CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD MET
VIRTUALLY BY VIDEO CONFERENCE
THIS MORNING AND WE ARE STANDING
BY TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT FROM
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADA'S PRIME
MINISTER, AS WE AWAIT HIS DAILY
BRIEFING WHICH WILL HAPPEN IN 15
MINUTE'S TIME.
TO GIVE YOU A STATE OF PLAY HERE
IN THIS COUNTRY, LET ME BRING
YOU UP TO DATE ON THE RECENT
NUMBERS.
MORE THAN 3400 CASES, CONFIRMED
CASES OF COVID-19, AT LEAST 36
DEATHS, NEARLY HALF OF CANADA'S
COVID-19 CASES ARE BEING
ACQUIRED THROUGH COMMUNITY
SPREAD WHICH IS, OF COURSE, ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS ARE TELLING PEOPLE TO
STAY INSIDE AND LIMIT THEIR
SOCIALIZING AND TO SELF ISOLATE
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IT CAME THROUGH TRAVEL BUT GIVEN
MUCH OF THE TRAVEL HAS NOW BEEN
SHUT DOWN INTO THIS COUNTRY OR
HEAVILY RESTRICTED, THE
COMMUNITY SPREAD HAS BECOME THE
BIGGEST CAUSE OF THIS OR AT
LEAST HALF OF THE CAUSE OF THIS
AND IS THE MAJOR CONCERN FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
EVERY PROVINCE AND TERRITORY HAS
NOW DECLARED SOME SORT OF STATE
OF EMERGENCY, HEALTH EMERGENCY
OR GENERAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
PROVINCES ARE LIMITING WHO IS
COMING INTO THEIR PROVINCES AND
TELLING PEOPLE TO SELF-ISOLATE
FOR 14 DAYS EVEN IF THEY'VE
TRAVELED WITHIN CANADA.
I JUST WANT TO SHOW EVERYONE A
SHOT, A PHOTO, IF I CAN, OF THE
G20 LEADERS IN THIS
EXTRAORDINARY TIME MEETING AND
VIRTUALLY.
ALL OF THEM AROUND THE WORLD
GETTING TOGETHER FOR A LARGE
TELECONFERENCE.
I BELIEVE YOU CAN SEE OUR PRIME
MINISTER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
THERE.
THAT CALL, AN ATTEMPT TO TALK
NOT JUST ABOUT CONTROLLING THE
PANDEMIC AND MAKING SURE THE
WORLD'S HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS
ENOUGH MONEY AND CAPACITY BUT
MAKING SURE THEY CAN SHORE UP
THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
THERE HE IS, A NICE CLOSE-UP OF
HIM THERE.
SO, OBVIOUSLY, THE PRIME
MINISTER WILL TALK ABOUT THAT
WHEN HE HEAR FROM HIM IN 15
MINUTE'S TIME.
LET ME BRING IN VASSEY KAPELOS
AND CATHERINE CULLEN.
SO OBVIOUSLY THIS MEETING COMES
AFTER A G7 MEETING WHERE THERE
WAS A LOT OF DIFFICULTY, I
THINK, WITH THE SECRETARY OF
STATE, MIKE POMPEO, BECAUSE THE
UNITED STATES WANTED THE
STATEMENT WHICH NEVER CAME OUT
TO INCLUDE SOME LANGUAGE THAT
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
PROPAGATING INSTEAD OF CALLING
IT COVID-19, TRYING TO CALL IT
THE CHINA VIRUS AND WUHAN VIRUS
AND THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ANY OF
THE OTHER G7 FOREIGN MINISTERS,
SO NO STATEMENT CAME OUT OF THAT
CALL.
I WOULD IMAGINE, SOUNDS LIKE,
THAT THE G20 CALL WENT BETTER.
VASSY, I THINK YOU JUST FINISHED
INTERVIEWING THE MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS?
>> Vassy:  I DID.
I DON'T WANT TO PREEMPT
EVERYTHING HE SAYS.
HE DID NOT WANT TO OVERSTEP THE
PRIME MINISTER.
BUT I WILL MAKE THIS POINT AND I
THINK THIS IS WHAT, FOR ME, WAS
THE SORT OF SUBSTANCE OF MY LINE
OF QUESTIONING AND HAS TO DO
WITH WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP.
THAT IS THE U.S. RESPONSE VERSUS
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING
THIS COUNTRY.
THERE IS A DESIRE ON THE PART OF
THE G20 AND G7 TO HAVE SOME
LEVEL OF COORDINATION IN THAT
RESPONSE AND THE GLOW OF
COMMUNICATION REMAINING OPEN OR
MORE OPEN, I GUESS, THAN NORMAL.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES
TO THE U.S. RESPONSE AND YOU'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A FEW
DAYS ON THIS SPECIAL, IS SORT OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE
PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT OF THIS
SOUTH OF THE BORDER AND
PARTICULARLY IN NEW YORK STATE,
WHERE WE ARE SEEING MASSIVE
INCREASES IN THE VIRUS, IN THE
INCIDENTS OF THE VIRUS, AS WELL
AS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS
BECAUSE OF IT, TOO.
THE PRESIDENT HAS COME OUT FOR
THE PAST 48 HOURS, A BIT LONGER,
ACTUALLY, AND SAID WE WANT THE
COUNTRY BACK UP AND RUNNING BY
EASTER, WE THINK THAT'S
POSSIBLE.
AND HE'S FOCUSING ON THE
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON ALL OF THIS,
WHICH, OF COURSE, WILL BE HUGE
AND NOBODY IS ARGUING AGAINST
THAT.
IT RAISES THE QUESTION FOR THIS
GOVERNMENT IN HOW IT APPROACHES
ITS OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
UNITED STATES AND MORE TO THE
POINT HOW IT APPROACHES THE
BORDER.
THEY HAVE TALKED AT LENGTH HOW
UNPRECEDENTED THE RESTRICTIONS
AT THE BORDER ARE.
IN OUR INTERVIEW, MINISTER
FRANCOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE SAYS
THEY'VE CLOSED DOWN THAT BORDER.
HE WAS EXTREMELY HESITANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO
GO FURTHER.
IF CIRCUMSTANCES DO CONTINUE TO
CHANGE, IF, IN FACT, THE U.S.
DOES GO AGAINST THE ADVICE OF
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND
REOPEN THE ECONOMY IN TWO WEEKS,
DOES THAT REQUIRE EVEN MORE
AGGRESSIVE MEASURES AT THE
BORDER FOR THIS GOVERNMENT?
SO FAR, NOBODY HAS REALLY BITTEN
ON THAT, BUT I THINK THAT
QUESTION WILL SORT OF INCREASE
IN ITS SIGNIFICANCE OVER THE
COMING DAYS IF THE RHETORIC
COMING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ALSO
CONTINUES DOWN THIS PATH.
AND SO I THINK THE PRIME
MINISTER WILL LIKELY GET
QUESTIONS ON THAT.
I THINK THAT IMPACTS THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
INFORMATION GOING ON.
I THINK WE'LL HEAR MORE WHERE
THAT ECONOMIC BENEFIT IS
CONCERNED AND I THINK THEY ARE
ANXIOUS TO KEEP DRIVING HOME THE
MESSAGE AROUND THE EMERGENCY
BENEFIT, WHO QUALIFIES, HOW MANY
MORE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IT AND
HOW THAT PROCESS UNFOLDS.
I'M TOLD THAT WILL BE A BIG PART
OF THE MESSAGE TODAY.
>> Rosemary:  I SHOULD TELL
PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE GOT MANY
QUESTIONS AS WE WERE TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S AN
ARTICLE OUR WEBSITE WHERE IT
WILL SPELL OUT THE MANY
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
JUST ON THE ISSUE OF CANADA AND
THE U.S., AN ONGOING ISSUE GIVEN
THE SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF
CASES, WHICH IS MUCH HIGHER WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE CURB OF THE
GLOBE THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
CANADA.
BUT THE ECONOMY IS ALSO UNDER
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF STRAIN THERE,
AS WELL.
THREE MILLION AMERICANS ARE NOW
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND
THAT'S THE HIGHEST ON RECORD
SINCE, I THINK, THE EARLY '80S,
WHEN THEY WERE THIS A DRAMATIC
RECESSION AND THEY PASSED THEIR
OWN MASSIVE STIMULUS PACKAGE TO
A TRILLION DOLLARS AT THE SAME
TIME WE DID.
I WILL JUST GET CATHERINE CULLEN
TO WAY IN ON THE QUARANTINE ACT
WHICH DID TAKE EFFECT LAST NIGHT
AT MIDNIGHT AND WE'RE HOPING
FROM BETTER MESSAGING ON THAT
FRONT, FROM THE PRIME MINISTER,
BECAUSE IT WAS A FAIRLY
CONFUSING MESSAGE YESTERDAY.
SO MAYBE YOU CAN HELP US
UNDERSTAND IT AS WELL.
>> WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND PEOPLE
ASKING HOW THEY ARE PARTICULARLY
OR THEIR LOVED ONES MIGHT BE
AFFECTED BY THE QUARANTINE ACT.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE
SOME ANSWERS TO.
WHAT WERE ARE THE POTENTIAL
PENALTIES?
IT'S IN PLACE AS OF MIDNIGHT, GO
INTO A 14-DAY QUARANTINE.
ACCORDING TO THE PENALTIES, A
MAXIMUM PENALTY, UP TO $750,000
OR SIX MONTHS AND/OR SIX MONTHS
IMPRISONMENT AND OFFICIALS
POINTED OUT IN THAT COMMUNIQUE,
IF YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING WHERE
YOU HAVE JEOPARDIZED SOMEBODY'S
LIFE, SO IF YOU'RE CONTAGIOUS
AND IRRESPONSIBLE, THE PENALTIES
SCAN BE UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS,
THREE YEARS IN PRISON OR BOTH.
I KNOW ANOTHER THING A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE WONDERING ABOUT IS
WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M TRANSITING
THROUGH AN AIRPORT?
WE KNOW MANY FLIGHTS ARE BEING
PUSHED INTO VANCOUVER, TORONTO,
MONTREAL, BUT WHAT IF YOU LIVE
IN WINNIPEG OR HERE IN OTTAWA?
OFFICIALS ARE SAYING AS LONG YOU
ARE NOT SYMPTOMATIC OR SHOWING
SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, YOU CAN
GET ON THAT CONNECTING FLIGHT
AND THEY ALSO SAY YOU CAN GET ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT, BUT AGAIN, ONLY
IF YOU'RE NOT SYMPTOM QUICK.
ATIC.
IF YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
QUARANTINING, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHY
YOU WOULD BE ALLOWED TO GET ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS
AND PICKING UP ON SOME VASSY
SAID THAT IS RELATED, THIS
MANDATORY QUARANTINE IS A
RESPONSE TO FURTHER TIGHTENING
THE BORDERS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S A
REAL QUESTION ABOUT WHAT CANADA
CAN DO.
THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE OR
SEEMINGLY, THE FLOW OF TRADE,
RIGHT?
WE KNOW FOOD, MEDICAL DEVICES,
SO MANY IMPORTANT THINGS COME
FROM THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA IS SO DEPENDENT.
SO HOW DO YOU FURTHER TIGHTEN
THE REGULATIONS IF, INDEED,
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?
I DON'T THINK THAT'S CLEAR?
>> Rosemary:  THE GOVERNMENT DID
CONFIRM THIS MORNING WE HAVE A
NEW AMBASSADOR IN THE UNITED
STATES, KRISTEN HILLMAN, WHO WAS
THERE THROUGH THE NAFTA
NEGOTIATIONS AND HAS A LOT OF
RELATIONSHIPS IN WASHINGTON.
I LEAVE YOU TO COLLEAGUES, IF
YOU DON'T MIND, AND WE'LL COME
BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS THE PRIME
MINISTER EMERGES FROM RIDEAU
COTTAGE BUT I WANT TO GO TO
KALMIR, WHO IS A REGISTERED
NURSE WHO TESTED POSITIVE DIDN'T
SIGNED UP TO EASE NURSING
SHORTAGES BY OFFERING TO DO SOME
TELEHEALTH CALLS.
SHE IS SELF-ISOLATING NOW AT
HOME AND SHE JOINS ME ON THE
PHONE.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> STILL FEELING IT BY THE SIGN
OF MY VOICE BUT I'M FEELING
FINE, THANK YOU.
I KNOW OTHER CANADIANS ARE
EXPERIENCING WORSE THAN I AM AND
I'M THINKING OF THEM AND WE'LL
GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
>> Rosemary:  SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HAVE THIS AND TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE,
CAN YOU GIVE THEM A SENSE OF HOW
YOU'RE FEELING OR HOW IT FEELS
DIFFERENTLY THAN A PREVIOUS
ILLNESS OR ANOTHER KIND OF
ILLNESS?
>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT,
HONESTLY, I'VE BEEN FEELING MILD
FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS THROUGHOUT.
IT COMES AND GOES AND SEEMS LIKE
ONE OF THE WORST FLUS THAT YOU
CAN HAVE.
THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
AND YOU HAVE SOME GOOD DAYS,
SOME BAD DAYS AND TODAY SEEMS
LIKE A BETTER DAY FOR ME.
>> Rosemary:  YOU ARE A
REGISTERED NURSE AND OBVIOUSLY,
YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH
AND I IMAGINE YOU WERE
PROTECTING YOURSELF.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT
COVID-19 AND HOW CONTAGIOUS IT
IS?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT'S
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT
WE NEED TO BE EXTREMELY MINDFUL
AND FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
ARE REMINDING US EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
AND JUST KNOW THAT NO ONE IS
IMMUNE TO IT.
WE ALL HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY
CAREFUL.
IT IS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND YOU
CAN BE A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL LIKE
MYSELF, THAT WAS PRACTICING
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WANTED TO
MAKE SURE I'M WASHING MY HAND.
JUST KNOW YOU HAVE TO BE VERY,
VERY MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU'RE
DOING.
SO PLEASE FOLLOW THE EXPERT
ADVICE.
STAY AT HOME.
I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH.
STAY AT HOME AND PRACTISE SOCIAL
AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING, SELF
ISOLATE.
WE OWE IT TO CANADIANS, TO OUR
FRONT-LINE WORKERS, TO OUR
SENIORS AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
US HAS A PART TO PLAY IN TRYING
TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
>> Rosemary:  I KNOW YOU
ANSWERED THE CALL TO BE A
TELEHEALTH NURSE.
WERE YOU ABLE TO EVEN START THAT
BEFORE YOU GOT ILL?
AND IF SO, WHY WAS IT SO
IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GET
INVOLVED IN THAT?
>> WELL, HONESTLY, ROSIE, WHEN I
SAW THE INITIAL CALL FOR ACTION
TO THE NURSING SHORTAGE, THERE
WAS NO HESITATION THAT I WAS NOT
GOING TO PUT MY HAND UP.
HELPING PEOPLE AT THE FRONT
LINES IS MY PASSION AND I'VE
WORKED AT THE FRONT LINES BEFORE
GETTING INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I
GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND IT
WAS AN ABSOLUTE NO-BRAINER FOR
ME TO REGISTER TO PUT MY NAME
FORWARD.
I STILL REMAIN ON THAT LIST.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTRIBUTING
TO THE FRONT LINES WHEN I'M
CALLED.
I, UNFORTUNATELY, DIDN'T HAVE A
CHANCE TO, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO
DOING THAT EVEN VIRTUALLY NOW
THAT I'M HOME.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THEIR USE MY VOICE TO SHED THE
LIGHT ON THE REALITY THAT WE
COULD POSSIBLY HAVE A SHORTAGE
OF NURSES AND AMPLIFY THE
MESSAGE.
I'M SO PROUD THAT OVER 4500
RETIRED OR NONPRACTICING NURSES
THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR IT AND
HAVE REGISTERED WITH OUR
VOLUNTEERS AND I'M SO INCREDIBLY
PROUD OF THIS GROUP AND CAN'T
THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
>> Rosemary:  DO YOU HAVE ANY
IDEA HOW YOU GOT IT, HOW YOU GOT
THE VIRUS?
>> WELL, AS I SAID, I THINK IT'S
A WIDE-SPREAD VIRUS AND SO MANY
PEOPLE MAY HAVE IT AND ARE STILL
WALKING AROUND IN OUR GROCERY
STORES AND WALKING AROUND
OUTSIDE.
THEY THINK AS DR. TAM SAID, THIS
VIRUS SEES NO COLOUR OR AGE.
WE HAVE TO STAY AT HOME AND
PRACTISE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND
IT'S SO IMPORTANT WE LISTEN TO
THE EXPERTS AND I COMMEND THE
LEADERSHIP OF DR. TAM, AND OUR
PRIME MINISTER.
>> Rosemary:  JUST TO BE CLEAR,
IT WAS SOMEONE THAT YOU MET,
SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> AS I SAID, WE SIMPLY DON'T
KNOW BECAUSE JUST LIKE EVERYONE
ELSE, EVERY OTHER CANADIAN, I'M
TRYING TO DO OUR PART FROM -- I
DID TRAVEL FROM OTTAWA TO
TORONTO WHEN WE CAME BACK AFTER
THE HOUSE FROZE AND I DID GO TO
MY OFFICE ONCE OR TWICE AND DID
TRY TO DO GROCERY SHOPPING
BEFORE I KNEW THAT I HAD TO BE
PREPARED.
AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S JUST
IMPORTANT FOR US TO LISTEN TO
THE ADVICE OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS.
PLEASE STAY AT HOME AND FOLLOW
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
>> Rosemary:  I THINK YOU TALKED
TO THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY
AND, OF COURSE, HIS WIFE, SOPHIE
GREGOIRE-TRUDEAU, IS SORT OF
COMING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS
NOW.
DID HE HAVE ANY ADVICE IN TERMS
OF HOW TO KEEP WORKING AND HOW
TO COPE WITH THE VIRUS ITSELF?
>> YES.
I WAS EXTREMELY TOUCHED THAT HE
TOOK THE TIME TO CALL ME,
CONSIDERING ALL OF HIS OTHER
PRIORITIES.
HE CALLED TO JUST CHECK IN TO
SEE HOW I WAS DOING.
ALSO TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCE, AS
YOU MENTIONED, HAVING BEEN
THROUGH IT WITH SOPHIE AND SOME
OF THE UPS AND DOWNS OF
SYMPTOMS.
IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HAVE HIM
GIVE TIPS WORKING FROM HOME,
WHICH I KNOW SO MANY CANADIANS
ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.
IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CATCH
UP CONSIDERING WE HAVEN'T SEEN
EACH OTHER SINCE THE HOUSE ROSE
AND HAD A CHANCE TO TELL HIM
WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE
GROUND IN MY COMMUNITY AND WHY
HIS MESSAGES, EVERYDAY, ARE SO
IMPORTANT TO CANADIANS AND THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING
EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHETHER IT'S
BRINGING CANADIANS HOME OR
HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE
STRUGGLING EVERYDAY DURING THIS
UNPRECEDENTED TIME.
>> Rosemary:  AS YOU AND OTHER
CANADIANS STRUGGLE WITH THE
VIRUS, WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF
HEALTH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROSIE.
>> Rosemary:  THANKS FOR TAKING
THE TIME.
I KNOW IT'S NOT THE FIRST THING
TOP OF MIND WHEN YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH THIS BUT IT'S IMPORTANT
TO HAVE CANADIANS HEAR FROM YOU.
GET WELL SOON AND WE'LL TALK
WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF
SELF-ISOLATION.
THAT'S KAMAL KARA, THE MP FOR
BRAMPTON WEST.
TODAY, A G20 MEETING WAS HELD
WITH WORLD LEADERS WHERE THEY
AGREED THIS WAS, OBVIOUSLY, THE
TOP PRIORITY AROUND THE WORLD
AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO HEAR MORE
FROM HIM ABOUT THAT AND HERE IS
THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA.
LET'S LISTEN IN LIVE NOW.
HELLO EVERYONE.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> YESTERDAY, OUR EMERGENCY PLAN
TO HELP CANADIANS WAS PASSED BY
PARLIAMENT WITH EVEN MORE
GENEROUS MEASURES THAT WILL HELP
EVEN MORE CANADIANS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $107 BILLION
FOR WORKERS, FAMILIES AND
BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES BECAUSE OF
COVID-19.
WE ARE NOW INTRODUCING A SINGLE
BENEFIT THAT CANADA EMERGENCY
RESPONSE BENEFITS TO WORKERS WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR INCOME BECAUSE
OF THE PANDEMIC.
WHETHER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR EI
OR NOT BEEN THAT BENEFIT IS
THERE TO HELP YOU.
PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE $2,000 FROM
THE GOVERNMENT EVERY MONTH FOR
THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE'LL BE LAUNCHING AN ONLINE
PORTAL SO PEOPLE CAN APPLY
QUICKLY, RECEIVE MONEY AND
RECEIVE MONEY IN THE NEXT TEN
DAYS.
OUR PLANS TO HELP CANADIANS,
SAVE JOBS AND SUPPORT OUR
ECONOMY WAS ADOPTED BY
PARLIAMENT WITH MORE GENEROUS
MEASURES TO HELP EVEN MORE
CANADIANS AND WE'RE NOW TALKING
ABOUT $107 BILLION TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES.
WE LAUNCHED THE NEW CANADA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT WHICH
WILL PROVIDE $2,000 A MONTH FOR
UP TO FOUR MONTHS TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT GETTING PAID AS A RESULT
OF COVID-19.
THIS WILL REPLACE THE TWO
BENEFITS WE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK
TO MAKE IT EVEN SIMPLER FOR YOU
TO GET HELP.
AN APPLICATION PORTAL WILL
LAUNCH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
AND PEOPLE SHOULD START
RECEIVING MONEY WITHIN 14 DAYS
OF APPLYING.
AS PART OF THIS PLAN, WE'LL ALSO
BE BOOSTING THE CANADA CHILD
BENEFIT FOR FAMILIES IN MAY.
PARENTS ALREADY KNOW HOW MUCH
THE CCB HELPS WITH THE COST OF
RAISING KIDS.
BY INCREASING THE CCB, WE'LL PUT
MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF
FAMILIES TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE
THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES.
AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL
PAYING OFF THEIR STUDENT LOANS,
WE'RE PUTTING A SIX-MONTH
INTEREST-FREE MORATORIUM ON
THEIR CANADA STUDENT LOANS.
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON
WHAT ELSE WE'RE DOING AND HOW TO
ACCESS YOUR BENEFITS@CANADA.CA.
I'M SORRY TO SAY, THERE APPEARS
TO BE A TECH SCAM GOING AROUND
ON THE NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT
THE GOVERNMENT'S WEBSITE IS THE
BEST PLACE TO FIND RELIABLE
INFORMATION ON EVERYTHING WE'RE
DOING.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> YOU CAN CONSULT THE SITE,
CANADA.CA TO RECEIVE MORE
INFORMATION TO COUNTER COVID-19
AND ON THE WAY TO HAVE ACCESS TO
BENEFITS.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME PEOPLE HAVE
RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE THAT
SEEMED TO COME FROM THE
GOVERNMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE
NEW EMERGENCY BENEFIT.
THIS IS A SCAM.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE IS THE BEST
PLACE TO FIND RELIABLE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE PANDEMIC IS
PLACING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON OUR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, ON EMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE AND PARTICULARLY THE
GOVERNMENT APPARATUS, BUT KNOW
THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO SHORTEN THE DEADLINES.
I KNOW THAT BILLS ARE PILING UP
AND PRESSURE IS MOUNTING AND
THAT CONCERNS MANY, MANY
FAMILIES, RIGHTLY SO.
BUT WE ARE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE TO PUT MONEY INTO YOUR
POCKETS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ABROAD
ARE STILL HAVING TROUBLE FINDING
FLIGHTS TO COME BACK HOME AND WE
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AIRLINES
IN ORDER TO BRING PEOPLE HOME.
YESTERDAY, AIR TRANSAT ANNOUNCED
TWO OTHER FLIGHTS LEAVING FROM
EL SALVADOR AND GUATAMALA.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS IN CLOSE
CONTACT WITH OUR GOVERNMENTAL
PARTNERS WHO ARE ALSO FACING
THIS CRISIS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT HAS WORKED
FOR THEM AND WE'RE TRYING TO SEE
WHETHER WE CAN TAKE INSPIRATION
FROM THEIR SUCCESS.
I SPOKE TO G20 LEADERS AND ONE
THING IS CLEAR, WE CAN ONLY
OVERCOME COVID-19 IF WE TAKE
ACTION TOGETHER AS A GLOBAL
COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT
TAKES.
THAT MEANS MAKING SURE THAT THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES HAVE
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
IT MEANS WORKING TOGETHER TO
DEVELOP A VACCINE, IDENTIFY
TREATMENTS AND INCREASE TESTING.
WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING
MANUFACTURING CAPACITY FOR
CRITICAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND
WORKING TO KEEP THE SUPPLY
CHAINS GOING TO GET THAT
EQUIPMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
IT.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS HELPING
COMPANIES IN CANADA RETOOL THEIR
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES TO
REDUCE THE THINGS WE ALL NEED.
ON THE ECONOMY, THE G20 HAS ALSO
MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO
HELP PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES GET
THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING TIME.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING
CLOSELY TOGETHER TO COORDINATE
OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE
GLOBAL ECONOMY.
COVID-19 IS A GLOBAL CRISIS AND
DEMANDS A GLOBAL RESPONSE.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST WORK
WITH OUR ALLIES TO PROTECT
PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I ANNOUNCED
THIS MORNING I'M APPOINTING
KIRSTEN HILLMAN HAS OUR NEW BOAR
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES.
SHE'S A BRILLIANT DIPLOMAT AND
INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING A GOOD
DEAL FOR CANADA AND FOR
CANADIANS DURING NAFTA
NEGOTIATIONS.
MORE RECENTLY, AMBASSADOR
HILLMAN, PLAYED A KEY ROLE AS WE
WORKED WITH OUR SOUTHERN
NEIGHBOURS TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE
THE BORDER WHILE KEEPING TRADE
FLOWING.
AS WE FIGHT COVID-19, WE MUST
PROTECT THE SUPPLY CHAINS ON
WHICH WE DEPEND FOR THINGS LIKE
FRESH VEGETABLES, MEDICINE AND
SUPPLIES FOR OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEMS.
OUR PORTS ARE VITAL TO BRINGING
IN THE THINGS WE NEED AND I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF THE WORKERS WHO
ARE KEEPING OUR COUNTRY MOVING.
EVERYDAY OUR GOVERNMENT LOOKS AT
WHAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER TO
HELP YOU AND TO KEEP YOU SAFE
FROM THIS EVOLVING CRISIS.
SO IN RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT
TOO MANY TRAVELERS ARE STILL NOT
SELF-ISOLATING UPON RETURNING TO
CANADA, WE ARE TAKING GREATER
ACTION.
I HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THIS.
THE PREMIERS, DR. TAM AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE ALL BEEN
VERY CLEAR ON THIS.
IF YOU'VE JUST RETURNED FROM
ABROAD, YOU HAVE TO GO HOME AND
STAY HOME FOR 14 DAYS.
TOUT BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT
BEEN TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
THEY'RE STOPPING BY THE GROCERY
STORE ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM THE
AIRPORT AND THEY'RE GETTING
TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS AFTER
BEING AWAY FOR MARCH BREAK.
THIS KIND OF CONDUCT IS NOT JUST
DISAPPOINTING, BUT IT'S
DANGEROUS.
SO NOW, A 14-DAY QUARANTINE WILL
BE MANDATORY FOR ALL CANADIANS
RETURNING HOME FROM ABROAD.
WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE
QUARANTINE ACT TO KEEP ALL
CANADIANS SAFE.
IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY WITH THESE
INSTRUCTIONS, YOU COULD FACE
SERIOUS FINES AND EVEN PRISON
TIME.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL
THAT ALL TRAVELERS GO INTO A
14-DAY QUARANTINE WHEN THEY COME
BACK FROM TRAVEL.
THIS IS A MESSAGE WE'VE BEEN
REPEATING, BUT SOME PEOPLE DON'T
SEEM TO BE TAKING THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS SERIOUSLY AND
THAT IS NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTING.
IT'S DANGEROUS.
THEREFORE, WE ARE MAKING
QUARANTINE MANDATORY BY INVOKING
THE QUARANTINE ACT.
IF YOU REFUSE TO FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS, YOU MAY RECEIVE A
STIFF PENALTY OR EVEN BE SENT TO
PRISON.
WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN
ORDER TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU IS NOT
DIFFICULT.
STAY HOME, WASH YOUR HANDS, KEEP
A PROPER DISTANCE FROM OTHERS
AND CALL YOUR FRIENDS RATHER
THAN GOING TO SEE THEM.
 AND
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE COME BACK
FROM ABROAD, UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR
HOME FOR 14 DAYS.
WE ALSO ALL WANT TO SEE LIFE GO
BACK TO NORMAL AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, BUT FOR NOW, EVERYONE
HAS TO DO THEIR SHARE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> THANK YOU.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> GOOD MORNING, Mr. TRUDEAU,
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT
THE 16 TONNES OF EQUIPMENT THAT
HAS BEEN SENT IN FEBRUARY FROM
CHINA.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT DECISION
BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT IN MANY
PROVINCES, THEY ARE LACKING
EQUIPMENT AND IN HAS BEEN SENT
TO CHINA?
WELL, THIS IS A GLOBAL CRISIS
AND IT REQUIRES A GLOBAL
RESPONSE.
SO HELPING OTHERS IS ALSO A WAY
OF HELPING OURSELVES, BUT I CAN
REASSURE CANADIANS THAT FIRST,
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF THE PROVINCES WITH
RESPECT TO PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AND IN THE COMING DAYS, WE WILL
BE RECEIVING MILLIONS OF
ADDITIONAL ITEMS IN MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO MEET ALL
OF THE NEEDS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND CANADIAN COMPANIES ARE ALSO
MANUFACTURING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
AT THIS TIME SO THEREFORE, WE
WILL HAVE THE NECESSARY
EQUIPMENT TO KEEP CANADIANS SAFE
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DOING OUR
PART INTERNATIONALLY BECAUSE
THIS IS A GLOBAL CRISIS.
WE RECOGNISE FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING THAT THIS IS A GLOBAL
CRISIS THAT REQUIRES GLOBAL
COOPERATION AND RESPONSE IF WE
ARE TO KEEP ALL OF US SAFE AND
IF WE ARE TO KEEP CANADIANS
SAFE.
AT THE SAME TIME, I CAN ASSURE
EVERYONE THAT THE FEDERAL
STOCKPILES HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
PROVINCES UNTIL THIS POINT AND
IN THE COMING DAYS, WE WILL BE
RECEIVING MILLIONS MORE ITEMS
THAT ARE NECESSARY RIGHT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AT THE SAME TIME AS
OUR BUSINESSES, COMPANIES AND
MANUFACTURES ARE TOOLING UP
PRODUCTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE ENOUGH, NOT JUST FOR
CANADIANS, BUT FOR FRIENDS AND
ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD WHO NEED
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> Mr. TRUDEAU, I WOULD LIKE
TO COME BACK TO YOUR LEGISLATION
GIVING TAXATION AND SPENDING
POWERS UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2021.
YOU EXPLAINED WHY YOUR
GOVERNMENT THOUGHT THAT IT
NEEDED THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY
TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS, BUT YOU
NEVER EXPLAINED WHY YOU THOUGHT
YOU NEEDED IT FOR SUCH A LONG
TIME.
COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE
LOGIC OF 2021 AND DO YOU REGRET
IT?
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN
UNEXPECTED AND UNPREDICTABLE
SITUATION AND THIS IS SOMETHING
WE'VE NEVER SEEN HAPPEN IN
CANADA OR IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO
RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS.
WE WANTED TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT
THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY TO
RESPOND TO THE CRISIS BECAUSE WE
DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT COULD
LAST.
AND WE UNDERSTOOD AND WORKED
WITH THE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN
ORDER TO RESOLVE THEIR CONCERNS
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE
THAT THE NECESSARY MEASURES ARE
THERE FOR CANADIANS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DAVID
INGRAM FROM REUTERS, OTTAWA.
GO AHEAD.
SORRY, DAVID, I NEED YOU TO
RAISE THE VOLUME, I CAN'T HEAR
THEM.
>> IS THAT BETTER?
YES, THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID
YESTERDAY HE WANTED TO REOPEN
THE U.S. ECONOMY BY EASTER.
MAYORS IN BORDER TOWNS ARE
TELLING US THEY'RE PETRIFIED OF
MILLIONS COMING NORTH WITH THE
VIRUS.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU BY HIS
COMMENTS?
AND HOW WILL YOU STOP THIS?
IS THERE A WAY TO PUT SOME
SECURITY PRESENCE ON THE BORDER?
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THE UNITED STATES TO ENSURE THAT
THE BORDER MEASURES WE PUT IN
PLACE ARE RESPECTED.
WE HAVE CLOSED THE BORDER
TEMPORARILY TO ALL BUT ESSENTIAL
TRAVELERS AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH THE AMERICAN
ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE AND TO
KEEP CANADIANS SAFE IN OUR CASE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST AS
THINGS UNFOLD, AS NECESSARY, BUT
WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW
THE BEST ADVICE OF THE
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY ON DOING
WHAT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP
CANADIANS SAFE AS A PRIORITY.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> THANK YOU.
THE LAST QUESTION IS FROM BRUCE
SMITH FROM THE TORONTO STAR .
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> PRIME MINISTER, GOOD MORNING.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHY WAS THE
QUARANTINE FOR TRAVELERS FROM
OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY NOT MADE
MANDATORY SOONER, BEFORE THE
MARCH TRAVELERS CAME HOME AND
ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THIS DELAY
MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN CANADA?
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'VE
SEEN CANADIANS FOLLOWING THE
GUIDELINES, TAKING VERY
SERIOUSLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES.
WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE STAYING AT
HOME.
WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE KEEPING TWO
METRE'S DISTANT FROM EACH OTHER
AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE ENGAGED IN
HANDWASHING AND USING HAND
SANITIZER.
WE KNOW THAT THE VAST VOTER OF
CANADIANS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
THE GUIDELINES SET OUT FOR THEIR
OWN PROTECTION AND FOR THE
PROTECTION OF ALL OF US.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT
BEEN FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES
THAT ARE FROM FOR THEIR
PROTECTION, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE
HAD TO TAKE THIS NEXT STEP OF
BRINGING IN THE QUARANTINE ACT
TO ENSURE THAT CANADIANS WHO DO
NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO
SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS,
SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS
IMMEDIATELY UPON REENTERING
CANADA, THEY WILL BE FACING
FINES AND, PERHAPS, EVEN JAIL
TIME.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> HI, ASHLEY BURKE, CBC NEWS.
A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, YOU TOLD
CANADIANS TO COME HOME.
MORE THAN A MILLION CANADIANS
HAVE SINCE THEN.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE
DECISION-MAKING AND THE
RATIONALE BEHIND WAITING UNTIL
NOW, MAKING IT MANDATORY TO
UNDERGO A 14-DAY SELF-QUARANTINE
RATHER THAN A WEEK AND A HALF
AGO.
THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT FROM THE
VERY BEGINNING, INSTRUCTIONS
GIVING TO CANADIANS RETURNING,
THAT THEY NEEDED TO SELF-ISOLATE
FOR 14 DAYS AND MANY, MANY, MANY
OF THEM DID.
CANADIANS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE RULES
AND THE GUIDELINES SET OUT BY
PUBLIC HEALTH BECAUSE THEY KNOW
IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR OWN
SAFETY, AND PROTECTING THE
INTEGRITY AND THE HEALTH OF
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN
TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT AND
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS
FURTHER STEP OF MAKING
QUARANTINE MANDATORY AND
BRINGING IN ENFORCEMENT
MEASURES, AS WELL.
>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS
ENFORCEMENT WITH THIS MANDATORY
QUARANTINE.
ARE YOU ASKING PEOPLE TO REPORT
IF THEY SEE SOMEONE BREAKING THE
RULES OR THE LAW?
PUBLIC HEALTH WILL BE FOLLOWING
UP IN MANY, MANY CASES TO ENSURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THESE
RULES AND ENFORCEMENT WITH
HAPPEN AS ENFORCEMENT DOES IN
VARIOUS WAYS BY OUR POLICE AND
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE RECOGNISE THAT MANY PEOPLE
WILL FOLLOW THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND HEALTH
CANADA WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH
MANY PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE IN SELF-ISOLATION AND
IF PEOPLE DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE
GUIDELINES, THEN WE HAVE SEEN A
NUMBER OF CASES IN THE NEWS
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED OR
HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR NOT
FOLLOWING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
HYDRO CANADA, YOU'RE ASKING
CANADIANS TO DO THEIR PART.
WHY NOT ASK THE LARGE CREDIT
CARD COMPANIES TO GIVE PEOPLE A
GRACE PERIOD.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHOSE CREDIT
CARDS ARE MAXED UP AND DON'T YOU
THINK IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO GIVE
CANADIANS A GRACE PERIOD?
YES, THAT IS A CONVERSATION WE
ARE NOW HAVING WITH THE MAJOR
BANKS IN CANADA AND I CAN TELL
YOU THAT MINISTER MORNEAU HAS
BEEN IN REGULAR DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE BANKS.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAKE
SOME MEASURES AT THIS TIME.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE LOOKING
AT TAKING MEASURES TO ALLOW
PEOPLE TO HAVE CREDIT THAT WOULD
COST MUCH LESS THAN WHAT IS
CURRENTLY CHARGED ON CREDIT
CARDS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE
FINANCE MINISTER HAS HAD
CONVERSATIONS DIRECTLY WITH THE
BANKS ABOUT CREDIT CARD INTEREST
RATES AND WE RECOGNISE THAT THEY
ARE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR
MANY CANADIANS AT THIS POINT.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE ENCOURAGE TEM
THEM TO TAKE ACTION AND
ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN FOR
CANADIANS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING CREDIT
MORE AVAILABLE AND LESS
EXPENSIVE FOR CANADIANS TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NEXT
FEW MONTHS.
>> GOOD MORNING, PRIME MINISTER.
JANET SILVER, GLOBAL NEWS.
GLOBAL NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO
HAVE U.S. MILITARY TROOPS
STATIONED WITHIN 30 KILOMETERS
OF THE CANADIAN-U.S. BORDER TO
CUT BACK OVER FEARS WITH REGARDS
TO COVID-19 IS THE ILLEGAL
BORDER CROSSINGS.
I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU THINK THIS
IS NECESSARY AND IF YOU OR ANY
OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN YOUR
GOVERNMENT HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
ABOUT THIS.
CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
HAVE THE LONGEST UNMILITARYIZED
BORDER IN THE WORLD AND IT IS
VERY MUCH IN BOTH OF OUR
INTERESTS TO REMAIN THAT WAY AND
WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE UNITED STATES ON THIS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
HAVE THE LONGEST UN-MILITARIZED
BORDER IN THE WORLD AND WE ARE
IN DISCUSSION WITH THE UNITED
STATES ON THAT VERY ISSUE.
>> I'M WITH CTV NATIONAL NEWS
AND CAN YOU GIVE US MORE CLARITY
ON THAT?
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CANADA?
WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THAT THE
FACT THAT THE CANADA-U.S. BORDER
IS THE LONGEST UN-MILITARIZED
BORDER IN THE WORLD, SOMETHING
THAT HAS BENEFITED OUR TWO
ECONOMIES TREMENDOUSLY.
AND WE FEEL THAT IT NEEDS TO
REMAIN THIS WAY.
>> I WANT TO ASK ABOUT --
THERE'S MORE THAN 30,000 CASES
ALONE IN NEW YORK AND THAT'S A
STATE THAT BORDERS PARTS OF
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC.
WOULD WE EVER BAN ESSENTIAL
GOODS OR PEOPLE COMING IN
SPECIFICALLY FROM THAT HOT SPOT?
WE WILL ALWAYS TAKE MEASURES TO
PROTECT CANADIANS AS WE'VE
DEMONSTRATED.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE UNDERSTAND
PART OF PROTECTING CANADIANS IS
ENSURING A GOOD SUPPLY OF FOOD,
OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES, OF
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT ACROSS OUR
BORDER AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
LOOK FOR WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
KEEPING CANADIANS SAFE, WHILE
PROVIDING US WITH THE THINGS WE
NEED.
>> PRIME MINISTER, ON YOUR CALL
WITH THE G20 LEADERS TODAY, WAS
THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR A
DECISION MADE ON THE CALL FROM
THE U.N. FOR TWO BILLION IN AID
FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO
FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS, INCLUDING
HELP WITH TESTING KITS IN AFRICA
AND OTHER GEAR NEEDED?
WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF
THINGS, ABOUT THE NEED FOR
COORDINATED GLOBAL RESPONSE AND
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE G20
IS PARTICULARLY WELL-SUITED TO
MOVE FORWARD ON AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING
TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND
ALIGN IN THE ACTIONS WE TAKE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO
FLATTEN THE GLOBAL CURVE OF THIS
PANDEMIC, WHICH MEANS BEYOND
JUST INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES DOING
WHAT'S NECESSARY FOR THEMSELVES,
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE
AN IMPACT THAT GOES BEYOND OUR
BORDERS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR
GLOBAL ECONOMIC SUPPORT, FOR
CITIZENS, FOR BUSINESSES.
THE G20 REPRESENTS 85% OF THE
GLOBAL GDP AND WE KNOW THAT WE
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO STAVE OFF
AND TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE
ECONOMY AT THIS TIME OF
SIGNIFICANT STRESS AND SO, WE
PLEDGE TO WORK TOGETHER AND WE
ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED HELP
VULNERABLE COUNTRIES THAT DON'T
HAVE EITHER THE SCIENCE OR THE
HEALTH SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO
KEEP THEIR POPULATIONS SAFE,
INCLUDING THROUGH INVESTMENTS
THROUGH WORLD GLOBAL
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE U.N. OR
THE W.H.O. OR THE WORLD BANK.
WE ALSO SPECIFICALLY TALKED
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACING
AFRICA AND HOW WE WILL BE THERE
TO SUPPORT AFRICA AS THEY FACE
THIS PANDEMIC, AS WELL.
>> SO DOES THAT MEAN -- THE
QUESTION WAS, IS CANADA AND
OTHER COUNTRIES SENDING MONEY
AND ADDITIONALLY, SAUDI ARABIA
AS THE CHAIR OF THE G20, DID THE
PRICE WAR OVER OIL PRICES COME
UP AND WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE?
AS I SPOKE ABOUT YESTERDAY, WE
WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN
INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO FIGHT
THIS VIRUS.
WE KNOW THAT SUPPORT FOR
VULNERABLE COUNTRIES WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THE ABILITY TO
COMBAT THIS VIRUS IS NOT JUST
ABOUT BEING ALTRUISTIC BUT
PROVIDING CANADIANS AS WELL.
THIS MAY FACE RESURGENCES ONCE
WE HAVE HANDLED IT IN CANADA AND
OUR ABILITY TO MINIMIZE THOSE
RESURGENCES WILL BE LINKED TO
OUR ABILITY TO HELP AND WORK
WITH COUNTRIES IN MORE DIRE
SITUATIONS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> WE RECOGNIZE THAT
PARTICIPATING IN GLOBAL AID TO
COMBAT COVID-19 IS NOT JUST A
QUESTION OF ALTRUISM.
IT'S A QUESTION OF DOING THE
RIGHT THING FOR CANADIANS.
WE KNOW THAT PREVENTING ANY
RESURGENCE OF THE VIRUS IN
SEVERAL MONTHS, ONCE WE HAVE
CONTROLLED IT IN CANADA, WILL
REQUIRE CONCRETE ACTION IN
VULNERABLE COUNTRIES RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE U.N.'S
EFFORTS TO HELP THOSE COUNTRIES
IN DISTRESS.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> Rosemary:  THAT IS THE PRIME
MINISTER OF CANADA GIVING US HIS
DAILY UPDATE FROM HIS HOME,
RIDEAU COTTAGE, HERE IN THE
NATION'S CAPITAL.
HIS SELF-ISOLATION IS OFFICIALLY
OVER BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER
HE WILL BE WORKING FROM HOME OR
COMING INTO THE OFFICE FROM TIME
TO TIME OR WHAT THE NEXT STEPS
ARE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN TOLD.
SO A FEW BITS OF NEWS THERE FROM
THE PRIME MINISTER.
THE MAIN MESSAGE, REALLY,
REITERATING THE BENEFIT THAT IS
NOW GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO
CANADIANS, THE EMERGENCY
BENEFIT.
AND THAT THAT PORTAL WILL SOON
BE OPEN AND MANY OF YOU AFFECTED
BY THE PANDEMIC.
BUT LITTLE BITS OF NEWS, TOO,
THAT WE WANT TO GET TO WITH MY
COLLEAGUES.
VASSY, I'LL START WITH YOU AND
CLOSER TO THE END.
THERE'S BEEN A GLOBAL NEWS
REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES IS
CONTEMPLATING SENDING TROOPS TO
ITS NORTHERN BORDERS SO BETWEEN
CANADA IS THE U.S.
IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE THE PRIME
MINISTER HAD THOSE
CONVERSATIONS?
>> Vassy:  IT SOUNDED LIKE HE
ESSENTIALLY CONFIRMED THE REPORT
AND EMPHASIZED HIS WAY OF, I
GUESS, CHARACTERIZING THE
DISCUSSIONS SO FAR WITH THAT.
RIGHT NOW CANADA AND THE U.S.
SHARE THE LARGEST DEMILITARIZED
BORDER AND IT'S THEIR DESIRE TO
KEEP IT THAT WAY.
THAT DOES CONFIRM THOSE
DISCUSSIONS ARE TAKING PLACE AND
IT DOES PRESENT, I GUESS, A
WHOLE NEW HOST OF COMPLEXITIES
FOR THIS GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH
WHEN IT COMES TO THAT BORDER
RIGHT NOW AND THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAD JUST, PRIOR TO THIS PRESS
CONFERENCE, TALKING ABOUT
WHETHER CANADA WOULD TAKE MORE
AGGRESSIVE MEASURES ABOUT
REOPENING ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED
ABOUT THAT, AS WELL, AND
REFRAINED, AGAIN, FROM SAYING
MORE AGGRESSIVE MEASURES WERE
EVEN BEING CONSIDERED.
INSTEAD, HE HIGHLIGHTED THE
INTEGRATION OF THE TWO
ECONOMIES, THE RELATIONSHIP,
RATHER, BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES, SOMETHING HE DID
AGAIN WHEN ANSWERING THE
QUESTION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF THE BORDER BEING MILITARIZED.
I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING
TO FIND OUT TO WHAT DEGREE IS
THE U.S. DOING SO AND IT HAD TO
DO WITH PEOPLE CROSSING IN
BETWEEN POINTS OF ENTRY.
MY UNDERSTANDING LAST WEEK, THE
NUMBER HAD DECREASED A BIT.
THOUGH, THERE WERE PEOPLE AS
PART OF THE AGREEMENT TO
RESTRICT THE ORDER MADE AN
AGREEMENT TO TURN ANYONE BACK.
THAT WAS A MAJOR SHIFT IN
POLICY, TOO, BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN
TAKING PEOPLE WHO WERE WALKING
IN BETWEEN THOSE OFFICIAL POINTS
OF ENTRY AND THEY WERE GOING
THROUGH THE ASYLUM SYSTEM IN
THIS COUNTRY.
SO THAT AGREEMENT ESSENTIALLY
MADE IT SO THEY WOULD BE TURNED
BACK TO THE UNITED STATES,
SHOULD THEY DO THAT.
SO CURIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE
JUSTIFICATION IS FOR NEEDING A
GREATER MILITARY PRESENCE,
ESPECIALLY ONE THAT HAPPENS TO
BE -- WOULD IT TAKE THE FORM,
FOR EXAMPLE, OF BOOTS ON THE
GROUND, OR USING DRONES OR AIR
SURVEILLANCE OR THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
>> Rosemary:  LET ME TURN TO
CATHERINE CULL NETWORKS.
EN.
TODAY THE MESSAGE IS MUCH
CLEARER FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
IN TERMS OF WHY THEY'RE DOING
THIS AND WHAT THE EXPECTATION
IS.
>> SAYING AGAIN AND AGAIN MANY
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE
RULES, BUT A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH
NUMBER HAVEN'T THAT THEY FELT
THEY NEEDED TO ENACT THIS.
WE HEARD HE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN
PEOPLE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOT TO
FOLLOW THE RULES AND WE'VE BEEN
REPORTING ON CBC NEWS, FOR
EXAMPLE, RVS LINED UP IN BORDER
TOWNS, COMING ACROSS FROM THE
BORDER THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE
STOPPED AT A WALMART TO GET
GROCERIES AND SUPPLIES.
THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING THIS IS
NOT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AND
TALKING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES,
FINES OF UP TO $750,000, TIME IN
JAIL IF YOU'RE ENDANGERING
SOMEONE'S LIFE.
HE WAS ASKED, ARE YOU
ENCOURAGING CANADIANS TO REPORT
ON ONE ANOTHER?
HE SAID PUBLIC HEALTH WILL BE
DOING THE FOLLOWUP AND WE KNOW
FROM VASSY'S INTERVIEW YESTERDAY
THAT THE MINISTER SAID THEY
DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
CHECK UP ON EVERYBODY ALL OF THE
TIME.
THIS WILL BE SPOT CHECKS AND IT
WILL BE RANDOMIZED.
BUT HE SAID ENFORCEMENT WILL
HAPPEN WHETHER THROUGH POLICE
OFFICERS OR OTHER ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS.
IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE, WE
WERE SPEAKING TO THE NOVA SCOTIA
RCMP BECAUSE, OF COURSE, NOVA
SCOTIA IS ASKING ANYONE WHO HAS
COMING FROM OUT OF PROVINCE,
CROSSING INTO THE PROVISIONAL
BOUNDARIES, YOU HAVE TO
SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAY.
POLICE THERE SAY THEY HAVEN'T
ISSUED A TICKET YET AND THIS HAS
BEEN GOING ON SINCE SUNDAY.
THEY'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE
PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT BORDER
CROSSING BUT SOCIAL DISTANCING,
AS WELL.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IN ALL OF
THE OF THIS WILL BE, HOW WILL IT
BE ENFORCED AND HOW AGGRESSIVELY
WILL IT BE ENFORCED?
THE MESSAGE IS GO HOME, STAY
HOME, DO NOT PASS GO.
>> Rosemary:  THERE ARE PEOPLE
RATTING OUT THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
THERE WAS A STORY THIS MORNING
ON THE RADIO, A GATHERING ACROSS
THE RIVER IN GATINEAU.
I GUESS A NEIGHBOUR CALLED AND
THERE WERE SIX PEOPLE IN AN
APARTMENT AND POLICE CAME, THEY
WERE FINED FOR THE NOISE AND
FINED FOR THE GATHERING.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S NOT HAPPENING
AND THAT AUTHORITIES WON'T
ENFORCE AS NEEDED.
I'LL PUT YOU TWO ON PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT.
THIS ISSUE OF PEOPLE COMING
ACROSS THE BORDER, COMING BACK
INTO THE COUNTRY AND NOT
SELF-ISOLATING FOR 14 DAYS, THAT
ISN'T WORKING AND DAVE SEGULINS
HAS BEEN DIGGING INTO THIS AND
FOUND PEOPLE NOT BEING UPFRONT
AND GETTING ON FLIGHTS, EVEN, IF
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BACK HOME.
>> Reporter:  WELL, I'VE BEEN
LOOKING SPECIFICALLY INTO THE
AIR FLIGHT REGULATIONS AND THE
GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO TAKE
MANDATORY LEGAL MEASURES TO
QUARANTINE PEOPLE ONCE THEY
ARRIVE HERE, BUT THE MEASURES
BEFORE YOU GET ON THE AIRPLANE,
WHEN YOU'RE ABROAD AND TRYING TO
GET BACK TO CANADA, THOSE ARE
VOLUNTARY.
IT'S AN HONOUR SYSTEM AND PEOPLE
ARE CHEATING IT AND YOU CAN KIND
OF UNDERSTAND WHY.
WE'RE THIS THE MIDDLE OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
PEOPLE ARE GROWING DESPERATE AND
IF THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS AND ARE
SICK, ILL, YOU'RE AWAY FROM
FAMILY, YOU'RE AWAY FROM
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE AND YOU'RE
PROBABLY IN A PART OF THE WORLD
THAT ISN'T YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND
YOU WANT TO GET BACK.
IF YOU'RE FACED WITH ONLY FLEE E
QUESTIONS, DO YOU HAVE FEVER,
SORE THROAT, WE'RE LEARNING
PEOPLE ARE TEMPTED TO BE
DISHONEST AND COME BACK.
BUT THAT'S CREATING A HOST OF
OTHER PROBLEMS.
IT WAS INTERESTING IN THE LACK
OF ANSWER TO THIS ISSUE FROM THE
PRIME MINISTER TODAY BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY
SORT OF MANDATORY MEASURES, NO
TESTING FOR FEVERS OR PHYSICAL
TESTS THAT WOULD SCREEN
PASSENGERS BEFORE THEY GET ON
THE PLANES.
AND WE'RE HEARING FROM FLIGHT
ATTENDANTS AND PASSENGERS ABOARD
THOSE PLANES VERY WORRIED ABOUT
PEOPLE WITH EXTREME SYMPTOMS WHO
ARE ON FLIGHTS THAT THEY ARE
BEING EXPOSED ON THOSE AIRCRAFT.
AND WE'RE LEARNING, ALSO, THAT
AIR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, SOME ARE
NOW CONTRACTING COVID-19.
WE ASSUME SOME OF THAT EXPOSURE
IS AT WORK.
SO IT'S A COMPLEX SET OF ISSUES,
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE ADVICE FROM
THE PRIME MINISTER IS, DON'T GET
ON A FLIGHT, BUT THERE IS
NOTHING REALLY PREVENTING PEOPLE
FROM KEEPING THEIR SYMPTOMS
HIDDEN.
>> Rosemary:  WHEN THEY GET
HERE, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE UNDER
QUARANTINE AND THAT WILL SOMEHOW
BE MONITORED AND ENFORCED AND A
LOT TO EXPECT FROM THE AIRLINES
THEMSELVES, WHO HAVE TO DO THESE
TESTS.
THANK YOU.
I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE, BEFORE
I GO TO DR. PETER LIN, I THINK
WE HAVE THE DECLARATION THAT YOU
WILL HAVE TO AGREE TO WHEN YOU
COME BACK INTO THIS COUNTRY,
BECAUSE IT DOES LOOK SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT THAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN
THROUGH CUSTOMS OR ACROSS THE
BORDER LATELY.
THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS NOW.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE MUST
SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS TO
PREVENT THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF
COVID-19.
SO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND,
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE TAKING YOUR
INFORMATION DOWN.
IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE SPOT
CHECKS BY PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS, EVEN JUST CALLS TO
SEE WHERE YOU ARE, THAT IS THE
BEGINNING OF THAT ENFORCEMENT.
LET ME BRING IN DR. PETER LIN IN
TORONTO.
DR. LIN, OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS
CONCERN, BASED ON WHAT DAVE HAS
BEEN REPORTING AND THE OTHER
STORIES WE'RE HEARING ABOUT
SNOWBIRDS, FOR INSTANCE, COMING
BACK ACROSS THE BORDER AND GOING
ABOUT THEIR ERRANDS BEFORE THEY
GO HOME.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE THREAT OF
SERIOUS FINES IS GOING TO CHANGE
ANYTHING?
>> HOPEFULLY IT WILL WHEN PEOPLE
HEAR THAT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR
FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE
TELLING THEM, DON'T GO HERE AND
THEY'RE.
WE'RE HOPING WE DON'T NEED TO
USE THE POLICE FORCE AND THE
RCMP, THAT WE COULD USE SOCIAL
PRESSURE.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS WILL DO THAT.
WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE
FLIGHTS, ALL OF THE ASIA
FLIGHTS, EVERYBODY HAS A MASKS
ON.
WE'RE SAYING THE MASKS ARE NOT
GOOD, NOT GOOD BUT, PERHAPS,
NOW, WE REDISTRIBUTE MASKS IN
THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
NOT NORMAL FLIGHTS BUT MAYBE
THIS WILL MAKE PEOPLE FEEL
BETTER AND LESS LIKELY TO
TRANSMIT.
WE KNOW IN THE EARLY STAGES OF
THE DISEASE, I WOULD LIE, TOO.
IF I AM TRYING TO COME BACK
HOME, I WOULD GET ON THAT
FLIGHT.
BUT IF WE HAVE ON MASKS, WE
WON'T BREATHE ON THE NEXT
PERSON.
IN THE EARLY DAYS, YOU CAN JUST
BE BREATHING OUT THE VIRUS AS
YOU HAVE ENOUGH IN YOUR BODY.
IF WE PUT ON MASKS, WE CAN
DECREASE IT, TELL EVERYBODY TO
GET HOME, SIX FEET APART AND NO
GATHERING AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S
NO GATHERING.
YOU CAN'T TELL A SICK PERSON ANY
MORE.
WE USED TO THINK IT'S SNEEZING
AND COUGHING, BUT WE HAVE NORMAL
PEOPLE BREATHING OUT AND IF
YOU'RE CLOSE TO THEM, THAT'S HOW
YOU'LL PICK UP THE VIRUS.
SO PERHAPS NOW, MASKS ON PLANES
WOULD BE ANOTHER STEP TO PUT IN
PLACE AND, PERHAPS, WE WHO PUT
IT IN NOW THAN A WEEK FROM NOW.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS PLAYING A LITTLE
BIT OF CATCH-UP, BUT IT'S
DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT
TO SCARE PEOPLE OR HAVE TO PUT
IN ALL OF THESE RULES.
BUT MAYBE WE WHO PUT IN THOSE
RULES NOW.
>> Rosemary:  ASKING SOMEONE TO
WEAR A MASK IS NOT A HEAVY LIFT
OR A BIG REQUIREMENT IF YOU WANT
TO GET ON A PLANE.
DR. LIN, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE FOR
TODAY.
THANK YOU AND ALWAYS GREAT TO
HAVE YOU.
AS WE WAIT FOR HEALTH OFFICIALS
TO JOIN US FOR THE NOON
BRIEFING, LET ME GIVE YOU MORE
INFORMATION AROUND WHAT WE WERE
DISCUSSING WITH CATHERINE AND
VASSY AND WHAT THE PRIME
MINISTER WAS ASKED ABOUT.
WE CAN CONFIRM, INDEED, THAT
CANADA IS AWARE THAT THE UNITED
STATES IS CONSIDERING MOVING
ABOUT 1,000 TROOPS TO THE
BORDER.
THEY WOULD BE STATIONED ABOUT 2R
AND THEY WOULD USE GENERAL KIND
OF SENSORS TO LOOK OUT FOR
IRREGULAR BORDER CROSSERS.
THE ORIGINAL BORDER CROSSERS ARE
SENT BACK TO THE U.S. AND THERE
WAS A DAY LAST WEEK WHEN THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF BORDER
CROSSERS WAS 17.
IT'S UNCLEAR WHY YOU WOULD NEED
TO PATROL THE BORDER FOR SUCH A
LOW NUMBER, BUT WE'LL TRY TO GET
MORE ANSWERS TO THAT AT THIS
UPCOMING PRESS CONFERENCE.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, THOUGH, I
WANT TO GO BACK TO A CANADIAN
WHO WE HAD ON AT SOME POINT OVER
THE LAST NUMBER OF DAYS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT DAY IT WAS.
IT WAS A CANADIAN STUCK IN PERU
WHO STILL WANTS TO COME HOME.
WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING REGULARLY
WITH GREG BESTROSS, STUCK IN
HOSPITAL IN PERU.
I KNOW THINGS HAVE ACTUALLY
GOTTEN WORSE FOR YOU AND TELL ME
WHAT THE SITUATION IS NOW.
>> SO TODAY IS DAY 11 OF OUR
TIME SPENT ON LOCK-DOWN HERE, AT
THE HOTEL, AND YESTERDAY MORNING
WE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT
SOMEBODY IN OUR HOSPITAL DID
TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
AS PER DIRECTION OF THE MINISTRY
OF HEALTH OF PERU, THE HOSPITAL
HAS INFORMED US WE WILL BE
LOCKED DOWN HERE FOR A DURATION
OF ONE TO THREE MONTHS.
>> Rosemary:  AND WHAT, IF
ANYTHING, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO
GET IN TERMS OF INFORMATION FROM
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT?
>> SO THE DIFFICULTY IS, AS YOU
KNOW, I THINK THERE IS,
OBVIOUSLY, A VERY HIGH VOLUME OF
CALLS, OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO
REACH OUT TO US, PEOPLE LOOKING
OUT TO VARIOUS NUMBERS PROVIDED,
BE IT LOCAL HERE IN PERU OR BACK
HOME IN OTTAWA.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT HEARD
BACK FROM ANYONE.
I'VE ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE MULTIPLE
MESSAGES AND I'VE ATTEMPTED TO
GET AHOLD OF PEOPLE BECAUSE
THREE DAYS AGO, WE WERE INFORMED
THEY WERE BRINGING A DOCTOR INTO
THIS HOSPITAL TO TEST TWO PEOPLE
AND PENDING THE RESULTS, WE
WOULD BE LOCKED DOWN HERE FOR 28
DAYS.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE WERE
TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY WE ALLOWED
TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL IN THE
MEANTIME.
SO ONCE THE RESULTS CAME BACK
POSITIVE, THE MANAGER OF THE
HOSPITAL HAD HELD A MEETING AND
INFORMED US OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
AND BASICALLY TOLD US WE WOULD
BE LOCKED DOWN FOR ONE TO THREE
MONTHS.
I HAVE PREEMPTIVELY TRIED TO GET
THIS INFORMATION OUT TO OUR
GOVERNMENT, TO SEE WHAT KIND OF
INTERVENTION COULD HAVE HAPPENED
PRIOR TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS
HAPPENING.
MY FIANCE AND MYSELF, EVACUEE
WE'VETAKEN THE PRECAUTION TO ISE
OURSELVES AND I WISH THAT ACTION
HAD COME SWIFTER BECAUSE WE'RE
IN A SITUATION THAT I DON'T KNOW
IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT
HOME.
>> Rosemary:  THERE'S BEEN ONE
FLIGHT OUT OF LIMA, PERU AND I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD THOSE
UPDATES AND IF YOU RESPOND.
>> YEAH, I CHECKED ON TWITTER
THIS MORNING.
I'VE BEEN UP EVERY MORNING 5:30,
6:00 A.M. TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY
INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE.
THIS MORNING, THE TWITTER PAGE
DID INFORM THE MASSES THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO HAVE A FLIGHT FROM
CUSCO TO LIMA TOMORROW.
YESTERDAY, THEY HAD FILLED UP
TICKETS FOR A FLIGHT DIRECTLY
FROM LIMA THAT WILL BE LEAVING
LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON.
MY FEAR IS THAT WE ARE LOCKED
DOWN THERE THIS HOTEL NOW AND WE
DON'T BELIEVE WE'LL BE ABLE TO
EVEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
CHANCE OF GETTING ON THAT FLIGHT
FROM CUSCO TO LIMA BECAUSE OF
THE FACT THAT THIS HAS BEEN
PLACED IN A MILITARY QUARANTINE.
>> Rosemary:  IF YOU LEFT WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN OR IF YOU TRIED TO
LEAVE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?
>> WE'VE BEEN TOLD IF WE DO NOT
COOPERATE WITH THE QUARANTINE,
WE WILL GO TO JAIL FOR FIVE TO
TEN YEARS HERE IN PERU.
>> Rosemary:  CAN I ASK YOU, I
KNOW YOU WENT DOWN FOR A WEDDING
AND I KNOW PERU WASN'T ON THE
LIST OF COUNTRIES AT THE TIME
BUT I KNOW THE WORLD WAS SEEING
THIS PANDEMIC SPREAD.
DO YOU KNOW REGRET GOING THERE
AND TAKING THIS -- I GUESS IT
WAS A BIT OF A GAMBLE, RIGHT?
DO YOU REGRET THAT?
>> I MEAN, HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS
20/20 AND I LOOK BACK ACT THE AE
DECISIONS AND WOULD WE DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY?
ABSOLUTELY.
WE WENT ON THE ADVICE OF OUR
GOVERNMENT WHICH TOLD US THERE
WAS NO NEED TO WORRY, PERU WAS A
SAFE PLACE AND AT THE TIME WE
ARRIVED, THERE WERE FOUR CASES
IN PERU AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE
THE CURRENT SITUATION WE'RE
STUCK IN.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD HAVE
PREDICTED THE BORDERS CLOSING IN
24 HOURS OR HAVE PREDICTED THE
VERY QUICK REACTION THAT THE
PERU GOVERNMENT PUT IN PLACE TO
ALLOW FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS TO
GET HOME.
ABSOLUTELY, WOULD WE DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY?
ABSOLUTELY.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE LEFT IN
THIS SITUATION.
WE'VE CHECKED EMAILS AND FILLED
OUT FORMS AND WAITED FOR
SOMETHING TO HAPPEN AND OUR
WORST FEAR HAS SEEM TO COME TO
LIGHT NOW.
>> Rosemary:  I'LL HOPE THAT
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE
WATCHING AND LISTENING, BUT THEY
MADE IT CLEAR THAT NOT EVERYONE
WILL GET HOME.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING GET HOME,
ARE YOU PREPARED AND HOW WILL
YOU STAY THERE FOR A MONTH OR
MORE?
>> I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, IT
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE HAVE VERY
MUCH OF A CHOICE.
I'VE SEEN THE TOLL THAT THIS
SITUATION HAS TAKEN ON OUR
MENTAL HEALTH.
I'VE SEEN THE ANXIETY ATTACKS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH MY
FIANCE AND I'M GENERALLY WORRIED
FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND NOW
KNOWING THERE'S POSITIVE CASES
IN THIS PLACE THAT WE'RE
STAYING, I'M WORRIED FOR MY
PHYSICAL HEALTH.
I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN DO TO
MITIGATE ANY RISK.
WE'VE ONLY LEFT OUR ROOM TO USE
THE WASHROOM AND GRAB FOOD AND
COME BACK.
THERE'S BEEN NO SOCIAL
INTERACTION.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN A VACATION.
THIS IS US SITTING ON OUR PHONES
FOR 12 TO 15 HOURS A DAY,
WAITING FOR SOME RESPONSE,
WAITING FOR SOME ACTION AND THE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TOLD US TO
STAY PUT, ABIDE BY LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
YOU CAN'T GO ON THE STREET SO
MUCH AS TO GRAB SOMETHING FROM
THE SUPERMARKET WITHOUT HAVING
SOMEBODY FROM THE MILITARY OR
POLICE STOP YOU.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING TO
POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE LODGING
THAT YOU'RE STAYING AT.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE OPTION TO
CHECK OUT AND TO LEAVE UNLESS WE
WERE LEAVING TO GO HOME.
>> Rosemary:  OK, GREG, THANKS
AGAIN FOR TALKING TO US AND I
KNOW THAT -- I'M SURE PEOPLE
WERE LISTENING, PEOPLE IN
GOVERNMENT, AS WELL, AND LISTEN,
I WISH YOU THE BEST AND THE VERY
LEAST, GOOD HEALTH AS THIS GOES
ON AND PLEASE KEEP US POSTED AS
TO WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary:  AS WE STAND BY NOW
TO BRING YOU THE NOON UPDATE,
THE REGULAR NOON UPDATE FROM
CABINET MINISTERS AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS, LET'S ME BRING
YOU UP TO DATE OUT OF THE LATEST
NUMBERS OUT OF ONTARIO TODAY,
NOW UP TO 858 CASES AND THAT'S
UP 170 CASES, WHICH IS THE
LARGEST SINGLE DAY INCREASE IN
THIS PROVINCE.
(PLEASE STAND BY).
AND THAT IS OUR DAILY COVERAGE
OF THE PANDEMIC UPDATE.
WE ARE GOING TO SIGN OFF FROM
CBC TELEVISION AND YOU CAN
CONTINUE WATCHING, THOUGH, ON
"CBC NEWS NETWORK" AND CBC.CA.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN
OTTAWA.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
>> -- THAT CANADA IN PARTICULAR
WOULD WANT TO SEE HAPPEN, BUT 
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE 
DETAILS ON THAT. 
>> Vassy: YEAH, WE DO HAVE A 
BIT MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ASKED 
VERY DIRECTLY, AS YOU 
MENTIONED, ROSY, WHETHER OR NOT
THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE TAKING 
PLACE, AND HE CONFIRMED THAT, 
YES, THE DISCUSSIONS ARE TAKING
PLACE.
WHILE YOU WERE INTERVIEWING OUR
FRIEND IN PERU, I WAS CALLING, 
TRYING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THIS
WOULD START.
BECAUSE IF THE U.S. WANTS TO DO
THIS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT 
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CROSSING IN 
BETWEEN CHECKPOINTS, THOSE 
NUMBERS DWINDLED PRIOR TO LAST 
WEEK WHEN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN 
THE U.S. AND CANADA CAME INTO 
EFFECT THAT WOULD RESTRICT THE 
FLOW OF THOSE BORDER CROSSERS.
SO INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO 
CROSS BETWEEN THOSE 
CHECKPOINTS, AND THEN BE 
PROCESSED THROUGH THE ASYLUM 
SYSTEM, THE PROCESS THAT CAME 
INTO EFFECT LAST FRIDAY, THEY 
WOULD BE DENIED AND WOULD BE 
SENT BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.
THE REASONING BEHIND THESE 
DISCUSSIONS IS INTERESTING.
I COULD NOT GET A CLEAR ANSWER 
YET ON SORT OF WHEN THEY BEGAN.
HOW DOES THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS
ARRIVED AT BETWEEN THE UNITED 
STATES AND CANADA FACTOR INTO 
THAT?
WHAT I AM TOLD THAT DEPUTY 
PRIME MINISTER CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON 
THE INCIDENT, AND WE SHOULD GET
SOME SORT OF TIMING OR
INSTIGATION ABOUT THIS. 
>> AS YOU SAY, THE NUMBERS, 
LAST WEEK, THEY WERE 47, 45 -- 
FRANKLY, THE CONCERN WOULD 
ACTUALLY BE FOR US RATHER THAN 
THE UNITED STATES, GIVEN THE 
WAY THEIR NUMBERS ON COVID-19 
ARE SORT OF SPIRALLING OUT, 
PARTICULARLY AS YOU TALKED 
ABOUT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
IT SEEMS SORT OF CURIOUS THAT 
THE UNITED STATES WOULD WANT TO
PUT PATROLS ALONG THE BORDER, 
GIVEN THAT THEY ARE IN A MUCH 
WORSE SITUATION.
BUT I DON'T PRETEND TO 
UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC HERE IN 
ANY WAY.
OKAY.
I'LL GO TO CATHERINE CULLEN.
FEEL FREE TO WEIGH-IN ON THAT.
BUT IN PART, THE QUARANTINE 
EFFECT IS COMING THROUGH THE 
UNITED STATES, WHERE THE 
NUMBERS ARE MUCH HIGHER, AND 
THE VIRUS IS MUCH LESS 
CONTAINED. 
>> YEAH.
I COULD WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT 
FOR A SECOND.
THE OTHER QUESTION I THINK WE 
WOULD HAVE IS WHY PEOPLE 
LEAVING THE UNITED STATES WOULD
BE SUCH A GREAT CONCERN FOR THE
UNITED STATES IF THIS DECISION 
IS SEEN AS BEING PART OF THE 
RESPONSE OF COVID-19.
CERTAINLY, PEOPLE CROSSING THE 
BORDER IN CANADA A BIG CONCERN,
BUT WHY WOULD THE U.S. 
ADMINISTRATION BE WORRIED ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTGOING?
STILL GETTING A LOT OF 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAN IN 
QUARANTINE.
YOU WILL BE FACED WITH THESE 
QUESTIONED IF YOU CROSS AT A 
LAND BORDER.
IF YOU'RE DRIVING YOURSELF 
HOME, SO IF YOU'RE DRIVING 
ACROSS THE BORDER, IF YOU'RE 
DRIVING FROM THE AIRPORT, 
CERTAINLY, LEAVING THE AIRPORT,
THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE 
SYMPTOMS OR NOT?
BUT IF YOU'RE DRIVING YOURSELF 
ACROSS THE BORDER, ALL 
INDICATIONS THAT WE HAVE, IT'S 
FINE, BUT DON'T MAKE STOPS 
ALONG THE WAY.
IF YOU'RE DRIVING HOME, DO YOU 
HAVE SYMPTOMS?
SOMETHING WE NEED TO TOUCH ON, 
EARLIER, WHEN THE PRIME 
MINISTER WAS MAKING HIS REMARKS
AND ADDRESSING CANADIANS, 
THEY'LL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF 
WITHIN 14 DAYS, THE PORTAL WILL
BE UP AND RUNNING.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE 
FOLLOWING THIS VERY CLOSELY, 
WONDERING WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
>> CAN I JUMP IN FOR A QUICK 
SECOND?
>> YES. 
>> Vassy: I JUST WANT TO SAY 
THAT AFTER THAT, THE PRIME 
MINISTER WAS MISSPEAKING.
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE TEN 
DAYS. 
>> YEAH.
HE'S WORKING LONG HOURS, SO 
IT'S -- A MATTER OF FOUR DAYS 
IS A BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF 
PEOPLE, SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW 
THAT THE TARGET IS -- THE 
TARGET, ANY WAYS, IS STILL TEN 
DAYS AFTER YOU GET THAT 
PROCESS.
THE PRIME MINISTER DID CONFIRM 
TODAY THAT KIRSTEN HILLMAN HAS 
BECOME CANADA'S NEW AMBASSADOR 
IN WASHINGTON, WHICH IS 
PROBABLY WELL TIMED, GIVEN 
THESE REPORTS THAT WE'RE 
HEARING COMING OUT.
AMBASSADOR HILLMAN HAS BEEN A 
FACTOR IN THE NEGOTIATION OF 
THE NEW NAFTA BETWEEN CANADA, 
THE U.S., AND MEXICO AT A TIME 
WHEN, OBVIOUSLY, THE ONGOING 
ISSUES, WHETHER IT BE FROM AN 
ONGOING HEALTH PERSPECTIVE OR 
AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN
THE CANADA, THE U.S., AND 
MEXICO.
I THINK I'M GOING TO PLAY A 
CLIP -- CAN I PLAY A CLIP?
THE PRIME MINISTER IS GOING TO 
MAKE SURE THE BORDER DOESN'T 
THICKEN IN THE MIDST OF THIS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF EFFORT TO 
SHUTDOWN NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL 
BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CANADA, 
BUT TO KEEP TRADE MOVING PRETTY
FREELY.
AND ANY CONCERN BY THE UNITED 
STATES TO MOVE TO THICKEN THAT 
BORDER WOULD BE WORRISOME FOR 
THE GOVERNMENT.
LET ME PLAY THIS CLIP FOR YOU A
WHILE AGO PRIME MINISTER PRIME 
MINISTER -- 
>> THAT IS THE PRIME MINISTER 
WEIGHING IN ON THAT.
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HAS 
BEEN IN CHARGE OF THIS FILE 
SINCE, REALLY, THE FIRST 
ELECTION IN 2015.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE IN WHAT WAY 
THIS WOULD HELP THIS MEASURE, 
THAT THE UNITED STATES IS AT 
LEAST CONTEMPLATING, VASSY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN WRAP 
YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY IT WOULD BE 
NEEDED OR WHAT IT WOULD 
ACTUALLY DO. 
>> Vassy: YEAH, AND I GUESS TO 
TAKE THE QUESTION ONE STEP 
FURTHER, ROSY, THAT'S WHAT I 
WAS ASKING WHEN I WAS CALLING, 
IS THERE A REASON TO TAKE THAT 
BEYOND THIS?
IS THE PRESIDENT INTERESTED IN 
REMILITARYIZING THE BORDER 
BEYOND THE PRIME MINISTER SAID 
SO?
THERE HAVE BEEN POINTS AT WHICH
THE ISSUE OF BORDER CROSSERS 
HAS BEEN A BIG ONE, THERE'S 
BEEN THOUSANDS OF THEM 
TRANSVERSING.
THERE'S A -- TRAVERSING.
IT'S BEEN A BIG POLITICAL 
ISSUE, BUT AT THIS POINT, IT 
JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.
IS THERE A DESIRE TO SEE THE 
REMILITARIZATION OF THE BORDER 
LIKE THEY HAVE ON THE SOUTHERN 
BORDER.
THE U.S. PRESIDENT ALWAYS HAS 
SAID HE TREATS THE TWO BORDERS 
THE SAME.
ON THE FACE OF IT RIGHT NOW, 
THE JUSTIFICATION PROVIDED BY 
THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN'T SEEM TO
MATCH UP WITH THE REALITY, AND 
I KNOW THAT'S A STATEMENT THAT 
COULD MATCH UP IN OTHER 
INSTANCES, AS WELL, BUT DESPITE
THAT, THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF 
THIS WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN 
PRETTY STRONG.
IT IS CURIOUS TO SEE, AND I 
THINK WHERE MINISTER FREELAND 
IS CONCERNED, I WOULD LIKE TO 
SEE WHERE THE DISCUSSIONS 
BEGAN.
HAVE THE UNITED STATES FLOATED 
OTHER JUSTIFICATIONS BEYOND 
BORDER CROSSERS, AND DID SORT 
OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS 
REACHED LAST WEEK, DOES THAT 
INFLUENCE OR IMPACT THE 
DIRECTION OF THESE DISCUSSIONS 
AT ALL?
I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY 
QUESTION MARKS RIGHT NOW ABOUT 
WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, AND ALL 
WE KNOW IS THAT IT IS.
>> WE DO KNOW, TOO, THAT 
SOMETIMES PAST EXPERIENCES GET 
FLOATED OUT THERE BY THE UNITED
STATES, AND THEN CANADA SPENDS 
DAYS AND DAYS AND DAYS TALKING 
THE U.S. OFFER THE LEDGE, AND 
THEN, THEY DIAL IT BACK.
I IMAGINE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE 
CONVERSATION NOW, BUT AGAIN, 
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE DEPUTY 
PRIME MINISTER.
>>> AGAIN, THE PRIME MINISTER 
WAS TALKING ABOUT RELIEF 
AVAILABLE FOR MANY CANADIANS.
PORTAL IS NOT OPEN ON THE 
WEBSITE, BUT ESSENTIALLY, IT 
ALLOWS YOU ABOUT $2,000 PER 
MONTH IF YOUR EMPLOYMENT HAS 
BEEN AFFECTED IN ANY WAY BUT 
THE PANDEMIC IF YOU HAVE TO 
LOOK AFTER YOUR KIDS.
SO LOTS OF DIFFERENT CRITERIA 
THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT TO YOU.
SO LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE OUT OF 
JOBS, HAVING TO WATCH THEIR 
KIDS DURING THIS TIME.
JOINING US IS A RENTER IN THE 
CITY, AND YOU RECENTLY LOST ONE
OF YOUR JOBS.
TELL ME SOME MORE.
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THREE JOBS.
ONE OF THE JOBS, I USED TO BE 
AN USHER AT MASSEY HALL, AND I 
WAS LAID OFF DUE TO 
RENOVATIONS, AND OBVIOUSLY, 
WITH ALL OF THIS GOING ON, WHO 
KNOWS WHEN THAT'S COMING BACK.
MY MAIN EMPLOYMENT IS I WORK AS
A YOGA INSTRUCTOR, MEDITATION 
INSTRUCTOR, AND WITH ALL THE 
SELF-ISOLATION, THAT WHOLE 
BUSINESS IS NOW AN ON-LINE 
BUSINESS.
IT'S A LOT OF CHANGES FOR 
EVERYBODY, AND IT'S QUITE 
CHALLENGING, ACTUALLY, TO WORK 
WITH.
MY THIRD JOB IS IN RETAIL, AND 
RIGHT NOW, WE WERE JUST SENT 
HOME, SO I'M NOT WORKING AT ALL
RIGHT NOW. 
>> YOU'RE NORMALLY A PRETTY 
BUSY GUY, IT SOUNDS LIKE. 
>> YES. 
>> THE RENT PAYMENT IS COMING 
UP THE FIRST OF THE MONTH.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D WANT TO 
GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT YOU PAY
OR IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE 
TO DO IT THIS MONTH. 
>> WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO BE 
ABLE TO DO IT THIS MONTH 
BECAUSE I'M MAKING SURE THAT 
OUR GAS TANKS ARE FILLED, WE 
HAVE GROCERIES THAT WE NEED.
FORTUNATELY, THE LANDLORD 
REACHED OUT TO US YESTERDAY TO 
FIND OUT IF EVERYTHING'S OKAY 
AND IF THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENT 
AND IF NOT, WHAT SORT OF 
ADJUSTMENTS WE CAN MAKE?
SO WE'RE SORT OF WAITING TO 
FIND OUT WHAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER HAD TO SAY ABOUT ALL 
THE VARIOUS THINGS ALLOWABLE TO
THE COMMUNITY. 
>> SO THIS EMERGENCY BENEFIT, 
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU 
PROBABLY COULD MAKE A CASE TO 
IT, GETTING ACCESS TO IT, SO IF
YOU GET CLOSER TO APRIL, AND 
IT'S $2,000 A MONTH, HOW WOULD 
THAT HELP?
WOULD THAT HELP YOU?
>> I THINK IT WOULD, WITH THE 
RENT AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE 
COMING THROUGH, BUT AGAIN, 
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT 
SCENARIO WHERE WE'RE SORT OF 
LIVING CHECK TO CHECKS AND 
WITHOUT ANY SENSE OF GOING BACK
TO WORK, WE'RE BASICALLY 
RELIANT ON HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR IT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT STEP IN 
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I DO 
CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE, BUT 
I KNOW THERE'S LESS FORTUNATE 
PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY DON'T HAVE
A HOME OR -- THERE'S SO MANY 
DIFFERENT THINGS AT PLAY. 
>> YESTERDAY, THE PRIME 
MINISTER ANNOUNCED A FREEZE ON 
RENT, A FREEZE ON EVICTIONS.
BUT HE ALSO SAYSROUND THE HOUSU
ARE TRYING TO SELF-ISOLATE, AND
I IMAGINE THAT MAKES IT ALL A 
LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. 
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, AS A WEIRD 
TWIST OF FATE, IT'S BEEN GREAT 
BECAUSE AS YOU'VE STATED, I'VE 
KEPT A PRETTY BUSY LIFESTYLE.
THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE
BEEN GREAT BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT
OF TIME TO SPEND WITH HIM.
IT GIVES MY PARTNER LISA MORE 
TIME TO DO THE THINGS THAT SHE 
NEEDS TO DO INSTEAD OF BEING A 
CAREGIVER 24-7 BECAUSE WHEN I 
COME HOME, I AM SO TIRED.
I AM LOOKING FOR THE SILVER 
LINING IN ALL OF THIS, AND 
HOPEFULLY, WE GET THROUGH THIS 
IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. 
>> SO LET ME JUST LEAVE ON 
THIS.
HOW STRESSED OUT OR WORRIED ARE
YOU ABOUT MONEY AND PAYING OR 
MAKING ALL YOUR BILLS AT THIS 
STAGE?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT 
QUESTION.
AND I WILL SAY, I'M LUCKY.
I HAVE A PRACTICE BASED IN YOGA
AND MEDITATION, SO MY WHOLE 
THING IS HOW TO DEAL WITH 
STRESS.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, IT'S ON MY
MIND A LOT.
I'M UP TILL THE WEE HOURS IN 
THE MORNING, FIGURING OUT HOW 
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT AND KEEP
MY FAMILY SAFE.
GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, 
IT'S TOUGH, GOING THERE, AND 
COMING HOME, SANITIZING YOUR 
FOOD AND EVERYTHING.
AND HAVING A TODDLER, YOU DON'T
WANT TO TRANSMIT ANYTHING TO 
THIS LITTLE BOY WHO'S SO 
INNOCENT AND HAPPY ALL THE 
TIME. 
>> WELL, I WISH I HAD YOUR MEDI
MEDI
 -- MEDITATIVE SKILLS AT A TIME
LIKE THIS.
GO AHEAD. 
>> YEAH.
I WAS GOING TO SAY THERE'S BEEN
A LOT OF YOGA INSTRUCTORS IN 
THIS COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN 
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY 
ON-LINE.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS 
VISIT YOUR YOGA STUDIO ON-LINE,
SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP.
YOGA AND MEDITATION IS FREE FOR
EVERYBODY, LET'S USE THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT IT 
CAN DO FOR US. 
>> WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE TAKING
EVERYTHING IN STRIDE AND THAT 
YOU'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION 
YOU NEED.
IF YOU DON'T, REACH OUT TO US, 
AND WE'LL GET IT TO YOU. 
>> THANK YOU. 
>> TAKE CARE, AND HAVE A NICE 
DAY. 
>> NAMASTE. 
>> I KNOW THAT THE FINANCE 
MINISTER, FOR INSTANCE, HAS 
TALKED ABOUT HOW BANKS ARE 
SUPPOSED TO ALLOW YOU SOME 
FLEXIBILITY NOW IN MORTGAGE 
PAYMENTS.
IF YOU'RE A RENTER, YOU'RE IN A
DIFFERENT BOAT ENTIRELY, AND 
YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH DEPENDENT IN
BEING ABLE TO USE THE PAYMENTS 
THAT YOU GET FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT OR HAVING A FLEXIBLE
LANDLORD.
>>> I'M SURE THAT'S A STORY 
THAT YOU'VE HEARD A FEW TIMES 
BEFORE, PEOPLE THAT ARE 
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE 
TO PAY RENT IN ABOUT A WEEK'S 
TIME.
TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE HEARING 
FROM PEOPLE?
>> YEAH.
WE'RE DEFINITELY HEARING FROM A
LOT OF INVESTORS AND LANDLORDS.
OF COURSE, EVERYONE'S MINDFUL 
OF WHAT'S GOING ON, SO BOTH 
LANDLORDS AND COMMERCIAL 
TENANTS, RESIDENTIAL TENANTS, 
THEY'RE ALL WORKING WITH THEM 
TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO GET 
THROUGH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. 
>> JOHN, I'M GOING TO LEAVE 
YOU -- I'M SURE WHAT YOU'RE 
SAYING IS SUPER INTERESTING, 
BUT OUR TECHNOLOGY IS FAILING 
US A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS THE PROBLEM WHEN WE'RE 
DOING SO MANY REMOTE 
INTERVIEWS.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE 
IT'S SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND YOU.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY 
GUESTS BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING 
FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE, ALONG
WITH ME.
>>> YOU HEAR ABOUT THE 
FINANCIAL HELP, THERE ARE SO 
MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, AND 
NEED IT FAST. 
>> Vassy: GO AHEAD, CATHERINE. 
>> WELL THING THAT WE DIDN'T 
TOUCH ON AFTER PRIME MINISTER'S
CONFERENCE WAS THE QUESTION HE 
WAS ASKED ABOUT CREDIT CARDS 
AND A CREDIT CARD GRACE PERIOD.
WE'VE HEARD, GETTING THESE 
SMOKE SIGNALS FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT ABOUT THAT THEY'RE 
TALKING ABOUT CREDIT TO HELP 
NOT ONLY BUSINESSES BUT TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS.
THE GOVERNMENT SAID LISTEN, 
WE'VE PROPOSED THAT TO THE 
BANKS.
WE WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT A LOT OF 
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT 
PAYING RENT ARE INTERESTED. 
>> YEAH.
COAXING THE BANK DOESN'T ALWAYS
WORK -- OKAY.
I'M GOING TO GO TO DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER CHRYSTIA FREELAND 
WHO'S LEADING THE PRESS 
CONFERENCE.
>> A DAILY REMINDER TO ALL 
CANADIANS.
WE MUST ALL PRACTICE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
>>> TODAY, THE PRIME MINISTER 
ANNOUNCED KIRSTEN HILLMAN AS 
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED 
STATES.
I HAVE WORKED WITH KIRSTEN 
SINCE 2015, AND I KNOW THAT AS 
WE BATTLE COVID-19 AND HAVE SO 
MUCH WORK TO DO WITH THE U.S. 
ON SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES, 
KIRSTEN IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT 
WOMAN TO ALMOST
DOUBLED IN NEWFOUNDLAND 
YESTERDAY.
>> AS WELL, INCREASED 
LABORATORY CAPACITY, AND THE 
ABILITY OF LABORATORY HOSPITALS
TO CONFIRM CASES CONTRIBUTED TO
A SHARP SPIKE IN QUEBEC THIS 
WEEK.
CASES ARE RELATED TO A RANGE OF
EXPOSURES AND TRAVELERS RELATED
TO MARCH BREAK IN QUEBEC, TO A 
LARGE FUNERAL THAT ALMOST 
DOUBLED NEWFOUNDLAND'S CASE 
COUNT YESTERDAY.
WE ARE NOW SEEING A SNAP SHOT 
OF COVID-19 IN CANADA, WHERE 6%
OF ALL CASES REQUIRE 
HOSPITALIZATION, AND 2.6% OF 
ALL CASES ARE CRITICALLY ILL, 
AND 1% OF CASES HAVE BEEN 
FATAL.
THE FACT THAT CANADA'S FATALITY
RATE IS AT 1% INDICATES THAT 
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS NOT 
CURRENTLY OVERWHELMED, BUT 
THESE FATALITIES COULD BE 
REDUCED FURTHER BY PREVENTING 
ILLNESS IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE 
POPULATIONS.
MANY OF THE DEATHS IN CANADA 
HAVE BEEN LINKED TO OUTBREAKS 
AND CLUSTERS IN OUR PROVINCES.
THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS DISEASE
CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH 
SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE 
AT RISK.
BUT NOT ONLY CAN PEOPLE OF ALL 
AGES GET CAN HE VEERLY ILL, 
BUT -- SEVERELY ILL, BUT IT 
WILL IMPACT ALL.
ANYONE AFFECTED BY THE 
SERIOUSNESS OF COVID-19 AND THE
NEED FOR PHYSICAL DISTANCING 
SHOULD LOOK TO COUNTRIES LIKE 
ITALY AND THE FACT OF A HEALTH 
SYSTEM SEVERELY OVERWHELMED.
SO BY KEEPING A DISTANCE 
BETWEEN YOURSELVES, YOU ARE 
HELPING EVERYONE.
>> OKAY.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM 
OUR MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, 
DISABILITY, AND WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT. 
>> BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO 
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK 
THE A.L.S. AND L.S.Q. SIGN 
LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS, WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE 
SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATIONS 
DURING THESE PRESS CONFERENCES,
SO ALL CANADIANS CAN STAY 
INFORMED.
THANK YOU.
YOUR WORK IS HARD, AND WE 
APPRECIATE IT.
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE'VE 
ALL BEEN ASKED TO WORK TOGETHER
TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
I KNOW THIS HAS COME WITH A LOT
OF UNCERTAINTY, ANXIETY, AND 
CONCERN, ESPECIALLY THE PART 
ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY 
YOUR CHECK. 
>> THE LEGISLATION ENACTED 
YESTERDAY IS THE FIRST STEP TO 
HELP WITH SOME OF THE STRESS BY
IMPLEMENTING SPECIAL MEASURES 
TO SUPPORT CANADIANS WHO ARE 
STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 
>> SO EFFECT HELP, WE'VE 
INTRODUCED THE EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE 
WANTED TO HELP ALL WORKERS, 
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE 
ELIGIBILITY FOR E.I.
WE TOOK ACTIVE ACTION IN THE 
E.I. BY WAIVING THE SIX-WEEK 
BENEFITS, AND THEN, AN 
UNPRECEDENTED WAVE OF E.I. 
APPLICATIONS CAME ROLLING IN, 
AND THEN, IT BECAME CLEAR THERE
WAS UNCERTAINTY AND CONFUSION 
AROUND WHICH BENEFIT TO APPLY 
FOR.
AT THAT POINT, IT BECAME 
OBVIOUS THAT WE HAD TO SIMPLIFY
THE EXISTING BENEFITS BY 
MERGING THEM INTO A SINGLE 
TEMPORARY EMERGENCY BENEFIT FOR
EVERYONE.
>> OUR E.I. SYSTEM WAS NOT 
DESIGNED TO ADDRESS A GLOBAL 
PANDEMIC SITUATION.
IT DOESN'T HELP ALL WORKERS, 
AND IT DOESN'T CONTEMPLATE THE 
MYRIAD OF SITUATIONS THAT 
WORKERS ARE FACING DURING THIS 
CRISIS WITH ITS SIGNIFICANT 
ECONOMIC IMPACTS.
IT'S CLEAR WE NEED AN EMERGENCY
IMPACT OUTSIDE OF EXISTING 
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME PARAMETRES
TO RESPOND TO THIS EMERGENCY 
SITUATION.
THAT'S WHAT THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT IS.
RETROACTIVE TO MARCH 15, 
CANADIAN WORKERS WILL HAVE 
ACCESS TO THE CERB TO A MAXIMUM
OF 16 WEEKS IF THEIR INCOME 
LOSS IS RELATED TO COVID-19.
IT'S A STREAM LINED BENEFIT 
WITH A STRAIGHTFORWARD 
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
THE PORTAL FOR ACCESSING THE 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT WILL
BE OPEN IN EARLY APRIL, AND 
UNTIL THEN, CANADIANS CAN 
CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR E.I. 
ON-LINE AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY 
BE ENROLLED IN THE CERB.
WE'RE TRULY DOING EVERYTHING IN
OUR POWER TO HELP CANADIANS AND
PROTECT THEM AGAINST THIS VIRUS
AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACTS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER
TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT 
CANADIAN WORKERS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES.
MERCI.
THANK YOU. 
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU, CARLA. 
>>> AND NOW, I GIVE THE FLOOR 
TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 
TREASURY BOARD. 
>> THANK YOU, CHRYSTIA.
THE MAIN MESSAGE TODAY IS 
INFORMATION AND SUPPORT, AND 
BEING CLEAR ON THE INSTRUCTIONS
THAT WE ALL MUST FOLLOW IN 
SOCIAL DISTANCING, BUT ALSO THE
CLEAR DIRECTIVES ISSUED 
YESTERDAY WHEN THE QUARANTINE 
ACT WAS INVOKED TO ENSURE THAT 
EVERYONE WHO COMES BACK TO 
CANADA SELF-ISOLATES FOR AT 
LEAST 15 DAYS UNDER PROPER 
CONDITIONS, OTHERWISE, THE 
QUARANTINE WILL NOT COME INTO 
EFFECT.
WE HAVE CREATED THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
IT IS MORE SIMPLE, IT'LL BE 
QUICKER.
IT'S MORE INCLUSIVE, AS WELL.
IT IS GENEROUS, IT IS $2,000 A 
MONTH FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS,
AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE WANT TO 
AVOID HAVING A BREAK IN THE 
EMPLOYMENT LENGTH BETWEEN 
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
NOW WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHEN
THE ECONOMY COMES BACK ON-LINE,
PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY 
THEIR WORKERS QUICKLY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND OF COURSE, WITH US ALSO IS 
PATTY HAJDU, OUR DEPUTY OF 
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND OUR 
MINISTER, PLEASE. 
>> SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE 
THREE QUESTIONS ON THE PHONE.
>> THANK YOU.
MERCI.
PLEASE PRESS STAR-ONE ON THE 
PHONE IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
THERE WILL BE A BRIEF MOMENT 
WHILE THE PARTICIPANTS 
REGISTER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH LANGUAGE]
>> OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM 
MIA ROBSON OF THE CANADIAN 
PRESS.
>> HI.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TALK 
ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW 
THE QUARANTINE FOR PEOPLE 
COMING BACK TO CANADA WOULD BE 
ENFORCED, THE MEASURES THAT 
YOU'LL ACTUALLY TAKE AND HOW 
THAT WILL BE ENFORCED. 
>> OKAY.
PATTY CAN ANSWER THAT. 
>> WELL, FIRST, I'LL TAKE THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR 
COLLEAGUES AT THE CANADIAN 
BORDER SERVICES TO PUT IN PLACE
THE MEASURES THAT WILL HELP US 
ENFORCE THE QUARANTINE ACT 
MEASURE THAT WE ANNOUNCED 
YESTERDAY.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE ARE DOING 
IS REMINDING THESE CANADIANS --
AND THESE ARE CANADIANS IN THE 
MINORITY, I WILL SAY WHO ARE 
NOT TAKING THE NEED TO 
SELF-ISOLATE SERIOUSLY.
>> SO I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE 
PEOPLE BACK A LITTLE BIT IN 
IMAGINING WHEN YOU ENTER THE 
INTERNATIONAL BORDER INTO 
CANADA.
SO ANY SYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE WILL 
BE IMMEDIATELY GIVEN AN ORDER 
TO ISOLATE.
IF THEY CAN GET IN A PRIVATE 
VEHICLE TO GET HOME, WE'LL 
CHECK ON THEM.
IF THEY CAN'T GET HOME, WE'RE, 
OF COURSE, PUTTING THEM IN A 
FEDERAL QUARANTINE PLACE.
WE'RE ALSO TAKING THEM TO A 
RISK ASSESSMENT, AS WELL.
SO IF YOU'RE LIVING WITH 
SOMEONE WHO HAPPENS TO BE OLDER
OR WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL 
CONDITIONS, THAT, OF COURSE, 
WILL BE TAKING THAT INTO 
ACCOUNT SO WE CAN CONSIDER THEM
SEPARATELY.
WE HAVE CONTACT WITH THEM, WE 
FOLLOW THEM SO THAT WE HAVE A 
SEAMLESS PROCESS WITH LOCAL 
HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
FOR ASYMPTOMATIC TRAVELERS, 
THEY CAN MOVE ON AS FAST AS 
POSSIBLE TO THEIR HOME, 
ESSENTIALLY, THEIR PLACE OF 
RESIDENCE IN CANADA.
THEY ARE GIVEN THE ORDER WHICH 
SPECIFIES THE KIND OF 
CONSEQUENCES AND THE PENALTIES 
THAT YOU MAY ENCOUNTER IF YOU 
DID NOT FOLLOW THE ORDER.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GO HOME.
THEY'RE ASYMPTOMATIC, AND 
THEY'RE ASKED TO SELF-ISOLATE, 
AND WE'RE DOING RANDOM CHECKS 
AS THAT IS FELT TO BE THE MOST 
REASONABLE APPROACH.
WE'LL ALSO WORK WITH PUBLIC 
HEALTH.
THEY HAVE ORDERS IN PLACE, AS 
WELL, FOR SELF-ISOLATION.
SO THIS IS A COORDINATED 
EFFORT.
SO IF, FOR WHATEVER REASON, 
SOMEONE IS NOT COMPLYING, WE 
CAN THEN COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL
HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN THE 
FOLLOW-UP PROCESS. 
>> FOLLOW UP?
>> Caller: YEAH, JUST TO FOLLOW
UP ON THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBER OF 
CANADIANS THAT ARE IN THE -- I 
DON'T WANT TO CALL IT THE 
FORCED QUARANTINE, BUT IN THE 
FEDERAL QUARANTINE PLACES?
HOW MANY CANADIANS ARE BEING 
HELD IN THE FEDERAL QUARANTINE 
PLACES?
AND ARE THERE ANYTHING PEOPLE 
CAN HELP WITH SO CALLED SNITCH 
LINES, CALLING POLICE?
WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO IN TERMS OF 
OTHER PEOPLE NOT FOLLOWING THE 
ORDER?
>> IN TERMS OF PEOPLE AT THE 
FEDERAL FACILITY, THESE ARE 
VERY DYNAMIC NUMBERS.
THEY'RE VERY FEW AT THIS POINT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE DO HAVE SOMEONE
WHO IS SICK IN THE VANCOUVER 
FACILITY.
WE HAD AN EXAMPLE OF A COUPLE 
THAT WENT ACROSS THE LAND 
BORDER WITH QUEBEC.
THEY WERE NOT ILL, BUT THEY 
WERE LIVING WITH SOMEONE THAT 
WAS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
WE HAD A TRUCK DRIVER, AS WELL,
SO THAT WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS 
IMMEDIATELY PUT INTO ISOLATION.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT MAINTAIN 
OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES, BUT IF 
THEY ARE SICK, WE ARE MAKING 
SURE THAT THEY DO NOT IMPACT 
THE HEALTH OF CANADIANS.
THEY ARE RIGHT NOW VERY, VERY 
FEW PEOPLE, AND SOME OF THESE 
MIGHT ALREADY BE -- YOU KNOW, 
ONCE WE ARE SURE THAT WE CAN 
SAFELY MOVE ONTO THEIR HOMES 
WITH THE HELP OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
WE WILL THEN DEPART, SO IT'S A 
VERY DYNAMIC NUMBER.
AND YOUR SECOND QUESTION, SO I 
THINK OVERALL, THOUGH, I HAVE 
TO SAY THAT CANADIANS ARE VERY 
COLLABORATIVE.
THIS QUARANTINE ACT IS TO LAYER
ON AN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF
SELF-ISOLATION.
THAT IS THE PURPOSE.
OF COURSE, IF THERE ARE 
VIOLATIONS, WE'RE WORKING WITH 
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH 
AUTHORITIES.
WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
THEM TO FIND ANYONE WHO MAY BE 
VIOLATING THE ORDER.
WITH THOSE RANDOM CHECKS, WE 
ARE, OF COURSE, FROM OUR END, 
CHECKING ON PEOPLE WHO MIGHT 
ALSO NOT BE FOLLOWING THE 
ORDER.
BUT AS THE MINISTER SAID, WE 
ARE RAPIDLY SETTING ALL OF 
THIS.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
>> Caller: YES, HELLO.
I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON 
THOSE RANDOM CHECKS.
HOW WILL THEY BE CONDUCTED?
WILL THEY BE DONE IN PERSON OR 
OVER THE PHONE AND IF THEY'RE 
DONE OVER THE PHONE, HOW WILL 
IT BE POSSIBLE TO KNOW IF 
THEY'RE COMPLYING OR NOT?
>> WE ARE GOING TO GET THE 
NECESSARY INFORMATION ABOUT 
TRAVELERS ARRIVING IN CANADA, 
IT'S NOT EVERYONE, BUT IT'S A 
SECTION OF PEOPLE, AND WE WILL 
WORK CLOSELY WITH DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH.
THERE'S A RANGE OF OPTIONS.
SOMEONE MIGHT GO TO THE 
PERSON'S HOME, BUT THERE ARE 
OTHER OPTIONS, AS WELL, THAT 
WE'RE EXAMINING BECAUSE THE 
CONTEXT IS DIFFERENT, DEPENDING
ON THE PROVINCE OR TERRITORY. 
>> Caller: I JUST WANT TO KNOW,
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING BACK 
TO CANADA, THEY DON'T 
NECESSARILY LIVE IN THE SAME 
CITY WHERE THEIR PLANE HAS 
LANDED.
I THINK THERE WERE TALKS ABOUT 
ORGANIZING TRANSPORTATION FOR 
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THEIR 
CARS OR THEIR OWN PERSONAL CARS
AT THE AIRPORT.
HAVE YOU SORTED THAT OUT?
HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK, AND 
WHERE CAN PEOPLE CALL TO GET 
THAT SERVICE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THE TRANSPORTATION IS FOR 
SYMPTOMATIC PASSENGERS SO 
THEY'RE NOT IN CONTACT WITH 
OTHER PASSENGERS IN CANADIAN 
TRANSIT THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE
AT RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR 
POTENTIAL INFECTION WITH 
COVID-19.
AS THE DOCTOR HAS ILLUSTRATED, 
ASYMPTOMATIC PASSENGERS ARE 
GIVEN PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE, 
INCLUDING THE ORDER TO 
QUARANTINE WHEN THEY GET TO 
THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, ALONG 
WITH A MASK, AND TOLD TO DON 
THE MASK IF THEY SHOULD GET ILL
AT ANY POINT ALONG THEIR 
TRAVEL. 
>> BUT IF THEY DON'T ARRIVE IN 
THEIR HOME CITY, HOW DO THEY DO
THAT?
>> THE SAME WAY THAT ALL OTHER 
PASSENGERS ARE TRAVELING.
THEY WOULD GET ONTO THEIR NEXT 
FLIGHT OR WHATEVER FORM OF 
TRANSPORTATION IS TAKING THEM 
TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, AND
THIS WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED IF 
THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.
IF THEY ARE SYMPTOMATIC, THEY 
WOULD BE TRANSPORTED BY ONE OF 
OUR OFFICIALS AND PLACED INTO 
QUARANTINE UNTIL IT WAS 
DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE SAFE 
TO TRAVEL ONWARDS. 
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE 
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS 
CONTRACTED TRANSPORTS, SO 
DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, THE
ILL PASSENGERS MAY EITHER BE 
TRANSFERRED TO A FEDERAL 
QUARANTINE SITE SO IF IT'S 
WITHIN A MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
DISTANCE, WE WOULD ACTUALLY 
DRIVE THEM ALL THE WAY HOME.
>> YES.
THE NEXT QUESTION ON THE PHONE.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM 
ALEX FROM THE TORONTO STAR.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Caller: HI.
THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTION.
I THINK THIS ONE MIGHT BE FOR 
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.
JUST WHAT -- CAN YOU TELL US 
ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THE 
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE AMERICANS?
THERE'S THIS NEWS REPORT THAT 
THEY'RE CONTEMPLATING PUTTING 
TROOPS AT THE BORDER.
JUST WHAT EXACTLY THEY'RE 
THINKING ABOUT DOING, AND WHAT 
OUR RESPONSE IS TO THAT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, 
ALEX, AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
DID ADDRESS THAT IN HIS DALY 
PRESS EVENT THIS MORNING.
I THINK FOR DETAILS OF WHAT THE
AMERICANS ARE CONSIDERING, THE 
PEOPLE TO ASK ARE THE 
AMERICANS, AND THE UNITED 
STATES, OF COURSE, IS A 
SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, WHICH DOES, 
AS IT OUGHT TO DO, MAKE ITS OWN
INDEPENDENT DECISIONS ABOUT 
WHAT TO DO WITHIN ITS OWN 
BORDERS.
HAVING SAID THAT, WE -- LET ME 
SHARE WITH CANADIANS WHAT 
CANADIAN POLITICIANS, 
MINISTERS, HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING
VERY FORCEFULLY, WHAT OUR 
DIPLOMATES, INCLUDING OUR 
NEWLY-APPOINTED AMBASSADOR, 
AMBASSADOR HILLMAN, HAS BEEN 
SAYING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
AND THAT IS CANADIANS AND 
AMERICANS ARE RIGHTLY PROUD TO 
SHARE THE WORLD'S LONGEST 
UNMILITARYIZED BORDER.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF
HOW OUR COUNTRIES VERY 
EFFECTIVELY WORK TOGETHER.
IT IS ALSO THE CASE THAT CANADA
AND THE UNITED STATES ARE VERY 
CLOSE MILITARY ALLIES.
WE ARE PARTNERS IN NORAD, 
DEFENDING OUR CONTINENT, AND WE
ARE PARTNERS IN NATO.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY 
EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER IN OUR 
ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP.
WITNESSED THE RATIFICATION, 
EVEN IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, 
IN THE NEW NAFTA.
AND LAST WEEK, WE MANAGED, 
WORKING TOGETHER, A VERY GOOD 
RECIPROCAL AND COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENT ON RESTRICTING 
NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL ON OUR 
BORDER, ACROSS OUR SHARED 
BORDER.
IN VIEW OF ALL OF THESE 
CONNECTIONS, AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE RELATIONSHIP, CANADA IS 
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS U.S. 
PROPOSAL, AND WE HAVE MADE THAT
OPPOSITION VERY, VERY CLEAR FOR
AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS, AND WE 
WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERY 
COUNTRY TAKES ITS OWN 
DECISIONS, BUT OURS IS AN 
IMPORTANT AND VALUED 
PARTNERSHIP, AND WE ARE MAKING 
VERY CLEAR CANADA'S POSITION.
THANKS.
>> ALEX, ONE FOLLOW UP?
>> Caller: YEAH, THANKS FOR 
THAT.
AND JUST EXPANDING ON THAT, 
WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE WORLD, 
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, BORDER 
SHUTDOWNS, YOU KNOW, COUNTRIES 
SORT OF SCRAMBLING FOR 
SUPPLIES.
ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THE 
PANDEMIC WILL SORT OF PROMPT A 
TURN INWARDS?
WILL IT INCREASE CONSUMER 
PROTECTIONISM OR CAUSE 
COUNTRIES TO TURN AWAY FROM 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTIONISM,
I THINK WE ARE ALREADY SEEING 
THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE 
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE REACTION.
ON ONE HAND, EVERY COUNTRY IN 
THIS TIME WHEN WE ARE FACING 
REAL DANGER TO THE HEALTH AND 
SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS, EVERY 
COUNTRY NEEDS TO FOCUS ON THE 
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ITS OWN 
PEOPLE, AND THAT IS WHAT OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
AND WE DO THAT WITH NO APOLOGY,
IN FACT, WITH REAL CONVICTION.
HAVING SAID THAT -- AND I THINK
DR. TAM HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE
AT COMMUNICATING THIS -- AT THE
END OF THE DAY, THE REALITY OF 
A GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS THAT IT IS
GLOBAL.
AND THE LONG-TERM LESSON THAT 
WE SHOULD BE LEARNING FROM ALL 
OF THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IS.
NOW, THE LESSON THAT WE ARE 
BEING TAUGHT IS THAT NONE OF US
IN THE WORLD CAN BE SAFE AND 
HEALTHY UNLESS WE ARE WORKING 
HARD TO BE SURE THAT EVERYONE 
IN THE WORLD IS SAFE AND 
HEALTHY, AND THAT'S WHY 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IS 
REALLY IMPORTANT.
CANADA HAS BEEN A COUNTRY THAT,
FROM THE INSEPT OF THE RULES 
BASED INTERNATIONAL ORDER -- 
INCEPT OF THE RULES-BASED 
INTERNATIONAL ORDER HAS BEEN AN
EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US.
THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY 
PARTICIPATED IN A CALL OF G-20 
LEADERS, AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE 
OF HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE 
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE'LL TURN TO THE PHONE FOR 
THREE QUESTIONS, STARTING WITH 
MIKE FROM GLOBAL.
>> Caller: THANK YOU.
MINISTER HAJDU, THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID MILLIONS OF 
P.P.E. IS COMING INTO CANADA.
WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE 
QUESTION.
I'LL TURN TO DR. TAM FOR SOME 
DETAILED LEVEL DISCUSSION.
SOME OF IT IS COMING FROM 
CHINA, SOME OF IT IS COMING 
FROM OTHER SOURCES.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DOMESTIC 
SOURCES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO 
PROCURE FROM, AS WELL.
AND I THINK TO THE DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER'S LAST COMMENT, I 
REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT THIS 
IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, AND I 
THINK ANOTHER THING THAT I 
FOCUS ON IS THE FRAGILITY OF 
OUR DELIVERY SYSTEMS.
AND WHEN ONE COUNTRY IS THE 
ONLY COUNTRY THAT CAN SUPPLY 
THOSE GOODS, IT PUTS OUR SYSTEM
AND SITUATION SOMEWHAT AT A 
DISADVANTAGE.
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE 
COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT ARE 
HAPPENING ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND
WITH PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROCURE 
WHAT WE NEED.
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THE 
FILE.
IS IT PERFECT?
NO, BUT CERTAINLY, I THINK 
WE'RE GETTING A LOT FURTHER IN 
THE LAST WEEK OR TWO THAN WE 
HAVE BEEN IN A WHILE.
>> Caller: SO THIS IS ON TOP OF
THE -- CHINA SENT US LAST MONTH
ABOUT 16 TONNES OF EQUIPMENT, 
RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE HERE.
IS THIS ON TOP OF THAT, OR IS 
THAT NUMBER TOTALLY CRAZY?
>> I'M SORRY.
WHAT WAS THE QUESTION AT THE 
BEGINNING?
>> Caller: CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT
CHINA IS SENDING BACK MORE 
EQUIPMENT THAN THE 16 TONNES 
LAST MONTH?
>> I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU
ON THAT UNLESS DR. TAM HAS 
DETAILS.
WEL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU 
ON THAT.
BUT I WILL SAY I'M PROUD HOW 
HARD MANUFACTURERS ACROSS THE 
GLOBE ARE WORKING TO INCREASE 
THEIR PRODUCTION.
I, TOO, HAVE REGULAR CALLS WITH
MY COUNTERPARTS, G20 
COUNTERPARTS, AND THE QUESTION 
OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT AND OTHER SUPPLIES 
WAS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
I WILL SAY THE EFFORTS THAT ARE
HAPPENING ON DOMESTIC 
PRODUCTION AND OTHER CONTINENTS
IS VERY INSPIRING.
>> JULIA, CBC.
>> YOU SAY YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT 
THE PROPOSAL IS FOR THE U.S.
CAN YOU JUST TELL US WHAT THE 
PROPOSAL IS, AND WHAT YOU CAN 
DO ABOUT IT. 
>> AGAIN, THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT
THE U.S. DECIDES TO DO WITHIN 
ITS OWN BORDERS IS 
TRADITIONALLY A QUESTION THAT 
IS RIGHTLY POSED TO AMERICAN 
LEADERS, AND I THINK THAT IT 
WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR 
ANYONE OTHER THAN U.S. LEADERS 
TO COMMENT ON WHAT THEY ARE 
CONTEMPLATING.
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING 
ABOUT IT, WE ARE VERY DIRECTLY 
AND VERY FORCEFULLY EXPRESSING 
THE VIEW I SHARED A MOMENT AGO,
WHICH IS THAT IN CANADA'S VIEW,
THIS IS AN ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY
STEP WHICH WE WOULD VIEW AS 
DAMAGING TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MINISTER 
BLAIR FOR SPEAKING TO HIS 
COUNTERPART ABOUT THIS, AND 
MINISTER SAJJAN FOR SPEAKING TO
HIS COUNTERPART ABOUT THIS.
HAVING SAID THAT, THIS IS OUR 
NEIGHBOUR HAVING THE RIGHT TO 
DO WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO ON 
THEIR BORDER.
I WILL SAY THIS IS SOMETHING 
THAT WE'VE BEEN IN VERY CLOSE 
CONTACT WITH OUR AMERICAN 
COUNTERPARTS WITH AT THE LOCAL 
LEVEL, AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL 
THAT CANADA IS TAKING WHEN IT 
COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH HERE IN 
CANADA.
THANKS. 
>> >> Reporter: OKAY.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A QUESTION
FOR PATTY HAJDU OR THERESA TAM,
BUT WE'RE HEARING ATTENDANTS 
ARE GETTING SICK ON FLIGHTS 
BECAUSE THEY'RE PASSENGERS THAT
THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE TO
STOP THIS?
>> I'LL ANSWER THIS, AND THEN, 
I'LL TURN TO DR. TAM.
WE'VE TURNED TO INDUSTRY SECTOR
GUIDELINES TO CARE FOR 
EMPLOYEES IN THAT SECTOR THAT 
CAN HELP THEM -- PREVENT THEM 
FROM ACQUIRING COVID-19.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A 
VARIETY OF FRONTLINE WORKERS, 
INCLUDING RETAIL WORKERS THAT 
ARE EXPERIENCING A HIGHER 
DEGREE OF CONTACT WITH WORKERS.
WE CONTINUE TO REFINE THAT 
SECTOR AND GUIDANCE AS WE 
UNCOVER VARIOUS SECTORS OF 
THEIR WORK, AND I WILL TURN TO 
DR. TAM FOR MORE COMMENT ON 
THAT. 
>> SO WE PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO 
DIFFERENT SECTORS AND HAVE BEEN
ENGAGING WITH AIRLINES ON AN 
ONGOING BASIS.
SOME OF THE CURRENT MEASURES 
BEING PUT IN PLACE, FOR 
EXAMPLE, ENSURING THOSE SICK 
PASSENGERS GET ON THE PLANE, OF
COURSE ALSO PROTECTS THE CREW 
THAT'S ON THE PLANE AND 
ENSURING THE PEOPLE HAVE THE 
RIGHT EQUIPMENT -- FOR EXAMPLE,
PUTTING A MASK ON SOMEONE 
THAT'S SICK AND TRYING TO 
SEPARATE THEM.
INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL 
CLEANING AND PROCEDURES LIKE 
THAT, PROVIDING ADVICE TO -- 
AND ENSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT 
IS -- IS CLEANED AND SAFE, AS 
WELL.
SO OF COURSE ANYONE ARRIVING IN
CANADA WHO IS ILL WILL BE TAKEN
CARE OF, AS WITH OTHER 
TRAVELERS, AS WELL.
BUT I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE 
CONCERNS, AND IT'S REALLY 
PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE THAT'S 
BEEN PROVIDED.
>> OKAY.
ONE LAST QUESTION FOR THE ROOM 
BEFORE WE GO BACK TO THE PHONE.
RACHEL FROM C.T.V. 
>> OKAY.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR 
MINISTER HAJDU AND DR. TAM.
FIVE UNIVERSITIES IN CHINA HAVE
DONE A STUDY THAT A TWO-WEEK 
QUARANTINE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH, 
AND PEOPLE MAY START SHOWING 
SYMPTOMS AFTER THE TWO WEEKS.
WOULD CANADA CONSIDER 
INCREASING THIS PERIOD, AND IS 
THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT 
THIS?
>> GIVEN THIS IS A RESEARCH 
QUESTION, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO 
DR. TAM. 
>> I THINK WE WILL CERTAINLY 
REVIEW THIS PAPER, BUT OF 
COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS A 
DISTRIBUTION IN TERMS OF 
INCUBATION PERIOD OF WHEN 
PEOPLE FEEL SICK.
IT'S STILL THE MOST COMMON 
MEDIAN -- IT'S STILL FIVE TO 
SIX WEEKS -- FIVE TO SIX DAYS, 
ESSENTIALLY.
SO WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT 
THE RANGE, SO I THINK, 
CERTAINLY, DIFFERENT HEALTH 
MEASURES ARE LAYERS, AND YOU'RE
NEVER GOING TO CATCH THE ENTIRE
CURVE, BUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH 
MEASURES ARE THERE TO ENCOMPASS
THE RANGE OF THAT INCUBATION 
PERIOD.
FOR ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF 
PAPERS, I HAVE TO SORT OF 
REVIEW HOW SOLID THE 
EPIDEMIOLOGIC EVIDENCE IS. 
>> AND I HAVE A FOLLOW UP 
QUESTION ABOUT THE MATERIALS 
SENT TO CHINA.
WHEN CANADA SENT THIS, WAS 
THERE A RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT BY
CHINA TO SEND BACK MATERIALS 
WHEN WE MIGHT NEED IT?
>> AGAIN, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO 
DR. TAM ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF 
EQUIPMENT SHARING. 
>> SO I THINK AT THE 
OUTBREAK -- I THINK WE ARE IN A
DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE 
PANDEMIC, BUT THE W.H.O. CALLED
FOR GLOBAL SUPPORT TO CHINA, 
AND I THINK IT'S A VERY 
IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH 
PRINCIPLE, WHICH IS CONTAINMENT
AT SOURCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING ONE MUST DO AT THE 
BEGINNING OF ANY OUTBREAK.
BY CONTAINING THE EPICENTRE, 
YOU'RE GOING TO HELP THE WORLD,
YOU'RE GOING TO HELP CANADA, AS
WELL.
IN THE END, I THINK IT'S 
HELPING TO PREVENT FURTHER 
SPREAD, AND THAT WILL ALSO 
AFFECT CANADA AND THE REST OF 
THE WORLD.
THAT'S REALLY THE CONCEPT, AND 
I THINK THAT THE GLOBAL 
COLLABORATION IS EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY IN 
PANDEMIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO CONTAIN 
THE SOURCE, WHETHER IT'S WEST 
AFRICA FOR EBOLA OUTBREAK OR 
ESSENTIALLY WUHAN FOR THE 
OUTBREAK THAT IMPACTED CHINA 
FIRST, THAT CONTAINMENT IS 
CRITICAL.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL TURN TO THE PHONE FOR THE
NEXT QUESTIONS. 
>> Caller: OKAY.
GO AHEAD.
>> Caller: YES.
GOOD MORNING.
HELLO.
MINISTER FREELAND, I'D LIKE TO 
COME BACK TO THE ISSUE OF THE 
BORDER AND THE AMERICANS' 
INTENTIONS.
IF YOU CAN'T TELL US EXACTLY 
WHAT THOSE INTENTIONS ARE, I'D 
LIKE TO ASK YOU, DO YOU REALLY 
TAKE THIS IDEA BY DONALD TRUMP 
SERIOUSLY, AND WHAT HAPPENS ON 
THE TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS, 
AND WHAT EFFECT WOULD IT HAVE 
ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN?
[SPEAKING FRENCH LANGUAGE]
>> WITH REGARD TO THE 
DISCUSSION REGARDING THE 
POSSIBILITY THAT WASHINGTON 
WOULD SEND TROOPS TO THE 
CANADIAN BORDER, I HAVE TO 
STRESS THE FACT THAT WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL 
DECISION BY THE U.S., AND IT IS
COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR 
ANOTHER COUNTRY TO TALK ABOUT 
THE INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS 
TAKING PLACE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY
REGARDING A DECISION THAT MAY 
BE MADE YET.
WITH REGARD TO KNOW PRECISELY 
WHAT THE AMERICANS ARE 
DISCUSSING IN WASHINGTON, WELL,
THERE, WE HAVE TO SPEAK 
DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICANS IN 
WASHINGTON.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR HERE 
BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR 
CANADIANS TO KNOW THAT OUR 
GOVERNMENT'S POSITION IS A 
POSITION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN 
EXPRESSED DIRECTLY TO OUR 
AMERICAN NEIGHBOURS.
IT'S THAT THE PROPOSAL OR THE 
IDEA TO HAVE AMERICAN TROOPS 
SENT TO OUR BORDER IS 
UNNECESSARY, AS THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH SITUATION DOES NOT 
REQUIRE SUCH ACTION.
AND ON THE CANADIAN SIDE, WE DO
NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE 
APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE VERY 
CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP THAT OUR 
TWO COUNTRIES HAVE, AND THE 
MILITARY ALLIANCE THAT EXISTS 
BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES.
WITH REGARD TO THE POSSIBLY -- 
POSSIBLE SECTOR OF 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE BETWEEN THE
TWO COUNTRIES, I WOULD LIKE TO 
SAY THAT THE OFFICIAL DECISION 
HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE, BUT THAT
IS NOT WHY WE'VE TAKEN SUCH A 
STRONG POSITION IN OUR 
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE 
AMERICANS.
THE IDEA OF POSSIBLY SENDING 
TROOPS TO THE BORDER, WELL, I 
CAN ASSURE CANADIANS THAT IT'S 
NOT BECAUSE THE AMERICANS HAVE 
SOME KIND OF INTENTION TO 
PREVENT TRADE FROM TAKING 
PLACE.
IT'S NOT A TRADE ISSUE.
AT THE SAME TIME, CANADA HAS 
TAKEN A STRONG POSITION BECAUSE
WE THINK THAT, SYMBOLICALLY 
SPEAKING, AND EVEN 
PHILOSOPHICALLY SPEAKING, WHEN 
IT COMES TO THE RELATIONSHIP 
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
CANADA, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US 
TO HAVE A BORDER BETWEEN 
NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES THAT 
HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A VERY, 
VERY LONG TIME TO BE AN 
UNMILITARYIZED BORDER.
THANK YOU.
SO IF WE -- 
>> Caller: SO IF WE ASK THE 
QUESTION ANOTHER WAY, WE'RE 
ASKING ABOUT THE BORDER 
CONTROLS, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE 
OF THE HIGH NUMBER OF CASES 
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN NEW YORK 
STATE.
>> WELL, WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN A 
POSITION, AND IT'S BEEN 
DESCRIBED BY OUR MINISTER OF 
HEALTH.
[Please stand by]
>> THE TRUCKS THAT COME OVER THE
BORDER, THEY BRING MEDICATION.
SO PRESERVING TRADE BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND CANADA IS VERY
IMPORTANT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE
DONE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE NOW HAVE A
RESTRICTION.
DR. TAM WAS TALKING A FEW
MINUTES AGO ABOUT A TRUCK DRIVER
WHO BECAME SYMPTOMATIC AND
PUBLIC HEALTH TOOK MEASURES TO
HELP HIM.
SO NOW, WE HAVE THE NECESSARY
RESTRICTIONS, BUT FROM HOUR TO
HOUR, WE ARE EXAMINING THE
SITUATION AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE
READY TO TAKE ALL OF THE
NECESSARY MEASURES TO PROTECT
CANADIAN'S HEALTH AND THEIR
LIVES.
NEXT QUESTION ON THE PHONE,
PLEASE, OPERATOR.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
PAUL VIERA FROM THE JOURNAL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> WE SURE CAN.
>> OK, THANK YOU.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, CAN YOU
TELL US WHEN U.S. OFFICIALS CAME
FORWARD TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS
IDEA REGARDING TROOPS NEAR THE
BORDER, PLEASE?
>> WE FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY A COUPLE OF DAYS
AGO, A FEW DAYS AGO.
>> HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO
Mr. POMPEO OR Mr. PENCE
ABOUT THIS AND RELAYED YOUR
OPPOSITION?
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
SECRETARY AND HOMELAND SECURITY
SECRETARY.
BUT HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ANYONE?
>> CANADA MADE ITS POSITION VERY
CLEAR AT A NUMBER OF LEVELS AND
MINISTER BLAIR HAS SPOKEN TO HIS
COUNTERPARTS AND MINISTER HARJIT
SAJJAN HAS SPOKEN TO HIS
COUNTERPARTS AND THERE WERE
CONVERSATIONS AT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE WHITE HOUSE AND I HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS DIRECTLY WITH
AMERICANS ABOUT THIS, WITH
AMERICAN LEADERS ABOUT THIS.
I HAVE NOT YET SPOKEN TO
SECRETARY POMPEO OR VICE
PRESIDENT PENCE.
>> NEXT QUESTION ON THE PHONE
BEFORE WE TURN BACK TO THE ROOM.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION FROM
RADIO-CANADA, PLEASE GO MADE.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> YES, HELLO.
I HAVE A QUESTION AND I WOULD
LIKE TO COME BACK TO THE ISSUE
OF TROOPS.
YOU SAID THAT IT COULD BE
DAMAGING TO THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED
STATES.
WHAT DID YOU MEAN?
AND HOW DO YOU SEE THAT
DEVELOPING IN THE FUTURE?
>> I THINK THAT I HAVE ALREADY
EXPLAINED CANADA'S POSITION.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED
STATES IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
CANADA.
AND I THINK THAT RELATIONSHIP IS
A VERY, VERY GOOD ONE.
WE ARE MILITARY ALLIES.
WE HAVE A STRONG AND IMPORTANT
ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP AND WE
HAVE CLOSE PRACTICAL COOPERATION
AT THE BORDER AND THAT CLOSE
COOPERATION WAS SHOWN ONCE AGAIN
LAST WEEK.
WE MADE A VERY WELL-COORDINATED
MUTUAL DECISION REGARDING TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS FOR NONESSENTIAL
TRAVEL BECAUSE OF THE
CORONAVIRUS.
SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, FOR
US, AND WE EXPRESSED THAT
DIRECTLY TO OUR AMERICAN
COUNTERPARTS, WE THINK THAT
SENDING TROOPS TO THE BORDER IS
NOT NECESSARY AND THAT IT WOULD
BE A PROBLEM FOR OUR BILATERAL
RELATIONSHIP.
FOLLOWUP?
QUESTION, YES, I WOULD LIKE TO
CLARIFY SOMETHING.
PEOPLE WHO COME BACK TO THE
COUNTRY AND WHO ARE IN
QUARANTINE, WE'RE TOLD THEY
CAN'T GO OUT WALKING BUT THOSE
WHO ARE ASYMPTOM COULD GO OUT
FOR A WALK.
COULD YOU CARRY US THROUGH STEP
BY STEP IN FRENCH WHAT HAPPENS
TO SOMEBODY WHO COMES INTO THE
COUNTRY, HAS TRAVELED ABROAD AND
NEEDS TO GET HOME TO TIMMONS,
LET'S SAY?
SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS
MANDATORY QUARANTINE AFTER
SOMEONE GETS BACK INTO THE
COUNTRY?
>> YES, HELLO THIS IS DR. NJOO.
I WILL TRY IN FRENCH TO EXPLAIN.
SO FOR ALL TRAVELERS WHO COME TO
THE CANADIAN BORDER, WE HAVE TO
SEPARATE OUT THE TRAVELERS WHO
ARE SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC
SO FOR TRAVELERS SICK AT THE
BORDER WITH THIS QUARANTINE ACT,
THERE HAS TO BE AN ASSESSMENT
AND IF SOMEONE NEEDS IMMEDIATE
MEDICAL CARE, WE WILL CONDUCT
FOLLOW-UP INVOLVING SENDING A
PERSON TO THE HOSPITAL.
IN THE CASE OF COVID-19, IF
SOMEONE IS A BIT SICK WITH A FEW
SYMPTOMS, RIGHT AWAY, WE GIVE
THAT PERSON A PAMPHLET WITH
INSTRUCTIONS WITH AN ORDER
SAYING THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO
GO STRAIGHT HOME AND
SELF-ISOLATE AND THAT IS VERY
CLEAR FOR SYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE.
SO YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT, I
THINK, ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE, SO
THOSE PEOPLE ARE GIVEN AN ORDER
TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS, BUT
IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE
IF PEOPLE COME THROUGH THE
BORDER WITH THE U.S., FOR
EXAMPLE, IF THEY HAVE A CAR AND
THEY CAN GO STRAIGHT HOME,
THAT'S FINE.
IN PRINCIPLE, THERE'S NO STOP
THERE, BUT IT IS OR RATHER THEY
ARE IN PRINCIPLE NOT SUPPOSED TO
STOP ANYWHERE ON THE WAY HOME.
FOR OTHERS OTHER ARRIVE AT
AIRPORTS, IT'S THE SAME
PRINCIPLE.
IF A TRAVELER IS ASYMPTOMATIC,
THEY RECEIVE AN ORDER AND A MASK
IN CASE THEY RECEIVE SYMPTOMS
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT
PERSON TO TAKE THE NEXT
CONNECTING FLIGHT TO GET TO THE
NEXT AIRPORT AND GET
TRANSPORTATION TO GET STRAIGHT
HOME.
WITH REGARD TO EXERCISE, WE SEE
THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ARRIVING
IN CANADA FROM ABROAD, THEIR
EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS BROAD,
THAT RISK IS DIFFERENT THAN
FORECANADIANS HERE INSIDE OF
CANADA.
SO IT'S A SPECIAL SITUATION.
SO YES, WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY
NEEDS FRESH AIR, BUT IN
PRINCIPLE, MAYBE WALKING AROUND
THE BACKYARD IS OK, BUT NOT
REALLY.
THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT REALLY
BE IN CONTACT WITH THE GENERAL
POPULATION.
IS THAT ENOUGH CLARIFICATION?
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
SO WE'LL TAKE TWO QUESTIONS FROM
THE ROOM AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK
TO THE PHONE FOR TWO MORE
QUESTIONS AND THAT'S IT.
CASSIE JOHNSON.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR
DR. TAM.
WE'RE HEARING FROM THE COMPANIES
THAT MAKE VENTILATORS THAT IT
WOULD BE MUCH EASIER FOR THEM IF
THERE WAS A MORE STREAMLINED
PROCESS TO DEAL WITH ORDER
DISTRIBUTION AND, PERHAPS, EVEN
MANAGING DISTRIBUTION.
IS THERE A CONSIDERATION TO HAVE
A SINGLE ENTITY TAKE OVER THIS
RATHER THAN HAVING COMPANIES
FIELD 15 OR 16 FROM VARIOUS
REGIONS AND NOT KNOW WHERE TO
SEND THEM?
>> THANK YOU.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS
HAPPENING.
WE ARE COORDINATING BY AND LARGE
WITH THE PROVINCES AND
TERRITORIES TO MASS PROCURE ALL
OF THE ITEMS THAT WE NEED.
THERE ARE STILL SOME PROVINCES
THAT ARE PUTTING IN INDIVIDUAL
ORDERS, BUT WE HAVE ENCOURAGED
THEM TO WORK WITH US AND IN THIS
PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO HELP
STREAMLINE AND FACILITATE THOSE
ORDERS AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO
PUT IN THE BULK ORDERS THAT WILL
RECEIVE MORE ATTENTION IN
COMPETITIVE SPACE WITH OTHERS.
THEY'RE HELPING HEALTH CANADA TO
STREAMLINE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
NOT ONLY THE QUANTITY THAT WE
NEED, BUT ALSO THE SPECIFICS
THAT ARE BEING REQUIRED.
>> MY SECOND QUESTION, I
BELIEVE, WILL BE FOR MINISTER
QUALTRO.
I'M WONDERING, WHAT IS THE
PORTAL COMPANY THAT THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT IS USING TO
ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMME?
IT'S NOT THE SAME COMPANY THAT
DID PHOENIX, I'M ASSUMING?
>> I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTION.
THE PORTAL WILL BE MINISTERED
THROUGH THE CANADA REVENUE
AGENCY AND WE'VE DONE A DEEP
DIVE IN OUR SYSTEMS AND
CANADIANS ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE
CA CAN DELIVER ALL OF YOUR TAXES
ARE PAID THROUGH CA, PAYMENTS
ARE MADE THROUGH CA CHILD
BENEFIT, YOUR TAX REFUNDS,
THAT'S ALL THROUGH THE CA AND
THEY IS A MASSIVE CAPACITY TO
ADMINISTER BULK APPLICATIONS
VERY STREAMLINED AND CONFIDENTLY
AND THAT'S THE SECURITY WE WERE
LOOKING FOR AND THAT'S WHY IT
WILL BE DELIVERED THROUGH CIA.
>> THANK YOU.
NO QUESTIONS,, JULIE VAN DUESEN.
SO YOU CAN TELL, WOULDN'T IT BE
INCUMBENT UPON YOU TO STEP UP
SCREENING OF THE PEOPLE THEY'RE
SENDING OVER, TRUCKERS OR
OTHERWISE, ESPECIALLY COMING
FROM A COUNTRY WHERE THE VIRUS
IS SPREADING SO QUICKLY?
>> SO JULIE, IN TERMS OF THE
IDEAS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
DISCUSSED WITHIN THE U.S.
ADMINISTRATION, OUR
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A DECISION
HAS NOT YET BEEN ACTED UPON OUR
FULLY TAKEN.
HAVING SAID THAT, DECISIONS ARE
BEING TAKEN AT SPEED BY
GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD
INCLUDING OURS AND INCLUDING
OTHERS.
SO IT TRULY IS BOTH DIFFICULT
AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO
SPECIFY WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED
INSIDE ANOTHER GOVERNMENT.
AND I CAN SAY FROM OUR OWN
EXPERIENCE, EVERYONE RIGHT NOW
IN THE WHOLE WORLD IS OPERATING
ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SPEED OVER
PERFECTION AND IT MEANS THINGS
ARE BEING DONE FAST.
THEY'RE BEING DISCUSSED QUICKLY.
IT ALSO MEANS IDEAS CHANGE A LOT
AND SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE OF
REPORTERS AND CANADIANS TO KNOW
PRECISELY WHAT IS BEING
DISCUSSED AND IT IS SIMPLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO OFFER THAT
PRECISION, PARTLY BECAUSE THIS
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
DOING, BUT ALSO BECAUSE QUITE
UNDERSTANDABLY, THIS IS
SOMETHING WHICH IS IN THE
PROCESS OF BEING DISCUSSED.
AND SO THAT IS WHY I CAN'T OFFER
PRECISION.
DIRECTIONALLY, THOUGH, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, THE NOTION IS A
NEED WHICH ALL COUNTRIES, I
THINK, TODAY, ARE SEEING
INCLUDING CANADA, WHICH IS TO
HAVE GREATER CONTROL AT OUR
BORDERS AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THAT IS
SOMETHING WHICH OUR AMERICAN
NEIGHBOURS ARE ALSO CONSCIOUS OF
WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR OWN
BORDERS.
IN FACT, IT IS THEIR SHARED VIEW
WHICH IS THE DRIVER OF THE
RECIPROCAL AND COORDINATED
DECISION WE TOOK WITH OUR
AMERICAN NEIGHBOURS ABOUT THE
BORDER LAST WEEK.
SO THAT'S KIND OF AS MUCH AS I
CAN TELL YOU AROUND THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE
HAPPENING.
AND MAYBE JUST TO ELABORATE A
LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE CORONAVIRUS.
WE SHARE THOSE CONCERNS VERY
MUCH AND I HOPE EVERYONE
LISTENED TO DR. TAM WHEN SHE
SAID TO ALL OF US, TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY, LOOK AT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN ITALY.
I CERTAINLY SAT UP A LITTLE BIT
STRAIGHTER WHEN SHE SAID THAT.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
TAKE SERIOUS ACTION AND WE ARE.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS
OF THE ISSUE AND WE UNDERSTAND
THE CONCERN OF OUR AMERICAN
NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS.
WHAT WE HAVE SAID IS, WE REALLY
DO NOT BELIEVE AT ALL THAT THERE
WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEALTH
JUSTIFICATION FOR YOU TO TAKE
THIS ACTION.
OF COURSE, IT'S UP TO YOU TO
DECIDE FOR YOURSELVES.
AND WE'VE SAID, WE REALLY DON'T
THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO
TREAT A TRUSTED FRIEND AND A
MILITARY ALLY.
SO THAT'S BEEN CANADA'S
POSITION.
IN TERMS OF OUR POSITION WITH
REGARDS TO OUR OWN BORDER, WE
HAVE TAKEN ACTION AND IT IS
ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE TO HAVE
MORE RESTRICTIONS AT ALL OF OUR
BORDERS VERY MUCH, INCLUDING OUR
BORDER WITH THE UNITED STATES.
AND WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES THAT
MINISTER HAJDU AND DR. TAM HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY AND
YESTERDAY TO HAVE MANDATORY
QUARANTINE FOR EVERYONE ENTERING
CANADA INCLUDING FROM THE UNITED
STATES.
THOSE ARE APPROPRIATE MEASURES
AT THIS TIME.
THOSE ARE SERIOUS AND STRINGENT
MEASURES AND WE ARE CONSTANT LIY
REVIEWING THE SITUATION TO SEE
IF ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN.
WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE
TRUCKERS CROSSING THE BORDER --
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR DOING THAT
ESSENTIAL WORK AND I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE TO CANADIANS, IS THAT
ALL OF US EVERY SINGLE DAY
DEPEND ON THAT CROSS-BORDER
COMMERCE CONTINUING.
WE DEPEND ON THAT CROSS-BORDER
COMMERCE FOR OUR SHOP SHELVES
BEING STOCKED AND FOR CRUCIAL
SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.
AND JUST AS WITHIN OUR OWN
COUNTRY, WE ARE TAKING
PARTICULAR STEPS WHEN IT COMES
TO ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THE SAME APPROACH DOES AND MUST
APPLY AT THE BORDER.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
TWO MORE QUESTIONS ON THE PHONE,
PLEASE.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION.
(SPEAKING FRENCH).
>> YES, HELLO.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ME
ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER MENTIONED THIS MORNING
OF ASKING TO REDUCE CREDIT CARD
INTEREST RATES BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT THE HOUSEHOLD DEBT IN
CANADA IS ALREADY A PROBLEM.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THAT PLAN
LOOKS LIKE, THAT YOU'RE WORKING
ON WITH BANKS?
WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING TO BANKS?
ANSWER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
QUESTION.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS.
SO ONE THING THAT WE'VE KNOWN
FOR AWHILE IS THAT BANKS IN
CANADA AND THAT INCLUDES THE ONE
IN QUEBEC HAVE COMMITTED TO
DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO
DELAY INTEREST THE PAYMENTS TO
MORTGAGE PAYMENTS OVER THE NEXT
SIX MONTHS.
BANKSES HAVE ALSO COMMITTED TO
WORKING WITH THEIR CLIENTS TO
LOOSEN THE CONDITIONS FOR OTHER
TYPES OF LOANS, INCLUDING LOANS
ON CREDIT CARDS.
THAT MEANS THEY HAVE ALSO
COMMITTED TO OFFERING WAYS OF
REDUCING INTEREST RATES ON SOME
OF THE LOANS THAT PEOPLE ALREADY
HAVE INCLUDING CREDIT CARD DEBT.
THERE WILL BE OPTIONS FOR
CLIENTS, SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE,
TAKING A FUND FROM A CREDIT CARD
THAT ARE HIGH INTEREST CREDIT
CARDS AND TAKING THEM AND
PUTTING THEM INTO OTHER TYPES OF
CREDIT MODALITIES THAT PEOPLE
CAN HAVE ACCESS TO.
YOU DID NOT AT ALL ANSWER THE
QUESTION.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
WORKING ON WITH THE BANKS BEYOND
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AN INTEREST
RATE MORE REASONABLE FOR PEOPLE
UNDER INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC
PRESSURE, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA IN
MIND?
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC OR IS
THERE NOTHING ON THE TABLE?
ANSWER, THE PROPOSAL IS WHAT I
JUST SAID, THAT THE BANKS AND
THE MOVEMENT HAS COMMITTED
REGARD TO MORTGAGES AND OTHER
TYPES OF CREDIT TO MAKE
CANADIANS AND QUEBECORS' LIVES
EASIER IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
MONTHS.
WITH REGARD TO MORTGAGES, THAT
IS TO BE ABLE TO POSTPONE
CAPITAL PAYMENTS FOR THE NEXT
SIX MONTHS AND FOR OTHER LOANS,
INCLUDING CREDIT CARD LOANS, THE
BANKS AND THE DESJARDINS
MOVEMENT HAVE COMMITTED TO
SHOWING FLEXIBILITY, INCLUDING
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH IS
INCUMBENT UPON THEM IN SUCH
DIFFICULT TIMES FOR HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF
CANADIANS.
THANK YOU, LAST QUESTION ON THE
PHONE, PLEASE.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION ABIGAIL FROM
THE GLOBAL NEWS, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> HI, THANKS FOR TAKING MY
QUESTION.
I HEARD EARLIER FROM DR. TAM
THAT THE NUMBER OF CANADIANS
THAT YOU ARE PLANNING FOR, TO
ARRANGE QUARANTINE FACILITIES
FOR IS IN FLUX AND I'M WONDERING
IF YOU CAN ELABORATE ON HOW MANY
YOU'RE PLANNING FOR?
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS
MORE THAN THAT?
I KNOW I HEARD FROM MINISTER
HADJU, THERE ARE FACILITIES BUT
ARE THERE OTHER FACILITIES
YOU'RE ENGAGING?
>> WELL, FOR THE QUARANTINE ACT,
WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE OVER
SPECIFIC SITES, FEDERAL
QUARANTINE SITES AND SOME OF
THEM REALLY HAVE BEEN HOTELS AND
SO THAT'S VERY KEY AND WE THANK
THE COLLABORATION WE HAVE, BUT
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE
THROUGH THE QUARANTINE ACT.
WE, OF COURSE, ALSO HAVE PLANS B
OR C, LOOKING AT OTHER SITES,
INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSIT
HAS BEEN USED FOR OTHER
REPATRIATION FLIGHTS.
SO LOOKING AT FEDERAL SITES,
FACILITIES AND THERE ARE
DIFFERENT RANGES OF THOSE.
SO I THINK WE ARE EXPANDING TO
EXAMINE ALL OF THE OPTIONS.
SHOULD THEY EVER BE REQUIRED?
>> ONE FOLLOWUP.
>> WELL, YES, YOU DIDN'T ANSWER
MY QUESTION IN TERMS OF HOW MANY
PEOPLE YOU'RE PLANNING FOR, BUT
I'M ALSO WONDERING IF YOU CAN --
AND I KNOW WE'VE HEARD SOME OF
THIS IN FRENCH, BUT IF YOU CAN,
AGAIN, ELABORATE ON THE FOLLOWUP
FROM PUBLIC HEALTH IN TERMS OF
FOLLOWING UP WITH TRAVELERS BY
PHONE OR IN PERSON.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT COMES
TO ENFORCEMENT?
IS CBSA INVOLVED?
IF YOU COULD PAINT THAT PICTURE
MORE CLEARLY, THANK YOU.
>> SO ANYONE WHO IS SICK IS
IMMEDIATELY ISOLATED IF THEY
CAN'T GO DIRECTLY HOME AND
THEY'RE MILDLY ILL.
IF THEY'RE SERIOUSLY ILL, THEY
GO TO HOSPITAL AND A QUARANTINE
ORDER IS PUT ON THEM AND WE, OF
COURSE, FOLLOW THEM.
ASYMPTOMATIC PASSENGERS ARE
GIVEN AN ORDER TO SELF-ISOLATE
AND GO DIRECTLY AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE TO YOUR HOME.
AND WE WILL DO RANDOM CHECKS ON
THE ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE AND THAT
CAN BE DONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS,
SO A TELEPHONE CALL.
OF COURSE, WE COLLABORATE WITH
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL,
SOME WHO HAVE MANDATORY ORDERS
TO SELF-ISOLATE.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU DIDN'T FIND
SOMEONE HOME, WELL, WE CAN ALSO
COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH, BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO
WITHIN THEIR INTEREST THAT THEY
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO A
CERTAIN RESIDENT IN THEIR
JURISDICTION.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO
FIRST.
OF COURSE, THE QUARANTINE ACT
HAS THE PENALTIES.
IF SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY VIOLATING
THE QUARANTE ACT, WE CAN GO
THE FURTHEST STEP TO EXECUTE
THOSE FINES OR THE PENALTIES AND
THAT HOPEFULLY WOULD NOT HAPPEN
VERY FREQUENTLY AND THAT IS WHAT
WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
BUT UNDER THE QUARANTINE ACT, WE
CAN ENGAGE POTENTIALLY PEACE
OFFICERS, BUT THIS IS A
DETERRENT, IF YOU LIKE, A
SERIOUS REMINDER OF HOW
ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT IT IS TO
UNDERGO SELF-ISOLATION.
SO THAT'S HOW WE ENVISION THE
ACTS OR ORDERS TO ROLL OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Rosemary:  THAT IS OUR DAILY
UPDATE FROM THE COVID-19
COMMITTEE.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS TO CLEAR
UP BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH OUR
COVERAGE.
LOTS OF DETAILS THERE ABOUT HOW
THE QUARANTINE ACT WHICH WAS
TAKEN INTO EFFECT YESTERDAY AT
MIDNIGHT, MEANING THAT IF YOU
RETURN TO THIS COUNTRY NOW, YOU
ARE NOW LEGALLY REQUIRED TO
SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS AND IF
YOU ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS WHEN
YOU LAND, IN THE FIRST CITY YOU
LAND IN CANADA, YOU WILL HAVE TO
QUARANTINE THERE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS WILL FIND YOU A
PLACE IF THAT IS NEEDED.
FINALLY ON THIS NEWS THAT OUR
GOVERNMENT IS CONFIRMING THAT
THE UNITED STATES IS CONSIDERING
SENDING AROUND 1,000 TROOPS NEAR
THE CANADA-U.S. BORDER TO
MONITOR PEOPLE MOVING BACK AND
FORTH AT IRREGULAR BORDER
ENTRIES WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE
THE COVID-19.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND SAYING VERY
CLEARLY THAT CANADA EXPRESSED
DIRECTLY TO THE U.S.
ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY DO NOT
WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, THAT THEY
THINK IT'S AN ENTIRELY
UNNECESSARY STEP WHICH, AS THE
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS, THEY
WOULD VIEW AS DAMAGING TO OUR
RELATIONSHIP.
WE ARE LEAD TO BELIEVE BY PEOPLE
WE ARE TALKING TO THAT THIS IS
NOT A FINAL DECISION AND NOT
ABOUT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS BEING
DISCUSSED BOTH IN WASHINGTON
AND, OBVIOUSLY, HERE IN THE
NATION'S CAPITOL.
I'LL TAKE YOU NOW TO ONTARIO
WHERE THIS PROVINCE HAS HAD THE
LARGEST SINGLE-DAY INCREASE OF
COVID-19 CASES.
AND THIS IS ONTARIO'S HEALTH
MINISTER, CHRISTINE ELLIOT.
>> YOU HAVE AT HIGH RISK OF
SPREADING COVID-19.
YOU MUST SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14
DAYS.
DO NOT GO TO THE STORE.
DO NOT VISIT FRIENDS OR FAMILY.
WE ARE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN
OUR FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
TO ALL OF THOSE IN ONTARIO WHO
CAN, PLEASE STAY HOME AND IF YOU
MUST LEAVE, AVOID CONTACT WITH
OTHERS BY KEEPING AT LEAST TWO
METRES, SIX FEET, BETWEEN
YOURSELVES AND OTHERS.
WE CAN
