Buy Canadian: Establish reciprocal procurement policies for U.S. suppliers
Access to U.S. federal and state procurement is heavily restricted. “Buy America” and “Buy American” rules effectively exclude Canadian suppliers from bidding on contracts. Over time, these rules have become more onerous, directly contributing to job losses in Canada, including among Unifor members. By contrast, Canada maintains a mostly open and unfettered procurement market for U.S. suppliers.
U.S.-based suppliers should be subject to the same restrictions here that Canada faces in the States. When it comes to public purchasing, Canadian companies should come first.
Public purchasing across all levels of government in Canada generates significant economic activity, totaling an estimated $300 billion per year. This represents a major opportunity to reinvest strategically in the domestic economy, supporting sector-specific industrial strategies that foster Canadian innovation and develop necessary skills and production capacities.
