Buy Ontario Procurement Directive

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Overview

The Buy Ontario Act (Public Sector Procurement), 2025 establishes a framework to prioritize Ontario and Canadian goods and services in procurement across the public sector. This supports Ontario workers and businesses by ensuring that public spending strengthens local supply chains and reduces exposure to global economic and trade uncertainty.

The Buy Ontario Procurement Directive supports this by requiring government and the broader public sector to prioritize Ontario and Canadian goods and services in procurements. It also incorporates related initiatives — the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative and the Procurement Restriction Policy — into a single directive.

This directive is issued by Management Board of Cabinet under the authority of the Buy Ontario Act (Public Sector Procurement), 2025.

The Chair of Treasury Board and Management Board of Cabinet has the delegated authority to make periodic updates to procurement value thresholds in this directive, in alignment with Ontario’s trade commitments.

Giving Preference to Ontario Businesses

The University will follow the Buy Ontario Procurement Directive for procurement under $121,200.

An Ontario business is defined under Buy Ontario Act as “any supplier, manufacturer, or distributor that conducts its activities on a permanent basis in Ontario; and, at the time of procurement, has its headquarters (or a location with at least 250 employees) in Ontario.”

Preference is given to Ontario businesses as follows:

  • For procurement processes under $3,000 (excluding taxes), departments should give preference to Ontario businesses for their purchases, where feasible.

    These purchases can be made via a Purchasing Card up to $3000 including taxes. If the vendor will not accept a Purchasing Card, a requisition is required. If a purchase is made via requisition, please submit the single written quotation along with the requisition number to purchasing@laurentian.ca.
     
  • For procurement processes between $3,000 and $9,999 (excluding taxes), departments should give preference to Ontario businesses in purchases where feasible.

    Departments will obtain a single written quotation and submit it along with the requisition number to purchasing@laurentian.ca.
     

  • For procurement processes between $10,000 and $121,199 (excluding taxes), preference will be given to Ontario businesses in purchases.

    Procurements at this value must be undertaken by Procurement & Contracts ONLY. Please advise Procurement & Contracts of your requirements via email at purchasing@laurentian.ca.

    Click here for guidance on How to Buy.

Exceptions to the Buy Ontario Act

Exceptions to the requirement to give preference to Ontario Businesses are only valid for the procurement of:

  1. Goods or services included in a Standing Offer, Vendor of Record agreement, or Qualified Supplier List,
  2. Services provided by treasury operations, lawyers, paralegals, notary publics, or expert witnesses,
  3. Goods or services required for an emergency,
  4. Goods or services procured for commercial sale or resale, or
  5. Goods or services which are not available from an Ontario Business.

If you believe that an exemption applies to your procurement,  please contact purchasing@laurentian.ca and demonstrate the exemption. Please note, Buy Ontario Act exemptions are separate considerations from the Limited Tendering Exceptions associated with Competitive Procurement.