About OPBA    Membership    IndustryNews    Conferences & Events    Contact Us

Official Launch of OPBA’s Mentoring Program

Upcoming Educational Sessions for National Procurement Month – March 2025

FEATURE SPOTLIGHT

Educational/Recreational Supplies-related Agreement
•    Apparel and Related Products and Services

Facilities and Operations-related Agreements
•    Custodial and Janitorial Supplies, Equipment and Related Services
•    General Contractors for Construction Services
•    Modular Buildings and Portable Classrooms

Office, Stationery, Supplies and Services-related Agreement
•     Office Supplies and Fine Copy Paper

Questions about Our Agreements?
Contact our dedicated Customer Support Team:
customersupport@oecm.ca / 1-844-OECM(6326)-900

UPPCC Certification Updates: Fee Discounts & New CPPB Prep Guide

UPPCC Initial and Recertification Fee Discounts

As OPBA is a recognized partner of UPPCC, OPBA members are eligible for a discount when they apply for certification or recertification. The discounts include $125 off of the Application Fee and $50 off the Recertification Fee.

Mark your calendar

Join Us at the 67th OPBA Annual Conference in Allison, Ontario! Stay tuned for more information. 

Call for Speakers – OPBA 67th Annual Conference and Tradeshow

OPBA is now accepting proposals for speakers for our 67th Annual Conference and Tradeshow. This year’s theme, The Power of Procurement: When You Know, You Grow!, explores key drivers like AI, digital transformation, innovative technologies, and responsible fiscal management shaping the future of public procurement.

We invite public procurement professionals, suppliers, consultants, and stakeholders to share insights, best practices, and innovative ideas that contribute to professional growth and sector advancement. Whether tailored for newer professionals or seasoned practitioners, your session could inspire and energize over 225 attendees expected to join us.

Submit your proposal today! Download the Call for Speakers document for full details.

Proposals must be submitted electronically by February 10, 2025.

Save the Date: 2025 Reverse Vendor Tradeshow

📅 Date: October 29, 2025
📍 Venue: Pearson Convention Centre

Calling All OPBA Member Agencies—Participate for Free!

Don’t miss your chance to participate as an exhibitor in the 2025 Reverse Vendor Tradeshow. This event is your opportunity to:
•    Showcase your agency’s procurement processes to vendors.
•    Network with suppliers eager to collaborate with the public sector.
•    Share insights on how businesses can work with your agency.

💡 Sign up early to secure your spot!
Contact OPBA today to reserve your space and be part of this exciting event. 
Mark your calendar now—more details coming soon!

Don’t Miss Out on Important Updates!

To ensure you’re receiving all OPBA newsletters, event announcements, and important updates, please add @opba.ca to your email whitelist or safe sender list.

By doing this, you’ll stay connected and won’t miss:

✅ Our monthly Caveat Emptor newsletter
✅ Upcoming event details and course registrations
✅ Member updates and key opportunities

Take a moment today to whitelist @opba.ca—we don’t want you to miss a thing!

Showcasing Municipal Procurement: Sam Argentino Represents Local Government at Small Business Forum

Renew Your OPBA Membership for 2025—Unlock Exclusive Benefits!

Thank you for your contributions this year as an OPBA member! We're grateful to have the vibrant community we do, and it wouldn't be possible without you. Now that membership renewal season is upon us, we hope you'll join us again in 2025 to continue learning, networking, and taking advantage of all the member perks we have to offer.

Boost Your Professional Growth: 
•    Save 18% off all Principles courses fees
•    Get 50% off registration fee for Coffee with Counsel & OPBA Ignite workshops
•    Enjoy 17% off Principles Textbooks

New Members

OPBA warmly welcomes the following new members:

•    Jessica Ruan, City of Toronto
•    Soverna Wilmott, Toronto Public Library
•    Taribo Douglas, Workplace Safety & Insurance Board

Official Launch of OPBA People Leaders Meetings (formerly Managers Meeting)

New in 2025: Join us for a unique and inclusive gathering of procurement peers where the spirit of collaboration takes center stage! Our People Leader’s Meetings are a welcoming space for management/leadership level procurement professionals who lead others within their organization, regardless of their title.  Starting in 2025, there will be four (4) people leader meetings - three virtual and one in-person (at the conference).

With the start of a new year upon us, there's no better time to book a course or two to enhance your professional development. Check out the list below of our upcoming offerings.

Click here to view our course calendar and register. 

Navigating the Next Wave of Changes to Ontario's Construction Act
Coffee with Counsel
January 23, 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Virtual Event

DESCRIPTION

Just when you thought you had mastered Ontario’s construction lien legislation, more changes are on the horizon. The Province is set to amend the Construction Act once again, with updates expected to take effect in early 2025.

Join Jason J. Annibale and Kailey Sutton of McMillan LLP’s National Construction and Infrastructure Group for an engaging discussion on key updates, including:

•    New rules for the release of holdback obligations,
•    Broader access to adjudication,
•    Design services potentially attracting lien rights, and
•    Revised definitions for “proper invoices” and “price.”

Jason and Kailey will break down the amendments introduced by Bill 216, Building Ontario for You Act, and provide practical insights to help your organization prepare for these upcoming changes.

Register Here

People Leaders Meeting (formerly Managers Meeting)
Friday, January 24, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Virtual Event

Join us for a unique and inclusive gathering of procurement peers where the spirit of collaboration takes center stage! Our People Leader’s Meetings are a welcoming space for management/leadership level procurement professionals who lead others within their organization, regardless of their title.  Starting in 2025, there will be four (4) people leader meetings - three virtual and one in-person (at the conference).
 
Our goal is to cultivate a culture of open dialogue, curiosity, and inclusivity among peers in a safe environment. People Leaders are welcome to share their perspectives and engage in a free-flowing exchange of ideas, problem solving and sharing. This is an opportunity to learn from one another, broaden perspectives, and strengthen the bond within our network of procurement professionals.
 
This session is built with a structured yet flexible format that ensures everyone's voice is heard and respected. Come prepared to ask, listen, and connect with your fellow peers. Let's create a space where the power of sharing becomes a catalyst for personal and collective growth.

Register Here

Procurement Specialists Meeting (formerly Buyers Meeting)
Mon, Jan 27, 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Virtual Event

We have rebranded the "Buyers Meeting" to "Procurement Specialists Meeting" to better reflect the broader scope and role of public procurement professionals.

Join us quarterly for a unique and inclusive gathering of procurement peers! Our Procurement Specialists Meetings offer a welcoming space for professionals in a Procurement capacity within their organization, regardless of title. These facilitated sessions use a structured yet flexible format that ensure everyone’s voice is heard and that current topics of interest are shared and discussed. Come prepared to ask questions, listen, and connect with peers in this virtual networking session.
Note: These sessions are designed for those actively involved in procurement and are not intended for people leaders who do not directly procure goods and services.

Register Here

Principles - Introduction to Construction
January 29 - 30
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Learning

DESCRIPTION
The Introduction to Construction is an elective of the Principles Certificate program. The course content has been updated to ensure that learners receive current information related to construction procurement in today’s environment. This course provides a step-by-step description of the process to retain a general contractor for construction using the design/bid/build contract model and stipulated price contract.

Register Here

Principles - Procurement and the Law

February 5 - 6, 2025
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Virtual Learning

DESCRIPTION
In this course the mysteries of the law and the relationship of the procurement agent to it are unraveled in a concise and easy to understand format. Candidates are given an overview of the issues and responsibilities related to entering into a legal contract as well as determining what comprises a contract. Other topics discussed are the Law of Agency, Contract Law, Laws of Competitive Bidding, comments on various Acts, bonding and alternatives to bonding.

Register Here

Principles - Advanced Competitive Bidding
February 12 - 13, 2025
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Virtual Learning 

DESCRIPTION
This course builds on the foundations of the Competitive Bidding– General course and focuses more on complex competitive bid solicitations, including both RFTs and RFPs. Candidates will discuss evaluated bid submissions, how to develop evaluation criteria, work with evaluators and evaluation groups, explore different costing calculations, as well as the two-envelope approach for the receipt of both proposals and tenders.

Register Here

OPBA Workshop: Enhancing Supplier Due Diligence with a Health and Safety Focus

Winter Workshop
February 11, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Event 

In public procurement, effective supplier due diligence is crucial for ensuring project success, compliance, and the safety of all stakeholders. This session focuses on enhancing supplier due diligence with an emphasis on health and safety. Using the City of Greater Sudbury case as a practical example, attendees will explore key considerations for safeguarding workplace safety through robust procurement practices.

WSIB and Stringer LLP will provide legal and regulatory perspectives on supplier due diligence and health and safety obligations. The session will include Q&A and open discussion, focusing on practical strategies for integrating health and safety considerations into procurement decisions, navigating legal complexities, and fostering collaboration with suppliers to promote a culture of safety.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry leaders and enhance your organization’s approach to supplier due diligence.

Register Here

Navigating Trade Tensions: Tariffs, Sanctions, and Procurement in Canada

OPBA Ignite Session
February 25, 2025 - 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
Virtual Event 

With U.S. tariffs looming, some premiers warn that retaliatory trade sanctions could backfire, sparking a national unity crisis between Canada’s federal and provincial governments. This session delves into the challenges faced by “Team Canada,” highlighting the track record of federal and provincial leaders in negotiating trade deals and addressing procurement-related treaty compliance. It will also explore whether local Canadian public institutions should consider imposing tendering sanctions against U.S. suppliers.

Presenter: Paul Emanuelli, General Counsel and Managing Director of The Procurement Office

Paul Emanuelli is an internationally renowned author and procurement lawyer with over 25 years of experience in public procurement. Recognized by Who’s Who Legal as one of the top ten public procurement lawyers globally, Paul is a leading authority in public procurement practices.

His expertise includes advising public institutions on strategic procurement governance and overseeing high-profile technology and public infrastructure projects. Over the past two decades, Paul has trained and presented to thousands of procurement professionals across North America, partnering with leading industry organizations.

Before founding The Procurement Office, Paul served as Crown Counsel with the Ontario Attorney General, where he led the Government of Ontario’s Procurement Lawyers Group and provided counsel on major procurement initiatives.

Register Here

Webinar hosted by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies: 

Introducing the Updated MEA/ACEC-Ontario Standard Agreement for Engineering Services

Topic: Latest Revision of the MEA/ACEC-Ontario Standard Agreement for Engineering Services
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

This insightful session will explore the latest updates to the MEA/ACEC-Ontario Standard Agreement for Engineering Services. Designed to provide a balanced and consistent framework, the agreement clarifies roles and responsibilities, simplifies commercial considerations, fosters trust, and ensures fair risk allocation.

 Developed collaboratively by municipal engineers, consulting engineers, legal experts, and insurance professionals, the updated agreement represents the industry's best practices and commitment to engineering excellence.

For more information and to register, visit the ACEC-Ontario website. 

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Join OPBA Today!

OPBA

As a thought leader in public procurement, OPBA offers a wealth of information, education, and resources designed to help you improve your skills and abilities and advance your public procurement career through professional development and peer networking.

Unique to the public sector, public procurement professionals aren’t in competition with each other; consequently, OPBA members welcome the opportunity to support their colleagues to excel in their profession.

When you join OPBA, you are:

• Investing in your Career
  • Increase your knowledge and enhance your value to your employer by learning from subject matter experts.

• Growing Your Professional Network
  • Gain access to a broad network of public procurement professionals who are willing to share resources and support each other.

• Supporting Your Profession
  • A strong professional association results in a stronger advocacy voice for the profession.

• and more!
  • Our Member Perks Program adds value to your membership and can save you money.

For more information contact us at members@opba.ca or 905-682-2644 ext. 255.

Job Opportunities

OPBA

Advertising and Sponsored Content in the Caveat Emptor enews:

The OPBA is diversifying its revenue sources so that we are not solely reliant on revenue generated through membership fees. Our goals are to strengthen the financial health of the association and continue to deliver valued member services while maintaining a reasonable cost of membership. We appreciate the support of our partner vendors and suppliers, many of whom have advertising and sponsored content in this enews. Articles provided by advertisers are solely for the purpose of raising awareness. OPBA does not endorse, promote, or advocate any products and services..

www.opba.ca | Media Kit | Archive
 
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.

brought to you by MediaEdge Digital | http://www.mediaedge.ca

MediaEdge Communications, 251 Consumers Road Suite 1020, Toronto, Ontario M2J 4R3, Canada

Click here to unsubscribe.