Canadian Press File Photo

By Chris Brown

Update from the PM

Trudeau says deal made with GM for 10 million face masks

May 26, 2020 | 9:34 AM

The Canadian government has signed a deal with an auto industry giant to boost the country’s supply of facemasks.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an agreement with General Motors to produce 10 million face masks.

“As we speak employees are making these masks,” said Trudeau. “They will keep people safe and help slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Trudeau also announced a deal with an Ontario company to produce 10,000 ventilators, and that work is ongoing to procure testing materials.

During his daily address Trudeau said more than 40 flights have arrived in Canada over the past 10 weeks carrying much-needed PPE. Included in that is hundreds of thousands of items that have been shipped to the provinces.

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He added that more must still be done.

“As the economy reopens, as perhaps a second wave might hit us, we need to be ready,” Trudeau said.

Increasing and creating domestic production is a large part of that, he added.

As of May 19, data posted by Public Services and Procurement Canada showed only a fraction of the millions of gloves, masks, face shields, ventilators and litres of hand sanitizer ordered by the federal government had so far been received.

The equipment has been in high demand worldwide, with every country competing for scarce supplies from a limited number of suppliers, mostly in China. In what’s been described as a “wild west” battle, some confirmed orders have been snatched out from under Canada’s nose by other countries willing to pay more.

Even so, officials argue that the federal government has so far been able to deliver everything that the provinces and territories have requested.

Trudeau also addressed concerns about abuse and neglect witnessed in long-term care centres. He called the Canadian Armed Forces whistleblower report “deeply disturbing. There are things in there that are extremely troubling.”

“We need to have a conversation and we need to take action as a country on improving care,” the prime minister said.

Trudeau wouldn’t give more information on the report, saying the report had been passed on Ontario Premier Doug Ford and he will have more to say on the matter later today when the report is made public.

Canadian Armed Forces members have been deployed to centres in Ontario and Quebec during the pandemic. Trudeau said they will continue to be vigilant on the matter of abuse and neglect across the country, noting it’s not limited to just the care centres at which the military is deployed.

At his daily address outside Rideau Cottage the prime minister also said 700 youth jobs will be created in the farming industry.

“This will support the people that put food on our plates while creating new opportunities for young people.”

As of Tuesday morning, Canada had 85,987 confirmed cases, 11 probable cases and 6,566 deaths. There have been 1,500,577 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 6,879 cases and 138 deaths. A total of 218,740 Albertans have been tested.

(with files from The Canadian Press)