Wallaceburg’s Aarkel Tool & Die is doing their part to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The AarKel group is proud of our team as we have been asked to produce molds for the ventilator machines in record times,” company officials posted on social media.
“We were contacted by Tiers over the weekend and given approvals to proceed Monday evening. A big thanks to everyone for giving the Government and GM the confidence in knowing we can make this happen in record times. AarKel/Platinum/Novatrim you rock!”
Learn more about the company, here: http://www.aarkel.com/
On March 21, the Ontario Government launched Ontario Together, a new website designed to help businesses and their employees work with the province to meet the challenges of COVID-19.
Provincial officials say this initiative will remove barriers allowing Ontario’s manufacturing sector to redeploy capacity towards the production of essential equipment like ventilators, masks and swabs.
“We’re ready to mobilize our manufacturing might to help the entire country and we want Ontario to become the workshop of Canada,” stated Premier Doug Ford, in a press release.
“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.”
Provincial officials say Ontario Together will identify the province’s supply challenges and solicit ideas and advice from Ontario’s business and manufacturing communities on how the government can work together to meet the need.
Through the portal, companies will be able to submit proposals for the government to procure required goods and services and share creative solutions quickly.
“We’re looking forward to leveraging Ontario’s world class manufacturing and IT sectors to provide the necessary assistance to combat COVID-19,” stated Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“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.”
Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, said 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 the 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,” Elliott stated.
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 explore new ways of doing business creatively and efficiently, Provincial officials stated.
“Responding to COVID-19 is requiring all of us to think outside of the box and move quickly,” stated Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services, in a press release.
“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.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Details, here.
For a list of local cancellations, postponement and further updates, click here.
