Buying local – here’s what you need to know
The Ministry of Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration recently reached out to ABmunis to share the following information on procurement and update on internal trade with municipalities.
Municipal Procurement
Did you know that municipalities in Alberta and municipal buying groups are required to operate within the framework of trade agreement rules when procuring goods and services?
We all want to support our local communities, but when you see “Buy Alberta” or “Buy Canada” campaigns, please note municipalities in Alberta must ensure that all procurement, whether conducted independently or through a municipal buying group, is open, transparent and non-discriminatory. This includes municipal commitments under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA), that impact local government procurement.
Specifically, municipal governments must follow the applicable obligations related to procurement found in Chapter 5 of the CFTA and Article 14 the NWPTA, including purchases undertaken through buying groups.
Buying Group procurement must align with Articles 504.5 through 504.9 of the CFTA and Article 14.5 of the NWPTA. More information on these requirements is available online at CFTA and NWTPA.
Updates on Internal Trade
You may be wondering what progress is underway to enhance trade within Canada. This is referred to as internal or interprovincial trade. The Government of Alberta is actively participating in many activities underway to enhance interprovincial trade. Significant work is being undertaken by ministers responsible for Internal Trade, through the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT). These initiatives include concluding a Financial Services Chapter that will be incorporated into the CFTA, concluding a Memorandum of Understanding that will facilitate direct-to-consumer sales of alcohol, enhancing mutual recognition between provinces and committing to a 30-day service standard for processing labour mobility applications, among other achievements. Alberta has also launched a webpage to update Albertans and Canadians on internal trade matters. This website can also be used to identify internal trade concerns in Alberta or in other Canadian jurisdictions.
Contact Us – Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Trade Division
To contact the Alberta Government about recent initiatives to liberalize trade in Canada, or on how internal trade requirements apply to municipalities, please view the websites listed above or nwpta [at] gov.ab.ca (email them directly).
