At a time when governments are being asked to deliver more, faster, and with greater impact, procurement is increasingly being recognized as a strategic tool for economic growth, innovation, and public sector transformation.
That theme shaped TECHNATION’s Industry Day on Procurement, held in Ottawa on October 22. Held under Chatham House Rule, the event brought together nearly 200 government and industry leaders in person, along with close to 100 virtual participants, for a day of candid discussions on the future of procurement in Canada.
Government decision-makers, technology leaders, procurement professionals, and policy experts explored how procurement can better support service delivery, productivity, and Canada’s long-term economic resilience. Across keynotes, fireside chats, panel discussions, and workshops, the conversation focused on both the opportunities and challenges facing procurement as governments adapt to rapidly evolving technologies, citizen expectations, and national priorities.
A clear message resonated throughout the day: procurement can no longer be viewed solely as an administrative function. As governments invest in areas such as digital services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and defence, procurement must continue evolving to support innovation, strengthen capacity, and deliver greater public value.
A recurring theme throughout the day was the need to place greater emphasis on outcomes rather than process, while maintaining the principles of openness, fairness, and transparency.
Participants discussed how more agile procurement approaches can improve public services, accelerate technology adoption, and generate greater value for Canadians. Conversations highlighted the importance of balancing strong governance and accountability with the flexibility needed to respond to rapidly evolving technologies and changing public expectations.
Participants discussed the challenge of acquiring and scaling technology in markets where innovation cycles move far faster than traditional procurement timelines. They also explored how procurement frameworks must continue adapting to reflect the realities of a digital economy.
Examples from the UK, Ontario and Alberta highlighted efforts to simplify processes, improve supplier experience, adopt more agile approaches, and create procurement models better suited to modern digital services and technologies.
A consistent message emerged from both sides of the table: better procurement outcomes require ongoing and earlier engagement between government and industry.
Participants emphasized that ongoing dialogue can help improve requirements, strengthen competition, reduce project risk, and lead to measurable impact. Building trust and fostering collaboration throughout the procurement lifecycle were widely recognized as important factors in successful modernization efforts.
Throughout discussions, speakers and attendees pointed to a common challenge: the complexity of today’s procurement environment.
Participants identified opportunities to streamline processes, reduce duplication, improve consistency, and make procurement more accessible for both buyers and suppliers. Simplification was viewed as a practical enabler of faster decision-making, effective implementation, and improved service delivery.
Discussions highlighted the role procurement can play in strengthening domestic capacity while continuing to leverage the best available technologies and solutions. Rather than viewing Canadian capability and global innovation as competing objectives, conversations focused on how procurement can help connect the two to build a more resilient, competitive, and future-ready economy.
The day reinforced that procurement modernization is not a singular responsibility.
Participants stressed the importance of shared understanding and ongoing collaboration between government and industry as essential to building procurement systems that are both effective and achievable, while maintaining the transparency and accountability Canadians expect.
As attendees left Industry Day on Procurement, the central takeaway was clear: procurement has become an increasingly important tool for helping governments deliver modern services, support innovation, strengthen economic competitiveness, and deliver on Canada’s national ambitions.
TECHNATION looks forward to continuing the dialogue and helping turn ideas into action in the months ahead.
Thank you to all our event sponsors, speakers, and attendees for joining us at Industry Day on Procurement.
