A summary of the day's activities of Monday, August 24, follows.
Federal Government Relief Measures
There were no new funding announcements today.
Statement of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Trudeau did not hold a press conference today.
Federal Government Briefing
Federal Ministers and public health officials did not hold their regularly scheduled press conference today.
Last Monday we witnessed the abrupt resignation of Bill Morneau as Minister of Finance and MP for Toronto-Centre. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Trudeau appointed Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as Minister of Finance and veteran Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, a post he previously held before stepping back in early 2019 for medical treatment.
The Prime Minister also prorogued the House of Commons to give the government the opportunity to present a Speech from the Throne on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. The Prime Minister said the government was in need of a “major reset” because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Speech from the Throne will present the government's detailed vision for the future, and will provide the opportunity for a vote of confidence on this new plan.
On Thursday, Chrystia Freeland and Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced a $37 billion income support program, which includes new measures to replace the Canada Emergency Support Benefit (CERB) and changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program, as one the flagship initiatives of the government's recovery plan.
As well, after a long Sunday evening marred by technical issues that delayed the tabulation of votes, Erin O'Toole Conservative MP for Durham, Ontario became the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada in the early hours of this morning after securing the victory on the third ballot following a months-long leadership campaign. Erin O'Toole defeated Peter MacKay, clinching 57 per cent of party support, after picking up down-ballot support from Ms. Leslyn Lewis and MP Derek Sloan supporters.
While Erin O'Toole did not give media interviews today, he did spell out his vision for the future and the direction of the party in his victory speech. He emphasized that party unity is a priority. He also served notice to the Prime Minister that “more than 260,000 passionate Conservatives have already shown in this record breaking leadership amidst a pandemic – the Conservative Party will be ready for the next election. And we will win the next election.”
Spelling out how the Conservative Party plans to be an effective Official Opposition, Erin O'Toole said the path to defeating Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the next election, which could be called in a month's time, includes continuing to “point out Liberal failings and corruption” but also showing “Canadians our vision for a stronger, prosperous and more united Canada.”
He added that Canada needs “serious leadership for these challenging times.” To rebuild the economy while protecting Canadians from the ongoing threat of COVID-19, Erin O'Toole said Canada needs a leader with “real-world experience” and is someone who is not afraid to make tough decisions.
“Canada can -- and must -- do better and Conservatives will work hard to earn the trust and confidence of Canadians in the next election,” Erin O'Toole said.
Read the transcript of Erin O'Toole's victory speech here.
Statement of Ontario Premier Doug Ford
At a news conference at Queen's Park, Ontario Premier Doug Ford provided an update on the government's $307 million anti-human trafficking strategy released in March 2020. Attorney General Doug Downey, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues Jill Dunlop and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce joined the Premier.
Premier Ford announced that the government was strengthening support for human trafficking victims and survivors as part of the government's comprehensive anti-human trafficking strategy by providing $7.65 million over five years to provide them with crisis intervention services and help to rebuild their lives.
The Premier's question and answer session with journalists covered several issues.
Premier Ford said he was not frustrated by the decision of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to delay the start of the school year by a week to September 15. Local public health authorities recommended the delay. He wants the best for the children and the best for educators. Minister Lecce reinforced that sentiment, saying that at the “end of day, we need to get it right to ensure a positive start in September.”
Premier Ford also said he was “very” confident with reopening of schools in September with the province's current COVID numbers. He reiterated that Ontario has the best back to school plan in the country. He specified that 75 percent of the 105 cases reported today are concentrated in isolated pockets in three areas of the province: Ottawa, Toronto and Peel Region.
Premier Ford is aware that Alberta will begin testing asymptomatic people in Shoppers Drug Mart locations next month. He confirmed that the government is also looking into this matter. Premier Ford gave his “shout out” to Galen Weston, saying he has been “very cooperative on this issue, helping in any way he can.”
Premier Ford congratulated Erin O'Toole on his victory as the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and encouraged everyone to rally around him. He confirmed that he would “not get involved in a federal campaign because Ontario is his focus.”
Statement of Quebec
There were no statements from Quebec.
Elsewhere in Canada
Alberta
On Friday, August 21, Minister of Education, Adriana LaGrange, issued a statement on the request from the Alberta Teachers' Association's (ATA) to delay the school re-entry this fall. Minister LaGrange stated that the province will engage with Alberta School Boards Association and the College of Alberta School Superintendents to further discuss the ATA's request. However, Minister LaGrange remains confident that with the school re-entry plan provided, time is available to allow teachers to adequately prepare for re-entry before their students arrive. As such, Alberta's Return-to-School plan remains unchanged.
Also on August 21, Minister of Advanced Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, summarized Alberta's post-secondary projects that have provided funding to secondary institutions and full-time jobs to around 533 Albertans. As part of the 12 projects, 10 post-secondary institutions have received an extra $98 million to restore learning spaces. The post-secondary funding is a part of Alberta's Recovery Plan, and part of the Plan's more than $10 billion infrastructure spending.
The Province of Alberta has released further guidance documents on food sampling and beverage tasting, in order to prepare businesses and sectors for their reopening.
British Columbia
Also on August 21, Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, announced new enforcement measures focused on those locations and activities that are known to be at highest risk and the sustained sources for transmission. This announcement was summarized in the Friday, August 21 issue of the COVID-19 bulletin.
Originally published 25 August, 2020
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
