 We've learned a lot since the beginning of the pandemic, and we now have a much better understanding of how the virus behaves. That means we know what steps to take to protect ourselves and others. You're wearing masks, you're washing your hands, and by the millions, you are downloading the COVID-19 app. These measures help, so keep it up. But let's not forget that right now our most powerful tool remains social distancing. As Dr. Tam and Dr. New will outline in a few minutes, in communities where the cases are rising quickly, we need to keep our contacts as limited as possible. This is what it will take to slow the spread of the virus. So when you're thinking of seeing people outside your household, ask yourself, is this absolutely necessary? I know the situation is frustrating. I know that it's hard, but it is temporary. If we work together, cases will go down again. We're not alone in this. We've got each other's backs. So if you're struggling with mental health or other challenges, reach out. You can always call 2-1-1, a 24-hour helpline. They will connect you to the right information, services, and resources. We will beat this virus. We will weather this storm. But we need to do it together, by working together. With rising cases in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, we're following the situation very closely. Yesterday, I spoke to Premier Kenny, and I also had a call with Mayor Iverson of Edmonton. Our priority right now is working together to keep Canadians safe. This week, we went through the 10,000 deaths in the country linked to COVID-19. These virus victims are not just numbers in a column. They are parents, grandparents, friends, and loved ones. We need to continue to follow the directives of local health authorities. Our projections indicate that we have to reduce social contacts to slow down the spread of the virus. I know that it's not fun. People are bored of their gym, which is temporarily closed. They are eager to organize soups with friends. These measures are temporary, until the situation comes back under control. We are aware of the efforts we are making, whether it be the federal government or the other governments' palaces. But it is important to continue working as a team. On our side, we continue to support the provinces and territories in their fight against the virus. Until now, we have distributed nearly 1.6 billion— pardon me. We have distributed nearly 1.6 million rapid spread testing tests across the country and others in the coming weeks and months. The last few weeks have been tough for everyone. But for some people, things have been especially hard. Indigenous peoples and communities continue to face unique challenges during this pandemic. Our government is working in partnership with communities to address that and to ensure that everyone has the support they need. Access to safe and culturally relevant early learning in childcare is essential to the recovery of Indigenous communities from COVID-19. To support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation children, we will invest over $120 million to help Indigenous communities address their most critical needs, including hiring additional staff and offering training for early learning and childcare facilities. Today, I can also announce that we will invest over $25 million to help Indigenous post-secondary institutions with increased costs related to the pandemic. This will help retain staff, adapt courses for online learning, and implement public health and safety measures like additional hand-washing stations and safe space barriers. Finally, to keep people of every age safe, we will also provide $59 million to improve infrastructure in First Nations communities in order to meet a range of COVID-19 health and safety standards. This builds on the work already being done through the Indigenous Community Support Fund. Moving forward, we will continue to work with communities on what they need to protect people from this virus. Since the beginning, our fight against COVID-19 has been guided by science. Our government is working very closely with the scientific community in order to tackle urgent needs, including tools for better combat of other possible pandemics. On this subject, we are happy to announce a new investment by the Canadian National Research Center that will go towards the challenge-and-response program for the pandemic, as well as the innovative Canada program. Six research and development projects have been selected, including, for example, some of which are aimed at developing rapid tests to detect COVID-19 from the fall of saliva without instruments. In addition to this new investment from the National Research Council of Canada, we will also invest $2.5 million in a study on the rate of COVID-19 infection in travelers entering the country. These funds will allow researchers from McMaster University to continue their important work. This is part of our commitment to keep people safe and to support Canadian scientists. Our government works hard so that workers, families, and business owners are not left to face this crisis. This month, we announced that we would strengthen and adjust the support programs that help businesses and workers. Not only is this the right thing to do, but these measures are also essential to position ourselves in view of a rapid and robust re-release. To rebuild a stronger economy, we need to have enough workers to maintain supply chains, allow businesses to expand, and create more jobs for Canadians. Whether in long-term care homes, the tech sector, or local restaurants, this crisis has highlighted the important contributions that newcomers make to our communities. So many sectors of our economy rely on their talent and dedication. Today, Minister Mendocino will present a plan on immigration and citizenship to help with our short-term economic recovery, while also ensuring Canada's long-term prosperity. We must continue to pursue measured and responsible growth in this area to drive Canada's successes. I look forward to hearing more from the minister in his announcement later this afternoon. Before the end of the week, I want to repeat how important it is to continue our efforts to fight the second wave. Yesterday, we recorded nearly 3,000 new cases in the country. The situation is serious and it's not the time to give up. Wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands, and download the free COVID alert application that has already made nearly 5 million people. This morning, I also want to mention that, as of today, the COVID Alert app has been updated to be even more effective. If you test positive, you can now enter the date your symptoms started and when you got tested. This will provide even better information about when people may have been the most infectious, further strengthening the impact and accuracy of this app. As always, these new features are optional and the information provided will not be shared in order to protect your privacy. So if you haven't already, join the almost 5 million Canadians who've downloaded the free COVID Alert app from the app store or from Google Play. Finally, I want to end today by congratulating Roger Kuzner for his nomination as the new Consul General of Canada in Boston. Everyone who knows Roger knows what a strong representative he is. I'm certain he will do a great job strengthening the important bond between Canada and New England and standing up for Canadian interests on the other side of the border.