The House of Commons will reconvene for a rare Saturday sitting, beginning at 12:15 p.m., to debate government wage subsidy legislation, aimed at getting $73 billion to businesses taking an economic hit from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated it is urgent to get the legislation passed so the federal government bureaucracy can start doling out subsidies to eligible businesses to stave off more COVID-19 related layoffs. In the interest of public health, only 30 MPs will be in the House.
Trudeau will not deliver his usual daily meeting with the media outside Rideau Cottage in order to attend the Commons debate.
It is anticipated Governor General Julie Payette will grant Royal Assent to the legislation, known as Bill C-14, Saturday evening.
By the end of Friday there were over 22,100 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Canada, with 569 deaths.
There have been 1.7 million confirmed infections and more than 100,000 deaths around the world, with approximately 500,000 cases in the U.S.
Faith undaunted by COVID-19’s shutting down places of worship, Christians in the Sault, across Canada and the world have, and will be, celebrating Easter weekend services thanks to the ability to livestream services and worship with each other through teleconferencing.
Provincially, Premier Doug Ford announced Saturday morning his government is extending its Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until April 23 (first issued March 17, it was originally intended to be in effect until April 14).
The government’s move allows hospitals to set up temporary structures like tents to quickly increase their capacity to treat patients, and also allows hospitals to use spaces in retirement homes to treat patients if necessary.
The province has also banned camping on Crown land retroactive to April 9.
In local news, here are the latest COVID-19 numbers for the Algoma District from Algoma Public Health (updated April 11, 2020, 8:30 a.m.):
- 825 tested
- 10 positive
- 524 negative
- 291 pending
Regions where residents have tested positive for COVID-19 include Sault Ste. Marie and area, central and east Algoma and Elliot Lake and area.
We reported Friday Sault businesses, both big and small, are providing free meals, grocery delivery and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
