Thunder Bay Bombardier plant to assist in manufacturing 18,000 ventilators

Thunder Bay's Bombardier plant will help manufacture 18,000 ventilators for hospitals across Ontario, starting at the end of April.

"After several collaborative discussions and gaining a full understanding of what was needed to produce these life saving devices, it was clear that Bombardier's plant in Thunder Bay could play a sub-manufacturing role and help O-Two produce this critical medical equipment for the Government of Ontario," Bombardier said in a statement.

The work will take three to four months to complete, and provide work for 40 to 50 employees at the Thunder Bay plant. Three-quarters of those workers were previously laid off, the company said.

Bombardier credits Thunder Bay - Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowskifor connecting the local plant manager, David Black, with O-Two Medical Technologies in Brampton.

The company said it had also donated PPE to long-term care homes in Ontario, as well as donating equipment to the Quebec government.