Ontario’s auditor general, Shelley Spence, revealed that the province has disposed of over a billion pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) since 2021, incurring a cost of $1.4 billion. Despite a significant decrease in demand, Ontario continues to procure masks, gowns, and other protective gear at levels similar to the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Expired products accumulated in the provincial stockpile as some PPE purchased during the pandemic did not meet quality standards and remained unused.
During the pandemic, Ontario faced a critical shortage of protective gear, exacerbated by expired inventory. To manage the stockpile, Supply Ontario was established in late 2020; however, the auditor general found deficiencies in its inventory tracking system. Supply Ontario now incinerates expired PPE, converting it into heat energy, rather than recycling it like British Columbia.
The province entered into long-term contracts for PPE in late 2020 and early 2021, obligating it to purchase a substantial number of masks annually. Despite these commitments, only a fraction of the masks procured were distributed. Spence estimated that a significant amount of masks, valued at $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 avoid further waste.
Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Stephen Crawford, attributed the disposal of PPE to the urgency during the pandemic and the previous government’s procurement of substandard foreign-made equipment. Crawford defended the government’s actions, highlighting investments in local PPE manufacturing for a secure supply chain.
Spence recommended that Supply Ontario enhance its inventory management system, integrate inventory records, and conduct a value-for-money analysis for better purchasing decisions. Supply Ontario has agreed to implement all six recommendations, including consolidating inventory records and developing metrics to monitor protective equipment purchases. Opposition leader Marit Stiles criticized the findings, calling the situation “absolutely bonkers.”
