Officials behind the federal government's new Buy Canada procurement strategy will visit Windsor-Essex next week to help local businesses compete for contracts. The federal government has committed nearly $186 million over five years to prioritize domestic supply purchases, particularly of steel, aluminum and softwood lumber.
Information Session on May 21
Senator Sandra Pupatello, former longtime Windsor MPP and Ontario Liberal cabinet minister, is encouraging Windsor-Essex businesses to register for the two-hour information session on May 21. The event will take place at the Ciociaro Club from 1 to 3 p.m.
"Bringing federal officials to us to talk about new opportunities, I think is key, especially now, and that's exactly what we're doing," said Pupatello. "Federal procurement has taken on a whole new life because of the Buy Canada policy that was embedded in the last budget."
Opportunities for Local Businesses
The majority of the session will be dedicated to a question-and-answer period with federal procurement officials. The event is geared at small- and medium-sized businesses across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure and construction, defence and security, transportation, information and communications technology, and health and pharmaceuticals.
Pupatello estimates around 100 business leaders will attend. "We've had great response from the leadership in different sectors," she said.
Budget 2025 Funding
Within Budget 2025, the federal government committed nearly $186 million over five years to prioritize domestic supply purchases. The funding includes about $80 million to help small- and medium-sized businesses with less than 500 employees break into the federal market.
"There's an opportunity for our companies in this region to get a piece of that. That is new business for them," said Pupatello.
The information session is being hosted in partnership with the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce and WEtech Alliance.
