Laval – In June 2022, the Government of Canada established a long-term agreement with Moderna for the domestic production of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in Canada. The negotiations began in 2021, during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the country faced intense global competition to secure vaccines. This global supply chain vulnerability showcased the need to ensure domestic capacity for producing our own vaccines, including cutting-edge technologies like mRNA. This is an important element of Canada’s national security, and it will help ensure the health and safety of Canadians.
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Mark Holland, Minister of Health, and Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, alongside Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region, Christopher Skeete, Quebec Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region, and Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval, announced that Moderna is marking a major milestone, having completed construction of its new state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine production facility in Laval, Quebec.
This also represents a major milestone in Canada’s efforts to strengthen our domestic vaccine and therapeutics production capacity, as Moderna’s facility will be able to produce, if needed, approximately 100 million mRNA vaccine doses annually. Once opened, the facility will also be a source of many highly skilled, well-paying jobs. Furthermore, Moderna has committed to supporting research and development in Canada by establishing partnerships with Canadian researchers and companies over the course of the agreement. As a result, Moderna will become part of, and help grow, Canada’s life sciences ecosystem.
This is another significant achievement in the Government of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, which is helping strengthen Canada’s preparedness for health emergencies by building domestic capacity to produce vaccines and therapeutics, while boosting our economy, creating well-paying jobs and supporting Canadian research.
“Today’s milestone for this new, cutting-edge Moderna facility represents a major step forward for Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, Canada had very limited capability to produce mRNA vaccines domestically. We made a promise to Canadians that we would build back the biomanufacturing sector, and with the completion of the Moderna facility, we are fulfilling our promise. Moderna’s presence in Canada will strengthen our national biomanufacturing ecosystem, positioning the entire sector to continue to grow and to create even more good jobs.” – François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Protecting the health and safety of people in Canada is one of our government’s top priorities. With this new facility, we have the opportunity to leverage innovative, state-of-the-art technology in vaccine development and be better prepared for future pandemics through timely, secure access to a domestic supply of safe and effective vaccines.” – Mark Holland, Minister of Health
“This new cutting-edge facility marks an important step in our partnership with Moderna to build domestic biomanufacturing capacity for mRNA vaccines. By supporting Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector, we are protecting Canadians and strengthening our pandemic preparedness, all while growing the economy and creating skilled jobs.” – Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement