Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
The Ontario government is moving ahead with new legislation that would reshape how public sector organizations purchase goods and services, introducing the Buy Ontario Act, 2025.
The bill, unveiled Thursday, is designed to ensure that Ontario tax dollars stay in the province and support Ontario workers during a period of economic uncertainty and ongoing U.S. tariffs.
If passed, the Buy Ontario Act would require ministries, provincial agencies, municipalities and publicly funded organizations to prioritize Ontario-made goods and services when awarding contracts. Canadian suppliers would be considered next, with international procurement permitted only when domestic options cannot meet cost, timing or value-for-money requirements. Contractors and subcontractors working on provincial infrastructure projects would also be bound by the same rules.
Minister Stephen Crawford said the province spends more than $30 billion annually on goods and services, and the proposed legislation ensures “every possible procurement dollar” stays in Ontario. The act is also tied to Ontario’s more than $220-billion infrastructure plan, the largest in Canadian history, which the government says supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across construction, steelmaking, forestry, manufacturing and agriculture.
The bill includes enforcement tools such as compliance reviews, holdbacks, fines and potential barring of vendors from future procurement. To strengthen domestic supply chains, Ontario is working to develop vendor lists of local and Canadian suppliers to streamline their inclusion in major projects.
Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli said the initiative will help Ontario companies grow and create good-paying jobs, while Municipal Affairs Minister Rob Flack noted that many municipalities are already demonstrating leadership in prioritizing local procurement.
The legislation was introduced at Queen’s Park Thursday and will undergo debate in the legislature.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
