
Category
COVID-19
Quebec threatens construction, manufacturing sectors with more COVID-19 restrictions
Quebec’s labour minister is threatening on to impose more restrictions on the province’s construction and manufacturing sectors for allegedly flouting health orders.
Ontario manufacturers to receive more testing, inspections as stay-at-home order begins
The province will provide up to 300,000 COVID-19 tests per week to support manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain, and food processing.
Ford to close Brazil manufacturing operations
The company is closing two plants immediately and a third later in the year, as part of a restructuring plan meant to cut costs and increase efficiency.
Quebec to impose 8 p.m. province-wide curfew, manufacturing sector stays open
The provincial government won’t close factories or order work sites to stop operating, but factories are being asked to postpone “non-essential” manufacturing.
Record improvement in Canadian business conditions during December, report says
Canadian manufacturers reported an overall improvement in business conditions during December, according to a new report from IHS Markit Canada.

Top 10 Canadian Plastics stories of 2020
A look at our top 10 most-visited news stories and feature articles of the year.
Ontario invests $77 million to help job seekers retrain after COVID-19 layoffs
This funding is being provided through the redesigned Second Career grant program and will help more than 2,750 job seekers with up to $28,000 for tuition, training materials, and living expenses.

StackTeck enhances mold-qualification capabilities during the pandemic
The Brampton, Ont.-based moldmaker now offers a virtual mold-testing capability package for customers limiting travel due to COVID-19.
Ontario injection molder among three firms to get provincial funding for mask and respirator production
Waterloo, Ont.-based Swenco is receiving $2 million to help the company establish a new production facility to make ASTM level 1, 2 and 3 surgical masks.

Absolute Haitian press allows Michigan university plastics lab to expand during pandemic
With a new Zeres injection molding machine, Ferris State University has been able to add an additional lab section for applied learning with one student at each machine rather than two, reducing the number of lab partners.

Global auto sales improve modestly again in October, report says
On a year-over-year basis, sales were in positive territory for a second consecutive month since the pandemic struck, Scotiabank’s latest Global Auto Report says.
Two-thirds of Canadian business owners negatively impacted by COVID-19: CIBC poll
But the majority (75%) of business owners remain optimistic they will rebound once the pandemic subsides, the poll also found.

Amcor adds face masks to healthcare product portfolio
The face masks meet general purpose-use requirements with a triple layer consisting of a non-woven inner and outer layer, and a melt-blown middle layer.
Ontario invests $350,000 for plastic sheeting maker to produce face shields
The funding for Integrated Packaging Films of Ayr, Ont. will help the firm produce an additional four million face shields per month for use during the second wave of COVID-19.

CpK Interior Products R&D team invents anti-viral plastics to kill COVID-19
The formulations kill 99.9999% of SARS-CoV-2 virus on material surfaces in less than 60 minutes.
Canadian government extending funding for innovation assistance program into December
The program an emergency wage subsidy provided to eligible small and medium-sized firms on a priority basis.
Demand from packaging and healthcare segments to help polyolefins market stay afloat amid COVID-19, report says
The global polyolefins market is expected to decline in 2020 due to weaker end-market demand, analytics firm GlobalData says, but there will be strong gains in these other sectors.
CME, Ontario launch online consumer directory of made-in-Ontario products
The guide is designed to make it easier for shoppers to find made-in-Ontario products, while supporting local businesses and manufacturers.
Nearly half of Canadians considering leaving their current job, report says
The annual Hays Salary Guide shows employer optimism is countered by employee isolation, loneliness, and a decline in well-being.
U.S. economy posts record third-quarter GDP rebound
GDP increased by an annualized rate of 33.1 per cent during the third quarter, the U.S. Commerce Department reported, compared to the second quarter’s annualized rate of 31.4 per cent contraction.