Canada’s prime minister says he doesn’t believe a second nationwide lockdown is imminent in light of an increase in COVID-19 cases across Canada in recent weeks.
Justin Trudeau told Global News he believes, now that the general public knows more about the need for masks and social distancing amid the pandemic, that some “targeted lockdowns’ maybe all that is required to avoid countrywide closures.
“There’s no question that the second wave is really frustrating and painful,” Trudeau said. “But we have more tools now. We know how targeted lockdowns make a difference. We know what areas are most vulnerable to spread.”
On Monday Canada recorded 1,742 news cases of the novel coronavirus, with Quebec accounting for 1,038 news cases and six new deaths while Ontario reported 704 with four more deaths.
The agency says more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in Canada have been in long-term care (LTC) homes and retirement homes.
Since April the federal government has been sending support to the provinces, which regulate care homes, in the form of direct aid from Canada’s Armed Forces and the Red Cross – funded in part by a federal investment of up to $100 million announced in May.
However, after leaving the care homes in August, the Armed Forces reported problems with inexperienced staff struggling with feeding and residents crying for help for hours.
Seven of the biggest problem spots were in Ontario at homes in Pickering, Toronto, Brampton and Woodbridge.
0:49 NDP backs down on requesting WE Charity docs regarding Trudeau’s family members after filibuster
NDP backs down on requesting WE Charity docs regarding Trudeau’s family members after filibuster
Trudeau says that since enlisting the military, both Ottawa and the provinces recognize that long-term care homes are the most vulnerable communities and that work needs to be done to protect those populations.
“You shouldn’t have to want to move to a different province to make sure that you can care for your loved ones, or yourself be confident about going into a care facility,” Trudeau said.
“I think there is a need to be able to set a level playing field across the country where every Canadian can have confidence that when they plan going into a care facility or send a parent into a care facility, they know that they’re going to be well taken care of and safe.”
The PM admits there has been some friction between him and the premiers amid the pandemic, particularly with a demand in more health-care funding, but says the level of co-operation has been “unbelievably positive.”
“We’re all pulling in the same direction. We all want the same things. Of course, it’s going to be mild disagreements, but we all agree on the need to keep Canadians safe,” Trudeau said.
Border with United States to remain closed
On Monday, Canada maintained its border restrictions with the United States until at least the end of November amid spikes in coronavirus cases in both countries.
Story continues below advertisement
The U.S. recorded another 170,000 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend with just under 2,000 deaths to bring the total number of deaths during the pandemic to 220,000.
The border measures, first imposed in March, were due to expire on Oct. 21. The partial closure restricts commercial traffic and other travel, like tourism or shopping, between the two countries. The ban does not cover trade or travel by air.
Trudeau says he understands that businesses would like to get American tourists back and have family members come back and forth freely, but says it can’t be done unless Canadians can be kept safe.
“Right now, the situation, the United States continues to be of concern. So we’re going to make sure we’re keeping Canadians safe as best as we can,” said Trudeau.
“Canadians can be deeply reassured to know that various orders of government are always going to work together to keep them safe, unlike some other places we see around the world.”
In August, Statistics Canada said the border closure played a part in Canada’s economy suffering its worst second quarter on record before a rebound in May and June.
Story continues below advertisement
A loss in tourism and plant shutdowns accounted for a drop in exports by 18.4 per cent and a loss of 23 per cent in imports during the quarter.
Despite the hit, Trudeau believes the border closure was worth it to keep residents safe.
“We can’t talk about recovering our economy until we have this virus under control. And actually controlling the virus is the best way to help our economy grow.”
OTTAWA – The New Democrats confirmed Thursday they won’t help Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives topple the government next week, and intend to join the Bloc Québécois in blocking the Tories’ non-confidence motion.
The planned votes from the Bloc and the New Democrats eliminate the possibility of a snap election, buying the Liberals more time to govern after a raucous start to the fall sitting of Parliament.
Poilievre issued a challenge to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh earlier this week when he announced he will put forward a motion that simply states that the House has no confidence in the government or the prime minister.
If it were to pass, it would likely mean Canadians would be heading to the polls, but Singh said Thursday he’s not going to let Poilievre tell him what to do.
Voting against the Conservative motion doesn’t mean the NDP support the Liberals, said Singh, who pulled out of his political pact with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a few weeks ago.
“I stand by my words, Trudeau has let you down,” Singh said in the foyer outside of the House of Commons Thursday.
“Trudeau has let you down and does not deserve another chance.”
Canadians will have to make that choice at the ballot box, Singh said, but he will make a decision about whether to help trigger that election on a vote-by-vote basis in the House.
The Conservatives mocked the NDP during Question Period for saying they had “ripped up” the deal to support the Liberals, despite plans to vote to keep them in power.
Poilievre accused Singh of pretending to pull out of the deal to sway voters in a federal byelection in Winnipeg, where the NDP was defending its long-held seat against the Conservatives.
“Once the votes were counted, he betrayed them again. He’s a fake, a phoney and fraud. How can anyone ever believe what the sellout NDP leader says in the future?” Poilievre said during Question Period Thursday afternoon.
At some point after those comments, Singh stepped out from behind his desk in the House and a two-minute shouting match ensued between the two leaders and their MPs before the Speaker intervened.
Outside the House, Poilievre said he plans to put forward another non-confidence motion at the next opportunity.
“We want a carbon-tax election as soon as possible, so that we can axe Trudeau’s tax before he quadruples it to 61 cents a litre,” he said.
Liberal House leader Karina Gould says there is much work the government still needs to do, and that Singh has realized the consequences of potentially bringing down the government. She refused to take questions about whether her government will negotiate with opposition parties to ensure their support in future confidence motions.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet hasn’t ruled out voting no-confidence in the government the next time a motion is tabled.
“I never support Liberals. Help me God, I go against the Conservatives on a vote that is only about Pierre Poilievre and his huge ambition for himself,” Blanchet said Thursday.
“I support the interests of Quebecers, if those interests are also good for Canadians.”
A Bloc bill to increase pension cheques for seniors aged 65 to 74 is now at “the very centre of the survival of this government,” he said.
The Bloc needs a recommendation from a government minister to OK the cost and get the bill through the House.
The Bloc also wants to see more protections for supply management in the food sector in Canada and Quebec.
If the Liberals can’t deliver on those two things, they will fall, Blanchet said.
“This is what we call power,” he said.
Treasury Board President Anita Anand wouldn’t say whether the government would be willing to swallow the financial implications of the Bloc’s demands.
“We are focused at Treasury Board on ensuring prudent fiscal management,” she said Thursday.
“And at this time, our immediate focus is implementing the measures in budget 2024 that were announced earlier this year.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – Treasury Board President Anita Anand has been sworn in as federal transport minister at a ceremony at Rideau Hall, taking over a portfolio left vacant after Pablo Rodriguez resigned from cabinet and the Liberal caucus on Thursday.
Anand thanked Rodriguez for his contributions to the government and the country, saying she’s grateful for his guidance and friendship.
She sidestepped a question about the message it sends to have him leave the federal Liberal fold.
“That is a decision that he made independently, and I wish him well,” she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not present for the swearing-in ceremony, nor were any other members of the Liberal government.
The shakeup in cabinet comes just days after the Liberals lost a key seat in a Montreal byelection to the Bloc Québécois and amid renewed calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down and make way for a new leader.
Anand said she is not actively seeking leadership of the party, saying she is focused on her roles as minister and as MP.
“My view is that we are a team, and we are a team that has to keep delivering for our country,” she said.
The minority Liberal government is in a more challenging position in the House of Commons after the NDP ended a supply-and-confidence deal that provided parliamentary stability for more than two years.
Non-confidence votes are guaranteed to come from the Opposition Conservatives, who are eager to bring the government down.
On Thursday morning, Rodriguez made a symbolic walk over the Alexandra Bridge from Parliament Hill to Gatineau, Que., where he formally announced his plans to run for the Quebec Liberal party leadership.
He said he will now sit as an Independent member of Parliament, which will allow him to focus on his own priorities.
“I was defending the priorities of the government, and I did it in a very loyal way,” he said.
“It’s normal and it’s what I had to do. But now it’s more about my vision, the vision of the team that I’m building.”
Rodriguez said he will stay on as an MP until the Quebec Liberal leadership campaign officially launches in January.
He said that will “avoid a costly byelection a few weeks, or months, before a general election.”
The next federal election must be held by October 2025.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he will try to topple the government sooner than that, beginning with a non-confidence motion that is set to be debated Sept. 24 and voted on Sept. 25.
Poilievre has called on the NDP and the Bloc Québécois to support him, but both Jagmeet Singh and Yves-François Blanchet have said they will not support the Conservatives.
Rodriguez said he doesn’t want a federal election right away and will vote against the non-confidence motion.
As for how he would vote on other matters before the House of Commons, “it would depend on the votes.”
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos will become the government’s new Quebec lieutenant, a non-cabinet role Rodriguez held since 2019.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
— With files from Nojoud Al Mallees and Dylan Robertson
