Saying Canadians understand better than most how interconnected the world is, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada would be part of an international effort to address the global economic crisis.
Around the world, 300 million people are expected to lose their jobs, and 30 million will be pushed into extreme poverty.
On Thursday, Trudeau plans to take part in a special high-level meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness. He has already spoken with other leaders from the Caribbean, German Chancellor Angela Merkle and French President Emmanuel Macron.
"Canadian jobs and businesses depend on stable and productive economies in other countries, so it matters to us how everyone weathers this storm," Trudeau said. "We can't wait for others to act. It's not in our self-interest, and it's just not who we are."
Trudeau said the international effort would aim to recognize who is being left behind and "lift them up."
"We're bringing together leaders from every region of the world, as well as the heads of international institutions to work on shared strategies to protect the global economy, support our citizens and help the most vulnerable," said Trudeau.
That panel will discuss six issues. They range from expanding liquidity in the global economy and safeguard development gains, to addressing debt vulnerabilities for all developing countries, and ensuring recovery policies align with sustainable development goals.
Trudeau also announced Tuesday the federal government would fund up to 700 jobs for youth in the agri-food industry to help farmers.
While flights carrying what Trudeau calls "hundreds of thousands" of pieces of personal protective equipment have already arrived in Canada from around the world, he said domestic production continues to ramp up.
Ottawa has signed a contract with General Motors to manufacture 10 million face masks at its facility in Oshawa.
Nobel Laureate Art McDonald has teamed up with the firm, Vexos, to make 10,000 ventilators. That will bring the number of Canadian-made ventilators to 40,000.
