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Photo courtesy City of Richmond

Support local. Buy local.

Published 11:03 PST, Fri February 28, 2025

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As trade tensions continue between Canada and the United States, municipalities across British Columbia are re-examining their procurement policies to ensure local businesses remain competitive and resilient.

While free trade agreements have required Canadian cities to open their markets to international suppliers, recent developments have prompted questions about whether municipalities should prioritize local procurement to support Canadian industries.

We cannot ignore the impact of U.S. tariffs and the broader economic implications for local businesses. Many Canadian companies face increased costs, supply chain disruptions, and economic uncertainty due to shifting trade policies. In response, several B.C. municipalities—including Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Victoria, Delta, and Maple Ridge—have taken steps to review or adjust their procurement policies to strengthen their local economies.

A Growing Municipal Movement

Vancouver launched a review of procurement practices to ensure more municipal dollars support Canadian suppliers. Similarly, Surrey recently cancelled a proposed contract with a U.S.-based company in favor of working with local businesses. Others have taken steps to reassess their purchasing strategies, recognizing that investing in Canadian businesses helps sustain jobs and economic stability.

Maple Ridge initiated a comprehensive review of its procurement policies to explore ways to prioritize Canadian-made goods and services. This move reflects a growing understanding that municipalities play a key role in reinforcing economic resilience at the local level.

Why Local Procurement Matters

Supporting Canadian and local suppliers is not just a response to trade tensions—it strengthens our economy. By keeping procurement dollars within Canada, we can:

• Support local businesses and jobs: Choosing local suppliers creates employment opportunities and strengthens small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Reduce economic vulnerability: Dependence on foreign suppliers leaves cities exposed to trade disruptions and supply chain instability.

• Align with sustainability goals: Sourcing products and services locally reduces transportation emissions and supports environmental sustainability.

• Promote economic fairness: Foreign protectionist policies remind us of the need to ensure fairness in our own procurement decisions.

Looking Ahead

Richmond is not blind to this economic challenge and opportunity. Around 75 per cent of City contracts are already locally sourced, and Council recently endorsed a review of procurement practices to reinforce that approach.

We also supported initiatives to promote buying local, and will strengthen efforts to build awareness of our many local businesses and where to find them and their products.

Council’s actions and the broader conversation around procurement highlights the importance of economic resilience in a shifting global landscape. Cities can play a critical role in strengthening Canada’s economy. With increasing momentum across B.C., the time to explore these options and buy local has never been more relevant.