Question Period Note: Rapid Tests

• Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada procured and distributed millions of rapid tests to support rapid testing programs across the country with the aim to limit the spread of the virus.
• The Government of Canada built substantial federal reserves of rapid tests in the event of a potential resurgence and, given diminishing demand, has been divesting of the surplus tests to minimize volumes going unused prior to their expiration in 2024.

• Since 2020, the Government of Canada has provided provinces and territories with a free supply of rapid tests to sustain testing programming and to foster provincial and territorial reserves, while also building a federal inventory for emergency response.
• Demand for tests from the federal inventory will likely remain low.
• The Government of Canada continues to distribute and facilitate access to rapid tests to minimize the risk that they will go unused prior to expiry.
IF PRESSED ON THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL RAPID TEST INVENTORY
• In response to the Omicron wave, provincial and territorial demand for rapid tests increased dramatically.
• Canada used its buying power to secure extremely limited global supply and proactively built reserves, in close collaboration with the provinces and territories, in the event of future Omicron-like waves.
IF PRESSED ON PLANS FOR THE INVENTORY
• Canada has been strategically managing the supply of rapid tests by:
o working with manufacturers for direct delivery where appropriate;
o reviewing and validating expiry dates periodically and as required;
o working with manufacturers to extend shelf life; and
o shipping inventory with the shortest shelf life first.
• Canada does not plan to replenish the federal inventory as product expires.
IF PRESSED ON PROCUREMENT
• With a commitment to openness, fairness, and transparency, Canada secured rapid tests when global supply was very limited, leveraging Public Services and Procurement Canada’s standard procurement mechanisms such as Request for Standing Offers.
• As the pandemic evolved, procurement decisions were made, reviewed, and updated based on demand projections in consultation with provinces and territories, stakeholders, and partners, as well as established selection criteria such as price/overall cost, departmental priorities, test types, delivery needs/availability, longer shelf life, test familiarity, and test performance.

The Government of Canada has been a leader in funding, procuring, and distributing rapid tests through multiple channels across Canada, and has been providing rapid tests to provinces and territories since October 2020. In total, since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has ordered over 811 million rapid tests, at a total cost of $5B. Of this total, the federal government has shipped 687 million rapid tests to provinces and territories (PTs). These rapid tests have supported the broader testing strategies that PTs have implemented including for screening in hospitals and other health care settings, as well as for expanded school-based testing, workplace screening, and community and general population testing.

As a result of federal action in procurement and distribution of rapid tests, in working with PTs, Canada has been well positioned to address potential resurgence. Demand for rapid tests has since fallen and there is a risk that remaining tests will go unused prior to their expiration in 2024. The Government of Canada has made surplus tests available via Public Services and Procurement Canada’s GCSurplus platform through GCTransfer, allowing federal organizations to access rapid tests for their employee testing programs, through GCDonate providing access to charities, non-profits and public institutions to access rapid tests for their staff and the communities they serve, and internationally.

• Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has ordered over 811 million rapid tests, at a total cost of $5B.
• During this period, the Government shipped 687 million rapid tests to provinces and territories (PTs) based on PT demand projections.
• More than 8 million rapid tests were shipped to registered charities, non-profit organizations, and Northern, remote and isolated communities.
• The federal role in procurement of rapid tests as part of pandemic support to PTs concluded in December 2022. Activities relating to this role, such as managing test stocks, continue but are winding down following conclusion of procurement.
• There are currently about 65 million rapid tests in the federal inventory for emergency support, if needed.
• Since spring 2023, approximately 1 million tests have been divested of through the GCDonate platform to charities, non-profits, public institutions, and others.
• The majority of tests in the federal inventory do not expire until late 2024.