June 9 – Appearance by the Minister of National Defence

Advice to the Minister - Canadian Armed Forces Assistance TO Long Term Care Facilities

Question: When will the Government provide military members deployed in long term care homes with the equipment they need, and the hazard pay they deserve?

• The Canadian Armed Forces always stand ready to assist communities across Canada.
• Military members are currently assisting vulnerable populations in Long Term Care Facilities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec and Ontario.
• We recognize that COVID-19 poses unique hazards for Canadian Armed Forces personnel operating in these facilities.
• The Canadian Armed Forces ensures its personnel are properly trained and equipped.
• This is why we defined Operation LASER, including the assistance military personnel are providing in these facilities, as a Special Duty Operation.
• The Chief of the Defence Staff has also tasked his staff to pursue hazard allowance for members directly engaged inside these facilities.
• That work is ongoing now.
• We will continue to support Canadian Armed Forces members as they provide assistance to communities across Canada.

If pressed on requested continued assistance to LTCF in Quebec

• Canadian Armed Forces members are currently making a real difference in thirteen long term care facilities in Quebec.
• Military personnel are proud to have provided assistance in a total of twenty-nine facilities in Quebec thus far.
• At the request of the province of Quebec, in the coming days, military personnel will be withdrawing from five centres where the situation has stabilized.
• During this period, the Canadian Armed Forces will be repositioning to other facilities in Quebec that require support.
• National Defence has received Quebec’s request for continued assistance and is currently assessing whether continued support can be provided.

If pressed on COVID-19 testing among CAF in LTCF

• Every day, military personnel risk their own health and safety to protect vulnerable Canadians.
• In both Ontario and Quebec, any military personnel who displays symptoms of COVID-19 is immediately removed from the facility and tested.
• We are now developing more stringent testing protocols for personnel, including those without symptoms.
• All military personnel will be tested before they start work in a long term care facility.
• Whenever a facility orders additional testing, military personnel within that facility will also be tested.
• Finally when the mission is over, all personnel will self-isolate for 14 days, and will be tested again before returning to their home units.
• These measures will be adopted to ensure the health of the force, of residents and staff, and of our overall mission in long-term care facilities.

Quick facts

Location of CAF assistance in LTCF

• Quebec: CAF personnel assisting in thirteen facilities in and around Montreal.
  • 11 facilities on the island of Montreal
  • 1 facilities in Saint-Lambert
  • 1 facilities in Laval

• Ontario: CAF personnel assisting in four facilities in and around Toronto.
  • 1 facility in Scarborough
  • 1 facility in Etobicoke
  • 2 facility in North York

COVID-19 cases within the CAF population providing support in LTCF

• Total: 51 cases as of June 8, 2020
  • 36 Tested Positive in Quebec
  • 15 Tested Positive in Ontario

Responsible Principals: Canadian Joint Operations Command, Strategic Joint Staff, Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy) June 9, 2020