Canada

Trudeau’s daily coronavirus update: ’We’re giving this fight everything we’ve got’ (Full transcript)

In his April 2 address to Canadians on the COVID-19 crisis, the PM said he will be meeting with premiers to discuss sharing of coronavirus data, as the country’s total number of cases passes the 10,000 mark
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during his daily press conference on COVID-19 in front of his residence at Rideau Cottage, on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Sunday, March 29, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Prime Minister Trudeau speaks during his daily press conference on COVID-19 in front of his residence at Rideau Cottage, on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on March 29 (The Canadian Press/ Justin Tang)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a daily update on the coronavirus crisis each day in front of his home in Ottawa. Here are his remarks for April 2, 2020.

[translated from French] Good morning, everyone.

It is clear that the last few weeks have been quite difficult for a great many people. You were wondering how you could work from home and how you were going to be able to pay your bills after losing your job. That can be tough, to stay positive and it’s normal for you to be frustrated. But if you are going through a particularly dark period, ask for help. There are people out there who can help you. And if you think that a friend or a member of the family needs help, give them a quick call.

Tell him that you’re there to listen. We are going through a difficult time now but we’re going through this together and help is coming. [end of translation]

This evening, I’ll be chairing a First Ministers’ meeting with the premiers. We’re going to talk about how to continue working together to keep people safe and supported. Over the last few weeks in the face of an unprecedented challenge, we’ve seen all levels of government cooperating on a response. And going forward, that collaboration will become even more important. We will be there to support the provinces and territories with whatever they need.

This includes sending personal protective equipment and other supports for the health care system. Last night, we received a shipment of over a million masks to a Hamilton warehouse. I know the people there have been working overnight to validate these supplies.

READ: These charts show how our fight to ‘flatten the curve’ is going

This is in addition to the 10 million masks that have come in over the last days and are being distributed to the provinces and territories as quickly as possible.

And this Team Canada effort goes beyond government. About two weeks ago, we launched Canada’s plan to mobilize industry to fight COVID-19. Since then, we’ve spoken to almost 3,000 companies helping us secure millions of pieces of vital equipment.

I want to share a quintessentially Canadian example of this collaboration. Our government has ordered hundreds of thousands of face shields from Bauer, the people who make hockey gear. They’re creating shields to protect nurses and doctors against COVID-19. This is exactly the kind of innovative, collaborative thinking we need right now, and I know we’re going to see more of it in the coming days.

In our conversation tonight, the premiers and I will also discuss our continued coordination and sharing of data and modelling. We need to work together to know what’s needed, where and when, for communities right across the country. Provinces have been making significant progress on testing backlogs which is giving experts important data to analyze. And we’re constantly getting and validating more data. That means we can share more information with you. You can go to canada.ca/coronavirus for the latest information about cases, growth and spread.

But I know a lot of people are still wondering when this will get better or how much worse it might become. You want to see the numbers and the predictions. You want to wake up in the morning and look online for the latest, more credible data you can find. You want to plan. You want to prepare for the worst; you want to know what to be hopeful about. I know. And we’ll have more information, keeping coming to you with it soon.

But the biggest variable in shaping these projections is you and your behaviour. You must listen to the world-class doctors who are already sharing the best available information and advice. Ignoring them puts lives at risk. It’s up to you to do the right thing.

While many of you are staying home and limiting trips to the grocery store, too many still aren’t.

READ: A heat map of coronavirus cases in Canada

What the experts are telling us is that we must do everything we can today and tomorrow to set us on the right path for next week and next month.

It takes time for the effects of our actions to be felt, so if we don’t want our hospitals to be overwhelmed in the coming weeks, we need to make the right choices, and we need to make them now.

Our public health care system is strong, and our health care professionals are remarkable. But they’re facing a threat. If every single one of us steps us right now, we can help them. If you listen to doctors, if you stay home, if you stay away from other people, we won’t overwhelm our hospitals. We will protect our doctors and nurses; we will protect our friends and neighbours.

It’s going to take distancing and time to flatten the curve, but that’s how we’ll get through this. So let’s save lives together, by staying apart. We’ll keep working around the clock, to get you the help you need to do just that.

[translated from French] To protect your jobs, your business and your wages, we brought in a three-point plan that will help you until things get better. Thanks to the emergency wage subsidy, we are helping your employers to keep you on the payroll. With the new guaranteed loans for all businesses, we have business owners who can now receive credit in order to come through these tough times. And with the Canada Emergency Benefit, we will be helping people until things get better, if you’ve lost your job or your paycheque. [translation ends]

I want you to know that we’re giving this fight everything we’ve got. Just yesterday, we announced the biggest economic measures in our lifetime. Governments of all orders are organizing the most significant civic mobilization since WWII. Doctors and nurses, truckers and air cargo operators are scaling up operations to levels we’ve never seen before in our history. But here’s the truth. None of that will be enough without your help.

[translated from French] The idea of serving one’s country changes from one generation to the next. Your grandfather may have served this country by going abroad and fighting a war. Your mother may have fought for more equality. But now, it’s your turn. It’s your turn to contribute to the general effort.

You can serve your country by staying home and following the rules. I know that that may seem simplistic but it’s the only way to come through this trial.

Every single one of us has to do their part. We must all sacrifice our routine so that life will return to normal at some point.

I know that we can and that we will together.

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