LONDON — Ontario has secured a stable and reliable domestic source of medical grade nitrile gloves through Medicom Group Inc.’s $165 million investment to construct a new 140,000 square-foot production facility in London. Medicom’s investment supports the government’s effort to shore-up domestic production of medical supplies and increase the province’s resiliency against future emergencies while creating 135 new, good-paying jobs in the region.
The first of its kind in Canada, the new plant will ensure that Ontario maintains a robust stockpile of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to safeguard health care, hospital and frontline workers across the province. Medical grade nitrile gloves manufactured to Health Canada standards have become widely adopted as the standard glove across multiple commercial segments including the dental, industrial, medical, research and retail sectors.
NEW: @MedicomGlobal is investing $165M to build Canada’s first-ever medical grade nitrile glove manufacturing facility in #London, #Ontario.
With the support of $30M from our government, they are creating 135 good-paying, local jobs.
Learn more: https://t.co/GNmRhpirtE pic.twitter.com/JSGRWXXwVH
— Victor Fedeli (@VictorFedeli) December 1, 2023
“During the last pandemic, we experienced the difficulties that arose from needing to have critical supplies imported from overseas when we needed them most,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “The lessons we learned emphasized the importance of building a strong, resilient and self-reliant manufacturing supply chain. This investment will help enhance public safety and pandemic preparedness while creating new, good-paying jobs for workers in the London area.”
To support this project, the province is investing $30 million which will help build the facility and ensure millions of medical grade nitrile gloves are available for use by Ontarians. This undertaking will help generate hundreds of indirect jobs while further strengthening Ontario’s PPE supply chains and preparedness against future challenges.
Ensuring Ontario continues to build a strong and resilient economy through strategic investments in our manufacturing sector is a part of Ontario’s Plan to Stay Open. Attracting investments that will increase production of critical supplies, improve the province’s competitiveness, and fill gaps in the domestic supply chain will ensure Ontario remains open for business while creating new jobs for Ontario workers.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is the largest life sciences jurisdiction in Canada. Its businesses generate 59 per cent of the overall Canadian revenue and export $11 billion in goods.
- In 2022, manufacturing accounted for more than 787,000 jobs in Ontario.
- The Government of Canada is investing up to $42 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) to support this project.
- Supply Ontario has secured 500 million medical grade nitrile gloves for Ontario per year to meet provincial healthcare system standards and ensure security of supply.
Quotes
“Providing personal protective equipment to our front-line workers is a vital component in ensuring effective medical care. The pandemic has shown us how important the acquisition of such equipment is, and not only will this project ensure that Canadian health care providers have the tools they need to get the job done, but it will also support the economy and create well-paying jobs for the people of London.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Ensuring health care workers are equipped with quality infection control products is crucial for continuing to deliver high-quality care to those in need. Today marks an important milestone in the announcement of Manikheir’s new London facility, and we are proud to continue providing front-line health care workers with the tools they need, while creating skilled jobs for Canadians.”
– Peter Fragiskatos
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“I welcome Medicom to our great Forest City. Their facility that will manufacture nitrile gloves in London will ensure that Ontario has a secure supply when the need arises. Investments like this one, that create good-paying jobs for the long term, are a tremendous way to build resiliency in local communities.”
– Rob Flack
MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London
“Supply Ontario is pleased to work with the federal and provincial governments to support this great partnership with Medicom. Producing materials locally supports businesses across the province and also builds resiliency in our supply chain. As we look to the future, we are supporting ways to ensure Ontarians have what they need when they need it.”
– James Wallace
Chief Executive Officer, Supply Ontario
“Medicom was founded 35 years ago to meet a need for medical gloves at the height of the HIV crisis. Today, we’re taking a major step towards producing our own gloves, right here in Canada. Green, ethical, innovative gloves. Canadian gloves. Our governments were there to support people during the last pandemic, and now they’re showing that they’re getting ready for the next one. Medicom is proud of this partnership, and we will deliver in the name of protection.”
– Guillaume Laverdure
Chief Executive Officer, Medicom
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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