Procurement Options
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT AUMA advocate for the Government of Alberta to consider options that would permit greater opportunities for local sourcing when negotiating trade agreements.
WHEREAS the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement have been established as domestic trade agreements;
WHEREAS these trade agreements are restrictive as they relate to procurement process and do not consider opportunities or options for local sourcing by municipalities;
WHEREAS local sourcing could be beneficial for several Alberta municipalities as they would be supporting their own economy; and
WHEREAS local sourcing would allow that local contractors that pay taxes and employ local people be given priority based on pricing, capacity and capabilities.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is looking for an opportunity to support its local economy by reviewing local sourcing options within its procurement processes. One option to meet this initiative would be that a municipality, when contracting out and awarding projects, could increase the amount of dollars spent within the community if local contractors could be given priority based on pricing, capacity and capabilities.
Local sourcing could increase the amount of dollars spent within the individual municipalities, thereby supporting the local business community.
Trade agreements which govern procurement processes, are negotiated at the provincial and federal governments therefore, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, representing Alberta municipalities, is a natural conduit to lobby the respective governments for support in this initiative.
AUMA does not have a current policy position on this specific issue.