He
Arjun Ram here for
staying at home and staying healthy!
COVID-19 is clearly on everyone's mind right now.
It has changed everyday life for kids like myself
all across Canada and the rest of the world.
Earlier this week, we asked you to send us
your questions about coronavirus,
so we could take them right to the top -
to the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau,
and Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's top doctor.
And boy, did you guys ever deliver!
CBC
videos, emails, and photographs
in just 24 hours.
Guess what?
I'm about to jump on a call with them right now
so they can answer some of your questions.
♪ [upbeat music]
Arjun: Hello, Mr. Trudeau and Dr. Tam!
Hi, Arjun!
Hello.
Thank you so much for taking this time to answer
what's on the minds of Canadian kids.
You know, we had so many submissions
from all across Canada,
and it was really hard to choose just 10.
Oh, I'm really excited about it
and looking forward to it.
So, are you guys ready for your first question?
Ready for it.
All right, let's do this.
Hi, Mr. Prime Minister.
My name is Gwyneth Scholar and I am eight years old
from Maple, Ontario.
And I would like to know, how is your family
keeping busy while social distancing?
Thank you.
Thanks, Gwyneth, for your question.
Obviously, it's a difficult time
for all families right now.
From doing lots of homework on the computer
and keeping up with schoolwork
to trying to play different games
and keep busy throughout the long days
with brothers and sisters
without being able to talk to or see friends,
talking a lot on the phone and over Facetime.
You know, kids are trying to find different ways
to get through days when we are all stuck at home,
where we're not able to go out and see our friends,
we're not able to do the things
that we usually like to do.
But we're really holding together as families
in Canada, and that's a really good thing.
And how about you, Dr. Tam,
how is your family keeping busy
while social distancing?
I actually spend a lot of time just connecting
socially, even though we're practicing
physical distancing.
So it's really important to connect with family
by phone or by video so that you know,
everybody continues to have
our great relationships.
I actually love playing with Legos,
so that's what I do sometimes.
Same, I love it, too.
Yes!
OK, thank you for that.
Our next question comes from Malak,
who is eight years old and lives in Halifax.
Malak actually wrote us a letter.
"Yesterday, my dad was supposed to come home from
"a short business trip in Dubai,
"but all the airports were closed and all flights
"are cancelled.
"I am writing to you because you promised
"to bring all Canadians back home.
"I miss my dad so much.
"My family and I are very worried about him
"and my mom is taking care of all of us by herself.
Please help him come back home quickly."
First of all Malak, I know how hard this is.
I know how scary this is.
This is a situation where you really want
to have your dad with you, your family with you,
and it's tough for you to be apart.
That's why the government is trying to work really,
really hard to bring people home from around
the world so that they can come back to Canada
and be with their families.
It's tough because lots of different countries
have put in new rules and closed down flights,
but we're working really, really hard to bring
families together because we know that
to get through this time, it's always easier
when you're surrounded with the people you love.
So I understand how scary this is
and how frustrating this is, and know that
we're all working together to try and make sure
your dad comes home.
Thank you.
Here's our third question.
In BC, people are thanking health care workers
by cheering them on after their shift ends
through their balconies.
[roaring applause and cheers]
Hello, sir! My name's Cortana.
I'm 10 years old. I live in Ontario,
but right now I'm with my mom in BC.
I have a question.
What can we do to support the health care workers,
other than going out at 7:00 every day
and cheering them on?
The other thing we can do, we need to do,
is make sure that we don't get ourselves sick
so they have to take care of more and more people.
And that's why it's so important to stay home,
it's so important to keep our distances
and not go out if you absolutely don't have to
and wash your hands regularly.
But I'm here also with Dr. Tam,
who is Canada's top doctor,
who is going to talk to us about the things
that we need to do to keep our health professionals safe
and support them.
All of the health professionals
who are working really, really hard are heroes
and I'm sure they really appreciate anything that
would cheer them on as they're doing
their difficult work.
And absolutely, keeping ourselves healthy,
practicing the physical distancing of two metres.
Definitely try and stay home if you're sick
and wash your hands frequently.
All of these things can help prevent large numbers
of people needing to have medical care,
so everything that each one of us are doing
every day, which is really difficult,
is going to really help all of our healthcare workers.
Those are some great suggestions, thank you.
Our next question comes from a brother and sister.
Their question: "We are really scared of what
"will happen to us if our parents get COVID-19.
"Who will take care of us if they have to go
to the hospital and we can't be with them?"
Oh, Chris, Giulianna, I can understand
how scared you are.
That's a really, really scary thought.
Canadians have been there for each other.
When we get into difficult situations,
this is what we do.
We lean on each other.
Our government is doing things to make sure
that people are all right, but neighbours are looking out
for each other.
There are great community organizations.
What we do as Canadians is look out for each other
and make sure that nobody is left alone.
So I know it's a scary time,
but you also need to know
you're in one of the best countries in the world
for people to be there for each other,
to support each other.
And we're going to make sure
that nobody goes through this alone.
And what do you think, Dr. Tam,
who is going to look after kids if their parents
are in the hospital?
Well, that's actually a really difficult thing
to think about, so it's normal to feel frightened
a little bit.
What I would suggest, actually,
is make sure your parents know that you're worried.
Talk to them, and actually make a plan ahead of time.
It's always good to plan ahead
to know what would happen should they get sick,
making sure that all the other,
you have other contacts, as well.
You know, there are many people who can help you,
but make that plan ahead of time
so that you know who they may be.
And we also have other ways of helping kids,
such as the
So there's many different ways
which we can help each other.
So please, talk to your parents.
Here's a video from a kid
who is also in Montreal.
He has a question a lot of kids are asking.
Mohammad is turning 11 next month, he asks...
Hello, Mr. Prime Minister.
My name is Mohammad Ahmed.
I live in Montreal and I'm going to be 11 next month.
My question for you is, do you think
we will go back to school before the summer?
Thank you.
Oh, that's a really good question, Mohammad.
That's a question that my kids are asking me
all the time, because when we were all off around
spring break, they were like, "yay, no school!"
But now they're realizing that they want
to see their friends, they want to get back
to their activities and their sports,
and maybe school isn't so bad when compared
to having to sit at the kitchen table
and do all your work on your own
with your parents sometimes helping.
We don't know how long it's going to be.
But we do know that the better job we do
of staying home, of supporting each other
through this by not going outside
more than we have to, unless we absolutely have to,
and keeping two metres apart if we ever do,
that is going to keep us safe
and it's going to get us through this better.
It's going to take a while still,
and we're going to have to keep watching carefully
to make sure that we're making the right decisions
along the line, but nobody exactly knows
when things are going to pick up again.
We just know that while we're going through this,
we all have to keep doing the right things,
like I know you are, Mohammad.
Here's your next question.
It's from Sarah who is six and lives in Toronto.
Hi, my name is Sarah.
I'm six years old and I'm from Toronto.
Mr. Trudeau, I want to ask you a question.
Where do homeless people go to be safe
from the coronavirus?
Oh Sarah, that is a wonderful question,
and it is so nice that you're asking about that,
because we know that everyone is worried
about coronavirus and we've asked everyone to stay home,
but if you don't have a home,
that's really, really difficult.
That's why we have to make sure as a country
that we are taking care of everybody,
especially our most vulnerable.
That's why one of the things we've done
is we've given a lot of money to homeless shelters,
to community shelters, to try and make sure
that they have room for people who need a home
and have extra money to be able to rent new spaces
or create separation
so people don't spread COVID-19 to each other.
These are the kinds of things we have to think about,
and we're all lucky to be living in a country
where we do think about people who are more vulnerable,
who have less, and who need our support, too.
So I really thank you for that beautiful question, Sarah.
OK. Here's your next question.
Cecilia is 12 years old and lives in Cantley, Quebec.
She writes, "I am seeing that the pandemic
"has caused a reduction in pollution.
"What will the Government of Canada do
"to protect the quality of air
when the economy starts up again?"
That's a really great question.
We know that we have to protect the environment,
we have to make sure we're fighting climate change
every single day.
During this time of pandemic, of crisis,
there's less economic activity,
so there is less pollution.
But as we come out of it, we're going to have to
make sure that we're keeping up our fight
against pollution, that we're doing things
like eliminating single-use plastics,
that we're protecting more of our oceans
and our land, and that we're continuing to work
really, really hard to protect the environment
for you, for future generations.
This is something that really,
really matters to me, it really matters
to a lot of Canadians.
And I think we're all thinking about how
the world might be a little bit different
when we come out of this crisis.
We're all going to learn about different things
and do things slightly differently.
Do you think that they actually will, like,
they will come out, come back after this all ends
and be more precautious of what they do?
Discovering that each of us is really important
in the choices we make, no matter how small they seem,
is, I think, a lesson that people
are going to understand even more when we get through this,
and taking care of our planet that takes care of us
is going to be a big part of that.
Now, here is a question from way up North!
Hello! I live in Iqaluit.
My name is Luke.
It's cold here.
Can COVID-19 survive in Iqaluit if it's so cold?
[chuckles] Great question, Luke!
The reality is coronavirus can be present
wherever there are people who are present,
but I think that's a great science-y question
that we can ask Dr. Tam about.
So Dr. Tam, what do you think?
Well, we're learning more and more
about the coronavirus each day, but unfortunately,
the cold or snow can't keep out the coronavirus.
Every country in the world actually has been affected
by coronavirus, so unfortunately,
it will be no different in Iqaluit.
So no, cold temperatures, snow,
freezing temperatures is not going to affect
the fact that the coronavirus can impact
communities there.
OK, thank you.
Let's go back to BC.
Hello, Mr. Prime Minister.
Do you think Canadian scientists are going
to come up with a vaccination for the coronavirus soon?
My name is Mohamad, I'm nine years old
and I live in Kamloops, BC.
Thank you.
Great question.
You know, Canadian scientists
are among the best in the world.
We have some of the top researchers and doctors
and scientists anywhere.
And they're working really, really hard,
along with other people and other great scientists
around the world to try and get a vaccine
for coronavirus, but it's going to take a while.
So I will turn to Dr. Tam, who will fill us in
a little more on what that's going to look like.
Well, I'm really happy that kids
are interested in vaccines.
It will take about at least a year
for the vaccine to be developed.
Normally, it can take up to 10 years,
so you can imagine a one-year timeline
is actually really, really fast,
so everybody is working as hard as they can
to bring us the vaccine.
All right, we've made it to question 10!
This is one of my favourite questions
and I need both of you to answer this.
Jack is six years old and he's from Newfoundland.
He asks, "What song do you guys sing in your mind
while you wash your hands?"
[chuckles]
You can sing any song you want
as long as it lasts long enough.
I tend to sing "Happy Birthday,"
because I like thinking that it might be
my birthday today, or any given day,
and if you're singing it over and over again,
it's easy to sing a song that you know
really, really well and always makes you happy to sing.
What about you, Dr. Tam?
What song do you recommend people sing
when they wash their hands?
I sing different songs on different days.
so when it's raining, I might sing, you know,
a different song like,
♪ I'm singing in the rain! ♪
And then if, you know, on another day,
I might sing something else, like,
♪ We will, we will wash you! ♪
-You know. -[Arjun and Mr. Trudeau laugh]
So it depends on my mood,
and there's a really cool website, actually,
called washyourlyrics.com from a 17 year old who,
if you plug in the song that you like,
out comes a little poster that tells you,
with your lyrics on it, and how you wash your hands.
So check it out!
Actually, thank you, Dr. Tam,
for giving us a little taste on how you sing.
But Mr. Trudeau, you didn't really give us
a taste of how you sing "Happy Birthday."
Could you do that for us?
Could you sing a little bit of "Happy Birthday" for us?
[chuckles] Oh!
♪ A little happy birthday to you ♪
♪ happy birthday to you ♪
♪ happy birthday happy birthday ♪
♪ happy birthday to you! ♪
And that wasn't 20 seconds, so I do it again!
♪ happy birthday... ♪
And you make sure that it lasts
as long as you possibly can
and you come out smiling at the end of it.
Thank you so much Mr. Trudeau and Dr. Tam
for taking the time to answer
what's on Canadian kids' minds.
And I just wanted to say how I love
how different levels of governments
are putting their politics aside
and working together to keep Canadians safe,
and you know, thank you so much
and I hope we can meet again soon one day.
Thank you, Arjun, that's a lovely thing to say...
-Thank you. -..but it really is true.
That in this time of crisis,
all different governments are coming together.
We're all working together
at all orders of government across the country -
the premiers, the mayors, all different levels
working together so we can get through this.
Because that's how we're going to get through this -
together, even though we're keeping apart.
♪ ♪
Wow! That was pretty cool.
Thank you to everyone who sent your questions.
For more updates on the coronavirus,
head over to CBCKidsNews.ca.
For
♪ ♪