PM tells Freeland to spend until crisis ends — with caveat

Emergency spending to deal with the COVID-19 crisis must not outlast the pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has instructed Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, shown. Trudeau says she should use “whatever fiscal firepower” is needed until the economy recovers, but must “avoid creating new permanent spending.” He published updated mandates for his ministers on Friday. They touch on addressing systemic racism in the justice system to drafting new Criminal Code penalties for elder abuse and neglect, prioritizing Canada-u.s. relations, greening the economy, online hate and extremism, national standards for long-term care, getting enough COVID-19 vaccines for the country and ensuring travellers get refunds for flights cancelled due to the pandemic.