QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
National Supply Chain
November 24, 2021
My question is for the representative of the government.
The sacrifices of the people of British Columbia in the latest natural disaster have once again laid bare the risk of supply chain disruption, not only in B.C. but our entire country.
Even as the immediate disaster relief and emergency response still unfold, we are yet again reminded — as was the case in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic — of the longer-term and dangerous fragilities of our supply chains. From food, to fuel, to feed for starving animals, supply chain resilience is an essential element of Canada’s longer-term sustainable economic development and, indeed, our national security.
The time has come for a national strategic plan for supply chain resilience that assesses vulnerabilities and aims to mitigate the risks for Canada as a whole — a strategy that ensures participation of all levels of government and all federal government departments involved in economic development, along with national security, industry and private-sector associations like Supply Chain Canada and others.
Will the Government of Canada consider developing a fully national and integrated strategic plan for supply chain resilience to more effectively address the next inevitable disaster?
Thank you, senator, for your question. The government is very aware of the serious situation that’s posed by flooding and mudslides in British Columbia, as well as the impact on transportation networks and supply chains.
Transport Canada, I’m advised, is optimistic about the news of rail lines gradually restarting, and with key industry partners and members of federal and provincial governments, the Government of Canada has formed a joint Supply Chain Recovery Working Group to assess transport networks and plan for the prioritized movement of goods. I have been informed that the government continues to work closely with these partners to address the broader supply chain issues going forward.
Thank you, Senator Gold. The appointment of a kind of “supply chain czar” in an appropriately senior level of the federal government could provide the focal point for continuing the work of all interested parties. This would give supply chain resilience the policy attention and priority it truly deserves. Given the importance of supply chain resilience in enabling sustainable and reliable economic development for Canada and our national security, would the government consider appointing such a senior “supply chain czar”?
The government is committed to doing everything it can both to help in the immediate term but, equally importantly, to take the steps with its partners — provincial and territorial — to build greater resilience into our supply chains and infrastructure. Indeed, Minister Blair underlined that in a recent pronouncement. The government will consider all possible measures, in consultation with its partners.
