Cambridge medical mask manufacturer inks deal with province for 50 million masks a year
'Excellent news' for city and health-care workers across Ontario, Mayor McGarry says
The medical products manufacturer Primed has opened a new facility in Cambridge and has inked a deal with the province to make 50 million surgical and protective masks a year.
Minister of Government and Consumer Services Lisa Thompson announced a new government contract with the Edmonton-based company during Premier Doug Ford's usual COVID-19 press briefing Monday. During the same announcement, the province announced it is creating a new centralized procurement agency to handle buying supplies in bulk.
Thompson called the mask-making facility and the deal "incredible news" for Cambridge and southern Ontario.
Ford said the deal will mean Ontario won't need to go out-of-province for masks.
Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry said in a statement that the city "is known for our advanced manufacturing sector" and they're excited by the new facility.
"[It] is excellent news not only for our city but for health-care workers across Ontario. Having a supply of PPE (personal protective equipment) within Ontario will help ensure that our supply chain of PPE is protected and strengthened," McGarry said.
The company itself had released a statement in August announcing the new location in Cambridge. The new facility will provide 50 jobs initially this fall and up to 250 jobs in the next few years.
It said after a "comprehensive nation-wide search," that Ontario was the "ideal location." Cambridge, the company noted, is located in "one of the strongest regional economies in Canada" and is "strategically located" near Highway 401, making shipping products easier.
The facility will produce both surgical masks and N95 respirators.
