Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ottawa is providing $120 million in immediate funding for Indigenous communities suffering COVID-19 outbreaks in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Speaking to reporters outside his Rideau Cottage residence, Trudeau says the new money is for public health measures, food security and other surge capacity needs.
Trudeau says the funding will be sent to areas that are seeing concerning situations with rising COVID-19 cases.
There were 2,751 confirmed COVID-19 cases in First Nations communities on reserve as of Thursday, including 846 cases in Alberta and 697 in Saskatchewan, according to Indigenous Services Canada.
Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller and the department’s top doctor Tom Wong are expected to provide more details on the funding this afternoon.
Ottawa committed last week to providing more than $61 million to help Indigenous communities in Manitoba fight the COVID-19 pandemic.