Town of LaSalle implements procurement policy in the face of U.S tariffs

By: Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter

LaSalle Town Council has agreed to the implementation of a ‘Buy Canadian Procurement Strategy’ in the face of tariff threats from the United States.

The policy will allow the Town the opportunity to explore and implement, where possible, procurement strategies that provide an advantage for Canadian businesses, especially local small and medium-sized enterprises while maintaining fair and competitive bidding practices.

Moving forward the Town will prioritize purchases from Canadian companies as long as the purchase does not violate any procurement laws.

What is a procurement policy?

“A municipal procurement policy is a set of guidelines that local governments use to manage the acquisition of goods, services, and construction projects. It ensures that procurement is transparent, competitive, and fair, promoting accountability and efficiency in spending public funds,” explained Dale Langois, director of finance for the Town of LaSalle. The policy helps prevent conflicts of interest, and ensures that contracts are awarded based on merit and value. It is implemented to maintain integrity, ensure legal compliance, and maximize public benefit.”

“At the last council meeting, the decision to request changes to municipal procurement policies from the provincial and federal governments was largely driven by concerns over trade restrictions and economic pressures, including the recent U.S. tariffs imposed by former President Trump. However, municipalities currently have limited flexibility in prioritizing Canadian businesses due to existing trade agreements and legislation,” said LaSalle mayor Crystal Meloche.

Municipalities in Canada are bound by the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), and the Municipal Act, 2001. These agreements and regulations restrict the ability of municipalities to implement “buy Canadian” policies, as they require fair and open access to procurement opportunities for businesses from other jurisdictions. While these agreements promote competition and prevent trade barriers, they also limit a municipality’s ability to respond directly to economic challenges, such as tariffs or disruptions in international supply chains.

The proposed changes to procurement policies aim to give municipalities more flexibility to prioritize Canadian goods and services where possible, ensuring local economic stability and job protection. As other levels of government, including Ontario, review their procurement policies in response to the tariffs, we believe municipalities should have similar authority to adjust purchasing practices in ways that better serve local businesses and residents.

By prioritizing Canadian goods and services, municipalities aim to mitigate the economic impact of the tariffs, support local businesses, and preserve jobs.

“Part of the motion is for LaSalle to step back and take a look at our current policy (the part we can control) and make adjustments as required. This doesn’t mean that we won’t purchase form the United States, it just means that we have more flexibility when making decisions,” said Meloche.

“We will review our current procurement policies to identify areas where we can prioritize Canadian suppliers while remaining compliant with the legal frameworks of CETA, CFTA, and the Municipal Act, 2001. We have already sent letters to both provincial and federal governments requesting more flexibility within these trade agreements. Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate with our representatives to stay informed of any potential challenges and gather feedback for future policy revisions.”