The federal government has announced a partnership with several companies to produce a COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking in Montreal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says agreements with NovaVax and Johnson and Johnson to reserve millions of doses of the vaccine they’re developing.

“The most recent vaccine tests show promising results, that’s why we’re making sure that if one of these potential vaccines is successful, Canadians will have access to the doses we need.”

Federal innovation, science and industry minister Navdeep Bains says part of a newly announced partnership is with a National Research Council of Canada facility in Montreal.

“This new facility will provide a reliable domestic supply of vaccines, and represents an important plank in our Made in Canada strategy.”

It’s expected production will hit 2 million doses per month by the end of next summer.

Trudeau denounces John A. MacDonald statue vandalism

Prime Minister Trudeau has also spoken out about the vandalism to a statue of Canada’s first prime minister, John A. MacDonald over the weekend.

Speaking at an event in Montreal, Trudeau says he was disappointed in what happened.

“We are a country of laws, and we are a country that needs to respect those laws even as we seek to improve and change them,” Trudeau said. “Those kinds of acts of vandalism are not advancing the path towards greater justice and equality in this country.”

Statues of MacDonald, including one in Regina, have been targeted by people protesting against racial discrimination.

{CJGX}