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I want to start today by confirming that Canada and the United States have agreed to extend by another 30 days the border measures that are currently in place. This is an important decision, and one that will keep people on both sides of the border safe. It’s another example of the excellent collaboration between our two countries, and I want to thank Minister Bill Blair for leading the discussions with the United States.

This morning, I want to start by updating you on the request for assistance we received from the Government of Quebec on Wednesday night and sharing the latest information on the supply of medical equipment.

Just this morning, I had a call with the other G7 leaders to discuss the pandemic. We all remain committed to doing whatever it takes to help people and our economies rebound after this crisis.

Before I get started, I want to take a moment to recognize Canadians who are doing some of the toughest jobs in the country. The women and men working in our hospitals, our seniors’ homes, and our long-term care facilities are making sacrifices every day.

Today, just like every day, nurses and doctors, lab techs and hospital staff, are hard at work to keep us safe.

I rise here, in this moment, in this House, as our generation faces its greatest challenge yet. We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Of all those Canadians who saw our nation through difficult, tumultuous times in our history.

I know the long weekend coming is very important to many Canadians. Whether you mark Good Friday or Passover, Easter, Tamil New Year or Vaisakhi, usually this is a time we spend together.

I want to start off today by talking about the job report we just received for March. As stark as those numbers are, they aren’t a surprise for a lot of Canadians. Each one represents a different story.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve all had to make changes because of this pandemic. Staying indoors as much as possible and not seeing friends and family is a big adjustment for everyone, but it’s especially hard for some people.

Hello everyone. Before we get into things, I want to address recent news coming out of the UK. My thoughts are with Prime Minister Johnson and his family during this time. I’ve worked with Boris for some time now and I know how committed he is to serving the people of the UK. He’s a fighter. And he will be fighting now to regain his health, and get back to the job he loves. Sophie and I, and all Canadians, are wishing him a speedy recovery. To our British friends – Canadians stand with you. We will get through this together.