The last several months have been very challenging for many Manitobans, as we continue to fight against the most serious public health and economic crisis of our lifetime. We are in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now more than ever, we need to protect ourselves and the health of our loved ones.

As a Member of Parliament, I know our federal government has an important role to play in protecting the health and safety of Canadians. This includes the procurement of personal protective equipment for frontline workers, improving our health care system, and supporting the provinces as they increase COVID-19 testing capacity. We have made significant progress on these issues, with the recent procurement of almost eight million rapid testing kits, as well as increasing domestic supplies of protective equipment.

We know that overcoming this pandemic and building a strong economic recovery requires support for Canadian families and small businesses. Those who remain out of work will continue to receive financial support through a robust, accessible EI system. Additional benefits are available for workers who must take a sick leave or who need to take time off work to care for a child due to facility closures. These benefits will continue to provide stable financial support so that Canadians can pay their bills, put food on the table and support their families.

I have heard from many small businesses in our community about the major difficulties they have faced during this pandemic. To support them, we have announced an extension of the wage subsidy program through to next summer, as well as additional interest-free loans through the Canada Emergency Business Account. We’ve also recently introduced a new rent subsidy program, which will provide rent  assistance directly to business owners who have suffered significant revenue losses. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and they deserve our best efforts in helping them weather this difficult time.

More broadly, our government has committed to several programs that will directly impact our community. We’ve committed to accelerating universal pharmacare, establishing national standards for long term care facilities, and increasing the Old Age Security pension for seniors over 75. We will also create a national childcare system, take strong action on climate change, and create one million jobs across the country. As we begin a strong economic recovery across Canada, now is the time to invest in our communities and to “build back better”. 

As seen in the Sou'wester: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/.