Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
May 8, 2023Ottawa, OntarioToday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith, to discuss the impacts of the wildfires in Alberta.
The Prime Minister indicated that the Government of Canada is ready to help Alberta and Albertans. The leaders spoke about the number of evacuees and the situation on the ground. They also discussed federal and provincial responses to date and noted the firefighting support provided to Alberta from other provinces.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Smith explored ways the federal and provincial governments would continue to work together to support Albertans. The Prime Minister noted that work is underway to determine how the Government of Canada can best accommodate the supports identified by Alberta in its draft Request for Assistance.
The Prime Minister reiterated the commitment of the federal government to keep working with provincial, municipal, and First Nations partners to provide support in the areas affected by the wildfires. The Prime Minister and the Premier also recognized the work of first responders and emergency relief organizations in providing support to impacted communities. The Government of Canada is also working with the Canadian Red Cross to help create a fund-matching campaign to support emergency services in Alberta, if required.
The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as the situation in Alberta evolves.
Associated Link
Statement by the Prime Minister on National Nursing Week
May 8, 2023Ottawa, OntarioThe Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on National Nursing Week, which runs from May 8 to 14:
“Today, we mark the beginning of National Nursing Week, a time to celebrate the tremendous contributions that nurses have made – and continue to make – across the country. This year’s theme – Our Nurses. Our Future. – recognizes the many roles that nurses play, from tending to our kids’ cuts and scrapes to being with our loved ones in their final moments. Nurses are the backbone of our health care system.
“In the last few years in particular, nurses had our backs, and today, we reaffirm that we will have their backs, too. Earlier this year, we made a plan to improve health care for Canadians by increasing health care funding by more than $198 billion over the next 10 years, including to support our health care workforce and address backlogs in the system. Last year, we announced the appointment of Dr. Leigh Chapman as the new Chief Nursing Officer of Canada, and she has since been working with key partners, including provinces and territories, to improve health care for Canadians by addressing challenges related to nursing, like labour shortages. And to help more international health professionals begin working in Canada more quickly, the Government of Canada is working with provinces and territories to streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally educated health professionals.
“Nurses are there for us when we need it most. On this first day of National Nursing Week, we thank our hardworking nurses for the lifesaving work they do day in and day out with such care and compassion – and we work to build a health care system that works for all Canadians.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with the Prime Minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins