CAE, a Canadian manufacturer of aviation training simulators, is recalling temporarily laid-off employees as it plans to produce 10,000 ventilators to help in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. 

About 1,500 employees are being recalled under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program. Most of the workers are based in Montreal and will work from home, the company said. Recalls began the week of April 20. 

On April 10, CAE announced it had signed a contract with the Canadian government to produce 10,000 ventilators. The company is in the midst of finalizing the design and testing the ventilator before production. First deliveries to health authorities is expected in early May for certification. 

CAE is also sourcing N95 masks to support health care workers. To date, the company has secured 100,000 masks to be delivered to the Quebec government. 

The Canadian government’s creation of the emergency wage subsidy program allows employees to go back to work and for companies to be better positioned to rebound when the current challenges pass, said Marc Parent, CAE president and CEO. “I applaud the government of Canada for its immediate and decisive action,” Parent said.