Toronto, May 18: The federal government has bestowed responsibility for steering the national logistical rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to Brigadier General Krista Brodie, who The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has named the new vice-president of vaccine logistics and operations, replacing Major General Dany Fortin.

The PHAC website describes in her brief biography that, Brigadier General Brodie joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989. She is a graduate of Royal Roads Military College and was commissioned under the Regular Officer Training Program. During her time in the Canadian Army, she has commanded platoons, a company and a battalion. Brigadier-General Brodie has also commanded a Formation in the Canadian Joint Operations Command. She has been deployed to Croatia, Bosnia, and Afghanistan as well as serving with both NATO and the United Nations. With qualifications as an aerial delivery specialist, she also earned American jump wings on exercise with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment (U.S). She is married with three children.

The agency made the announcement on Monday evening after the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence issued a joint statement with stating Fortin was stepping aside amid a military investigation. According to sources, Fortin is facing a historical sexual misconduct allegation that dates back to 1989. Fortin, through his lawyer Commander Mark Letourneau with the Defence Counsel Services, has “completely” denied any wrongdoing.

Brodie was initially seconded to PHAC in November 2020 as part of the National Operations Centre alongside Fortin as part of a team of nearly 30 members of the Canadian Armed Forces including operational planners, pharmacists, health-care administrators, engineers, and IT experts. According to PHAC, Brodie briefly returned to the Canadian Armed Forces in February as the Commander of Military Personnel Generation Group, but has “played a pivotal role in the vaccine rollout.”

She comes into the role at a pivotal moment as COVID-19 vaccines are becoming increasingly available and arriving in larger quantities. Canada is set to receive and distribute 4.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this week, and opposition MPs have said they’ll be watching closely to ensure that the distribution process isn’t impacted by the shakeup at the helm of the massive logistical campaign.

PHAC President Iain Stewart with promising a “seamless transition” said that, “Moving forward, Canadians can rest assured that the work of the Agency will continue with the same focused attention to achieving our immunization campaign.”