As is becoming the norm on days when there is a special committee sitting, it was the ministers who were out first – specifically Bill Morneau, who was announcing more details for the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF), and how that was going to work – including more of the attached conditions such as ensuring that there was some kind of beneficial arrangement for the government in the form of warrants, and the possibility of a government observer on boards of directors.

Prime minister Justin Trudeau was up next for his daily presser, wherein he repeated his pleas to employers to use the wage subsidy to re-hire their workers, and for commercial landlords to take advantage of the rent subsidy programme, which would begin taking applications on May 25^th. He also said that more assistance for large retailers would be coming.

What made no sense was the Thing that journalists made of the fact that Trudeau has increasingly been seen with a non-medical mask in certain public situations, followed by Dr. Theresa Tam making an “official recommendation” that people wear such masks when physical distancing is difficult. Erm, except she’s been saying that for weeks now, so why this was such a big deal that journalists needed to play up and then dissect the “evolution” of her position is boggling. Nothing has changed – the message has always been that these masks won’t prevent you from contracting the virus, and that you still need to maintain physical distancing and proper hygiene (and more to the fact that these masks can instill a false sense of confidence, and that people are more likely to touch their faces more with them on). But hey, our de facto parental authority figure is telling us this “officially” now, so that obviously has some kind of psychic weight, or something. (Seriously, guys).

In all fairness, she said virtually the same thing in early April and I am a bit surprised that this comment today was newsworthy.

— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) May 21, 2020

Good reads:

• Police officers have made some 2200 home checks across the country to ensure that recent travellers have been abiding by Quarantine Act restrctions.
• The prospective Auditor General says that reports of CERB fraud may mean looking closer at the system – even though it was meant to for back-end accountability.
• There are mounting questions as to why airlines won’t offer refunds for cancelled trips – only vouchers. The CTA – which is arm’s length – said those are just fine.
• CSIS is now classifying “incel-inspired” attacks as a form of violent extremism.
• As part of its annual report, CSIS also warned that some foreign investment is a vehicle for economic espionage – but wouldn’t name the firms involved.
• The Governor General announced the appointment of a new Chief Herald of Canada.
• Committee wrangling has slowed down the Senate’s ability to provide input into the Centre Block renovations, and they are running out of time to do so.
• An Ontario judge ruled that the wrong body disqualified Jim Karihalios from the Conservative leadership, and that he has two weeks to come up with $100,000.
• Kady O’Malley’s Process Nerd column recaps the current state of negotiations for the return of Parliament, and in what form it might take.
• Kevin Carmichael parses the inflation numbers (which showed negative inflation due to oil prices), and how that impacts the Bank of Canada’s job post-pandemic.
• Colby Cosh takes a few parting shots at Andrew Scheer’s sudden decision not to renounce his American citizenship.
• Robert Hiltz takes his own cracks at Scheer, whose only defining quality was his desire to be prime minister, but couldn’t even believe his own lies to get there.

Odds and ends:

Hey tweeps! Want to read #UnbrokenMachine while you’re social distancing? Here’s your chance to get it at 25% off. https://t.co/PpC4ovVe7S

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) March 23, 2020

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