Canada pledges $850 million to global Covid battle

Canada has committed 850-million dollars to the global fight against Covid-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that includes investments in Canadian and international research for things like vaccines, treatments and testing.

“The more we cooperate, the more likely that we will find a cure, and find it quickly. And that’s something we all want to see,” stated Trudeau at his national address Monday.

Trudeau also said his government is looking at ways to help certain industries such as airlines, and is discussing if the wage subsidy will need to be extended past June.

“We in Canada have a very strong airline sector, and we need to continue to have a strong airline sector once this is all done, so we’re looking very carefully at how to support industries like that,” said Trudeau who noted the wage subsidy and emergency response benefit (CERB) are programs that are helping

Trudeau says due to the uncertainty created by the pandemic, and the billions of dollars in support programs, the government has not decided if it will announce a budget or economic update in the next while.

“We will continue to be open and transparent at every step,” commented Trudeau.

Trudeau also urged Canadians to pay tribute to the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe Day at 11 a.m. Pacific time today, with two minutes of silence to the veterans,

Trudeau said thousands of Canadians pushed back the occupying forces in 1944 and 1945, defending the values we hold dear of peace, democracy, the role of law and human rights.