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Hello everyone.
Yesterday, we presented our government’s plan to support Canadians through the second wave of COVID-19, and rebuild a strong, resilient economy.
There are lots of important measures to cover, but first, I want to start with fighting COVID-19.
Because right now, job one remains protecting you and your family.
To date, we’ve secured billions of pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE), tens of millions of rapid test kits, and signed deals for hundreds of millions of doses of seven vaccine candidates.
Canada now has the most diverse portfolio of any country for vaccines.
We’re in the right place to have access to safe, effective vaccines as soon as possible.
As the co-founder of Moderna said over the weekend, Canada was among the first to pre-order their vaccine doses.
We are guaranteed some of Moderna’s first batch if the vaccine is safe and approved.
Already, Moderna has submitted their candidate for Health Canada review, as have Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca-Oxford.
And just yesterday, Johnson & Johnson joined this list as the fourth candidate for Health Canada review.
As I outlined on Friday, our government is also working around the clock with the provinces and territories, and through the new National Operations Centre, on the vaccine rollout.
We’ve invested in everything from freezers to needles, to be sure every Canadian has access to the vaccine, no matter where they live.
We are ready to distribute the vaccines as soon as possible.
But before we get there, currently, our top priority is still flattening the curve and saving lives.
That’s why we are continuing to buy PPE and to send it to front line workers.
We are also working on strengthening testing capacity in the provinces and territories.
Over the past few months, we have signed agreements with several leading manufacturers for up to 40.5 million rapid tests.
Over 5 million of these tests have already been sent to the provinces and territories, and more will follow.
During this second wave, these fast and precise tests are essential to protecting people and to slowing down the virus.
They are especially important in rural and remote communities, where access to nearby laboratories is limited.
In addition to testing, more funding is also going toward modelling to better track and understand how the virus is spreading, and to help keep communities safe.
Eight of every 10 dollars spent in Canada to fight COVID-19 and support Canadians has been spent by the federal government.
This includes the investments we’ve made for PPE, testing, and vaccines.
It also includes the historic measures we’ve rolled out for families, small businesses, young people, and seniors.
These are programs you’ve relied on to get through this crisis.
To help you put food on the table, or afford your rent.
To save your small businesses. To keep your job.
To make sure we make it through as best as we possibly can, all together.
In the second wave, you may still need that support.
That will be our approach.
We’ll continue to be there for the middle class and those working hard to join it—whatever it takes, as long as it takes, until we get through this pandemic.
Today, we saw new data released by Statistics Canada that shows significant economic growth over the past few months.
This goes to show that the investments we’ve made in Canadians have helped families and businesses stay afloat.
But there are still tough times ahead.
So we’ll continue to be there for people, especially those who are hardest hit by this crisis.
The Fall Economic Statement that the Deputy Prime Minister presented yesterday outlines the range of new measures we will be taking to help Canadians during this crisis.
For families with children under the age of six, we will be boosting the Canada Child Benefit with temporary support totalling up to an additional $1,200.
For young people, we will be eliminating interest on student loans for one year.
For small businesses and workers, we will be boosting the wage subsidy.
For farmers, we will be investing $2 billion to help supply-managed dairy, poultry, and egg farmers.
We will be there for you, your family, and your community during this second wave.
Together, we will get through this.
Together, we will emerge even stronger.
With vaccines on the horizon, the end to this crisis is in sight.
That means it’s time to look at what’s coming next.
We have an ambitious plan to rebuild a strong, resilient economy that works for everyone.
To help get there, our government will introduce a historic—and appropriate—stimulus plan of 3 per cent to 4 per cent of GDP. This will be a significant investment to get our economy back on track.
And it’s an investment that will make sure that no one gets left behind.
We need to address the very real gaps this crisis has laid bare—for women and for Black and racialized Canadians, for young people and for Indigenous people.
Because we are all better off when everyone can contribute to their full potential.
By making smart, targeted investments, we can rebuild a stronger, fairer Canada.
We can invest in climate measures, like home energy retrofits, which promote the creation of good jobs for the middle class and create a competitive, clean economy for years to come.
This crisis will not last forever.
The plan that the Deputy Prime Minister presented yesterday is based on a strong fiscal position and sets out responsible actions to move forward.
This has been a difficult year, and the months ahead will also have their challenges.
But we have a plan to help Canadians to get through this crisis and to build a better, stronger Canada for everyone.
The Fall Economic Statement we presented yesterday is our roadmap for the path ahead.
But our response to this crisis doesn’t end there.
On that note, I can confirm that our government is providing additional support to two more communities facing very serious local outbreaks.
To begin with, the Canadian Red Cross will be providing assistance to the Government of Nunavut to control the spread of COVID-19 and keep people safe.
For the community of Arviat, the Red Cross is deploying specialists on the ground, as well as providing rapid testing support at the Winnipeg isolation site before people return to Nunavut.
We’ve also approved a request for assistance for Hatchet Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan for the Canadian Rangers until at least December 26.
Along with members of the community, the Rangers will be there to help with everything from health services to support for elders. When we invest in support for communities and for local organizations, we invest in Canadians.
I think of the story I shared back in March about Samaritan House in Brandon, Manitoba.
Thanks to funding we provided in the spring, Samaritan House was able to extend the hours at their shelter and stock up their food bank.
Today, I was told that they are now expanding their programs to reach even more people in need.
Whether with funding for shelters, new support for small businesses, or investments in vaccines, we’ve got your back.
There may be tough days ahead, but together we’ll get through them.
We all have a role to play in fighting COVID-19.
No matter who you are, you can make a difference.
By wearing a mask and keeping your distance, you are keeping your loved ones safe.
By avoiding gatherings and using the COVID Alert app, you are saving lives.
I know the weeks ahead will not be easy.
But we will get through this, together.
Thank you everyone.