Federal procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) became prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic when the federal government centralized purchasing of masks, gloves, gowns, and other protective equipment needed by healthcare workers, essential workers, and eventually the general public. Before the pandemic, municipalities procured their own supplies, but global shortages and supply chain disruptions made individual purchasing difficult and expensive. Federal bulk procurement leveraged national buying power and international relationships. The National Emergency Strategic Stockpile was expanded, and supplies were distributed to provinces and territories for allocation to municipalities, hospitals, and other users. This experience highlighted the value of national coordination during emergencies and prompted discussions about maintaining domestic PPE manufacturing capacity. Municipal emergency planning now better incorporates supply chain considerations and relationships with provincial and federal emergency stockpiles.