How the Expanded Buy Canadian Policy Creates New Opportunities for Public Sector Procurement

September 11, 2026

As of June 15, 2026, the federal government’s Buy Canadian Policy expanded significantly, lowering the procurement threshold for strategic federal purchases from $25 million to $5 million. This change means that far more public sector projects will now place greater emphasis on Canadian suppliers, Canadian content, and domestic supply chain resilience.

For federal departments, educational institutions, municipalities, and public agencies, the policy shift creates new considerations when sourcing electrical and industrial products. For organizations across Western Canada, it also highlights the importance of working with established Canadian suppliers that can support procurement requirements while simplifying the purchasing process.

What Changed on June 15?

The updated policy expands domestic preference requirements to a much broader range of government projects.

Key changes include:

• More federal procurements now fall under Canadian preference measures.
• Eligible Canadian suppliers may receive advantages during bid evaluations.
• Greater emphasis is being placed on Canadian operations, local employment, and domestic supply chains.
• The policy is expected to increase opportunities for Canadian-based suppliers and manufacturers.

The result is that many projects that previously fell outside the policy’s scope are now subject to enhanced Canadian sourcing considerations.

Why This Matters for Public Sector Buyers

Procurement teams are facing increasing pressure to balance compliance requirements, project timelines, product availability, and value for taxpayers.

The expanded Buy Canadian Policy encourages organizations to:

• Source through established Canadian suppliers.
• Strengthen supply chain reliability.
• Support local jobs and economic growth.
• Simplify procurement processes where possible.

For many organizations, working with a Canadian distributor that already supports public sector procurement contracts can help reduce complexity while maintaining access to a broad range of products and technical expertise.

Leveraging Existing Procurement Agreements

One of the most effective ways to streamline public sector purchasing is through established procurement vehicles that have already been competitively tendered and approved.

E.B. Horsman & Son supports public sector procurement through several existing agreements, including:

BCNET MRO Procurement Agreement

E.B. Horsman & Son is an approved supplier under the BCNET MRO Procurement Agreement, supporting universities, colleges, polytechnics, and research institutions across British Columbia. Rather than conducting a full competitive procurement process, eligible organizations can access a pre-qualified supplier network that has already been competitively evaluated, helping institutions acquire electrical and industrial products more efficiently while supporting project schedules and operational needs.

As of June 15, 2026, the federal government’s Buy Canadian Policy expanded significantly, lowering the procurement threshold for strategic federal purchases from $25 million to $5 million.

To Learn more:  https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/buy-canadian-policy

Canoe Procurement Group

Through the Canoe Procurement Group agreement, E.B. Horsman provides procurement access to more than 5,000 municipal, non-profit, and public-sector organizations across Canada. Canoe’s cooperative purchasing model simplifies the traditional tendering process by completing a compliant and competitive RFP process on behalf of its membership, allowing participating organizations to purchase through approved suppliers without issuing a new RFP. This can save valuable time and resources while maintaining compliance with Canadian trade legislation and procurement best practices.

Supporting Canadian Supply Chains

For more than 125 years, E.B. Horsman & Son has invested in serving communities across Western Canada through local branches, distribution facilities, technical expertise, and customer support.

Our network of locations, inventory, application specialists, and industry partnerships allows us to help customers:

• Access products quickly through local inventory and distribution.
• Navigate evolving procurement requirements.
• Support infrastructure, transportation, education, healthcare, utility, and industrial projects.
• Build more resilient supply chains through trusted Canadian partnerships.

As public sector procurement continues to evolve, having a knowledgeable Canadian distribution partner can help organizations adapt while maintaining project schedules and budget objectives.

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Looking Ahead

The June 15 expansion of the Buy Canadian Policy represents a significant shift in how many public sector projects will be evaluated and sourced moving forward.

Organizations planning future infrastructure, maintenance, modernization, and capital projects should take the opportunity to review their procurement strategies and understand how existing contracts, supplier relationships, and Canadian content considerations may support their objectives.

E.B. Horsman & Son is committed to helping public sector customers navigate these changes while providing access to the products, expertise, and procurement solutions needed to keep projects moving forward.