The House of Commons is set to reconvene today to debate the wage subsidy bill at 1:15 p.m. Atlantic time. Will have your updates here: https://tj.news/story/101236634?ref=tw #covid19nb

Conservative MP for New Brunswick Southwest, John Williamson, will be sitting in the House today. He said he has a "few rounds" of Qs for government but overall expects "a speedy passage." #covid19nb

Tory Leader Andrew Scheer said this a.m. his party would support the government's bill, given the boost from the original proposal, 10%, to cover 75% of employee wages for a 12-week period (March 15 to June 6, 2020). #covid19nb

Some background: Businesses of all sizes and sectors are eligible, with few exceptions such as public sector orgs. Subsidy will apply to 75 per cent of the first $58,700 of employee earnings -- dept of finance said that comes to $847/week per person. #covid9nb

Minister statements are still happening now, topics spanning beyond the wage subsidy -- from the CERB, 103 years since Vimy Ridge, border checks & testing of temporary foreign workers, to communication on gaps in economic support. #covid19nb

Debate on the wage subsidy is starting -- each member will have 5 mins to pose questions. It will end in two hours, or when members have finished their questions. #covid19nb

Scheer asks PM about ventilator supply -- PM says they have reached out to suppliers to secure more and that Canadian industry has been producing equipment at home. More are set to arrive "in a few weeks." #covid19nb

Scheer says it has been weeks since the PM mentioned aid for the energy sector, wants to know if/when that's still coming. Trudeau acknowledges AB is suffering, says "there will be more coming" for the sector but notes existing emergency benefits. #covid19nb

Now to Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet. He asks if people arriving in Canada, such as foreign workers, can be quarantined. PM notes they are required to isolate for 14 days by law under Quarantine Act. #covid19nb

Blanchet contends "the buck has been passed" from government to firms to ensure quarantine of foreign workers is happening. Trudeau says these are important concerns and continues to monitor.

Note: Yesterday RCMP was asked by PHAC to help enforce mandatory quarantine. #covid19nb

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is up, asks twice if people who fall into one of the categories CERB doesn't yet cover should apply anyway for CERB if they need help. PM says they know there are gaps & are working to fill them, but doesn't directly respond to the Q. #covid19nb

Singh: Will feds prohibit CEO bonuses or stock buybacks for companies receiving support dollars?

PM says the CERB helps people who lost their job, and wage subsidy keeps people connected to jobs. Doesn't answer the bonuses/buybacks Q. #covid19nb

Pierre Poilievre wants to know "yes or no" if military intelligence warning feds of danger of COVID-19 in early January was shared with Cabinet. Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland says intelligence sharing has been "energetic" -- doesn't answer directly.

Poilievre, Tory MP for Carleton, asks if people who came into Canada from Hubei province after that January report were required to quarantine. Freeland notes that quarantine is a specific legal term and anyone from high-risk zones were advised to isolate. #covid19nb

Conservative Dan Albas asks about when the CERB eligibility criteria will be updated to address the gaps. Minister of Employment Carla Qualtrough said they are working on it and will update "shortly." #covid19nb

Albas asks when Parliament would have to be recalled for any legislative amendments to CERB -- minister Qualtrough says it would be "speculative" to give a date as they aren't yet sure if legislative amendments will be necessary. #covid19nb

Albas: Will audits be done to ensure people are only accessing CERB if they qualify?

Qualtrough: Quality checks will be made in the weeks, months to come, but doesn't believe Canadians are trying to defraud the government in a time of emergency.

#covid19nb

Minister of employment says the feds are "working out details" on a threshold for people still receiving some income to qualify for the CERB. #covid19nb

Qualtrough says those details will take into account seasonal workers. #covid19nb

Conservative Bernard Généreux asks how the feds will help agriculture workers. Minister of small business Mary Ng says the small business loan was put forward with farmers in mind among others. #covid19nb

Tory MP Lianne Rood asks why it's not mandatory to ensure federally regulated employees continue working to protect food supply.

Deputy PM says the feds are working with the provinces, have issued guidelines along with provincial guidelines to food industry. #covid19nb

Rood asks if the feds will reverse the carbon tax increase that came into effect April 1. Finance minister Bill Morneau says amount goes back to Canadians.

New Brunswick's own carbon tax came into effect on April 1, so we're no longer under that federal plan. #covid19nb

NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice notes some Liberal MPs say to apply for CERB if you don't know if you meet the criteria, others say the opposite. Asks for clarity.

Morneau says the situation is "very dynamic" and "If changes become necessary we will make those changes."

Boulerice worries CEOs will boost bonuses and dividends with the wage subsidy, asks if the CEWS will go straight to workers.

Morneau says it must go to workers, and it's not supposed to go to bonuses or anything outside of wages. #covid19nb

On that note, Tory Poilievre is back up, and wants to know if there's anything banning CEO bonuses or added dividend payouts in the CEWS legislation.

Morneau says firms must show the money has gone to employees, doesn't point to anything specific in the bill. #covid19nb

Alberta Conservative Dane Lloyd: Are the feds tracking suicides at this time and what will they do to help people with mental illness?

Deputy PM said they will be "putting forward some measures" but doesn't give details or respond re: incidence tracking. #covid19nb

Singh asks about support for Indigenous peoples. Deputy PM says they had a call last week with with the Assembly of First Nations, and they have committed a fund for PPE and personnel support -- says this is "just the beginning." #covid19nb

Tory MP Alex Ruff asks about sole proprietors not qualifying for any of the economic supports.

Ng says they "continue to listen to those businesses" to make sure "they're supported." Asked a few times, but doesn't specify if any changes are coming on that point. #covid19nb

New Brunswick's own Tory MP John Williamson is coming up soon with questions on Service Canada, the wage subsidy and help for fisheries. #covid19nb

Williamson asks why feds have closed down Service Canada offices instead of refitting them as seen in grocery stores, given inequality in high-speed internet access.

Qualtrough says they are serving people by phone as well and stands by decision to shut down offices. #covid19nb

Morneau said they are urging employers accessing CEWS to pay the rest of the 25% (after the 75% boost from wage subsidy) despite the fact not all businesses will be able to, in response to another Q from Williamson. #covid19nb

Williamson asks about losses for fisheries, and Deputy PM says minister responsible is "seized by the issue" and working on it. #covid19nb

The New Brunswick southwest MP asks why feds say it's acceptable for ministers to meet at a distance in person but not parliament. House leader Pablo Rodriguez notes the many employees that would have to come to work to do this. #covid19nb

Updated story from Ottawa today (for your nerdy reading pleasure this afternoon): https://tj.news/story/101236634?ref=tw&update=20200310163100 #covid19nb

Bill is being read a second time with responses for 20 mins and 10 mins for questions and comments. #covid19nb

Poilievre is calling for other interim measures as these economic plans are only for 12 weeks, and are at the same time "too exorbitant and inadequate." He's pointing to "exemplary" capabilities seen in South Korea for rapid mass testing. #covid19nb

Albas says the CEWS needs to land in accounts faster, because if it takes six weeks to arrive businesses will likely need to lay off workers before then. #covid19nb

Albas adds that the small business loan (Canada emergency business account) designed to bridge this gap excludes businesses who borrow from small credit unions and sole proprietors who use a personal bank account. #covid19nb

Blanchet is using his time to re-iterate concerns about temporary foreign workers not being tested on arrival to Canada, and spreading the virus to co-workers.

Note: Under the Quarantine Act anyone arriving in Canada is required to quarantine for two weeks. #covid19nb

NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen is saying "the government shouldn't profit off the backs of our students", noting that many will lose opportunities for income in this pandemic. #covid19nb

Tory Scot Davidson (repping my Ontario hometown of Mount Albert, with the rest of York-Simcoe) notes that he's heard from a nursing home worker who is frustrated she's putting her family at risk for $50/week when she could get more $ on CERB.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh seeks unanimous consent after consulting with all parties to have the feds "implement measures without delay to address gaps in the CERB or other programs" to address the needs of those who fall outside the criteria of the current benefit. #covid19nb

House gives unanimous consent on this item, which will cover: "seasonal workers, those who have exhausted their EI benefits, students, owner-operators, those who continue to receive a modest income from part-time work, royalties and honorarium." #covid19nb

House gives unanimous consent to act to "ensure that essential workers who receive low wages receive additional income support", and that "those who apply in good faith and receive benefits" related to COVID-19 "will not be unjustly penalized." #covid19nb. Some MPs cheer.

The House passes the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy on division, adjourns until April 20.

The bill is in the Senate, proceedings underway with minister of finance giving the introduction now. #covid19nb

Signing off from this live thread. You can watch the Senate debate on CPAC if that's how you like to spend your Saturday night (no judgement). Hope you enjoyed my attempt to fill @adamhuras' very large shoes for the day.