By Chris Brown

Update from the PM

PM: Pandemic a chance to shape our world for the better

Jun 22, 2020 | 9:39 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used his regular address from outside Rideau Cottage to announce an investment that helps bring together Canadian innovation and crops.

The government is contributing close to $100 million in the Merit Functional Foods plant in Winnipeg.

“This plant will be a world leader in plant-based proteins and create good jobs in a fast-growing field,” said Trudeau. “And by using 100 per cent Canadian input it will also support farmers who produce the canola and yellow peas used in Merit’s products.”

Trudeau said that as people start eating more plant-based products, Canada can create good, well-paying jobs, something that has already been done with the prairies-based Protein Industries Supercluster.

“With businesses retooling their operations to produce hand sanitizer and people finding creative ways to stay safe, the last few months have shown us the power of thinking the box,” he said. “Going forward, that will serve us very well.”

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Trudeau said the pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge, but also an important opportunity to figure out what really matters in our communities.

“To have meaningful conversations about how we can take care of those around us and perhaps, above all, to think about what kind of future we want to build together,” he said. “We have the chance to shape our country and our world for the better, and I know that we’re up to that task.”

Trudeau also touted the uptake of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, saying employers have helped more than 2.6 million Canadians stay employed.

He also reannounced last week’s two-month extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to help those who work in sectors that have been particularly hard hit.

The prime minister said he understands the frustrations felt by the tourism industry due to the international travel restrictions.

“But every step of the way as we look at those next steps, we need to make sure we are keeping Canadians safe first and foremost,” he said. “We know that reopening to quickly or too carelessly would lead us to a resurgence that might well force us to go back into lockdown, to shut down the economy once again. And nobody wants that.”

The government will continue to be “very, very careful” about when international borders are reopened,” Trudeau said.

As of Monday morning, Canada had 101,337 confirmed cases and 8,430 deaths. There have been 63,886 recoveries in Canada and 2,415,441 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 7,704 cases and 152 deaths. A total of 389,405 tests have been completed in Alberta. There are 534 active cases in Alberta.