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Buy Ontario (Bill 72): Invitation to Provide Feedback

Consultation Sessions – Space Limited 

Supply Ontario and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP) will host virtual consultation sessions for OPBA members and the broader public procurement community. Capacity is limited and sessions will close once full. The Wednesday session is currently at capacity, and space remains available for the Thursday session. Participants will have the opportunity to share perspectives and implementation considerations directly with the Ministry.

  
👉 Register for a session

If sessions reach capacity, procurement professionals may still submit written feedback through the Ontario Regulatory Registry until March 2, 2026.

Input from OPBA members and the broader public procurement community is important to ensure public buyer perspectives are reflected in policy design and implementation.

OHSMS in Construction Procurement? New 2026 OHSA Requirements Explained

O. Reg. 364/25 is a new regulation that was passed under the Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and came into effect January 1, 2026.  It pertains to Health and Safety Management Systems and Procurement.

 If a public sector entity requires contractors to have an Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) in place as part of a bid process or contract for a construction project, then all systems accredited by the Chief Prevention Officer must be accepted by the public sector entity.  There can’t be preference for one system over the others.  All 5 systems currently accredited by the Chief Prevention Officer must be treated as equivalents.
 
The following systems are currently accredited:

•    ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
•    CSA Z45001 19 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
•    IHSA COR™ 2020 – Certificate of Recognition
•    Responsible Care® RC14001:2023 – Health, Safety & Environmental Management System
•    Responsible Care® RCMS:2023 – Health, Safety & Environmental Management System

This requirement isn’t mandatory for non-construction projects, and the requirement will only apply IF the public sector entity requires bidders to have an OHSMS in place. If the public sector entity does not have this requirement, the provision in the OHSA does not apply to them.
 
Failure to comply with this new requirement could result in an administrative monetary penalty against the public sector entity of up to $100,000, pursuant to O. Reg. 365/25.  This other regulation also took effect January 1, 2026.

Construction Act Updates: What Public Owners Should Be Reviewing in 2026

Ontario’s Construction Act amendments that took effect January 1, 2026 introduce important changes for public agencies involved in construction procurement and contract administration.

Two recent articles from Construct Legal provide practical insight into what these changes mean for project owners.

🔗 Key Changes to Ontario’s Construction Act for January 1, 2026

This overview highlights the most significant legislative updates, including changes affecting prompt payment, adjudication processes, and compliance obligations. For procurement professionals, these updates may impact contract templates, internal review timelines, and how disputes are managed during project delivery.

👉 Read the full article

🔗 Annual Holdback Release in 2026: Owners Need a New Playbook

One of the most operationally significant changes is the move to mandatory annual release of holdback on certain projects. This article explores how the new framework shifts traditional holdback practices and why public owners may need to reassess budgeting approaches, risk management strategies, and administrative processes.

👉 Read the full article

How Does Your Procurement Program Measure Up? AEP Overview – February 27

The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) Award, founded by the National Procurement Institute, recognizes public and non-profit organizations that demonstrate excellence and a commitment to continuous improvement in public procurement.

The AEP framework provides a structured way to assess procurement maturity, strengthen governance, and highlight the strategic value procurement delivers. Evaluation areas include ethics, professional development, automation, leadership, and continuous improvement.

Public Procurement Benchmarking Survey – Closes March 12, 2026

OPBA has launched the Public Procurement Benchmarking Survey, a new sector-wide initiative open to all public agencies — both members and non-members.

This survey will establish consistent, comparable data to help strengthen procurement practices across the public sector.

What We’re Measuring

The survey gathers information on:

•    Procurement structures and staffing models
•    RFx processes and governance practices
•    Technology platforms and tools in use
•    Performance metrics and modernization efforts

OPBA Leadership Day 2026
April 28 | Mississauga Living Arts Centre | In-Person | $299

Why Attend?

Senior procurement leaders balance operational pressures, strategic priorities, and people leadership — often simultaneously. This interactive, scenario-based session focuses on practical leadership tools you can apply immediately.

Participants will gain:

•    Practical coaching strategies to build accountability and engagement
•    Tools to deliver clear, empathetic feedback — even in difficult conversations
•    Frameworks for managing resistance or defensiveness
•    Greater confidence in navigating high-stakes discussions
•    Leadership habits that strengthen team performance

This session is grounded in real-world public sector procurement leadership dynamics — not theory.

Capacity is intentionally limited to support meaningful discussion and peer learning.

👉 Register early to secure your spot

Join OPBA's Mentoring Program Today

Back by popular demand.

Following strong participation and overwhelmingly positive feedback in 2025, the OPBA Mentoring Program is back! Whether you’re looking to share your experience or gain new perspective, this program creates meaningful connections across Ontario’s public procurement community.

Last year’s participants told us the program expanded their networks, strengthened leadership skills, and provided practical insights they wouldn’t have gained in their day-to-day roles. Now it’s your turn – join today!

2026 Membership Renewals – Action Required

Your 2026 OPBA membership renewal is now available.

To ensure uninterrupted access to member benefits, please submit your dues payment as soon as possible. Memberships must be in good standing to maintain access through December 31, 2026.

How to Pay
You should have received an email titled “OPBA Membership Renewal Notice” with a secure payment link

.

You can also log in anytime:
Billing Info → Pay Membership Dues/Fees

Didn’t receive the notice? Contact us and we’ll resend it.

New Members

OPBA warmly welcomes the following new members: 

Catherine Torrese Benyi, Ontario Energy Board
Charlotte Maruno, Art Gallery of Ontario
Lisa Li-Shack, Peel District School Board
Shane Morin, Blanche River Health
Jamie Bell, City of Barrie
Carly Dorrington, City of Barrie
Michelle Steele, City of Kingston
Mattea Austin, Township of Oro-Medonte
Gillian Wright, City of Orillia
Crystal Bugg, York Region District School Board
Tee (Zenghao) Wang, City of Vaughan
Joseph Cuatico, Town of Caledon
Tonia Edwards, Town of Caledon
Ashley Oliver, Town of Caledon
Grace Olusoji, City of Windsor
Crystal Sobel, Town of Caledon
Jackie Sisco, City of Windsor
Peter Campbell, Loyalist College
Effie Dinadis, Loyalist College
Andy Saem, City of Brantford
Sakshi Anand, City of Brampton

OPBA warmly welcomes the following new associates: 

Joseph Vandermeer, Town of Halton Hills
Michelle McCarthy, Kinetic GPO
Anwesha Rakshit
Yan Yuan

Beat the Rush—Register for Upcoming Course

As the cornerstone of OPBA's educational offerings, PPLL provides a more comprehensive and meaningful learning experience through a blend of self-paced online modules and a virtual classroom session via Zoom in the final week.

Additional Upcoming Course

PPS – Zoom Supplier Performance
Course Dates: March 16, 2026
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Registration closes Monday, March 9, 2026

The purpose of this training is to provide support with supplier performance trends that will be assessed over both the short and long term to provide suppliers with feedback and to facilitate continuous improvement, where required. 

Click here to register

Job Opportunities

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The Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) is a not-for-profit professional association representing public procurement professionals throughout Ontario. We promote the ethical and effective expenditure of public funds and encourage excellence in public purchasing through our continuing professional development opportunities, the encouragement of certification programs and through networking among our members.

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