The first Canadian clinical trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine have been approved.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during his briefing on May 16, said Health Canada has approved the first Canadian clinical trials for a possible COVID-19 vaccine. He said trials will take place at the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.
“The National Research Council of Canada will be working with the manufacturers so that if these vaccine trials are successful, we can produce and distribute it here at home,” he said. “Research and development take time and must be done right, but this is encouraging news.”
Trudeau also announced that the federal government will be providing $100 million in funding to the Canadian Red Cross. The funding will help the Canadian Red Cross to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and wildfires.
“Like many organizations, the Red Cross is facing an increased demand for its services at a time where they are getting fewer volunteers and less donations,” he said.
Of the $100 million, $41 million is allocated to specifically address “immediate” COVID-19 needs and $59 million will be used to support “additional relief and recovery efforts” this year related to the coronavirus as well as for floods and wildfires, according to a press release issued by the PMO following Trudeau’s address Saturday morning,
Additionally, Trudeau said the Canada Child Benefit will also be increased on July 20 to match the increase in the cost of living.
He also mentioned that his government will be providing will provide $15 million in additional funding to support women entrepreneurs through a new strategy for women entrepreneurs.
“Women who are owners of their own businesses who have suffered disproportionate effect of the pandemic,” he said. “Many have small businesses and are having problems with liquidity. Others, work in sectors that are totally paralyzed because of COVID-19 such as restaurants and hotels.”
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