Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Morneau Says Ottawa Will Announce Support For Those Quarantined Due To COVID-19

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Mar, 2020 08:06 PM

    TORONTO - The federal government is preparing to undertake measures designed to protect Canadians and the country’s economy from the outbreak of a novel form of coronavirus.

     

    Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Friday that the federal government will soon announce support for Canadians who are quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus known as COVID-19.

     

    He also said the government will increase its risk adjustment provision in its forthcoming budget to ensure that it is ready and able to respond to COVID-19, which has caused dramatic drops in the stock market and has sickened dozens of Canadians and hundreds of thousands more globally.

     

    Morneau, however, would not say how much he is willing to increase the risk adjustment.

     

    "It’s important to keep in mind that what this will mean for the Canadian economy ultimately depends on the depth and geographical spread of the virus and these things cannot be known, until they are known," he said in a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto.

     

    "Our government is planning for every contingency."

     

    While oil prices have dropped and many Canadians have seen their travel plans upended by the virus, Morneau said it is too early to predict all of the industries that may be affected.

     

    Given the uncertainty, the government will continue to monitor the impact and Morneau promises it has the tools to respond swiftly.

     

    Asked following his speech what those tools are, Morneau would only say: "We have the capacity to both help businesses if they go through challenges, if that happens, or individuals if they find themselves either having to be away from work for a short period of time or a longer period of time."

     

    Morneau said he has been in touch with his international counterparts to decide how to address the outbreak.

     

    At a G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, he said he talked about the need to enhance global risk monitoring and on Tuesday he discussed with his G7 counterparts "the potential for greater collaboration and co-ordination."

     

    The Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate target by half a percentage point on Wednesday in hopes of helping the country's economy cope with the impact of COVID-19. The move followed a decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut its key interest rate by the same amount on Tuesday.

     

    Morneau also used his speech to address blockades in February that resulted in cancelled train service and temporary layoffs as demonstrators across the country tried to stop construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in B.C. that's opposed by Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.

     

    Demonstrators blocked rail lines in B.C., Ontario and Quebec for weeks as critics called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step in and stop the protesting with immediate police force. Trudeau instead opted to allow his ministers to engage in discussions with demonstrators to resolve their concerns.

     

    "From the very beginning, we knew that we could not cut corners and that dialogue, no matter how difficult, was the path we had to follow," Morneau said.

     

    "While many were critical, our approach has delivered results."

     

    Morneau said that he sees the issues around the blockades as being "largely resolved," but added, "will things happen again? I can't predict."

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Beyak Suspended Again From Senate Despite Apology For Posting Offensive Letters

    OTTAWA - The Senate has voted to suspend Sen. Lynn Beyak a second time over derogatory letters about Indigenous Peoples posted on her website.    

    Beyak Suspended Again From Senate Despite Apology For Posting Offensive Letters

    Vancouver Port CEO Warns Of Coronavirus Woes As China Trade Continues To Ebb

    VANCOUVER - The head of Canada’s largest port says the novel coronavirus is eating into trade following a year that saw cargo volumes dip.    

    Vancouver Port CEO Warns Of Coronavirus Woes As China Trade Continues To Ebb

    All Eyes On Wet'suwet'en Chiefs' Meeting With Federal, Provincial Ministers

    SMITHERS, B.C. - The hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation prepared to sit down with senior government ministers on Thursday after two of its longstanding conditions were met for the duration of the scheduled talks.    

    All Eyes On Wet'suwet'en Chiefs' Meeting With Federal, Provincial Ministers

    Surrey RCMP Looking To Identify Fleetwood Robbery Suspect

    Surrey RCMP is requesting assistance from the public to help identify a suspect in a robbery which occurred at a bank in the Fleetwood area.

    Surrey RCMP Looking To Identify Fleetwood Robbery Suspect

    Body Of Girl Found By Road In Quebec

    Body Of Girl Found By Road In Quebec
    Quebec provincial police are investigating after the body of a teenaged girl was found by the side of a road in Quebec's Laurentians region.

    Body Of Girl Found By Road In Quebec

    False Nuclear Alarm In Ontario Was Due To Human Error, Investigation Finds

    A false alarm about an incident at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station last month was the result of human error, but a delay in sending an all clear was due to several systemic issues, a report found Thursday.

    False Nuclear Alarm In Ontario Was Due To Human Error, Investigation Finds