Some of Canada’s largest automotive manufacturers, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) and the province of Ontario have teamed up in an effort to meet the growing health-care demand for medical equipment such as ventilators and face masks during the COVID 19 pandemic. 

The APMA and the Ontario government have been working with automotive manufacturers to encourage and support them in retooling their operations towards the production of essential medical supplies and equipment, including gowns, coveralls, masks, face shields, testing equipment and ventilators.  Demonstrating the depth of skills and versatility within Canada’s automotive manufacturing sector, over 16 firms have started the process of shifting production towards health care supplies. “There are a lot of skills in our industry and a lot of willingness to help. We can make a lot of these things here, and where we can help, we absolutely will,” Flavio Volpe, president of the stated in a recent Financial Post article.  In order to support help Canada through the crisis, the APMA has launched the One Million Mask Challenge, which brings the industry together to collect 1 million masks for frontline workers.  For more information, https://apma.ca/apma-one-million-mask-challenge/