Last week, Supply Ontario’s CEO Jamie Wallace, joined the Hon. Stephen Crawford, Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, in Ottawa for a series of engagements focused on innovation, public-sector purchasing and Ontario’s economic future.
The visit brought together government and industry leaders for open dialogue on how Ontario can continue to build capability, support innovation and strengthen resilience through public sector procurement.
The engagement reflects Supply Ontario’s growing role as a connector between policy, strategic sourcing and economic development.
Buy Ontario in Practice
During the visit, Supply Ontario and the Minister participated in roundtable meetings and two panel discussions focused on the new Buy Ontario legislation. With engagement from the Ottawa region’s technology and innovation community, as well as Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, the sessions explored what the new Buy Ontario Act means in practice for Ontario businesses and how procurement is evolving toward a broader definition of value.
The discussions highlighted the importance of:
- Clear, predictable procurement pathways
- Meaningful access for small and medium-sized businesses
- Strong domestic capability in technology and critical sectors
- Long-term value beyond price alone
Hearing directly from companies building critical solutions reinforced the importance of aligning sourcing strategies with real-world capability and growth.
Innovation in Action
The visit also included an opportunity to experience the Autonomous Kanata North Smart Shuttle, a pilot project now operating on public roads in Canada’s largest technology park.
The project explores safe, sustainable and accessible last-mile mobility solutions, with results that will help inform future transit improvements and deployment decisions across Canada, reflecting how Ontario innovation is moving from concept to real-world impact.
Looking Ahead
Ontario’s future competitiveness depends on strong collaboration between government, industry and innovation partners. Visits like this underscore the value of open dialogue, modern supply chain systems and a shared commitment to building long-term capability.
Supply Ontario is proud to support this work and to continue partnering with Ontario businesses, innovators and public sector organizations to strengthen Ontario’s economy.
Thank you to the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA) and Invest Ottawa, who helped coordinate industry engagement and highlight Ottawa’s role as a national centre for technology and innovation.