Health Canada is refusing to disclose the details behind more than $20 million worth of pharmaceuticals lost from Canada’s national emergency stockpile this year, offering only that the loss stemmed from a “temperature deviation.” The costly error, revealed in the 2025 public accounts, has raised significant questions about oversight and accountability, but federal officials say they cannot identify the specific products involved due to national security concerns.
In a brief statement, Health Canada confirmed that the loss involved pharmaceutical supplies stored within the country’s emergency reserves, including vaccines and similar products. The department did not clarify whether the temperature failure occurred during transport, storage, or equipment malfunction, nor did it reveal if the loss resulted from a single event or multiple incidents.
Despite the lack of detail, Health Canada maintains that the incident does not compromise Canada’s ability to respond to future emergencies. The national emergency stockpile—designed to provide rapid support during natural disasters, disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, and chemical or biological threats—still retains sufficient supplies, the department said.
The explanation has left many observers unsatisfied, as the agency has offered no further information on how such a costly lapse occurred or what steps are being taken to prevent future losses.