EnglishApr 06, 2020
Brian Pallister: Unanimous support from other premiers for a federal credit agency to help provinces
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he has received unanimous support from other premiers for a federal credit agency to help provinces deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Pallister says the premiers have written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for financial help. The premier says he wants Ottawa to borrow on behalf of the provinces because the federal government gets a lower interest rate.
CanadaApr 06, 2020
Changes to emergency-relief program coming to expand eligibility : Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says 240,000 people successfully applied for emergency relief in the first few hours after Ottawa opened the process.Only people with birthdays in the first three months of the year can apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit today.The benefit offers $500-a-week payments for workers who have lost all of their income.Trudeau says changes to the program will come soon to offer help for people whose hours have been slashed but who are still working a little.
CanadaApr 06, 2020
Ferries, commercial vessels told to reduce passenger numbers to avoid COVID-19
Commercial vessels and passenger ferries face more restrictions in a government effort to clamp down on the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Transport Canada has ordered a stop on all non-essential vessels with a capacity of 12 or more passengers, such as recreation and tourism vessels.
BC Ferries and other essential vessel operators have been told to immediately cut in half the maximum number of passengers carried on their ships.
Over the weekend, BC ferries chopped its service after it said ridership was down by about 80 per cent.
EnglishApr 06, 2020
Employees at two Metro Vancouver grocery stores test positive for COVID-19
Sobeys says employees at two of its Metro Vancouver stores have tested positive for COVID-19.The company says a pharmacy employee at the Safeway in King Edward Mall in Vancouver tested positive on March 31st, the last day that person worked.An employee at FreshCo at three-road and Williams in Richmond also tested positive on March 28th, and the last day that person worked was March 26th.Sobeys says when each case is reported, it deep cleans and sanitizes the store location.
EnglishApr 05, 2020
Queen Elizabeth II makes rare public speech in response to COVID-19 pandemic
Queen Elizabeth II addressed Britain, the Commonwealth and the world in a statement issued today, calling for unity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Promising ``we will meet again,'' the Queen thanked front-line workers fighting the global pandemic and encouraged people to stay home. Although the Queen addresses the Commonwealth every Christmas morning, it's only the fifth time in her 68-year reign that she has spoken specifically to rally Britons. The statement, which was under five minutes, was recorded Thursday at Windsor Castle, the Queen's main residence.
EnglishApr 05, 2020
Dr. Theresa Tam: Hospitals should not throw away used masks and other protective equipment, experts working if these can be disinfected and reused
Canada's public health chief says hospitals should not throw away used masks and other protective equipment because experts are looking to see if they can be disinfected and reused. Dr. Theresa Tam says protecting health care workers is one of her top priorities in the COVID-19 pandemic. She says there is work underway looking for the best science that can be used to decontaminate used masks and other equipment.
EnglishApr 05, 2020
Number of COVID-19 positive cases go past 4,000 in Ontario, number of deaths rise to 119
Another 25 people in Ontario have died after testing positive for COVID-19, bringing the provincial death toll for the virus to 119. The fatalities come as the overall known caseload jumped past the 4,000 mark with more than 400 new ones reported. More than 150 people were on ventilators. More than three dozen outbreaks have been reported in nursing homes across the province. The frail elderly are at particular risk for coronavirus, which can produce no or mild symptoms, but can also cause lethal pneumonia.
EnglishApr 05, 2020
PM Trudeau has announced details for a cash payment for Canadians out of work because of the COVID-19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced details for a cash payment for Canadians out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be accepted starting Monday, offering Canadians who have lost their jobs because of the crisis $2,000 a month. Trudeau says it will take three to five days for the money to arrive by direct deposit or 10 days by mail.
EnglishApr 05, 2020
Quebec Premier extending the closure of non-essential businesses in the province to May 4
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is extending the closure of non-essential businesses in the province to May 4. Legault says COVID-19 is still on an upward slope in Quebec and it would be unrealistic to keep to the original April 13 end date. The premier announced there were 19 new deaths in Quebec, for a total of 94, and 947 new cases for a total of 7,944. He says he hopes the number of new cases in the province will peak in the coming weeks.