Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in town to tour Novocol Pharma this morning.
The Wolseley Court facility that produces Moderna vaccines received $4 million in provincial funding last spring.
Ford along with Ontario health minister Slyvia Jones and minister of economic development Vic Fedeli got to see firsthand the new partnership between Novocol vaccine manufacturing and Moderna.
Novocol had just announced the completion of a new fill-finish production line for mRNA vaccines made by the pharmaceutical giant.
"This new line which our government is pleased to support with a $4 million investment is going to ensure mNRA vaccines manufactured by Moderna are prepared and packaged right here in Cambridge," said Ford.
"It's going to create good-paying jobs throughout the region and importantly provide people in Ontario faster and more reliable access to life-saving vaccines when they need them."
Moderna noted that the new line will play a crucial role in the growing bio-manufacturing landscape and reinforces Canada's production and availability of vaccines for "current and future health challenges."
According to the company, the two new lines will be able to produce upwards of 1,000 vials a minute.
"It pleases me to see Cambridge innovation recognized by the province," said Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell. "I love when things happen here in Ontario, but I love them more when they happen in Cambridge."
Ford also added that manufacturing giants like Moderna are laying down roots in places like Cambridge and are vital to the growth of the province as they hire local university students, skilled trades workers and labourers.
"We want to establish Ontario as a global bio-manufacturing and life sciences hub. A place where medical breakthroughs are discovered and developed into innovative services and products for the benefit of everyone," said Ford.
