Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is willing to help the provinces and territories increase their testing and contact tracing capabilities — two factors seen as vital to Canada’s pandemic recovery.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today the federal government is willing to help the provinces and territories increase their testing and contact tracing capabilities — two factors seen as vital to Canada’s pandemic recovery.
The topic is expected to dominate the premiers’ weekly call with Trudeau later this evening.
“We have already seen significant ramp-ups of testing in places like Ontario and Quebec, where there is a need for even greater testing. Last week with the premiers, I laid out that offer, that the federal government could take it on,” Trudeau said during his daily press conference at Rideau Cottage.
Watch: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the importance of contact tracing
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says conversations continue with the premiers to scale up COVID-19 testing as lockdowns ease and economies begin reopening. 1:21
“We’re going to continue discussing that tonight, and talk precisely about how we can scale up testing immediately in places where it’s necessary, like in Ontario and Quebec, and be ready to scale up almost instantly in places where, right now, the virus is pretty well under control. But any flare-ups need to be responded to extremely quickly.”
The prime minister suggested Ottawa is willing to step up with financial s