Speaking outside Rideau Cottage, where he continues to work under quarantine, Trudeau said the deal to send back asylum seekers was struck with American officials over the past 24 hours.

Until Friday, Ottawa said it was preparing to isolate incoming asylum seekers who cross at places like Quebec’s Roxham Rd. for the requisite two weeks in unspecified facilities set up and run by the government.

But Trudeau said this deal will help protect Canadians from the new coronavirus that has killed more than 10,000 people around the world since it emerged in China almost three months ago.

Trudeau said he is “confident” most people trying to enter irregularly into Canada can remain legally in the U.S. and won’t be deported from there to their countries of origin.

“We are comfortable with this process as being in line with Canada’s values on the treatment of refugees and vulnerable people,” he said.

The federal government is also embarking on a “new strategy” to help auto parts manufacturers switch to pumping out medical supplies as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect more Canadians every day.

The federal government will also help “scale up” production of equipment like medical masks and other protective equipment at manufacturing facilities that are already making them.

Source:thestar.com/politic