Trudeau dismisses severity of WE scandal at press conference with Premier Ford

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford made an announcement regarding a new 3M facility in Brockville, Ontario on Friday.

The dual-presser started with Premier Ford, who had high praise for the prime minister's conduct during the pandemic, especially when working with the provinces: "When we called the prime minister, he stood up to the plate. He supported us. He was on the phone every week asking 'what do you need? How can I help you,'" Premier Ford told media.

Afterwards, Prime Minister Trudeau made the 3M announcement, telling Canadians that a new facility would open in Ontario. "The government of Canada and Ontario have reached an agreement with 3M Canada to expand their facility and make N95 masks right here in Brockville. The federal government will support 3M's capital investment by contributing just over 23 million dollars and the government of Ontario is doing the same," said the prime minister.

"Once it's up and running, this plant will deliver 25 million N95 masks each year to the federal government, and another 25 million to the province of Ontario."

The announcement coincides with the Liberal government's "Made in Canada plan," with the facility scheduled to open some time in 2021.

'Something far less important than N95 masks'

When Trudeau was asked about if he stood by his initial statement that he had first heard about the WE rollout on May 8, despite an internal memo from the PMO was "weighing in" as of April 20, Trudeau discussed the importance of the N95 project for Ontario and Canada.

Trudeau then forgot the question. When asking to be reminded of what the question was, Trudeau said that it was "something far less important than N95 masks."

"As I said when I appeared at committee for 90 minutes, I first heard of the choice for WE Charity to deliver this program on May 8," the prime minister said.