Getting medical gear to people who need it is at the top of Canada's priority list. In Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement for the day, it was revealed that the country would be working with Amazon Canada to get equipment where it needs to go. It also left some people wondering why Canada Post wasn't chosen. In his April 3 address, Trudeau highlighted the importance of providing medical equipment to doctors and other healthcare professionals. He stated that the government had signed an agreement with Amazon Canada to manage the delivery of items like masks, gloves, face shields, and gowns to the provinces and territories. The Prime Minister had also written on Twitter that he and Chrystia Freeland were coordinating with all of Canada's premiers to ensure every province gets what it needs. "Canadians can count on their leaders working together as we get through this," Trudeau wrote in an April 2 tweet, "Today, @cafreelandand I spoke with Premiers again about coordinating our efforts on all fronts. This is a Team Canada effort." The decision to partner with Amazon Canada left some people on Twitter wondering why the government had not chosen to partner with Canada Post on the delivery of this equipment. Canadians can count on their leaders working together as we get through this. Today, @cafreeland and I spoke with Premiers again about coordinating our efforts on all fronts. This is a Team Canada effort. 🇨🇦— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 3, 2020 "I mean Canada post is slow AF but Amazon Canada delivering emergency supplies to the provinces kind of totally undermines our national mail services right?" wrote @ffloridas. "Canada Post has a strong union in @cupw, while Amazon Canada is accused of firing employees for unionizing and generally has atrocious labour conditions. But I'm sure that had nothing to do with this decision." wrote @mbueckert. I mean Canada post is slow AF but Amazon Canada delivering emergency supplies to the provinces kind of totally undermines our national mail services right?— Small body shaq (@ffloridas) April 3, 2020 Canada Post has a strong union in @cupw, while Amazon Canada is accused of firing employees for unionizing and generally has atrocious labour conditions. But I'm sure that had nothing to do with this decision. https://t.co/Ix1VV01cg3— Michael Bueckert (@mbueckert) April 3, 2020 One other thing, the Feds have come to an agreement with Amazon Canada to manage the distribution of needed medical supplies. Talk about admitting that the gov is inept.— Mr Stache (@MrStache9) April 3, 2020 Amazon Canada? Are you fucking kidding me? So the government is partnering with a corporation that is famous for exploiting marginalized workers? This is going to hurt people.He knows Canada Post exists right?#COVID19 #cndpoli— Sahra MacLean (@SahraMaclean) April 3, 2020 I hope Amazon Canada has some minimum standards for worker wages, rights, and working conditions that exceed what their American counterparts are getting. We want our health workers protected, but our delivery workers should be safe too. https://t.co/hxsrX7uBIq— Kevin Murray (@everythingkevin) April 3, 2020 @JustinTrudeau announces that they signed a deal with Amazon Canada to distribute PPE to Prov and Territories. Why wouldn't we use our own resources before a company that has been firing employees for unionizing, standing up for their rights, etc.Meanwhile at @canadapostcorp pic.twitter.com/PE0QOlcX0y— Dylan (@dylancorp) April 3, 2020 I'm quite disappointed with the decision of the Federal Government to have an agreement with Amazon Canada. #Amazon is not a benevolent corporation looking to do social good. I'm sure Bezos is salivating over this one.— Dunsmuir (@Dunsmuir19) April 3, 2020 BREAKING: Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau says Amazon Canada will be distributing crucial supplies to the provinces and territories. How about Canada post Mr PM ?? #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/HhuWansCfC— themoneytrain (@zmoneytrain) April 3, 2020 It really is unbelievable that the Liberals are paying Amazon to ship and not Canada Post. They're using this crisis to stick a knife into our own Crown corporation.— Nora Loreto (@NoLore) April 3, 2020 I'm sorry, but fuck this govt. Partnering with one of the most exploitative corporations on the planet and not Canada Post, who's public employees Trudeau fucked over a year ago and who still face an injury crisis and who still do not have a contract, is straight up evil. https://t.co/290di7vAlY— James Hutt (@JamesRHutt) April 3, 2020 Why is the government making a deal to line Jeff Bezos' pockets at the expense of Amazon workers health and safety when there is a crown corporation with a unionized public sector workforce that is fully equipped to distribute crucial supplies? https://t.co/wN8qGlrANl— תרצה‎ (@kateljacobson) April 3, 2020 Amazon just fired an employee for standing up for health and safety in their facilities.Our Prime Minister just gave Amazon the contract to deliver medical supplies across Canada. What is going on here? The safest way to deliver those supplies is through Canada Post.— Cory Judson (@CoryJudson) April 3, 2020 Some other Twitter users praised the decision, and even responded by pointing out that Amazon often uses Canada Post to make deliveries anyway. "Amazon Canada uses Canada post, other shipping companies as well and have good network, infrastructure to deliver faster, reliably. While canada post alone sucks and cant handle it. It is simple logical move," wrote @NiziShirin. Amazon Canada uses Canada post, other shipping companies as well and have good network, infrastructure to deliver faster, reliably. While canada post alone sucks and cant handle it. It is simple logical move— Nizami Shirin (@NiziShirin) April 3, 2020 I get why people are freaking out over Trudeau working with Amazon Canada but honestly they have one of the biggest distribution networks in the country and it's not like the government has a fleet of trucks and warehouses just sitting there waiting to be deployed...— firechild (@firechild) April 3, 2020 Good on the feds for partnering with Amazon Canada. Their capacity to ship and deliver in a timely manner is needed in a time like this.— Jon Reid (@JReid416) April 3, 2020 The people saying “why not Canada Post” seem to be forgetting that Amazon isn’t a shipping company, and Canada Post already makes most of Amazon Canada’s deliveries. #cdnpoli #COVID19 https://t.co/gPrLPKhKl8— Sacha Forstner (@sachaforstner) April 3, 2020 Prime Minister Trudeau also recently announced that the country would be spending $2 billion in order to get personal protective equipment to medical professionals.
