Coronavirus outbreak: Trudeau announces $1.1B to fund COVID-19 vaccine development, case tracking

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will spend more than $1 billion to help develop, test and manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as to determine how widely the virus has spread through Canada.

The cash announced today is on top of $275 million in research funding the Liberals announced in March at the outset of the pandemic.

Most of the new money is aimed at funding vaccine development and clinical trials, including $600 million over two years through a federal innovation fund that the government says could help the country’s biomanufacturing sector.

Trudeau also paid tribute on Thursday to the victims of the Nova Scotia shooting that has left at least 22 people dead, saying he spoke with the families of some of the victims and that "in the face of such tragedy, their strength is remarkable." He said he also spoke with RCMP members and local mayors. The prime minister also recognized the difficulties faced by Torontonians on the two-year anniversary of the Toronto van attack, but said "together we mourn, together we heal."

#GlobalNews

[zaiffdeen]

I think the Prime Minister should work for minimum wage and see how it is to survive. Another thing, I’m retired but still have to pay taxes on CPP and OAS, didn’t I pay enough taxes all the time I worked?

[johnstockman]

I've been watching global news for years. Today I'm stopping.

[LeighMcSwan]

Wouldn't it be nice if Canadians had a say in how $1B is spent?

[LiamTwigg-twmt]

This is why just like at home you manage your spending intelligently because things come up.

Suddenly there's untold billions for stuff, yet before we couldn't even help the vets. Weird how that changes

There was always money, just not for the veterans under the Liberals

[jackj]

With 250 billion dollars forked out so far, When Vets were asking for help, remember Justine's, lie, "Their asking for more than we can give".

[tonykennedy]

Real time tracking of people's every move and forced jabs. Tell me this guy isn't fully compromised. I dare you. Sheesh.

[aaronvalerio]

My body shivers in digust everytime Justin delivers his graduation day-like speeches in front of his yard and ends it by saying "we're in this together." I don't know if I'm the only one seeing his insincerity on what he is saying, or shall I say READING!

[asid]

Shame shame shame on the government of Canada.

[MrGlandeux]

We invest in WHO and they failed, we accepted lock on statistic that are fraudulent. And now you give money to buddies when there is no real study made on other alternative that seems to work elsewhere. You failed. If not a traitor.

[DwightStebner]

Anyone else tired of what this poor excuse of a Prime minister has to say?

[Cashiz]

So when do we as canadians decide to just stop paying rent and bills?

[pg]

It is wonderful to see, from the comments, how truly informed Canadians are to this whole sham. My biggest concern is after he completely bankrupts Canada, which will be soon, will the banksters take most of their depositors money in their bank accounts seeing that the PM already signed some legislation to that effect in 2016? How do we protect our savings???

[luckystrike]

Love how that "reporter" made Dr. Tam's incompetence and involvement with the WHO about race and a conservative politician. Paid off much? Kudos to that politician. All should be held accountable and questioned for their corruption regardless of race.

[LadyofCleves]

I never knew Canada had so much money to spare. 9Billion for students and now 1.1 Billion for a vaccine.

[veronicawells]

The RCMP did their negligence and they have to admit their mistakes. They should have put the emergency alert on. Many lives would have been saved. Why RCMP, didn't put a helicopter in the air since the criminal was still on the loose for 12 to 16 hours.

[daver]

the quarantining of perfectly healthy people did not accord with decades of infection control practices. In infectious diseases, you isolate the sick, not the healthy. To quarantine the healthy as “presumed sick” is the medical equivalent of violating the law of jurisprudence that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

[nunyabuizznazz]

Yup,
Cant help the poor, the crippled, the elderly
But hey
Money Printer go

[coltukkor]

If the government really thinks current essential workers are “heroes” then we should definitely be getting all the tax breaks in the coming years as we are seeing virtually none of the benefits.

[calebb]

Tam's performance isn't about race. It's about complete incompetence. Wakeup.

[deborahstuckless]

Just a matter of time and all will know the truths