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Canada receiving shipment of millions of masks in 48-hours

Last Updated Apr 5, 2020 at 12:16 pm MDT

FILE: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Friday, April 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) — The Prime Minister has announced Canada will be receiving a shipment of masks by a chartered cargo flight soon.

From Trudeau’s home in Ottawa Saturday morning, he told reporters the federal government is working around the clock to get “Canada the resources we need.”

In the next 48 hours, the shipment of masks will be delivered.

“We’re also working with provinces to transport them medical supplies when possible,” he says.

“Our government has also leased a warehouse in China to help collect and distribute these items as quickly as possible. And going forward, the flights we’re chartering to get the materials here, include Canadian companies Cargojet and Air Canada.”

On Friday Trudeau informed Canadians a U.S.-based manufacturer 3M said it would be ceasing exports of surgical masks to Canada.

WATCH: 3M pushes back after Trump asks company to stop shipping N95 masks to Canada

U.S.-based manufacturer 3M has said the cease of the product would have “significant humanitarian implications.”

The Trump administration asked the company to stop sending medical-grade face masks to Canada and Latin America this week, something the Minnesota-based supplier said would likely prompt retaliatory measures.

He noted he would focus on informing the Trump administration about how many essential supplies go across the border – in both directions – daily. Health care professionals also cross into the U.S., the prime minister said.

“It would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back-and-forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border,” Trudeau added.

The Prime Minister would not directly address whether a cease in shipments from 3M would create a significant gap in this critical type of medical supply. He said Canada continues “to be confident that we’re going to receive the necessary equipment.”

Trudeau also added, “Help has arrived,” where he outlined funding to help vulnerable Canadians.

“We’ve invested $40 million for women’s shelters and sexual assault centers across the country. And for Indigenous women and children fleeing violence, we’re providing $10 million for emergency shelters,” he says.

For other shelters, the government has boosted funding for the Reaching Home program by over $157 million.

“No one should have to choose between being somewhere they’re unsafe and risking getting COVID-19” he says.

Once again, Trudeau reiterates the safety precautions Canadians are encouraged to take to flatten the curve of COVID-19.

“Do your part. Wash your hands, stay two meters away from each other, and above all, stay home.”

-With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Martin MacMahon