A summary of the day's activities of Tuesday, September 15, follows. 

Federal Government Relief Measures

  • There are no federal government relief measures to announce.

The Evolution of COVID-19 in Canada

The week began as last week. The curve of new COVID-19 is heading upward everywhere except in Atlantic Canada. Case numbers in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec continued to rise in the triple digits.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health, reported 418 new COVID-19 cases from Friday, September 11 to Sunday September 13, inclusively. One death occurred over the weekend. Dr. Hinshaw also confirmed that 42 individuals with COVID-19 were present at 35 schools in the province while infectious.

Minister of Health Adrian Dix and British Columbia's Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry provided COVID-19 case updates for three 24-hour reporting periods. From September 11 to 12, there were 137 new cases. From September 12 to 13, there were 119 new cases. From September 13 to 14, there were 61 new cases. There were six deaths over the weekend. There are currently a record high of 1,594 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,047 people under active public health monitoring for known exposures.

With 292 new cases in Quebec today, Quebec Premier François Legault expressed great concern about the situation and the current upward trend. He believes if the virus continues to spread and at this rate, the province is at risk of increased hospitalizations, deaths, hospital overcrowding, delayed surgeries and the closure of some school classes and businesses. The current situation is critical and worrisome. The Premier asked Quebecers to be prudent, show solidarity and limit meetings. He said, "We are at risk of a second wave and confinement."

Today and yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford Public addressed the surge of new COVID-19 cases in the province. On Monday, Ontario public health officials reported 313 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number since June 7th. Today, they reported 251 new COVID-19 cases.

Premier Ford clearly stated that the numbers are cause for concern. In responding to media questions on a potential scaling back of reopening, Premier Ford said, "Let me be crystal clear. Everything is on the table. We won't hesitate to shut down." Premier Ford asked Ontarians to respect public health guidelines.

Canada Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Tam and her deputy Dr. Njoo have commented on the upward trend in COVID-19 cases in Canada during today's news conference. They noted that "acceleration" in several regions is cause for concern and confirmed that the multiple outbreaks are linked to private gatherings and community events. 

Yesterday, an average of 618 new cases had been reported daily during the most recent seven days. Today, that number had increased to an average of 638 new cases during the most recent seven days.

There have been 138,010 of cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 9,179 deaths. Eighty-eight per cent of people have now recovered. Labs across Canada tested over 47,000 people daily over the past week with over one per cent ting positive. 

Dr. Tam urges all Canadians to keep up collective efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. She said, "We must act to pump the breaks on the acceleration".

Statements of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with his cabinet yesterday for a two day planning session, he made a quick statement to the press, which may signal a shift in the direction of the Speech from the Throne. The Prime Minister said, "Our focus right now is on the COVID crisis. We need to get through this in order to be able to talk about next steps." He added, "We are not out of the woods. We need to continue to remain vigilant... The last thing we/anyone wants is to go into this fall in lockdown similar to this spring."

When the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament close to a month ago, he said the pandemic provided an "unprecedented opportunity" to rebuild the economy. 

Federal Government Briefing

In a stunning reversal, the U.S. has decided to lift the 10% tariff on imports on Canadian aluminium, retroactive to September 1, 2020, as Canada was about to unveil its countermeasures. This is what the Office of the United States Representative (USTR) had to say in the press release it issued today:

After consultations with the Canadian government, the United States has determined that trade in non-alloyed, unwrought aluminum is likely to normalize in the last four months of 2020, with imports declining sharply from the surges experienced earlier in the year. Average monthly imports are expected to decline 50 percent from the monthly average in the period of January through July. Accordingly, the United States will modify the terms of the 10 percent tariff imposed in August on imports of Canadian non-alloyed unwrought aluminum. 

To note, the USTR press release does refer to U.S. expectations with respect to the monthly quota of Canadian aluminum shipments to the U.S. on a going forward basis. It states, "In addition to the forgoing, if imports exceed 105 percent of the expected volume in any month the United States may re-impose the 10 percent tariff going forward."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng held a news conference to comment on the U.S. decision of lift the 10 per cent tariff on the Canadian imports of aluminum. 

Both ministers welcomed the positive development. Deputy Prime Minister Freeland said, "common sense has prevailed".

In her introductory comments, Minister Ng said, "Canada will not be imposing reciprocal measures on the U.S." She added, "Canada has not conceded anything". 

Deputy Prime Minister Freeland underlined Canada was prepared to retaliate with dollar-for-dollar measures, should the U.S. ever decide to reimpose aluminum tariffs. Minister Ng repeated the Deputy Minister's motto, "We will not escalate but we will not back down."

Minister Ng and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland thanked provincial governments – especially British Columbia and Quebec – partners in industry and labour and Canada's trade officials for their work on this file. This suggests that Canada mounted a full court press to convince the U.S. administration to reverse course.

The Government of Canada had issued the notice of intent to impose countermeasures action against the United States in response to tariffs on Canadian aluminum products on August 6, 2020.

Responding to a question from a journalist on the matter of the "quota", Minister Ng and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland clearly stated that the decision to lift tariffs was a unilateral decision of the U.S. The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out "This is not a negotiated deal between Canada and the United States. We have not agreed to anything. We have not negotiated an agreement on quotas, as you have suggested."

She reiterated, "In terms of what happens going forward, were tariffs to be imposed in the future we will respond with a reciprocal dollar for dollar retaliation."

Regarding the Speech from the Throne, Deputy Prime Minister Freeland was asked if Canada could expect an economic recovery while the country is grappling with a public health crisis. She said, "Our most important economic policy today, is a strong health policy. This is the strongest foundation and support we can give to our economy."

Another journalist asked if the Deputy Prime Minister was backtracking from her earlier statement regarding a "green recovery". She said, "That it in no way negates our previous emphases. Green jobs will be part of our recovery." 

Statements of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Ministers

During his media briefing of yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed that social gatherings was the main reason for the uptick in new COVID-19 cases in the province. He reminded that it was up to the 14.5 million Ontarians to remain vigilant and respect public health guidance.

Ontario Premier Ford and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott truly believe a second wave is coming. Deputy Premier Elliott also implored Ontarians to follow public health guidance. 

Deputy Premier Elliott also said the second wave of COVID-19 will be more complicated because of its convergence with the flu season. She explained the government had developed a fall preparedness plan, which will be released shortly.

The fall plan has been prepared according to three scenarios: (1) small surges of new cases; (2) peaks and valleys of new cases; and, (3) sudden very big peak of new cases.

She also confirmed that scaling back to Stage 2 reopening would be done on a regional basis, suggesting that Toronto, Ottawa as well as Peel region could be first regions impacted, if cases continue to increase. She reminded reporters that the 28 day moratorium on reopening – the equivalent of two cycles of incubation – announced last week was to prevent rolling back of reopening to Stage 2. 

Today, Premier Doug Ford announced the province was ramping up production of Ontario-made ventilators. The Ontario government invested $2.5 million through the Ontario Together Fund in Guelph-based Linamar Corp. to support the retooling of its assembly line to manufacture ventilator components to produce 10,000 Ontario-made e700 ventilators. O-Two Medical Technologies collaborated with Linamar Corp. and other partners, including Bombardier, to produce these lifesaving devices to enhance future preparedness and help patients with severe cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Statement of Quebec Premier François Legault and Ministers

Quebec Premier François Legault participated in a press conference with the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, and Quebec's director of public health, Dr. Horacio Arruda.

Premier Legault pointed out that the number of COVID-19 cases is accelerating in several regions. The COVID-19 alert level matrix now shows eight regions are at a yellow (pre-alert) COVID-19 alert level: Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Estrie, Montréal, Outaouais, Chaudière-Appalaches, Laval and Montérégie. These eight areas represent 75% of the population in Quebec. The are four new zones at a yellow COVID-19 alert level - Montreal, Montérégie, Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent – because of community transmission, private gatherings, size of the outbreak and capacity issues.

Minister Dubé indicated that there would be more police interventions, more inspections, more targeted screening, a ban on the sale of food after midnight in bars and tighter traffic control in certain areas that are currently in the yellow COVID-19 alert level. He also noted that some of the regions in the yellow COVID-19 alert level are very close to reaching the orange COVID-19 alert level. At this alert level, the government plans to close bars, reduce the number of people in private and public gatherings, and close dining rooms only to allow take-out orders.

Asked about the September 12 anti-mask demonstration where 10,000 people were present, Premier Legault stated that the population has the right to express its disagreement with the government. He noted that these demonstrations are not the cause of uptick in cases, but rather private gatherings. Premier Legault said demonstrations will be tolerated as long as they do not undermine public health.

Elsewhere in Canada

The gamble of New Brunswick Premier Blain Higgs of holding an election in the midst of a pandemic paid off. Premier Higgs won a majority. The PCs won 27 ridings, two more than the 25 ridings they needed for a majority.

The Liberals, under first-time leader Kevin Vickers, were elected in 17 ridings, four fewer seats than 2018. Kevin Vickers lost his first run at a seat, losing to People's Alliance candidate Michelle Conroy, who took the riding of Miramichi in the last election. He stepped down as the leader of the New Brunswick Liberals.

The Greens and the Alliance, who exerted influence in the minority-government situation where they held the balance of power between them, did not make their anticipated breakthrough. Green Leader David Coon was re-elected in Fredericton South, and the party maintained its three seats in the legislature. Alliance Leader Kris Austin was re-elected in Fredericton-Grand Lake, but the party has lost one of its three seats. PC Ryan Cullins defeated Rick DeSaulniers in Fredericton-York.

NDP interim leader Mackenzie Thomason lost his riding of Fredericton North, coming fifth and getting only 100 votes. The PCs' Jill Green won the riding.

The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Member of Parliament for Beauséjour, New Brunswick for more than 18 years commented on the results of the election in his home province. He told reporters, "Drawing lessons from a provincial election is somewhat naïve" and added "The context of the COVID-19 in New Brunswick can't be superimposed at the national level."

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