Trudeau to address the nation on COVID-19 fight Wednesday evening

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will address the nation tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. ET after the speech from the throne lays out the government's plan to deal with the pandemic and the economic recovery.

Trudeau asked the major television networks for time Wednesday evening. It's not clear how long the prime minister intends tospeak.

The opposition parties have been offered a chance to respond immediately after the prime minister's address.

A PMO official speaking on background said that Trudeauwill address Canadians directly on the fight againstCOVID-19 as confirmed cases continue to climb in Canada.

Trudeau is also expected tosummarize the government's planslaid out in the thronespeech earlier in the day.

CBC NEWS LIVE SPECIAL

CBCNewswill carry a live address to the nation by Prime Minister Justin Trudeauon Wednesday, September 23at 6:30 p.m. ETfollowed by analysis and reaction.

Watch, listen and follow LIVE on CBC TV, CBC News Network, CBC Gem, the CBC News app,cbcnews.caand CBC Radio.

It's rare for aprime ministertoaddressthe nationin this way. Such events tend to be associated withwartime, or with constitutional or political crises.

Then-prime minister Stephen Harper addressed the nation in 2008 when a coalition of the NDP andthe BlocQubcoisled by the Liberals underStphane Dion made plans to defeat his minority government and replace it with a Dion-led political coalition.

In his address, Harper defendedhis government's position and argued that Canadians should support it as the global financial crisis continued to rockthe economy.

"Tonight I pledge to you that Canada's government will use every legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy, to protect our economy and to protect Canada," he said.

Watch:Harper speaks on behalf of a government facing a no-confidence vote in 2008:

Stephen Harper addresses political turmoil

16 years ago

Duration 4:40

In a rare televised address directly to Canadians, Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks on behalf of a government facing a no-confidence vote in 2008.

A few years earlier, Paul Martin used his speechto the nation to apologize for the sponsorship scandal essentially delivering a televised appeal to save his political career.

"Public money was misdirected and misused. That's unacceptable," Martin said. "And that is why I apologized to the Canadian people a year ago. But taking responsibility is about more than words. I want to tell you what I've done as prime minister to deal with the sponsorship scandal, to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Then-prime minister JeanChrtienaddressed the nation live in 1995 just days before the Quebec referendum,asking Quebecers if they had"one reason, one good reason, to destroy Canada."

Watch:Chrtien calls for Canadian unity just days before the 1995 Quebec referendum:

Chrtien's passionate plea for unity

29 years ago

Duration 11:48

An emotional Jean Chrtien calls for Canadian unity just days before the 1995 Quebec referendum.