Good Thursday morning,
After debating its merits during a recent cabinet meeting, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said on Wednesday the government is mandating that international travellers must now self-quarantine upon arrival. Arrangements are being made to provide accommodations and food to some of those affected. The new measures kicked in already, and appear to be in part a response to reports that many travellers are evading airport screening measures to board the plane by masking their symptoms.
Most international travellers are already being funnelled to four airports, including Pearson in Toronto and Trudeau in Montreal. Anyone defying the 14-day quarantine order could risk being penalized.
“So there is perfect clarity around the need to isolate when Canadians come back from abroad, whether it’s from the USA or other international destinations, we are implementing the Quarantine Act, so there is no confusion about the need to do so whether you are symptomatic or not,” Ms. Hajdu told reporters in a scrum.
Despite wrapping up his 14-day self-isolation after his wife tested positive, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to face reporters for his daily morning briefing at Rideau Cottage. He’s also scheduled to speak to G20 leaders over a conference call.
G7 foreign ministers, meanwhile, failed to issue a joint statement after their teleconference over the U.S. administration’s insistence on referring to COVID-19 as the “Wuhan virus.” The WHO guidelines specifically say the names of viruses should not be linked to its place of origin, as well as the animal that may have been the source of infection.
The Senate yesterday sped through the passage of Bill C-13, the feds’ now-$107-billion COVID-19 relief package, which includes $52-billion in direct aid, a move that seeks to ensure Canadians affected by the pandemic are able to see some financial relief. It’s up from the initial $82-billion package pitched last week, with the government now promising to give up to $2,000 in taxable benefits for up to four months for those who have lost their income. Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the aid will likely be delivered the week of April 6. Mr. Morneau also said the government is looking to get aid for the oil and gas sector out the door within “hours, possibly days.”
Though the government now has, to an extent, unfettered spending power to fund new measures to respond to COVID-19, it has agreed to hold weekly electronic meetings with the opposition to review its response. Mr. Morneau himself will also provide the House Finance Committee with biweekly updates on the spending authority granted under C-13.
Oversight on the government’s new authority to issue special warrants to keep operations and programs funded, meanwhile, will fall squarely on the auditor general, who has been mandated to conduct an audit and report its findings by June 2021.
Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault also announced the feds plan to spend $30-million for its COVID-19 awareness campaign, money that will also help newspapers and other media outlets struggling to maintain revenue amid a decline in ad sales thanks to the pandemic. The government also promised that it is working to implement the tax credits that it earmarked for some struggling outlets.
In other news, Liberal MP Kamal Khera, who re-registered as a nurse to join the effort to lessen the strain on the health-care system and to reduce wait times, said she has tested positive for COVID-19. Ms. Khera said that though she has been experiencing symptoms, she is in “good spirits.”
Four candidates have officially qualified to compete for the top job in the Conservative Party: presumptive front-runner Peter MacKay, Conservative MP Erin O’Toole, Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis, and Ontario MP Derek Sloan. The deadline to submit all the requisite fees and signatures was Wednesday.
The Hill Times
