Ontario has discarded over one billion pieces of personal protective equipment at a cost of $1.4 billion since 2021, according to the province’s auditor general, Shelley Spence. Despite a significant drop in demand, the province continues to procure masks, gowns, and other protective gear at levels similar to those seen during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
In her annual report, Spence highlighted that expired products started accumulating in the provincial stockpile due to purchases made during the pandemic that did not meet quality standards and were left unused. The shortage of protective gear in Ontario during the pandemic, particularly in its early stages when much of the PPE inventory had already expired, emphasized the need for better management.
Supply Ontario, established in late 2020 to oversee the stockpile, was criticized by Spence for lacking an efficient system to track the gear. The agency has resorted to incinerating expired PPE, converting it into heat energy, instead of recycling it as done in British Columbia.
Long-term contracts signed by the province for PPE between October 2020 and April 2021 have resulted in significant waste. For instance, the province committed to purchasing 188 million surgical masks annually but distributed only 39 million last year, representing just 21 percent. Similarly, of the 25 million N95 masks bought, only 5.5 million were distributed, or 22 percent.
Spence estimated that a substantial amount of masks, valued at approximately $126 million, will expire between 2025/26 and 2030/31 if current usage levels persist. She emphasized the need for increased distribution of PPE to minimize waste while maintaining public health protection and supporting local production.
Although acknowledging the challenges faced during the pandemic, Spence did not attribute blame to the government for the wastage. Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Stephen Crawford, defended the government’s actions, highlighting the necessity of procuring PPE rapidly. He emphasized investments in local manufacturing to ensure a secure supply of high-quality protective equipment.
Spence recommended that Supply Ontario enhance its inventory management system, conduct value-for-money analyses, and collaborate with hospitals to improve PPE distribution. The agency, led by Premier Doug Ford’s former chief of staff, Jamie Wallace, agreed to implement all of Spence’s recommendations to enhance efficiency and accountability.
New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles criticized the situation, calling it “absolutely bonkers” that millions of dollars were being wasted through mismanagement of the PPE stockpile.