Ontario pledges $50M for businesses to retool manufacturing for COVID-19 solutions

The Ontario government is allocating $50 million to help businesses retool their operations in order to manufacture essential medical supplies and equipment to fight against COVID-19, including gowns, coveralls, masks, face shields, testing equipment and ventilators.

The Ontario Together Fund, announced by Premier Doug Ford on Apr. 1, will support the development of proposals submitted by businesses and individuals through the Ontario Together web portal.

“Ontario has an army of innovators, entrepreneurs, and the hardest-working people in the world ready to roll up their sleeves, support our frontline healthcare workers, and beat this virus,” said Ford.

In addition, the province has worked with businesses across Ontario and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association to ramp up production of ventilators to meet the need in Ontario and other parts of Canada.

“The manufacturing expertise of automotive suppliers Linamar, Magna, Martinrea and ABC Technologies will be critical in making this plan achievable,” says Flavio Volpe, president of Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association.

The government has also recently placed an order with O-Two Medical Technologies who, with the support of Ontario’s manufacturing sector, will produce 10,000 ventilator units.

The province is seeking innovative proposals that can quickly provide critical goods and services and the greatest benefit to the people of Ontario.