By Chris Brown

Canada is at a crossroads

Trudeau: Second wave of COVID-19 is here

Sep 23, 2020 | 4:46 PM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is at a crossroads in the fight against COVID-19, saying the second wave of the virus isn’t just starting.

“It’s already underway,” he said, addressing the nation from Parliament Hill. “The numbers are clear. Back on March 13 when we went into lockdown there were 47 cases of COVID-19. yesterday alone there were well over 1,000.”

He said the country is on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring, saying the current numbers can’t be changed.

“But what we can change is where we are in October and into the winter. It’s all too likely we won’t be gathering for Thanksgiving. But we still have a shot at Christmas,” Trudeau said.

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The prime minister encouraged Canadians to use the tools and knowledge that weren’t available in the spring, such as wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, using the contact tracing app and getting a flu shot.

He added multiple deals are being signed on potential vaccines, therapeutics, personal protective equipment in an effort to keep Canadians safe and that when faster testing is approved it will be rolled out across the country.

“Protecting your health is the best thing we can do for the economy, so that’s what we’re working on first,” Trudeau said.

An expanded employment insurance program and an extended Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy will help Canadians financially while the economy recovers, said the prime minister.

He said that while the costs now are concerning to some, in the short term the government will keep investing.

“Doing less would end up costing far more. Doing less would mean a slower recovery and bigger deficits in the long run.”

Conservative Party of Canada Leader Erin O’Toole recorded his thoughts on the throne speech earlier in the day. O’Toole spoke from his home, where he and his wife have been isolating since testing positive for COVID-19 last week.

“The situation facing my family shows that we must remain extremely vigilant in our battle against the spread of COVID-19,” he said, asking Canadians to be mindful of that in the coming days.

O’Toole said that after four years of Trudeau as prime minister the country is more divided, less prosperous and less respected on the world stage.

“Across this country, millions of Canadians have lost their jobs, many fear losing their homes and too many have lost hope. Mr. Trudeau says we’re all in this together, but Canada has never been more divided,” O’Toole said.

He said Canada must be more resilient and self-reliant for the future, more nimble and community-focused.

O’Toole said before the recorded comments that the Conservatives would not be supporting the throne speech.