Photo: Government of Alberta

By Emily Keller

Bits and Pieces Program

Province calls on private and non-profit organizations to provide goods and supports during COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 3, 2020 | 5:14 PM

After more than 1,100 offers from private and non-profit organizations had come into the Alberta Emergency Management Agency’s “Unsolicited Offers Program” , Premier Jason Kenney is adding to that call for helping by expanding that program, which is now being refered to as the Bits and Pieces program.

Premier Kenney says the program is a call to organizations and companies in the province to develop and provide goods and services to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If you are a manufacturer. If you produce goods that could be in any way useful to this fight against the pandemic, we ask you to come forward,” said Kenney. “Offer your help and show us the kind of Alberta spirit in innovation, in production that we can generate to help fight the pandemic.”

Examples so far include ATCO having offered to contribute up to several hundred trailers, which could be used for COVID-19 testing, treatment and quarantining, especially for rural and remote areas.

“I’m deeply touched by the outpouring of support we’re seeing from private and non-profit organizations, both foreign and domestic. When times are tough, Alberta’s spirit of ingenuity and generosity always answers the call,” said Kenney.

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Kenney also highlighted the number of local distilleries and breweries developing and distributing hand sanitizer, IKEA Edmonton having offered N-95 respirators, and Alberta Garment transitioning to making hospital gowns.

Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, Kaycee Madu, also highlighted an offer from the Archives Society of Alberta, who offered two N-95 respirators, saying in their submission; “It’s not much, but it’s what we have.”

The program is named after the “Bits and Pieces program”, which was established by Canada’s Minister of Munitions and Supply during the Second World War, C.D. Howe. The program was put in place to coordinate production and procurement efforts to support the war effort.