As Canadians gather today to celebrate our nation’s birthday, there’s a quiet but powerful shift already underway. Across the country, millions of Canadians have adjusted their spending habits, choosing to support local businesses, vacation within our borders, and buy homegrown goods. This grassroots movement speaks volumes. Now it’s time for the federal government to match that patriotic energy with action, especially when it comes to procurement.
The timing could not be more urgent. Just days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly ended trade talks with Canada, citing opposition to the country’s digital services tax. The latest move deepens an already intense trade conflict that has seen tariffs pile up on everything from lumber to lithium. It’s a reminder, if one were still needed, that Canada cannot rely on preferential access to foreign markets alone to safeguard its economic future.
Fortunately, the tools to respond exist. Last week, Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, became law. This landmark legislation aims to streamline regulatory approvals for major projects and eliminate trade barriers between provinces. It’s a crucial step in unlocking Canada’s domestic economic potential. But to truly build a resilient economy, Ottawa must go further by ensuring federal dollars support Canadian companies, technology, and workers.
That means making Buy Canadian not just a slogan, but a standard.
It’s hard to square that ambition with recent news that the federal Canada Infrastructure Bank provided $1 billion in financing for BC Ferries to purchase ships from a Chinese state-owned shipyard. While federal ministers scramble to distance themselves from the deal, the fact remains: a massive public investment is enabling the offshoring of shipbuilding work, work that could, and should, have supported domestic yards, particularly in light of Canada’s strained trade relationships with both China and the U.S.
At the same time, Canadian innovators in strategic sectors like artificial intelligence and quantum computing are watching federal procurement decisions closely. Many have already warned that despite having world-leading expertise, Canadian firms are often shut out of government contracts in favour of larger foreign competitors. In the case of quantum computing, industry leaders say that without early public sector support, promising startups will continue to relocate to the U.S., where procurement pipelines are faster and more supportive.
Public procurement is one of the government’s most powerful tools to drive economic policy. It can foster Canadian IP development, grow domestic industries, and strengthen sovereignty in areas like cybersecurity, defence, and advanced manufacturing. But it requires intent. That’s why Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign pledge to prioritize Canadian-made defence equipment through a new procurement agency was so widely welcomed. Now that his government is in office, Canadians expect follow-through.
The contradiction between Ottawa’s rhetoric and its spending decisions is becoming harder to ignore. In defending the BC Ferries loan, officials have pointed to cost savings. But as countless economists and manufacturers have argued, the lowest short-term price often carries the highest long-term cost, including lost jobs, lost innovation, and lost capacity to compete globally.
To build one economy, the federal government must lead by example. That means rewarding Canadian expertise through procurement, investing in strategic sectors at home, and standing behind the industries that power our future. Whether it’s a quantum startup in Quebec, a shipbuilder in Vancouver, or an AI firm in Waterloo, Canadian companies need more than encouragement, and they need contracts.
This Canada Day, the message from the public is clear: Canadians are choosing Canada. It’s time the government did too.
Daniel Perry is the Director of Federal Affairs at the Council of Canadian Innovators, leading national advocacy and engagement efforts. With experience in consulting and roles at the Senate of Canada, Queen’s Park, and the Canadian Criminal Justice Association, Daniel has helped political leaders and clients across various sectors achieve their public policy goals. A frequent media contributor and seasoned campaigner, Daniel holds a Master of Political Management from Carleton University.
