Federal Public health The federal government activated its
Emergency Operations Centre on January 15, 2020. The federal government's pandemic response was based on two primary documents: the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness planning guidelines, which outlines risks and measures to address a viral disease, and the
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Public Health Response Plan for Biological Events, which includes identifying, tracking, and ensuring rapid access to medical care. By February 27, the response plan was at level 3 (escalated). On March 18, the federal
Minister of Health,
Patty Hajdu, announced that the federal government had signed an interim order to speed up access to COVID-19 test kits that would allow provincial labs to increase testing. The test kits were made by Switzerland-based
Roche Molecular Systems and
Thermo Fisher Scientific. Several research projects were provided federal funding to develop and implement measures to detect, manage, and reduce the transmission of COVID-19. On March 11, Trudeau announced $275 million in funding for 47 projects. On March 19, the federal government announced funding for an additional 49 projects to bring the total to 96. On March 20, Trudeau stated that the
National Research Council would work with small- and medium-sized companies on health research to fight the virus, as part of the announcement on Canada's industrial strategy (see below). in Toronto with limited number of shoppers allowed inside the store. On March 23, Theresa Tam began appearing in
public service announcements on radio and television, urging personal hygiene, social distancing, and against unnecessary travel. On April 6, Tam began to suggest that the use of non-medical face masks in public could be an "additional measure" of protection. She stated to "protect others around you in situations where physical distancing is difficult to maintain", but that this is not proven to protect the wearer and is considered complementary to all existing health guidance issued thus far. In response to backlogs in
COVID-19 testing, especially provinces like
Ontario,
Health Canada approved new rapid testing for the virus. On November 3, the Public Health Agency of Canada started recommended that people wear non-medical masks with three layers including a filter. Tam said that "
living with COVID-19 is something that we have to do because it's not going to immediately disappear and the population doesn't have much immunity", and went on to say that "If cases do occur and accelerate in a community, then you have to get at it early because if you let it, the virus and the numbers accelerate and keep accelerating...you will then end up with more widespread closures. So, I think as cities or hotspots cool down, if you like, the restart needs to be carefully thought of."
Long-term care homes |alt="Thank You Heroes" sign in orange
Long-term care homes were
impacted heavily by the pandemic. On April 13, Tam reported that at least half of COVID-19 deaths in Canada were linked to long-term care homes (with the exact number varying by province), and that those deaths would continue to increase even as the transmission rate decreased. Tam cited factors such as outside visitors, communal living spaces, and staff being transferred among multiple facilities as particular vulnerabilities. The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing staffing issues at some facilities, including underpaid staff and being understaffed in general. On April 28, Tam stated that as many as 79 percent of Canada's COVID-19 fatalities occurred in long-term care homes. Health Canada issued recommendations for long-term care homes. They were encouraged to restrict outside visitors and volunteers, restrict employees from being transferred between multiple facilities, provide
personal protective equipment, enforce physical distancing during meals, screen staff and essential visitors. On April 15, Trudeau announced that the federal government planned to provide additional pay to long-term care workers.
Canadian Armed Forces In April 2020, the Department of National Defence gave the provinces the option to get Canadian Armed Forces assistance in combating the pandemic in long-term care facilities.
Quebec was the first to act, with military personnel arriving on April 17.
Ontario responded next, with
Premier Doug Ford requesting military aid on April 22.
Travel and entry restrictions On March 14, Canada recommended against any international travel and advised those returning from outside of Canada, except for essential workers (such as flight crew), to self-isolate for 14 days. The
Quarantine Act was invoked by Hajdu on March 26, making self-isolation a legal mandate for travelers (excluding essential workers) returning to the country. It also prohibits those who are symptomatic from using public transit as transport to their place of self-isolation, and prohibiting self-isolation in settings where they may come in contact with those who are vulnerable (people with pre-existing conditions and the elderly). Starting March 16, only Canadian citizens and their immediate families, permanent residents, and U.S. citizens were allowed to enter the country. The only exceptions were flight crews, diplomats, and trade and commerce. Travellers showing COVID-19 symptoms were not allowed to board flights into Canada, regardless of their citizenship. International flights to Canada from outside the Caribbean, Mexico, and the U.S. were instructed to land at either
Calgary International Airport,
Montréal–Trudeau International Airport,
Toronto Pearson International Airport, or
Vancouver International Airport. The U.S. did not restrict non-essential air travel into the country by Canadians, but Americans were prohibited from boarding flights into Canada per U.S. restrictions—a non-reciprocal restriction that was criticized as being contradictory. On April 16, Trudeau stated that the Canada/U.S. border restrictions would remain in place "for a significant amount of time". The next day, Canada and the United States agreed to extend their entry restrictions, which were to expire on April 21, for an additional 30 days beyond that date. On April 20, the federal government introduced the "
ArriveCAN"
mobile app, which is used to conduct entry screenings and submit documentation; use of the app became mandatory in November. From April 20, all travellers were required to wear face masks while departing and arriving on air travel, including during security screenings. Those who did not comply were prevented from proceeding. As the land border with the United States continued to be closed to non-essential travel, the Canadian government announced plans in October to allow family members to reunite under compassionate terms. Within the country, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador established the
Atlantic Bubble, restricting travel from other provinces but allowing free movement amongst residents of the member provinces. On January 6, 2021, the federal government announced that all incoming travellers must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted within 72 hours of their departure time to board flights into Canada. On January 29, 2021, due to concerns surrounding
SARS-CoV-2 variants, Trudeau announced a series of new travel restrictions. Travellers arriving in Canada would be required to receive a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival and must quarantine at an "approved hotel" at their own expense. At the same time, they awaited test results or recovery and were subject to "increased surveillance" during the remainder of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Foreign flights were only allowed to land in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver. To discourage non-essential travel, the major airlines agreed to suspend all flights to the Caribbean and Mexico until April 30, 2021. On February 12, it was announced a third PCR test would also be required at the end of the 14-day quarantine period. The new rules for international travel went into effect on February 22. In July 2021, the government lifted the quarantine requirement for Canadian citizens and permanent residents re-entering the country, provided they submit proof of vaccination via the ArriveCAN app or website. On August 9, 2021, Canada reopened its land border to American citizens and permanent residents that are fully-vaccinated. However, the U.S. land border remained closed to Canadians entering the United States until November 8, 2021, when the U.S. began to allow non-essential land travel into the country, with a vaccine mandate for residents 18 and over (enforced via random checks). However, as with air travel, anyone re-entering the country was required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted within 72 hours of their arrival; this test could alternatively be obtained in Canada if the traveler had been in the country for less than 72 hours. On October 6, 2021, it was announced that all passengers of federally-regulated transportation over the age of 12 (including air travel, cruises, and
Via Rail or
Rocky Mountaineer trains) would be required to be fully-vaccinated beginning October 30, 2021. Until November 30, 2021, a recent negative test was also accepted. Beginning January 15, 2022, international truckers entering the country were required to be fully-vaccinated; this decision instigated a
protest convoy—backed largely by supporters of
alt-right and
far-right movements—which culminated in a multi-day occupation of
downtown Ottawa, and evolved into a general protest against all COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Beginning April 1, 2022, pre-entry PCR testing requirements were dropped for fully-vaccinated travelers entering the country. However, air travelers were still subject to random testing as part of surveillance for variants (which would not require self-isolation). However, on December 31, 2022, the government announced that mandatory testing would be reinstated for travellers entering from China beginning January 5, 2023.
Governmental cancellations A
First Ministers' meeting scheduled for March 12 and 13 was cancelled after Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire entered self-isolation. The Canadian House of Commons was suspended between March 14 and April 20, immediately after passing the new North American free trade deal. The federal budget, previously scheduled for March 20, was also suspended.
Bank of Canada rate changes In March 2020, the
Bank of Canada twice lowered its overnight rate target by 50 basis points—first to 1.25 percent on March 4, and then to 0.75 percent on March 13. It cited the "negative shocks to Canada's economy arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent sharp drop in oil prices" in explaining the move. On March 27, the Bank lowered the rate a third time to 0.25 percent, citing "serious consequences for Canadians and for the economy" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bank also launched a program to "alleviate strains in the short-term funding markets" and another program to acquire Government of Canada securities at a minimum of $5 billion per week.
Federal aid On March 18, the federal government announced an $82-billion response package with a variety of measures. On March 25, the
COVID-19 Emergency Response Act received
royal assent from Governor General
Julie Payette. The measures in this first package included: •
Canada Child Benefit (CCB): Payments for the 2019–20-year were increased by $300 per child. •
Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit: The maximum annual GST credit payment amount for the 2019–20 year was doubled. •
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): This new benefit provided a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months for those who had lost their job, were sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents staying home to take care of their kids. •
Canada Student Loans: A six-month moratorium was placed on repayment. • Temporary business wage subsidy: Eligible small employers received a three-month 10 percent wage subsidy. • Tax flexibility: The income tax filing deadline was also extended from April 30, 2020, to June 1, 2020. Tax payments were deferred to September 2020. The CERB launched on April 6. On April 15, Trudeau announced an extension to the CERB to workers making up to $1,000 per month and that the government planned to work with the provinces to implement salary top-ups for essential workers who make less than $2,500 per month. The
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) was announced on April 1, an expanded version of the temporary business wage subsidy. The Parliament reconvened on April 11 to pass the
COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2 on division. It implemented the CEWS, allowing eligible companies to receive a 75 percent subsidy on each of their employees' wages (up to their first $58,700) for 12 weeks retroactive to March 15. Trudeau introduced new financial aid programs on April 10, including the
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which offers loans, interest-free until the end of 2022, of up to $40,000 for small- and medium-sized businesses. The CEBA was expanded on April 16 to make more businesses eligible by expanding the payroll window for eligibility from $50,000–1,000,000 to $20,000–1,500,000. Trudeau announced the
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) on April 22. On April 30,
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux issued a report projecting the federal deficit for the fiscal year 2020 could be in excess of $252 billion, based on nearly $146 billion in spending on federal aid measures. On October 12, 2020, the federal government rolled out a new income support program after the ending of CERB, the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB). Another program, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), supports Canadians working but have to take a break to care for dependents (a child below 12 years of age or a disabled family member). The benefit only applies if schools and care centres are closed or the dependent fell sick or contracted COVID-19.
Industrial strategy On March 20, 2020, the government announced a plan to ramp up production of medical equipment, switching assembly lines to produce ventilators, masks, and other personal protective gear. Companies will be able to access funds through the government's
Strategic Innovation Fund. The PM stated that Canadian medical supply firms Thornhill Medical, Medicom and Spartan Bioscience were looking to expand production. The government also contracted
Sterling Industries, a medical device manufacturer, to facilitate the production of over 15 million medical
face shields (PPE) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To address shortages and supply-chain disruption, Canada passed emergency legislation that waived patent protection, giving the government, companies or organizations that it selects the right to produce patented products without permission from the patent holder. According to Innovation, Science and Industry minister
Navdeep Bains, "the country's entire industrial policy will be refocused to prioritize the fight against COVID-19".
Virtual care During the
COVID-19 pandemic, 34% of people consulted their doctors over the phone. In May 2020, Justin Trudeau announced an investment of $240.5 million to support the growth of virtual care and mental health tools in Canada.
States of emergency On March 16, Prince Edward Island declared a public health emergency. Alberta and Ontario declared emergencies on March 17, followed by British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon on March 18. New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia declared emergencies on March 19, March 20, and March 22 respectively. These emergencies allowed provinces to ban gatherings and require international travellers to self-isolate. On March 25, mandatory self-isolation was imposed federally, making it a legal requirement for all provinces that had not done so already. New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island and have all restricted entry through interprovincial borders, prohibiting the entry of non-residents without a valid reason. Quebec has additionally restricted travel into 9 of its 18 regions and parts of 3 other regions. The borders of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are being screened, while also requiring travellers to self-isolate for 14 days upon entering the province.
Schools and universities Public schools (under Provincial control) across the country quickly followed suit and closed. Schools in the
Toronto District School Board were closed under a 2-week class-free quarantine beginning on the week after the regularly scheduled March Break. Virtual learning was implemented in the week following the quarantine and extended until the beginning of the next school year, giving students the option of going in-person with restrictions or continuing virtual learning. March Break was pushed back to the week of April 11.
Laurentian University in
Greater Sudbury was the first to voluntarily suspended classes and moved to online instruction on March 12. This was quickly followed by many other universities across the country.
Business closures , British Columbia, closed off with caution tape. A sign indicates the playground is closed because of COVID-19. Bars, restaurants, cinemas, and other businesses were ordered closed by provinces, territories, and municipalities across the country. Initially, some jurisdictions allowed restaurants or bars to stay open with reduced capacity and social distancing. Takeout and delivery orders were largely still permitted. Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan mandated the closure of all businesses not deemed essential by the provinces. Essential businesses included grocery stores, takeout and delivery restaurants, pharmacies, transportation, manufacturing, food production, energy, and healthcare. Liquor and cannabis stores mostly remained open across the country, with governments reversing their closure orders due to
alcohol withdrawal syndrome concerns.
Aid programs Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Manitoba all offered one-time payments that aimed to bridge the gap before implementing the federal
Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Quebec's Temporary Aid for Workers Program provided up to four weeks of payments for those who do not qualify for federal assistance. Prince Edward Island also provided payments to those who kept their jobs but worked reduced hours. Many provinces and territories increased payments for those already receiving income supports.
Courts Courts across the country instituted measures to reduce public contact while maintaining access to the courts. The
Supreme Court of Canada building was closed to public tours while maintaining the ability to file documents for cases electronically. It also adjourned appeals which were to be heard in March, to dates in June. Other courts prioritized the cases that would be heard, giving priority to ongoing criminal trials and trials in family and child protection matters while adjourning most pending cases to later dates.
First Nations On March 19, the
Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba restricted entry to essential travellers, and Chief David Monias said the
Sayisi Dene and others are doing the same. As of March 19, the
Council of the Haida Nation said it was discouraging all non-resident travel to the islands "for the time being." On March 27,
Wasauksing First Nation declared a state of emergency with Gimaa (chief) Wally Tabobondung announcing the creation of a response team and the state of emergency via YouTube video. In an update posted on May 16, the chief and council announced they had installed cameras with facial and licence plate recognition technology at local checkpoints to identify outsiders entering the territory. Cottagers leasing property on the territory had been barred from entering until June 6. As of June 6, anyone entering the Wasauksing must have a tag issued by the band government and provide information for a centralized registry. Re-opening occurred in phases. As of an update posted on June 21, the state of emergency had been extended an additional 90 days. On October 1, in anticipation of the "Second Wave," Tk’emlups te Secwepemc
Secwépemc First Nation instituted a mandatory face mask policy in indoor spaces where physical distancing was not possible, including hallways, staircases, and shared vehicles. As of October 8, the infection rate in Indigenous communities had been one-third of the infection rate in non-Indigenous communities, according to an update from
Indigenous Services Minister
Marc Miller. Miller praised Indigenous leadership and with Indigenous Services Canada's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tim Wong, encouraging Indigenous people to remain vigilant and safe. First Nations communities were prioritized amongst others in the first phase of vaccinations against the virus. ==Economic impact==