Letter to Minister Flack from Mayor Jan Liggett Oct. 8, 2026

Dear Minister Flack,

Thank you for your letter dated September 15, 2026, regarding the Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive and the Province's commitment to supporting Ontario workers, businesses, and communities through public sector procurement.

Recognizing the importance of public procurement in strengthening local economies, the City of Cambridge has developed a comprehensive implementation framework to ensure compliance with the Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive, which currently applies to fleet vehicles and capital infrastructure projects. The City created a Buy Ontario implementation guide for staff, updated procurement documents and evaluation processes, and incorporated Buy Ontario requirements directly into procurement planning and sourcing activities.

I am pleased to share that the City’s procurement team has identified that approximately 95 percent of the City's procurement spending is already directed toward Ontario-based vendors, reflecting our long-standing commitment to supporting local and provincial businesses.

For fleet vehicle purchases, the City has adopted a tiered evaluation approach that prioritizes Ontario-made vehicles and Ontario vehicle producers. For capital infrastructure projects, vendors are required to provide domestic supply chain plans and demonstrate their commitment to Ontario and Canadian content requirements as part of the procurement process. These measures help ensure that local and domestic suppliers are meaningfully considered throughout our procurement activities.

In addition, the City is launching its first procurement learning management system training module for staff who participate in procurement activities. Buy Ontario requirements form an important component of this training, helping to ensure compliance across the organization. Our staff continue to participate in provincial working groups, industry associations, and Supply Ontario implementation sessions to share best practices and remain current with evolving requirements. Cambridge is not only meeting its obligations under the directive but also contributing to broader efforts to strengthen Ontario's economy and supply chains.

Cambridge is not sitting idly by in the face of economic uncertainty. We are actively doing our part to strengthen Ontario's economy, support our manufacturers, and promote the businesses that exist within our community. Earlier this year, I convened a Nuclear Innovation Summit that brought together leaders from across Ontario's nuclear sector, including representatives from Arrow Engineered Products Division, ATS Industrial Automation, Aecon, Bruce Power, BWXT, Ontario Power Generation, Eclipse Automation, and more, to showcase the critical role our city plays in Canada's nuclear supply chain. In addition, for the past two years I have been producing my "Behind the Wall" social media series, highlighting the innovative businesses that operate in Cambridge, sharing the important work they are doing, and helping connect residents with local career opportunities. Through initiatives like these, Cambridge is actively championing Ontario businesses, supporting workforce development, and helping ensure our community remains resilient and competitive in the years ahead.

The City of Cambridge shares the Province's objective of supporting Ontario workers and businesses during this period of economic uncertainty. We appreciate the Province's leadership and will continue working with our municipal and provincial partners to identify opportunities to increase domestic procurement while delivering value for taxpayers.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Sincerely,
Jan Liggett
Mayor, City of Cambridge

c. The Hon. Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and
Procurement
Brian Riddell, Member of Provincial Parliament
Jess Dixon, Member of Provincial Parliament
Rob Axiak, City Manager