To Ontario Municipal Leaders, CAOs, Treasurers, Engineers, Procurement Officials, and Public Works Departments,
Re: Open Letter to Ontario Municipalities Regarding Implementation of the Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive
On behalf of the members of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA), Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA), Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA), Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT), and Ontario Association of Foundation Specialists (OAFS), we are writing regarding implementation of the Province’s new Municipal “Buy Ontario” Procurement Directive. As organizations representing the contractors, manufacturers, distributors, and material suppliers responsible for building and
maintaining critical public infrastructure across Ontario, we urge public buyers to adopt a consistent and practical procurement policy to meet this directive.
Public buyers across Ontario are beginning to incorporate new bidder declarations, domestic content attestations, and supply chain disclosure requirements into tender calls. While the provincial Directive establishes a broad policy objective, it provides limited detail on how it is to be implemented in practice. As a result, hundreds of public sector buyers are being left to interpret the requirements independently and develop their own approaches. Without a uniform implementation framework, this risks creating inconsistency across the province and confusion for owners, contractors, consultants,
manufacturers, and suppliers alike.
For this reason, we are encouraging public buyers to adopt a uniform and standardized approach aligned with the implementation model established by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). MTO’s procurement special provision provides a practical framework that includes:
• A standardized Domestic Supply Chain Plan;
• Clearly identified material categories for disclosure;
• A straightforward declaration process;
• A measurable and transparent compliance threshold of 51%; and,
• Procedures for post-award updates where supply chains change during delivery.
This model offers the “ambitious and achievable” targets that the Directive calls for, while reducing uncertainty for bidders and owners.
The infrastructure construction industry operates across municipal boundaries every day. Contractors frequently bid work in multiple municipalities each season. Manufacturers and suppliers serve projects province-wide. If each buyer creates its own approach, the result will be cost escalation, bid errors, and reduced competition.
A common municipal framework would provide substantial benefits:
•Lower administrative burden for staff and bidders;
•Greater consistency and legal clarity in procurement documents;
•Faster implementation of the Province’s policy objectives;
•Better comparability of submissions and reporting data; and,
•Reduced risk of disputes or unintended non-compliance.
Our organizations stand ready to work collaboratively with municipalities, provincial officials, and industry stakeholders to support practical implementation that protects competition, delivers best value, and advances the Buy Ontario objectives as practically as possible.
Sincerely,
Raly Chakarova, Executive Director, TARBA
Patrick McManus, Executive Director, GTSWCA & OSWCA
Peter Smith, Executive Director, HCAT & OAFS