Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is due to receive a shipment of “millions of masks” in the coming days, as a major medical device manufacturer remains under continued pressure from the United States to cease its exports of similar protective equipment.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is due to receive a shipment of “millions of masks” in the coming days, as a major medical device manufacturer remains under continued pressure from the United States to cease its exports of similar protective equipment.
“We’re working around the clock to get Canada the resources we need,” Trudeau said during his daily address to Canadians Saturday. “In the next 48 hours, we will be receiving a shipment of millions of masks by a chartered cargo flight. We are also working with provinces to transport their medical supplies when possible.”
A spokesperson for Procurement Minister Anita Anand confirmed to CBC News that the plane would be travelling from China bearing millions of surgical masks, as well as other supplies intended for Quebec-based companies.
The news comes as Minnesota-based company 3M revealed Friday that because of the Trump administration’s invocation of the Defence Production Act — which allows the president to boost industrial production of critically needed goods — the manufacturer is under orders not to send U.S.-made N95 masks to other countries, including Canada.
In a statement, 3M said that halting such exports could adversely affect America’s own supply if other countries choose to retaliate, prompting President Donald Trump to reveal that his administration was “not at all happy” with the company.
Trudeau addressed the dispute during his Friday briefing, stating that failing to send supplies destined for Canada “could end up hurting Americans as much a