The federal government is working to fast-track approvals of alternative supplies of key medications as hospitals across the country cope with an ongoing shortage that is jeopardizing surgeries…Libby Davies, the New Democrat health critic, agrees that the main objective should be to find substitutes for the medicines that are in temporary short supply amid ongoing problems at the factory that manufactures about 90 per cent of Canada's generic injectable drugs. At the same time, Ms. Davies said Thursday, the government must start living up to its commitment to honour an NDP motion that says drug manufacturers will be required to promptly report any planned disruption or discontinuation in production to Health Canada as well as the provinces and territories.