By Chris Brown

Update from the PM

Trudeau: ‘Things will get better’

Apr 9, 2020 | 9:28 AM

Heading into the Easter long weekend, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants Canadians to know this:

“Things will get better,” he said during his Thursday address to the country.

Trudeau delivered that message after referencing the job numbers released by Statistics Canada today. Statistics Canada reports the economy lost 1,011,000 jobs in March as the COVID-19 crisis began to take hold, which lifts the unemployment rate up to 7.8 per cent. Alberta’s unemployment rate went from 7.2 per cent in February to 8.7 per cent in March.

“As stark as those numbers are they aren’t a surprise for a lot of Canadians,” says Justin Trudeau. “We all knew this was going to be a tough time but that’s no comfort if you’re out of a job.”

Statistics Canada retooled some of its usual measures of counting employed, unemployed and “not in the labour force” to better gauge the effects of COVID-19 on the job market, which has been swift and harsh.

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The prime minister says Canadians need “real support” and the government is “doing our best to help bridge to better times.”

He said about 4.5 million Canadians have already been approved for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. Trudeau added work on legislation for a wage subsidy is ongoing and the government will keep expanding our three-point economic plan to get everyone the help they need.

Modelling released today by the Public Health Agency of Canada shows COVID-19 arrived in Canada later than other countries, says Trudeau, so “we’re at an earlier stage of the outbreak and we have a chance to determine what our country will look like.”

The modelling projects that 11,000 to 22,000 Canadians could die of COVID-19 in the coming months.

The health agency says short-term estimates are more reliable, and it anticipates 500 to 700 deaths by the end of next week.

Trudeau added the country is at a fork in the road between the best and worst possible outcomes and that maintaining social distancing is the surest path to meeting the minimums.

Different waves of virus infections are anticipated and Trudeau said those will be easier to manage with the knowledge and equipment acquired during this current wave.

He indicated a measured opening of the economy could come following the first wave but “we’ll need to remain vigilant. We won’t return to normal life until there’s a vaccine.”

Trudeau admits a vaccine is potentially more than a year away.

On help for Canada’s struggling gas industry, Trudeau told reporters the government is working very closely partners to “ensure we have a strong and united front in dealing with this global situation.”

Trudeau also added work continues on reconvening the House of Commons so that legislation can be debated and passed.

Earlier, referencing the 103rd anniversary of Vimy Ridge in the First World War, Trudeau said “As a country we’ve gotten through tough times before.”

“It was a moment ordinary people did extraordinary things. Their sacrifice and courage defined what it is and what it meant to be a Canadian.”

“No matter how long it takes we will be there to support Canadians to get through this.”

As of Thursday morning, Canada 19,759 has confirmed cases, 15 probable cases and 461 deaths. There have been 373,581 Canadians tested.

In Alberta there are 1,423 cases and 29 deaths. A total of 66,783 Albertans have been tested.