Saskatchewan has become the first province to announce a concrete plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions and re-open its economy.
The first of five phases is set to begin on May 4th.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau still can’t say when nation-wide restrictions will be lifted.
“We know that everyone wants to know when this is going to be over…when we’re going to be able to get back to a normal life,” says Trudeua, “…well until we have either a vaccine or significant treatments for COVID-19, we’re not going to be able to talk about getting back to normal.”
He will only say they will be able to loosen a number of restrictions and rules sometime soon.
“In the coming months, we will be able to loosen a number of the restrictions and rules that we have right now on personal mobility and in certain sectors of the economy. We recognize that different provinces are in very different positions when it comes to COVID-19.”
Prince Edward Island, where the caseload is also low, is aiming to ease measures in late April and reopen businesses in mid-May.
“Provinces will be making decisions that are appropriate for them. What we’re doing at the federal level is attempting to pull together and coordinate all provinces so that we’re working from a similar set of guildlines and principals.”
With files from Mike Ebbeling.
