CanadaApr 02, 2020
Trudeau calls first ministers meeting on COVID-19, promises better data soon
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will soon be able to give Canadians a better sense of the impact COVID-19 is going to have on this country but he isn't able to do it yet.As countries like New Zealand and the United States project the numbers of people in their countries who might die from COVID-19, Canada has thus far refused to release any of the modelling done with the data here.Trudeau says he knows Canadians want to be able to plan and see what is working and what is not and promises that information will be ready soon.Trudeau says he is chairing a first-ministers meeting with premie
WorldApr 02, 2020
Ill-fated cruise ships awaiting approval to dock in Florida
Two cruise ships experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak are waiting to learn when they'll be allowed to dock at a Florida port.About 250 Canadians are on board the M-S Zaandam and M-S Rotterdam.Holland America says it has received approval from a health system in Fort Lauderdale to treat fewer than 10 people ``who need immediate critical care.''It says guests have been self-isolating in their rooms since March 22nd.
CanadaApr 01, 2020
Bill Morneau: Subsidies for large and small businesses will cost about $71 billion
Finance Minister Bill Morneau says wage subsidies for large and small businesses will cost about $71 billion.
The program is expected to offset the cost of emergency benefits for workers, and reduce spending on those benefits to $24 billion.
The wage subsidy will be available to large and small businesses who have lost significant revenue due to COVID-19.
Morneau has encouraged businesses to rehire employees they may have laid off in the wake of COVID-19, and says the wage subsidy will be available in six weeks.
CanadaApr 01, 2020
Liberals must provide clarity, not more confusion on wage subsidy: Scheer
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says confusion over who is eligible for the government's promised wage subsidy must be cleared up.
Scheer says the legislation as written and hastily passed by Parliament last week doesn't jibe with the Liberals' pledge.
The government has said that all companies will get 75 per cent of salaries covered, if they've lost 30 percent of their revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That's a departure from the original plan to cover just 10 per cent of salaries for small businesses.
Scheer says his party is ready to return to Parliament to amend the law if needed bu
WorldApr 01, 2020
White House projects 100K to 240K US deaths from virus
U.S. officials are warning COVID-19 could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans, even with social distancing measures.
Experts made the prediction at a media briefing yesterday with President Donald Trump, who warned that the country is heading for ``a very tough two weeks.''
Trump has extended social distancing guidelines through April 30th.
New York is the deadliest hot spot in the U.S. with more than 15,000 deaths state wide, most of them in New York City.
CanadaMar 31, 2020
Ottawa allocating $2B to buy medical equipment
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is moving forward with the private sector on agreements to purchase equipment for the response to COVID-19. He says production of ventilators, masks and test kits is now underway.One company, Thornhill Medical, says it is making 500 ventilators and hopes to have them ready within weeks.Trudeau says the government has signed letters of intent with five other firms to bolster the national stockpiles of badly needed equipment.The government is also allocating $2 billion to purchase personal protective equipment for health care professionals.
CanadaMar 31, 2020
Air Canada temporarily laying off more than 15,000 unionized workers
COVID-19 has caused thousands of temporary layoffs, and massive flight cancellations at Air Canada.
The carrier will temporarily lay off more than 15-thousand unionized workers beginning this week. It will also cut between 85 per cent and 90 per cent of its flights.
The layoffs will continue through April and May.
The two-month furloughs will also affect about one-third of management and administrative and support staff.
WorldMar 30, 2020
Tokyo Olympics rescheduled for July 23 - Aug 8 in 2021
The Tokyo Olympics will open next year in July, the same slot scheduled for this year's games.
Tokyo organizers say the opening ceremony will take place July 23, 2021.
That is almost exactly one year after the games were due to start this year.
The IOC and Japanese organizers last week postponed the Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The rescheduled Olympics will start July 23, with the closing ceremony on Aug 8. The Paralympics were rescheduled to Aug 24-Sept 5.
CanadaMar 29, 2020
Sofi and kids now at Harrington Lake, Justin Trudeau remains in self isolation
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is remaining in self-isolation at his home in Ottawa for close to two more weeks to ensure he does not have COVID-19.
His wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau tweeted news of her recovery from the respiratory illness Saturday, but Trudeau says public health advice is that he remain in isolation for two weeks following her recovery.
Trudeau, who first went into self-isolation on March 13 after Gregoire Trudeau was diagnosed with the illness, says there is still a chance he has the illness, and he is following the lead of many Canadians now working at home.
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