In his daily COVID-19 briefing this morning [wed], Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked if the government would invoke the Defence Production Act.

The question came up after the national emergency stockpile didn’t seem to keep equipment in the hands of health workers…..

Trudeau says in Canada, companies have been stepping up voluntarily to help, so the act isn’t needed.

On the matter of the promised employee wage subsidy, the Prime Minister says Finance Minister Bill Morneau will detail exactly what’s included in the federal government’s employee wage package for businesses this afternoon [wed]. It will cover 75 per cent of employee wages.

All businesses will be eligible, as long as they are not publicly funded and have seen at least a 30 per cent drop in gross revenues. People not getting help from their employer, and who qualify, will be able to access the Canada Emergency Response Benefit starting April 6th

[cjgx april 1 12020]