 
MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU.
IN ADDITION TO HIS USUAL UPDATE 
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S COVID-19 
MEASURES, THE PRIME MINISTER 
WILL SPEAK ABOUT THAT LATEST 
MILITARY REPORT ON SOME OF THE 
HARD-HIT LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES 
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT JUST 
RELEASED THE REPORT THAT THEY 
RECEIVED FROM THE CANADIAN 
FORCES ON THOSE 25 HOMES IN 
THEIR PROVINCE WHERE FORCES 
HAVE BEEN ASSISTING STAFF.
IT COMES, OF COURSE, JUST A DAY 
AFTER ANOTHER MILITARY REPORT 
IN ONTARIO EXPOSED WHAT ARMED 
FORCES MEMBERS SAY THEY 
WITNESSED, THAT FIVE FACILITIES 
IN THAT PROVINCE -- SOME 
STARTLING AND SHOCKING 
REVELATIONS THERE.
RESIDENTS FORCE FED, LIVING IN 
EXTREMELY DIRTY CONDITIONS, 
INSECT INFESTATION AND 
ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLECT AND 
ABUSE.
ALL OF IT VERY DIFFICULT TO 
HEAR, EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
BEEN FOLLOWING THE STATE OF 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES IN THIS 
COUNTRY THROUGHOUT THE PAST 
NUMBER OF YEARS.
MY COLLEAGUES, THE CBC'S DAVID 
COCHRANE AND THE HOST OF "POWER 
& POLITICS", VASSY KAPELOS, ARE 
BOTH HERE.
WE'RE TOLD TWO MINUTES UNTIL 
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL EMERGE 
FROM RIDEAU COTTAGE.
WE JUST GOT THE 60-PAGE COME 
THAT THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT GOT 
FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.
IT IS MUCH LARGER BECAUSE THEY 
ARE IN 25 CENTRES IN THAT 
PROVINCE.
SO, JUST BIGGER BECAUSE OF THAT.
I WILL SAY I'VE HAD A SORT OF 
CURSORY SCAN OF IT AND IT DOES 
NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANYWHERE 
NEAR THE KIND OF DIRE SITUATION 
AND OBSERVATIONS WE SAW IN THAT 
ONTARIO REPORT YESTERDAY.
THERE'S CERTAINLY DESCRIPTIONS 
OF A LACK OF P.P.E. IN SOME 
LOCATIONS, OF THE IMPROPER USE 
OF P.P.E. 
FOR INSTANCE, PEOPLE WEARING 
N-95 MASKS ON MULTIPLE 
OCCASIONS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE STAFFING 
PROBLEMS ACROSS THE BOARD, 
WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING GIVEN 
THAT THE CANADIAN FORCES WERE 
THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
INFECTION RATES THAT ARE HARD 
TO GET UNDER CONTROL, COVID -- 
POSITIVE COVID PATIENTS NOT IN 
A ZONE ALL TO THEMSELVES.
SOME REPORTS OF NARCOTICS GONE 
MISSING, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT GONE 
MISSING.
BUT REALLY NOT TO THE 
STANDARDS, NOT ANYWHERE NEAR 
WHAT WE SAW IN ONTARIO.
OK.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS HERE NOW.
LET'S LISTEN TO HIM FAR WHILE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: IN 
RECENT WEEKS, MEMBERS OF 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN 
HELPING OUT IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES AND SENIORS HOMES IN 
QUEBEC AND ONTARIO.
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC HAVE ASKED 
US TO EXTEND THE ARMY'S MISSION.
AS I SAID YESTERDAY, OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY 
DISCUSSING THAT WITH THEM.
OUR MEMBERS ARE DOING AN 
OUTSTANDING JOB TO HELP OUR 
GRANDPARENTS, OUR PARENTS AND 
OUR SENIORS DURING THIS CRISIS 
AND I WANT TO THANK THEM.
THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB OR AN 
EASY SITUATION TO HANDLE.
THIS MORNING THE GOVERNMENT OF 
QUEBEC MADE PUBLIC A REPORT 
PRODUCED BY OUR MEMBERS WHERE 
THEY RAISE A NUMBER OF SERIOUS 
ISSUES.
A NUMBER OF THE OBSERVATIONS IN 
THE REPORT SUCH AS INADEQUATE 
STAFF ARE AMONG THE REASONS WHY 
PREMIER LEGAULT ASKED FOR THE 
ARMED FORCES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT 
A MONTH AND A HALF AGO.
THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES THAT 
DESERVE TO BE BROUGHT TO THE 
ATTENTION OF QUEBEC AND WE 
PASSED ON THE REPORT TO THEM 
LAST EVENING.
I ALSO SPOKE TO PREMIER LEGAULT 
EARLIER THIS MORNING AND I 
REITERATED OUR SUPPORT.
AND TOMORROW EVENING, I INTEND 
TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF 
CONDITIONS IN SENIORS HOMES AND 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WHEN 
I HAVE MY WEEKLY CALL WITH THE 
PREMIERS OF THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
RAISING ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 
NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM 
CARE FACILITIES WITH THE 
PREMIERS DURING OUR WEEKLY CALL.
I WILL ONCE AGAIN OFFER OUR 
GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT AS THEY 
TRY TO GET THE SITUATION UNDER 
CONTROL.
AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, WE 
NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF 
CARING FOR SENIORS.
THEY RAISED US.
THEY BUILT THIS COUNTRY.
THEY DESERVE BETTER.
DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF 
CRISIS, PEOPLE'S LIVES WERE 
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF 
CANADIANS LOST THEIR JOBS, 
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, 
WITHOUT WARNING BECAUSE OF THIS 
PANDEMIC.
.
IT PUT ENORMOUS FINANCIAL 
PRESSURE ON EVERYONE FROM 
STUDENTS TO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS 
TO FAMILIES.
SO, WE BROUGHT IN THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT TO 
SUPPORT PEOPLE UNTIL THEY'RE 
ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK.
AND TO HELP AS MANY CANADIANS 
AS POSSIBLE KEEP THEIR JOBS OR 
GET HIRED, WE INTRODUCED THE 
CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY.
WE ALSO UNVEILED OUR $9 BILLION 
PLAN TO HELP STUDENTS AND 
RECENT GRADS GET THROUGH THE 
NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WE NOW HAVE OVER 45,000 JOBS 
AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS 
INTERESTED, GO TO JOBBANK.CA TO 
APPLY.
NOW, AS PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES RESTART SOME 
ACTIVITIES AND MANY PEOPLE HEAD 
BACK TO WORK, FEWER PEOPLE WILL 
NEED THE HELP OF THE CERB.
BUT THE WAGE SUBSIDY WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT 
CANADIANS AND MAKE SURE THEY 
CAN GET PAID THEIR SALARIES.
MAINTAINING THE CONNECTION 
BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE 
IS KEY NOT JUST TO HELPING 
PEOPLE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, 
BUT TO KEEPING OUR ECONOMY 
STRONG.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT 
THAT EMPLOYERS TAKE ADVANTAGE 
OF THIS PROGRAMME AND REHIRE 
WORKERS.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: IN 
THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE 
CRISIS, PEOPLE'S LIVES WERE 
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
OVERNIGHT, HUNDREDS OF 
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR 
JOBS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS PLACED A LOT OF PRESSURE 
ON FAMILIES, YOUNG 
PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS AND 
MANY, MANY MORE.
SO WE BROUGHT IN THE CANADIAN 
EMERGENCY BENEFIT TO SUPPORT 
PEOPLE UNTIL THEY COULD RETURN 
TO WORK AND TO ALLOW EVEN MORE 
PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS OR TO 
BE HIRED WE SET UP THE 
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY.
WE ALSO UNVEILED A $9 BILLION 
PLAN TO HELP STUDENTS GET 
THROUGH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
MORE THAN 45,000 JOB OFFERS FOR 
YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN POSTED 
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S WEBSITE.
IN ORDER TO APPLY, GO TO 
JOBBANK.GC.CA.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE 
ACTIVITIES START UP AGAIN IN 
THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
AND THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE WILL 
HAVE LESS AND LESS NEED FOR THE 
EMERGENCY BENEFIT.
THE EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY, 
HOWEVER, WILL CONTINUE TO BE 
THERE TO HELP CANADIANS DURING 
THE RECOVERY AND ENSURE THAT 
EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING 
SUITABLE PAY.
MAINTAINING THE CONNECTION 
BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES 
WILL ALSO HELP US TO ENSURE 
THAT THE ECONOMY IS STRONG.
IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYER OR A 
BUSINESS OWNER AND YOU HAVE NOT 
YET APPLIED, I INVITE YOU TO GO 
TO THE CANADA REVENUE AGENCY'S 
WEBSITE TO DO SO.
I'VE BEEN SAYING FROM THE 
BEGINNING THAT, IN ORDER TO 
COME OUT OF THIS CRISIS, 
EVERYONE MUST DO THEIR PART.
TO SAVE LIVES, PEOPLE MUST 
CONTINUE TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL 
DISTANCING.
TO GET THE ECONOMY BACK ON ITS 
FEET.
PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK AND 
BUSINESSES MUST HAVE CUSTOMERS.
SO, IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYER, DO 
REHIRE YOUR EMPLOYEES.
OUR GOVERNMENT CAN AND WILL 
HELP YOU.
I WILL NOW TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> [Speaking French]
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French]
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: GOOD 
MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
WITH RESPECT TO THE REPORT ON 
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC'S LONG-TERM 
CARE HOME, I'D LIKE TO COME 
BACK TO YOUR OFFER OF 
ASSISTANCE TO THE PROVINCES.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SAID 
A FEW TIMES THAT YOU WILL 
RESPECT PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION, BUT YOU ALSO SAID 
THAT YOU WANT TO HELP.
SO, ARE YOU THINKING OF DOING 
WHAT THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT IN 
QUEBEC DID BEFORE?
TO ENSURE THAT SPECIFIC FUNDS 
GO DIRECTLY TO THESE SENIORS 
HOMES?
WELL, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF 
DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE TO TAKE 
PLACE AMONG PREMIERS.
FOR THE TIME BEING, OUR 
PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT THE 
HELP THAT IS NEEDED NOW WITHIN 
THAT SYSTEM, EITHER THROUGH THE 
ARMED FORCES OR OTHER MEANS 
WILL BE THERE.
SO, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEKING 
TO HELP THOSE FACILITIES AND 
SENIORS HOMES TO DO BETTER IN 
AGREEMENT WITH THE PROVINCES, 
BUT OVER THE LONGER TERM, WE 
HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MOVE 
FORWARD AS A COUNTRY TO SUPPORT 
OUR SENIORS AFTER THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE WILL BE THERE TO BE PART 
OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE 
THAT N CANADA, THERE IS A 
BETTER JOB OF SUPPORTING OUR 
SENIORS, PARTICULARLY IN 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE THERE TO 
HELP AND WE OFFERED TO HELP 
WITH THE PROVINCES.
WE WILL, OF COURSE, ALWAYS 
RESPECT PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTIONS, BUT WE WILL BE 
PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
IN THE IMMEDIATE, WE NEED TO 
MAKE SURE THAT HELP IS 
IMPROVING AND HELP IS GETTING 
TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND TO 
CENTRES WHO NEED IT.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE THERE WITH 
THE MILITARY AND WHY WE'RE 
LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS OF 
HELPING IN THE SHORT TERM AS 
WELL.
BUT FOR THE LONGER TERM 
CONVERSATIONS, WELL THOSE NEED 
TO BE HAD BECAUSE COMINGING OUT 
OF THIS PANDEMIC AND INTO THE 
FUTURE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE 
THAT WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB 
OF SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS AND 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THERE 
TO WORK WITH THE PROVINCES 
WHILE RESPECTING THEIR 
JURISDICTIONS.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: 
THANK YOU.
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU SAY YOU 
WANT TO RESPECT JURISDICTIONS.
ARE THE PROVINCES REALLY OPEN 
TO HAVING SPECIFIC MEASURES 
TAKEN OR TO BE TOLD HOW THE 
MONEY THEY RECEIVED COULD BE 
SPENT?
AND ON THE CERB, YOU'VE BEEN 
TELLING PEOPLE TO MOVE ON TO 
THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
BUT WILL YOU EXTEND THE CERB OR 
WILL IT END TON DATE THAT'S 
ALREADY PLANNED?
AS I SAID, WE CONTINUE OUR 
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PROVINCES 
AND I BELIEVE THAT ALL LEVELS 
OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AND 
INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENTS ARE 
FEELING THE PRESSURE OF THEIR 
CITIZENS TO IMPROVE THE 
SERVICES PROVIDED TO OUR 
SENIORS.
AND, OF COURSE, WE WILL BE 
LISTENING TO CANADIANS' 
CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE 
PROVINCES AT THIS TIME.
WITH RESPECT TO THE PROGRAMMES, 
I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO 
PUT A REASONABLE END TO PROVIDE 
FOR A REASONABLE END TO SOME OF 
THESE PROGRAMMES.
OF COURSE, WE HAD TO HELP 
PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST THEIR 
INCOME.
AND, OF COURSE, WE HAD TO 
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE COULD GET 
THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
AS BEST POSSIBLE.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID.
BUT, OF COURSE, IN TERMS OF 
MOVING TOWARDS AN ECONOMY 
THAT'S RECOVERING AND EMPLOYERS 
THAT ARE STARTING TO REHIRE 
THEIR WORKERS,  WE WILL BE 
LOOKING AT THE BEST WAY OF 
MAKING THAT TRANSITION AND 
CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSION WITH 
OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND 
WORKERS' ORGANISATIONS AND 
UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS AS WELL TO 
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: IT 
WILL REQUIRE A PHASING OUT OR 
ENDING OF CERTAIN PROGRAMMES 
AND CONTINUATION OR 
MODIFICATION OF OTHERS AND 
THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE LOOK 
VERY CAREFULLY AT.
WE'RE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE 
EMERGENCY PHASE, IN THE CRISIS 
PHASE OF THIS.
EVEN AS WE'RE SEEING CAREFUL 
RE-OPENINGS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE 
CONTINUING TO PROTECT 
VULNERABLE CANADIANS AND ENSURE 
THAT WE'RE CONTROLLING AND 
STOPPING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
WE WILL, HOWEVER, LOOK VERY 
CAREFULLY HOW WE END CERTAIN 
PROGRAMMES AND HOW WE MODIFY 
OTHERS IN ORDER TO GET OUR 
ECONOMY GOING AGAIN OR BEFORE 
IT WAS EVEN BETTER.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, CORMAC 
McSWEENEY, CityNews ROGERS 
RADIO.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: YES, PRIME 
MINISTER.
I'M JUST WONDERING THAT GIVEN 
THAT ADVOCATES HAVE SAID THAT 
THE PROBLEMS WITH LONG-TERM 
CARE ARE NOT NEW AND THEY ARE 
WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
AND THAT YOU YOURSELF HAVE SAID 
THAT IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THE 
FACILITIES THAT THE MILITARY IS 
CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN, IS IT 
TIME FOR A NATIONAL INQUIRY 
INTO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES 
IN CANADA?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK RIGHT NOW, WHILE WE'RE IN 
THIS CRISIS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY 
IS TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS AS 
BEST WE CAN AND TO ENSURE THAT 
WE ARE IMPROVING IN THE COVID 
CONTEXT CARE AS BEST WE CAN.
BUT ABSOLUTELY, WE NEED TO HAVE 
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CARE 
FOR OUR ELDERS IN THIS COUNTRY 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND RESPECTING PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION, RESPECTING THAT 
THERE ARE AREAS THAT HAVE 
GREATER SUCCESS AND FEWER 
PROBLEMS THAN OTHERS.
IT MEANS THAT WE WILL NEED TO 
BE VERY CAREFUL AND VERY 
GROUNDED IN THE FACTS ON THE 
GROUND AS WE LOOK TO MOVING 
FORWARD.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: WE 
ALL KNOW THAT, YES, THERE ARE 
CHALLENGES IN OUR LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES.
BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF 
VARIATION BETWEEN THE PROVINCES 
AND EVEN WITHIN THE PROVINCES.
SO, WE WILL BE WORKING TO 
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE THAT RIGHT 
NOW IN THE MIDST OF THIS CRISIS 
BUT OBVIOUSLY THE CONVERSATIONS 
AND MORE IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF 
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WILL BE 
CRITICAL IN TERMS OF MOVING 
FORWARD.
>> Reporter: AND A QUESTION 
FROM A COLLEAGUE AT 680 NEWS IN 
TORONTO.
I'M JUST WONDERING, NEW ZEALAND 
HAS FLOATED THE IDEA ABOUT A 
FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK, AND EXTRA 
STATUTORY HOLIDAYS POST THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO BOOST THE 
ECONOMY.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU WOULD 
CONSIDER THE SAME THING FOR 
CANADA, IF THAT IS SOMETHING 
THAT YOU THINK WOULD WORK FOR 
OUR COUNTRY.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE 
THINKING CREATIVELY ABOUT WHAT 
THE POST-COVID WORLD COULD LOOK 
LIKE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO 
HEARING A WIDE RANGE OF 
SUGGESTIONS.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE VERY MUCH 
FOCUSED ON GETTING THROUGH THIS 
PARTICULAR CRISIS AND WE'LL 
HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK 
ABOUT PARTICULARLY CREATIVE 
IDEAS ON MOVING FORWARD.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SPECULATE 
ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT ANY OF THEM 
MIGHT BE.
>> [Speaking French]
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[Speaking French]
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: GOOD 
MORNING, MR. TRUDEAU.
I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO THE 
ARMY'S REPORT ON FACILITIS IN 
QUEBEC.
DID YOU READ IT AND WHAT DO YOU 
THINK OF IT?
WHAT DID YOU -- WHAT STRUCK YOU 
IN THAT REPORT?
WELL, YES, I DID READ IT LAST 
NIGHT.
THE ENTIRE REPORT.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME 
VERY CONCERNING ISSUES THAT ARE 
RAISED.
THE FACT THAT THE SEPARATION 
BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ZONES IS 
NOT BEING RESPECTED AND 
STAFFING AS WELL.
AND THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY 
WE NEEDED THE ARMED FORCES TO 
GO IN AND ASSIST.
AND THROUGH WHAT I READ LAST 
NIGHT, I MUST ADMIT I FELT 
TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN THE 
PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR ARMED 
FORCES MEMBERS WHO ARE THERE TO 
HELP WITH A SYSTEM THAT IS IN 
DIFFICULTY RIGHT NOW AND TO 
PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE 
CANADIANS.
OF COURSE THERE WAS SOME 
TROUBLING OBSERVATIONS IN THERE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE 
REALISED THAT WE REALLY NEEDED 
TO BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER AND 
THAT THERE WILL NEED TO BE 
IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE WAY 
THOSE FACILITIES OPERATE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
WAS ABLE TO READ THE REPORT 
LAST NIGHT IN ITS ENTIRETY IN 
REGARDS TO QUEBEC.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE MANY THINGS 
THAT WERE TROUBLING THAT 
HIGHLIGHTED THE VERY NEED THAT 
WE HAD TO SEND IN OUR ARMED 
FORCES TO HELP.
WHETHER IT WAS LACK OF 
PERSONNEL OR DIFFICULTY IN 
FOLLOWING THE STRICT SEPARATION 
AND ISOLATION AND P.P.E. RULES.
THERE WAS A NEED FOR CANADIAN 
ARMED FORCES AND IT CERTAINLY 
FILLED ME WITH A TREMENDOUS 
AMOUNT OF PRIDE AND EVEN DEEPER 
RESPECT FOR THE PROFESSIONALS 
IN OUR ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE 
MADE SUCH A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE 
IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND 
SOME SYSTEMS THAT WERE REALLY 
IN NEED OF EXTRA ASSISTANCE.
OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE -- THERE 
ARE DIFFICULT THINGS THAT WE 
NEED TO CONTINUE ON.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT 
IMPROVEMENT IN MANY OF THOSE 
CENTRES AND THERE CONTINUES TO 
BE A NEED FOR US TO WORK 
TOGETHER AND I CERTAINLY SPOKE 
ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING WITH 
PREMIER LEGAULT IN OUR 
CONVERSATION.
>> FOLLOW-UP?
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: YES.
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT, MR. 
TRUDEAU, THERE IS A VERY 
IMPORTANT DECISION THAT IS 
GOING TO COME DOWN OUT OF THE 
SUPREME COURT IN BRITISH 
COLUMBIA.
IF THE COURT RULES IN FAVOUR OF 
MENG WANZHOU, WILL THE CANADIAN 
GOVERNMENT APPEAL THE DECISION?
WE'RE A FEW HOURS AWAY FROM 
THAT COURT'S JUDGMENT AND WE 
WILL WAIT TO SEE IT.
BEFORE WE SPECULATE ON THE NEXT 
STEPS FOR A POTENTIAL DECISION.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
NEXT QUESTION, TERESA WRIGHT, 
THE CANADIAN PRESS.
LINE OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, 
PRIME MINISTER.
EXPERTS AND ADVOCATES WHO HAVE 
BEEN RAISING RED FLAGS ABOUT 
THE LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM FOR 
YEARS ARE CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE 
FEDERAL LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING 
NATIONAL STANDARDS AND 
GUIDELINES.
WHAT IS YOUR IMMEDIATE PLAN TO 
DEAL WITH THESE SYSTEMIC ISSUES 
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NOW THAT 
THE MILITARY HAS CONFIRMED WHAT 
MANY PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN FOR 
YEARS?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THE 
IMMEDIATE PLAN IS TO HELP OUT 
IMMEDIATELY.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH 
THE MILITARY AND WHY WE'RE 
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE 
PROVINCES ON LOOKING AT HOW WE 
CAN ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE 
RESOURCES NEEDED TO GET THESE 
CARE CENTRES PROPERLY SERVING 
THE ELDERS WHO THEY CARE FOR.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE 
NEED TO WORK ON RIGHT NOW.
BUT, OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE 
MANY IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS 
GOING FORWARD ON HOW WE 
ESTABLISH A BETTER SYSTEM IN 
CANADA.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, 
SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CONVERSATION 
BY PUTTING FORWARD AGGRESSIVE 
PROPOSALS RIGHT NOW.
BUT ALL I WILL SAY IS THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THERE TO 
SUPPORT AND TO WORK WITH 
PROVINCES, TO ENSURE THAT IN 
AREAS OF THEIR JURISDICTION, 
THEY ARE ABLE TO GIVE CANADIANS 
THE CARE THAT THEY AND THEIR 
FAMILIES EXPECT.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: WHAT 
WE NEED TO DO NOW IS HELP AND 
ENSURE THAT IN THIS CRISIS IN 
THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC, WE 
HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO 
CARE FOR OUR SENIORS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL 
BE THERE TO BE A PARTNER TO THE 
PROVINCES WHILE THEY REGAIN 
CONTROL OF THE SYSTEM.
NOW, OF COURSE, WITH RESPECT TO 
THE LONGER TERM, WE MUST HAVE 
IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT 
HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE 
A BETTER SYSTEM TO SUPPORT 
CANADIAN AND RE-ASSURE THEIR 
FAMILIES ABOUT THE CARE, THE 
LEVEL OF CARE GIVEN TO THEIR 
PARENT AND GRANDPARENTS.
WE'LL BE HAVING THOSE 
DISCUSSIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE 
TIME WITH RESPECT TO THE 
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
>> Reporter: YES, THANK YOU.
PRIME MINISTER, YOUR GOVERNMENT 
IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN AN 
UNPRECEDENTED PEACETIME 
EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT 
SPENDING AND POWERS.
AT SOME POINT, SHOULDN'T 
CANADIANS BE ALLOWED A VOTE ON 
THE CHOICES YOU ARE MAKING AND 
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, 
IN A DEMOCRATIC FASHION, 
WHETHER THAT IS THE PATH THEY 
WANT THIS COUNTRY ON?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s I 
HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT OF 
CANADIANS DEMANDING AN ELECTION 
RIGHT NOW.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IN A MINORITY 
PARLIAMENT, PARLIAMENT GETS TO 
DECIDE WHEN IT NO LONGER HAS 
CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT.
AND CERTAINLY THE FOCUS WE HAVE 
MOVING FORWARD IS TRYING TO 
RESPOND TO HELP CANADIANS AS 
BEST WE CAN IN THE IMMEDIATE.
THIS IS A TIME OF A CERTAIN 
CRISIS FOR CANADIANS AND THAT'S 
WHY WE HAVE MADE UNPRECEDENTED 
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT 
CANADIANS TO GET THROUGH THIS 
CHALLENGE.
BUT THERE WILL BE MANY 
CHALLENGES THAT WE WILL FACE 
OVER THE COMING YEARS AS TO HOW 
WE IMPROVE THE CANADIAN ECONOMY.
HOW WE MAKE BETTER DIGITAL 
CHANGES, HOW WE MOVE FORWARD ON 
A GREENER AND CLEANER ECONOMY.
HOW WE SUPPORT OUR MOST AS A 
VULNERABLE IN BETTER WAYS AND 
THERE WILL BE MANY DEBATES IN 
PARLIAMENT AND EVENTUALLY IN AN 
ELECTION.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SPECULATE 
ON WHEN THAT MIGHT BE.
[Speaking French] 
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: I 
THINK CANADIANS KNOW THAT OUR 
GOVERNMENT IS THERE TO HELP 
PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP NOW.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN 
IN ORDER TO GET EVERYONE 
THROUGH THIS CRISIS QUICKLY SO 
THAT WE CAN ENSURE WE HAVE A 
STRONG ECONOMY AND A PROPERLY 
FUNCTIONING SOCIETY AND THERE 
WILL BE PROPER TIME TO THINK 
ABOUT THE LONGER TERM AND HOW 
WE CAN TAKE THE LESSONS OF 
COVID-19 WHEN IT COMES TO 
CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, 
WHEN IT COMES TO A MORE DIGITAL 
ECONOMY, A GREENER ECONOMY.
SO, THERE ARE MANY, MANY THINGS 
THAT WE'LL HAVE TO BE THINKING 
ABOUT AS CANADIANS AND THERE 
WILL BE POLITICAL DEBATES AND 
ELECTIONS TO BE HELD AS WELL.
NOW WITH RESPECT TO AN 
ELECTION, WE ARE IN A MINORITY 
SITUATION SO PARLIAMENT WILL 
DECIDE WHEN THEY NO LONGER HAVE 
CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT.
FOR THE TIME BEING, I CONTINUE 
TO GOVERN FOR ALL CANADIANS.
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU THINK 
OF THE PARTICULAR PART OF THE 
MILITARY'S REPORT ON QUEBEC 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES THAT 
STATES THEY WERE KEEPING 
RESIDENTS WHO TESTED POSITIVE 
FOR COVID-19 IN ROOMS WITH 
THOSE WHO TESTED NEGATIVE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
OBVIOUSLY THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS 
A NUMBER OF PREOCCUPYING ISSUES 
AND THE MILITARY HAS ACTED WITH 
TREMENDOUS PROFESSIONALISM, NOT 
JUST IN WRITING A REPORT AND 
SHARING IT, BUT ON ACTING ON 
THE GROUNDER WITH 
ADMINISTRATION OF THE CENTRES, 
WITH PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT 
PROCEDURES ARE IMPROVED.
WE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY LUCKY TO 
HAVE THE AMAZING PROFESSIONALS 
IN THE MILITARY WHO ARE HELPING 
OUT AND PROTECTING CANADIANS 
BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.
THEY TAKE RISKS AND THEY KEEP 
CANADIANS SAFE AND WE'RE LUCKY 
TO HAVE THEM.
>> Reporter: AND WHAT 
SPECIFICALLY WILL THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT DO TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES IN OVERHAULING THE 
SYSTEM AND ENSURING PROPER 
STAFFING AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO DO THINGS 
RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE DOING 
THINGS NOW TO ENSURE THAT 
ELDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY GET 
THE CARE THEY NEED IN THIS 
COVID CRISIS.
BUT THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR 
MUCH LONGER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT 
HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE 
ENSURE THAT RIGHT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, ALL OF OUR ELDERS WHO 
CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH, WHO BUILT 
THIS COUNTRY, GET THE PROPER 
CARE THAT THEY SO RICHLY 
DESERVE.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: ON 
THE MATTER OF A NATIONAL PUBLIC 
INQUIRY, I'D LIKE A MORE 
SPECIFIC ANSWER.
IS THAT ONE OF THE OPTIONS YOU 
ARE LOOKING AT AND WHAT COULD 
THE FEDERAL DO UNDER THE 
CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT TO INTERFERE 
WITH THE PROVINCE'S 
JURISDICTION OR DO YOU THINK 
YOU COULD HOLD AN INQUIRY 
WITHOUT PRESENTING A RISK TO 
THAT?
WELL, I THINK IN THESE TWO 
REPORTS ON ONTARIO AND QUEBEC, 
WE SAW STARTLING DIFFERENCES 
BETWEEN THE TWO SITUATIONS.
THERE ARE PROVINCES THAT ARE 
FACING MORE CHALLENGES THAN 
OTHERS.
AND I HEARD MR. FORD AND I 
BELIEVE WE WILL BE HEARING FROM 
MR. LEGAULT TODAY WITH RESPECT 
TO THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE 
REPORT AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE 
THEY NEED TO DO.
WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES AS THEY REFLECT ON 
THIS AND WE WILL BE THERE TO 
PARTICIPATE WHEREVER POSSIBLE 
AND BASED ON NEEDS.
I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING OFF THE 
TABLE AT THIS TIME, BUT I 
RESPECT PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION 
AND WE WILL SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES AS THEY TRY TO REGAIN 
CONTROL OF THEIR SYSTEMS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO 
WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE FORWARD 
AND ENSHHH YOU ARE THAT OUR 
ELDERS ARE GETTING THE PROPER 
CARE.
BUT THE SITUATION DOES VARY 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM REGION 
TO REGION, FROM PROVINCE TO 
PROVINCE AND WE RESPECT THE 
PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO 
GET THE SITUATIONS UNDER 
CONTROL.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE WILL BE 
THERE TO HELP IN WAYS THAT WERE 
NEEDED TO DO IF THERE IS A NEED 
FOR GREATER FEDERAL LEADERSHIP.
WE WILL CERTAINLY RESPOND TO 
THOSE REQUESTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, EVERYTHING IS 
ON THE TABLE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE KNOW 
CANADIANS EXPECT US TO DO 
BETTER BY OUR ELDER, ALL OF US 
AND ALL ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT 
AND WE WILL ENSURE WE DO.
>> Reporter: [Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: I'D 
LIKE TO ASK ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY 
WORK NOW.
THE OPPOSITION IS ACCUSING YOU 
OF LACKING TRANSPARENCY.
EVEN THE PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET 
OFFICER WAS SAYING THAT FOUR 
HOURS ISN'T VERY MUCH TO BE 
LOOKING AT ALL THE FEDERAL AID 
PROGRAMMES.
NOW DO YOU THINK IT'S NOW TIME 
TO BE LIMITING DEBATE IN 
PARLIAMENT WHERE YOU'RE 
BRINGING IN HISTORIC SPENDING 
PROGRAMMES?
WELL, ON THE CONTRARY.
WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY 
INCREASED, IN FACT DOUBLED THE 
AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOCATED EACH 
WEEK TO THE QUESTION PERIOD.
NOT JUST ON COVID-19, BUT ON 
ALL SORTS OF OTHER ISSUES.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT 
DURING A CRISIS, WE HAVE A 
FUNCTIONING PARLIAMENT, THAT WE 
HAVE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS 
DOING THEIR JOCK AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE OPEN AND 
TRANSPARENT AND PARLIAMENT 
DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A 
HYBRID APPROACH THAT I'M 
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS 
AFTERNOON.
THAT WOULD ALLOW MEMBERS OF 
PARLIAMENT IN THE CHAMBER AND 
IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY 
TO ASK QUESTIONS AND RAISE THE 
CONCERNS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY 
POSITIVE MEASURE FOR THE 
COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, WHEN IT 
COMES TO ENSURE THE PROPER 
FUNCTIONING OF OUR DEMOCRACY IN 
A CRISIS.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
THINK EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT 
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A 
WELL-FUNCTIONING PARLIAMENT AND 
FUNCTIONING DEMOCRATIC 
INSTITUTIONS DURING THIS CRISIS.
OVER THE PAST WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN 
SITTING THREE TIMES A WEEK, 
TWICE VIRTUALLY, ONCE IN 
PERSON, BUT GOING FORWARD WE'LL 
NOW SIT FOUR TIMES A WEEK AND 
THEY WILL BE MORE THAN DOUBLE 
THE USUAL TIME FOR QUESTIONS 
FROM M.P.s AND M.P.s NOT JUST 
IN THE HOUSE BUT M.P.s RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE 
VIRTUAL PARLIAMENT -- SORRY 
WITH THE HYBRID PARLIAMENT 
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH, 
M.P.s WHO REPRESENT FAR OFF 
PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY WHO 
AREN'T ABLE TO COME PHYSICALLY 
TO OTTAWA WILL STILL BE ABLE TO 
ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT THEIR 
CONSTITUENTS T EXPECT THEM TO.
S THE A WAY OF DEMONSTRATING 
THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON 
UPHOLDING OUR DEMOCRATIC 
PRINCIPLES NOT IN SPITE OF THE 
CRISIS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE 
CRISIS.
>> Reporter: YOU WILL BE 
TALKING TO THE PREMIERS ABOUT 
THE SITUATION IN LONG-TERM CARE 
FACILITIES.
WOULD YOU BE PREPARED TO 
INCREASE HEALTH CARE CANADA 
TRANSFERS TO THE PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIS WITH THAT MONEY 
GOING TOWARD THESE FACILITIES 
TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION THERE?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
WE'VE ALREADY INCREASED THE 
CANADA HEALTH TRANSFERS.
WE TRANSFERRED HALF A BILLION 
TO THE PROVINCES AT THE 
BEGINNING OF THIS PANDEMIC TO 
HELP OUT WITH THE EXTRA COSTS 
THAT WE KNEW WERE COMING.
OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON 
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING 
EVERYTHING WE CAN RIGHT NOW TO 
HELP DURING THIS PARTICULAR 
SITUATION.
BUT OF COURSE GOING FORWARD 
CANADIANS WANT TO SEE US DOING 
BETTER BY OUR ELDERS ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, EVEN BEYOND THIS 
PANDEMIC AND WE WILL BE THERE 
TO WORK WITH THE PROVINCES ON 
THE RIGHT WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: WE 
INCREASED HEALTH CARE TRANSFERS 
TO THE PROVINCES TO THE TUNE OF 
$50 BILLION BEFORE THIS 
PANDEMIC SO THAT THE PROVINCES 
COULD ADDRESS THE MOST URGENT 
NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 
AND WE WILL BE THERE NOW AS 
WELL TO HELP IN MANY DIFFERENT 
WAYS.
OVER THE MEDIUM AND LONGER 
TERMS.
WE'LL BE HAVING NECESSARY 
CONVERSATIONS AS TO HOW WE CAN 
BETTER HELP OUR SENIORS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: THEY ASKED YOU TO 
EXTEND THE MILITARY MISSION 
INTO THE LONG-TERM FACILITIES.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THEY WILL 
BE L HAVE TO BE THERE AND WHAT 
CONDITIONS WOULD YOU WANT TO 
SEE BEFORE WE PULL THEM SNOUT 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s I 
THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SEE 
SITUATIONS IMPROVED, AS WE SAW 
IN THE QUEBEC REPORT THERE ARE 
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS OVER 
THE PAST WEEK IN THOSE 
SITUATIONS AND IN A NUMBER OF 
THEM, THE MILITARY IS READY TO 
PULL OUT OR READY TO MOVE ON 
FROM THOSE PARTICULAR INSTANCES.
THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE 
HAVING WITH THE PROVINCE IS HOW 
WE WILL MOVE BEYOND THE NEED 
FOR MILITARY SUPPORT.
HOW THEY WILL GET THEIR SYSTEMS 
BACK UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT A 
NEED FOR FEDERAL INTERVENTION 
OF HAVING SENIORS IN OUR CARE 
CENTRES.
WE ARE HAPPY TO BE THERE AND IT 
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE 
BE THERE DURING THIS CRISIS.
BUT IT IS NOT A LONG-TERM 
SOLUTION AND WE NEED TO MAKE 
SURE WE'RE WORKING CAREFULLY 
WITH THE PROVINCES TO ENSURE 
THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SOLVE FOR 
THIS PROBLEM FOR THE MEDIUM AND 
LONG-TERM AND WE WILL WORK WITH 
THEM ON THAT.
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: I 
THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT 
HAVING SOLDIERS IN OUR 
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES NOT A 
SOLUTION OVER THE MEDIUM AND 
LONG-TERM.
IT IS A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION AND 
WE'RE HAPPY TO BE THERE AND WE 
HAVE SEEN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS 
THAT WE BE THERE AND WE'LL 
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT 
SUPPORT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE MUST BE 
A DISCUSSION WITH THE PROVINCES 
AS TO HOW WE CAN MOVE BEYOND 
THIS STEP OF EMERGENCY 
ASSISTANCES FROM THE C.A.F. SO 
THAT THEY CAN REGAIN CONTROL OF 
THEIR OWN SYSTEMS IN THE 
APPROPRIATE MANNER.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THE 
MILITARY IN SUCH A SITUATION -- 
I MEAN, WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO 
HAVE THE MILITARY, BUT IT IS 
NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
>> PRIME MINISTER, I WANT TO 
REVISIT THE QUESTION OF 
IMMEDIATE STEPS THAT YOUR 
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO TAKE.
WITH REGARD TO LONG-TERM CARE 
HOMES.
YOU MENTIONED THE MILITARY 
BEING THERE ALREADY AND PHONE 
CALLS OF THE PREMIERS.
DOUG FORD IS ASKING FOR MORE 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
IS IT SIMPLY A QUESTION OF 
MONEY FOR YOU?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: IT'S 
A QUESTION OF MAKING SURE THAT 
OUR ELDERS ARE WELL TAKEN CARE 
OF RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MATTERS 
DEEPLY TO CANADIANS AND IT IS 
SOMETHING THAT WE WILL ENSHHH 
YOU ARE THAT HAPPENS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE 
PROVINCES RIGHT NOW ON MAKING 
SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES 
NECESSARY TO SERVE OUR SENIORS 
IN THE RIGHT WAY.
BUT, OF COURSE, AS WE MOVE 
FORWARD, WE WILL NEED TO 
CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND 
FIGURE OUT MORE LONGER TERM 
SOLUTIONS.
>> Reporter: PRESIDENT TRUMP IS 
KEEN ON HOLDING AN IN-PERSON 
G-7 MEETING.
IS THAT A GOOD IDEA FROM A 
PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT IN 
YOUR OPINION AND ARE YOU GOING 
TO ATTEND?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: IT 
IS NOT A QUESTION OF MY OPINION 
ON PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINTS.
WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH 
EXPERTS AND DISCUSSING WITH THE 
U.S. ADMINISTRATION WHAT THEIR 
PLANS ARE AND HOW THEY'RE 
RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS AROUND 
TRANSMISSION, QUESTIONS AROUND 
WOULD WE THEN AS LEADERS HAVE 
TO ISOLATE WHEN WE RETURN, 
WHICH IS RIGHT NOW THE RULE IN 
CANADA.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH 
PREOCCUPATIONS THAT WE HAVE 
AROUND HOLDING AN IN-PERSON 
MEETING BUT THERE IS NO 
QUESTION THAT IN-PERSON 
MEETINGS AND IN AN IDEAL 
SITUATION ARE MUCH MORE 
EFFECTIVE THAN VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY 
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER BEFORE WE 
CAN COMMIT NO SHOWING UP IN 
PERSON AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS 
ARE HAPPENING IN AN ONGOING AND 
VERY CRUXIVE WAY.
>> Reporter: AND IF HE PUSHES 
AHEAD WITH AN IN-PERSON 
MEETING, WILL YOU ATTEND?
>> Prime Minister Trudeau:s 
WE'LL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS 
WITH THE AMERICANS AND WE WILL 
ABIDE BY PUBLIC HEALTH 
RECOMMENDATIONS.
[Speaking French]
>> [Voice of Interpreter]: OF 
COURSE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE 
FOCUSED ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
AN IN-PERSON G-7 MEETING.
WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE U.S. 
PROPOSAL AND WORKING WITH IT TO 
SEE WHAT PROPOSALS AND WHAT 
PROVISIONS WILL BE IN PLACE AND 
WHETHER THERE WOULD NEED TO BE 
SELF-ISOLATION WHEN RETURNING 
TO CANADA.
, WHICH IS THE CASE FOR ANYONE 
ELSE COMING IN TO THE COUNTRY.
SO, THESE ARE ALL ISSUES WE 
WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT CAREFULLY.
OF COURSE, A G-7 MEETING IS 
VERY IMPORTANT AND I WOULD 
PREFER TO HAVE IT IN-PERSON 
THAN VIRTUALLY.
BUT THERE ARE HEALTH 
CONSIDERATIONS THAT MUST BE 
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND WE ARE 
CONTINUING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> Rosemary: OK.
THERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
CANADA ON THIS WEDNESDAY, 
GIVING US A BRIEFING OF HIS 
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO 
COVID-19 AND ALSO RESPONDING TO 
THE MILITARY REPORT, THE 
CANADIAN FORCES REPORT ON THE 
STATE OF AFFAIRS IN LONG-TERM 
CARE CENTRES IN QUEBEC.
I'LL BRING IN MY COLLEAGUES, 
THE CBC'S DAVID COCHRANE AND 
HOST OF "POWER & POLITICS", 
VASSY KAPELOS.
I'M GOING TO POINT OUT ONE 
IRONIC THING THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER SAID THAT HAS NOTHING 
DO WITH LONG-TERM CARE CENTERS.
HE WAS ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD 
BE OPEN TO ATTENDING THE G-20 
MEETING THAT DONALD TRUMP 
SUGGESTED THAT COULD HAPPEN IN 
PERSON.
HE SAID IN ENGLISH IN-PERSON 
MEETS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN 
VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
WHICH IS INTERESTING FOR A 
GOVERNMENT PUSHING VERY HARD TO 
SUGGEST THAT HYBRID MODELS ARE 
ENOUGH FOR A PARLIAMENT THAT 
HAS SAT VERY, VERY LITTLE OVER 
THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR 
EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.
ANYWAY, THAT WAS JUST MY IRONIC 
OBSERVATIONS.
WE KNOW THAT HE SPOKE TO 
PREMIER LEGAULT THIS MORNING 
ABOUT THIS REPORT AND, AGAIN, 
IT IS NOT OF THE SAME SORT OF 
SHOCKING OBSERVATIONS AS WE SAW 
IN THE ONTARIO REPORT.
LOTS OF THINGS TO BE FIXED, 
CERTAINLY, IN LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES IN QUEBEC, BUT IT IS 
NOT OF THE SAME MAGNITUDE OF 
STARTLELING AND EMOTIONALLY 
DISTURBING REVELATION.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
THE ONE IN ONTARIO HAD A 
DESCRIPTION OF THINGS BEING 
REFERED TO, THE CORONER FOR 
INVESTIGATION.
THE STUFF LAID OUT IN THE 
ONTARIO ONE WAS HORRIFYINGFUL 
IT'S VERY DETAILED.
I HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH EVERY 
SINGLE PAGE YET.
BUT ON THE WHOLE, IT LOOKS LIKE 
THERE'S SORT OF CHAOS DESCRIBED 
IN CERTAIN INSTANCES WHEN IT 
COMES TO THE RIGHT PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, OR 
STAFFING LEVELS.
BUT THE SITUATION BY AND LARGE 
HAS IMPROVED SOMEWHAT SINCE THE 
MILITARIFUL SO LET'S SAY IT'S 
ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY WHEREAS 
ONTARIO WHERE YOU WEREN'T LEFT 
WITH THE FEELING AT THE END.
THE OBSERVATIONS WERE MADE BUT 
IT WASN'T LIKE THERE'S A QUICK 
FIX IN STORE OR THAT THINGS 
COULD MARKEDLY IMPROVE ANYTIME 
SOON.
SO, THAT'S WHAT WAS DRIVING 
MANY OF THE QUESTIONS TO THE 
PRIME MINISTER, WHO INSISTED 
YESTERDAY AND TODAY THAT THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL, QUOTE, 
BE THERE FOR THE PROVINCES IN 
EFFORTS TO TRY AND FIX THE 
SYSTEM.
THERE WAS A REAL LACK OF 
SPECIFICITY, THOUGH, FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER TODAY ON EXACTLY 
WHAT THAT MEANS AND HE WAS 
PROVIDED WITH AMPLE OPPORTUNITY 
TO DEFINE -- OR TO ANSWER 
WHETHER OR NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, 
THE AMOUNT OF HEALTH TRANSFERS, 
SO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING 
TO THE PROVINCES WOULD INCREASE.
DOUG FORD SAID THERE WOULD BE A 
REQUEST FOR MORE MONEY, BUT 
DIDN'T SPECIFY HOW MUCH OR 
WHERE I WOULD GO.
BUT THE PRIME MINISTER DIDN'T 
SAY WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD 
HAPPEN.
HE WAS ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE 
POSSIBILITY OF A FEDERAL PUBLIC 
INQUIRY.
ALBEIT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT 
WOULD PROBABLY COME LATER AND 
DIDN'T AT DRESS THE SHORT-TERM 
NEEDS AND HE DIDN'T 
SPECIFICALLY ANSWER WHETHER OR 
NOT HE WAS OPEN TO IT.
AND THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN 
COMING UP FOR QUITE A WHILE AS 
WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS 
DISPROPORTIONATELY HAPPEN IN 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES OR TO 
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES AND I  THINK THOSE 
QUESTIONS AND TO BE FAIR THE 
PROVINCE ISN'T GIVING SPECIFICS 
ON WHAT THEY'LL DO EITHER OTHER 
THAN A COMMISSION THAT WAS 
PLANNED PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF 
THE ARMED FORCES REPORT.
BUT THERE IS THIS LACK OF 
DETAIL ON HOW EXACTLY THE 
SITUATION WILL GET BETTER.
AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSIONING 
OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS, TIME IS 
REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND REALLY 
IMPORTANT.
THE SITUATION THAT THE ARMED 
FORCES LAID OUT IN THOSE FIVE 
HOMES AND THAT IS ONLY IN THE 
FIVE HOLES THAT THEY'RE IN IN 
ONTARIO WAS, YOU KNOW, TO MOST 
PEOPLE WHO READ IT, HORRIFYING.
AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT IS 
GOING TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT AND 
THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A 
SPECIFIC PLAN TO TACKLE IT AS 
OF YET.
SO I THINK THAT WAS THE GIST OF 
THE QUESTIONS TO THE PRIME 
MINISTER ON IT.
LIKE WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU DO?
I THINK HE WAS VERY OPEN AND 
HAD BEEN OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS 
TO BEING PRESENT FOR PROVINCE 
AND TO PROVIDING SUPPORT, IF 
NECESSARY.
WILL THAT MEAN AN EXTENSION 
WHICH HAS BEEN ASKED FOR OF THE 
MILITARY'S PRESENCE FOR THE 
NEXT 30 DAYS OR LONGER?
THERE WASN'T A SPECIFIC ANSWER 
ON THAT.
I KNOW IT IS CONSIDERED.
BUT THOSE QUESTIONS WILL 
CONTINUE AS WE SEE THE 
SITUATION UNFOLD IN THOSE HOMES 
FOR ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, 
UNTIL THEY COME UP WITH A 
SPECIFIC ANSWER.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
THERE IS A SHORT TERM URGENT 
SITUATION THAT HAS TO BE 
CORRECTED AND ASSUMING THAT THE 
MILITARY IS DOING THAT WORK IN 
SHORING UP RESOURCES AND 
MANPOWER OR PEOPLE POWER AS IT 
WERE.
THE BROADER CONVERSATION THAT 
YOU ARE TALK ABOUT THAT 
PROBABLY DOES REQUIRE FEDERAL 
LEADERSHIP, THE PRIME MINISTER 
SAID HE IS NOT GOING SHORT 
CIRCUIT THAT CONVERSATION RIGHT 
NOW.
I THINK, TOO, ABOUT IT BEING 
DIFFERENT, A DIFFERENT PICTURE 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS CERTAINLY 
AN IMPORTANT ONE AS WELL.
SO YOU SHOULD IMAGINE A FIRST 
MINISTER'S MEETING, FOR 
INSTANCE, THAT IS JUST FOCUSED 
ON THIS AT SOME POINT.
I KNOW THEY'LL HAVE A CALL 
TOMORROW ABOUT WHERE THEY SIT 
DOWN AND TRY TO HASH OUT WHATS 
MORE DO YOU NEED NAO TERMS OF 
RESOURCE OR FUNDING OR WHAT 
CONDITIONS COULD WE PUT ON IT?
YOU COULD SEE THAT DOWN THE 
ROAD.
IT'S JUST WHEN IS SORT OF THE 
QUESTION.
>> Reporter: I THINK COMPARING 
THE TWO REPORTS FROM THE 
SUMMARIES WE'VE SEEN AND WHAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS HAD TO 
SAY, YOU ARE LOOKING AT 
DEFICIENCIES IN QUEBEC VERSUS A 
CATASTROPHE IN ONTARIO, AT 
LEAST IN TERMS OF WHAT THE 
MILITARY SAW.
OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE SERIOUS 
PROBLEMS IN QUEBEC BEFORE THE 
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES WENT IN 
THERE AND SOME OF THOSE WERE 
QUITE HORRIFYING.
BUT THE PRESENCE OF MILITARY 
SEEMS TO HAVE STABILIZE THAT 
SITUATION.
AND WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH WHAT 
HAPPENED IN THESE HOMES WHERE 
YOU DO HAVE LOW-WAGE AND 
LIMITED TRAINED EMPLOYEES, THAT 
IS THE STRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN 
SET UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
A PANDEMIC HIT WITH AN UNKNOWN 
VIRUS WITH UNCERTAIN PROTOCOLS 
THAT REQUIRED PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT WE 
HAD IN SHORT SUPPLY AT THE TIME.
A BUNCH OF STAFF GOT SICK AND 
THEN A BUNCH OF STAFF QUIT.
THAT IS A TOTAL RECIPE FOR A 
CRISIS.
IT EXPOSED THE STRUCTURAL 
WEAKNESS.
THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY SIMPLY BECAUSE THE 
PANDEMIC IS DIFFERENT ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY.
ALMOST NO CASES IN PLACES LIKE 
ATLANTIC CANADA.
B.C. HAD OUTBREAKS IN THE 
LONG-TERM CARE HOME, BUT SEEMED 
TO HAVE CLEAR AND IMMEDIATE 
PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSES TO IT 
AND EARLY DECISIVE ACTION THAT 
LIMITED IT.
IT DIDN'T TURN INTO THE CRISIS 
THAT IT BECAME HERE IN CENTRAL 
CANADA.
THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY GOING TO BE 
A CONVERSATION ABOUT 
JURISDICTION AND FINANCING.
THERE IS A RELUCTANCE AT THE 
FEDERAL LEVEL TO BLANKET 
INCREASE TRANSFERS AND GIVE IT 
TOS THE PROVINCE BECAUSE THERE 
IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY 
IS USED TO FIX DEFICIENCIES IN 
PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT.
THE PROVINCES WILL SAY, LOOK, 
WE'VE BEEN STEALING MONEY AWAY 
FROM OTHER PRIORITIS TO PROP UP.
THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE 
ABSENCE OF INCREASING AND 
SUFFICIENT FEDERAL MONEY.
IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT 
CONVERSATION.
WHILE THE PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS 
ABOUT RMING JURISDICTION, THAT 
IS PUBLIC LINE THAT ANY PRIME 
MINISTER HAS TO SAY, IN 
PARTICULAR A PRIME MINISTER 
THAT RECOMMENDS A RIDING IN 
QUEBEC.
THE FALLOUT OF THIS, AGAIN I GO 
BACK TO WHAT I SAID YESTERDAY.
I WONDER WHAT THE PUBLIC'S 
TOLERANCE IS.
WHEN THIS INEVITABLE FIRST 
MINISTERS MEETING HAPPENS AND 
THE TALK OF A JURISDICTIONAL 
FIX, A LOT OF STRUCTURAL STUFF 
MAY NEED TO BE SET ASIDE.
YOU CAN POINT TO THE FACT THAT 
BETWEEN 75 AND 80% OF ALL 
DEATHS IN THIS COUNTRY HAPPENED 
IN LONG TERM CARE AND IT HAS 
EXPOSE ADD REAL FRAIL SPOT ON 
THE PERIPHERY OF THE HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEM.
ON THE CORE OF IT, THE 
HOSPITALS HAVE DONE WELL.
IT IS THE EDGES OF HEALTH 
SYSTEM WHERE THE REAL PROBLEM 
HAS BEEN.
>> Rosemary: I THINK PROBABLY 
THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE A LOT 
OF TIME FOR A JURISDICTIONAL 
CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.
THEY'D RATHER SOMEONE FIX IT.
I WONDER IF THE PRIME MINISTER 
CAN'T GET INTO THAT PUBLICLY 
RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER -- IF THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS 
CONTEMPLATING SOME MOVE THAT 
WOULD ALLOW THEM MORE ABILITY 
TO REGULATE OR TAKE CONTROL OF 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
>> Reporter: I THINK SOME OF 
THE -- QUEBEC AND ONTARIO MAY 
TALK ABOUT JURISDICTIONS.
BUT IT IS THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES ARE IN THEIR 
JURISDICTION PROPPING UP THEIR 
LONG-TERM CARE HOMES RIGHT NOW 
AND THAT IS A FACT THAT SIMPLY 
CANNOT BE BRUSHED ASIDE ONCE 
THIS IS ALL OVER.
>> Rosemary: AND A DIFFICULT 
FACT FOR PREMIERS.
VASSY, A THOUGHT ON THAT.
>> Vassy: THERE ARE THINGS THAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER COULD SAY, 
FOR EXAMPLE.
WE ARE OPEN TO A FEDERAL 
INQUIRY AT THE END OF ALL THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THE SHORT-TERM 
NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO 
TRANSFERS.
I GUESS I WOULD UNDERSCORE, 
THOUGH, THAT PREMIERS HAVE BEEN 
ASKING FOR AN INCREASE TO THE 
TRANSFER PAYMENTS FOR AS LONG 
AS I'VE BEEN WORKING IN 
COVERING POLITICS.
THEY COMPLAINED CAN ABOUT IT 
WITH THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT 
AND THEN THIS KEFM THE SAME 
FORMULA AND COMPLAINED ABOUT 
IT, TOO.
I WONDER IF THERE WILL BE A 
MORE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER GIVEN 
THAT THE PREMIER IN ONTARIO HAS 
ASKED FOR ONE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE.
THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF THAT HAS 
TO BE DONE WITH INSPECTIONS BUT 
WHEN THE INSPECTIONS FIND 
THINGS IN OTHER HOMES OUTSIDE 
OF THOSE FIVE HOMES, HOW DO YOU 
ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THERE?
I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO 
BE AS ACUTE AS WHAT THE 
CANADIAN ARM AED FORCES OBSERVE.
BUT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM LOTS 
OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILY 
MEMBERS WHO THINK THEY'RE 
PRETTY BAD HERE AS WELL.
IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THEM, I 
TAKE YOUR POINT THAT IT'S 
DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW TO WAIT IN 
ON THE JURISDICTIONAL SITE.
BUT THE PEOPLE I HEAR FROM JUST 
DON'T CARE.
THEY JUST WANT IT FIXED AND 
SORT OF LACK OF SPECIFICITY 
FROM ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT 
IS DOING NOTHING TO ASSUAGE 
THEIR CONCERNS.
>> Rosemary: OK.
I'LL PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE 
A LITTLE BIT FOR EVERYBODY IN 
TERMS OF LONG-TERM BEDS IN 
CANADA.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS MORE THAN 
250,000 LONG-TERM CARE BEDS IN 
THIS COUNTRY.
BUT A REPORT BY THE CONFERENCE 
BOARD OF CANADA SUGGESTED WE 
NEED 43,000 NEW BEDS OVER THE 
NEXT FIVE YEARS.
BY 2035, WE NEED ALMOST 200,000 
MORE.
THAT, OF COURSE, IS BECAUSE OF 
AN AGING POPULATION, PEOPLE 
LIVING MUCH LONGER AND A MORE 
SERIOUS ILLNESS THAT WE'RE ABLE 
TO MANAGE AND CARE FOR WHICH 
CAN REQUIRES PEOPLE TO GO INTO 
THESE FACILITIES.
THIS ISN'T A NEW PROBLEM AND IT 
IS NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM 
THAT GETS BETTER, I GUESS, IS 
MY POINT.
TO KEEP IN MIND.
MARK ZIEGLER KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.
HE WAS PART OF A LEGAL TEAM OF 
AN INQUIRY THAT INVEST GA *ITED 
OFFENCES COMMITTED BY ELIZABETH 
WETTLAUFER WHILE SHE WAS 
WORKING AS A REGISTERED NURSE 
IN ONTARIO'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
IN 2017, SHE PLEADED GUILTY TO 
NUMEROUS CRIMINAL OFFENCES, 
INCLUDING EIGHT COUNTS OF 
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
THE INQUIRY'S FINAL REPORT WAS 
NEARLY 1500 PAGES LONG AND 
CONTAINED 91 RECOMMENDATIONS.
SOME OF THEM ABOUT LONG-TERM 
CARE CENTRES.
AND MR. ZIEGLER SAYS MANY OF 
E OBSERVATIONS THAT WE SAW IN 
THESE MILITARY REPORTS WERE 
ECHOED IN THAT REPORT.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> Rosemary: AS I SAID THERE, 
WHEN YOU READ --
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Rosemary: YEAH.
GOOD MORNING.
[LAUGHTER]
WHEN YOU READ THE MILITARY 
REPORT FROM YESTERDAY, AND I'VE 
HEARD THIS FROM OTHER PEOPLE 
WHO HAVE FOLLOWED LONG-TERM 
CARE IN THIS COUNTRY, IT WASN'T 
ACTUALLY THAT SURPRISING TO 
YOU, WAS IT?
>> NO.
BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ABOUT 
STANDARDS OF CARE AND STAFFING 
HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG 
TIME.
THEY GOT TERRIBLY EXACERBATED 
BY COVID-19 AND THE INFECTIONS 
IN THE HOMES.
BUT THINGS LIKE IMPROPER 
MEDICATION DOSES, PATIENTS 
FALLING, SHORTAGES OF STAFF AND 
NOT HAVING STAFF AVAILABLE, 
PARTICULARLY REGISTERED NURSE 
STAFF, EVENING AND NIGHTTIME 
SHIFTS.
THIS HAS BEEN -- THIS IS THE 
CORE OF JUSTICE SCALICE'S 
REVIEW AND REPORT AND THE 
CONCLUSIONS SHE REACHED.
THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THE 
INCREASED ACUITY.
THE FIRST THING SHE WANTS OUT 
IS THE INCREASED ACUITY OF THE 
RESIDENTS IN THESE HOMES AND BY 
ACUITY, THAT IS THE NUMBER OF 
CONDITIONS THEY HAVE.
THAT IS A MORE COMPLEX 
SITUATION THAT IS ARRIVING IN 
THESE HOMES.
THERE AREN'T ANYMORE BEDS 
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN 
INCREASED MUCH.
UNFORTUNATELY 20% OF 
POPULATIONS PAS AWAY EVERY YEAR 
AND OF THOSE THAT ARE THERE, 
90% HAVE SOME FORM OF COGNITIVE 
IMPAIRMENT AND 95% OR MORE NEED 
HELP WITH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS 
EATING OR GOING TO THE BATHROOM.
>> Rosemary: THIS IS A QUESTION 
PROBABLY NOT FAIR AND PROBABLY 
VERY COMPLICATED.
WHAT WOULD BE THE SHORT ANSWER 
TO HOW WE GOT HERE?
IS IT A LACK OF FUNDING?
IS IT THAT WE CAN CUT HOSPITAL 
BEDS?
IS IT THAT WE ARE NOT 
APPRECIATING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT 
IN FRONT OF US AND HOW WE'RE 
TREATING OLDER CANADIANS.
WHAT WOULD BE THE SHORT ANSWER 
TO THAT?
>> THERE IS NO SHORT ANSWER 
BECAUSE IT'S A COMBINATION OF 
ALL THOSE THINGS.
STARTING WITH THE LACK OF BEDS 
AND THE ACUITY OF THE PATIENTS 
GOING ON TO LACK OF STAFFING 
AND FUNDING AND RECRUITMENT AND 
PEOPLE WANTING TO WORK IN THE 
AREA.
AND ALSO EMPHASIS ON MORE HOME 
CARE BY SOME OF THE GOVERNMENTS 
AND, OF COURSE, LESS HOSTILE 
CARE.
IF THEY WANT MORE PEOPLE BEING 
FELT WITH AT HOME WITH LESS 
ACUITY, THERE IS MORE OF AN 
INCENTIVE TO HAVE MORE 
LONG-TERM BEDS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE 
COULD BE CURED FOR AT HOME THAT 
WELL.
>> Rosemary: CERTAINLY NOT THE 
TRANSFORMATION MALL PARTS OF 
THEM.
THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT WAS 
SUPPOSED TO PUT FORWARD SOME 
NOTION AROUND STAFFING THIS 
JULY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, TO 
SORT OF LOOK AT BETTER STAFFING 
AND HOW YOU SHIFT STAFF.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE STILL 
GOING TO DO THAT.
BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES 
OUTLINED IN THE MILITARY'S 
OBSERVATION.
SOMETIMES SUPPORT WORKERS WOULD 
HAVE 30 OR 40 PEOPLE THEY WERE 
SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AFTER.
THERE WERE PEOPLE ON STAFF AT 
NIGHT.
HOW SIGNIFICANT WOULD THAT 
CHANGE BE IN TERMS OF MAKING 
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE BETTER 
CARED FOR?
>> EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT IF YOU 
HAVE TRAINED AND QUALIFIED 
STAFF TO DEAL WITH THE 
SITUATION.
BUT THE MILITARY SAW STAFF 
LEAVING OR BEING QUARANTINED 
WHERE YOU ALREADY HAD A VERY 
LOW STAFF-TO-RESIDENT RATIO AND 
THAT PUSHED IT WAY, WAY OVER 
THE EDGE AND OVER THE BRINK.
SO, STAFFING WAS SOMETHING THAT 
THE PROVINCES ASKED TO LOOK AT.
BUT JUSTICE SCALICE ASKED TO 
DEAL WITH IT WITHIN THE YEAR 
BUT COULD HAVE DEALT WITH IT 
SOONER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROGRESS THEY 
MADE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE 
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S NOT JUST -- YOU CAN'T WAVE 
THE MAGIC WAND, YOU HAVE TO 
FUND FOR IT AND TRAIN PEOPLE 
AND HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE 
INCENTIVES TO WANT TO WORK IN 
THESE HOMES AND THERE ARE ALSO 
PROBLEMS WITH A LOT OF 
PART-TIME STAFF THAT FWRENL 
HOME TO HOME AND THAT DIDN'T 
HELP IN TERMS OF THE SPREAD OF 
COVID-19, EITHER.
>> Rosemary: YOU ARE LISTENING 
IN TO THE PRIME MINISTER.
OBVIOUSLY LOTS OF QUESTIONS TO 
HIM ABOUT WHAT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, WHAT WILL THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLAY HERE, 
GIVEN THAT IT IS A SHARED 
JURISDICTION.
THIS PART IS NOT UNDER THEM.
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OTTAWA 
MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO HERE IN 
ORDER TO PROVIDE SOME 
LEADERSHIP OR FUNDING OR 
WHATEVER.
>> WELL, FUNDING IS WHAT LEADS 
TO BETTER STAFFING SO THAT IS 
AN AREA THAT IS TO BE 
CONSIDERED.
HOW THAT GETS TARGETED TO THE 
RIGHT PLACES, GIVEN THE FIGHTS 
OVER WHO HAS JURISDICTION OVER 
THESE ZONES AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS 
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.
OBVIOUSLY OUR HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM OVERALL, IF YOU LOOK AT 
IT, A LARGE COMPONENT OF 
FEDERAL FUNDING BUT THE FEDERAL 
CONTROLS VARY, DEPENDING ON THE 
ISSUE.
>> Rosemary: GIVEN HOW MUCH 
TIME YOU SPENT WITH WETTLAUFER, 
WHICH WAS A DIFFERENT 
SITUATION, OBVIOUSLY, BUT ALSO 
SHOWED MORE OF THE SYSTEMIC 
PROBLEMS, WOULD YOU SEE ANY 
BENEFIT IN ANOTHER INQUIRY OR 
ROYAL COMMISSION, ANYTHING LIKE 
THAT TO DIG INTO THIS OR DO YOU 
THINK THE INFORMATION WE HAVE 
IS OUT THERE?
>> THAT IS ULTIMATELY UP TO THE 
GOVERNMENT.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THESE 
INQUIRIES TAKE TIME AND MONEY 
AND INVOLVE LENGTHY HEARINGS 
AND THE JUSTICE SCALICE INQUIRY 
TOOK TWO YEARS INTO THE 
WETTLAUFER SITUATION.
AND THATER LOT OF 
RECOMMENDATIONS THERE THAT CAN 
BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY AND 
SHOULD BE.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN DEAL 
WITH THEM RATHER THAN CONDUCT 
MORE STUDIES.
THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT 
WERE BEYOND THE MANDATE OF 
JUSTICE SCALICE'S INQUIRY AND 
THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO 
DETERMINE WHAT'S THE BEST WAY 
TO DEAL WITH THAT INQUIRY.
>> Rosemary: DID YOU EVER THINK 
THAT WE'D GET TO A POINT IN 
THIS COUNTRY WHERE CANADIAN 
FORCES MEMBERS WOULD BE IN 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES DOING 
THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING 
RIGHT NOW?
>> OH, HEAVEN'S NO.
NO ONE PREDICTED A PANDEMIC AND 
CERTAINLY NO ONE PREDICTED AS 
WELL THAT THE PROVINCES AND 
PREMIERS OF THREE PROVINCES 
WOULD THROW UP THEIR ARMS AND 
SEE OUR OWN RESOURCES AREN'T 
ENOUGH TO HELP SUPPORT THEM AND 
WE NEED THE MILITARY.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IN ONTARIO 
THIS IS FIVE HOMES OUT OF 600, 
700 HOMES THAT ARE IN THE 
PROVINCE.
BUT STILL, THE THOUGHT THAT THE 
MILITARY WOULD COME TO THIS AND 
WOULD TAKE A PANDEMIC TO HAVE 
THIS HAPPEN, CERTAINLY CROSSED 
NOBODY'S MIND LAST JULY WHEN 
THIS REPORT WAS WITH ISSUED.
>> Rosemary: OK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OK.
ONE OF OTHER STORIES THAT WE'VE 
BEEN TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK, OF 
COURSE, IS THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT RAMPING UP TESTING 
AND TRACING IN THIS COUNTRY, 
WORKING HARD WITH THE PROVINCES 
TO GET IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND 
ONE OF THE PLACES THAT HAS HAD 
AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SUCCESS 
ON THAT FRONT IN CONTAINING 
COVID-19 IS ICELAND AND A KEY 
TO THAT IS CONTACT TRACING, 
WHICH VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN 
HERE IS LED BY ICELAND POLICE.
THE HEAD OF THAT RESPONSE TEAM 
IS DETECTIVE GESTRE PALMA
>> Daren:SON WHO JOINS ME FROM 
REJ YKJAVIK, ICELAND.
HI, GOOD TOE SEE IT.
I HOPE I DIDN'T SCREW UP YOUR 
WHOLE NAME.
WHY DON'T YOU SAY IT?
>> THE NAME IS FAIR ENOUGH.
BUT I WAS LEADING ONE OF TEAMS 
IN THE CONTACT TRACING NORKTS 
WHOLE UNIT.
>> Rosemary: I GAVE YOU A 
PROMOTION, DETECTIVE.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Rosemary: ONE OF THINGS THAT 
IS INTERESTING ABOUT WHAT 
ICELAND HAS DONE TO BRING ABOUT 
SO MUCH SUCCESS IS THAT THE 
POLICE, ACTUALLY, YOU AND YOUR 
COLLEAGUES TOOK OVER THIS WORK 
OF CONTACT TRACING BECAUSE IT 
IS ESSENTIALLY DETECTIVE WORK.
TELL ME WHAT YOU DID THAT 
WORKED.
>> THIS PANDEMIC IS CERTAINLY A 
VERY WEAK ISSUE AND IT HAS MANY 
SIDES AND MANY APPROACHES THAT 
CAN AND CANNOT WORK.
SO, FOR ONE, WHAT WE DID IS A 
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE 
CITIZENS THAT WAS NUMBER ONE.
SO, ALL THE EFFORTS OF THE 
PUBLIC SAFETY, THE CHIEF 
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND ALL THOSE 
GUYS KAORD NATING THE EFFORT 
WAS DIRECTED AT CONSUMING WITH 
THE CITIZENS AND THE WAY WE SET 
UP OUR UNIT WAS A COLLABORATIVE 
EFFORT BETWEEN HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS, NURSES AND THE POLICE 
AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THE FORCES 
OF THOSE TWO YOU HAVE A FORCE 
TO BE RECKONED WITH.
THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS 
THAT MADE US SUCCESSFUL BUT 
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS AS WELL.
>> Marcy: OUR GOVERNMENT IS 
LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY ONE APP 
FOR THE COUNTRY.
HOW EFFECTIVE OR HOW USEFUL 
WERE APPS IN TERMS OF HELPING 
YOU TRACE AND CONTACT PEOPLE?
>> SO, THE APP IS FANTASTICALLY 
USEFUL FOR SURE.
IN OUR CASE,  IT WAS SLIGHTLY 
LATE TO THE GAME BECAUSE WHEN 
WE GOT THE APP WE IMPLEMENTED A 
LOT OF RESTRICTIONS T TWO-METRE 
RULE, THE NO MORE THAN 20 
PEOPLE TOGETHER AND SO FORTH.
SO WE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF 
MESSAGE IN PLACE.
WHEN WE GOT THE APP WE WERE 
ABLE TO USE IT TO TRACE A FEW 
PLACES.
SO WE COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL 
COMPANIES THAT BUILT THE APP 
FOR US A AND TO MAKE SURE WE 
HAD THE INTEGRITY OF THE APP 
AND THE INFORMATION.
WE HAVE A DOUBLE CONSENT TO THE 
APP.
FOR ONE, IT'S YOUR CHOICE TO 
DOWNLOAD IT.
TWO, IF YOU BECOME A CONTACT, 
OR IF YOU BECOME INFECTED WITH 
COVID-19, AND WE TRACE YOU, WE 
SEND YOU A REQUEST DIGITAL 
THROUGH YOUR PHONE AND YOU CAN 
DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO SHARE THE 
DATA WITH US OR NOT.
SO IT IS ALWAYS YOUR CHOICE IF 
YOU WANT TO SHARE THE APP.
THE APP IS A LOCATION APP SO WE 
USE THAT TO HELP YOU TRACE YOUR 
STEPS.
SO IT IS A COMBINED EFFORT 
BETWEEN HUMAN INTERACTION AND 
THE USE OF THE ELECTRONICS AND 
THE TECHNOLOGY.
>> Rosemary: SO HOW ARE YOU 
DOING, THEN IN WHAT IS THE 
SITUATION IN ICELAND?
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, YOU ARE 
NOT ALLOWED TO HOLT EVENTS WITH 
200 PEOPLE.
YOU ARE  OBVIOUSLY DOING BETTER 
THAN WE ARE.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
WE ARE RELIEVING RESTRICTIONS.
WE HAVE NO ONE IN THE HOSPITAL, 
WE TESTED 60,000 PEOPLE, WHICH 
IS ABOUT 60% OF THE POPULATION 
AND WE SEEM TO BE ABLE TO 
GRADUALLY OPEN UP NOW WITHOUT 
GETTING BACKLASHES.
SO HOPEFULLY WE WAIT TWO WEEKS 
NOW BECAUSE WE JUST EXTENDED TO 
200 PEOPLE LAST MONDAY.
>> Rosemary: BUT YOU ARE STILL 
DOING YOUR WORK AND TESTING AND 
TRACING AND DOING ALL OF THAT.
>> WE ARE STILL TESTING AND 
TRACING.
BUT WE AREN'T GETTING VERY MANY 
POSITIVES.
WE WENT SIX DAYS LAST WEEK 
WITHOUT ANYONE TESTING POSITIVE.
>> Rosemary: I HAVE TO LEAVE IT 
THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO INTERESTING TO LEARN LESSONS 
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
YOU ARE WATCHING CBC NEWS 
NETWORK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE 
COVERAGE HERE IN OTTAWA.
I'M ROSEMARY BARTON.
 ♪
>> Rosemary: HI, AGAIN, I'M 
ROSEMARY BARTON HERE IN OTTAWA.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CBC 
NEWS NETWORK" AND STREAMING 
AROUND THE WORLD ON OUR APP AND 
OF COURSE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE WILL 
SPEAK WITH PREMIERS TOMORROW 
ABOUT HOW TO BUILD A BETTER 
LONG-TERM CARE HOME SYSTEM.
IT COMES, OF COURSE, ON THE 
HEELS OF THE RELEASE OF A REPORT
BY THE MILITARY ABOUT THE 
SITUATION IN 25 SENIORS 
RESIDENCES IN QUEBEC, AND THE 
REPORT FROM THE MILITARY 
DESCRIBING HORRIFIC LIVING 
CONDITIONS IN FIVE LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES THEY ARE HELPING IN 
DURING COVID-19.
AS WELL TODAY THE PRIME MINISTER
MADE ANOTHER APPEAL TO 
BUSINESSES TO START TO TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF IN A MORE 
AGGRESSIVE WAY THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAM AS THE CANADIAN 
EMERGENCY RELIEF BENEFIT, OR 
CERB, STARTS TO DRAW DOWN OVER 
THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS OR SO.
THE GOVERNMENT HOPING THE UPTAKE
IN WAGE SUBSIDIES WILL REPLACE 
CANADIANS ON CERB AND THAT 
BUSINESSES WILL START TO BRING 
BACK ANY EMPLOYEES THEY MAY HAVE
LAID OFF OR FURLOUGHED.
THIS WEEK THE GOVERNMENT ALSO 
UNVEILED A PLAN TO HELP LARGE 
BUSINESSES COPE DURING THE 
PANDEMIC.
IT AIMS TO PROVIDE SOME BRIDGE 
FINANCING.
SORRY, THAT WAS LAST WEEK.
TO CANADA'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS.
HEATHER REISMAN IS THE FOUNDER 
AND CEO OF INDIGO.
INDIGO, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, HAS 
STORES IN EVERY PROVINCE AND 
CERTAINLY ONLINE, AND SHE JOINS 
ME FROM TORONTO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
>> NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> Rosemary: THANKS FOR MAKING 
THE TIME.
FIRST LET ME JUST ASK HOW INDIGO
IS COPING AMIDST ALL THIS.
I NOTICED A COUPLE OF STORES ARE
OPEN NOW, BUT GIVE ME A SENSE OF
HOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
>> WELL, ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, 
THERE IS GOOD ENERGY WITHIN OUR 
TEAMS TO TRY AND DO EVERYTHING 
WE CAN TO WORK THROUGH THIS, AND
THAT'S ALWAYS NUMBER ONE.
YOU NEED TO HAVE THE ENERGY OF 
YOUR PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR BEST TO 
KEEP AS MANY PEOPLE EMPLOYED, 
BUT OF COURSE UNTIL OUR STORES 
COME FULLY BACK ONSTREAM, WE 
WILL BE CHALLENGED IN THAT 
REGARD.
>> Rosemary: OF COURSE.
>> SO A POSITIVE SPIRIT TO GET 
THROUGH THIS, BUT THESE ARE 
REALLY CHALLENGING TIMES, AS 
WE'VE SAID MANY TIMES IN THESE 
DISCUSSIONS.
>> Rosemary: THEY ARE 
CHALLENGING TIMES FOR SMALL 
BUSINESSES AND BIG BUSINESSES 
LIKE YOUR OWN.
THE GOVERNMENT OBVIOUSLY HAS PUT
FORWARD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT 
PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF
YOU ARE USING ANY OF THEM.
BECAUSE THE PRIME MINISTER 
TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY, THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY PROGRAM, FOR INSTANCE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE 
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF?
>> YES, THE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM
ALLOWED US TO KEEP AS MANY 
PEOPLE AS WE COULD KEEP.
IT IS THE MOST FANTASTIC 
PROGRAM, AND IT IS HUGELY 
HELPFUL TO RETAIL.
YOU KNOW, NO MATTER THE SIZE OF 
THE RETAIL BUSINESS, CONSIDERED 
LARGE OR MEDIUM OR SMALL, WE ARE
AT THE FRONT LINE.
OUR EMPLOYEES, WHETHER WE'RE 
MEDIUM OR A LARGE BUSINESS, SAME
EMPLOYEES AS IN A SMALL, SMALLER
BUSINESS, RIGHT, SO THAT PROGRAM
ALLOWS US TO BRING PEOPLE BACK 
EVEN WHEN OUR BUSINESS IS NOT 
WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.
I CAN'T EXPRESS ENOUGH OUR 
APPRECIATION FOR THAT PROGRAM, 
AND I KNOW WHEN I SPEAK TO OTHER
RETAILERS, OUR HOPE IS THAT THE 
PROGRAM WILL BE EXTENDED SO THAT
IF WE BRING PEOPLE BACK WE CAN 
KEEP THEM BACK, EVEN THOUGH WE 
KNOW SALES WILL BE DEPRESSED FOR
SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
>> Rosemary: OKAY.
>> AND I HAVE TO SAY, AS A 
CITIZEN, I AGREE WITH THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
KEEPING PEOPLE WORKING IS SO 
MUCH BETTER THAN HAVING THEM 
UNEMPLOYED.
SO FANTASTIC PROGRAM.
>> Rosemary: OKAY.
GOOD FEEDBACK THERE.
WHAT ABOUT THE LARGE EMPLOYER 
EMERGENCY FINANCING FACILITY, 
THE LEEFF PROGRAM, WHICH IS 
ESSENTIALLY BRIDGE FINANCING FOR
BIG BUSINESSES.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN 
ABLE TO TAP INTO OR NEED?
>> NO.
I UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THE 
PROGRAM AND FOR MANY INDUSTRIES 
IT COULD WORK.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT COVERS ALL 
INDUSTRIES.
IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL AS
IT'S CURRENTLY STRUCTURED FOR 
THOSE OF US IN THE RETAIL 
BUSINESS.
IT IS NOT AN IDEAL PROGRAM FOR 
US.
>> Rosemary: TELL ME WHY.
>> THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM, AS
I UNDERSTAND IT, IS FOR THAT 
PROGRAM TO BE A KIND OF LENDER 
OF LAST RESORT PROGRAM, AND I 
THINK INTELLIGENT ON THE PART OF
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE TO SAY 
ANY INDUSTRY THAT CAN GO AND 
FIND FINANCING ELSEWHERE, GREAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HIGH-COST 
FINANCING.
IN A BUSINESS LIKE OURS, WHICH 
AT THE BEST OF TIMES IS A LOW 
MARGIN BUSINESS, VERY HIGH-COST 
FINANCING IS JUST NOT THE KIND 
OF PROGRAM THAT WORKS AS IT'S 
CURRENTLY STRUCTURED.
I'M RESPECTFUL OF WHAT THE 
MINISTER IS DOING, BUT IT IS NOT
DESIGNED, REALLY, FOR RETAILERS.
WHEREAS THE SMALL RETAIL PROGRAM
THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, THAT 
IS A VERY WELL-STRUCTURED 
PROGRAM, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT 
UNDER THAT PROGRAM THERE MAY BE 
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING 
FOR MEDIUM AND LARGER RETAILERS.
>> Rosemary: YOU OBVIOUSLY, AS 
YOU'RE STARTING TO SLOWLY REOPEN
IN SOME PLACES OF THE COUNTRY, 
BECAUSE THAT'S THE CHALLENGE I 
GUESS YOU HAVE TOO, IT DEPENDS 
ON WHERE YOU ARE AND WHERE YOUR 
STORES ARE, HAVING TO CHANGE 
WHAT THE STORES LOOK LIKE AND 
HOW PEOPLE CIRCULATE IN THE 
STORES.
HOW DIFFICULT HAS THAT BEEN?
HOW EXPENSIVE HAS THAT BEEN AS A
COMPANY?
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR ASKING THAT
QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT IS VERY 
MUCH ON ALL OUR MINDS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN'T HAVE AS 
MANY PEOPLE IN STORES AS WE ARE 
USED TO HAVING.
SECOND, WE HAVE TO INVEST QUITE 
MEANINGFULLY IN CREATING 
ENVIRONMENTS THAT WILL MAKE OUR 
STAFF AND OUR CUSTOMERS FEEL 
SAFE, BUT IT IS COSTLY.
AND THEN THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN
THAT SUPPORTS US, OF COURSE 
EVERYONE HAS TO WORK UNDER 
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
SO WHAT I THINK WE WANT PEOPLE 
TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE COST 
FOR RETAILERS, AND THAT'S 
RESTAURANTS AND PRODUCT 
RETAILERS AND SERVICE RETAILERS,
WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND 
THAT IT IS A HIGH-COST WAY OF 
OPERATING, VERY HIGH COST WAY OF
OPERATING, AND HUGE PRESSURE 
DOWNWARDS ON OUR MARGINS, SO WE 
ARE BEING HIT FROM ALL ANGLES.
I THINK EVERYONE IS TRYING TO DO
THEIR BEST, BUT YES, SAFETY IS 
FIRST FOR EMPLOYEES.
SO WE KNOW THERE ARE NO 
QUESTIONS ASKED.
WE MUST MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS, 
BUT YES, IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO
OPERATE LIKE THIS.
>> Rosemary: WHAT IS THE THING 
THAT YOU THINK THAT OTTAWA HAS 
YET TO DO FOR LARGE BUSINESSES 
AND WHAT WOULD BE VALUABLE FOR 
YOU?
>> RIGHT, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR 
OUR SECTOR, MEDIUM AND LARGE 
RETAIL BUSINESSES.
AS I SAY, AN EXTENSION AND A 
RAMP-UP OF THE WAGE SUBSIDY 
PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN BRING ON 
MORE PEOPLE THAN WE REALLY NEED,
KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN THE 
COMPANY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO 
SEE THE RELIEF PROGRAM THAT WAS 
DONE FOR SMALL BUSINESS IN SOME 
WAY BE ADAPTED SO THAT WE CAN 
ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF 
PAYING FULL RENT WHEN YOU'RE 
GONNA DO 50% OF THE NORMAL 
BUSINESS YOU DO, OR 60%, AND 
YOUR COSTS ARE STILL THERE, IT'S
REALLY HARD.
SO WE'RE HOPING, AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER HAS SAID HE'S GOING TO 
DO SOMETHING, SO WE'RE HOPEFUL.
>> Rosemary: LET ME END ON A 
HAPPIER NOTE, JUST AS A FELLOW 
BOOK LOVER, I AM ACTUALLY 
READING PROBABLY MORE BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC THAN I WOULD HAVE 
NORMALLY.
ARE YOU GETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE 
TAKING MORE COMFORT IN YOUR BOOK
PICKS OR IN ORDERING ONLINE THAN
USUAL?
>> YES, I WILL SAY THANK YOU FOR
MENTIONING THAT TOO.
YES, I THINK PEOPLE HAVE 
REDISCOVERED THE JOYS OF 
READING, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S 
GOING TO BE A WHOLE LIFESTYLE 
CHANGE.
I THINK THIS IS SUCH A 
SIGNIFICANT EVENT, PEOPLE ARE 
TAKING STOCK AND WHAT IS 
INTENTIONAL AND WHAT IS 
MEANINGFUL AND WHAT BRINGS JOY.
I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE THE 
SILVER LINING OF THIS EVENT, AND
SO YES, PEOPLE ARE READING MORE.
THEY REALLY ARE.
>> Rosemary: OKAY.
>> AND THAT SHOULD BE 
CELEBRATED. 
>> Rosemary: YES, IT SHOULD.
I AGREE.
HEATHER REISMAN, SO GOOD OF YOU 
TO MAKE THE TIME.
I KNOW HOW BUSY YOU ARE.
I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>> Rosemary: NICE SPEAKING WITH 
YOU, HEATHER REISMAN IS THE 
FOUNDER AND CEO OF INDIGO, AND 
SHE WAS IN TORONTO.
>>> NOW BACK TO OTTAWA WHERE THE
PRESIDENT OF THE TREASURY BOARD 
IS SPEAKING NOW AT THEIR REGULAR
UPDATE.
WE'LL BRING YOU SHORTLY, THOUGH,
INTO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WHEN 
THINGS GET UNDER WAY IN THEIR 
NEW HYBRID VERSION, IN-PERSON 
AND ONSCREEN.
LET'S LISTEN IN HERE LIVE. 
>> -- ALL CANADIANS SHARE THE 
PRIME MINISTER'S VIEW THAT 
THINGS MUST CHANGE.
OUR SENIORS DESERVE BETTER.
AS A SOCIETY, WE CAN AND WE 
SHOULD AND WE MUST DO BETTER.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
TODAY THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT 
RELEASED THE CANADIAN ARMED 
FORCES REPORT ON THE SITUATION 
OF THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
WHERE THE CANADIAN FORCES WERE 
DEPLOYED.
IT'S A DAMNING REPORT, HEART 
WRENCHING, AND I THINK THAT ALL 
CANADIANS AND CERTAINLY ALL 
QUEBECERS REALIZE THAT WE NEED 
TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION 
ABOUT HOW WE TREAT OUR SENIORS 
AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AS A 
SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
WITH A BIT OF LUCK, WE'LL ALL 
REACH THIS GOLDEN AGE, AND WE 
SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO -- WELL, 
SINCE WE NOW ARE ENTITLED TO DIE
IN DIGNITY, WE SHOULD, OF 
COURSE, BE ABLE TO LIVE IN 
DIGNITY.
I'D BE DELIGHTED NOW TO RESPOND 
TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO START IN
THE ROOM TO LET PEOPLE HAVE TIME
TO QUEUE UP.
SO, IAN, JULIE, MIKE?
WHO GOES FIRST?
JULIE?
>> Reporter: OH, OKAY.
MR. DUCLOS, AFTER HEARING THE 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPORTS 
BOTH YESTERDAY AND TODAY, 
THERE'S A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS OUT
THERE, BUT THE PRIME MINISTER 
KEEPS TALKING ABOUT RESPECTING 
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.
IS PUTTING LONG-TERM CARE UNDER 
THE CANADA HEALTH ACT, IS THAT 
COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE?
>> WELL, JULIE, AS YOU SAID, 
THESE ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT 
REPORTS TO READ THROUGH.
I DID ALSO READ THROUGH THE 
ONTARIO REPORT YESTERDAY AND THE
QUEBEC REPORT THIS MORNING.
THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT NOT ONLY 
TO TAKE NOTE OF BUT CERTAINLY TO
ACCEPT IN CANADA, A DEVELOPED 
ECONOMY, A DEVELOPED SOCIETY, 
WHERE WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO TAKE
BETTER CARE OF OUR SENIORS.
AND THAT'S WHY AS THE PRIME 
MINISTER REPEATEDLY SAID THIS 
MORNING, WE NEED TO HAVE A VERY 
SERIOUS AND COLLABORATIVE 
DISCUSSION ON HOW WE LOOK AFTER 
OUR SENIORS IN THE WEEKS, THE 
MONTHS AND THE YEARS TO COME.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THIS 
CONVERSATION OPENED UP ALL 
OPTIONS, AS WE MUST, AND AS WE 
SHOULD DO, AND, THEREFORE, WE 
WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND 
SPEAK RESPECTFULLY OF EACH 
OTHER'S JURISDICTIONS, BUT ALSO 
WORK RESPECTFULLY WITH EACH 
OTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR 
SENIORS GET BETTER CARE.
>> Reporter: OKAY, SO THAT 
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT IS OFF THE
TABLE.
SECOND QUESTION, AS YOU KNOW, 
RIVERA IS THE SECOND-LARGEST 
PRIVATE CHAIN IN THE COUNTRY 
WHICH IS UNDER THE CROWN 
CORPORATION THAT REPORTS TO YOU.
THE FEDERAL CABINET ALSO 
APPOINTS A FINANCIAL AUDITOR TO 
RIVERA.
I'M WONDERING BECAUSE OF ALL THE
PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN LONG-TERM
CARE HOMES, INCLUDING THOSE 
ONES, ARE YOU CONSIDERING 
APPOINTING A HEALTH AUDITOR WHO 
WOULD MAKE SURE THAT QUALITY OF 
CARE WAS UNDER WAY?
>> WELL, YOUR QUESTION IS 
EXTREMELY RELEVANT GIVEN THE 
REPORTS WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY 
AND TODAY, WHICH REMIND US, 
AGAIN, OF THE IMPORTANCE TO, A, 
ACKNOWLEDGE THE VERY DIFFICULT 
CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH TOO MANY 
OF OUR SENIORS ARE GOING THROUGH
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
BUT THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE 
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH
MANY OF THEM WERE FINDING 
THEMSELVES PRIOR TO THE CRISIS.
THOSE WERE PERHAPS SLIGHTLY LESS
SERIOUS BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE 
OF COVID-19, BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE
BEEN LESS VISIBLE BECAUSE, 
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LIVES OF 
THESE SENIORS ARE OFTEN HIDDEN 
FROM MEDIA AND PUBLIC VIEW.
AND THEREFORE, THAT CALLS UPON 
THE GOVERNMENT, AS I SAID JUST A
FEW MOMENTS AGO, TO LOOK AT ALL 
OPTIONS.
REGARDING RIVERA AND THE PUBLIC 
SECTOR PENSION INVESTMENT BOARD,
PSP, AS WE CALL IT, IS AN 
INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION.
IT'S AN ARM'S LENGTH 
ORGANIZATION WITH TWO LAYERS OF 
INDEPENDENCE.
FIRST LAYER IS AT THE 
APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE, THE 
NOMINATION COMMITTEE FOR THE 
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THAT COMMITTEE IS SEPARATE FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT, AND IT MAKES 
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE 
INDEPENDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S 
VIEWS.
AND THEN THE BOARD MEMBERS 
ACTUALLY NOMINATED OF COURSE ARE
ALSO INDEPENDENT.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT LAYERS 
OF INDEPENDENCE TO PROTECT THE 
INDEPENDENCE AND THE INTEGRITY 
OF PSP.
BUT AS WITH ALL INSTITUTIONS, WE
EXPECT PSP, AS WELL AS OTHER 
ORGANIZATIONS, TO BE MINDFUL OF 
THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE NOW 
LEARNING MORE ABOUT AND TO DO 
WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEMSELVES AND
FOR CANADIANS.
AND REGARDING THE AUDIT, THE 
APPOINTMENTS OF AUDITORS, THIS 
IS ALSO AN IN WHICH WE WILL WANT
TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT.
AGAIN, RESPECTING THE INTEGRITY 
AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF THAT 
INSTITUTION.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
IAN?
>> Reporter: IAN WOOD, CTV NEWS.
MINISTER, THE PM THIS MORNING 
JUST REITERATED THAT LOTS OF 
MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES TO 
DEAL WITH THE CORONAVIRUS 
PANDEMIC.
I'M JUST WONDERING, OF THAT I 
THINK BILLION DOLLARS, HOW MUCH 
OF IT WAS EARMARKED FOR CARE 
HOMES, AND CONSIDERING THIS WAS 
DONE BEFORE THE MILITARY RAISED 
THE FLAG OF ISSUES IN CARE 
HOMES, IS MORE ON THE WAY?
>> WELL, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO 
REMIND CANADIANS THAT, INDEED, 
FROM THE VERY START OF THE 
CRISIS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
DID SEND HALF A BILLION EXTRA 
TRANSFER TO PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES IN THE ANTICIPATION 
THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR 
GREATER RESOURCES INVESTED IN 
THE BROADER HEALTH SECTOR, 
INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT 
ALSO INCLUDING HEALTH CARE, AND 
THAT INCLUDES THE HEALTH CARE 
PROVIDED BY LONG-TERM CARE 
CENTRES.
AS WE ALSO KNOW, THE FELLOW 
GOVERNMENT WAS -- HAS BEEN 
PROVIDING, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY 
NECESSARY SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, FOR 
PROVISION OF TREATMENT.
WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES.
SO THERE WILL BE MORE TO DO.
BUT AS I SAID, FROM THE VERY 
START WE DID INVEST 
SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE CRISIS.
HOW EXACTLY THOSE DOLLARS WERE 
SPENT BY PROVINCES, OF COURSE, 
DEPEND ON THE PRIORITIES OF 
PROVINCES, AND THAT DEPENDS, OF 
COURSE, ON THE LOCAL 
CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH PROVINCE 
AND TERRITORY.
>> Reporter: RIGHT, BUT JUST TO 
CLARIFY, THE MONEY WAS FOR THE 
HEALTH SECTOR AND DEALING WITH 
THE PANDEMIC, NOT SPECIFICALLY 
CARE HOMES.
SO IS MORE ON THE WAY, 
ESSENTIALLY, THAT'S WHAT I'M 
ASKING.
MY SECOND QUESTION, THOUGH, IS A
FEW WEEKS AGO WE SAT HERE AND WE
HEARD ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S 
PLAN FOR HELPING SENIORS WHO 
WERE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THEY 
ARE NOT RECEIVING THOSE BENEFITS
YET.
DO WE HAVE A DATE ON A ROLLOUT?
HAS THIS ALREADY STARTED?
ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH 
GETTING THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY TO
SENIORS?
>> NO, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL 
ISSUE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE 
BENEFITS COME QUICKLY.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
THEY ARE ALLOCATED IN A PRUDENT 
AND EFFICIENT MANNER.
THE SYSTEM IS REMARKABLY 
EFFECTIVE, BUT SINCE WE ARE 
DEALING WITH ALMOST 7 MILLION 
RECIPIENTS OF OLD AGE SECURITY 
AND THE GUARANTEED INCOME 
SUPPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC 
SERVANTS NEED TO DO THEIR 
RIGOROUS WORK, AND WE EXPECT THE
DELIVERY OF THOSE BENEFITS TO BE
DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP, 
IAN.
THANK YOU.
MIKE?
>> Reporter: HELLO, MINISTER.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT 
WHO WAS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THESE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES?
WE HAVE AUDITORS FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE PROVINCIAL PEOPLE AND WE
HAVE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.
THERE'S EVERYONE THERE.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE ULTIMATELY, 
IF WE WERE TO GO WE NEED THIS 
FIXED?
WHO DO WE TALK TO?
>> WELL, I THINK MOST CANADIANS,
INCLUDING YOURSELF, MIKE, KNOW 
THAT IT'S UNDER PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTION. 
WHAT MOST CANADIANS THAT I KNOW 
OF ALSO BELIEVE IS THAT THIS IS 
A JOINT RESPONSIBILITY AT THE 
END, THAT WHEREVER THE SUPPORT 
COMES FROM IS LESS IMPORTANT 
THAN IMPORTANCE OF THAT SUPPORT,
AND THAT'S WHY CANADIANS EXPECT,
AS THE PRIME MINISTER REPEATED 
THIS MORNING, EXPECT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF 
THAT PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.
IT'S TRUE IN ALL CONTEXTS, BUT 
IT HAS BECOME EXTREMELY CLEAR TO
CANADIANS IN THE CURRENT 
CONTEXT.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR SENIORS
IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THEREFORE 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S 
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE THERE TO
SUPPORT PROVINCES AND 
TERRITORIES.
>> Reporter: AND THIS SITUATION 
PROBABLY IS NOT A NEW THING THAT
JUST HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COVID, 
SO IT'S PROBABLY BEEN HAPPENING 
BEFORE THIS SITUATION.
WAS THERE ANY INDICATORS BEFORE 
THESE REPORTS CAME OUT THAT 
THESE PROBLEMS WERE HAPPENING IN
THE LONG-TERM CARE HOMES?
>> WELL, PERHAPS PROVIDE A 
PERSONAL VIEW, WHICH MAY BE TOO 
PERSONAL VIEW ON THAT, GIVEN MY 
ROLE AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
SO DURING THE LAST ELECTION I 
DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF 
VISITING LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES 
IN MY RIDING.
WHAT I SAW WAS VERY, VERY GOOD, 
MEANING A LOT OF DEDICATED 
STAFF, PEOPLE WORKING UNDER 
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES 
TYPICALLY WITH A MODEST WAGE, 
VERY COMMITTED PHYSICALLY AND 
MENTALLY TO THEIR WORK.
BUT WHAT I DID NOTICE WAS THAT 
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO BE 
DONE.
NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL WORK BUT 
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, THE HUMAN 
PRESENCE, WHICH WAS VERY 
DEMANDING FOR THE STAFF THAT I 
HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING 
DURING THAT ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
SO IT'S NOT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO 
IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT THAT WORK 
MUST BE NOW AND MUST HAVE BEEN 
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS GIVEN THE 
CONTEXT THAT I SAW IN SEPTEMBER.
SO ALTHOUGH IT WAS THERE, THERE 
WAS A FEELING THAT THERE COULD 
BE MORE TIME AND RESOURCES 
ALLOCATED TO LOOK AFTER OUR 
SENIORS.
I THINK NOW IT'S CLEARLY THE 
CASE THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
SO WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO TO THE 
PHONE.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW-UP.
OPERATOR, OVER TO YOU.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE 
PRESS STAR 1 ON YOUR TELEPHONE 
KEY PAD.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: YES, MR. DUCLOS, 
I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO YOUR 
ENCOURAGING WORDS TO EMPLOYERS 
TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY SO THAT FOLKS LEAVE 
BEHIND THE CERB AND NOW TURN TO 
THE CWS.
DOES THE EXPECT INTEND TO EXTEND
THE CERB OR WILL IT COME TO AN 
END AT THE DATE ORIGINALLY 
INDICATED?
>> WELL, YOU'VE JUST UNDERSCORED
THE IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN THE 
CERB AND THE CWS, THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY.
WE KNOW THAT FROM THE OUTSET 
WITH THIS PANDEMIC A LOT OF 
CANADIANS LOST THEIR JOBS AND, 
THEREFORE, THEIR SOURCE OF 
INCOME, AND BY EXTENSION 
COMPANIES HAVE DIFFICULTY 
KEEPING THEM ON THEIR PAYROLL.
NOW WE EXPECTED THAT A LOT OF 
THOSE WORKERS WOULD CLAIM THE 
CERB, THE CANADIAN EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT.
NOW THAT THE ECONOMY IS SLOWLY 
STARTING TO RECOVER AND WE CAN 
SENSE THIS PARTICULARLY IN 
QUEBEC, THERE ARE A LOT OF 
COMPANIES THAT WANT TO SORT OF 
GET BACK TO SOMETHING 
APPROXIMATING WHAT'S NORMAL, AND
WE'RE EXPECTING THE CWS TO 
REPLACE THE CERB IN AS MANY 
CASES AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO 
UNDERSTAND IS THAT UNDER THE 
CWS, WAGES CONTINUE TO FLOW TO 
EMPLOYEES, AND THAT WILL HELP 
THE EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE TO 
THE BUSINESSES AND BY EXTENSION 
THE CANADIAN ECONOMY.
NOW WE ARE OBVIOUSLY AROUND THE 
CABINET TABLE AND WITHIN 
GOVERNMENT DISCUSSING THESE 
ISSUES PRACTICALLY, AND IN DUE 
COURSE WE'LL HAVE MORE SPECIFICS
TO OFFER YOU.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Reporter: YES, ON ANOTHER 
TOPIC THAT YOU RAISED IN 
ENGLISH, ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS.
ULD YOU CLARIFY WHEN THIS 
MONEY WILL COME OUT OF THE DOOR?
AND I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO 
MAKE VERIFICATIONS, BUT SOME OF 
THESE SENIORS ALREADY RECEIVE 
THE OLD AGE SECURITY, SO I DON'T
KNOW WHY THERE WOULD BE 
ADDITIONAL DELAYS, WHY IT'S NOT 
AS SIMPLE AS TACKING ON $300 TO 
THEIR PENSION CHEQUES.
WHY IS THERE THIS DELAY?
>> EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHEN 
THIS WILL HAPPEN, WHEN THE MONEY
WILL GET OUT OF THE GATE.
WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC SERVANTS AND
OFFICIALS HAVE TO FOLLOW 
DIRECTIVES TO ENSURE THAT THE 
CANADIAN TAXPAYERS' MONEY GOES 
TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
NOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL BE 
NON-TAXABLE, AND OF COURSE 
APPLICATIONS HAVE TO BE 
PROCESSED.
THERE'S A NORMAL ADMIN PROCESS 
THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED SO 
THAT THINGS ARE DONE QUICKLY BUT
ALSO PROPERLY.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Operator: THE NEXT QUESTION 
IS FROM THERESA WRIGHT, THE 
CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THE LINE IS NOW OPEN.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
EARLIER THE PRIME MINISTER SAID 
HE DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE 
AGGRESSIVE PROPOSALS TO THE 
PROVINCES WHEN WE ASKED HIM 
ABOUT THE IDEA OF FEDERAL 
STANDARDS.
WHY WOULD NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR
LONG-TERM CARE BE CONSIDERED AN 
AGGRESSIVE PROPOSAL?
>> WELL, I THINK FEDERAL 
STANDARDS WOULD BE AGGRESSIVE.
NATIONAL STANDARDS WOULD BE 
AGGRESSIVE TOO IF THEY WERE 
DEVELOPED AND THEN PROPOSED IN A
MANNER THAT WAS DICTATED BY 
OTTAWA.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK 
OF PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES IS 
IN ALL CONTEXTS IN HEALTH CARE.
WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS IN 
THE PARTICULAR COVID-19 CONTEXT.
SO IN A QUESTION OF RESPECT FOR 
THEIR -- LITERALLY THEIR 
JURISDICTION, BUT ALSO THEIR 
WORK IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, 
AND THEREFORE  -- THAT'S WHAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID AGAIN 
THIS MORNING.
SO WE KNOW THE FEDERAL SUPPORT 
AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES OR 
FEDERAL SUPPORT TO GUIDELINES, 
THAT'S GOOD WHEN IT IS DEVELOPED
IN COLLABORATION AND IN FULL 
SUPPORT OF THE WORK OF PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES.
OTHERWISE WE WILL ENGAGE INTO 
JURISDICTIONAL FIGHTS AND THAT 
WILL BE COMPLETELY 
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
WE WANT THAT TO BE DONE FOR THE 
BENEFIT OF SENIORS, AND THAT'S 
WHY IT MUST BE DONE IN A VERY 
RESPECTFUL MANNER. 
>> FOLLOW-UP?
>> Reporter: YES, THANK YOU.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND 
YOURSELF AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND OTHERS KEEP TALKING ABOUT 
THESE JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES, BUT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLY 
SERIOUS ABUSES AGAINST SENIORS, 
OUR PARENTS, OUR GRANDPARENTS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CANADIANS WHO
ARE WATCHING THIS UNFOLD AND MAY
SEE THIS AS POLITICIANS POINTING
FINGERS AT ONE ANOTHER AND 
SAYING THAT'S NOT MY JOB.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID.
WE DON'T WANT POLITICIANS TO 
POINT FINGERS AT EACH OTHER.
WE SAW YESTERDAY HOW PREMIER 
FORD AND THE PRIME MINISTER 
DEMONSTRATED THESE VERY GOOD 
SIGN OF COLLABORATION, RESPECT 
FOR EACH OTHER, BUT ALSO -- BUT 
MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALIGN, AS YOU 
SAID, TO THE NEEDS OF SENIORS, 
TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK
AFTER THEM BETTER.
SO I THOUGHT AND I BELIEVE THAT 
IS SHARED BY A NUMBER OF OTHER 
PEOPLE.
I THOUGHT THAT YESTERDAY'S 
DEMONSTRATION OF RESPECT AND 
COLLABORATION AT THE SAME TIME 
BY PREMIER FORD AND THE PRIME 
MINISTER TRUDEAU WAS SOMETHING 
OF SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORTIVE OF 
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE AND HOPE OF 
DOING BETTER FOR OUR SENIORS.
>> THANK YOU.
MINISTER.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
MERCI.
[No Interpretation]
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Reporter: YES, MR. DUCLOS, 
LISTEN, MY QUESTION IS NOT FOR 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE TREASURY 
BOARD BUT FOR THE CHIEF 
ECONOMIST.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE CERB.
YOU ANSWERED MY COLLEAGUE'S 
QUESTION EARLIER.
HERE'S MY QUESTION.
IS THIS PROGRAM ONE THAT CAN 
COME TO AN END OVERNIGHT?
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A 
DEADLINE.
IT MAY BE EXTENDED.
WHAT ABOUT A GRADUAL WINDING 
DOWN OF THE CERB?
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT 
THERE IS AN ECONOMIC SIDE TO THE
WORK THAT I DO AND HAS BEEN THE 
CASE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF 
MONTHS AND YEARS.
NOW VIS-À-VIS THE CERB, IT 
CARRIES THE WORD OR THE NAME 
"EMERGENCY BENEFIT" BECAUSE THE 
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM JUST
WASN'T UP TO THE TASK TO HELP 
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS.
IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN YEARS TO PAY
OUT EI BENEFITS TO CANADIANS, 
EVEN THOSE WHO ARE ENTITLED AND 
QUALIFIED.
SO WE NEEDED A FAST TRACKED, 
SEAMLESS SYSTEM, AND THAT WAS 
CALLED THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE BENEFIT.
NOW RIGHT OFF THE BAT IT WAS 
ANNOUNCED THAT THE CERB WOULD 
LEAD TO SOMETHING ELSE, A 
DIFFERENT ITERATION OF IT OR 
SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL 
LOOK LIKE YET, BUT WE KNOW THAT 
IT WILL BE AN INCOME SUPPORT 
MEASURE FOR HOUSEHOLDS AND 
FAMILIES, BUT ALSO AN INCENTIVE 
FOR WORKERS TO GO BACK TO WORK.
WE ARE ALL MINDFUL OF THE FACT 
THAT -- SO THAT THE ECONOMIC 
RECOVERY PLAYS OUT PROPERLY, 
THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A 
TRANSITION FROM CERB TO 
SOMETHING ELSE.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
>> Reporter: JUST TO CLARIFY, 
SHOULD WE UNDERSTAND FROM YOUR 
ANSWER THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A 
HYBRID CERB TO INCENTIVIZE A 
RETURN TO WORK?
SECOND QUESTION, WHAT ABOUT THE 
ECONOMIC RECOVERY?
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES?
AND WHEN CAN CANADIANS EXPECT TO
SEE THE BROAD BRUSH STROKES OF 
THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN FOR 
CANADA?
WHAT'S THE KIND OF TIME FRAME?
WILL IT BE THIS FALL?
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A TWO-PRONGED
ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
FIRST, IN WHAT I CATEGORIZE THE 
SECOND PHASE OF THE ECONOMIC 
CRISIS OF COVID-19, THE FIRST 
STAGE TO DO WITH THE LANDING OF 
THE AIRCRAFT IN THE MIDST OF A 
STORM TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR 
FAMILIES, OUR SENIORS, THAT 
EVERYONE WAS SAFE AND SOUND.
THE SECOND PHASE IS TO PROVIDE 
THE PROTECTIVE AND RELIEF 
MEASURES THAT ARE NECESSARY, 
SUCH AS EMERGENCY BENEFITS FOR 
BOTH COMPANIES, AND FOR LARGE 
EMPLOYERS, THE WAGE SUBSIDY THAT
IS ALREADY PAYING AN INTEGRAL 
ROLE TO HELP OUT CANADIAN 
COMPANIES TO PICK THEMSELVES UP 
AND RECOVER.
NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A THIRD 
PHASE, OF COURSE.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN AND 
HOW THE THIRD PHASE WILL BEGIN.
IT WILL, OF COURSE, IN A LARGE 
PART -- TO A LARGE PART DEPEND 
ON THE HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THE
LANDSCAPE AND BACKDROP THERE.
BUT PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS' 
ADVICE NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED, AND
THERE NEED TO BE WORKPLACE 
ACCOMMODATIONS SUCH THAT THE 
HAZARDS AND RISKS OF A 
LIKELIHOOD OF A SECOND WAVE OF 
INFECTION, WHICH WOULD BE VERY 
DANGEROUS FOR CANADIANS AND 
CANADIAN BUSINESSES.
SO THE THIRD PHASE WILL BE A 
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WITH THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES AS 
WELL.
[ End of Interpretation ]
STILL WHAT WE CALL THE SECOND 
PHASE OF THE COVID-19 ECONOMIC 
CRISIS.
THE FIRST PHASE IS WHEN WE 
LANDED THE PLANE, THE SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC PLANE OF OUR COUNTRY, 
MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS AND 
FAMILIES WOULD LAND SAFELY IN 
THE MIDDLE OF A BIG STORM -- 
>> Rosemary: OKAY, WE'RE GOING 
TO PULL AWAY FROM THE FEDERAL 
BRIEFING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE TREASURY BOARD, THE ONLY 
PERSON AT THE BRIEFING TODAY, TO
BRING YOU INSIDE THE HOUSE OF 
COMMONS.
THIS IS SPECIAL COMMITTEE, COVID
COMMITTEE HAPPENING AGAIN TODAY.
BUT IT IS ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF 
PRECEDENT SETTING, HISTORY 
MAKING, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE IT 
IS A HYBRID SITTING OF THIS 
SPECIAL COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.
SO IN-PERSON, AND YOU WILL SEE 
ON THE FAR END OF THE SCREEN, IF
THEY EVER GIVE US A WIDE SHOT, 
GIANT MONITORS THAT HAVE BEEN 
INSTALLED TO BRING IN MPS FROM 
OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHO 
MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.
LET'S LISTEN NOW TO THE LEADER 
OF THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION, 
ANDREW SCHEER.
>> WEEKS AGO, AND YET HERE WE 
ARE TWO AND A HALF MONTHS LATER 
AND MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS STILL
HAVE NOT BEEN IMPROVED.
SO SIMPLE QUESTION FOR THE PRIME
MINISTER, ON APRIL 26, 
CONSERVATIVES ASK THE PRIME 
MINISTER TO CHANGE THE CRITERIA 
FOR THE CANADA EMERGENCY 
BUSINESS ACCOUNT SO THAT SMALL 
BUSINESSES WHO DON'T HAPPEN TO 
HAVE A BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNT CAN
QUALIFY FOR THOSE TYPES OF 
PROGRAMS.
IT'S NOW MAY 27.
IS THE PRIME MINISTER GOING TO 
MAKE THAT CHANGE?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: -- 
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS 
PANDEMIC THAT WE DID NEED TO 
MOVE EXTREMELY QUICKLY, AND 
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
WE ROLLED OUT THE CANADA 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT 
EXTREMELY QUICKLY, 8 MILLION 
CANADIANS HAVE HAD THAT AS A 
REPLACEMENT FOR PAYCHEQUES LOST 
BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
WE ALSO MOVED FORWARD OND WAGE 
SUBSIDY AND A RANGE OF OTHER 
PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND 
SMALL BUSINESSES.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS OF 
HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH 
THE CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS 
ACCOUNT HAS MADE A MASSIVE 
IMPACT IN SMALL BUSINESSES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT CERTAIN 
COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES HAVE 
PARTICULARLITIES THAT MEAN IT'S 
A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR 
THEM TO QUALIFY.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM THROUGH
THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
AGENCIES AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM 
TO APPROACH THEIR LOCAL RDA s 
WHO WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THEM 
GET THE MONEY THEY DESERVE.
>> MR. SPEAKER, THESE ARE VERY 
SIMPLE TECHNICAL FIXES THAT CAN 
BE FIXED BY THIS GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THE DELAY.
IT'S MAY 27.
THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THESE 
PROBLEMS FOR WEEKS, AND THEY ARE
TRYING TO GET PATTED ON THE BACK
FOR ACTIONS THAT THEY TOOK BACK 
IN MARCH, AND YET THEY ARE 
LETTING SO MANY CANADIANS DOWN 
BY NOT MAKING THESE VERY SIMPLE 
CHANGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, COMPANIES IN THE 
LAST YEAR WHO HAVE PURCHASED 
ANOTHER COMPANY, ACQUIRED 
ANOTHER COMPANY, HAVE EMPLOYEES 
WHOSE JOBS ARE THREATENED 
BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES ARE NOT 
ALLOWED TO QUALIFY FOR THE WAGE 
SUBSIDY BECAUSE THEIR REVENUE IS
NOW COUNTED TOGETHER.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS GAP.
SO AGAIN, SIMPLE QUESTION, WILL 
COMPANIES WHO HAVE ACQUIRED 
ANOTHER COMPANY STILL BE ALLOWED
TO USE THE WAGE SUBSIDY TO KEEP 
WORKERS ON THE JOB, YES OR NO?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, I KNOW THAT THERE 
ARE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT TYPES 
OF BUSINESSES ACROSS THIS 
COUNTRY WHO NEED SUPPORT.
WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD ON 
SUPPORTING AS MANY OF THEM AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN, AND CONTINUE TO 
WORK ON FILLING GAPS.
I KNOW THE MEMBER OPPOSITE IS 
TALKING ABOUT -- HAS TALKED TO 
ME A NUMBER OF TIMES ABOUT A 
TRACTOR COMPANY IN HIS RIDING.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT FINANCE 
OFFICIALS ARE ENGAGED WITH THAT 
COMPANY TO TRY AND SEE IF THERE 
IS A WAY WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE 
THAT WE ARE GETTING THEM THE 
SUPPORT THEY NEED. 
>> MR. SCHEER. 
>> I CAN SAVE HIM A LOT OF TIME 
AND SAVE HIS OFFICIALS A LOT OF 
TIME.
HE USED THE WORD, THE GOVERNMENT
USED THE WORD "AMALGAMATION" 
WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THE CHANGES 
TO THAT PROGRAM.
HE CAN MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR AND 
SAVE A LOT OF WORK IF HE JUST 
INCLUDED THE WORD "ACQUISITION."
WILL HE DO THAT?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT FINANCE 
OFFICIALS ARE WORKING CLOSELY 
WITH BRANDT TRACTOR.
THEY ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH
A RANGE OF BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WHO FOR VARIOUS REASONS 
ARE NOT ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE 
HELP WE HAVE NOW.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED THE 
HELP GET IT.
>> WE WILL GO ON TO MR. SCHEER.
MR. SCHEER?
>> WELL, MR. SPEAKER, IT'S 
LITERALLY ONE WORD.
WE CAN EMAIL HIM THE TEXT.
WE CAN SEND HIM THE PAGE IN THE 
DICTIONARY WHERE THAT WORD IS 
DEFINED, IF THAT WOULD HELP.
ANOTHER GAP THAT IS LETTING 
PEOPLE DOWN IS THE RENT RELIEF 
PROGRAM.
NOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET THE 
PARAMETERS TO QUALIFY FOR THE 
RENT RELIEF PROGRAM FOR 
COMPANIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED 
A 70% REVENUE LOSS.
THERE ARE UNTOLD THOUSANDS OF 
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED 
A 60 OR 65% OR 50, 55% LOSS WHO 
ARE INELIGIBLE WHO HAVE NO 
CAPACITY TO PAY THEIR RENT.
WE HAVE CALLED FOR THE 
GOVERNMENT AS EARLY AS -- WE 
HAVE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT 
WEEKS AGO TO HAVE A MORE 
FLEXIBLE SLIDING SCALE TO ALLOW 
MORE COMPANIES TO ACCESS THIS 
PROGRAM, AGAIN TO KEEP MORE 
PEOPLE ON THE JOB AND MORE 
BUSINESSES OPEN.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCE 
SOME FLEXIBILITY TO THIS PROGRAM
TO HELP MORE BUSINESSES SURVIVE?
>> THE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, FROM THE BEGINNING 
OF THIS PANDEMIC OUR PUBLIC 
SERVANTS AND POLICY-MAKERS HAVE 
BEEN MOVING CREATIVELY AND 
QUICKLY TO TRY AND GET HELP TO 
AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY 
CAN, WITH OUR FOCUS BEING ON THE
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
OBVIOUSLY THIS PANDEMIC IS 
AFFECTING EVERYONE AND EVERY 
BUSINESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 
DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT OUR FOCUS 
HAS BEEN ON ENSURING THAT THOSE 
WHO MOST NEED IT ARE GETTING THE
HELP WE CAN.
WE WILL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO 
WORK WITH PARTIES OPPOSITE AND 
ALL CANADIANS TO ENSURE THAT 
WE'RE GETTING HELP TO EVERYONE 
WHO NEEDS IT, BUT OUR FOCUS HAS 
ALWAYS BEEN ON THE MOST 
VULNERABLE, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
QUESTION FOR THE PRIME MINISTER.
IF THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA 
HAD NOT USED THESE EMERGENCY 
PROGRAMS, WOULD THEY HAVE LAID 
OFF ALL OF THE LIBERAL PARTY 
STAFFERS?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER? 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: THERE
ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND 
COMPANIES FACING DIFFICULTIES 
DUE TO COVID-19.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING
FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS, BE THEY
ACCOUNTANTS, RECEPTIONISTS, 
ATTENDANTS, PEOPLE WHO NEED 
SUPPORT.
WE SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
>> MR. BLANCHET?
>> IS THE LIBERAL PARTY OF 
CANADA AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS 
IN DIFFICULTY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: ANY 
COMPANY ORGANIZATION THAT CAN 
SHOW A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN 
INCOME, BE IT THROUGH DONATIONS 
OR PROFITS, WE WILL NOW RETURN 
TO BLANCHET.
MR. BLANCHET?
>> IS THE LIBERAL PARTY OF 
CANADA AN ORGANIZATION 
EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE CREATED 
SPECIFIC CRITERIA TO HELP 
ORGANIZATIONS IN DIFFICULTY.
ANY ORGANIZATION THAT IS 
EXPERIENCING THOSE DIFFICULTIES 
MAY APPLY.
>> MR. BLANCHET?
>> THERE ARE FISHERIES IN THE 
MAGDALENE ISLANDS THAT ARE IN 
DIFFICULT.
THEY NEED HELP.
THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY.
IS THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA 
AN ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCING 
DIFFICULTY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE INVESTED IN
AID TO THE FISHERMEN ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY.
WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS A DIFFICULT
SITUATION WITH COVID-19.
WE WILL BE THERE FOR THE 
FISHERMEN AND INDUSTRIES 
EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> I AM SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS.
THERE IS A COMPANY IN 
DRUMMONDVILLE THAT MAKES 
INSULATION.
THEY ARE IN DIFFICULTY.
IS THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA 
AN ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCING 
DIFFICULTY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE CLEAR 
CRITERIA TO APPLY FOR THESE 
PROGRAMS COMPANIES AND 
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GETTING 
ASSISTANCE UNDER THESE PROGRAMS 
ARE QUALIFIED FOR THOSE 
PROGRAMS.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> IF THE CRITERIA SET OUT THAT 
THE LIBERAL IS AN ORGANIZATION 
IN DIFFICULTY, ARE THE PROGRAMS 
POORLY ESTABLISHED TO HELP 
ORGANIZATIONS IN DIFFICULTY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, OUR PRIORITY 
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC IS TO BE
THERE FOR WORKERS WHO ARE 
EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES, WHO 
ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS IN ALL 
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE, AND THAT IS WHAT WE 
ARE DOING.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> IS THE PRIME MINISTER IN 
DIFFICULTY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: NO, 
MR. SPEAKER.
WE ARE DOING IMPORTANT WORK FOR 
ALL CANADIANS EVERY DAY.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> THERE ARE RESTAURANTS IN 
ONTARIO THROUGH TO MONTREAL WHO 
THINK THEY WILL NOT MAKE IT 
THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
THEY ARE IN DIFFICULTY.
IN COMPARISON, IS THE LIBERAL 
PARTY OF CANADA AN ORGANIZATION 
IN DIFFICULTY THAT WILL NOT 
SURVIVE THIS CRISIS?
WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED 
CRITERIA FOR THE PROGRAM TO HELP
THOSE WHO ARE WORKING FOR 
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, ANY 
ORGANIZATION RECEIVING THE 
SUBSIDY QUALIFIES FOR THIS 
SUBSIDY.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> -- LIBERAL PARTY COFFERS IS 
THE LIBERAL PARTY IN DIFFICULTY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. CHAIR, WE ARE WORKING EVERY 
DAY TO HELP CANADIANS AND 
WORKERS EXPERIENCING 
DIFFICULTIES, AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> QUESTION FOR THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
IS HE IN DIFFICULTY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, I'M VERY PLEASED TO
BE HERE IN THIS CHAMBER TO 
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO 
CANADIANS AND TO MEMBERS OF THE 
OPPOSITION.
>> MR. BLANCHET. 
>> ARE YOU GOING TO ANSWER THE 
QUESTIONS OF QUEBECERS?
I HOPE SO.
THERE ARE MANY COMPANIES 
EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.
ARE THESE COMPANIES NOT 
DESERVING OF GETTING SAVED BY 
THE MONEY THAT THE LIBERAL PARTY
HAS SUPPOSEDLY IN DIFFICULTY 
TAKEN?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, I'M VERY PLEASED TO
RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS ASKED 
BY ALL CANADIANS SITTING IN THIS
HOUSE.
MR. CHAIR, WE ARE THERE TO HELP 
ALL THE WORKERS IN DIFFICULTY 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN
QUEBEC.
>> MR. BLANCHET.
>> IF THE PRIME MINISTER IS SO 
HAPPY TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS, I 
WOULD ASK HIM TO ANSWER WHETHER 
THE LIBERAL PARTY IS IN 
DIFFICULTY OR NOT.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
CHAIR, WE ESTABLISHED A PROGRAM 
TO HELP WORKERS WHO WORK FOR 
ORGANIZATIONS IF THEY LOSE THEIR
JOB BECAUSE OF COVID-19, AND 
WE'RE HERE TO HELP WORKERS AND 
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE 
COMPANY.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> WE WILL NOW GO ON TO 
MR. SINGH.
MR. SINGH?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MR. SPEAKER.
THE CONDITIONS OF SENIORS AS 
OUTLINED BY THE MILITARY WERE 
APPALLING, BUT SENIORS NEED MORE
THAN JUST COMPASSIONATE WORDS.
THEY NEED ACTION.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER STOP 
HIDING BEHIND EXCUSES AND 
ACTUALLY SHOW LEADERSHIP TO FIX 
LONG-TERM CARE?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, THE CONSTITUTION OF
CANADA IS NOT AN EXCUSE.
IT LAYS OUT THE DIVISIONS OF 
POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND
WE RESPECT THE PROVINCES' 
JURISDICTION OVER LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES.
HOWEVER, FROM THE VERY 
BEGINNING, WE HAVE INDICATED OUR
WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR SENIORS
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE 
PROPERLY CARED FOR, WHICH IS WHY
WE SENT IN THE MILITARY, WHY WE 
ARE THERE TO HELP THE PROVINCES.
>> THE FORMER FEDERAL HEALTH 
MINISTER, DR. PHILPOTT, SAID, 
AND I QUOTE: WE NEED TO STOP 
USING JURISDICTION AS AN EXCUSE 
TO AVOID FEDERAL LEADERSHIP.
END QUOTE.
THAT IS A FORMER FEDERAL HEALTH 
MINISTER.
NOW WE KNOW FROM THE MILITARY 
REPORT THAT STAFF WERE AFRAID TO
USE A VITAL EQUIPMENT BECAUSE OF
THE COST.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER CALL TO 
END PROFIT IN LONG-TERM CARE SNA
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, OVER THE PAST 
COUPLE OF DAYS I'VE HAD VERY 
GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE 
PREMIERS OF BOTH QUEBEC AND 
ONTARIO ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING 
ISSUES AROUND LONG-TERM CARE 
WITH ALL THE PREMIERS OF THE 
PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES 
TOMORROW EVENING AS WELL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CANADIANS
HAVE SEEN NEEDS CONCERTED 
ACTION.
WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE 
PROVINCES.
>> MR. SINGH.
>> NEEDLES WERE RE-USED AND 
EXPIRED MEDICATION WAS USED, 
ACCORDING TO MILITARY REPORTS.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER CALL FOR
AN END TO PROFIT IN THE CARE OF 
OUR SENIORS?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, THE CONTENTS OF 
THAT REPORT WERE DEEPLY 
DISTURBING AND TROUBLING FOR ALL
CANADIANS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE COMMITTED TO 
WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES TOX .
ONTARIANS AND INDEED PEOPLE 
RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE 
DEEPLY PRE-OCCUPIED BY WHAT 
THEY'VE SEEN GOING ON.
WE NEED TO FIX THIS.
WE WILL DO THAT TOGETHER.
>> GO ON TO MR. SINGH.
>> MILITARY REPORT FOUND THAT 
COCKROACHES AND FLIES WERE 
PRESENT, THAT FOOD WAS ROTTEN.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER CALL FOR
NATIONAL STANDARDS SO THAT 
LONG-TERM CARE IS GOVERNED BY 
THE SAME PRINCIPLES AS THE 
CANADA HEALTH ACT?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, OUR PRIORITY RIGHT 
NOW IS ENSURING THAT WE ARE 
SUPPORTING THE PROVINCES IN 
THEIR NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL
SENIORS ARE PROTECTED RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN ALL THOSE 
INSTITUTIONS.
GOING FORWARD, WE ABSOLUTELY 
WILL NEED TO HAVE MORE 
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN 
ASSURE THAT EVERY SENIOR ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY IS PROPERLY 
SUPPORTED.
>> MR. SINGH. 
>> THE MILITARY REPORT FOUND, 
AND I QUOTE: "RESPECTING THE 
DIGNITY OF PATIENTS WAS NOT A 
PRIORITY."
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER CALL FOR
NATIONAL STANDARDS AND LONG-TERM
CARE TO BE GOVERNED BY THE SAME 
PRINCIPLES AS THE CANADA HEALTH 
ACT?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER. 
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, ALL CANADIANS KNOW 
WE NEED TO DO BETTER BY OUR 
SENIORS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL 
TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, AND ALL 
ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT WILL WORK 
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT RIGHT
NOW AND GOING FORWARD WE IMPROVE
OUR SYSTEMS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE 
THERE TO WORK WITH THE PROVINCES
ON MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
>> MR. SINGH. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE PRIME 
MINISTER HAS SAID THAT HE'S 
WILLING TO WORK WITH THE 
PROVINCES.
I'M SAYING THAT WE NEED TO SEE 
FEDERAL LEADERSHIP.
WE NEED A COMMITMENT AT THE 
FEDERAL LEVEL THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER WILL PUSH FOR THINGS 
THAT PEOPLE NEED, WHICH IS TO 
REMOVE PROFIT FROM LONG-TERM 
CARE AND TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL 
STANDARDS.
WILL THE PRIME MINISTER GO 
BEYOND WORKING WITH PROVINCES 
AND SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
[Speaking French]
[Voice of Interpreter]
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: I 
WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO DEFEND 
CANADIANS IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO WORK IN 
RESPECTING PROVINCIAL 
JURISDICTIONS WITH THE PROVINCES
TO ENSURE THAT ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY CANADIANS IN LONG-TERM 
CARE HOMES ARE SUPPORTED 
PROPERLY AND THE SERVICES AND 
CARE THAT THEY DESERVE WILL BE 
PROVIDED.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> MR. SINGH, 30 SECONDS, A 
BRIEF QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COVID-19 CRISIS SHOULD NOT BE 
USED AS AN EXCUSE TO AVOID 
PRESENTING SOLUTIONS TO THE 
MURDERED AND MISSING INDIGENOUS 
WOMEN AND GIRLS COMMITTEE.
IN PARTICULAR, DELAYING ACTION 
ON THE CALLS FOR JUSTICE.
THIS IS THE SAME GOVERNMENT THAT
DENIED RECOGNIZING IT'S A 
GENOCIDE, THE SAME GOVERNMENT 
THAT DELAYED THE UNITED NATIONS 
DECLARATION LEGISLATION, AND THE
SAME GOVERNMENT THAT IS STILL 
TAKING ADDITIONAL CASES TO 
COURT.
WILL THIS GOVERNMENT COMMIT TO 
CORE FUNDING FOR INDIGENOUS 
SERVICES TO HAVE WOMEN AND 
GIRLS, AND ENSURE THAT THE CALLS
TO JUSTICE ARE IMPLEMENTED 
WITHOUT DELAY?
>> THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME 
MINISTER.
>> Prime Minister Trudeau: 
MR. SPEAKER, WE CONTINUE TO WORK
VERY CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS ON 
THE CALLS TO JUSTICE, EVEN AS WE
ACT IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING 
BETTER FUNDING FOR SHELTERS AND 
FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC 
VIOLENCE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
THOSE PARTNERS, BUT PEOPLE WILL 
UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF THOSE 
PARTNERS ARE VERY FOCUSED RIGHT 
NOW ON HELPING FRONT-LINE 
WORKERS, NOT ON ESTABLISHING THE
REPORT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH 
THEM ON THE REPORT, BUT THE 
COVID-19 SITUATION HAS MADE THAT
MORE DIFFICULT.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE 
HONOURABLE MEMBERS WHO ARE 
SHOUTING TIME, BUT I DO HAVE A 
TIMER HERE, AND I AM TAKING CARE
OF IT.
I APPRECIATE THE HELP, THOUGH, 
BUT I JUST WANT TO REMIND THEM 
THAT I HAVE THE PROPER MACHINERY
HERE.
WE WILL NOW GO TO -- 
>> Rosemary: OKAY, WE ARE GOING 
TO PULL AWAY FROM THIS QUESTION 
PERIOD OF THE COVID-19 
COMMITTEE, THE SPECIAL COVID-19 
COMMITTEE, WHERE IT WAS VERY 
DIFFICULT TO SEE, YOU MAY HAVE 
SEEN THERE WHERE MP JAMES BEZAN 
STOOD UP, BUT THERE ARE TWO 
LARGE MONITORS NOW INSTALLED 
INSIDE THE CHAMBER TO FACILITATE
THIS NEW HYBRID MODEL OF THE 
COMMITTEE THAT WAS AGREED TO 
BETWEEN THE LIBERALS, NDP AND 
GREEN PARTY.
THAT MEANS THAT THEY WILL SIT A 
LITTLE MORE REGULARLY, BUT THEY 
WILL NOT BE DOING THE WHOLE 
HOUSE OF COMMONS AS HAD BEEN 
REQUESTED BY THE CONSERVATIVE 
PARTY AND, IN FACT, THE BLOC 
ALSO SUPPORTED THE CONSERVATIVES
IN THAT BID.
BUT THE NDP DECIDED THAT THEY 
WOULD SUPPORT THE LIBERALS AFTER
THEY RECEIVED A PROMISE OF TEN 
PAID SICK DAYS AS PART OF THEIR 
NEGOTIATING TACTICS.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WATCHING
THAT, YOU CAN ALWAYS WATCH IT AT
CBCC/POLITICS, BUT WE GENERAL 
JUST TAKE THE LEADERS ROUND.
WE WILL PULL AWAY NOW AND PULL 
IN DAVID COCHRANE AND VASSY 
KAPELOS.
A COUPLE THINGS THERE.
THE PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTIONS 
WERE PRIMARILY ABOUT LONG-TERM 
CARE, PERHAPS NOT SURPRISINGLY, 
ALTHOUGH A COUPLE VERY DETAILED 
QUESTIONS FROM ANDREW SCHEER.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING 
THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
TREASURY BOARD, JEAN-YVES 
DUCLOS, SAID IN THE SHORT TIME 
THAT WE TOOK HIM IN THE BRIEFING
THERE.
HE SAID THAT FEDERAL AND 
NATIONAL STANDARDS WOULD BE 
AGGRESSIVE IF THEY WERE GOING TO
BE DICTATED BY OTTAWA WHEN IT 
COMES TO LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
TO ME THAT SEEMED THE MOST SORT 
OF COMPLETE THOUGHT AND 
EXPRESSION OF THE CONCERNS HERE 
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN 
GETTING INTO THIS.
CERTAINLY THE PRIME MINISTER 
DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR THAT, 
VASSY, IN HIS RESPONSES TO 
JAGMEET SINGH. 
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JUMPED 
OUT TO ME, ROSIE, SO I'M GLAD 
YOU'RE FLAGGING IT.
HE WAS SORT OF PROMPTED A BIT BY
THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, IS THAT 
THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD 
CHARACTERIZE IT.
AND I FOUND IT INTERESTING 
BECAUSE IT DOES SORT OF PULL 
BACK THE CURTAIN A LITTLE BIT ON
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S 
THINKING AS THEY AND THE 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT'S AFFECTED
BY PARTICULARLY THE TWO REPORTS 
FROM THE ARMED FORCES TRY TO 
NAVIGATE FIXING THE ISSUE IN THE
SHORT TERM.
EVEN IF YOU'RE LOOKING SHORT 
TERM OR LONG TERM, IF THE 
SOLUTION IS MORE MONEY OR MORE 
POCKETS OF MONEY DIRECTED 
SPECIFICALLY AT LONG-TERM CARE, 
WHICH SEEMS TO BE ALREADY 
PREMIER FORD, FOR EXAMPLE 
YESTERDAY, IS ASKING FOR THAT.
AND CERTAINLY PREMIERS HAVE BEEN
ASKING FOR IT FOR A LONG TIME, I
SHOULD NOTE.
BUT IF IN FACT THAT IS GOING TO 
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, 
MINISTER DUCLOS IS GIVING US AN 
INDICATION OF WHAT MIGHT COME 
ALONGSIDE THAT MONEY.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME 
SUGGESTIONS, INCLUDING FROM 
FORMER FEDERAL HEALTH MINISTER 
JANE PHILPOTT, TO ATTACH CERTAIN
CONDITIONS OR CERTAIN STRINGS TO
THAT MONEY, OR VERY MUCH SO LIKE
A SET OF GUIDELINES THAT ARE NOT
JUST VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES.
THAT'S WHAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW.
YOU'LL REMEMBER ABOUT -- I THINK
IT WAS SIX WEEKS AGO, THAT MAY 
NOT BE THE EXACT TIMELINE, BUT 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASED 
A SET OF GUIDELINES.
THEY ARE VOLUNTARY.
THERE IS NO PUNISHMENT IF YOU 
DON'T COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS,
AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN STANDARDS
ARE AN ISSUE, CLEARLY, AS LAID 
OUT BY THE ARMED FORCES.
AND SO I TOOK FROM THAT -- I WAS
VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING SOME 
SORT OF CHARACTERIZATION FROM 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT 
WHAT A SOLUTION MIGHT LOOK LIKE,
AND IF YOU'RE CALLING IT 
AGGRESSIVE, LIKE, THEY ARE 
VERY -- ABOUT JURISDICTION.
THAT IS COMING THROUGH LOUD AND 
CLEAR, AND SO I WONDER WHAT THAT
MEANS FOR EVEN THE NEXT FEW 
WEEKS, FEW DAYS, IF THERE IS 
MORE MONEY GOING TO ONTARIO, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS IT JUST GOING TO BE 
SENT WITHOUT STRINGS?
I MEAN, THAT -- I IMAGINE SOME 
OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILY 
MEMBERS IN THOSE HOMES WOULD BE 
PERPLEXED BY THAT, BUT AT THE 
SAME TIME, THOSE JURISDICTIONAL 
CONVERSATIONS ARE TOUCHY.
YOU CAN REALLY TELL.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND I WOULD 
REMIND PEOPLE THAT THE LAST TIME
THAT THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO 
ATTACH STRINGS TO HEALTH CARE 
FUNDING UNDER PAUL MARTIN, IF I 
BELIEVE, AROUND WAIT TIMES, IT 
WAS A VERY -- THERE WAS A VERY 
LONG NEGOTIATION PROCESS, AND 
QUEBEC WAS VERY DIFFICULT DURING
THE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE IT IS 
NOT VERY PRONE TO TAKING MONEY 
WITH CONDITIONS.
SO INEVITABLY, IT WOULD ALSO 
HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD 
ALLOW QUEBEC TO OPT OUT, AS IT 
SO OFTEN DOES WITH FEDERAL 
PROGRAMS.
I KNOW I'M WAY DOWN THE ROAD 
HERE, BUT THEN IF QUEBEC OPTS 
OUT, DO OTHER PROVINCES OPT OUT?
CAN THEY JUST TAKE THE MONEY AND
USE IT FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE?
YOU CAN JUST SEE THE COMPLEXITY 
OF WHAT MORE FUNDING AND HOW 
THOSE TALKS WOULD UNFOLD.
EVEN AS WE KNOW THERE ARE ALSO 
THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE INSIDE A
PROVINCE, RIGHT?
I MEAN, THERE ARE, LIKE, 
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF 
REGULATIONS AROUND LONG-TERM 
CARE CENTRES IN ONTARIO THAT ARE
NOT BEING FOLLOWED.
SO THERE ARE SURELY SOME THINGS 
THAT THE PROVINCE COULD START TO
FIX ON ITS OWN AS THEY AWAIT A 
BIGGER CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT 
THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
DAVID, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> David: YEAH, I MEAN, THE 
JURISDICTION THING IS AN ISSUE 
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO 
OVERCOME.
THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT HEALTH 
CARE TRANSFER INCREASES WITH 
STRINGS ATTACHED, THOUGH, ROSIE.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE 
LAST ROUND THAT WAS NEGOTIATED 
WITH THE PRIME MINISTER HERE IN 
OTTAWA.
>> Rosemary: QUITE RIGHT.
>> David: SO THIS IS NOT 
UNPRECEDENTED OR EVEN UNCOMMON.
IT'S HAPPENED IN THE VERY RECENT
PAST.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT JAGMEET 
SINGH IS CALLING FOR WHEN HE 
SAYS THE PRIME MINISTER NEEDS TO
SHOW LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE GOING 
BACK TO THE AGGRESSIVE STANDARD,
IF THEY SAID HERE ARE THE 
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR LONG-TERM
CARE, WELL WHAT THEN?
I MEAN, THERE'S NO LEGAL 
AUTHORITY TO FORCE THE PROVINCES
TO COMPLY WITH THESE THINGS.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA HAS NO 
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OVER 
LONG-TERM CARE.
THIS IS EXCLUSIVELY THE DOMAIN 
OF THE PROVINCES, SO THIS IS WHY
IT NEEDS TO BE A NEGOTIATION AND
IT NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION, 
SORT OF BOLD DECLARATIONS FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER RIGHT NOW AT 
A TIME WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND THE PREMIERS ARE ALL WORKING
PRETTY WELL TOGETHER, IT SEEMS, 
IS NOT NECESSARILY PRODUCTIVE IN
THE LARGER CLIMATE.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK HE IS -- 
SO THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT SINGH 
IS SUGGESTING I'M NOT SURE ON.
THE MOOD HE IS TAPPING INTO IS 
INTERESTING, THOUGH.
IF YOU LOOK AT HEALTH CRISES IN 
THE PAST IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY 
HAVE LED TO REFORM.
THE GREAT PANDEMIC OF SPANISH 
FLU OF 1918 LED TO THE CREATION 
OF THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF 
HEALTH.
THE SARS EPIDEMIC LED TO THE 
CREATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
AGENCY OF CANADA, WHICH IS NOW 
LED BY DR. THERESA TAM.
COVID-19, IT SEEMS, IS GIVING 
MOMENTUM TO A CONVERSATION OF 
REFORM OF ELDER CARE IN THIS 
COUNTRY, SO THE JURISDICTIONAL 
NICETIES ARE THINGS YOU DO HAVE 
TO MANAGE AND RESPECT, BUT THERE
IS, I THINK, A MOMENTUM TO 
TACKLE THIS ISSUE AND LEAD TO 
REFORM IN THAT SECTOR OF SOME 
SORT.
WHAT THAT IS NEEDS TO BE SETTLED
BY THE FIRST MINISTERS.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, AND AS YOU'RE
TALK, I AM REMINDED BY SOMEONE 
THAT, YES, THEY HAVE NEGOTIATED 
STRINGS ATTACHED TO HEALTH CARE 
FUNDING IN THIS PARTICULAR 
GOVERNMENT HAS IN THE RECENT 
PAST, AND THOSE ARE BASED ON 
COMMON INDICATORS THAT THEY 
WOULD REGISTER WITH THE CANADA 
INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH 
INFORMATION.
MY POINT IS SIMPLY THAT 
NEGOTIATING THOSE THINGS WITH 
QUEBEC DOES LEAD TO FRICTION, 
INEVITABLY, AND LARGER 
NEGOTIATIONS.
AND WHEN QUEBEC IS THE ONE WHO 
HAS 25 LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES 
WITH MILITARY MEMBERS IN THEM, 
OBVIOUSLY THEY DO NEED HELP.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO DENYING THAT.
I JUST THINK THERE'S THE 
POTENTIAL FOR DIFFICULTY WITH 
SOME PROVINCES, NOT WITH ALL OF 
THEM, BUT CERTAINLY WITH SOME OF
THEM.
CAN I JUST, BEFORE I GO, JUST 
SORT OF SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT 
ANDREW NICHOLS IS GOING TO BE 
COVERING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF
HOURS, THE MENG WANZHOU CASE.
THE PICTURE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE
SCREEN IS HER WAITING TO LEAVE 
FOR COURT.
THAT DECISION EXPECTS AT 2 
EASTERN.
I KNOW YOU GUYS KNOW EVERYTHING,
SO I'M COMFORTABLE ABOUT ASKING 
YOU ABOUT -- BECAUSE A LOT OF 
FOCUS, OBVIOUSLY, IN THIS TOWN 
WILL BE ON THAT DECISION AS WELL
TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS HERE
ON THIS ISSUE OF DOUBLE 
CRIMINALITY FOR MENG WANZHOU, 
WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
APPEAL, WHETHER SHE CAN ACTUALLY
LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT FALLOUT FROM 
THIS DECISION HERE IN OTTAWA AS 
WELL, VASSY.
>> Vassy: YEAH, THE BIG 
QUESTION, IF I COULD SORT OF 
DUMB IT DOWN FOR MYSELF, THAT 
THE JUDGE IS LOOKING AT IS 
WHETHER OR NOT THE CRIME THAT 
SHE WAS CHARGED WITH IS A CRIME 
HERE IN CANADA BECAUSE THE CRIME
SHE WAS CHARGED WITH HAS TO DO 
WITH THE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN 
LEVIED BY THE UNITED STATES 
WHICH AT THE TIME WERE NOT IN 
PLACE IN CANADA.
SO THAT'S THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION
BEING LOOKED AT.
THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF 
THAT DECISION COULD BE HUGE.
IF IN FACT IT'S FOUND THE JUDGE 
FINDS THAT IT'S NOT A CRIME, 
THAT SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN 
CHARGED WITH THAT, OR CONVICTED 
OF IT HERE IN CANADA, THEN THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS, AS YOU 
POINT OUT, ROSIE, FACED WITH THE
DECISION OF WHETHER TO APPEAL 
THAT OR WHETHER TO LET IT ALL 
PLAY OUT AND PERHAPS SHE NOT END
UP HAVING TO GO THROUGH AN 
EXTRADITION TRIAL HERE, OR 
WHATEVER THE CONSEQUENCE MIGHT 
BE.
BASICALLY TO ACCELERATE THE WAY 
IN WHICH SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE
FREED.
THAT WOULD BE HUGE BECAUSE, OF 
COURSE, WE KNOW THAT CHINA HAS 
ARBITRARILY DETAINED MICHAEL 
KOVRIG AND MICHAEL SPAVOR IN 
RETALIATION FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO
MENG WANZHOU.
DOES THAT, THEN, SET THE STAGE 
FOR THEIR RELEASE?
I'M GETTING WAY AHEAD OF MYSELF.
WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT BASICALLY THAT'S WHY, EVEN 
THOUGH IT'S ONE DECISION AMONG 
MANY, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT ONE 
THAT COULD HAVE HUGE POLITICAL 
CONSEQUENCES AND HUGE TANGIBLE 
CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE TWO MEN 
WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN DETAINED FOR
MORE THAN 500 DAYS.
>> Rosemary: YEAH, NOT TO 
MENTION THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CANADA AND CHINA, THIS IS ALSO A
BIT -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH
GOING ON THERE, JUST IN THE 
GENERAL WAY RIGHT NOW, DAVID.
>> David: YEAH, IF SHE WINS 
TODAY, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL 
FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN RELATIONS 
WITH CHINA.
ONLY THE POTENTIAL, THOUGH.
IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE A SWIFT RELEASE OF 
THE TWO MICHAELS OVER THIS 
BECAUSE THAT WOULD LAY BARE THAT
THEY WERE, IN FACT, A BARGAINING
CHIP AND A HOSTAGE SITUATION 
CONNECTED TO THE MENG WANZHOU 
EXTRADITION CASE.
BUT IF SHE DOES WIN TODAY, THAT 
POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENT OF 
RELATIONS WITH CHINA COULD BE 
OFFSET WITH A POTENTIAL DAMAGING
OF RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED 
STATES WHO HAS PUT A BULL'S EYE 
ON HUAWEI AND IS FIGHTING EVERY 
KIND OF A BATTLE WITH CHINA ON 
TRADE AND POLITICS AND MIDDLE 
POWERS LIKE CANADA ARE CAUGHT IN
THE MIDDLE.
IF SHE LOSES TODAY, THE FEAR I 
SUSPECT WOULD BE AN ESCALATION 
BY CHINA TO SHOW JUST HOW 
SERIOUS IT IS ABOUT THIS IN 
WANTING HER RELEASE, AND IF SHE 
DOES LOSE TODAY, IT THEN SETS 
THE STAGE FOR A FORMAL 
EXTRADITION HEARING WHERE THE 
MERITS OF THE ARGUMENT TO HAVE 
HER SENT TO THE UNITED STATES 
WOULD BE DEBATED.
EXTRADITION RATES ARE QUITE 
HIGH, ABOUT 90% IN THIS COUNTRY,
ONCE IT IS DETERMINED THAT DUAL 
CRIMINALITY APPLIES AND THERE 
WAS A REASONABLE ARREST, THEY 
ALMOST ALWAYS GET SENT TO THE 
FOREIGN COUNTRY.
THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT
IF SHE LOSES TODAY THAT MENG 
WANZHOU COULD END UP IN THE 
HANDS OF FOREIGN AUTHORITIES.
>> Rosemary: VASSY KAPELOS, YOU 
CAN SEE HER TONIGHT AT 5 
EASTERN, AND DAVID COCHRANE, 
THANK YOU BOTH.
AS I SAID, WE'LL HAVE SPECIAL 
COVERAGE OF THAT CASE, THE 
DECISION EXPECTED AT TWO 
EASTERN.
BEFORE I GO, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
SOMETHING THE PRIME MINISTER 
SAID, 45,000 JOBS AVAILABLE FOR 
YOUNG PEOPLE, JOBBANK.CG.CA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
ANDREW NICHOLS CONTINUES OUR 
