3M using government aid to produce additional N95 masks in Brockville

The world’s leading maker of N95 masks is about to begin production of the vital pandemic tool in Canada.

Industrial giant 3M is adding mask production to its plant in Brockville and will announce the news today during a ceremony that will include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

The two levels of government will provide $23 million each to help set up the new production line, part of a plan to ensure personal protective equipment is made in Canada. The company will invest a similar amount.

The funding is part of a five-year agreement to produce more than 100 million N95 masks annually.

In March and April, as cases of COVID -19 spiked across the country, supplies of PPE — especially N95 masks — were in short supply. Orders from places like China were often blocked or sold for cash before being shipped.

At the beginning of April, U.S. President Donald Trump put a temporary embargo on 3M selling masks outside of the United States. That move drew denunciations from Canadian political leaders, including Trudeau and Ford, as well as promises to make masks here at home.

“We’re going to start manufacturing them. We’re going to encourage hospitals to support these

manufacturers. We can never, ever be put in this position again that we’re relying on countries around the world to support us with PPEs,” Ford said at the time.

“As the situation continues to evolve, the government of Canada will be there to work with Canadian industry to find solutions that will support our medical professionals and protect the health and safety of all Canadians,” Trudeau said in March.

Now those promises are coming to fruition with this announcement.

A source familiar with the plan said the production would take place at an existing facility and would include an expansion and a limited number of added jobs.

The federal government has signed contracts to produce masks in Canada with other companies.

The Ontario government has provided funding to assist companies that retooled their operations to produce PPE during the pandemic.

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