OTTAWA—The federal government is making an emotional plea to Canadians to voluntarily comply with advice meant to slow the spread of COVID-19, even as it examines more stringent measures to address the crisis — including potentially declaring a national emergency.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Patty Hajdu again urged Canadians to stay home if possible, to wash their hands, to avoid shaking hands and to keep a healthy distance from one another while in public.

She also acknowledged the immense strain the situation is putting on people across the country.

“I’m very impressed by Canadians coming together in this crisis, but I am not surprised … we will get through this hard time together,” Hajdu said before a cabinet meeting on the pandemic.

“So my last appeal is to make sure that you’re kind to one another. Check in with vulnerable people by phone,” Hajdu said, her voice momentarily wavering. “Think of ways you can help to make sure we get through this together. There are lonely people. There are frightened people. And it doesn’t take a lot to reach out to them.”

It was a moment that acknowledged the social costs of the pandemic — the isolation and anxiety of another day indoors — and courage shown by those who are continuing to work to provide essential services during the outbreak.

But with the public health emergency just beginning, and the economic crisis deepening, the government is preparing a suite of measures aimed at easing more immediate concerns.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that MPs would be asked to return to Ottawa to pass “emergency economic measures” to support individual Canadians and their employers during the crisis. The measures under consideration include:

Support through Employment Insurance (EI) for those who qualify;

Direct financial support for Canadians who don’t qualify for EI;

Money to businesses to keep employees on the payroll, even if they stay home;

Helping businesses get access to credit and loans;

Help with mortgage payments;

Funnelling cash through the Canada Child Benefit and the GST credit for low-income Canadians.

“We’re looking at giving more flexibility for people to make payments and for businesses to have more liquidity during this time,” Trudeau said.

Ottawa will also give Canadians an extra month to file their taxes, the Star confirmed Tuesday, with the new filing deadline expected to be June 1. That follows a move by the Quebec government to do the same for provincial tax returns.

“As we worked to harmonize our measures with our provincial partners, Canadians can expect more of the same measures in tomorrow’s federal announcement,” wrote Janick Cormier, the director of communications for Revenue Minister Dianne Lebouthillier.

Both the Conservatives and New Democrats signalled their willingness to get back to Ottawa to discuss the Liberal government’s proposals, with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh saying his party is willing to do “whatever it takes” to get support to “workers, small business owners, and parents” as soon as possible.

But Trudeau and his cabinet also began discussions Tuesday about the possibility of invoking the Emergency Act, which grants the federal government exceptional powers rarely used outside of wartime.

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Invoking a national emergency would allow the federal government a range of powers, including limiting travel, requisitioning private property for temporary hospitals or emergency shelters, and controlling the flow of goods.

“A state of emergency isn’t necessarily something in itself. It is a way of enacting measures that otherwise would not be enacted,” Trudeau told reporters outside Rideau Cottage, where he is self-isolating after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for COVID-19.

“We are looking at the Emergency Act to look at what those measures are that it would make available, and whether there are other ways without having to bring in a state of emergency,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters that declaring a state of emergency is a last resort.

“We began a discussion of it today. And we are also very aware … that it could never be invoked without consultations with the provinces,” Freeland said.

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