Cabinet aides were blunt in e-mails that expressed exasperation with Chinese suppliers that were unable to fill orders for medical supplies, according to Blacklock’s Reporter..“Our experience is that shit can go sideways in China,” wrote Matt Stickney, the prime minister’s executive director of operations, in an April 1, 2020 e-mail..From the outbreak of the pandemic, federal agencies relied on Chinese contractors for medical goods after the Public Health Agency failed to maintain a national stockpile of masks, gloves and gowns..In one exchange of internal e-mails, political aides complained two jets returned empty from Shanghai after local cargo handlers failed to load the planes..“The cost of flying one cargo plane from China to Canada is between $600,000 and $800,000,” wrote staff..Cameron Ahmed, director of communications, recommended a diplomatic note. “Could be something along the lines of thanking Chinese authorities on the ground for their collaboration in such a complex environment in terms of logistics and organizations,” wrote Ahmed..“Do we need to ‘thank’ them?” replied Director Stickney..“I wonder if we can be just be more honest in the response,” wrote another aide. “Planes can’t hang around at the airport in China for hours and days on end, and since there was a 40-hour wait time at the airport our supplies couldn’t get unloaded in time.”.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on April 21, 2020 confirmed the two cargo aircraft had returned empty after failing to take delivery of COVID-19 supplies..“One was a Government of Canada charter, the other was chartered by a specific province (Alberta) for one of their orders,” Trudeau told reporters..“There are severe restrictions in China in terms of how long a plane can actually stay in their airports before having to leave whether it’s full or not, and at the same time supply lines and truck shipments to the airports are difficult,” said Trudeau..The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa denied the account but did not elaborate..“Civil aviation authorities place no limit on the ground time of chartered cargo planes,” the Embassy wrote in a statement..The Department of Public Works at the time complained China had imposed export controls on medical supplies and that Canadian inspectors had to check for shoddy goods..“Limited availability of many of these products is resulting in buyers over-bidding, and established orders are often redirected to those willing to pay the most,” Deputy Minister Bill Matthews testified April 15, 2020 at the Commons health committee..“We are seeing export controls change in China,” said Matthews. “Requirements for medical supplies, rules around those, are changing as well.”.China’s General Administration on Customs on April 1, 2020 imposed regulations stating all exports of masks, ventilators and other COVID-19 supplies, even pre-paid cargo, required new permits with “extra documentation.”
