Writing Toronto indigenous procurement policy a 5-year job

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Toronto bureaucrats say they still need years to write and consult before city council can vote on a new procurement plan built for aboriginal businesses.

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In May 2023, city council called for a procurement strategy to be developed in tandem with indigenous businesses and communities. On Tuesday, the city’s executive committee was told a final policy won’t be finished until 2028.

That five-year timeline didn’t seem to cut it for Mayor Olivia Chow, who told the executive committee they’ll “ask them to speed it up” at council’s next meeting.

A municipal report filed to the committee says the city’s purchasing and materials management division hired a “policy development officer” dedicated to the indigenous procurement strategy in April. They have also tapped an artist for work on a promotional campaign.

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The division has completed three “engagement sessions” with First Nations, businesses, agencies and other groups. One of those sessions was billed as a “reverse trade show,” for buyers to tell the city how to conduct business.

A planning session was also held to create an advisory circle that was due to meet for the first time this week. While mostly from nearby First Nations, three members hail from outside of southern Ontario, and the circle also includes seats for “Afro-indigenous” and “knowledge keeper” members.

Even after those 2024 meetings, the document promises “2025 will be a year of engagement, and national engagement with indigenous businesses, agencies and partners is being planned.”

“The policy will be drafted in 2026, with the goal of circulating to indigenous businesses, agencies and partners in 2027 for feedback and revisions. In 2028, the policy will be presented to city council for approval, followed by implementation and monitoring, and an education campaign for both businesses and staff,” the report adds.

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The report suggests this year has been used “to build relationships and to foster connections” as the division had “never engaged with the indigenous community” before.

City council is due to receive this report next week at its December meeting. While the executive committee didn’t spend much time discussing it, it appears they don’t want to wait four years for council to weigh in on a final policy.

“In the interim, what are we doing to make it better while we’re waiting on the full report?” Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie asked during Tuesday’s meeting.

According to a document from an advisory firm called Niibin, the purchasing and materials management division wants to “create new mechanisms to increase indigenous procurement.” However, the advisers said the entrepreneurs they spoke to largely “did not think that the City of Toronto should create a new certification process” for indigenous-owned businesses, viewing that as unnecessary.

It’s unclear what the city’s goals are for the policy, beyond its role in fulfilling a reconciliation plan council endorsed in 2022.

“The indigenous economy is strong and growing, and the City of Toronto requires stronger business relationships with indigenous suppliers to pursue meaningful, equitable economic opportunities,” the report says.

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