 We're headed into the first weekend of December, and in many parts of the country, the situation is very serious. Wednesday, Quebec reported a single-day record of new cases, and across the country we're seeing numbers rise. The health minister spoke with her counterparts last night and assured them that the federal government will offer all support needed, especially in Alberta, where the numbers are rising alarmingly. Earlier this week, Minister Haidou had a bilateral conversation with Alberta Health Minister Tyler Chandra. We will do whatever is necessary to help all provinces and territories deal with these outbreaks and get this situation under control. Across the country, cases are too high, and hospitals are filling up. And when hospitals fill up, everyone suffers the consequences, not just those with COVID-19. We all know healthcare workers who are tired, who are stretched out, who are doing overtime. Canadians with surgeries are getting cancelled, and people can't visit their loved ones in hospitals when they do go into hospital. This is what's at stake. This is why we all need to do our part. Now is not the time to blame one another or point fingers. Now is the time for us to keep working together. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have distributed hundreds of millions of parts of individual protection across the country. In the last few months, we have also distributed more than 6.7 million rapid vaccination tests to the provinces and territories. We encourage them to use them to help protect the population. Now let's talk about vaccines. On Wednesday, the United Kingdom was the first country to authorize the vaccine against the COVID-19 of Pfizer BioNTech. It's a very encouraging news. While we continue to communicate with our colleagues at the international level, here, the independent health exam is still ongoing. I can tell you that the teams work very hard. It's important that we ensure that the vaccine is effective and safe for Canadians and that it respects our standards. The analysis of a vaccine represents hundreds of thousands of pages of data. There are additional resources that have been allocated, and by waiting for the answer, we accelerate the work on the field to ensure that we are ready with a solid distribution plan. Health Canada's independent review of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is ongoing, and regulators are working around the clock. Let's also remember that Canada's deal with Pfizer is just one of many. We also have agreements with six other promising vaccine manufacturers, including Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford. The National Operations Centre is working closely with the provinces and territories every day. The Centre will be managing and tracking the distribution of vaccines once they are authorized. Yesterday, Major-General Dany Fortin briefed the media and talked about how military expertise will be key to our vaccine rollout plan. For the first vaccines that could be authorized for use, or for what we call track 1, specific logistics will be required to keep the doses at very, very cold temperatures. The Canadian Armed Forces is already holding simulation tests of this distribution plan with a series of exercises and run-throughs. Freezers have been purchased, and dry ice contracts for cold shipping are being put in place. When vaccines get authorized and shipped, we'll be ready. Protecting you and your family, and defeating COVID-19, is our top priority. Every Canadian deserves to be safe, and that includes the seniors who helped build this country. We've seen, over the past many months, far too many terrible tragedies in seniors' residences. We need to do better for our parents, for our grandparents, and for elders across the country. Through the Safe Restart Agreement, the federal government has already provided $740 million to help provinces and territories address the immediate needs of vulnerable populations like those in long-term care. And this week, Deputy Prime Minister Freeland presented the fall economic statement in which we are committing up to a billion dollars for a safe, long-term care fund. This fund will help provinces and territories carry out infection prevention, improve ventilation, and hire staff for top-up existing employees' wages. We are ready to keep doing our part for seniors and for all Canadians. This week, we have presented our economic statement in which we have made something clear. We want to help provinces and territories to protect the years in long-term care. Through the Safe Restart Agreement, the federal government has already invested $740 million to help address the immediate needs of vulnerable populations like those in long-term care. By supporting what we have learned from the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces this spring, we will invest up to $1 billion in the fund for long-term care establishments. These funds will help prevent infection prevention, improve ventilation, hire staff, and hire staff for top-up existing employees. As for prevention, I am announcing today an investment of $1.8 million, which will allow 12 teams of research to work in partnership with different long-term care establishments to study the measures in place. These teams will then be able to make recommendations that will help better protect seniors now and for the future. This morning, we learned that Canada's labour market gained another 62,000 jobs in November. This means 2.4 million Canadians have returned to work after they lost their jobs during the pandemic. We're making progress, but there's still much more work to be done. This is a tough time for everyone, and the small business owners at the heart of our communities are no exceptions. The small business owners are our neighbours and our friends. They're incredibly hardworking, devoted people. They're there at the heart of our communities, there at the foundation of our economy. And this is a time where we need to be there for each other. We need to be there for everyone. Since the spring, the Canada Emergency Business Account has helped almost 800,000 small businesses right across the country. This program has made a real difference, and people still need this support. And that's why we are now expanding SIBA. Starting today, if they need it, eligible small businesses can access a second SIBA loan of up to $20,000 on top of the initial $40,000 that was already available to them. And again, $10,000 of this additional financing will be forgivable if repaid by the end of 2022. These measures will protect jobs, make sure the local businesses that we love don't have to close for good. So I'm calling on everyone to do their part. In this holiday season, and it is a moment for generosity, everyone's trying to care for their loved ones, try and make sure you're also supporting local businesses and ordering takeout from local restaurants. Your local business owners are adapting, are getting creative, are figuring out ways to continue to serve you. So we need to do our part as Canadians to lean on each other, to be there for each other and to support everyone as we get through this pandemic. The eligible small businesses that need it will be able to access another SIBA loan of up to $20,000 more than the $40,000 already available. Once again, we are counting $10,000 of additional funding for this new mountain. We all have a role to play in the fight against COVID-19 and its consequences. While you're starting your business, think about helping local businesses. We all have friends, neighbors, and members of our families who work for local businesses. December is an essential month for businesses across the country. And for months, they adapt to the situation. They are creative in the way they will continue to be able to deliver for Canadians. So let's continue to encourage them. Don't forget local shops, local online shops, too. And remember that holidays are a time to be generous to our families, to our loved ones, but it's also a time to think about others, especially to our small vulnerable businesses, to help them get through this pandemic. You have to continue your efforts. Keep your distance, wear a mask, avoid gatherings, and use the COVID-19 app. Today, more than 5.6 million people have been discharged. And in the next few weeks, even if it doesn't happen to us, we will have to continue to follow local health authorities. There are challenges, and we can't afford to slow down our efforts. Before we end today, let me take a moment to talk about our introduction yesterday of Bill C-15. Legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. On this, I want to recognize Minister Lametti, Minister Bennett and their teams, but more importantly, Indigenous leaders and partners who have worked tirelessly for decades in the efforts that led to this legislation. Bill C-15 mandates the federal government in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples to take all measures to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the declaration. This is a moment to step forward on the path of reconciliation as we work together to build a better Canada for everyone. Our government is committed to seeing this bill reach the finish line within our mandate, and I call on all parliamentarians to help make this a reality. Thank you very much.