Overview

Ontario established the Buy Ontario Act (Public Sector Procurement), 2025, to guide how public sector organizations buy goods and services. The Act aims to:

  • improve public sector procurement based on integrity and value for money, while supporting economic growth and supply chain resilience
  • use public sector procurement to promote, protect and build Ontario’s economy and businesses while keeping its supply chain secure

Under the Buy Ontario Act, the government has issued the:

These directives require public sector entities to comply with requirements for public sector procurements.

Buy Ontario Procurement Directive

As of April 13, 2026, the Buy Ontario Procurement Directive is in effect for:

  • government entities (ministries, provincial agencies, Independent Electricity System Operator and Ontario Power Generation)
  • designated broader public sector (BPS) organizations

The Buy Ontario Procurement Directive:

  • promotes local businesses
  • restricts United States (U.S.) businesses
  • includes requirements in strategic categories (fleet and capital infrastructure)

The Buy Ontario Procurement Directive is being introduced alongside updates to the:

  • Ontario Public Service (OPS) Procurement Directive
  • BPS Procurement Directive

These updates reflect changes to trade agreement thresholds.

Highlights — Buy Ontario Procurement Directive

The directive:

  • consolidates the existing Building Ontario Businesses Initiative (BOBI) and Procurement Restriction Policy (PRP) requirements and updates the BOBI monetary thresholds to align with trade agreements
  • introduces new requirements for light-duty fleet passenger vehicles
  • adds new procurement requirements for capital infrastructure projects
    • these requirements replace the previous ones issued to ministries and provincial agencies in December 2025

Guidance, materials and training

Supporting materials and training information are available for:

Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive

As of April 13, 2026, the Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive is in effect. The directive applies to municipal sector entities including:

  • all municipalities
  • local boards
  • municipal services corporations prescribed as public sector entities under the Buy Ontario Act (Public Sector Procurement), 2025

For details about the specific entities, refer to the regulation under the Buy Ontario Act (Public Sector Procurement), 2025.

Highlights — Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive

The directive introduces:

  • requirements for light duty fleet passenger vehicles which take effect for:
    • municipalities on April 13, 2026
    • local boards on June 1, 2026
    • municipal services corporations on June 1, 2026
  • procurement requirements for capital infrastructure projects, taking effect for:
    • municipalities on May 15, 2026
    • local boards on June 1, 2026
    • municipal services corporations on June 1, 2026

Guidance, materials and training

Supporting materials and training information are available on Supply Ontario.