Manitoba government makes exemptions to buy-Canadian policy, Tories say in legislature

Steve Lambert · The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 20, 2025 8:11 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

The Manitoba authorities is formally barring U.S. companies from bidding connected immoderate authorities contracts, but the Opposition Progressive Conservatives accidental that's not the lawsuit for astatine slightest 2 big-dollar projects.

The authorities promised successful March to instrumentality a buy-Canadian argumentation which would prioritize Canadian firms, successful effect to tariffs connected Canadian goods imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In immoderate caller requests for proposals, the authorities has explicitly banned bids from southbound of the border.

A petition for proposals issued Tuesday for a "comfort camping village" — a word that tin see amenities specified arsenic cabins oregon yurts — in St. Malo Provincial Park is constricted to Canadian suppliers.

In addition, "submissions which suggest the usage of subcontractors based successful the United States volition beryllium automatically disqualified," the government's online connection said.

Similar wording was utilized for the planned redevelopment of a washroom and ablution gathering successful Whiteshell Provincial Park.

The enactment progressive is of a debased capable dollar worth to beryllium exempt from Canada-U.S. free-trade obligations, a authorities spokesperson said.

But the Progressive Conservatives said Tuesday determination person been glaring exemptions to the buy-Canadian policy.

The Tories tabled authorities documents successful the legislature that showed 2 exertion contracts, worthy much than $1.8 cardinal each, were awarded to firms headquartered successful Texas and California successful March aft U.S. tariffs took effect.

One — a woody with bundle institution Actian, based successful Round Rock, Texas — was awarded directly, meaning different companies were not fixed an accidental to bid.

"This NDP authorities gave multi-million dollar ... contracts to American firms successful the mediate of a commercialized war," Tory legislature subordinate Josh Guenter said.

The authorities said it is successful the mediate of reviewing its purchasing and aiming to favour Canadian firms.

"Our authorities is reviewing each the declaration and procurement policies to marque definite we are getting the astir payment for Manitobans," said Mintu Sandhu, the provincial curate for nationalist work delivery.