% OF NEW CASES.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER, MY COLLEAGUES "POWER &
POLITICS" HOST VASSY KAPELOS AND
CATHARINE CULLEN JOINING ME 
TODAY.
THAT IS A STARK AND MAYBE 
WORRISOME NUMBER FOR PEOPLE, 
MORE THAN 10,000 CASES.
OBVIOUSLY NOT EVERYONE HAS BEEN 
HOSPITALIZED AND NOT ALL OF THEM
ARE IN TERMS OF INTENSIVE CARE.
WE KNOW THAT THE FATALITY RATE 
IS ABOUT 1% OR SO AT LEAST IN 
TERMS OF THE REPORTED DEATHS 
THAT WE KNOW ABOUT.
AND THE GENERAL CONSENSUS FROM 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SEEMS TO
BE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM STILL 
HAS THE CAPACITY FOR THIS.
BUT MORE TESTING IS BEING DONE 
AND PREPARATIONS FOR BEING MADE 
FOR WHAT I THINK IS FAIR TO SAY,
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER 
CERTAINLY SAID IT YESTERDAY, THE
FACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO GET 
WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.
WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING TO HEAR 
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY, 
VASSY?
>> Vassy: YEAH, I THINK A LOT 
OFFING -- MESSAGING THAT YOU 
JUST LAID OUT.
WE GOT NEW DETAILS FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER AND THE FINANCE 
MINISTER WHERE THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
IS CONCERNED.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
QUESTIONING WHAT DO I QUALIFY 
FOR AND HOW DO I QUALIFY.
THOSE DETAILS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.
TODAY IS MORE FOCUSED 
PARTICULARLY ON MESSAGING AROUND
HEEDING THE WARNINGS THAT WE 
KEEP TALKING ABOUT AND HEARING 
FROM VARIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS, MINDING THE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING, STAYING INSIDE AS 
LONG AS YOU CAN, ONLY GOING TO 
THE GROCERY STORE.
THERE IS A LOT OF ANTICIPATION 
RIGHT NOW FOCUSED ON WHETHER OR 
NOT THOSE MEASURES ARE BEGINNING
TO WORK, ARE WE STARTING TO SEE 
SIGNS OF THAT.
IT DOES DEPEND ON THE PROVINCE 
THAT YOU'RE IN.
I THINK THE CALL WITH THE 
PREMIERS WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
EXPECT TO HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT 
THAT AND THE WORKING 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROVINCES 
RIGHT NOW.
WHEN YOU TALK, FOR EXAMPLE, 
ABOUT THE LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS 
THAT THE HOSPITALS IN THIS 
COUNTRY HAVE, IT DOES VARY 
PROVINCE TO PROVINCE AND SO DOES
THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE OF THIS
OR THE I.C.U. CAPACITY.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DATA 
NECESSARILY FROM EACH PROVINCE 
WHERE THOSE THINGS ARE 
CONCERNED.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FRANÇOIS 
LEGAULT, THE PREMIER OF QUÉBEC, 
LAYING OUT THAT HE ONLY THINKS 
HE HAS THREE TO SEVEN DAYS OF 
SUPPLIES.
AND AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEIR 
EMERGENCY STOCKPILE IS NOT 
ENOUGH.
I HEARD JASON KENNEY SAY THAT 
THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND QUÉBEC ARE 
WORRIED ABOUT IT.
THAT COORDINATION, THE 
DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE SUPPLIES, 
AND EVEN THE ACQUISITION OF THEM
ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER I THINK WILL GET FROM 
REPORTERS BUT ALSO FROM PREMIERS
LATER TODAY. 
>> Rosemary: I THINK THAT'S A 
GOOD POINT.
I WILL BRING YOU IN ON THAT, 
CATHARINE.
QUÉBEC ACCOUNTS FOR HALF OF THE 
COUNTRY'S COVID-19 CASES.
THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT 
BECAUSE SPRING BREAK HAPPENED 
BEFORE AND BECAUSE TESTING HAS 
INCREASED.
WE SEE IN QUÉBEC MUCH MORE 
EXTREME MEASURES TO TRY TO MAKE 
SURE THAT NOTHING FURTHER 
HAPPENS.
THIS MOVE TO SHUT DOWN THE 
CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC BETWEEN 
OTTAWA AND GATINEAU.
BUT THE CONCERN AROUND PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SEEMS REAL 
ON THE FRONTLINES AND IS REAL IN
QUÉBEC.
VASSY IS RIGHT, IT DOES DEPEND 
WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO.
I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF 
DOCTORS AND NURSES DURING THESE 
SPECIALS AND THE VAST MAJORITY 
FEEL PRETTY WELL EQUIPPED.
IT IS HOSPITAL DEPENDANT AND 
REGION DEPENDANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ANOTHER STRIKING STATISTIC, MORE
THAN 500 LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES IN THAT PROVINCE HAVE
AT LEAST ONE REPORTED CASE OF 
COVID-19.
SO QUÉBEC STRUGGLING ON A NUMBER
OF FRONTS.
PUTTING IN CHECK-POINTS IN 
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PROVINCE,
TRYING TO RESTRICT MOVEMENT 
WITHIN PARTS OF THE PROVINCE AS 
THEY DEAL WITH WHAT IS A GROWING
OUTBREAK.
CERTAINLY WE CAN EXPECT THAT TO 
BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION WITH
THE PREMIERS LATER TODAY.
THE QUESTION OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS A MAJOR 
ONE.
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCING IT 
WILL SPEND UP TO $2 BILLION TO 
PROCURE THIS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT, BUT THE QUESTIONS ARE
PRESSING.
OUR COLLEAGUES ON RADIO-CANADA 
HAVE A QUESTION TALKING ABOUT 
WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE WAY IT'S
DESCRIBED THERE CERTAINLY 
SOMETHING OF A WAR 
INTERNATIONALLY, TALKING ABOUT 
EQUIPMENT ACTUALLY BEING BOUGHT 
OFF OF AIRPORT RUNWAYS 
ESSENTIALLY.
IT'S HEADED TO ONE COUNTRY AND 
ANOTHER COUNTRY TRIES TO BUY IT 
UP.
THERE IS A COMPETITIVENESS OUT 
THERE.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS IN 
CANADA TRYING TO OFFER 
ASSURANCES, BUT THE COMPETITION 
AND THAT EFFORT IS AN ONGOING 
ONE.
>> Rosemary: WE DID HEAR FROM 
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, 
CHRYSTIA FREELAND, THAT QUÉBEC 
IS GOING TO GET SOME MORE 
EQUIPMENT.
IT IS SOMETHING THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS HEARING, BUT IT IS
AN ONGOING CHALLENGE AROUND THE 
WORLD AND IN THIS COUNTRY.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER TO EMERGE THERE FROM 
HIS HOME, I WANT TO GO TO MONA 
NIMER IN OTTAWA, THE CHIEF 
SCIENCE ADVISER IN CANADA, TO 
TALK ABOUT THE TESTING AND DATA 
PARTS THAT WE AS LAYPEOPLE TRY 
TO UNDERSTAND.
MAYBE I CAN ASK YOU TO START 
WITH HOW YOU THINK WE MIGHT BE 
DOING IN CANADA.
THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF 
QUESTIONS TO FEDERAL OFFICIALS 
AROUND THE DATA AND TRYING TO 
UNDERSTAND THE DATA.
IF YOU WERE TO GIVE US AN 
EXAMPLE OR COMPARISON TO ANOTHER
COUNTRY, SOUTH KOREA, ITALY, 
WHERE WOULD YOU SAY WE'RE GOING 
IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS?
>> Interview: GOOD MORNING.
I HOPE WE'RE GOING MORE TOWARDS 
SOUTH KOREA THAN ITALY, ALTHOUGH
ITALY IS RAMPING UP ITS TESTING 
AND DATA SHARING.
WHAT YOU WANT IS TO BE SET UP 
ACTUALLY TO DO IT BEFORE YOU HIT
THE PEAK OF THE EPIDEMIC BECAUSE
THIS IS WHEN YOUR FRONTLINE 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE SWAMPED 
WITH CARE AND DATA BECOMES A 
SORT OF SECONDARY ISSUE FOR 
THEM.
SO I THINK WE'VE PUT THINGS IN 
PLACE NOW AND WE HAVE MORE DATA 
THAT'S COMING FROM THE PROVINCES
FROM THE NATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY 
LAB AS WELL.
LET'S HOPE WE'RE HEADING IN 
BETTER POSITION IN TERMS OF 
DATA.
WE'RE CALLING FOR MORE TESTING.
I'M PLEASED IN A WE'RE HAVING 
MORE TESTING DONE.
SO THE NUMBERS SHOULD NOT 
NECESSARILY SCARE US, BUT THEY 
REFLECT THE FACT THAT WE'RE 
DOING MORE TESTING.
>> Rosemary: MORE THAN 250,000 
TESTS COMPLETED WHEN WE GOT THE 
LAST UPDATE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS.
PROBABLY HIGHER NOW.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE 
GOING TO HIT THE PEAK AND 
DR. TAM TALKED ABOUT THAT AND 
HOW HARD IT IS TO DETERMINE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE FROM THE 
DATA YOU'VE SEEN ABOUT WHEN WE 
MIGHT HIT THE PEAK?
>> Interview: IT IS DIFFICULT TO
SAY WHEN WE HIT THE PEAK AND THE
PEAK MAY HIT AT DIFFERENT TIMES 
IN DIFFERENT PROVINCES.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME 
TIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I THINK CHINESE NUMBERS ARE 
TELLING US WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS
THAT IN THE COMING WEEK OR TWO, 
BUT AGAIN IT CAN VARY GREATLY 
BETWEEN ONE PROVINCE AND ANOTHER
IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR THAT 
MATTER IN ONE AREA OF A PROVINCE
TO ANOTHER.
>> Rosemary: IS THERE A PROVINCE
RIGHT NOW THAT IS PARTICULARLY 
TROUBLING FOR YOU?
I POINT TO ONTARIO BECAUSE IT 
DUST SEEM LIKE THERE IS A REAL 
LAG IN THE DATA OR A LACK OF 
DATA.
WOULD THAT BE OF CONCERN TO YOU 
OR IS THERE ANOTHER PLACE THAT 
IS WORRYING?
>> Interview: WELL, BASED ON 
WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND THE NUMBER
OF TESTS, I HAVE TO SAY I AM A 
LITTLE BIT PREOCCUPIED BY THE 
SITUATION IN ONTARIO BECAUSE WE 
SHOULD BE DOING MORE TESTING IN 
ONTARIO.
I HOPE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE 
ABLE TO RAMP THIS UP.
I KNOW THEY'VE DECENTRALIZED THE
TESTING TOWARDS THE ACADEMIC 
HOSPITALS AS WELL AND OTHER 
ACADEMIC LABS ARE STEPPING IN AS
WELL.
SO I'M PREOCCUPIED BY THE LOWER 
NUMBER OF TESTS THAT WE'RE 
SEEING IN ONTARIO.
>> Rosemary: WHAT WOULD BE THE 
KEY THING FOR CANADIANS TO KEEP 
OUR EYES ON?
DR. TAM AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
HAVE BOTH SIGNALLED THAT THIS 
WEEK, THE NEXT SEVEN TO 10 DAYS 
OR SO, IS REALLY CRITICAL TO 
SEEING WHETHER THE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING IS WORKING.
WHAT ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR EYES 
ON OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO?
>> Interview: I THINK FOR SURE 
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TESTS 
THAT -- OF CASES THAT ARE 
RECORDED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY 
THAN THIS IS THE NUMBER OF 
HOSPITALIZATION.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE 
CAREFUL NOT TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS 
BASED ON ONE DAY OR TWO.
WE REALLY NEED TO SEE A TREND 
AND A TREND IS SEVERAL DAYS, NOT
JUST ONE OR TWO DAYS.
>> Rosemary: WHAT WOULD THE 
PERCENTAGE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS 
TELL YOU RIGHT NOW?
>> Interview: WELL, GIVEN THAT 
THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATION --
FIRST OF ALL, LET'S REMEMBER 
THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE 
HOSPITALIZED, MOST OF THEM 
ACTUALLY RECOVER AND THERE'S 
ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE 
THAT WILL GO INTO MORE 
COMPLICATIONS AND ULTIMATELY 
PERHAPS DEATH.
NONETHELESS, THE NUMBER OF 
HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE TELLING US 
THE SEVERITY OF THE CASES.
THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO 
PERHAPS OVERLOAD THE HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEMS, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT. 
>> Rosemary: YOU HAD TALKED 
ABOUT PREVIOUSLY DOING MORE 
TESTING, PARTICULARLY TRYING TO 
START USING THE BLOOD TESTING 
MODEL, WHICH WOULD GIVE US A 
SENSE OF WHO HAS ALREADY 
CONTRACTED THE VIRUS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE GOVERNMENT
BROADEN THE TESTING CRITERIA AND
HOW QUICKLY SHOULD THAT BE 
HAPPENING?
>> Interview: YES, I THINK IT'S 
REALLY IMPORTANT TO APPRECIATE 
THAT THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF 
TESTS THAT ARE BEING CARRIED 
OUT.
MOSTLY RIGHT NOW ONE OF THEM.
THE OTHER ONE HOPEFULLY WE'LL 
START DOING IT AS WELL AT A 
LARGE SCALE.
THE FIRST ONE WHAT WE'RE DOING 
NOW, THE D.N.A. TEST, WHICH 
DETERMINES WHO PRESENTLY HAS THE
VIRUS.
THE BLOOD TEST DETERMINES WHO 
ACTUALLY WAS INFECTED AND 
EVIDENTLY RECOVERED.
TOGETHER THEY GIVE US A BETTER 
SENSE OF THE PERCENTAGE OF 
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED 
AND THE NUMBER WHO HAD 
RECOVERED.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS 
OF CALCULATING THE EXACT 
INFECTIVITY RATE, IF YOU WANT, 
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INFECTED BY 
ONE PERSON.
THE OTHER IS THE PERCENTAGE OF 
FATALITIES AND THE PERCENTAGE 
THAT ARE NEEDING 
HOSPITALIZATION.
AND LASTLY, EQUALLY IMPORTANT I 
THINK, ONCE WE GET OVER THE 
CRISIS -- AND I'M CONFIDENT WE 
WILL -- IS TO UNDERSTAND THE 
MEASURES THAT CAN BE PUT IN 
PLACE FOR RETURN TO NORMAL.
SO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
DEVELOPED IMMUNITY TO THIS IS 
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
IN FACT, IT'S IMPORTANT RIGHT 
NOW IN TERMS OF THE DEPLOYMENT 
OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND OTHER 
ESSENTIAL SERVICES INDIVIDUALS.
>> Rosemary: CAN I ASK YOU TO 
WEIGH IN ON THE MASK DEBATE.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME -- MAYBE 
CONFLICTING OR UNCLEAR ADVICE OF
WHETHER IT IS THE MOST USEFUL 
THING FOR PEOPLE NOT INFECTED TO
WEAR A SURGICAL MASK OR A 
HOMEMADE MASK.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THAT?
>> Interview: FIRST OF ALL, I 
HAVE TO SAY THAT RIGHT NOW THE 
MOST EFFECTIVE MEASURE IS SOCIAL
DISTANCING OR PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING AND CLEARLY WASHING 
YOUR HANDS.
WITHOUT GOING TO A LOT OF 
DETAILS ABOUT THE MASKS, OF 
COURSE THE MASKS ARE PROTECTIVE 
AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO HAVE 
THEM FOR THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
HOMEMADE MASKS ARE NOT AS 
EFFECTIVE.
SOMETIMES EVEN MASKS THAT ARE 
SURGICAL GRADE MASKS, IF YOU 
DON'T KNOW HOW TO WEAR THEM 
AND -- THERE ARE A NUMBER OF 
STUDIES THAT ACTUALLY SHOW THAT 
PEOPLE WHO ARE WEARING MASKS 
STILL TOUCH THEIR FACES AND THEY
TOUCH THEIR FACE SOMETIMES MORE 
OFTEN THAN OTHERS.
IT'S REALLY UNCERTAIN AND 
UNCLEAR WHETHER THE MASKS WOULD 
BE EFFECTIVE.
CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW PUTTING THE 
POPULATION OUT WITH MASKS IS NOT
RECOMMENDED, IS DEFINITELY NOT 
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF 
DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS.
>> Rosemary: I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 
30 SECONDS BEFORE THE PRIME 
MINISTER COMES OUT HIS FRONT 
DOOR.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ARE DOING
IN TERMS OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND 
TESTING.
DO YOU THINK WE ARE CLOSE TO 
FLATTENING THIS CURVE?
DO YOU THINK WE WILL BE 
SUCCESSFUL?
>> Interview: I THINK WE WILL BE
SUCCESSFUL.
AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON EVERY ONE 
OF US.
BUT CERTAINLY WE HAVE TAKEN THE 
MEASURES EARLIER THAN OTHER 
COUNTRIES.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE 
FLATTENING THE CURVE.
I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW FLAT
IS IT GOING TO BE AND THAT IS 
DEPENDANT ON ALL OF US.
>> Rosemary: MONA NEMER, CHIEF 
SCIENCE ADVISOR OF CANADA.
I APPRECIATE SPEAKING TO YOU AND
PICKING YOUR BRAIN ON THESE 
ISSUES.
>> Interview: THANKS AND THANKS 
TO THE MEDIA FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.
>> Rosemary: THANKS.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
AS WE STAND BY AND WAIT FOR THE 
PRIME MINISTER TO EMERGE FOR HIS
DAILY UPDATE TO CANADIANS ON THE
PANDEMIC, WE ARE EXPECTING, AS 
WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL SPEAK 
WITH PREMIERS LATER TODAY.
OF COURSE PREMIERS HAVE ALSO 
BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, WHO IS 
CHAIR OF THE COVID-19 COMMITTEE,
WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING 
THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES, BOTH 
FROM CONTAINING THIS ON A PUBLIC
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, WHETHER OR 
NOT THERE IS ENOUGH EQUIPMENT IN
CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, 
WHAT MORE IS NEEDED, BUT ALSO 
ECONOMICALLY, WHICH IS THE OTHER
HUGE CHALLENGE FROM THIS 
PANDEMIC WHICH WILL GO ON AFTER 
THIS IS OVER, BUT WHAT ARE THE 
MESSAGES WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM
THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS 
COLLEAGUES IS REALLY THIS IS NOT
THE TIME TO LET UP ON THAT 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING, THAT THAT 
IS STILL SO VITAL TO MAKING SURE
THAT WE EMERGE FROM THIS FASTER 
AND HEALTHIER.
HERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE LAST FEW 
WEEKS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR A 
GREAT MANY PEOPLE.
YOU WERE WONDERING HOW YOU COULD
WORK FROM HOME AND HOW YOU WERE 
GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY YOUR 
BILLS AFTER LOSING YOUR JOB.
THAT CAN BE TOUGH TO STAY 
POSITIVE AND IT'S NORMAL FOR YOU
TO BE FRUSTRATED, BUT IF YOU ARE
GOING THROUGH A PARTICULARLY 
DARK PERIOD, ASK FOR HELP.
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO 
CAN HELP YOU.  IF YOU THINK THAT
A FRIEND OR A MEMBER OF THE 
FAMILY NEEDS HELP, GIVE HIM A 
QUICK CALL.
TELL HIM THAT YOU ARE THERE TO 
LISTEN.
WE ARE GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT
TIME NOW, BUT WE'RE GOING 
THROUGH THIS TOGETHER AND HELP 
IS COMING.
[End of Translation] THIS 
EVENING I'LL BE CHAIRING A FIRST
MINISTERS MEETING WITH THE 
PREMIERS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE
CAN WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP PEOPLE
SAFE AND SUPPORTED.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN THE 
FACE OF AN UNPRECEDENTED 
CHALLENGE, WE'VE SEEN ALL LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT COOPERATING ON A 
RESPONSE AND GOING FORWARD THAT 
COLLABORATION WILL BECOME EVEN 
MORE IMPORTANT.
WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES WITH 
WHATEVER THEY NEED.
THIS INCLUDES SENDING PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND OTHER 
SUPPORTS FOR THE HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEM.
LAST NIGHT WE RECEIVED A 
SHIPMENT OF OVER 1 MILLION MASKS
TO A HAMILTON WAREHOUSE.
I KNOW PEOPLE THERE HAVE BEEN 
WORKING OVERNIGHT TO VALIDATE 
THESE SUPPLIES.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE 10 
MILLION MASKS THAT HAVE COME IN 
OVER THE LAST DAYS AND ARE BEING
DISTRIBUTED TO THE PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
THIS TEAM CANADA EFFORT GOES 
BEYOND GOVERNMENT.
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WE LAUNCHED 
CANADA'S PLAN TO MOBILIZE 
INDUSTRY TO FIGHT COVID-19.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE SPOKEN TO 
ALMOST 3,000 COMPANIES, HELPING 
US SECURE MILLIONS OF PIECES OF 
VITAL EQUIPMENT.
I WANT TO SHARE A 
QUINTESSENTIALLY CANADIAN 
EXAMPLE OF THIS COLLABORATION.
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED 
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FACE 
SHIELD FROM BAUER, THE PEOPLE 
WHO MAKE HOCKEY GEAR.
THEY'RE CREATING SHIELDS TO 
PROTECT NURSES AND DOCTORS 
AGAINST COVID-19.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF 
INNOVATIVE, COLLABORATIVE 
THINKING WE NEED RIGHT NOW, AND 
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE 
OF IT IN THE COMING DAYS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] TONIGHT THE 
PREMIERS AND I WILL TALK ABOUT 
THE COORDINATION OF OUR EFFORTS 
AND DATA SHARING.
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO 
IDENTIFY WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES 
NEED RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE PROVINCES HAVE MADE 
CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS WHEN IT 
COMES TO QUICKLY ANALYZING THE 
SCREENING TESTS, WHICH M.P. 
MEANS THAT EXPERTS HAVE NEW DATA
THEY NEED TO LOOK AT.
[End of Translation] IN OUR 
CONVERSATION TONIGHT, THE 
PREMIERS AND I WILL DISCUSS OUR 
CONTINUED COORDINATION AND 
SHARING OF DATA MODELLING.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO KNOW
WHAT'S NEEDED WHERE AND WHEN FOR
COMMUNITIES RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
PROVINCES HAVE BEEN MAKING 
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON TESTING 
BACKLOGS WHICH IS GIVING EXPERTS
IMPORTANT DATA TO ANALYZE.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING AND 
VALIDATING MORE DATA.
THAT MEANS WE CAN SHARE MORE 
INFORMATION WITH YOU.
YOU CAN GO TO 
Canada.ca/coronavirus FOR THE 
LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT CASES, 
GROWTH, AND SPREAD.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL
WONDERING WHEN THIS WILL GET 
BETTER OR HOW MUCH WORSE IT 
MIGHT BECOME.
YOU WANT TO SEE THE NUMBERS AND 
THE PREDICTIONS.
YOU WANT TO WAKE UP IN THE 
MORNING AND LOOK ONLINE FOR THE 
LATEST, MORE CREDIBLE DATA YOU 
CAN FIND.
YOU WANT TO PLAN.
YOU WANT TO PREPARE FOR THE 
WORST.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO BE 
HOPEFUL ABOUT.
I KNOW AND WE'LL HAVE MORE 
INFORMATION KEEP COMING TO YOU 
WITH IT SOON.
BUT THE BIGGEST VARIABLE IN 
SHAPING THESE PROJECTIONS IS YOU
AND YOUR BEHAVIOUR.
YOU MUST LISTEN TO THE 
WORLD-CLASS DOCTORS WHO ARE 
ALREADY SHARING THE BEST 
AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND 
ADVICE.
IGNORING THEM PUTS LIVES AT 
RISK.
IT'S UP TO YOU TO DO THE RIGHT 
THING.
WHILE MANY OF YOU ARE STAYING 
HOME AND LIMITING TRIPS TO THE 
GROCERY STORE, TOO MANY STILL 
AREN'T.
WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE TELLING US 
IS THAT WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TODAY AND TOMORROW TO SET US
ON THE RIGHT PATH FOR NEXT WEEK 
AND NEXT MONTH.
IT TAKES TIME FOR THE EFFECTS OF
OUR ACTIONS TO BE FELT.
SO IF WE DON'T WANT OUR 
HOSPITALS TO BE OVERWHELMED IN 
THE COMING WEEKS, WE NEED TO 
MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES AND WE 
NEED TO MAKE THEM NOW.
OUR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS 
STRONG AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS ARE REMARKABLE.
THEY'RE FACING A THREAT.
IF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US STEPS 
UP NOW, WE CAN HELP THEM.
IF YOU LISTEN TO DOCTORS, IF YOU
STAY HOME, IF YOU STAY AWAY FROM
OTHER PEOPLE, WE WON'T OVERWHELM
OUR HOSPITALS.
WE WILL PROTECT OUR DOCTORS AND 
NURSES.
WE WILL PROTECT OUR FRIENDS AND 
NEIGHBOURS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE DISTANCING 
AND TIME TO FLATTEN THE CURVE, 
BUT THAT'S HOW WE'LL GET THROUGH
THIS.
SO LET'S SAVE LIVES TOGETHER BY 
STAYING APART.
WE WILL KEEP WORDING 
AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO GET YOU THE 
HELP YOU NEED TO DO JUST THAT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] TO PROTECT YOUR 
JOB, BUSINESSES, AND WAGE LOSS, 
WE HAVE A THREE-POINT PLAN THAT 
WILL HELP YOU UNTIL THINGS GET 
BETTER.
THANKS TO THE EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDY, WE ARE HELPING YOUR 
EMPLOYERS TO KEEP YOU ON THE 
PAYROLL.
WITH THE NEW GUARANTEED LOANS 
FOR ALL BUSINESSES, WE HAVE 
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO CAN NOW 
RECEIVE CREDIT IN ORDER TO COME 
THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES.
WITH THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
BENEFIT, WE WILL BE HELPING 
PEOPLE UNTIL THINGS GET BETTER, 
IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOB OR YOUR 
PAYCHEQUE.
[End of Translation] I WANT YOU 
TO KNOW WE'RE GIVING THIS FIGHT 
EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT.
YESTERDAY WE ANNOUNCED THE 
BIGGEST ECONOMIC MEASURES IN OUR
LIFETIME.
GOVERNMENTS OF ALL ORDERS ARE 
MOBILIZING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT 
MOBILIZATION SINCE WORLD WAR II.
DOCTORS AND NURSES, TRUCKERS AND
AIR CARGO OPERATORS ARE SCALING 
UP OPERATIONS TO LEVELS WE'VE 
NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR 
HISTORY.
BUT HERE IS THE TRUTH, NONE OF 
THAT WILL BE ENOUGH WITHOUT YOUR
HELP.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THE IDEA OF SERVING
ONE'S COUNTRY CHANGES FROM ONE 
GENERATION TO THE NEXT.
YOUR GRANDFATHER MAY HAVE GONE 
ABROAD TO FIGHT A WAR.
YOUR MOTHER MAY HAVE FOUGHT FOR 
MORE EQUALITY, BUT NOW IT'S YOUR
TURN.
IT'S YOUR TURN TO CONTRIBUTE TO 
THE GENERAL EFFORT.
YOU CAN SERVE YOUR COUNTRY BY 
STAYING HOME AND FOLLOWING THE 
RULES.
I KNOW THAT THAT MAY SEEM 
SIMPLISTIC, BUT IT'S THE ONLY 
WAY TO COME THROUGH THIS TRIAL.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS TO DO
HIS PART.
WE MUST ALL SACRIFICE OUR 
ROUTINE SO THAT LIFE WILL RETURN
TO NORMAL AT SOME POINT.
I KNOW THAT WE CAN AND THAT WE 
WILL TOGETHER.
>> [SPEAKING FRENCH]. 
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE 
SUPPLY CHAIN AND P.P.E.
WE'RE HEARING ALL SORTS OF 
STORIES ABOUT MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
BEING DIVERTED.
HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING TO THE 
AMERICANS ABOUT MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR CANADA 
AND THE NEED FOR THAT EQUIPMENT 
TO COME TO CANADA?
>> Answer: NOW, I WAS VERY, VERY
CONCERNED WHEN I READ THE REPORT
ABOUT MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BEING 
DIVERTED.
WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND WE
UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF 
PREMIER LEGAULT AND OTHERS IN 
THAT REGARD.
WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH 
MINISTERS BLAIR AND GARNEAU TO 
ENSURE THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED AND PARTICULARLY TO 
ENSURE THAT EQUIPMENT INTENDED 
FOR CANADA COMES TO CANADA.
[End of Translation] I'VE HEARD 
REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE, AND OF 
COURSE THEY'RE CONCERNING.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT 
EQUIPMENT THAT IS DESTINED FOR 
CANADA GETS TO AND STAYS IN 
CANADA.
I'VE ASKED MINISTERS TO FOLLOW 
UP ON THESE PARTICULAR REPORTS.
WE ARE WORKING NOT JUST HERE AT 
HOME, BUT OVERSEAS AS WELL TO 
ENSURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT CANADA
HAS ORDERED MAKES ITS WAY TO 
CANADA.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] AND WILL 
YOU OR HAVE YOU RAISED THIS 
ISSUE WITH THE U.S. 
ADMINISTRATION?
DID YOU GET ANY GUARANTEES OR 
HAVE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED SUCH 
GUARANTEES WITH THE U.S.?
>> Answer: WE ARE WORKING WITH 
THE AMERICANS AND WE ARE 
FOLLOWING UP ON THAT SPECIFIC 
ISSUE.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND WE 
UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEEDS IN THE
U.S. ARE VERY EXTENSIVE, BUT 
IT'S THE SAME IN CANADA.
SO WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO 
ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTROL THE 
SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE U.S. 
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
WITH THE U.S. TO ENSURE THAT WE 
HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED.
[End of Translation]. 
>> THE NEXT QUESTION, ALEX 
BAUMGAM, "TORONTO STAR."
>> Question: GOOD MORNING, PRIME
MINISTER.
YOU MENTIONED GETTING MORE 
INFORMATION ON THE NUMBERS AND 
PREDICTIONS SOON.
WHAT DOES "SOON" MEAN AND WHAT 
PREDICTIONS ARE YOU REFERRING 
TO?
>> Answer: I THINK FIRST OF ALL 
WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THERE HAS BEEN 
TREMENDOUS TRANSPARENCY ON THE 
RAW DATA, ON THE NUMBERS, ON THE
NUMBERS OF CASES WHERE THEY ARE,
AND WE'RE ADDING TO AND 
COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH THE 
PROVINCES ON MAKING SURE THOSE 
NUMBERS GET OUT THERE.
THE QUESTION OF ANALYSIS OF 
THOSE NUMBERS IS THE NEXT 
QUESTION.
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE 
MODEL IS, HOW LONG THEY'RE 
LIKELY TO BE IN THIS SITUATION, 
WHEN KIDS CAN SEE THEIR FRIENDS 
AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE 
THROUGH THIS PHASE AND GET BACK 
TO WORK.
THOSE ANALYZES DEPEND DIRECTLY 
ON CANADIANS' BEHAVIOURS.
THEY DEPEND ON WHETHER OR NOT 
PEOPLE FOLLOW THE RULES AROUND 
SOCIAL DISTANCING, AROUND 
STAYING 2 METRES APART, AROUND 
ISOLATION, ABOUT NOT GOING OUT 
FOR GROCERIES MORE THAN ONCE A 
WEEK IF YOU CAN.
THESE KINDS OF THINGS WILL HAVE 
A DIRECT IMPACT ON WHICH OF THE 
VARIOUS MODELS THAT ARE OUT 
THERE WILL BE THE ONE THAT WE 
TAKE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK 
ON THOSE ANALYZES AND CRUNCH THE
DATA AND NUMBERS, AND WE'RE 
GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE OPEN 
WITH CANADIANS ABOUT THOSE 
EXPECTATIONS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I UNDERSTAND THAT 
PEOPLE WANT MORE INFORMATION.
THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG WE'RE
GOING TO BE IN THIS SITUATION, 
WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
THEIR JOBS, AND WHEN THEY'RE 
GOING TO SEE THEIR FRIENDS, 
PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE 
OUT THERE.
BUT WE ARE SHARING THE DATA, IN 
OTHER WORDS, THE NUMBER OF CASES
THERE ARE, WHERE THE CASES ARE 
EACH DAY, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN 
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THROUGH THE THEY'RE ALSO 
INTERESTED IN THE ANALYSIS OF 
THAT DATA AND THE MODELLING THAT
MAY LET US KNOW HOW LONG THIS 
COULD LAST.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY THOSE MODELS 
DEPEND DIRECTLY ON THE BEHAVIOUR
OF CANADIAN CITIZENS TODAY, 
YESTERDAY, AND TOMORROW.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT 
THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US DOES
WHAT IS NECESSARY, FOLLOWS THE 
RULES, STAYS HOME, KEEPS A SAFE 
DISTANCE SO THAT WE CAN SUCCEED 
IN COMING THROUGH THIS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: YOU YOURSELF 
DESCRIBED SOME OF THE SCENARIOS 
AS FAIRLY DIRE.
WHY IS IT THAT YOU CAN'T RELEASE
THE PROJECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE 
NOW, THE RANGE OF SCENARIOS THAT
YOU TALKED ABOUT ABOUT THINGS 
WORKING TO BEING FAIRLY DIRE?
>> Answer: I THINK PEOPLE CAN 
IMAGINE A RANGE OF SCENARIOS 
THAT SHOWS EVERYONE GETS 
SUDDENLY BETTER IN THE NEXT FEW 
WEEKS TO THIS SITUATION JUST 
KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND WE FACE 
A SITUATION LIKE SOME OTHER 
COUNTRIES IN THE MOST DIRE 
SITUATIONS HAVE.
THERE IS A RANGE OUT AND THERE 
HIGHLIGHTING THAT RANGE IS NOT 
AS USEFUL OR IMPORTANT AS BEING 
ABLE TO GET CLEARER NUMBERS AND 
ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE ARE LIKELY 
TO FACE.
EVERYTHING WE ARE GOING TO FACE 
WILL BE DIRECTLY LINKED TO HOW 
PEOPLE BEHAVE TODAY AND THAT IS 
WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT 
PEOPLE STAY HOME, THAT THEY 
CONTINUE WITH THE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING, CONTINUE KEEPING 2 
METRES APART, CONTINUE TO LOOK 
TO MINIMIZE THEIR MOVEMENTS AS 
MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET 
THROUGH THIS IN THE BEST SHAPE 
POSSIBLE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I UNDERSTAND THAT 
PEOPLE MAY IMAGINE ALL THE 
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS COULD BE 
FROM NOT TOO SERIOUS TO VERY, 
VERY SERIOUS AS WE'VE SEEN IN 
OTHER COUNTRIES.
THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS TO
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE REALISTIC 
MODELLING AND THAT DEPENDS 
DIRECTLY ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF 
CANADIANS TODAY, WHETHER THEY 
CONTINUE TO SELF-ISOLATE AND 
MAINTAIN THE PROPER DISTANCE 
FROM OTHERS AND THEIR BEHAVIOUR 
IN GENERAL THESE DAYS.
ALL OF THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT 
ON WHAT WE SEE IN THE FUTURE.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] GOOD 
MORNING, PRIME MINISTER.
JUST ALONG THE SAME LINES, THOSE
MODELLING SCENARIOS, IS IT 
BECAUSE YOU'RE CONCERNED THE 
DATA WILL CAUSE ANGUISH AND 
PANIC?
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO 
KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.
IN OTHER COUNTRIES SUCH AS THE 
UNITED STATES, THEY ARE 
PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO 
CITIZENS.
>> Answer: WELL, I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET 
INFORMATION SO THEY CAN KNOW 
WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT AT THE SAME 
TIME THE IMPORTANT THING IS FOR 
PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEIR 
CHOICES AND THEIR BEHAVIOUR NOW 
HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON ANY 
MODEL WE END UP SEEING AND WHAT 
HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OF
SELF-ISOLATION.
AS I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN 
THIS POSITION FOR SEVERAL WEEKS 
AND PERHAPS SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT 
WE NEED TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE 
TO CANADIANS.
IN ORDER TO GIVE CLEAR 
INFORMATION TO CANADIANS, WE 
NEED TO ANALYZE THE DATA.
THE FACT IS WE ARE SHARING DATA,
THERE ARE MODELS OUT THERE THAT 
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT.
THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME IN 
THE DAYS AND WEEKS TO COME.
>> Question: YOUR HEALTH 
MINISTER SAID THAT THE 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS NOT IN A 
POSITION TO DEAL WITH A HUGE 
SURGE.
NOW, WHY IS IT THERE WASN'T 
ENOUGH P.P.E. IN THE NATIONAL 
STOCKPILE?
>> Answer: WELL, I THINK THAT 
MANY GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE 
WORLD ARE GOING TO BE REFLECTING
ON THAT VERY ISSUE ONCE WE COME 
THROUGH THIS AND WE WILL LEARN A
GREAT DEAL FROM THIS EXPERIENCE 
AND THIS CRISIS.
RIGHT NOW THE ESSENTIAL THING IS
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO 
DELIVER THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT 
TO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, THAT 
WE TRY AND FLATTEN THE CURVE AS 
MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE WILL
NOT END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE 
OUR HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE 
SYSTEM ARE OVERWHELMED AND WE NO
LONGER ARE ABLE TO CARE FOR 
PEOPLE WHO ARE SERIOUSLY 
AFFECTED BY COVID-19.
THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING WE'RE 
DOING RIGHT NOW IS AIMED AT 
PROTECTING PEOPLE.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: GOOD MORNING.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD 
EXPLAIN TO US IF YOU'RE NOT 
GOING TO TELL US WHAT THOSE 
ANALYZES SAY YET, CAN YOU TELL 
US WHAT METRICS ARE GOING INTO 
THAT ANALYSIS?
WHAT ARE THE KEY THINGS YOU'RE 
ASKING TO BE TOLD ABOUT THAT'S 
GUIDING YOUR DECISION-MAKING 
RIGHT NOW.
>> Answer: WE HAVE BEEN WORKING 
WITH THE PROVINCES TO MAKE SURE 
WE HAVE THE BEST-POSSIBLE DATA.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CLEARING
OF THE BACKLOG OF TESTING IN A 
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLACES OVER 
THE LAST DAYS THAT IS GIVING US 
MORE ACCURATE IMAGES ON HOW 
COVID-19 IS SPREADING, WHERE IT 
IS SPREADING AND HOW IT'S BEING 
TRANSMITTED AND HOW THE MEASURES
WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE ARE 
WORKING.
I'LL BE SPEAKING TONIGHT WITH 
THE PREMIERS ABOUT THIS DATA AND
ABOUT THE MODELLING AND ANALYSIS
THAT'S GOING ON.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO
SHARE MORE INFORMATION SOON.
>> Question: I'M ALSO WONDERING 
IF -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 
CANADIANS NOT STAYING HOME, THAT
SOME ARE, BUT THERE ARE STILL 
TOO MANY THAT ARE NOT.
DOES CANADA HAVE THE ABILITY AND
WOULD YOU CONSIDER ISSUING A 
MANDATORY STAY-AT-HOME ORDER?
>> Answer: THAT WOULD BE PART OF
THE EMERGENCY MEASURES ACT THAT 
COULD BE BROUGHT IN.
AT THIS POINT WE'VE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE PROVINCES THAT 
THEMSELVES HAVE MORE MEASURES 
AND ABILITIES TO PUT IN.
WE'VE SEEN CERTAIN PROVINCES 
BRINGING IN MORE AND MORE STIFF 
MEASURES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
THEM, AND THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY 
MEASURES ACT REALLY BECOMES 
NECESSARY ONCE PROVINCES HAVE 
EXISTED ALL THEIR SIGNIFICANT 
POWERS UNDER THE EMERGENCIES 
ACT.
WE'RE NOT QUITE YET AT THAT 
POINT.
>> Question: OTHER COUNTRIES 
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RELEASE 
DETAILED MODELLING.
FOR EXAMPLE, NEW ZEALAND IS 
PROJECTING A 65% INFECTION LATE 
FOR ITS POPULATION, A 1% 
FATALITY RATE AND A 20% FATALITY
RATE FOR THE MAORI PEOPLE.
I WONDER WHY YOU CAN'T RELEASE 
THE DATA IN YOUR POSSESSION NOW 
FOR CANADIANS TO PREPARE.
WHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM 
RELEASING THIS INFORMATION RIGHT
NOW?
>> Answer: ONE OF THE THINGS 
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT 
WITH THE PREMIERS IS HOW TO MAKE
SURE THAT ALL OUR VARIOUS 
SOURCES OF DATA ARE ALIGNED SO 
THAT WE CAN GET MORE ACCURATE 
MODELS, HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT 
THE ANALYSIS THAT COMPLIES TO 
THE DATA THAT'S BEING PUBLISHED 
DAILY SO CANADIANS CAN SEE IT 
REFLECTS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN 
IN CANADA AND IN VARIOUS REGIONS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHICH WILL BE
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAPPENS IN 
OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE 
WORLD.
THAT IS SOPHISTICATED MODELLING 
WORK THAT'S BEING WORKED ON 
RIGHT NOW THAT IS ONGOING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE 
WITH CANADIANS IN THE COMING 
DAYS.
>> Question: WHAT ARE YOUR 
GOVERNMENT'S PLANS FOR RETURNING
CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS FROM 
FLORIDA, HOW WILL THEY GET HOME?
WILL THEY BE QUARANTINED OR 
ALLOWED TO SELF-ISOLATE AT HOME?
>> Answer: ANYONE WHO RETURNS 
FROM OVERSEAS NEEDS TO BE 
QUARANTINED FOR 14 DAYS, NEEDS 
TO BE ISOLATED SO THEY DO NOT 
SPREAD COVID-19 IN THE 
POPULATION.
WE'VE RECEIVED MANY, MANY 
CANADIANS WHO HAVE RETURNED HOME
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THERE'S STILL A FEW MORE TO 
COME, BUT FAR LESS THAN HAVE 
COME.
THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
ISOLATING.
WE ASK PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THEY 
DON'T STOP IN THE GROCERY STORE 
ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM THE 
AIRPORT, THAT THEY GO STRAIGHT 
HOME, THAT THEY ISOLATE, THAT 
THEY UNDERSTAND THEY POSE A REAL
RISK NOT JUST TO THEIR 
NEIGHBOURS AND LOVED ONES, BUT 
TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND WILL 
ENSURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE 
ISOLATED. 
>> Question: RESPECTFULLY, THE 
QUESTION WAS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT 
THESE PASSENGERS FROM FLORIDA.
WILL THEY BE QUARANTINED OR 
ASKED TO GO HOME?
>> Answer: MY UNDERSTANDING IS 
THEY WILL BE FLOWN HOME ON A 
CHARTER FLIGHT, BUT WE'RE STILL 
LOOKING FOR THOSE DETAILS.
WE WILL ENSURE THAT THEY ARE 
ISOLATED WHEN THEY GET HOME.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE UNDERSTAND THAT 
THERE IS A CHARTER FLIGHT THAT 
WILL BE BRINGING THEM BACK TO 
CANADA AND OF COURSE THEY WILL 
BE ISOLATED WHEN THEY RETURN.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: JUST TO GO BACK ON 
THE MODELLING NUMBERS, THE DATA,
WHY NOT RELEASE THE NUMBERS NOW 
IF WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET 
CANADIANS TO UNDERSTAND THE 
DIFFERENCE THEIR BEHAVIOUR 
MAKES, GIVEN THE WARM WEATHER, 
GIVEN THAT PEOPLE WANT TO GO 
OUTSIDE, WHY NOT RELEASE THE 
NUMBERS NOW SO THEY UNDERSTAND 
HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THEIR 
BEHAVIOUR WILL MAKE.
>> Answer: WE HAVE RELEASED THE 
NUMBERS.
WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE 
PROVINCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 
DATA IS CONSISTENT RIGHT ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
THAT IS THE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE 
PUTTING THROUGH INTO VARIOUS 
MODELS.
AS WE GET THOSE MODELS MORE 
ACCURATE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO 
SHARING THEM WITH CANADIANS.
>> Question: JUST TO SWITCH 
GEARS ON CHINA, U.S. 
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS REVEAL THAT
CHINA CONCEALED THE DEGREE AND 
THE SEVERITY OF THE OUTBREAK.
I'M WONDERING IF CANADA HAS THE 
SIMILAR INTELLIGENCE.
IN THE PAST WE SAID WE TRUST 
CHINA AND THEIR INFORMATION.
DO WE STILL TRUST CHINA AND 
THEIR INFORMATION?
>> Answer: WE KNOW THAT 
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE 
BEEN SHARING INFORMATION ON 
THEIR CASES AND WHAT HAS BEEN 
EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF MEASURES.
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM SOUTH 
KOREA AND SINGAPORE AND OTHER 
COUNTRIES, WE'VE LEARNED 
UNFORTUNATELY A LOT FROM ITALY 
AS WELL ABOUT WHAT WORKED AND 
WHAT DIDN'T THERE.
WE NEED TO KEEP LEARNING FROM 
OTHER COUNTRIES.
WE ALSO NEED TO BE REALLY 
THOUGHTFUL AT THE PROCESS AND 
UNDERSTAND THAT INFORMATION.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL BE MANY, 
MANY QUESTIONS AS THIS IS ALL 
WORKED THROUGH OVER THE COMING 
MONTHS AND INDEED YEARS ABOUT 
HOW THIS WAS HANDLED, WHAT 
LESSONS WERE TAKEN, WHO DID 
WELL, WHO DIDN'T, AND WHO WAS 
PERHAPS NOT AS FORTHCOMING WITH 
THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AS THEY 
SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
THOSE ARE QUESTIONS, THOUGH, FOR
FUTURE TIMES.
OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON 
GETTING THROUGH THIS IN A WAY 
THAT KEEPS CANADIANS WHOLE AND 
SAFE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE THERE 
IS A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION 
OUT THERE ABOUT WHAT VARIOUS 
COUNTRIES HAVE DONE AND WE CAN 
LEARN FROM WHAT HAS WORKED OR 
NOT AROUND THE GLOBE.
IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME,
THERE WILL BE A GREAT DEAL OF 
REFLECTION AND ANALYSIS ABOUT 
WHAT COUNTRY DID THIS, HOW DID 
THEY MANAGE THE CRISIS, AND 
WHETHER THERE ARE COUNTRIES THAT
WERE NOT HONEST WITH THE REST OF
THE WORLD.
CERTAINLY, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT 
TO KNOW THAT, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW 
OUR EMPHASIS AND OUR PRIORITY IS
ON HOW WE CAN PROTECT CANADIANS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: THE CANADIAN CENTRE
FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES RELEASED
NUMBERS TODAY SAYING 800,000 
CANADIANS WILL GET NO INCOME 
SUPPORT, THESE WERE PEOPLE 
UNEMPLOYED OR LOOKING FOR WORK 
BEFORE THE CRISIS.
THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR E.I. AND 
WON'T GET THE EMERGENCY BENEFIT.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT ANYTHING TO 
HELP THESE PEOPLE?
>> Answer: YES, ABSOLUTELY, 
WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP 
EVERYONE IN CANADA THAT NEEDS 
IT.
THE TWO MEASURES, THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY THROUGH EMPLOYERS, AND 
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT WILL HELP MILLIONS OF 
CANADIANS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY 
VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE 
ABLE TO ACCESS THIS SUPPORT.
WE'RE MAKING SURE TO FLOW FUNDS 
THROUGH SHELTERS AND NON-PROFIT 
ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES.
WE ARE MAKING SURE OUR MOST 
VULNERABLE ARE SAFE AND WE'RE 
KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE AND 
GIVING THEM SUPPORT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE RECOGNIZE THAT 
EVEN WITH THE UNPRECEDENTED 
MEASURES WE'VE INTRODUCED WITH 
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
BENEFIT AND HELP FOR EMPLOYERS 
AND EMPLOYEES, THERE ARE PEOPLE 
WHO WILL NOT QUALIFY.
THEREFORE, WE'RE GOING TO 
CONTINUE TO WORK TO SUPPORT THE 
MOST VULNERABLE CANADIANS TO 
PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE 
COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY WE WILL CONTINUE TO 
REFLECT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO 
TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: -- OF COURSE QUÉBEC
NOW HAS POLICE CHECK-POINTS 
ALONG THE ONTARIO BORDER.
IF YOU ENACTED THE EMERGENCY 
ACT, THIS COULD BE UNIFORM 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SHOULD WE BE LOCKING DOWN EACH 
PROVINCE IN LIEU OF THAT?
>> Answer: I THINK EACH PROVINCE
IS LOOKING AT WHAT THEY NEED.
THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES BROUGHT
IN MUCH GREATER MEASURES EARLIER
BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THE EXTREME
VULNERABILITY OF NORTHERN 
TERRITORIES IN A SITUATION LIKE 
THIS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL 
PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO ALL 
PROVINCES THAT NEED OUR SUPPORT 
AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
YES, THERE IS A FEDERAL 
EMERGENCIES ACT THAT WE CAN 
BRING IN, BUT AS I SAID THE 
MOMENT TO BRING THAT IN IS 
REALLY WHEN THERE ARE THINGS 
THAT THE PROVINCES AND CANADIANS
NEED TO SEE DONE THAT CAN'T BE 
DONE BY THE PROVINCES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK VERY, 
VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PROVINCES 
AND ALL JURISDICTIONS TO ENSURE 
THAT THE TOOLS THAT EVERYONE HAS
AT DIFFERENT LEVELS ARE USED AS 
THEY NEED TO BE.
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] 
RADIO-CANADA.
GOOD MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
AS CERTAIN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO 
SECURE, ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT 
THE PROVINCES WILL BECOME MORE 
PROTECTIVE OF THEIR OWN P.P.E. 
AND PERHAPS NOT AS INCLINED TO 
SHARE?
IS THAT PART OF YOUR CONCERNS 
AND WILL YOU BE DISCUSSING THIS 
WITH THE PREMIERS?
>> Answer: WE WANT TO ENSURE 
THAT ONCE WE COME THROUGH THIS 
TIME WHERE THERE MAY NOT BE 
ENOUGH EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE, THAT
WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE CANADIAN 
PRODUCTION IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
EVEN ONCE WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR 
OURSELVES, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE 
THAT EQUIPMENT WITH OTHER 
COUNTRIES THAT NEED IT.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING 
TOWARDS NOW.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN ENSURE 
THAT ALL THE REGIONS RECEIVE ALL
THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED.
WE KNOW NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT FROM
ONE REGION TO ANOTHER.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE COORDINATING 
ALL OF THIS WITH THE PROVINCES.
>> Question: MR. TRUDEAU, YOU 
SEEM TO BE -- HAVE A BIT OF A 
SCRATCHY THROUGHOUT TODAY, SO 
ARE YOU STILL OKAY AND HEALTHY?
>> Answer: OH, YES, I'M VERY 
HEALTHY.
I SPEND AN HOUR WITH YOU EVERY 
SINGLE MORNING AND PERHAPS I 
SHOULD WEAR A SCARF, BUT NO, I'M
ABSOLUTELY FINE AND THANK YOU 
FOR ASKING ABOUT IT.
[End of Translation] YOU MIGHT 
HAVE NOTICED I'VE CLEARED MY 
THROAT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
I HAVE NO SYMPTOMS OF COVID.
I SHOULD GET BACK TO WEARING MY 
SCARF EVEN THOUGH IT'S SUNNY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA EXPERIENCING 
THE SAME THING WE ALL DO THESE 
DAYS, IF YOU COUGH, EVERYONE 
TURNS AND LOOKS AT YOU AND 
WONDERS IF YOU'RE OKAY.
HE SAYS HE IS, INDEED, FINE.
LET'S BRING IN VASSY KAPELOS AND
CATHARINE CULLEN WATCHING THE 
UPDATES ON ME.
I'LL GIVE SOME UPDATES ON 
EQUIPMENT UPDATES THAT I THOUGHT
WERE IMPORTANT, THAT THEY 
RECEIVED OVER 10 MILLION MASKS 
AND THAT BAUER IS GOING TO START
MAKING FACEMASKS.
THE MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER IS REALLY AROUND DATA 
AND HOW MUCH DATA AND 
INFORMATION THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT WILL BE SHARING WITH 
CANADIANS, GIVEN THAT THEY HAD 
ABOUT A WEEK AGO SAID THEY WOULD
SHARE MORE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS STILL THE
PLAN, BUT IT ISN'T HAPPENING 
JUST YET.
>> Vassy: YEAH, I THOUGHT IT WAS
A PIVOT YESTERDAY FROM THE 
POSITIONING OF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER YESTERDAY.
CERTAINLY MORE OF AN 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT CANADIANS 
ARE INTERESTED IN THAT DATA.
THERE IS TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE
RAW DATA.
WE GET TO HEAR EVERY DAY FROM 
THE PROVINCES HOW MANY CASES 
THERE ARE, HOW MANY 
HOSPITALIZATIONS, SO THAT IS 
TRUE.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN ALBERTA AND
B.C. IS MORE DETAILED MODELLING 
ON VARIOUS SCENARIOS THAT COULD 
PLAY OUT ON NOT ONLY 
PROJECTIONS, BUT CURRENT 
BEHAVIOURS.
I WOULD REITERATE TODAY THAT THE
PRIME MINISTER IS RIGHT THAT OUR
BEHAVIOURS ARE GOING TO 
OBVIOUSLY HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON
WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT IS WHY IT'S SO WHY IT'S SO 
IMPORTANT THAT WE OBSERVE THOSE 
RULES AROUND PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
PEOPLE WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT 
SCENARIOS WE'RE DEALING WITH, 
WHETHER WE GO FULL OUT WITH 
MITIGATION EFFORTS AND WHETHER 
SOME PROVINCES DON'T, ET CETERA,
ET CETERA.
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER SAID 
TODAY IS THAT HE ACKNOWLEDGED 
THAT THAT DATA AND ANALYSIS 
SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO CANADIANS.
HE SAID IT SHOULD COME SOON.
HE PREDICATED IT ON DATA SHARING
WITH THE PROVINCES AND THAT 
INFORMATION COMING FROM THE 
PROVINCES, MORE TESTING BEING 
DONE AND ANALYSIS OF THAT 
TESTING, AND THEN BEING SENT TO 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WE'RE STILL LACKING A VERY 
SPECIFIC TIMELINE ON WHEN THOSE 
MODELS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
HE WAS PRESSED REPEATEDLY ABOUT 
WHY CAN'T THEY RIGHT NOW.
THERE WAS A MORE CLEAR 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER TODAY THAT CANADIANS DO
WANT TO KNOW THE -- THEY WANT 
ACCESS TO THE ANALYSIS.
>> Rosemary: I THINK THAT'S 
NATURAL AS HUMAN BEINGS THAT WE 
WANT A SENSE OF HOW BAD IT MIGHT
GET, WHEN IT MIGHT BE OVER, WHAT
KINDS OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING 
AT.
THE PRESIDENT IN THE U.S. DID 
LARGELY HAVE TO PRESENT THAT 
MODELLING FOR POLITICAL REASONS 
BECAUSE HE HAD DOWNPLAYED THE 
SEVERITY OF THE VIRUS FOR SO 
MANY WEEKS, NOT TO MENTION THE 
WAY HE UNDERMINES JOURNALISM AND
REPORTING.
IT WAS NECESSARY FOR HIM TO GIVE
THAT INFORMATION TO AMERICANS 
FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT
FOR ME IS HIGHLIGHTING THE RANGE
IS NOT AS USEFUL AS POINTING TO 
WHAT WE'RE LIKELY TO FACE.
THAT SUGGESTS TO ME THAT EVEN 
WITH THE DATA THEY HAVE WHICH 
MAY NOT BE COMPLETE, GIVEN 
THEY'RE RELYING ON THE PROVINCES
FOR IT, THAT RANGE EXISTS.
WHAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO 
IS TO PUT THAT FORWARD BECAUSE 
IT DOESN'T SOUND TO ME LIKE THEY
HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THE 
ACCURACY OF IT RIGHT NOW ANYWAY 
BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO 
GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THE 
PROVINCES.
>> HE SEEMED TO SPELL THAT OUT 
WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT THE 
CONVERSATION WITH THE PREMIERS.
HE SAID WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
DATA IS ALIGNED AND WE WANT MORE
ACCURATE MODELS.
OBVIOUSLY IMPLICIT IN THAT IS 
THAT THE DATA DOESN'T GO ALL THE
WAY.
HE MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW 
PEOPLE REACT.
THE NUMBERS THAT WE SAW COME OUT
OF THERE DEALING WITH THEIR 
PARTICULAR SCENARIO, THE PRIME 
MINISTER DIDN'T ENGAGE WITH THAT
QUESTION.
HE WENT BACK TO THE IDEA THAT 
PEOPLE WANT INFORMATION AND THEY
WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, 
BUT DO THEY BRING IT BACK TO 
THIS QUESTION OF DO PEOPLE WANT 
TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN 
AND IS YOUR BEHAVIOUR GOING TO 
INFLUENCE THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS 
INTERESTING ABOUT PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, HE SAID 
GOING FORWARD, NOT NECESSARILY 
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS OR WEEKS, 
COMING OUT OF THIS HE SAID HE 
WANTS CANADA TO BE 
SELF-SUFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO
MAKING THAT EQUIPMENT, NOT ONLY 
TO SUPPLY THE WHOLE COUNTRY, BUT
PERHAPS TO SUPPLY IT TO OTHERS, 
JUST SOME OF THE REFLECTION THE 
GOVERNMENT IS DOING -- AND NOT 
JUST THIS GOVERNMENT, BUT 
GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD IN 
TERMS OF HOW PREPARED THEY ARE.
>> Rosemary: IF IT REPATRIATES 
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND NEW 
INDUSTRY OUT OF A PANDEMIC, YOU 
CAN SEE WHY THAT WOULD BE 
USEFUL.
THE PROMISE I GUESS IS THERE FOR
MORE MODELLING AND MORE ANALYSIS
OF THE DATA.
AS VASSY RIGHTLY POINTS OUT, ALL
THOSE NUMBERS ARE THERE.
I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT
WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON IS THE
ACCURACY OF THE RAW DATA, 
PARTICULARLY ONTARIO SEEMS TO BE
STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP AND GIVE A
FULL PICTURE OF WHAT IS 
HAPPENING.
WE'VE HEARD FROM CANADA'S CHIEF 
SCIENTIST THAT THAT IS A CONCERN
AS WELL.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO GET A 
BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT IS 
UNFOLDING IN CANADA AND IN THE 
WEEKS AHEAD.
OF COURSE TO NOTE THIS IS 
UNPRECEDENTED AND EXTRAORDINARY.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US TO
WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND IT TOO.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE BOTH OF MY 
COLLEAGUES THERE FOR A MOMENT AS
WE WAIT FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE
FROM CABINET MINISTERS AND 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND TELL
YOU THAT HOSPITAL UNIONS IN 
ONTARIO ACTUALLY HELD A PRESS 
CONFERENCE WHILE THE PRIME 
MINISTER WAS SPEAKING AND THEY 
ARE UPSET ABOUT A NEW ONTARIO 
POLICY.
THE UNION SAYS IT ENGE DANGERS 
SOME OF THEIR WORKERS BY 
EXCLUDING THEM FROM PROPER 
PROTECTION FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.
UNION OFFICIALS CALL IT CRUEL 
AND UNFAIR.
AND THE HOSPITAL UNION POINTED 
OUT THAT THERE ARE A HIGH 
PROPORTION IN ONTARIO WHO HAVE 
TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND
THEY ARE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
>> THERE'S A FEAR AND 
DESPERATION AND A FAIR BIT OF 
ANXIETY AND A FEELING OF 
ABANDONMENT.
97% OF THEIR MEMBERS SAID THEY 
FEEL ABANDONED BY THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT.
87% OF THEM REPORT SHORTAGES OF 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
IN SOME LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES THE EQUIPMENT RUNS 
OUT IN A DAY OR TWO AND WE 
HAVEN'T EVEN FELT YET THE FULL 
EXTENT OF THIS VIRUS.
WE'RE TOLD THAT EQUIPMENT IS 
COMING, BUT IT NEVER REALLY 
ARRIVES AND THERE WAS A HUGE 
STYLE, AS YOU KNOW, OF THIS 
EQUIPMENT, EXPIRED MASKS ON THE 
RECOMMENDATION OF THE SARS 
COMMISSION, 55 MILLION MASKS 
WERE STOCKPILED.
THOSE MASKS WERE ALLOWED TO 
EXPIRE.
MANY OF THEM WERE DESTROYED.
WE ARE ASKED THAT THEY BE 
DISTRIBUTED.
THE MANUFACTURER SAYS WE CAN USE
THEM AND WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO 
BE DISTRIBUTED.
WE WOULD LIKE THE GOVERNMENT TO 
TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO 
DIRECTION INDUSTRY TO RAMP-UP 
PRODUCTION.
THERE IS A LOT OF UNUSED 
CAPACITY IN THE ONTARIO SECTOR 
THAT CAN BE PUT TO USE. 
>> Rosemary: THAT IS MICHAEL 
HURLEY FROM THE HOSPITALS UNION.
OBVIOUSLY THIS CONVERSATION 
AROUND SHORTAGE OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT LIKE MASKS 
AND GOWNS, IS A BIG CONCERN FOR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS RIGHT NOW.
YOU HEARD FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER THAT 10 MILLION MORE 
MASKS HAVE ARRIVED OVER THE LAST
DAYS.
ALAN DRUMMOND IS A DOCTOR FROM 
PERTH, ONTARIO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> Interview: GOOD DAY.
>> Rosemary: ONE IN 10 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS MAKE UP THE 
COVID-19 CASES INSIDE THIS 
PROVINCE.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT HOW YOU 
ARE FEELING ABOUT HOW 
WELL-EQUIPPED YOU ARE WHEN YOU 
GO INTO WORK.
>> Interview: WELL, ACTUALLY, I 
FEEL I'M ACTUALLY PREPARED FOR 
THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE 
FORTHCOMING.
WE ARE BEING CAREFUL WITH OUR 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
SOME WOULD SAY RATIONING.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE THERE 
YET, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IN A
SENSE THAT OUR EMERGENCY 
DEPARTMENTS ARE LARGELY FAIRLY 
QUIET.
IT'S THE QUALM BEFORE THE STORM.
SO THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE 
CURRENTLY I THINK IS ADEQUATE 
FOR THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCE.
IF, HOWEVER, THIS AMOUNTS TO 
SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS 
OF THE CRITICAL CARE LOAD OF THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT NEED 
INTUBATION VENTILATION, THEN THE
QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE THE 
NUMBER OF N95.
IT'S A WORK-IN-PROGRESS.
I THINK MANY PARTS IN THIS 
COUNTRY PEOPLE ARE SEEING A 
QUIETNESS AND A CALM AND I THINK
WE'RE OKAY.
BOTH MOST OF THE DOCTORS AND 
NURSES ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT 
ADEQUATE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT.
WE HOPE THAT THESE PROMISES 
MATERIALIZE INTO CARTONS OF 
STUFF ARRIVING AT OUR DOORS.
>> Rosemary: WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE
NOT QUITE AT RATIONING THINGS, 
WHERE ARE YOU THEN, YOU'RE 
CAUTIOUS WHEN USING EQUIPMENT 
BECAUSE YOU DON'T FEEL YOU HAVE 
A STOCKPILE IN THE HOSPITAL OR 
DESCRIBE TO ME WHERE YOU THINK 
YOU'RE AT.
>> Interview: RIGHT NOW THE 
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE QUIET 
AND THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE 
GETTING THE MESSAGE ABOUT SOCIAL
DISTANCING OR THERE'S PANIC AND 
FEAR.
THE VOLUMES AREN'T THERE.
YES, WE ARE SEEING COVID 
PATIENTS EVEN IN MY SMALL TOWN, 
BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 
REQUIRING CRITICAL CARE 
INTERVENTION IS LOW.
USING PRECAUTIONS IS ADEQUATE AT
THIS POINT.
BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE'RE NOT 
CONCERNED.
WE UNDERSTAND FROM OUR 
COLLEAGUES IN BOTH ITALY AND NEW
YORK CITY, THAT IT'S NOT A 
GENTLE EBB AND FLOW.
SUDDENLY THEY APPEAR ON YOUR 
DOOR AND YOU'RE OVERWHELMED.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME PERSONAL 
ASSURANCES THAT THESE AREN'T 
JUST PROMISES, BUT THEY'LL 
MATERIALIZE IN THE COMING DAYS.
>> Rosemary: WHAT ARE YOUR 
CONCERNS AROUND YOUR TOWN IN 
PERTH AND THE CAPACITY IF THERE 
WAS A SURGE?
OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE NOT JUST 
IN YOUR AREA, BUT IF THERE WAS A
SURGE, WOULD YOU BE -- WOULD THE
HOSPITAL BE PREPARED FOR IT?
>> Interview: WELL, WE HAVE BEEN
PREPARING.
WE'VE HAD SOME LEAD TIME SEEING 
WHAT HAPPENED IN ITALY AND NEW 
YORK CITY.
I THINK A LOT OF EMERGENCY 
DEPARTMENTS HAVE TAKEN THAT LEAD
TIME AND CHANNELLED THAT ENERGY 
INTO POSITIVITY AND 
PREPAREDNESS.
WE CAN'T PREDICT WHAT IS GOING 
TO HAPPEN.
ALL WE CAN SAY IS WE WILL DO OUR
BEST GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES 
THAT PRESENT.
WE ARE AS PREPARED AS WE'RE 
GOING TO BE IN TERMS OF THE 
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SETTING.
IN TERMS OF WOULD WE BE 
OVERWHELMED LOCALLY IN PERTH?
THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY YES.
WE HAVE ONE NEGATIVE PRESSURE 
ONE, ONE VENTILATOR FOR A 
HOSPITAL OF 50 PEOPLE THAT 
SERVES A COMMUNITY OF 20,000.
I HAVE A COLLEAGUE WHO JERRY 
RIGGED SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT TO 
USE AS VENTILATORS.
WE'RE AS PREPARED AS WE CAN BE 
AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST.
IF WE'RE OVERWHELMED, WE'RE 
OVERWHELMED.
ALL WE CAN DO IS LOOK AFTER THE 
PATIENT IN FRONT OF US ON THE 
STRETCHER, WITH ONE EYE TO 
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WAITING 
ROOM AND BALANCE OFFLOAD RAMP 
AND THE OTHER EYE TO GREATER 
SOCIETAL DEMANDS AND WHAT THE 
COMMUNITY WILL NEED.
IT'S PART OF THE EQUATION NOW.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PATIENT IN 
FRONT OF US, BUT THE GREATER 
COMMUNITY AND THEIR TIME OF 
NEED.
>> Rosemary: I ONLY HAVE 30 
SECONDS, DOCTOR, BUT ARE YOU 
WORRIED ABOUT YOURSELF?
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT GOING INTO
WORK?
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU FOR YOUR 
OWN WELL-BEING?
>> Interview: SO, I'M 66 AND AT 
A HIGHER RISK, BUT I'M NOT 
CONCERNED.
I'M OBVIOUSLY CAREFUL AND MY 
WIFE REMINDS ME CONSTANTLY TO 
WASH MY HANDS AND ALL THAT, AND 
I AM.
I'M DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.
I'M ALMOST EATING TOFU, BUT THE 
BOTTOM LINE IS IT'S MY JOB, IT'S
MY COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO SERVE AND LIVE UP
TO THE CHALLENGE. 
>> Rosemary: DOCTOR, SO GOOD TO 
TALK TO YOU.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE 
GETTING TO SPEAK WITH SO MANY 
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS DURING ALL
OF THIS.
YOU ARE IMPRESSIVE HUMAN BEINGS.
GOOD LUCK, DOCTOR, AND WE WILL 
CHECK IN AS THINGS UNFOLD.
THAT IS DR. ALAN DRUMMOND WHO 
ALSO NEEDS TO BE REMINDED TO 
WASH HIS HANDS.
WE ARE STANDING BY FOR AN UPDATE
FROM THE CABINET MINISTERS AND 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
[♪♪♪] 
>> Rosemary: WELCOME BACK.
I AM ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN THE
NATION'S CAPITAL BRINGING YOU 
COVERAGE OF THE COVID-19 
PANDEMIC, HOW THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT IS RESPONDING AND 
COPING, TRYING TO CONTAIN BOTH 
THE PANDEMIC AND SOME OF THE 
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES THAT ARE 
BEING PUT IN PLACE TO SHORE UP 
THE CANADIAN ECONOMY AT THE SAME
TIME.
WE HAVE JUST HEARD FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER, JUSTIN TRUDEAU, 
TALKING ABOUT MORE PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT HAS 
ARRIVED OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS.
WE HAVE HIT A MILESTONE IN THIS 
COUNTRY NOW MARKING 10,000 
CASES.
THE PRIME MINISTER SET TO SPEAK 
WITH PREMIERS LATER TODAY ABOUT 
HOW WELL EQUIPPED THEIR 
PROVINCES ARE FOR WHAT MANY 
BELIEVE WILL BE A CRITICAL 
NUMBER OF WEEKS AHEAD.
LET ME SHOW YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID MOMENTS 
AGO.
>> Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau: I KNOW PEOPLE ARE 
WONDERING WHEN THIS WILL GET 
BETTER OR HOW MUCH WORSE IT WILL
BECOME.
YOU WANT TO SEE THE NUMBERS AND 
PREDICTIONS AND LOOK ONLINE FOR 
THE LATEST AND MOST CREDIBLE 
DATA YOU CAN FIND.
YOU WANT TO PLAN.
YOU WANT TO PREPARE FOR THE 
WORST.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO BE 
HOPEFUL ABOUT.
I KNOW AND WE'LL HAVE MORE 
INFORMATION FOR YOU SOON, BUT 
THE BIGGEST VARIABLE SHAPING 
THESE PROJECTIONS IS YOU AND 
YOUR BEHAVIOUR.
YOU MUST LISTEN TO THE 
WORLD-CLASS DOCTORS WHO ARE 
ALREADY SHARING THE BEST 
AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND 
ADVICE.
IGNORING THEM PUTS LIVES AT 
RISK.
IT'S UP TO YOU TO DO THE RIGHT 
THING.
WHILE MANY OF YOU ARE STAYING 
HOME AND LIMITING TRIPS TO THE 
GROCERY STORE, TOO MANY AREN'T.
WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE TELLING US 
IS WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN 
TODAY AND TOMORROW TO SET US ON 
THE RIGHT PATH FOR NEXT WEEK AND
NEXT MONTH.
IT TAKES TIME FOR THE EFFECTS OF
OUR ACTIONS TO BE FELT.
IF WE DON'T WANT OUR HOSPITALS 
TO BE OVERWHELMED IN THE COMING 
WEEKS, WE NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT
CHOICES AND WE NEED TO MAKE THEM
NOW.
>> Rosemary: THAT'S THE PRIME 
MINISTER OF CANADA SPEAKING TO 
CANADIANS TODAY ABOUT NOT ONLY 
THE PROMISE OF SOME MORE 
INFORMATION TO COME.
THERE'S A LOT OF RAW DATA OUT 
THERE AS WE HEARD FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER.
CERTAINLY THAT IS THE CASE IF 
YOU GO ON THE CORONAVIRUS 
WEBSITE, BUT IT'S ANALYZING THAT
INFORMATION, WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT
IT MIGHT MEAN GOING FORWARD FOR 
US THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE 
QUESTIONS ABOUT.
BUT THE CENTRAL MESSAGE FROM THE
PRIME MINISTER, AND I'M SURE WE 
WILL GET IT TODAY FROM FEDERAL 
OFFICIALS AND CABINET MINISTERS,
IS IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE 
OUTCOME OF THAT DATA, THE BEST 
ADVICE IS TO DO WHAT THEY'RE 
TELLING YOU TO DO, STAY HOME AND
LIMIT YOUR PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH
OTHER PEOPLE.
MY COLLEAGUES "POWER & POLITICS"
HOST VASSY KAPELOS AND THE CBC'S
CATHARINE CULLEN JOINING ME NOW.
TALKING TO THESE MEDICAL 
PROFESSIONALS, IT'S SO -- YOU 
REALLY -- I AM VERY DEEPLY 
IMPRESSED BY THEM IN TERMS OF 
THEIR FEARLESSNESS IN THE FACE 
OF ALL OF THIS.
IT SEEMS FROM THAT EMERGENCY 
ROOM DOCTOR IN PERTH THAT THEY 
SORT OF HAVE ENOUGH FOR NOW, BUT
WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS 
THERE WILL BE ENOUGH OR NOT WHEN
THEY GET THE INFLUX IN CASES.
>> Vassy: THE PRIME MINISTER 
ANNOUNCED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 
10 MILLION MASKS THAT HAVE 
ARRIVED IN THE PAST FEW DAYS AND
THAT THEY ARE BEING ACCOUNTED 
FOR AND VALIDATED AND THEN THEY 
CAN BE DISTRIBUTED.
THIS QUESTION OF SUPPLY IS SUCH 
AN IMPORTANT ONE AS WE HEAD INTO
A PERIOD WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TELLING US 
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THERE 
COULD BE NOT A PEAK, BUT A SURGE
IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
WHILE WE KEEP ASKING PEOPLE WE 
ARE TALKING TO ON THE 
FRONTLINES, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH 
AND DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE 
ENOUGH, THE FOLLOW UP IS SO 
DEPENDANT ON WHAT HAPPENS NOW, 
HOW WE ALL OBSERVE THOSE 
BEHAVIOURS.
SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO 
ASSESS AND IT ALSO, AS I SAID 
EARLIER, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON 
WHICH FACILITY YOU'RE IN AND 
WHICH PROVINCE YOU LIVE IN.
THERE ARE SO MANY VARIOUS 
ACCOUNTS OF IT.
THE ONE THING I WOULD 
HIGHLIGHTED FROM A FEDERAL 
LEVEL, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WILL 
BE A BIG PART OF THE DISCUSSION 
WITH THE VARIOUS PREMIERS 
TONIGHT.
THAT CALL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 
PLACE AT 5:30 EASTERN BETWEEN 
THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE 
PREMIERS.
IT IS CONFUSING FROM MY 
PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE THE ANSWER 
TO WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH HAS 
CHANGED A BIT OVER THE LAST FEW 
DAYS.
AT FIRST THE PRIME MINISTER SAID
WE HAVE ALL CURRENT NEEDS 
COVERED AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE 
FUTURE.
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, I 
DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
THEN WE HEARD ACCOUNTS FROM 
INDIVIDUAL PROVINCES, 
PARTICULARLY QUÉBEC, AND THE 
PREMIER SAID THAT THEY DON'T 
HAVE ENOUGH AND HE'S WORRIED 
ABOUT THE NEXT THREE TO SEVEN 
DAYS.
AND THEN WE WERE ASKING 
MINISTERS HOW DOES THAT MATCH UP
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
EACH PROVINCE IS CALCULATING HOW
BAD IT CAN GET.
WE ARE ALSO HEARING FROM NURSES 
IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES 
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT THEY 
NEED.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT 
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IF THERE IS 
ENOUGH.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE EFFORTS 
UNDERWAY TO SECURE MORE, BUT 
WILL MORE ALSO BE ENOUGH IN THE 
FUTURE.
AGAIN, THAT DEPENDS ON HOW 
THINGS GO NOW.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A 
STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWER TO THAT 
QUESTION, BUT TODAY THE PRIME 
MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGED AND 
YESTERDAY THE HEALTH MINISTER 
THAT MAYBE THE STOCKPILE THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ISN'T 
GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR 
PROVINCES.
THEN YOU COMPOUND THAT WITH ALL 
THE COMPETITION AROUND THE WORLD
EVEN SOUTH OF THE BORDER FOR 
THOSE SUPPLIES, IT'S NOT GOING 
TO BE EASY. 
>> Rosemary: THERE MAY NOT BE A 
STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWER FOR ALL 
OF THOSE FACTORS.
MINISTER ANITA ANAND, THE 
MINISTER OF PROCUREMENT AND 
PUBLIC SERVICES, HAS TWEETED 
THAT A PLANE CARRYING GOODS 
PURCHASED FROM MANUFACTURERS IN 
CHINA ARRIVED LAST NIGHT.
SHE SAID THIS HELPS FILL ORDERS 
FOR OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID.
IF THE CASES REALLY START TO 
TAKE OFF IN ONE REGION OF THE 
COUNTRY AND NOT ANOTHER, YOU 
COULD PROBABLY MOVE THINGS 
AROUND.
I IMAGINE THAT PART OF THE 
COLLABORATION THE PRIME MINISTER
IS TALKING ABOUT THAT IS ALSO 
THAT, THAT PREMIERS WILL STEP UP
IF NEEDED IN CERTAIN PLACES. 
>> HE WAS ACTUALLY ASKED BY ONE 
OF OUR COLLEAGUES, ROSEMARY, 
THAT IF HE'S WORRIED AS THIS 
GOES ON PROVINCES WILL BE LESS 
WILLING TO SHARE.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS PUT THE 
EMPHASIS ON A COLLABORATIVE 
ATTITUDE AND GOING FORWARD.
WE DID GET THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
FROM PATTY HAJDU THAT THE 
STOCKPILE IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT 
IT SHOULD BE.
ALL GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO 
LOOK AT THIS SITUATION, LEARNING
FROM IT AS IT HAPPENS.
THERE ARE HEALTHCARE WORKERS 
CORRESPOND ABOUT THIS.
THE PRIME MINISTER TALKING ABOUT
THE GOAL OF MAKING CANADA 
SELF-SUFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO
SUPPLYING THIS PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, SOMETHING THAT 
THEY'RE WORKING ON.
SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE PUTTING A
LOT OF MONEY INTO, TRYING TO GET
OTHER BUSINESSES TO BECOME 
INVOLVED IN THIS TOO.
OUR COLLEAGUES AT RADIO-CANADA 
REPORTING HOW FIERCE THE 
COMPETITION IS FOR THIS.
NOTING THAT IN ONE CASE THE 
UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO WHAT
THEY'RE HEARING ACTUALLY BOUGHT 
A BUNCH OF MASKS DESTINED FOR 
FRANCE RIGHT OFF THE TARMAC, 
OFFERING TO PAY THREE TIMES THE 
PRICE.
THAT RAISED EYEBROWS.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED 
ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HE TALKS 
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF 
COLLABORATION, ALTHOUGH THAT'S 
NOT ALWAYS HAPPENING 
INTERNATIONALLY.
>> Rosemary: IT'S A COMPETITIVE 
MARKET FOR LIMITED SUPPLIES AND 
ALL THAT STUFF.
AS IT COMES IN, IT HAS TO BE 
VERIFIED BY HEALTH CANADA TO 
MAKE SURE IT'S UP TO THE 
STANDARDS WE AND WANT AND 
EXPLAINS WHY, IN LARGE PART, AS 
YOU POINTED OUT THAT INDUSTRY IS
TRYING TO GET ONLINE AS QUICKLY 
AS POSSIBLE TO CREATE SOME OF 
THIS STUFF IN HOUSE SO THE 
COMPETITION ASPECT, THE 
PROCUREMENT ASPECT OF THIS 
PROBABLY ISN'T NEEDED AS MUCH.
I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT TWO 
MINUTES UNTIL CABINET MINISTERS 
ARRIVE HERE, SO I THINK I WILL 
STICK WITH THAT.
YES, I WILL.
WE ARE EXPECTING AN UPDATE FROM 
CABINET MINISTERS AND PUBLIC 
HEALTH OFFICIALS ON THE MEASURES
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TAKING
TODAY, THE STATE OF PLAY IN THIS
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IN FIGHTING 
THE PANDEMIC.
AFTER HEARING FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER, WHO IS GOING TO SPEAK 
TO PROVINCES TONIGHT AT AROUND 
5:30 TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT THE
PROVINCES ARE DOING, WHAT MIGHT 
BE NEEDED FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK WE'LL BE HEARING FROM 
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
MR. CHAMPAGNE, ABOUT 
REPATRIATION EFFORTS.
THERE ARE MORE AND MORE FLIGHTS 
SCHEDULED FROM INDIA, PAKISTAN, 
FROM COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD 
TO TRY TO GET CANADIANS BACK.
THAT DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR 
EFFORT CONTINUES.
I BELIEVE HE IS THERE TO GIVE US
AN UPDATE TOO.
HERE IS THE DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER, CHRYSTIA FREELAND.
>> IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE 
CORONAVIRUS.
CANADIANS MUST CONTINUE TO 
PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
STAY STRONG AND STAY AT HOME 
UNLESS YOU ARE DOING ESSENTIAL 
WORK LIKE STOCKING THE SHELVES 
OF OUR GROCERY STORES OR WORKING
ON THE FRONTLINES OF OUR 
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
I KNOW THAT WE AS CANADIANS ARE 
RESILIENT.
THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE 
BEFORE THEY GET BETTER, BUT I 
KNOW THAT WORKING TOGETHER WE 
ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THIS IS A CRITICAL 
WEEK IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS 
VIRUS.
CANADIANS MUST CONTINUE TO 
PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
STAY STRONG AND STAY AT HOME, 
UNLESS YOU ARE DOING ESSENTIAL 
WORK SUCH AS FILLING SHELVES AT 
THE GROCERY STORE OR IF YOU'RE 
PROVIDING HEALTHCARE.
CANADIANS ARE RESILIENT.
WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS
CRISIS TOGETHER.
[End of Translation] TODAY WE 
WILL HEAR FROM CANADA'S CHIEF 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, 
DR. THERESA TAM.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 
MR. CHAMPAGNE.
[End of Translation] THE 
MINISTER OF INDIGENOUS SERVICES,
MARC MILLER, PATTY HAJDU, 
DR. TOM WONG AND THE DEPUTY 
HEALTH OFFICER, DR. NJOO.
DR. TAM, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
SO AS USUAL I'LL START WITH AN 
UPDATE ON THE NUMBERS OF 
COVID-19 CASES IN CANADA.
THERE ARE NOW 10,466 CASES, 
INCLUDING 111 DEATHS.
THESE REPRESENT INFECTIONS FROM 
PREVIOUS EXPOSURES AND NOT WHAT 
IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW 
NECESSARILY.
SO EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING OF
CASES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT 
DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS NO RISK OF
EXPOSURE.
WE MUST ALL CONSIDER THAT ANYONE
COULD BE INFECTED AND KEEPING 
OUR 2-METRE DISTANCE IS THE 
SAFEST STEP.
WE CONTINUE TO TEST AT A VERY 
HIGH RATE IN CANADA, ONE OF THE 
HIGHEST IN THE WORLD.
WITH TESTS COMPLETED FOR OVER 
260,000 PEOPLE ALREADY.
AROUND 3.5% OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN CONFIRMED AS POSITIVE AND 
95% CONFIRMED AS NEGATIVE.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THESE 
PERCENTAGES, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
CANADA HAS BEEN MAINTAINING 
AROUND A 3% TO 4% POSITIVITY 
RATE, WHICH IS IN A GOOD RANGE 
FOR ACCURATE DETECTION OF WHERE 
THE DISEASE IS CIRCULATING.
THE W.H.O. SUGGESTS SOMEWHERE 
BETWEEN 3% TO 12%.
IF WE DROP BELOW THIS TO 1%, IT 
MAY MEAN WE'RE CASTING OUR NET 
TOO WIDE.
WE'RE TESTING A LOT OF PEOPLE 
THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE NEED 
TESTING.
PEOPLE WITH MILD ILLNESSES IN AN
AREA OF CANADA WHERE THE DISEASE
IS NOT CIRCULATING OR YOU'RE 
TESTING TOO EARLY YB SOMETIMES 
THE TEST IS NOT 100% AND PEOPLE 
MIGHT NEED TO BE RETESTED.
IT SHOWS THAT WE HAVE A HIGHLY 
SENSITIVE TESTING SYSTEM.
OF COURSE WE ARE CONTINUING TO 
INCREASE OUR LABORATORY CAPACITY
TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS STILL 
THE CASE.
SO THE NUMBER OF CASES AND 
OUTBREAKS CONNECTED TO HIGH-RISK
SETTINGS CONTINUE TO BE REPORTED
AT A CONCERNING RATE, AND IN 
PARTICULAR LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES ARE BEING INFECTED IN
HIGH NUMBERS AS WELL AS REPORTS 
OF SOME HOSPITAL FACILITIES WITH
HEALTHCARE WORKERS IMPACTED.
AT LEAST 50 DEATHS ARE RELATED 
TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, 
SENIOR RESIDENCES, AND OTHER 
CARE FACILITIES.
I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT WE 
ABSOLUTELY MUST DOUBLE DOWN TO 
PREVENT THE ACCELERATION OF 
SPREAD IN THESE SETTINGS, THIS 
MEANS STRICT PUBLIC HEALTH AND 
INFECTION POLICIES TO MINIMIZE A
RISK OF INTRODUCTION IN THESE 
FACILITIES.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT EVERY ONE OF 
US MUST TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS.
FOR THOSE NOT ESSENTIAL WORKERS,
THIS MIGHT MEAN STAYING AWAY 
FROM LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, 
WHILE FINDING WAYS TO KEEP IN 
TOUCH WITH LOVED ONES, USING 
VIRTUAL MEANS LIKE A PHONE CALL 
OR VIDEO IS NOT THE SAME, BUT 
STAYING CONNECTED HAS NEVER BEEN
MORE IMPORTANT.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] ONCE AGAIN, I MUST 
STRESS THAT THIS DISEASE SPARES 
NO ONE.
EACH DAY AS WE GET ADDITIONAL 
DATA, WE ARE SEEING THAT ALL AGE
GROUPS WITH IMPACTED.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ILLNESS
HAS BEEN SEVERE AND FATAL IN 
OLDER AND MEDICALLY VULNERABLE 
CANADIANS, BUT ADULTS UNDER 40 
YEARS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED 
SEVERE ILLNESS, ACCOUNTING FOR 
OVER 10% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS 
WITH SOME REPORTS OF CRITICAL 
ILLNESS AND AT LEAST ONE DEATH.
[End of Translation] THE DISEASE
SPARES NO ONE.
EACH DAY AS WE GET ADDITIONAL 
DATA, WE ARE SEEING ALL AGE 
GROUPS ARE IMPACTED.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DISEASE
ARE MORE FATAL IN OLDER AND 
MEDICALLY VULNERABLE CANADIANS.
BUT ADULTS AROUND 40 YEARS OF 
AGE ARE ALSO AT RISK.
MANY CANADIANS ARE USING THEIR 
INNOVATION, CREATIVITY, AND 
INGENUITY TO THINK OUTSIDE THE 
BUBBLE AND TO PLANK THE CURVE.
WE NEED YOUTUBE USERS AND TIKTOK
USERS TO HELP US FIGHT THIS AT #
stayhome.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] NOW I GIVE THE 
FLOOR TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS, FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE 
CHAMPAGNE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE STARTED TWO WEEKS REPATRIATED
CANADIANS.
MYSELF AND MY COUNTERPARTS IN 
OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAVE 
FACILITATED THE RETURN OF 
THOUSANDS OF CANADIANS ON OVER 
40 FLIGHTS AND FROM SOME 30 
COUNTRIES.
IN COMING DAYS OTHER FLIGHTS 
WILL ALLOW CANADIANS TO RETURN 
FROM PERU, COLOMBIAN, INDIA, 
PAKISTAN, POLAND, CUBA, TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO, AND VARIOUS AFRICAN 
COUNTRIES.
CANADIANS ON BOARD CRUISE SHIPS 
AND VARIOUS LOCATIONS ALSO HAVE 
BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO CANADA.
YESTERDAY EVENING WE RECEIVED 
THE GOOD NEWS THAT CANADIANS ON 
BOARD THE ZAANDAM WOULD SOON 
PROBABLY RETURN HOME ONCE THE 
SHIP DOCKS IN FLORIDA, WHICH WE 
HOPE WILL BE LATER TODAY 
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST 
INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE.
[End of Translation] I 
UNDERSTAND THAT CANADIANS 
RETURNING HOME ARE ALL LOOKING 
FORWARD TO BEING REUNITED WITH 
THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, 
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN DO THAT, AS 
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH HAS SAID 
MANY TIMES AND DR. TAM, I WANT 
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND 
THEM OF THEIR OBLIGATION TO 
SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS.
THIS IS THE LAW, FULL STOP.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO STOP BY 
THE GROCERY STORE ON THE WAY 
HOME FROM THE AIRPORT.
OUR ABILITY TO OVERCOME THIS 
PANDEMIC DEPENDS ON EVERYONE 
BEHAVING RESPONSIBLY FOR THEIR 
OWN HEALTH AND SAFETY, FOR THE 
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR LOVED
ONES, THEIR NEIGHBOURS, AND 
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY 
A WORD TO CANADIANS WHO ARE 
STILL STRANDED ABROAD.
I UNDERSTAND FULLY YOUR ANXIETY.
I READ YOUR MESSAGES.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR DESIRE TO COME
HOME.
WE ARE WORKING LITERALLY 
AROUND-THE-CLOCK AND DOING 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING YOU 
HOME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT
I HAVE TO SAY TO CANADIANS WE 
ARE FACING THE MOST 
UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE THAT WE 
HAVE EVER FACED IN TRYING TO 
BRING PEOPLE HOME, WHETHER IT'S 
ABOUT AIRPORT CLOSURE, AIR-SPACE
CLOSURE, BORDER CLOSURES, 
RESTRICTIONS IN SOME COUNTRIES, 
WE ARE WORKING AROUND-THE-CLOCK 
TO OVERCOME THESE BARRIERS TO 
BRING YOU HOME.
I MUST REPEAT SOMETHING I'VE 
SAID BEFORE.
UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE OUR VERY 
BEST EFFORTS, IT WILL MOST 
LIKELY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ENSURE
THE RETURN OF ALL CANADIANS WHO 
WISH TO COME HOME.
FOR THOSE CANADIANS ABROAD WHO 
ARE WATCHING US IN THE MEANTIME,
I WANT TO SAY PLEASE CONTINUE TO
FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF 
LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND 
TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR
HEALTH AND SAFETY.
WE WILL ASSIST YOU IN EVERY WAY 
WE CAN.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] OUR COUNTRY'S 
RESPONSE TO THIS COVID-19 
PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE 
BEST OF WHAT WE ARE AS 
CANADIANS.
THE STRENGTH OF OUR VALUES, OUR 
SENTIMENT, SOLIDARITY, AND 
RESILIENCE IN THESE EXCEPTIONAL 
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[End of Translation] WE'LL HEAR 
FROM THE MINISTER OF INDIGENOUS 
SERVICES, MARC MILLER.
MARC, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
[End of Translation] OVER THE 
LAST WEEK INDIGENOUS SERVICES 
CANADA HAS SENT OUT SIGNIFICANT 
PERSONAL PROTECTION SUPPLIES IS 
ASKING WITH URGENCY, WE 
ANNOUNCED AND ARE IN THE MIDST 
OF TRANSFERRING 305 MILLION 
DIRECTLY TO INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA AND 
ARE CONTINUED TO BE FOCUSED ON 
SUPPORTING THE MOST VULNERABLE 
OF THE VULNERABLE.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WITH EVERYTHING 
WE'VE DONE TO DATE, WE ARE 
FOCUSING ON BEING FLEXIBLE AND 
RAPID SO PEOPLE WILL GET WHAT 
THEY NEED AND TO MEET THEIR 
NEEDS, NOTABLY BY DISTRIBUTING 
FOOD AND GIVING MATERIAL TO 
THOSE WHO ARE ISOLATED OR IN 
QUARANTINE.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN, 
HELP FOR CHILD CARE AND 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
[End of Translation] TO DATE 
THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF 15 
CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING 
EXCEPTIONAL MEASURES TO PREVENT 
THE SPREAD OF VIRUS, INCLUDING 
RESTRICTING TRAVEL IN AND OUT OF
COMMUNITIES, SELF-ISOLATION, AND
QUARANTINE OF RETURNING 
TRAVELLERS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO ADAPT PLANS AND PROVIDE SURGE
CAPACITY AS THE SITUATION 
EVOLVES.
I WILL REITERATE THAT HAND 
WASHING AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING 
REMAINS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS 
TO PREVENT AND SLOW THE ONSET OF
COVID-19.
I SAY ALL THIS IN CONSCIOUSNESS 
OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS A 
HISTORICAL MISTRUST OF 
GOVERNMENT IN A NUMBER OF 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS A GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE 
FILLED BY INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP 
AND THEY ARE FILLING IT 
EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.
BUT IT DOES PROVIDE -- IT DOES 
CREATE A BARRIER TO GETTING THAT
IMPORTANT MESSAGE OUT AND AS 
ALWAYS INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP IS 
STEPPING UP AND I WANT TO 
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
DURING THIS PANDEMIC MANY THINGS
MAY ARISE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
INDIGENOUS YOUTH WHO REACH THE 
AGE OF MAJORITY CONTINUE TO 
RECEIVE THE NEEDS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO COVER THE 
COSTS TO FIRST NATIONS YOUTH WHO
WOULD HAVE AGED OUT OF CARE, 
TAKING CARE OF THOSE MOST 
VULNERABLE.
SOME PROVINCES HAVE UNDERTAKEN 
THIS CHANGE ALREADY AND I WOULD 
ENCOURAGE TO DO THE SAME IN 
SUPPORT OF VULNERABLE INDIGENOUS
YOUTH.
[Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] WE HAVE ALSO 
ORDERED FIRST NATIONS WITH 
COMING ELECTIONS NOT TO HOLD 
THEM FOR THE TIME BEING GIVEN 
THE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH
THESE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THESE 
COMMUNITIES FOR A TEMPORARY 
SOLUTION TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
THIS WILL GUARANTEE THAT THERE 
WON'T BE ANY GAPS IN GOVERNANCE.
IF THEY DO DECIDE TO MOVE AHEAD 
WITH ELECTIONS, AS IS THEIR 
RIGHT, WE WILL BE GIVING THEM 
INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO PROTECT 
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
[End of Translation] CHALLENGES 
FACED BY INUIT COMMUNITIES, 
INCLUDING THE ESSENTIAL ACCESS 
OF AIR TRANSPORTATION.
WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH INUIT
PARTNERS, PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES AND THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA TO 
ENSURE ADEQUATE PREPAREDNESS, 
SUPPLIES AND RESPONSE LEVELS IN 
INUIT COMMUNITIES.
WE'RE EXPLORING A NUMBER OF 
OPTIONS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL AIR
TRANSPORTATION AND ENSURE 
SERVICE CONTINUITY IS PROVIDED.
UNFORTUNATELY COVID-19 IS NOT 
THE ONLY CHALLENGES THAT 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES MAY BE 
FACING IN THE COMING WEEKS, BUT 
IT CAN COMPOUND IT.
AS WE'RE HEADING INTO FLOOD 
SEASON, WE ARE WORKING WITH 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES TO HELP.
WE ARE WORKING ON HAVING SOLID 
FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES IN 
PLACE, WHILE PREVENTING THE 
SPREAD OF COVID-19.
I WANT TO REASSURE EVERYONE THAT
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT 
FIRST NATION, METIS, AND INUIT 
IN RESPONDING TO NATURAL 
DISASTERS SUCH AS FLOODS OR 
FIRES, AND WE WILL WORK WITH 
REGIONAL HEALTH TO MAKE SURE 
THAT FIRST NATIONS, METIS, AND 
INUIT HAVE SUPPORTS NEEDED 
DURING THESE TIMES.
WE HAVE SEEN MEASURES TAKEN BY 
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES TO 
PROTECT THEIR POPULATION.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR WORK
AND THE STRENGTH THEY HAVE 
SHOWN.
LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS JUST 
THE BEGINNING.
WE KNOW MORE SUPPORT WILL BE 
NEEDED AND WE WILL BE THERE TO 
MAKE SURE NO INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITY IS LEFT BEHIND.
CANADA IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU 
DURING THIS UNCERTAIN TIME.
. 
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] NOW I'M GIVING THE 
FLOOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
PRESSURE BOARD, MR. DUCLOS.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THE COMING WEEKS
WILL BE DETERMINANT.
IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO SAY # 
everythingwillbefine, WE'RE 
CALLING ON CITIZENS TO FOLLOW 
PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES AND 
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO PROTECT 
OURSELF AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE
PROTECTING US, NAMELY, ALL THOSE
IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WHO ARE
ON THE FRONTLINES AND WORKING 
HARD.
AFTER THE KEY ANNOUNCEMENT 
YESTERDAY ABOUT EMERGENCY WAGE 
SUBSIDY THAT THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT WILL BE GIVING, I 
WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE ALL SECTORS
OF THE ECONOMY, NOTABLY THE 
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, THAT ALL 
COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS 
RECEIVING FUNDING ARE ELIGIBLE 
FOR THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
[End of Translation] I WOULD 
LIKE TO ADD FOLLOWING THE 
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY, I
WOULD ADD FOR THE ATTENTION OF 
ALL SECTORS, IN PARTICULAR FOR 
THE ATTENTION OF THE CULTURAL 
SECTOR, THAT ALL BUSINESSES AND 
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RECEIVING
PUBLIC FUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE TO THE
CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANK YOU.
NOW WE WILL BE READY TO ANSWER 
QUESTIONS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> WE WILL TAKE THREE QUESTIONS 
ON THE PHONE AND RETURN TO THE 
PHONE, ONE QUESTION AND ONE 
FOLLOW UP.
>> THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM 
ELINA DIB.
>> Question: MY QUESTION IS FOR 
MINISTER HAJDU.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE ASKING 
FOR SCENARIOS THAT YOU HAVE OR 
DON'T HAVE.
THE PRIME MINISTER THIS MORNING 
SAID THAT YOU FIRST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE DATA IS 
CONSISTENT.
SO I WANT TO HEAR YOU ON HOW 
CONSISTENT IS THE DATA, 
ESPECIALLY FROM ONTARIO, AND 
MAYBE ALSO FROM 
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE NUMBERS 
THAT YOU SEE?
DO YOU THINK THEY DO REPRESENT 
THE REALITY?
>> Answer: FOR THE QUESTION I'LL
START AND THEN TURN TO DR. TAM 
FOR SOME SPECIFICS.
FIRST OF ALL, I ECHO THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S STATEMENT THAT IN 
ORDER TO DO MODELLING WE NEED 
ACCURATE DATA AND THE PROVINCES 
AND TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN 
WORKING HARD TO GET TO A PLACE 
WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE US WITH 
THAT.
WE HAVE FACILITATED THAT BY 
PROVIDING PORTALS AND ALL TYPES 
OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THEM TO
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AS MUCH 
GRANULAR DATA AS POSSIBLE.
ALL OF THAT DATA FEEDS INTO THE 
MODELERS BOTH IN THE GOVERNMENT 
OF CANADA AND OTHER MODELERS 
THAT ARE PROFESSIONAL MODELERS 
FROM OUR ACADEMIC SOCIETY AND 
RESEARCH COMMUNITY.
THE REASON WHY THIS IS A 
DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER IS 
IT'S BECAUSE EACH PARTICULAR 
SCENARIO DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF 
DIFFERENT MEASURES.
LET'S JUST TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, 
WHAT WE COULD ANTICIPATE IN 
TERMS OF THE VOLUME OF DEATHS IN
CANADA.
IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY ANSWER THAT
QUESTION, WE HAVE TO GET A 
BETTER HANDLE ON HOW MANY PEOPLE
WE ANTICIPATE WILL BE INFECTED 
IN CANADA BASED ON WHAT WE 
CURRENTLY SEE IN TERMS OF 
INFECTION RATES.
OF COURSE THAT'S DEPENDANT ON 
THE NUMBER OF MEASURES THAT ARE 
TAKEN IN VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS 
AND HOW STRINGENTLY THEY'RE 
BEING APPLIED OR LISTENED TO BY 
CANADIANS.
IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF
CANADIANS THAT END UP 
HOSPITALIZED AND IN SOME CASES 
USING INTENSIVE CARE SERVICES.
ALL OF THAT DEPENDS WHETHER OR 
NOT CANADIANS APPLY THOSE 
MEASURES IN THEIR OWN LIVES.
THAT'S WHY IT'S HARD TO GIVE 
MODELLING THAT'S ACCURATE.
HAVING SAID THAT, THAT'S THE 
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW,
TO GIVE CANADIANS A BETTER SENSE
IN THE DAYS TO COME.
SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO SEE A MILD 
OUTCOME, MODERATE OUTCOME, MORE 
SEVERE OUTCOME.
AND WHAT KINDS OF DECISIONS, 
WHAT KINDS OF MEASURES, AND WHAT
KINDS OF CAPACITIES WOULD AFFECT
THOSE OUTCOMES.
I'LL TURN TO DR. TAM, AND MAYBE 
YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK 
YOU'RE DOING TO GET THE DATA 
FROM PROVINCES THAT WOULD HELP 
US WITH THAT MODELLING WORK.
>> I THINK EVERYONE IS WORKING 
HARD TO GET THE INFORMATION.
RIGHT NOW I WOULD SAY WE ARE 
LOOKING AT HOW DO WE INTERPRET 
THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE AS 
WELL.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MODELLING,
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES 
OF MODELLING.
THERE ARE SCENARIOS FOR PLANNING
PURPOSES, WHERE YOU COULD HAVE A
TEAM LOOK AT HOW MANY PERCENTAGE
OF THE POPULATION MAY GET SICK 
TO PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR HOSPITAL 
BEDS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE 
PROVINCES IS TAKING THE DATA, 
LIKE THE POSITIVE AND CONFIRMED 
CASES, TO SEE IF WE CAN TRACK 
WHERE WE'RE HEADING.
YOU CAN'T GO TOO FAR.
YOU CAN'T GUESS MONTHS DOWN THE 
ROAD.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER 
THE NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS THAT WE
GET REPORTED EVERY DAY ARE 
REPORTING US TO A CERTAIN 
DIRECTION, WHETHER THAT CURVE IS
BENDING.
LET'S TRY AND FIGURE OUT IS THE 
CURVE BENDING, IT'S IN EARLY 
DAYS, AS WE'VE SAID.
THE NEXT WEEKS ARE VERY 
IMPORTANT.
WE'RE NOT EXPECTING TO SEE TOO 
MUCH AT THIS POINT.
IN SETTING UP THAT CURVE AND 
LOOKING AT WHETHER IT'S BENDING,
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS FINE-TUNING 
THE INTERPRETATION OF OUR 
INFORMATION.
B.C., FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO 
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO 
THEIR TESTING STRATEGY.
AS I'VE JUST SAID, THE TESTING 
STRATEGY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU 
ARE IN THE EPIDEMIC CURVE, HOW 
WIDE A NET YOU MIGHT BE CASTING.
SO UNTIL WE GET THE NATURE OF 
THE TESTING STRATEGY AT EACH 
POINT IN TIME, THAT WILL HELP US
TO SEE IF WE CAN COMPARE THE 
DATA FROM EACH OF THE 
JURISDICTIONS.
IT'S NOT EASY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
TESTED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND 
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE 
UNDERSTAND HOW TO INTERPRET.
NOW, PUBLIC HEALTH, OF COURSE, 
AS I SAID, DON'T JUST MOVE ON 
PERFECT DATA.
WE WILL TAKE WHAT WE HAVE AND 
MAKE THE MOST OF THAT IN TERMS 
OF GIVING US OUR BEST 
INTERPRETATION AS TO WHERE THIS 
EPIDEMIC IS HEADING.
WE ALSO DO HAVE PACKETS FOR EACH
OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF 
CANADA.
THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING THE 
SAME OUTBREAK AND THE SAME 
TRAJECTORIES.
SO WE ARE RELYING ON EACH OF THE
JURISDICTIONS WHERE THEY DON'T 
HAVE THE MODELLING CAPACITY TO 
GET THAT DONE IN EACH OF THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES.
>> Question: OKAY.
SO, MINISTER HAJDU, IF I CAN GO 
BACK TO ONTARIO, WHAT IS BEING 
SEEN IN ONTARIO IS NOT ENOUGH 
TESTING.
DO YOU SHARE THE CONCERN ABOUT 
THE WAY ONTARIO IS HANDLING THIS
SITUATION?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION.
I'M GOING TO TURN THAT DIRECTLY 
TO DR. TAM BECAUSE SHE IS MUCH 
MORE CLOSELY LINKED WITH THE 
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS OF 
ONTARIO AND CAN ANSWER IT FROM A
MORE PRECISE PLACE.
>> SO I THINK THE EVOLUTION OF 
THE OUTBREAK IS, AS I SAID THE 
TIMING AND EVERYTHING IS A 
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
B.C. STARTED A LITTLE BIT 
EARLIER.
I THINK THE ONTARIO SITUATION --
ONTARIO IS A VERY VAST PLACE.
SO -- AND THEY'RE AT SOME OF THE
BEGINNINGS OF THAT EPIDEMIC 
CURVE.
SO I THINK WE WILL PROVIDE 
SUPPORT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO 
ONTARIO TO ENHANCE THE TESTING 
CAPABILITIES FOR SURE.
WE WANT TO ABSOLUTELY, THOUGH, 
AS I SAID, TEST AND FOCUS THE 
TESTING IN THE MOST HIGH-RISK 
SITUATIONS IF YOU LIKE.
YOU MUST TEST LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, 
AND ALL OF THOSE SITUATIONS 
WHERE THE TESTS RESULT IN A 
SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH 
ACTION.
SO YOU MUST CONTROL THOSE 
OUTCOMES.
MAKING SURE THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE 
FOCUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR 
ONTARIO, PARTICULARLY, FOR 
EXAMPLE, IN THE TORONTO AREA 
RIGHT NOW.
IT MAY BE REASONABLE THEN TO 
CAST THE NET WIDER ELSEWHERE IN 
ONTARIO WHERE THE DISEASE 
EPIDEMIOLOGY MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.
SO IT'S NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER, BUT
ALL I CAN SAY IS THEY NEED MORE 
TESTING CAPACITY.
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY WORKING 
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT 
CAPACITY IS IMPROVING.
WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE YOU 
MORE INFORMATION IN THE UPCOMING
DAYS.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
OPERATOR, QUESTION.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JAMIE 
PASELGUM.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: THANK YOU.
MY QUESTION IS CONCERNING 
CANADA'S PRISONS AND JAILS.
PEOPLE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESS,
THEY MAY SEE THAT THIS EPIDEMIC 
IS ALMOST A DEATH SENTENCE FOR 
THEM.
WHAT IS THE COMMITTEE DOING FOR 
THEM?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION.
WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE 
PARTICULAR CHALLENGES THAT 
PEOPLE IN JAIL AND THE PEOPLE 
WORKING IN JAILS AND PRISONS 
FACE IN THIS SITUATION.
MINISTER BLAIR IS VERY SEIZED OF
THIS ISSUE AND ADDRESSED IT AT 
THE COVID-19 CABINET COMMITTEE 
EARLIER THIS WEEK.
HE AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING VERY
HARD TO ENSURE PROTECTIVE 
MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT
BOTH INMATES AND GUARDS.
YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT TO FOCUS ON 
THIS ISSUE AND WE ARE AS WELL.
MINISTER BLAIR IS LOOKING AT 
WHETHER FURTHER ACTION MAY BE 
NECESSARY.
>> IF I CAN JUST ADD DR. TAM HAS
A FEW WORDS BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN 
WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
>> CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ARE 
ONE OF THE HIGH-RISK SETTINGS 
AND THEY ARE -- PRECISELY WHEN 
WE TALK ABOUT LAB TESTING, WE 
NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE LAB 
TESTING TO THOSE SETTINGS.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE 
HIGHEST-PRIORITY AREAS FOR 
FOCUSING OUR LAB CAPABILITIES.
WE PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO THESE 
TYPES OF SETTINGS AND ALSO THE 
MEDICAL OFFICERS AT THE FEDERAL 
LEVEL AT CORRECTIONAL SERVICES 
CANADA IS PART OF OUR GROUP OF 
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS WHO ARE 
CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THE 
EVIDENCE AND LOOKING AT HOW BEST
TO PROTECT THIS POPULATION.
OF COURSE THE KEY IS TO NOT 
INTRODUCE THIS VIRUS INTO THAT 
SETTING.
SO THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES WHICH
ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, I 
CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH ABOUT THAT.
SO ABSOLUTELY DOUBLE DOWN IN 
PREVENTION OF THE VIRUS.
>> THANK YOU, OPERATOR, ONE LAST
QUESTION BEFORE WE TURN TO THE 
ROOM.
>> Question: I HAD A FOLLOW-UP.
MY QUESTION IS FOR MR. MILLER.
YOU MENTIONED 305 MILLION GOING 
OUT TO COMMUNITIES.
COULD YOU CLARIFY, HAS THAT 
BEGUN NOW?
ARE COMMUNITIES NOW RECEIVING 
THIS MONEY?
>> Answer: THANK YOU, JAMIE.
TWO THINGS OCCURRED.
WE HAD EMERGENCY FUNDS IN OUR 
REGIONAL OFFICES THAT HAVE BEEN 
DISPERSED.
THAT IS ONLY A FRACTION AND NOT 
INCLUDED IN THE 305 MILLION.
THAT HAS TO THE BEST OF MY 
KNOWLEDGE BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND, 
MY REGIONAL OFFICES SENT OUT 
LETTERS ON LATE FRIDAY, EARLY 
SATURDAY CONFIRMING THE 
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY 
ALLOCATIONS.
THOSE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND 
DISPERSEMENT IS EXPECTED IN THE 
NEXT WEEK.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
>> Question: GOOD MORNING.
MINISTER HAJDU, I THINK THIS IS 
FOR YOU UNLESS IT'S FOR DR. TAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT WAS 
PROMISED FOR QUÉBEC.
YESTERDAY IT WAS SAID SOME 
EQUIPMENT WOULD BE DELIVERED IN 
THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DAY IT
WILL BE SHIPPED TO QUÉBEC, WHAT 
EQUIPMENT IS BEING SHIPPED, WHAT
QUANTITY OF THAT EQUIPMENT IS 
BEING SHIPPED.
ALSO ON THE 10 MILLION MASKS 
THAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
MENTIONED IS GOING TO BE 
DELIVERED AND REDISTRIBUTED TO 
PROVINCES, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT 
PORTION OF THAT IS GOING TO GO 
TO QUÉBEC?
>> Answer: THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION AND I'LL GIVE YOU 
NUMBERS.
I KNOW THERE IS INTEREST IN 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 
AND WHAT'S GONE OUT.
SINCE THE START OF THE WEEK 
WE'VE RECEIVED OVER 10 MILLION 
MASKS THANKS TO MEDICOM AND 
OVERNIGHT WE RECEIVED A SHIPMENT
OF 1.1 MILLION MASKS FROM A 
SUPPLIER IN HAMILTON.
WE ALSO GOT 500,000 MASKS FROM 
THE JACK MOFF FOUNDATION AND 
SOME FROM THE STOCKPILE THAT 
WILL BE GOING OUT.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF 
SHIPPING 174 VENTILATORS AND 
MORE ARE BEING DISPATCHED.
WE HAVE MORE SHIPMENTS ON THE 
WAY.
THE PROCUREMENT MINISTER AND HER
TEAM ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN
A DIFFICULT PROCUREMENT 
LANDSCAPE.
IN TERMS OF WHAT IS GOING WHERE,
THAT WORK IS HAPPENING WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
THROUGH THE SPECIAL ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE THAT THERESA WORKS 
THROUGH AND THROUGH THE DEPUTY 
MINISTERS OF HEALTH.
THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT, AS YOU
CAN IMAGINE, CONVERSATION, BUT 
IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES ARE 
WORKING INCREDIBLY 
COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE SURE 
THAT NOT ONLY THEIR NEEDS ARE 
MET, BUT WE CAN ANTICIPATE 
SURGES IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY 
AS THEY OCCUR.
I CANNOT GIVE YOU SPECIFIC 
NUMBERS OF WHICH PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES HAVE RECEIVED WHAT.
CERTAINLY YOU CAN ASK VARIOUS 
MINISTERS OF HEALTH IF THAT IS 
INFORMATION THEY WANT TO SHARE, 
BUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE ARE 
ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE 
COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF THESE 
CONVERSATIONS IN A DIFFICULT 
TIME.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO SEE, 
CANADA PULLING TOGETHER.
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
OBVIOUSLY PREPARING FOR THEIR 
OWN PARTICULAR SCENARIOS AND 
THEIR OWN PARTICULAR SURGES.
ALSO TO BE UNDERSTANDING THAT IF
PRODUCT IS NEEDED ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY IN AN AREA WHERE THERE 
IS AN SURGE, THAT THEY WILL BE 
THERE TO HELP THEIR FELLOW 
CANADIANS.
WE HAVE SEEN EVERY INDICATION 
THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> Question: THANKS FOR ALL THE 
NUMBERS, I APPRECIATE IT.
MAYBE IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME THE 
SPECIFIC NUMBERS, CAN YOU TELL 
ME HOW ALL THOSE RESOURCES ARE 
BEING ALLOCATED.
WHAT I MEAN IS, IS IT IN A 
PERCENTAGE WHERE THERE ARE THE 
MOST DIRE NEEDS, THEY GET A 
BIGGER PERCENTAGE OR THROUGH THE
REGULAR PROPORTION OF THE 
POPULATION OF CANADA.
I.E., QUÉBEC AND ONTARIO WOULD 
GET 20, 25%.
MY OTHER QUESTION IS WE'VE SEEN 
SOME SMALLER DISTRIBUTORS IN 
CANADA WHO ARE TRYING TO ORDER 
SHIPMENTS OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
BUT ARE GETTING OUTBID BY THE 
U.S. AMONGST OTHERS AND THEY 
CAN'T KEEP UP IN THE BIDDING 
WAR.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY 
POTENTIAL ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT.
COULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
SORT OF TAKE OVER BEING IN 
CHARGE OF THESE ORDERS OF 
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO AVOID THAT 
SMALLER DISTRIBUTORS GET OUTBID?
>> Answer: THAT'S TECHNICALLY 
TWO QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL ANSWER 
THEM BOTH.
ON THE ALLOCATION FORMULA, PART 
OF IT IS POPULATION BASED AND 
PART OF IT IS BASED ON NEED.
IT IS A CAREFUL FORMULA BASED ON
THE POPULATION, BUT THE ABILITY 
TO RAPIDLY DEPLOY RESOURCES TO 
AN AREA WE SEE A SURGE.
THOSE PROPORTIONS ARE BEING 
WORKED ON NOW.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE 
WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND WHAT WE'RE
GETTING IS A CONSENSUS FROM ALL 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES THAT 
THE FORMULA MEETS THEIR NEEDS 
AND THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH 
THAT FORMULA.
IN TERMS OF BIDDING WARS AND 
PEOPLE SCOOPING ORDERS AND ALL 
THE OTHER KINDS OF CRAZY THINGS 
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE 
PROCUREMENT SPACE OF PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, CERTAINLY 
I'VE HEARD THOSE STORIES AS 
WELL.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ENCOURAGING 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO 
WORK CLOSELY WITH US TO DO BULK 
PROCURING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
IT GIVES US BIGGER CLOUT WHEN 
TEAM CANADA IS BUYING PRODUCTS.
IN TERMS OF THAT WORK, OBVIOUSLY
WE KNOW THAT PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES DO HAVE SEPARATE 
ORDERS AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO 
COMMUNICATE THAT TO US SO WE CAN
KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE ORDERS AND 
ASSIST THEM AS WELL WITH ANY 
LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES THAT 
THEY'RE HAVING.
WE'VE CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR 
DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION THROUGH 
AMAZON AND OTHER PROVIDERS, AND 
THAT WILL HELP MAKE SURE THINGS 
CAN GET TO PLACES VERY QUICKLY 
IN CANADA.
WE ALSO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO 
HELP THEM WITH ORDERS THAT ARE 
STRANDED AROUND THE WORLD.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANK YOU.
QUESTION FROM THE ROOM.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: MY QUESTION IS MORE
MS. FREELAND.
DOES CANADA SUPPORT GLOBAL 
COORDINATED CUTS IN OIL 
PRODUCTION AND IS IT INVOLVED IN
TALKS WITH THE U.S., SAUDI 
ARABIA, OR RUSSIA OR OTHERS 
ABOUT LIMITING PRODUCTION?
>> Answer: WE ARE VERY AWARE OF 
THOSE REPORTS AND WE HAVE BEEN 
CONCERNED FOR SOME TIME ABOUT 
THE WAYS IN WHICH THE ACTIONS OF
RUSSIA AND SAUDI ARABIA HAVE 
DISRUPTED THE WORLD ENERGY 
MARKET THAT HAS HAD GRAVE 
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CANADIAN 
ENERGY SECTOR AND FOR THE 
CANADIAN ECONOMY MORE BROADLY.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE REALLY 
FOCUSED ON.
CANADA HAS BEEN IN VERY CLOSE 
CONTACT WITH THE UNITED STATES 
ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SECRETARY 
POMPEO ABOUT IT.
OUR AMBASSADOR KIRSTIN HILLMAN 
HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH 
THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THIS 
ISSUE.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH
WITH BOTH THE PROVINCE OF 
ALBERTA AND LEADERS IN THE 
CANADIAN ENERGY SECTOR.
JUST LATE LAST NIGHT I SPOKE TO 
PREMIER KENNEY ABOUT MANY 
THINGS, BUT VERY MUCH INCLUDING 
THE GLOBAL ENERGY MARKET AND 
ALSO WITH RUSS GIERLING AND 
MINISTER O'REGAN HAS BEEN IN 
VERY CLOSE TOUCH WITH HIS 
ALBERTA COUNTERPART AND ALSO 
WITH HIS U.S. COUNTERPART.
SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED.
WE ARE WATCHING THE SITUATION 
CLOSELY AND ARE VERY INVOLVED.
>> Question: SO IS CANADA 
CONSIDERING PARTICIPATING IN A 
GLOBAL COORDINATED EFFORT TO 
CURTAIL OIL PRODUCTION?
>> Answer: LET ME JUST SAY THAT 
THIS IS A VERY FAST-MOVING 
SITUATION.
THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE 
GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETS IS 
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY 
CONCERNED ABOUT, THE IMPACT ON 
CANADA, ON THE CANADIAN ENERGY 
SECTOR, AND ON THE CANADIAN 
ECONOMY FOR BROADLY HAS BEEN 
NEGATIVE AT A TIME WHEN OUR 
ECONOMY IS SUFFERING A LOT OF 
OTHER STRAINS.
IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW THIS 
SITUATION IS GOING TO DEVELOP, 
BUT WE'RE VERY CLOSELY ENGAGED.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY PREMIER
KENNEY IS VERY INVOLVED AND HE 
HAS ALSO BEEN PERSONALLY 
INVOLVED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH 
THE U.S. AND THAT HAS ALSO BEEN 
VERY HELPFUL.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Question: MINISTER FREELAND, 
THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE 
SHORT FALL THAT CERB WON'T 
COVER, SHOULD THEY RUN UP THEIR 
LINES OF CREDIT OR THEIR CREDIT 
CARDS?
THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH 
FORWARD-THINKING WHAT HAPPENS 
AFTER FOUR MONTHS, WHERE SHOULD 
THEY GET THAT CREDIT?
>> Answer: I DON'T AGREE WITH 
MANY OF THE PREMISES PACKED INTO
THAT QUESTION, BUT LET ME JUST 
SAY THE FOLLOWING.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA VERY 
MUCH UNDERSTANDS THAT THE IMPACT
OF THE CORONAVIRUS, BOTH ON THE 
GLOBAL ECONOMY AND ON THE 
CANADIAN ECONOMY HAS BEEN HUGE.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 
STEPS WE ARE STRONGLY URGING 
CANADIANS TO TAKE TO PROTECT THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL OF US 
HAVE A DEVASTATING ECONOMIC 
IMPACT IN AND OF ITSELF.
THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS 
STEPPED UP WITH THE LARGEST 
ECONOMIC RESPONSE IN CANADIAN 
HISTORY TO SUPPORT THE CANADIAN 
ECONOMY, WITH THE CERB TO 
SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST 
THEIR JOBS OR CAN'T WORK BECAUSE
OF THE CORONAVIRUS, WITH THE 75%
WAGE SUBSIDY.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS THE 
BIGGEST ECONOMIC PROGRAM OF ANY 
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AND WITH 
HUGE INJECTIONS OF LIQUIDITY 
INTO THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM TO 
ALLOW BANKS TO LEND.
THIS IS TRULY AN IMMENSE 
RESPONSE AND, THAT'S RIGHT, IT 
IS COMMENSURATE WITH THE SIZE OF
THE ISSUE.
NOW, YOU ASKED WHAT HAPPENS 
AFTER FOUR MONTHS AND TO THAT 
POINT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT 
CANADIANS THIS SITUATION IS 
UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW.
I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND 
DR. TAM DOESN'T HAVE A CRYSTAL 
BALL, NO ONE DOES.
WHAT I CAN ASSURE CANADIANS IS 
WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR
HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO KEEP 
INDIVIDUAL CANADIANS ABLE TO NOT
JUST GET BY, BUT REALLY SUPPORT 
THEMSELVES IN A DECENT WAY AND 
TO KEEP CANADIAN COMPANIES WHOLE
AND SOUND.
SO WE ARE HERE FOR THE LONG TERM
OBVIOUSLY.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TRULY 
HAS THE FISCAL FIRE-POWER TO DO 
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
NO G7 COUNTRY ENTERED THIS 
CRISIS IN A STRONGER FISCAL 
POSITION THAN CANADA, AND THAT 
REALLY SHOULD REASSURE CANADIANS
THAT WE ARE THERE FOR THEM 
TODAY.
THESE ECONOMIC MEASURES ARE 
E
HUGE.
WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR 
THEM FOR HOWEVER LONG WE NEED TO
BEFORE THE CANADIAN ECONOMY -- 
UNTIL THE CRISIS ENDS AND IT 
WILL.
THIS WILL END.
WE CAN'T SAY WHEN, BUT WE KNOW 
IT WILL END, AND WHEN IT DOES 
OUR JOB AS A GOVERNMENT IS TO 
MAKE SURE INDIVIDUAL CANADIANS 
AND CANADIAN BUSINESSES ARE ABLE
TO COME ROARING BACK.
>> Question: MY SECOND QUESTION 
WHAT I MEANT TO CLARIFY WAS ARE 
WE PROVIDING -- ARE WE ASKING 
BANKS TO DEFER PERSONAL LOANS SO
MUCH AS THE SAME ACTION WE'VE 
TAKEN WITH BUSINESSES.
BUT MY SECOND QUESTION IS FOR 
MINISTER CHAMPAGNE AND MINISTER 
HIED AND DR. TAM.
U.S. INTELLIGENCE YESTERDAY, IT 
WAS REPORTED THAT IT HAS BEEN 
SHOWN THAT CHINA TOOK STEPS TO 
COVER UP THE OUTBREAK WHEN IT 
INITIALLY HAPPENED AND 
CONTINUING THEREAFTER UNDER 
REPORTING NUMBERS TO THE W.H.O. 
AND THERE ARE STORIES OF THEM 
DISCREDITING ONE OF THE DOCTORS 
THAT DISCOVERED THIS TOO.
DO WE TRUST CHINA TO PROVIDE 
ACCURATE INFORMATION TO THE 
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT?
AND ALSO, IF WE'RE MAKING 
PROJECTIONS BASED ON OUTCOMES 
GLOBALLY AND WHAT WE SEE AT 
HOME, HOW CAN WE BE SURE OF 
ACCURATE MODELLING IF THE 
COUNTRY THAT WAS THE CENTRE OF 
THE OUTBREAK HAS BEEN LOWBALLING
OR HIDING ITS DATA?
>> Answer: I WOULD SAY FIRST OFF
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS
INFORMATION.
I JUST HAD A CALL WITH THE NATO 
ALLIES A FEW HOURS AGO.
CANADA GETS ITS DATA FROM THE 
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
WE TRUST THE INTERNATIONAL U.N. 
BODY TO PROVIDE ACCURATE 
INFORMATION TO DIFFERENT BODIES 
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT 
WE'RE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE 
STORIES THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND
THE WORLD.
WE NEED TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE 
IN DEMOCRACY UPHOLDING FACTS 
WHEN IT COMES TO A CRISIS LIKE 
THAT.
PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME DESERVE 
DATA AND THE TRUTH WHEN IT COMES
TO ACTUAL DATA.
I CAN ASSURE YOU NOT ONLY WE'RE 
WORKING WITH THE G7, G20, AND 
NATO PARTNERS THIS MORNING, WE 
ARE WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT 
WE NEED TO WORK ON A 
MULTILATERAL BASIS SO THAT NOT 
ONLY CAN CANADA BASE ITS 
ASSESSMENT ON DATA, BUT ALSO 
OTHER ALLIES.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THIS, THERE'S 
NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO 
COOPERATE, CONSULT, AND 
COORDINATE IN THE WORLD WHEN IT 
COMES TO THIS.
THIS IS AN ENEMY THAT IS 
INVISIBLE AND NO KNOWSS  -- KNOS
NO BORDER.
I WILL TURN OVER TO MINISTER 
HAJDU.
>> WE DON'T RELY ON ANY ONE 
COUNTRY'S SOURCE OF DATA.
IT'S THE WORLD HEALTH 
ORGANIZATION WHO COORDINATES THE
DATA.
DR. TAM IS THE SPECIAL ADVISER 
TO THE COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN 
WORKING ON THE PANDEMIC SINCE 
THE VERY EARLY DAYS.
DR. RUSS ELDRIGE LED THE 
COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY
COULD DO ON THE GROUND IN TERMS 
OF CHINA'S CAPACITY TO HAVE A 
FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS 
HAPPENING.
THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE 
DATA COMING OUT OF CHINA IN 
TERMS OF INFECTION AND DEATH 
RATE WAS FALSIFIED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEATH RATE IN
CHINA, IT'S HIGHER THAN THE ONE 
WE'RE SEEING NOW.
SO WE RELY ON THE WORLD HEALTH 
ORGANIZATION TO DO THIS 
IMPORTANT WORK BECAUSE OF COURSE
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST 
IMPORTANT THINGS TO UNDERSTAND 
ABOUT THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS 
THAT AS LONG AS CORONAVIRUS 
EXISTS IN ONE COUNTRY, IT EXISTS
IN ALL OF OUR COUNTRIES, THAT WE
ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK COLLECTIVE
AS A WORLD NOW TO DEFEAT THIS 
VIRUS, TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO 
TREAT AND THEN EVENTUALLY 
PREVENT THIS VIRUS THROUGH 
VACCINATION OR OTHER TYPES OF 
METHODS AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE
EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER.
>> Question: 
[ Indiscernible ] -- 
>> PLEASE LET HER FINISH.
>> Question: 
[ Indiscernible ] -- 
>> Answer: I WOULD SAY YOUR 
QUESTION IS FEEDING INTO 
CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT MANY 
PEOPLE ARE PERPETUATING ON THE 
INTERNET.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER 
THERE IS NO WAY TO BEAT A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO
WORK TOGETHER AS A GLOBE.
WE WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A 
GLOBAL SOLUTION TO THIS VIRUS.
NO COUNTRY IS AN ISLAND.
I AM SO PROUD OF THE CANADIAN 
RESEARCHERS PART OF THE WORLD 
HEALTH ORGANIZATION SOLIDARITY 
PROJECT THAT ARE WORKING ON 
DEVELOPING VACCINES AND 
TREATMENTS FOR THIS VIRUS THAT 
UNDOUBTEDLY ARE GOING TO BE A 
BIG PART OF THE SOLUTION ABOUT 
HOW WE ALL GET OURSELVES OUT OF 
THIS SITUATION.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
>> Question: MS. HAJDU, WE KNOW 
THAT HUNDREDS OF FOREIGN-TRAINED
DOCTORS REALLY WANT TO HELP OUT 
IN THIS SITUATION.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE PASSED 
REQUIRED TESTS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN CERTIFIED BY OFFICIALS.
WE'RE POINTED TO THE FACT THAT 
ONE OF THE FIRST SYRIAN REFUGEES
WHO ARRIVED IN 2015 IS A DOCTOR 
AND WANTS TO HELP, BUT HE CAN'T.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO FACILITATE 
GETTING THESE DOCTORS INTO THE 
SYSTEM?
>> Answer: I'LL GIVE A GENERAL 
STATEMENT AND MAYBE, DR. TAM, 
THIS HAS COME UP ON YOUR SPECIAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
YES, THE SHORT ANSWER IS 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES ARE 
LOOKING AT EVERY POSSIBLE WAY TO
GET FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS
ON THE FRONTLINES, INCLUDING 
GETTING RETIREES BACK AND 
INCLUDING HOW WE BETTER GET AT 
THE CREDENTIALLY FOR 
PROFESSIONALS.
IT'S DIFFICULT WORK.
I'M SURE THAT DR. TAM HAS MORE 
SPECIFIC UPDATES.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT 
EVERY ANGLE AT IMPROVING OUR 
HEALTH HUMAN RESOURCE DURING A 
DIFFICULT TIME.
HEALTH CANADA HAS INITIATED A 
RECRUITMENT APPROACH, WHEREBY --
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 
LAUNCHED ON THE WEBSITE OR NOT, 
ESSENTIALLY IS ASKING PEOPLE WHO
HAVE THE SKILLSETS TO DO PUBLIC 
HEALTH, CONTACT TRACING AND 
OTHER SKILLS THAT PROVINCES ARE 
LOOKING FOR, TO APPLY THROUGH 
THAT PORTAL.
IT'S NOT THE SAME AS GETTING 
YOUR LICENCE.
THAT IS A PROVINCIAL LICENSURE 
AREA.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE PEOPLE WHO 
THINK THEY CAN HELP IN THE 
HEALTH RESPONSE TO BE APPLYING 
THROUGH THAT PORTAL.
>> Question: THE SECOND QUESTION
IS FOR DR. TAM.
AT THE HEALTH COMMITTEE IN 
JANUARY YOU SAID EVEN THOUGH IT 
WAS POSSIBLE WITH PEOPLE WITH 
SYMPTOMS TO SPREAD THE VIRUS BUT
IT WAS RARE.
NOW THAT WE KNOW IT'S NOT RARE, 
I WONDER IF YOU REGRET BEING SO 
DEFINITIVE.
>> Answer: PEOPLE WITH SYMPTOMS 
ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT IN 
THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.
WE'RE ALWAYS OBVIOUSLY LOOKING 
AT SCIENCE AS IT EVOLVES.
AND WE HAVE OF COURSE HAD 
PATIENTS THAT ARE 
PRE-SYMPTOMATIC OR ASYMPTOMATIC.
WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE WAS 
HOW MUCH THAT PLAYS IN THE FORCE
OF TRANSMISSION.
THAT IMPACTS THE SCIENCE A BIT 
AND THIS IS VERY MUCH LIVE IN 
TERMS OF THE SCIENTIFIC 
COMMUNITY AND IN TERMS OF ITS 
ANALYSIS.
IT MAY DEPEND ON WHAT SETTING 
YOU'RE IN, AS TO WHETHER THAT 
PARTICULAR COMPONENT PLAYS ANY 
PART IN DRIVING THE ACTUAL 
OUTBREAK.
SO AS I'VE SAID, AREAS LIKE 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, WE 
NOW HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT DOES 
THIS MEAN EXACTLY IF -- 
PARTICULARLY IN PATIENTS OR 
RESIDENTS WHO CAN'T REALLY 
DESCRIBE THEIR SYMPTOMS OR 
DOESN'T REALLY -- THEY MAY BE 
PRE-SYMPTOMATIC.
SO ALL OF THIS IS CURRENTLY 
BEING INTEGRATED IN TERMS OF THE
SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS.
SO IF WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR 
APPROACH, WE WILL ACCORDING -- 
BECAUSE THIS IS JUST THE SCIENCE
THAT'S BUILDING UP RIGHT NOW.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO RETURN BACK TO 
THE PHONE FOR THREE QUESTIONS.
[End of Translation]. 
>> Question: [Speaking French] 
[Voice of Interpreter] MY 
QUESTION IS FOR DR. TAM.
I WOULD LIKE IF YOU CAN TELL US 
IN FRENCH HOW RIGHT NOW WHILE 
YOU'RE SAYING THAT MODELLING AND
ANALYSIS WILL BE COMING SHORTLY,
WHAT IS IMPORTANT, WHAT ARE YOU 
FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE 
TO GIVE US THIS INFORMATION AND 
THIS ANALYSIS IN THE FUTURE.
ALSO, I'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT 
YOUR ABILITY FOR PROJECTIONS IN 
ONTARIO.
YOU LIVE THERE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW TO 
INCREASE CAPACITY THERE?
>> Answer:  -- 
>> DR. NJOO WILL ANSWER THE 
QUESTION.
GO AHEAD.
>> Answer: THANK YOU VERY MUCH 
FOR YOUR QUESTION.
DR. TAM AND ALL OUR PROVINCIAL 
AND TERRITORIAL COUNTERPARTS ARE
WORKING TOGETHER CLOSELY.
WE HAVE EXPERTS WORKING ON 
MODELLING AND OF COURSE DR. TAM 
HAS SAID EVERY PROVINCE HAS 
THEIR OWN EXPERTS DOING THEIR 
OWN PROJECTIONS AND MODELLING.
ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE'RE 
WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER ON 
PROJECTIONS.
BUT AS WE'VE ALREADY SAID, THERE
ARE TWO ASPECTS TO THIS.
FIRST, THE QUALITY OF THE DATA.
IF WE DON'T HAVE GOOD-QUALITY 
DATA, OUR PROJECTIONS AND WHAT 
WE'RE GOING TO DO IN TERMS OF 
RESULTS WON'T BE RELIABLE.
THAT'S THE FIRST POINT.
THE OTHER ASPECT IS THAT IF WE 
DO MODELLING, IT ALWAYS DEPENDS 
ON WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW WITH 
MEASURES IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
IF WE'RE REALLY EFFECTIVE AT 
THIS -- ON THIS AS CANADIANS, 
WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW WILL 
ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE 
MODELLING IN TERMS OF WHAT WE 
CAN EXPECT IN A FEW WEEKS.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK 
TOGETHER.
IT'S HARD TO GIVE YOU FIGURES 
BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON THESE TWO 
ASPECTS, THE QUALITY OF THE DATA
AS I SAID.
WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER.
WE KNOW THAT THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES CONTINUE TO WORK 
HARD TO GIVE US THE 
BEST-POSSIBLE DATA.
THE OTHER ASPECT IS THAT WHAT 
WE'RE DOING NOW IS VERY 
IMPORTANT.
IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE IF 
EVERYONE, IF ALL CANADIANS 
CONTINUE TO PRACTICE PROPER 
PHYSICAL DISTANCING, THIS CAN 
HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE DATA AND 
ALSO ON THE OUTCOME OF THE 
MODELLING.
>> Question: AND IN TERMS OF 
ONTARIO?
>> Answer: WELL, IN TERMS OF 
ONTARIO, WE'RE ENHANCING THEIR 
CAPACITY FOR TESTING, AND 
DR. TAM AND MYSELF AND OUR 
COUNTERPARTS CONTINUE TO WORK 
VERY HARD TO HELP ONTARIO'S 
HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO ENHANCE 
THEIR CAPACITY TO TEST 
ONTARIANS.
[ PLEASE STAND BY ]
>> WE'VE REACHED AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. TO
CLOSE THE BORDER.
WE NEEDED COORDINATION --
WE HAD TO ALLOW TRUCKERS
THROUGH.
SINCE THE BEGINNING,
CANADA HAS SPOKEN TO
COUNTRIES.
WE'VE EVEN TALKED ABOUT
AIR BRIDGES THAT WERE IN
PLACE DURING THE SECOND
WORLD WAR.
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
CONTINUE, WHETHER IT IS IN
TERMS OF RESEARCHERS OR
TECHNICIANS OR EQUIPMENT.
OBVIOUSLY SUPPLY CHAINS
HAVE BEEN RELATED TO
VARIOUS INITIATIVES.
I THINK THE MINISTER WAS
EXPLAINING THAT THIS IS
THE PLIGHT OF OUR
HUMANITY.
WE'RE FACING A COMMON
ENEMY.
THIS PANDEMIC THAT IS
WORLDWIDE.
>> Rosemary: ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO TURN AWAY
FROM THIS FEDERAL BRIEFING
TODAY, WHERE THE FOCUS WAS
LARGELY ON PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
THE HEALTH MINISTER
REPORTING THAT TENS OF
MILLIONS OF MASKS HAVE
COME INTO THE COUNTRY OVER
THE PAST NUMBER OF DAYS,
AND THEY WILL NOW BE
SHIPPED OUT TO PROVINCES
AS NEEDED.
AND, SO, LET US TURN TO
QUEBEC, WHICH IS DEALING
WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
CASES IN THIS COUNTRY FOR
THEIR DAILY BRIEFING.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON, AND
I'M SIGNING OFF AND MY
COLLEAGUE, ANDREW NICHOLS,
WILL PICK UP.
[Speaking French]
>> Premier:[Speaking through
interpreter]
IT REMAINS THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
RESPECTING THE GUIDELINES.
THERE ARE PEOPLE
GATHERING, LESS THAN TWO
METRES AWAY, AND THERE ARE
BUSINESSES THAT DO NOT
OFFER ESSENTIAL SERVICES
AND PRODUCTS THAT
CONTINUE.
AND AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE
TO PUT ALL OF THE CHANCES
ON OUR SIDE TO REDUCE THE
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
SO TODAY -- TODAY I HAVE
SENT, AND I AM SENDING A
MESSAGE, TO THE POLICE
OFFICERS OF THE SÛRETÉ
du QUÉBEC, AS WELL AS THE
POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF THE
GREATER CITIES, TO BE LESS
TOLERANT.
I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WE
CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT THAT
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHERE A
VAST MAJORITY ARE MAKING
GREAT EFFORTS, AND THAT
THESE EFFORTS BE BANISHED
BY THE ACTIONS OF A FEW
WHO DON'T TAKE IT
SERIOUSLY.
SO POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE
HANDING OUT MORE FINES,
AND I REPEAT THAT THEY
VARY BETWEEN $1,000 TO
$6,000 PER PERSON.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS
WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT RESPECTING THE
GUIDELINES SHOULD HAVE.
SO I'M ASKING THE MAYORS
OF THE GREATER CITIES, AS
WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE
THOSE GUIDELINES
RESPECTED.
THIS IS SERIOUS.
THERE ARE LIVES BEING
ENDANGERED.
AND IF WE CONTINUE SEEING
GATHERINGS AND COMPANIES
THAT ARE STILL OPEN WHEN
THEY'RE NOT ESSENTIAL,
THERE WILL BE LIVES AND
THERE WILL BE DEATHS.
SO IT IS VERY SERIOUS.
AND THOSE DEATHS, WE DON'T
KNOW, IT COULD BE YOUR
GRANDMOTHER, IT COULD BE
YOUR BROTHER.
SO PLEASE, LET'S SHOW A
BIT MORE SOLIDARITY.
MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
LET'S BE LESS TOLERANT.
THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN
DENUNCIATIONS, I THINK
THERE WERE 7,000 TO THE
POLICE OFFICERS, WHILE THE
PEOPLE WHO SEE THAT THE
GUIDELINES ARE NOT BEING
RESPECTED, I THINK THAT'S
WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
NOW, THE NUMBERS OF THE
DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE
THREE NEW DEATHS, SO WE'RE
NOW AT 36.
AND I OFFER MY SINCEREST
CONDOLENCES TO THE
FAMILIES AND LOVED ONE OF
THOSE THREE NEW VICTIMS.
WE NOW HAVE 5,518 CASES,
AN INCREASE OF 907.
365 PEOPLE BEING
HOSPITALIZED, AND THAT IS
AN INCREASE OF 58.
AND WE NOW HAVE 96% IN
INTENSIVE CARE.
AN INCREASE OF 14.
AS YOU SEE, THE NUMBER OF
CASES IS INCREASING.
BUT IF WE COMPARE
OURSELVES, IF WE LOOK AT
THE DEATH RATE, BECAUSE
THAT IS, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, ONE OF IT'S THINGS
THAT IS IMPORTANT,
LIMITING THE DEATHS.
OF COURSE ONE DEATH IS ONE
TOO MANY.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK IN
PERCENTAGE OF THE
POPULATION, WE HAVE FEWER
DEATHS, MUCH FEWER DEATHS,
IN QUEBEC THAN THE UNITED
STATES OR ANY COUNTRY IN
EUROPE.
SO IT HAS TO STAY THAT
WAY.
BUT IN ORDER FOR IT TO
STAY THAT WAY, EVERYBODY
HAS TO FOLLOW THE
GUIDELINES.
ALSO WHAT I WISH TO TELL
YOU IS THAT OUR HEALTH
NETWORK IS READY.
I WAS TELLING YOU
YESTERDAY, WE HAVE BEDS, A
LOT OF BEDS.
UNLIKE OTHER STATES IN THE
WORLD.
AND ALSO WHAT IS
IMPORTANT, AND WE MADE A
FULL EXERCISE OF THIS, YOU
KNOW THOSE VENTILATORS
THAT WE KEEP TALKING
ABOUT, WE HAVE ENOUGH IN
WHAT THE PREDICTIONS ARE,
AS FAR AS THE PEAK IS
CONCERNED, AND THERE IS
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
WORLD THAT CAN SAY THAT,
THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH
VENTILATORS, SO THAT IS A
HUGE ADVANTAGE.
NOW, AS FAR AS THE
INDIVIDUAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT IS CONCERNED,
THE MASKS, THE GLOVES, THE
GOWNS, WE RECEIVED A FEW
ORDERS.
IT IS TRUE THAT IT IS
ARRIVING BIT BY BIT.
WE'RE STILL AT ABOUT A
WEEK'S WORTH OF INVENTORY,
AND IT IS CONTINUING TO
ARRIVE IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
ESTABLISHMENTS SAY I DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH FOR SEVEN
DAYS.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
EVERY DAY IT HAPPENS THAT
WE TAKE EQUIPMENT THAT IS
IN ONE ESTABLISHMENT THAT
HAS MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS
WORTH, AND TO SEND IT TO
ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT THAT
HAS FEWER THAN SEVEN DAYS
WORTH.
SO LET'S BE PRUDENT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT EVERY
ESTABLISHMENT HAS SEVEN
DAYS' WORTH, BUT IN TOTAL
IN QUEBEC, WE HAVE ENOUGH
FOR SEVEN DAYS.
I SAW SOME NEWS, AND IT IS
TRUE THAT IN CERTAIN
COUNTRIES THINGS ARE, YOU
KNOW -- THEY'RE ROUGH.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO NAME
THEM.
BUT WE ARE ALSO PLAYING
ALONG WITH THE RULES OF
THE GAME, WHICH MEANS THAT
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO HAVE
CASH, WE HAVE TO HAVE
POLICE OFFICERS, WE HAVE
TO HAVE PEOPLE FOLLOWING
THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION.
BUT DON'T WORRY, WE ARE
DOING EVERYTHING THAT CAN
BE DONE SO THAT THE ORDERS
THAT WE ARE ORDERING MAKE
IT TO OUR HOSPITALS HERE
IN QUEBEC.
MY DAILY THANKS TO ALL OF
THE HEALTH CARE STAFF.
AND PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T
SAID IT OFTEN, BUT I ALSO
WANT TO WISH -- I ALSO
WANT TO SAY A WORD ABOUT
THE STAFF THAT IS WORKING
WITH DR. RUTA AT PUBLIC
HEALTH.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF
SCIENTISTS, AND I THINK
THIS IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE
THAT WE HAVE IN QUEBEC, WE
HAVE SCIENTISTS WHO EVERY
DAY COMMIT RECOMMENDATIONS
TO US, AND I WISH TO
REALLY THANK THEM BECAUSE
THEY WORK NIGHT AND DAY.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS
THE STAFF THAT WORKS WITH
A SENSE OF DUTY AND WITH
HUMANITY.
AND I WISH TO THANK THEM.
BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED
MORE THAN JUST THANKING
PEOPLE.
WE ALSO NEED CONCRETE
ACTIONS.
AND THIS AFTERNOON THE
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH ARE
GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING AN
IMPROVEMENT TO THE WAGES.
WE'RE TALKING A TOTAL AND
AN AMOUNT THAT IS GOING TO
BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT,
$297 MILLION.
AND THAT IS GOING TO
IMPROVE THE WAGES OF THOSE
WHO ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT
WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL.
AND, AS WELL, BECAUSE I
THINK THAT IS WHERE THERE
IS THE MOST WORK TO BE
DONE.
THE ATTENDANTS IN PRIVATE
RESIDENCES AND HOMES, IT'S
BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT.
THEY HAVE A VERY LOW
SALARY.
WE WILL BE INCREASING IT,
BUT BY $4 AN HOUR.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE
WORKERS OF THOSE HOMES IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR BE
PAID.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE
LOOK AT ALL OF THESE
IMPROVEMENTS AND THESE
INCREASES, I'VE NEVER SEEN
A GROUP THAT DESERVES AN
INCREASE IN WAGES AS MUCH
AS THESE PEOPLE.
SO THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED
THIS AFTERNOON WITH MORE
DETAIL.
AND I WILL END WITH MY
THREE PRIORITIES, MORE
THAN EVER: DON'T GO OUT
UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY.
DON'T GO OUT.
I DON'T WANT US TO EMPTY
THE GROCERY STORES, BUT IF
YOU CAN GO LESS OFTEN TO
DO THE GROCERIES, THAT'S A
GOOD IDEA.
AND WHEN YOU DO GO OUT,
EVEN WHEN YOU GO TO THE
GROCERIES, EVEN WHEN YOU
GO FOR A WALK, ALWAYS KEEP
TWO METRES AND DON'T
GATHER UP IN PARKS.
AND WHEN YOU COME BACK,
YOU WASH YOUR HANDS
CORRECTLY, WITH SOAP.
SO I'M CONVINCED IF
EVERYBODY -- AND I REPEAT,
ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY -- IF
EVERYBODY RESPECTS THE
GUIDELINES, WE WILL SAVE
HUNDREDS OF LIVES IN
QUEBEC.
AND LET'S LOOK AT THE
STATISTICS, SUCH AS THEY
ARE.
I'M PROUD TO SEE THAT IN
QUEBEC WE HAVE FEWER
DEATHS PER MILLION PEOPLE.
THAN IN NEW YORK, THAN IN
THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT'S HOW WE WANT TO
KEEP IT.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
>> A FEW WORDS IN ENGLISH?
>> Premier: YES.
[End of translation]
>> Premier: TODAY'S
NUMBERS SHOWS US AN
IMPORTANT INCREASE IN
CASES, BUT OUR HEALTH
NETWORK IS READY TO FACE
IT.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS TO FOLLOW THE PUBLIC
HEALTH DIRECTIVES.
IF SOMEONE STILL THOUGHT
IT WASN'T SERIOUS, IT IS
TIME TO WAKE UP.
NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES
MUST CLOSE AND GATHERINGS
MUST STOP.
IF THEY DON'T, PLEASE WILL
DISTRIBUTE FINES AND FORCE
PEOPLE WHO ISOLATION.
IT'S A QUESTION OF LIFE OR
DEATH.
SO EVERYBODY MUST CONTINUE
TO FOLLOW OUR THREE
PRIORITIES: DON'T GO OUT
UNLESS IT IS NECESSARY.
IF YOU DO GO OUT, KEEP
YOUR DISTANCES.
AND WHEN YOU COME BACK
HOME, WASH YOUR HANDS.
IT IS QUITE SIMPLE.
IF EVERYBODY FOLLOWED
THOSE RULES, WE WILL SAVE
LIVES.
AND I WILL THANK YOU ALL.
[End of translation]
>> MERCÍ, MR. PREMIER.
[Speaking French][Speaking throh
interpreter]
AND NOW FOR THE QUESTIONS.
>> Question: HELLO,
MR. LEGAULT.
IF PEOPLE CONTINUE
GATHERING AND CERTAIN
STORE
