Chrystia Freeland Speaks With Provincial & Territorial Counterparts

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, held her sixth biweekly teleconference with provincial and territorial Finance Ministers this week.

Finance Ministers discussed the actions they are taking to manage the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to fighting COVID-19 and ensuring provinces and territories have the support they need to take necessary actions in their own jurisdictions.

The federal government will provide the vaccines free of charge. Other key measures to support Canadians include the proposed increase of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy up to 75 percent, new supports for hard-hit sectors like tourism and hospitality, and up to $1 billion to establish a Safe Long-term Care Fund to help provinces and territories protect people in long-term care and support infection prevention and control.