Border to remain closed to non-essential travel for another month

Trudeau also announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is being extended through the summer.

“This is about getting people back to work and giving businesses the confidence to reopen, rehire and even grow,” he said. “Because the way our economy will recover and the way our country will remain resilient and successful is by getting Canadians back to work.

Trudeau said many businesses are already benefitting from the program, and implored those that haven’t to use the subsidy to rehire workers.

Trudeau also announced the government is expanding the eligibility of the Canada Emergency Business Account. Already, he said, 600,000 businesses have benefitted from the program.

Eligibility has been extended to anyone who is the sole operator of a business, any business that relies on contractors, and family-owned businesses that pay employees through dividends will now qualify.

The prime minister said, for example, gyms that have contracted trainers and hair salons that rent chairs to stylists will now qualify.

On the Keystone XL pipeline, Trudeau said he has always advocated for it and will continue to work with whoever is elected in the U.S. in November to “impress upon them how important Canada is as a secure and reliable supply of energy.”

Over the weekend, the campaign of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said if he takes over the White House next year he would reverse President Donald Trump’s approvals for the Keystone XL pipeline.

Trudeau said more personal protective equipment will be going out to the provinces and territories in the coming days, including surgical gowns, glasses and ventilators. He later added the capacity for contact tracing and testing will be increased as provinces begin to reopen the economy.

In his opening remarks, Trudeau paid tribute to Capt. Jennifer Casey, who died in the Snowbird crash on Sunday in Kamloops.

“My thoughts and the thoughts of all Canadians are with the families of Captain Casey, Captain MacDougall and the entire snowbirds team,” said Trudeau. “This has been a very difficult few weeks for members of the Canadian Armed Forces. As we mourn we remember Captain Casey as a proud Nova Scotian and an outstanding service woman A journalist who turned her talents to the forces. She will be remembered not just for her professionalism but for her sense of humour and for her kindness. As we honour her, we pay tribute to the bravery of all those who serve today.”

The Snowbirds were on a cross-country tour over the past weeks in an effort to boost Canadians’ morale during the pandemic.

As of Tuesday morning, Canada had 78,488 confirmed cases, 11 probable cases and 5,857 deaths. There have been 1,331,173 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 6,683 cases and 128 deaths. A total of 199,237 Albertans have been tested.

by Chris Brown

Border to remain closed to non-essential travel for another month

Our Community