How a Global News investigation into federal pandemic contracts unfolded – GLOBAL
December 21, 2023
Global News’ investigation into federal pandemic contracts began with a call in summer 2022 to a reporter from an executive working in the rapid test sector. Officials’ choices of suppliers seemed inexplicable, he said. Why didn’t they hire more Canadian manufacturers?
Few people outside the industry knew that almost all of the $5 billion the Canadian federal government spent on rapid tests between 2020 and 2022 went to importers and to foreign pharmaceutical giants.
Rapid tests were in drastic short supply after pandemic lockdowns began. As Canadians in lockdown waited for Health Canada to procure reliable rapid tests and other medical supplies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised in March and April 2020 to pump billions into local companies, which ideally would address the public health and national security risks of depending on other countries for vital PPE. It was also meant to address a weak supply chain, onshoring manufacturing to ensure effective access to test kits.
Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/10183799/global-news-pandemic-contracts-investigation/
