Procurement Day 2026: Advancing the Future of Procurement
The Construction & Design Alliance of Ontario successfully hosted Procurement Day 2026 on April 30, bringing together public and private sector leaders from across Ontario to explore opportunities, challenges, and solutions in infrastructure procurement.
With strong participation from owners, consultants, and contractors, the event focused on advancing the conversation around effective procurement practices and the critical role they play in delivering high-quality, resilient infrastructure.
Introducing the Procurement Best Practices Guide
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the Guide to Design and Construction Procurement Best Practices, authored by Bruce Matthews.
The Guide provides practical, experience-based recommendations aimed at improving procurement outcomes through better planning, clearer documentation, and more balanced risk allocation.
Key Discussion Themes
Buy Ontario Procurement Policy
Moderated by Giovanni Cautillo, this panel explored how Buy Ontario approaches can strengthen domestic capacity while balancing cost, competition, and trade considerations.
Panelists included:
Amir Abd El Halim
David Zurawel
Don Holland
Toon Dreessen
The discussion highlighted the need for alignment across jurisdictions, flexibility in implementation, and a clear understanding of market readiness.
Standardization and Smart Risk Allocation
The second panel, moderated by Sandro Perruzza, focused on the importance of standardizing procurement approaches and improving how risk is allocated across projects.
Panelists included:
Amanda Froese
Annik Forristal
Micheal Mooney
Raly Chakarova
Panelists emphasized that better consistency in procurement documents, combined with thoughtful risk distribution, can lead to improved project outcomes, reduced disputes, and increased confidence across the industry.
Looking Ahead
Procurement Day 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration across all stakeholders in the infrastructure ecosystem. As demand for both new construction and rehabilitation continues to grow, the need for clear, consistent, and practical procurement practices has never been greater.
CDAO remains committed to advancing initiatives that support efficient project delivery and long-term infrastructure performance across Ontario.
Additional Resources