Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Trudeau says military is short-term solution to caring for seniors

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Apr, 2020 07:17 PM
  • Trudeau says military is short-term solution to caring for seniors

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised the military will respond to provincial requests for assistance at long-term care facilities hit hard by COVID-19, but says the measure is a short-term solution and Canada should not "have soldiers taking care of seniors." Trudeau appeared visibly upset as he made the comments during his daily news conference on Thursday, one day after Quebec and Ontario formally requested hundreds of soldiers to bolster front-line care workers overwhelmed by outbreaks in dozens of facilities.

Speaking directly to people who work, live or have loved ones in such facilities, Trudeau said: "If you're angry, frustrated, scared, you're right to feel this way. We can do better. We need to do better. Because we are failing our parents, our grandparents, our elders."

The Canadian Armed Forces deployed 130 military personnel last week to help five long-term care facilities in Quebec, and military planners are now assessing what support they can offer in response to the new requests from Ontario and Quebec.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Wednesday that the province is asking for 1,000 more service members. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he has also asked for support for five long-term care homes that have been hit by COVID-19.

"Our women and men in uniform will step up with the valour and courage they have always shown," Trudeau said.

"But this is not a long-term solution. In Canada, we shouldn't have soldiers taking care of seniors. Going forward, in the weeks and months to come, we will all have to ask tough questions about how it came to this."

MORE National ARTICLES

Agriculture Sector Scrambling To Offset Consequences Of Covid-19 Crisis

Agriculture Sector Scrambling To Offset Consequences Of Covid-19 Crisis
CALGARY - Canada's agriculture sector is warning of higher prices and potential food shortages if it isn't designated an essential service and allowed to do business as usual during the COVID-19 crisis.

Agriculture Sector Scrambling To Offset Consequences Of Covid-19 Crisis

Freedom-of-information Requests Shunted To Sidelines During Virus Crisis

OTTAWA - As government agencies across Canada focus strained resources on protecting people from COVID-19, efforts to respond to freedom-of-information requests from the public are slowing or even stopping altogether.

Freedom-of-information Requests Shunted To Sidelines During Virus Crisis

Canada 'Forcefully' Opposed To U.S. Idea Of Posting Soldiers At Border: Freeland

WASHINGTON - Canada is "strongly opposed" to a proposal floated by the United States to post American soldiers near the border to intercept illegal migrants who could spread COVID-19, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday.    

Canada 'Forcefully' Opposed To U.S. Idea Of Posting Soldiers At Border: Freeland

Hockey Gear Manufacturer Bauer Gets Green Light To Make Visors For Medical Staff

Hockey Gear Manufacturer Bauer Gets Green Light To Make Visors For Medical Staff
MONTREAL - Canadian hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer says it has received government authorization to produce protective gear for medical staff and first responders.    

Hockey Gear Manufacturer Bauer Gets Green Light To Make Visors For Medical Staff

The Latest Numbers On Covid-19 In Canada

The latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 12:30 p.m. on March 26, 2020:    

The Latest Numbers On Covid-19 In Canada

Astronauts On Coping With Covid-19: Plenty Of Routine, Keep Sight Of Big Picture

MONTREAL - In David Saint-Jacques' line of work, physical distancing comes with the job.    

Astronauts On Coping With Covid-19: Plenty Of Routine, Keep Sight Of Big Picture