Words to remember: Canadian newsmakers have their say on COVID-19

A look at some of the top quotes from across Canada on Thursday in relation to COVID-19:

“If we all stopped moving for two weeks and nobody talked to anybody for two weeks and we all just stayed put, in fact we would see this virus would die.” — Health Minister Patty Hajdu.

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“The hard truth is right now, today, there’s very little separating what we will face here in Ontario from the devastation we’ve seen in Italy and Spain.” — Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

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“There must be no visits in residences. It’s a matter of life and death.” — Quebec Premier Francois Legault.

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“Provided there is live racing at Woodbine this year, the Queen’s Plate will 100 per cent be run. Even if it’s without spectators, we will run the race.” — Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson on the postponement of the Queen’s Plate, a horse race held every year in Toronto since 1860.

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“In New York, it’s just exploding, and it’s pretty scary. And I know people in Canada that are still getting together with people and I’m just like, ‘Stay home. It’s so bad.'” — New York-based Canadian Allana Harkin.

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“Isolation gowns, reusable and disposable, are made in China, so to build a small resource base in Canada is important to dealing with crises like this in the future. You can’t have your supply chain be permitted to suddenly fall to zero like this.” — Jon Stanfield, CEO of Stanfield’s Ltd., a longtime undergarment maker now manufacturing personal protective equipment and clothing for front-line health workers.

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“We need a leader who is focused on the health and safety of Albertans. Instead (Health Minister Tyler Shandro) is focused on his own personal vendettas.” — Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley during question period. After she spoke, government house leader Jason Nixon accused Notley of playing partisan politics in the middle of a pandemic.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2020.

The Canadian Press