The province's #RestartMB campaign is focusing on both public safety and economic recovery as officials say Manitobans are ready to live with COVID-19 while creating jobs and restarting services.

Premier Brian Pallister notes there's approximately 40,000 people unemployed, people who had jobs just a year ago.

However, he says both public safety and a growing economy are locked in a symbiotic relationship. "If we have a safer society we're going to have people more confident to go to work, to shop and create more job opportunities."

"Public health and safety is a key driver of recovery, and as we continue to safely restart our economy and reopen our communities, we must learn to live with this virus," Pallister adds. "We are committed to being ready for what lies ahead – ready to live with COVID-19, ready to return to school, ready to restart our services, create jobs and grow our economy."

He adds the province must continue to act and follow public health advice to keep COVID-19 test positivity cases low.

"The past four months since COVID-19 arrived in Manitoba have been a period of rapid response and adaptation for programs and for public engagement," says Pallister. "We have done well and accomplished much, adapting as we go and working rapidly to respond. Now, we are focusing our message on the importance of public health fundamentals as we drive to recovery."

The campaign will solicit feedback through the http://EngageMB.ca portal and drive business participation and awareness of government programs. It will continue to encourage Manitobans to contact the Manitoba Economic Support Centre to access programs and resources, and the centre will promote program priorities in the coming weeks. To date, the centre has called more than 20,000 businesses a week to promote programs such as wage subsidies and the Manitoba Gap Protection Program.

To learn more about the campaign and programs available to Manitobans, visit: www.manitoba.ca/restartmb.