Harmac Pacific has doubled operations of a medical-grade pulp to build more medical supplies like gowns and masks, which are desperately needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By The Canadian Press

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NANAIMO — A Nanaimo mill is doubling its production to help create more medical supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Levi Sampson, president of Harmac Pacific, said the roughly 300 workers at the mill have doubled production of medical-grade pulp, which is used to make surgical masks, gowns and other equipment.

“We’ve never had a doubling for this grade of pulp, so you can tell that there’s some supply problems out there,” Sampson said.

“Every day it seems to be more and more health-care professionals are talking about either lack of supplies or worried about it in future.”

Sampson said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland called him Saturday, April 4 to know more about the business, where the product is going and to congratulate Harmac employees “for continuing to run and be able to produce a product that will eventually make its way to the front lines.”

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Freeland’s question about where the medical-grade pulp goes is important as a trade dispute escalates between Canada and the United States.

The manufacturing giant 3M claimed the White House told the company to stop exporting their equipment to Canadian and Latin American markets, something the White House denied.

Sampson wouldn’t reveal who Harmac’s customer is in the U.S., but did say it was not 3M.

Some of the medical equipment using the Harmac pulp is making its way back to Canada, Sampson said.

“This is a global problem, it’s not just a Canadian problem. Wherever medical supplies are needed and where there’s a shortage, everybody should be doing their part to make sure they can supply as much medical supplies to the front line as possible.”

The stress is running high and people are scared around the world, he said.

“So, from a company standpoint, we made the decision that we’re going to continue to run. We’re going to continue to produce this product and we feel that our neighbours to the south are going through a hard time like most of the world is right now and if we can help in any way we want to do so.”

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said Friday that Canada and the U.S. should be working together because COVID-19 doesn’t stop at borders.

“I think parochial action such as this is not consistent with what we need to do with our society,” he said.

The Canadian Press