Parliament will reconvene for a one-time meeting to pass emergency economic measures to support Canadians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says.
Speaking to media from ongoing self-isolation as his wife recovers from the coronavirus, Trudeau said the special cabinet committee on COVID-19 met Tuesday to discuss Canada’s response, ahead of a planned full cabinet meeting. Parliament has otherwise been suspended until at least April 20.
“We are hard at work to create the right support package for Canadians while protecting people's jobs and our economy,” he said.
“Tomorrow we will be making another major announcement on economic actions to support Canadians as quickly as possible, and by the end of the week we will have more to say about changes for the upcoming tax season.”
These tax measures include more flexibility in payments and more liquidity for businesses.
Trudeau has been hinting at these financial measures, especially measures aimed at Canada’s most vulnerable, since late last week.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland elaborated slightly about the upcoming measures during Tuesday’s COVID-19 daily news conference.
“I want to assure Canadians that the federal government will do what it takes to help us through this crisis and to ensure that Canadian workers and Canadian businesses are in a position to come roaring back.”
- Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland
“Canada needs to do more and we will. You will hear very soon from (Finance) Minister Morneau about a strong further set of actions we will take,” she said. “I want to assure Canadians that the federal government will do what it takes to help us through this crisis and to ensure that Canadian workers and Canadian businesses are in a position to come roaring back.”
Last week, the government announced a $1-billion response package to assist provinces, communities and the medical community, several EI measures aimed at providing help to workers who have been laid off or had hours cut, and $10 billion in available credit through the Business Development Bank and Export Development Canada to businesses affected by COVID-19.
The government has also announced that Canadians abroad will be eligible for a loan of up to $5,000 via Global Affairs to assist them in returning to Canada, or to help them with immediate expenses while they wait to come home.
As for how the federal government will pay for all this, Trudeau said it has made responsible fiscal decisions over the past few years that have allowed the government “significant room” to manoeuvre on boosting the economy.
“We are the G7 country with the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio, the lowest debt as a proportion of the size of our economy, and that allows us to invest significantly in Canadians and businesses to make sure we are able to make it through this difficult time,” he said.
Emergencies Act considered
Trudeau also said the government is examining the Emergencies Act to see if any additional tools could be invoked to help Canadians that cannot be accessed via other means.
Expanding on that, Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos said the Emergencies Act is a last-resort measure that grants the government exceptional powers in the face of a crisis — for example, restrictions on travel, evacuations and the provision of essential goods and services.
He said it could only be accessed with agreement from the provinces and territories — “Cabinet ministers engaging with counterparts to see if this is an avenue that will make us even more effective in working with (the provinces) and supporting their important work in the context of this crisis,” he said.
On Monday, that federal government announced that, as of Wednesday, Canada's borders would be closed to everyone except Canadian citizens and permanent residents and their immediate families. U.S. citizens, however, are notably exempt.
Airline operators have also been directed to screen anyone coming to Canada for symptoms of COVID-19, and anyone who is sick will not be able to return until they are better.
As of Tuesday, afternoon, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said there were more than 180,000 cases of COVID-19 identified in 160 countries, including more than 440 in Canada. There have been four deaths associated with the virus in Canada. Canada has tested more than 37,000 people for COVID-19 to date.
While most cases continue to be among travellers and close contacts, Tam said, the most concerning cases are three reported in Ontario that had no link to travel outside of Canada.
“These cases are currently being investigated as community transmission,” she said.
That’s why officials are continuing to urge Canadians to stay home, for public events and gatherings to be cancelled, and for anyone who must go out for essentials to wash their hands and keep a safe distance from others, Tam said.
Many provinces have ordered the closure of non-essential businesses such as bars, restaurants, community centres, gyms and retail stores, and on Tuesday both Alberta and Ontario declared a state of emergency.
