‘Government seeks to ensure that these organizations can continue to operate if they have short-term challenges in obtaining PPE’
The federal government is establishing the Essential Services Contingency Reserve, to which essential service organizations can apply for temporary, urgent access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical supplies.
The contingency reserve complements existing PPE support being provided to frontline health care workers by the Public Health Agency of Canada. It helps other essential service organizations bridge urgent, short-term gaps in their supplies to avoid any significant disruptions in services to Canadians.
“Across the country, organizations of all types are providing a wide range of essential services – from keeping food on our tables to caring for vulnerable populations and shipping goods from coast to coast to coast. Through the Essential Services Contingency Reserve, the federal government seeks to ensure that these organizations can continue to operate if they have short-term challenges in obtaining PPE when all other sources of supply are unavailable,” said Anita Anand, minister of public services and procurement.
“Canadians can rest assured that they will continue to have access to the essential services on which they depend as the Canadian economy continues to recover from the pandemic.”
The reserve will stock PPE and critical supplies, including KN95 respirators, surgical masks, non-medical cloth and disposable masks, gowns, face shields, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and gloves.
Eligible associations and organizations will be able to apply online for a range of equipment, available for purchase at cost. Support provided to provincial or territorial governments will not be cost recovered.
Organizations identified as essential service providers, as defined by Public Safety Canada, are eligible to apply to access the Contingency Reserve. Full details on the Contingency Reserve, including the application process and eligibility criteria, are available on the Essential Services Contingency Reserve web page.
Recently, it announced a $10 million investment to support organizations that provide important services to those experiencing gender-based violence amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
