Justin Trudeau says making sure vital equipment moves both ways across the border is a major concern during the pandemic. During his daily update on the COVID-19 crisis, the Prime Minister was asked about the White House ordering 3-M to stop exports of masks and respirators to Canada.

He says 3-M has indicated it understands how important it is to continue delivering to places like Canada because there is much trade going back and forth in essential services and could end up hurting Americans as much as anyone else. The Prime Minister says officials have spoken with their American counterparts, and says the message is getting through.

He also says the close and deep relationship between Canada and the U.S. will hold strong and they won’t see supply interruptions in either direction. Trudeau meantime announced the government was partnering with Amazon Canada to deliver supplies to front line workers.

Saskatchewan’s Premier says it’s reckless for the Trump administration to ask 3-M to stop shipping protective masks to Canada. Scott Moe considers it a betrayal of the relationship the 2 great nations working together have in times of need. In response, the Premier has been in contact with a number of American governors to lobby for a change in decision.

Moe says, “as our people isolate, our nations must not”. He believes that Canada should be making its own supplies, and adds that this is something he has felt for some time. It’s not in reaction to decisions south of the border.