The Bank of Canada is cutting its overnight rate target by half a percentage point to 0.75 per cent in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last rate cut was last week, when it dropped from 1.75 per cent to 1.25 per cent. @bankofcanada has slashed overnight lending rate by another 50 basis points to 0.75%. @Bill_Morneau announces a stimulus package of $10b to support small businesses.#COVID2019 #economy— Connectfm915 (@connectfm915) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/connectfm9... 13, 2020 Meantime, Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the government is making 10-

Canada's Parliament has agreed to shut down for more than a month. The move comes while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is governing remotely from his home, in self imposed quarantine after his wife tested positive for the new corona virus. Friday's vote is meant to to help ensure lawmakers do not contribute to the spread of for virus. The moves a day after Trudeau's wife tested positive. The prime minister himself has been in selfimposed quarantine. All parties in Parliament agreed to the suspension, which means lawmakers will miss two weeks of sessions since they had previously planned to be a

The Prime Minister's Office says Sophie Gregoire Trudeau has tested positive for COVID-19. Following medical advice, the prime minister's wife is remaining in isolation for the time being. The PMO says she is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild. The PMO says the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in good health with no symptoms. As a precautionary measure and following the advice of doctors, he will be in isolation for a planned period of 14 days.

Alberta has four new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province's chief medical health officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, says the cases include a two year old who had travelled with family to Florida. The child, who is from the Calgary area, is expected to recover. Hinshaw is also recommending organizers cancel events in the province with more than 250 people, and that no one travel outside Canada. Alberta now has a total of 23 cases, all travel related.

All three major winter sport world championships scheduled for Canada this season have now been cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers have called off the world women's curling championship in Prince George, BC, which was scheduled to start Saturday. The world women's hockey championship in Nova Scotia was called off over the weekend and the world figure skating championships in Montreal were cancelled yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says she and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have agreed to stay in constant contact in regards to the fate of our shared border and any travel restrictions. Last night, U-S President Donald Trump announced any foreign nationals who recently spent time in Europe will not be allowed entry, in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Freeland says she stressed Canada's very strong public health care system, and measures being taken to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Saskatchewan has announced its first presumptive case of COVID-19 the same day as the Juno Awards were cancelled over concerns about the virus. Doctor Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer, says the individual is in their 60s and recently travelled to Egypt. Shahab says the person is in self-isolation at home and has had minimal contact with others. Saskatchewan Health officials want all travellers to watch for signs of a cough or fever for two weeks and start self-isolating if they experience any symptoms. So far at least 285 people have been tested for COVID-19.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says Canadians looking at whether to travel for March break should consider staying home. Speaking to reporters before question period in the House of Commons today, Hajdu said her advice to Canadians considering travel during school spring break is that they should consider a ``staycation.'' Canadians are being encouraged to continue to check travel advisories before leaving for any international trips.

A daycare in a downtown Calgary office tower has closed after a child tested positive for COVID-19.Suncor Energy spokeswoman Erin Rees says the Pump-Kin Patch Child Care Centre is closed until March 23.She says families of children there have been told to self-quarantine until March 20.Suncor doesn't operate the daycare but the centre is located in Suncor's office building, and Rees says many employees have children that attend.She says the company is responding to the pandemic by cleaning more often, restricting business travel to high-risk areas and preparing for remote working.As of Wednesd