Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urging people to “buy Canadian” as domestic food producers feel the strain of global restrictions put in place to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

He made the comments in a daily press briefing with journalists outside Rideau Cottage on Thursday while announcing new supports for fish harvesters facing lost income from the pandemic.

“To everyone who wants to show their support, buy Canadian. Pick up some Canadian cheese to help a local dairy farmer, have a fish fry or buy Canadian lobster,” said Trudeau.

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“Not only will it taste great, it will help the people who keep food on our plates.”

Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan also made the call for Canadians to buy domestic in a briefing shortly afterwards with journalists, specifically urging people to buy domestic fish and seafood.

“Canadian harvesters are resilient and determined, and today, I am urging Canadians to show their support by purchasing more of our high-quality, sustainably sourced products at your local grocer,” she said.

“There’s never been a better time to buy a Canadian fish and seafood product.”

As Global News reported earlier this year, federal officials have been exploring how best to launch a “buy Canadian” food campaign for months, with plans to launch that initiative this summer.

It’s not clear whether that is still poised to go ahead.

Global News has requested clarification from the government on that project.

Trudeau’s briefing came as he announced $469 million in federal funding for fish harvesters who haven’t been eligible yet to apply for the other federal relief programs for Canadians who have lost work.

Some three million jobs have been lost over the last two months because of the pandemic, according to Statistics Canada.

More to come.

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