The COVID-19 pandemic saw Canada hoarding far more than its share of the scarce global supply of vaccines; ironically, Canada was itself dependent on foreign production, having failed to produce any doses domestically. Unfortunately, Canada seems to have learned the wrong lessons on innovation and access, with repercussions not only for accessible, affordable medicines both at home and abroad, but for tools to tackle other challenges like climate change. It is not too late, however, to change course to help ensure access to technologies for shared global challenges.