Lindsay man tapped for Canadian task force that will address supply chain issues

Lindsay resident Bob Armstrong will join a task force created by the federal government to help alleviate supply chain issues.

Armstrong – with five decades of management and board experience across all aspects of logistics, transport, and supply chains — joins Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra’s National Supply Chain Task Force at a time when the global system is under pressure from the pandemic, climate change, and international conflicts.

“Bob is an inspired choice for this challenging honour,” says Paul Miller, chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in North America. Armstrong also serves as the institute’s president.

Earlier in his career Armstrong spent many years in senior management with the supply chain and logistics industry, a major government relations company, and a large public accounting firm, where he was a partner.

Among his many industry roles he has specialized in the marine sector since 2005 developing several short sea shipping initiatives for the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes network.

His other activities include Chairman of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association, and Member of the Goods Movement Roundtable for Peel Region. On a more local note, he is a past president of the Lindsay + District Chamber of Commerce and a board member of The Academy Theatre.

“I look forward to meeting Canadian companies across Canada and listening to their supply chain challenges,” Armstrong tells the Advocate.

He says it’s imperative the task force recommends solutions for federal and provincial governments and industry to adopt “and get our supply chain out of the mess it is in.”

This includes improving the reliability and efficiency of the delivery of goods to foreign and domestic customers, says Armstrong.

The National Supply Chain Task Force, launched by the minister of transport will complement measures the government is already taking, including a series of roundtables and consultations, pandemic recovery, and collaborative efforts with the U.S., according to a media release.

It will provide independent advice to the minister in the form of interim and final reports.