Supplying the Canadian response to COVID-19: Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—June 9, 2020
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Given the extremely high global demand for COVID-19 related goods, there are many risks and challenges associated with procurement of these supplies. This situation is further complicated by export restrictions on personnel protective equipment (PPE) and other goods.
Contract negotiations have also evolved rapidly, with a number of terms being requested by suppliers that do not come up in the normal course of business, including:
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Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has been working closely with central agencies and the Department of Justice to ensure that risk is appropriately identified and managed for the Government of Canada so that front line workers get the equipment they need.
We have had challenges with respect to quality of goods for both N95 respirators and with test swabs. In both cases we took immediate action including suspending orders with certain manufacturers, and working closely with others to ensure that production issues are identified and corrected as soon as possible. PSPC, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and Health Canada are taking strong measures to ensure that defective product will not be distributed to frontline workers.
Public Services and Procurement Canada’s actions taken to equip essential service workers with the supplies and equipment they need to combat COVID-19
The Government of Canada is collaborating with provinces and territories on an ongoing basis to identify their needs and purchase required equipment, supplies, and services to combat COVID-19.
As the Government of Canada’s central purchaser, we are awarding contracts in order to ensure we are acquiring the goods and services that front line workers need, including personnel protective equipment, medical equipment, nursing and support services, air charters, accommodations, transportation, and security.
Roles and responsibilities of other federal departments and agencies
The Government of Canada is leading a coordinated approach to provide needed supplies and equipment across the country. This involves PSPC, the PHAC, Health Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the National Research Council of Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNA), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), and Public Safety Canada. Global Affairs Canada is also implicated in the repatriation of Canadians, among other activities.
Public Services and Procurement Canada
- PSPC is leveraging existing supply arrangements, as well as engaging with the broader domestic and international supply communities to identify and purchase required products
- it manages coordinated, consolidated bulk buying
- The department is also working to leverage the offerings of the suppliers that came forward with products and/or services they could offer to support Canada’s response
- The minister of Public Services and Procurement has established a Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministerial Procurement Working Group with her counterparts across the country, to ensure a coordinated approach to purchasing equipment and supplies needed to fight COVID-19 in the global marketplace
- The minister has also established the COVID-19 Supply Council which brings together a diverse group of leaders to provide the government with advice on the procurement of critical goods and services required as part of Canada’s COVID-19 response and recovery.
- The council is also providing advice on building innovative and agile supply chains for goods in wide use such as masks, gloves and disinfectants, including production, sourcing, shipping and distribution strategies as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve
Public Health Agency of Canada
- PHAC leads collaboration with federal partners, provinces and territories to identify needs and requirements of front line health care workers for the COVID-19 response and is responsible for distribution of essential goods
- The agency also oversees Canada's National Emergency Strategic Stockpile, which contains supplies that provinces and territories can request in emergencies
- PHAC has played a critical role in ensuring that the testing of goods and equipment is undertaken to ensure that it meets the standards established by Health Canada before being delivered to front line health care workers
Health Canada
- As the regulatory body for health products, Health Canada is working to expedite access to the supplies Canadians need to help limit the spread of COVID-19, as well as set out the standards and requirements for the goods and equipment being brought in to fight the pandemic
- On March 18, the minister of Health signed an interim order to allow expedited access to COVID-19-related medical devices. Health Canada also introduced an interim measure to help facilitate access to certain products, such as personal protective equipment
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
- ISED is leading Canada’s plan to mobilize industry to fight COVID-19. ISED is introducing new measures to directly support businesses seeking to rapidly scale up production or re-tool their manufacturing lines to develop products made in Canada that will help in the fight against COVID-19
- On March 20, ISED issued a call to action for manufacturers and business
- On May 8, the minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced the new Industry Strategy Council, chaired by Monique Leroux—a strong business leader with a distinguished career in Canadian finance
- This council serves as an advisory board to assess the scope and depth of COVID-19’s impact on industries and inform government’s understanding of specific sectoral pressures
- By enlisting senior business leaders, the council will build on Canada’s strong partnerships between government and industry, notably the Economic Strategy Tables, to support Canadians and their jobs
- This proactive and strategic approach is designed to bring the private sector to the table to directly share its perspective on the scope of the challenges being faced across industries
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program will build on its existing relationships with thousands of Canada's most innovative small and medium-sized businesses to facilitate innovative marketplace solutions to fight COVID-19
Public Safety Canada
Lead federal department with respect to the co-ordination of all government efforts with respect to addressing an emergency. It has a Government Operations Committee that all other federal department and agencies feed into, as well as a federal/provincial/territorial committee to co-ordinate/manage efforts with provinces and territories
Global Affairs Canada
- Continues to provide consular services and leads efforts on the repatriation of Canadians. PSPC has put in place contracts with air charters on behalf of Global Affairs Canada to transport Canadian citizens home from around the world
- In addition, the department has played a critical role in providing consular services to PSPC with trade contracts, vetting suppliers, and assisting with international logistics
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