Question Period Note: Mobile Health Units for Alberta

It was reported in the media on December 2, 2020 that Canada was providing 2 Mobile Health Units (MHU) to the province of Alberta. The reports also identified that the Red Cross is deploying some of their facilities to support Alberta’s fight against the virus.

• The Government is committed to supporting provinces and territories in their battle with COVID-19
  • We are working with the province of Alberta on the planning and deployment of 2 federal MHU to Calgary to provide approximately 200 beds of surge capacity
  • These federal MHU had been purchased in anticipation of such a request and Canada is pleased to work with Alberta in setting up this additional capacity

The province of Alberta has requested 2 MHU within federal inventory in an effort to address their anticipated 750 bed potential need (375 beds in Calgary and 375 beds in Edmonton). The Canadian Red Cross is providing a 100-plus bed solution to Edmonton in addition to Canada’s 200 beds. Alberta will look at Canada’s MHU contractor to potentially make up the remaining 400 beds should the need arise. While planning is underway, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alberta is being drafted and negotiated to identify the costs that Alberta and Canada will each cover.

A MHU can be a fully self-sufficient unit to provide targeted care for persons with acute respiratory disease and distress. It has been designed with the capability of providing a triage area, short stay evaluation area, 2 resuscitation bays, up to an 80 bed inpatient ward, up to a 20 bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU), diagnostic imaging (portable x-ray), laboratory, pharmacy, and a separate low-risk zone which includes central supply and office space. Integral to the design is a full water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) system of fresh potable water systems, latrines, showers, and hand washing stations. Should electrical hookup or compressed oxygen not be available at the deployment site, power can be provided through generators and oxygen through various O2 generators and concentrators. The self-sufficiency of the unit makes it extremely flexible to be able to deploy where the need is greatest, not just where the utilities exist for its support.

Two firms (Weatherhaven Global Resources Ltd of Coquitlam, BC and SNC-Lavalin PAE Inc. of Ottawa, ON) were contracted to design and deliver Canada’s MHU.

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