KENNEY FINALLY SPEAKS FOR ALL ALBERTANS
Joel Dryden CBC 4/4/2020
Trudeau slams Trump’s order to halt export of N95 masks to Canada
The Trump administration's attempt to pressure Minnesota-based 3M from exporting life-saving masks to Canada is "extremely disappointing" and flies in the face of decades of cooperation, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Friday.
"If I had the chance to speak to president Trump, I would remind him of Canadian solidarity following 9/11 and in the global fight against terrorism," Kenney said. "We have made very real sacrifices to stand by our American friends and allies and, as a Canadian, I am insulted by the decision announced today.
"[This is] critically needed medical equipment that we need to fight the pandemic here in this country."
In a news release issued Friday, 3M said it was facing pressure from the White House to sell medical respirators and masks in the United States before exporting them to other countries, including Canada.
"I think it's shortsighted, because the United States is a net importer of this kind of equipment," Kenney said. "It also underscores why we must produce our own critical equipment here at home, because apparently we can't even count on our closest friend and ally to be a supplier."
Kenney voiced his support for Ontario Premier Doug Ford's call for manufacturing companies to produce medical items in short supply, saying Alberta would push to follow suit.
Trump wants N95 mask exports to Canada halted, manufacturer says
"We need to ensure we have surplus equipment, but we will not respond the same way the U.S. president has today. It's very disappointing," he said. "I would remind our American friends and neighbours that we've always been there together in important moments in history.
"We should be there together at this important moment in history."
© Reuters/Art Raham/CBC Premier Jason Kenney
criticized the Trump administration during the province's
daily medical briefing Friday, saying its attempt to stop
mask exports was shortsighted.Masks not yet
recommended in Alberta, Hinshaw says
Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending Americans wear face coverings while in public, but Alberta has not adopted that as a recommendation.
"I have asked our scientific team to look at this," said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, at Friday's news conference. "I hope to have a formal recommendation by next week."
There is evidence that masks can limit the spread of infection from those who are infected to others, Hinshaw said, but there are problems with cloth masks.
"When cloth masks get damp … they can actually start to trap virus, and that could be a risk for the person wearing them," she said.
B.C. health officials said Wednesday that they were considering implementing widespread use of face masks as COVID-19 cases rose in the province.
On Friday, Trump said the wearing of masks in America was voluntary, and added he was unlikely to wear one himself.
Canada not planning retaliatory measures after U.S. restricts coronavirus mask exports: Trudeau
Kerri Breen 4/4/2020
Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending Americans wear face coverings while in public, but Alberta has not adopted that as a recommendation.
"I have asked our scientific team to look at this," said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, at Friday's news conference. "I hope to have a formal recommendation by next week."
There is evidence that masks can limit the spread of infection from those who are infected to others, Hinshaw said, but there are problems with cloth masks.
"When cloth masks get damp … they can actually start to trap virus, and that could be a risk for the person wearing them," she said.
B.C. health officials said Wednesday that they were considering implementing widespread use of face masks as COVID-19 cases rose in the province.
On Friday, Trump said the wearing of masks in America was voluntary, and added he was unlikely to wear one himself.
Canada not planning retaliatory measures after U.S. restricts coronavirus mask exports: Trudeau
Kerri Breen 4/4/2020
An N-95 mask is seen in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2020.
One of the world's largest U.S.-based makers of consumer products
says it has been told by the White House to stop exporting
medical-grade face masks to the Canadian market.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is not looking at retaliatory measures after U.S. President Donald Trump told a manufacturer of medical masks not to export them to Canada.
Trudeau said he would be speaking with Trump in the coming days and looking for a positive solution on the issue.
He made the remarks in his daily address to Canadians from outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Trump asks medical supply firm 3M to stop selling N95 respirators to Canada
On Friday, 3M said it was asked by the Trump administration not to supply N95 respirators to Canada and Latin America amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Trump has ordered the Minnesota-based company to produce and sell as many medical-grade masks as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it needs. He invoked the Defence Production Act in order to speed up the distribution of masks.
Trump later released a statement saying that nothing in his order "will interfere with the ability of PPE manufacturers to export when doing so is consistent with United States policy and in the national interest of the United States."
3M did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
—With files from Maham Abedi, Global News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is not looking at retaliatory measures after U.S. President Donald Trump told a manufacturer of medical masks not to export them to Canada.
Trudeau said he would be speaking with Trump in the coming days and looking for a positive solution on the issue.
He made the remarks in his daily address to Canadians from outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Trump asks medical supply firm 3M to stop selling N95 respirators to Canada
On Friday, 3M said it was asked by the Trump administration not to supply N95 respirators to Canada and Latin America amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Trump has ordered the Minnesota-based company to produce and sell as many medical-grade masks as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it needs. He invoked the Defence Production Act in order to speed up the distribution of masks.
Trump later released a statement saying that nothing in his order "will interfere with the ability of PPE manufacturers to export when doing so is consistent with United States policy and in the national interest of the United States."
3M did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
—With files from Maham Abedi, Global News
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