Ontario Premier Doug Ford is putting architects and engineers on notice that the province expects publicly funded construction projects to use Ontario-made materials wherever suitable local options are available.
As Ontario Construction News reported, Ford criticized design teams that specify U.S.-made products before contractors ever reach the purchasing stage. At a recent housing infrastructure announcement in Vaughan, he described the message as “just another warning shot,” pointing to an Uxbridge school project and imported brick as an example of what he wants to stop.
Local Sourcing Moves Upstream
The comments shift attention from contractors and procurement departments to the earliest stages of project design. Once a particular American product is written into a specification, local manufacturers can effectively be excluded before bids are submitted.
Ford’s message is that Ontario brick, steel, lumber, machinery and other construction products should be considered first when provincial money is paying for the work. The province estimates its public sector spends about $30 billion annually on goods and services, giving procurement policy significant power to support local manufacturers, jobs and supply chains.
For builders, buying closer to home can also reduce exposure to border delays, tariffs and currency fluctuations. Shorter transportation distances may offer environmental benefits in some cases, although the overall sustainability of a material still depends heavily on how it is manufactured.
WATCH | Province implements Buy Ontario Act
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Buy Ontario Rules Expand
Ontario’s procurement policy has been tightening for several years. The Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act, 2022 previously required preference for Ontario businesses in certain public-sector procurements. That legislation was repealed in 2026 as the province moved to a broader framework.
The current Buy Ontario Procurement Directive, in effect since April 13, requires government and designated broader public-sector organizations to prioritize Ontario and Canadian goods and services. It also includes requirements affecting capital infrastructure and U.S. businesses.
That makes local sourcing increasingly a project-planning issue rather than a last-minute purchasing decision.
Local Materials Fit a Broader Construction Shift
The pressure comes as public infrastructure remains a strong part of Canada’s construction outlook for 2026, while the federal Spring Economic Update is directing attention towards retrofits, modular construction and energy efficiency.
At the same time, a recent UNEP report on construction and net-zero goals has highlighted the industry’s decarbonization challenge as Canada expands renewable power capacity and funds local climate adaptation projects.
For Ontario, Buy Ontario adds another consideration: where building products come from. Pairing strong environmental performance with locally manufactured materials could keep more construction spending within communities while strengthening domestic supply chains.
Image from Depositphotos
