The Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney, has said that Alberta has excess protective masks, gloves and ventilators to meet its COVID-19 needs, as such, it’s sharing some of its excess with provinces in more need.
Kenney made the statement on Saturday from one Alberta Health Services warehouse in Edmonton and noted that the warehouse and eight other warehouses are full of supplies.
While speaking further, he said Ontario will get protective masks, gloves and ventilators, Quebec will get masks and gloves and British Columbia will receive masks.
He said: “I for one as an Albertan and as a Canadian could not in conscience watch us stockpile massive amounts of surplus equipment while we see many of our fellow Canadians in some provinces within days of running out of some of these supplies.”
Kenney disclosed he began getting urgent messages from other premiers whose health systems are in need of equipment around last week and that he waited to ensure some of Alberta’s shipments had arrived before deciding to share.
Jitendra Prasad, who is director of procurement at Alberta Health Services, told the news conference that Albertans’ needs will still be met.
As things stand, Alberta will convey 250,000 N95 respirator masks, 2.5 million procedural masks,15 million gloves, 87,000 goggles and 50 ventilators to Ontario.
Quebec will recieve 250,000 N95 masks, two million procedural masks and 15 million gloves while B.C. will get 250,000 N95 masks.
