In the wake of two separate labour disputes affecting Canada’s largest ports, could further disruptions or ripple effects threaten the supply of medical goods, such as drugs and equipment? It’s possible, one expert says, as some manufacturers say they are making plans in case of further disruptions. While Canada does have stockpiles of medication and health-care supplies, these reserves are not limitless, said Mina Tadrous, a pharmacist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Department of Pharmacy. “The way that medications enter the country, a vast majority of our drugs come from outside of Canada,” Tadrous told Global News.
“And the most common way they do come in is by sea.” He added that if the port disruptions continue, everything from over-the-counter pain relievers to surgical supplies could be affected. The federal labour minister intervened to end the work stoppages at Canada’s largest ports in British Columbia and Quebec, ordering “final and binding arbitration” to resolve the disputes.
While work is set to resume within days, it will still take time to clear the backlog caused by the shutdowns, which have disrupted over $1.2 billion worth of goods daily. It took weeks to clear backlogs from major labour stoppages like the Canadian railway shutdown earlier this year and the U.
S. port strike. Although Canada maintains some medication stockpiles, these reserves are not endless, raising concerns over potential shortages if the supply.