trudeau

Thank you, Prime Minister. We’ll now go to the phone lines for some questions. Just a reminder, it’s one question, one follow up. Operator.

Operator:

Thank you.

Question:

[voice of interpreter] good morning. I have a question about this agreement with respect to the closure of the United States-canadian border. We are concerned about not having enough medical equipment and medication. Do you believe that this agreement includes the same mechanisms in terms of timelinesor have you improved it?

Answer:

No, it’s exactly the same mechanisms. We expect that essential goods and medical equipment and other items will continue to cross the border between our two countries, and that’s what we will continue to ensure. [end of translation] the agreement is the same terms, just extended for another 30 days. It will ensure that we continue to get essential goods and services back and forth across the border.

[voice of interpreter] follow up.

Question:

Yes. With respect to those masks that were supposed to be coming from 3m, we know that it was extremely complicated because of the directives announced by president trump. Did you not think it would be a good idea to get some additional guarantees so that all those companies providing gowns and masks and so forth can continue to provide that equipment to Canada, so that we don’t have to continue to rely on china?

Answer:

Yes, it is very important that we continue to receive essential protective equipment from around the world, including the United States. We were very pleased to be able to ensure the continuity of 3m shipments, but we will continue to work closely with the United States administration so that we are sure to receive all the equipment we need.

Question:

Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Trudeau. Marc garneau announced that airline travellers will now have to wear a mask that covers theirface. Now, is it possible that recommendation will be extended to other groups?

Answer:

Now, with respect to Minister garneau’s announcement, I should point out of course that we are currently prohibiting all non-essential travel. We do not want people to start travelling, whether they’re wearing a mask or not. Of course it’s better to wear a mask and – but we still want people to stay home. We believe that this measure will help people in situations where physical distancing, like in a plane, is very difficult toachieve. Now, regarding the measures being put in place. Once we begin to relax the current restrictions, certainly that is still under discussion and we are having lengthy discussions with scientists as to what the best measures would be to ensure the protection of all Canadians. We will have more to say about that as those discussions continue and that reality comes closer.

Question:

Yes. As a follow-up, Mr. Trudeau. With respect to the agreement between Canada and the United States on the order, there was a problem with respectto an asylum seeker and that person was sent back. Now, has that condition been changed at all in the new agreement?

Answer:

No. It is the same agreement that has been renewed for the next 30days and we’ll continue to ensure our values as a country are respected. [end of translation].

Operator:

Next question, Theresa wright from the canadianpress, your line is open.

Question:

The conservatives want increased sittings in the house of commons and they argue that the daily briefings done in front of the media could be done in the house of commons. What’s wrong with that?

Answer:

First of all, it’s extremely important and has been important that every single day the Canadian public gets informed of measures we are putting forward. We are putting forward new measures almost every single day, and I think it is essential that the media continues to have access to asking questions to better inform and to ensure Canada is functioning the way it needs to be. Part of that job in our democracy is ensuring that there is accountability through our parliamentary systems. That is something that we are also very much focused on. We have proposed that the house of commons return in some fashion every single week, to permit engagement on accountability and also pass further measures to help Canadians. Right now we’re in a situation where M.P.s across the country and their staff are wondering ifthey’re going to have to get on planes tomorrow and fly to ottawa. Obviously that is not something from a public health standpoint we should want to see happening. Right now on the books the rule is parliament needs to re-open fully on Monday. That is obviously not a good idea, which is why we’ve proposed measures going forward that we’re discussing with the other parties. We certainly hope we can come to an agreement so we all don’t have to convene in the house of commons on Monday morning. [voice of interpreter] we are still in discussions with the other parties. We have proposed that the house of commons sit every week to ensure that there is an opportunity to ask questions of the government and also to be able to pass other measures that will help Canadians. The reality is that Monday morning 338 members of parliament and the teams are supposed to be in Ottawa. They are expected to be in Ottawa then so that parliament can reconvene. Obviously that would not be a good idea in the current context. Now we have made proposals to ensure that we can get work done and keep our democracy working and healthy, while also keeping people safe. and we really hope that the other parties will agree with these proposals because I do think it would be a terrible problem if we all had to return to parliament on Monday. [end of translation].

Question:

Many people on social distance programs are surviving on less than people who are getting the CERB. Many marginalized Canadians will simply never be able to access the CERB as it is structured. Rather than continue to tweak it, why not just make the CERB universal?

Answer:

We moved very quickly on replacing income for people who lost a paycheque because of COVID-19. These are families who were relying on that next paycheque to be able to pay for rent, to be able to pay for groceries, to be able to support their children and their parents. This was the absolute priority that we needed to move forward quickly on. With the moves that we were able to make, over 7.5 million payments have been made already and there are obviously many more to come. At the same time, we recognize the particular vulnerability of marginalized communities of particular groups. That’s why we have put forward significant measures to try to help them, whether it’s through shelters and support for charities and charitable organizations, or extending measures so people who work a very small amount of hours a month can still receive the CERB. These are kinds of things we’re looking at, and we’re continuing to move forward to get the help out to people we need to.

Thank you. We’ll take one more question on the phone.

Operator:

Christopher guilly, your line is open.

Question:

Good morning, Prime Minister. You’ve been holding regular calls with the ministers, but why have you not reached out to the opposition in a similar way particularly when you’re governing in a minority government?

Answer:

We have been in close and ongoing conversations with opposition leaders, both me directly and mostly through ministers and officials and regular briefings happen from health Canada and officials to keep people apprised of these issues. You’re absolutely right. We do need to keep our institutions and our parliamentary institutions strong, which is why we’ve proposed parliament could come back in a modified way every single way to ensure accountability, to ensure we can move forward on legislation. That’s what we’re very much hoping we’re going to get agreement on from all parties. The alternative would be returning to Ottawa on Monday morning with a full house of commons and all the staff associated with. I think we can all recognize that that would be a mistake at this point.

a follow up.

Question:

Some of the changes your government has made to the Canada emergency response benefit for workers, the wage subsidy initiative for businesses, and the recent revisions regarding emergency loans and commercial rent assistance for small businesses were proposed by the opposition parties. So do you now think that looping in the leaders could save valuable time and get programs and money out the door sooner?

Answer:

We have been looping in leaders and opposition leaders from the very beginning. Indeed, the proposals on expanding, on filling gaps have come from M.P.s of all parties, including many, many liberal M.P.s who have been passing the message through. We know that Canadians are working together in unprecedented ways to fill gaps and to respond to these challenges. It is wonderful, quite frankly, to see so many suggestions coming forward. Many of them that make it into tweaks and improvements and changes to programs that are designed to help as many Canadians as possible. It is a great sign of collaboration and of solidarity, of Canadians working together onleaning on each other, on being there for each other, just like we’re seeing outside the political world as well.

Question:

Today you said small business owners are at the heart of so many communities, but small businesses are terrified at the possibility of getting out of this and having enormous debt piled on in the form of rent deferrals and loans. The fear is they will run out of money a year down the road. Have you considered financial aid that would not have to be repaid or discuss rent forgiveness or control with the provinces?

Answer:

We have discussed the issue of commercial rent with the provinces. I had a good conversation with them on Thursday evening where this came up. We are looking at it very, very closely. We have a number of proposals that are working their way through the system, talking to various industry groups and renters’ associations, as well as looking at the provinces. The provinces have jurisdictions over rents and the relationship between landlords and tenants. We need to work with them, which is what we are doing. We recognize there are very different realities and systems right across the country, but we also have heard very, very clearly from small business owners that the wage subsidy is helpful, but fixed costs are a real concern. That is something that we’re going to have more to say on soon.

Question:

Ian wood CTV news. Prime Minister, British Columbia has seen some success flattening the curve and has indicated it may look at loosening restrictions. You’ve said it is too soon and provinces like Ontario and quÉbec are still in the thick ofit. Are you concerned the difference in messaging will enable people to disregard what is in place now? are you going to allow the provinces make the decision on re-opening or will the federal government need to give the green light?

Answer:

I think Canadians understand what we are doing now has been tough but is essential in getting through this in the best-possible way. Canadians are really worried if we reopen too quickly or too soon or in the wrong way, we could find ourselves back in this situation a couple of months from now. Everything we will have sacrificed during these months will have been for naught. We are being very, very careful how we are moving forward as a country. I have spoken extensively with the premiers about this issue, and everyone recognizes how cautious and careful and vigilant we need to be. There is a real desire to ensurewe are coordinating our messages, our guidelines, the principles that will underline how we move forward. But of course the situation is very different right across the country from one region to the next. The measures they will be able to move forward with at different moments will vary as well. That’s going to be an important part of the recovery here. We need to make sure we are working together, as we have been in an unprecedented way between premiers and the federalgovernment and municipalities and various other communities, to make sure that we’re doing the right kinds of things and that we’re sending the right messages to Canadians every stepof the way. The message remains we have to be extremely careful to do this the right way in a coordinated and collaborative way.

Question:

The Canadian meat industry is saying it is facing a crisis as processing plants have to slow or slow production because of COVID-19. The Canadian federation of agriculture said that your government needs to prioritize food production so we don’t haveshortages. We’ve heard the government is considering all options, but what are they so that Canadians can feel confident that they’ll be able to buy meat and food in the coming months?

Answer:

I think ensuring the continued flow of groceries and our food supply chains is a priority, but so is arresting the spread of COVID-19. So is ensuring that workers in all industries across the country can remain safe. Getting that balance right requires us all to step up very carefully because we need to make sure that, yes, we are continuing the flow of great Canadian food to people. Indeed, we need to ensure that we have as much domestic food security and stability as we possibly can. That means taking advantage of the summer months coming up and the growing and the planting season now. At the same time, we have to make sure we are doing things that are keeping farmers, agricultural workers, producers, and transformers safe. That is what we’re very, very much attentive to now.

Question:

Ashley Burke, CBC news. Harvard researchers have suggested that there needs to beat least 500, 000 tests being done a day in the United States in order to safely reopen the economy. What is the specific number of tests that Canada needs to hit daily to safely ease up restrictions here?

Answer:

I think every day we are working on new technologies, on better coordination, on accelerating the pace of testing. It has been somewhat uneven across the country. There are places that have done very, very well. There are some places that have faced challenges that they are busy overcoming. We are confident we are going to significantly ramp up testing. All the premiers recognize that extensive testing is an essential part of any plan to loosen the controls on people and start reopening or restarting the economy. This is something that the federal government is very much engaged in with the provinces, ensuring there are enough tests, there are enough swabs, there are enough reagents. These are the kinds of things that we are all working on together. We know we have to do much more than we are now and we are tracking towards doing that.

Question:

Many of the cases in Canada have come from the United States you said the border agreement is going to stay in place. If the United States loosens restrictions in the next few weeks, what kind of health threat does that pose to Canadians?

Answer:

We have the border restrictions in place where non-essential travel across the border will not be permitted. We will take the measures necessary to keep Canadians safewhile ensuring the flow of our essential supply chains on whichso many Canadians depend. [voice of interpreter] we will continue to be very vigilant about our borders and travelling coming from abroad and we will continueas well to work with the americans to ensure our own safety by maintaining the current measures at the border. At every step of the way, we will do what is necessary to protect Canadians and ensure that our supply chains remain open. [end of translation].

Question:

Prime Minister, I’mwondering if you can tell us what the impact on Canada’s stockpiles has been for P.P.E. When the government closed so many of its warehouses across the country.

Answer:

Over the past weeks we’ve been focused on deliveringP.P.E. To the provinces, on delivering the necessary equipment to ensure that our frontline workers who are putting their lives forward to keep Canadians safe are properlyprotected. The efforts continue. I mentioned two plane loads coming in over this weekend. More coming in over the coming days. We are confident that we are in a good place around P.P.E., and we’ll only get more as more and more canadian producers and suppliers come online. It has been something extraordinary to see, the level to which canadian manufacturers have been stepping up to get involved. We are in a much better place than we were a number of weeks ago. Of course there is a need for continued vigilance and there will of course be many lessons learned on how Canada can be better prepared for any future outbreaks than we were this time.

Question:

[voice of interpreter] radio-Canada. Good morning, Mr. Trudeau. I have a rather simple question. Why are we extending the closureof the border with the United States? is it because you are concerned that president trump may want tolift the current measures or do you think that they’re not able to properly manage the pandemic? what is the reason?

Answer:

Well, we closed our borders to international travellers many weeks ago. That included people from every country in the world. We took a few days more to do that with the United States because we needed to ensure that this could be done in a coordinated manner that would allow us to keep our supply chains open. We wanted to do it in cooperation with our closest partner and ally. So these measures were absolutely critical in order to protect Canadians and limit the spread of the virus. We will keep them in place in relation to the United States and all the other countries around the globe for many, many weeks to come. [end of translation] we made the decision a number of weeks ago to close our borders to international travellers. We recognized that this was a significant measure but was an important one in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19 from coming in from overseas. It has contributed to why we are now in many parts of the country talking about seeing a flattening of the curve, which is good news. We agreed with the united states in those measures because these are measures we put in place around the world. We did take a couple more days to ensure that we were properly coordinated with our closest neighbour and most-important trading partner. That was effective in it being amutually agreed upon and coordinated measure. We will continue those measures, both with the United States and the world, for what is undoubtedly going to be many more weeks.

Question:

[voice of interpreter] with respect to the negotiations with the opposition about parliament, why has there not been any agreement yet? you’re able to agree with the United States. What is blocking the agreement? can you not put some water in your wine?

Answer:

Well, we are dealing with a situation where a number of members of the various parties agree that we should move forward with measures that will require or lead to a limited parliament every week, but there are also others that want a parliament to be sitting four or five days a week. I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. It’s not the right balance. We are pursuing those discussions now. [end of translation] many parties, opposition parties, are in agreement that limited sittings every week are a good measure to both ensure accountability and continue the work that we’re needing to do to pass legislation for Canadians. We are of course looking forward to being able to see more virtual parliamentary sittings that will allow M.P.s from all around the country, not just thenational capital region, being able to party. There is still one party that wants more than I think is wise at this point in time in terms of a public safety approach and in ensuring we are getting that balance right in moving forward for protecting our institutions, but we’re hopeful we will get toa good place soon.