Canada's military is struggling to maintain a critical stockpile of emergency medical supplies, putting the country's ability to respond to chemical, biological, or nuclear attacks at risk.
Blacklock's Reporter says an internal audit revealed that funding challenges have hindered the program's ability to build the stockpile to desired levels .
The program, which plays a crucial role in the Canadian Armed Forces' defence against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, is facing significant challenges. The audit found that the military kept no electronic inventory of emergency supplies, making it difficult to track the status of the stockpile.
According to the report, "Without reliable and timely inventory data information, tracking the status of the stockpile is difficult, time-consuming, and potentially inaccurate."
The auditors warned that if inventory tracking difficulties are not addressed, stockpile management will remain problematic and negatively impact stockpile readiness.
The report's findings echo similar shortcomings in civilian stockpiles of pandemic supplies managed by the Public Health Agency of Canada. A 2024 Agency report stated that "The Agency was not as prepared as it could have been."
The Canadian Medical Association Journal recommended privatizing the stockpiles in a 2020 commentary, citing the system's ineffectiveness.
A federal contractor, 3M company, also suggested privatization in a 2020 submission to the Commons finance committee, stating that the current system is "cost-prohibitive and ineffective."