Crown corporation stages virtual flu outbreak

A simulated swine flu pandemic swept through the Export Development Canada offices in Ottawa on Wednesday during an exercise to test the Crown corporation's pandemic preparedness plan.

About half of the organizations 1,200 workers didn't come into the office as part of the simulation. 

Those who stayed home were supposed to be either sick with swine flu, quarantined or caring for a sick family member.

The exercise began on Monday, when everyone in the building was given a different coloured card. On Tuesday afternoon, employees got an email explaining what each colour represented.

Phil Taylor, the chief spokesman for EDC, drew a purple card on Monday — which meant he was working from home Wednesday.

"I got the purple card, which basically means I'm quarantined but have no symptoms. So I'm actually available for work from home," Taylor said, adding that EDC has made sure that most employees have the technology they need to work remotely.

Most staff can work remotely

Susanne Laperle, EDC's senior vice-president of human resources and corporate services, told CBC News that the simulation would help management assess their plan and prepare for a potential second wave of swine flu.

"We expect it to be pretty much a normal day here," Laperle said. "There are a few less people in the parking lot, but we're all able to work remotely, for the most part, so it's a great exercise in connectivity as well."

Taylor said the organization wanted to make sure all the systems they might rely on in a real pandemic were operating the way they should.

EDC handles $250 million in business each day, helping finance deals for Canadian firms such as paying the up-front costs associated with the production of a large export order.