New Website Launched For Businesses To Aid The Province In Fight Against COVID-19

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Saturday, 21 March 2020 14:51

Ontario Together is a new website where businesses and their employees can work with the Province, meeting the challenges of COVID-19 by providing essential medical supplies such as ventilators and masks.

ONTARIO — The provincial government launched a new website where businesses and their employees can work with the Province to meet the challenges of COVID-19.

Ontario Together is a website that is designed to have companies in Ontario's manufacturing industry create medical supplies such as ventilators, masks and swabs.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement today and was joined by Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

Premier Doug Ford says they're seeing companies already beginning to help them.

"We're ready to mobilize our manufacturing might to help the entire country and we want Ontario to become the workshop of Canada," said Premier Ford. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary efforts and we are already seeing people stepping up and offering to help out as we deal with this unprecedented situation. This is a true demonstration of Ontario Spirit."

Minister of Finance Rod Phillips and President of Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA) Flavio Volpe were also on hand.

Ontario Together will identify the province's supply challenges and ask ideas and advice from Ontario's business and manufacturing communities on how the government can work together to meet the need. Through the site, the companies will be able to submit proposals for the government to get required goods and services and share creative solutions quickly.

Fedeli says they're looking for businesses who can help them to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We're looking forward to leveraging Ontario's world class manufacturing and IT sectors to provide the necessary assistance to combat COVID-19. Ontario's businesses have shown they are ready and willing to work with us, and we urge them to join our government in finding made-in-Ontario solutions to ensure we continue to stay well supplied."

Through the Ontario Together website, the government will be partnering with some of the most innovative people across Canada and around the world, in order to redirect resources and find new ways of doing business creatively and efficiently.

Elliott says the medical supplies and products that are needed will be able to assist the frontline workers.

"Ontario is home to some of the world's best hospitals led by dedicated professionals who are working around-the-clock to identify, diagnose and treat our population to manage and slow the spread of COVID-19. If we are going to stop the spread of this virus, we will need a steady stream of medical products and supplies to treat patients and keep frontline workers safe and healthy."

Minister of Government and Consumer Services Lisa Thompson says to be able to overcome these challenges, they're calling for everyone to be creative.

"Responding to COVID-19 is requiring all of us to think outside of the box and move quickly. By relying on status-quo procurement tools and techniques we will be unable to keep up with this rapidly evolving situation. Ontario Together will help us overcome the unique challenges we are facing today."