Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada marks one year since pandemic began

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Mar, 2021 06:18 PM
  • Canada marks one year since pandemic began

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rose in the House of Commons Thursday, one year after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, and said March 11, 2020 will always be marked by a before and an after.

Since the pandemic began, 2.5 million people around the world have died due to COVID-19, with more than 22,000 of them in Canada.

"For families and close ones, each death has a before and an after," Trudeau said.

"Since the great wars of the 20th century, there is a sentence we often evoke, and it's a sentence that we can bring back for those that we lost this year during the pandemic: We will remember them."

Trudeau chose to make Thursday a national day of remembrance because it was the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic.

The prime minister evoked the memories of Canadians being asked to stay home and stay safe, of essential workers stocking grocery store shelves and of people cheering health-care workers from their balconies.

"Businesses stepped up and produced (personal protective equipment)," Trudeau said. "Some went from making hockey masks to face shields: It doesn't get any more Canadian than that."

The prime minister briefly touched on the multiple tragedies in long-term care centres, where seniors across the country died in the thousands from the disease, often in circumstances of labour shortages and immense personal hardship.

"For every senior in Canada, we must do better, and I know that we will," he said.

Trudeau ended his speech on a hopeful note, telling Canadian that millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine are on the way, allowing provinces to accelerate their vaccination campaigns. Health Canada has approved four COVID-19 vaccines so far, and 1.5 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

Opposition Leader Erin O'Toole spoke after Trudeau, and while he gently criticized the government for its vaccine rollout, he also said the Conservative party wants the vaccination program to do well.

"Like many Canadians we are frustrated by the slower pace of vaccines than elsewhere, but we want the government to succeed for the health and well-being of Canadians so that we can get our lives back to normal."

Other ceremonies will be held across the country Thursday, including in Quebec, which has had the country's most COVID-19-related deaths.

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh also shared his thoughts on the 1 year anniversary of the COVID19 pandemic.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante will make a speech later Thursday and Prime Minister Legault will take part in a ceremony at the legislature in Quebec City.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open
Dix says the "enormous" response today reflects the significant support for vaccination in the province.

B.C. gets 1.7 million calls as vaccine lines open

Committee expands probe into military misconduct

Committee expands probe into military misconduct
The committee members will also ask Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan back to clarify what opposition members say are contradictions between his testimony and that of former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne.

Committee expands probe into military misconduct

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week
The remaining 465,000 shots are expected from Moderna, as the pharmaceutical firm steps up its delivery schedule from once every three weeks to once every two.

Canada set to receive 910K vaccine doses this week

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report
Employment among women remains about 5.3 per cent below where it sat in February 2020 just before the first wave of COVID-19, compared to about 3.7 per cent for men.

Low-wage women hit hardest by COVID-19: report

Don't let COVID-19 undo progress for women: PM

Don't let COVID-19 undo progress for women: PM
The prime minister says politicians should listen to the voices of women, not only when it comes to economic recovery but also on fighting systemic racism, climate change and gender-based violence.

Don't let COVID-19 undo progress for women: PM

Pfizer first planned February rollout in Canada

Pfizer first planned February rollout in Canada
On Aug. 1, Canada signed an agreement with Pfizer to buy at least 20 million doses, with the option to buy 56 million more, and approval was not expected until early 2021.

Pfizer first planned February rollout in Canada