Hello everyone.

Before we get started, I want to recognize the great work that all of Team Canada has done ahead of today’s United Nations Security Council vote.

We’re running for the Security Council seat because we saw a unique opportunity to engage with our partners across the UN, to build sustainable peace, and to make real progress on the issues that matter.

Around the world, people want many of the same things:

Clean air, a real shot at success, a fair economy, and a just society.

And to make that happen, we have to work together.

Today, and every day, that is something that our government is ready to do.

At the beginning of the year, I don’t think anyone could have predicted what the coming months would hold.

COVID-19 is truly an unprecedented challenge.

And right from the start, it was clear that we needed to put everything we had on the table in response.  

So that’s exactly what our government did.  

In the space of a few weeks, we introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

We created loans for small businesses and put in place support for specific sectors that had been hardest hit.

We rolled out help for seniors, for students, for families.

And every step of the way, we kept Canadians up to date about what we were doing to respond.

Taken together, we’ve now introduced the largest economic measures in our lifetimes – measures that are helping millions of people.

Because that’s what the situation demanded.

Now, as we begin to safely and gradually restart, I know people are wondering what this pandemic will mean for their jobs in the long-run, and what the impact has been on our economy and on our path forward.

We hear that, and we want to make sure that you have the best information possible. 

So today, I can announce that in the House of Commons on July 8, our government will be releasing an economic and fiscal snapshot.

This will give Canadians a picture of where our economy is right now, how our response compares to that of other countries, and what we can expect for the months to come.

Later today, Minister Morneau will formally announce in Parliament that we will be presenting this economic and fiscal snapshot.

Since the beginning of the crisis, we’ve known that COVID-19 would be an unprecedented challenge for our country.

So our response had to reflect that.

Within only a few weeks, our government had introduced a series of measures to help people get through this difficult time.

We created the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

We provided loans to small businesses and targeted support to the sectors that were hardest hit by the crisis.

We wanted to be there for students, retirees and those who were unemployed.

As we start to reopen some activities, a lot of people are asking what they can expect in the coming months and what this means for our economy.

That’s why we’re announcing today that our government will be releasing an economic and fiscal snapshot on July 8 in the House of Commons.

This will provide an update on the economy, outline how our response compares with that of other countries, and explain what we can expect in the months to come.

Minister Morneau will inform Parliament of our plan later today.

Adopting measures to mitigate the consequences of this crisis on our economy is just part of the challenge.

We are also working very hard to ensure that hospitals and front-line workers have the equipment and supplies they need.

And I have some good news to share on that front.

First, our government signed an agreement with Montréal-based Galenvs to produce silica beads, which are essential for testing.

And this week, Health Canada also certified ventilators produced by two Canadian groups: CAE and the Ventilators for Canadians consortium.  

They will now be able to increase their production to manufacture the 20,000 ventilators ordered.

Two years ago, I visited CAE to announce an investment in worker training.

Today, we see why it’s so important to support both Canadian talent and Canadian innovation.

Researchers across the country make incredible discoveries every day, from rapid advances in understanding COVID-19 over the last few months, to years-long studies of climate change and cancer treatments.

It’s in everyone’s interest that they continue doing their vital work.

So today, we’re announcing almost $500 million in funding through NSERC’s annual Discovery Grants program.

This money will support thousands of Canadian researchers and their groundbreaking work, whether they’re studying viruses, developing AI, or making strides in chemical engineering.

Canadians are innovative and creative, and that’s something we’ll always support.

This morning, I want to speak about help for another group of Canadians who do vital work: our fish and seafood producers.

The women and men who work on fishing boats and in processing plants keep our families fed.

But they’ve been facing some really tough times lately.

That’s why in the next week, we’re opening applications for two additional programs to support the sector.

As of today, the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund is available to help producers access new markets, reach new customers, and maintain a foothold internationally.

Canada’s seafood is among the best in the world and this fund will help spread the word.

On Monday, processors will also be able to apply for help through the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund we created this spring.

The fund will provide support for everything from buying PPE to keeping workers safe, to purchasing freezers so products stay good while producers find buyers.

Today, we are announcing the reopening of the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund.

This program will help seafood producers to access new markers, reach new customers, and maintain an international presence.  

And on Monday, processors will also be able to apply for funding through the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund, which we created earlier this spring.

They will be able to use this support to buy personal protective equipment to keep their employees safe or to buy freezers to protect their products if it takes longer than usual to find buyers.

I want to end today with an update on Parks Canada. 

For a lot of people, no summer is complete without getting the tent packed, the kids in the car, and the time off to go camping.

Now, because of the pandemic, many campgrounds had to close temporarily.

But the good news is that as of Monday, Parks Canada will gradually start reopening some of their camping sites.

No matter what you’re planning this summer – whether it’s camping or barbeques – keep following public health recommendations, and keep doing your part to protect the people around you.

Together, we will get through this.

Thank you.