By Chris Brown

Update from the PM

PM announces $133 million in support for Indigenous businesses

Jun 11, 2020 | 9:39 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy today, touring a business that has pivoted to pitch in during the COVID-19 pandemic by supplying masks to people in its community.

Trudeau spoke from Régimbal Awards and Promotions in Ottawa, a company that took advantage of the federal wages subsidy to stay in operation.

Trudeau said that during the early days of the pandemic the company reduced its staff down to just three people.

“They were worried about making ends meet,” he said. “Today, because they used the wage subsidy, this business is now back to 16 staff.”

The company also took advantage of the Canada Emergency Business Account and the rent subsidy, said Trudeau.

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Trudeau said making sure small businesses have the support they need to keep their doors open and restart following the pandemic.

The prime minister also announced an investment of $133 million to support Indigenous businesses, protect jobs and help communities weather this storm.”

Of that, $117 million will be invested in small and community-owned Indigenous businesses, and $16 million will support Indigenous businesses in the tourism industry.

Trudeau also said exact amounts for the accelerated funding for communities announced last week will be made available today.

Off the top, Trudeau chided the Conservative party this morning for denying a one-time payment for Canadians with disabilities.

He told Canadians — particularly those living with or who cares for someone who lives with a disability — that they will keep working on getting money to them.

“We’re not going to let you be left behind.”

The payment was part of a larger piece of legislation but the Liberals separated it from the rest.

“The Conservatives decided that no, political advantages and political concerns were more important than getting an extra $600 to Canadians living with disabilities,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau also defended RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, on Wednesday said she is struggling with the definition of systemic racism.

“We’re facing a really important time in our country right now where we are recognizing what many Indigenous and racialized Canadians have known for a long time,” Trudeau said.

“Recognizing that is difficult, and we need to make sure we are moving forward in meaningful ways, and that’s also going to be difficult … I think we’ve seen that institutions and organizations and even different parts of the country are struggling with this very difficult issue.”

As of Thursday morning, Canada had 97,125 confirmed cases and 7,960 deaths. There have been 56,639 recovered in Canada and 1,989,255 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 7,276 cases and 149 deaths. A total of 278,556 Albertans have been tested. There are 371 active cases in Alberta.