Larry Berglund

Public sector organizations, under the economic situation Canada is facing, should rethink their strategies around the use of local sources.  Procurement policies and practices in place prior to the October 2008 financial crisis are by and large, still in place in most public sector institutions.  Local sourcing favouring privilege clauses are also not the answer.

With literally billions in infrastructure investment about to be handed out by the Federal government for economic stimulus, this stimulus may not be as successful as it could be if public buyers to not adapt their strategies.

The AIT Article 508 combined with a sustainability purchasing policy could assist in directing the dollars towards the benefit of local and qualified suppliers.