Please see a message the Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, has asked us to share with our members regarding the denaturing agent, guanidine thiocyanate.
On March 20, I wrote to you asking for your support and cooperation in helping Canada to combat COVID-19, requesting post-secondary institutions to identify stocks of personal protective equipment that could be made available to the critical care system. I also asked for your assistance in identifying innovative manufacturing solutions to address potential shortages of essential medical equipment.
Thank you to those of you who responded to this request or that from your provincial government or local authority. So many of your institutions have risen to this challenge and are working on the critical research and development efforts necessary to help keep Canadians safe and healthy, especially those working in our health system.
Today, I am writing again to ask for your support. The National Microbiology Laboratory is in need of the denaturing agent, guanidine thiocyanate, and is seeking help in identifying available supplies from Canadian post-secondary institutions and companies. If your institution has any available stocks of guanidine thiocyanate that could be donated to or made available for procurement by the Government of Canada, I invite you to contact Dr. Nipun Vats, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Research Sector, at nipun.vats@canada.ca.
I recognize the challenges and pressures you are facing at this time. As the government’s response to this pandemic develops over the coming weeks and months, we may make additional requests for your assistance. Once again, thank you for your leadership and for the ongoing support of Canadian post-secondary institutions in leading efforts to help understand and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry