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Hello Members,

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I’m energized by the progress we’ve made together and the momentum we’ve built. This past year has been marked by innovation, collaboration, resilience and connections! Each milestone reflects our shared commitment to advancing procurement excellence.

These accomplishments are more than achievements; they represent the strength of our community. Your active participation and support have transformed ideas into impactful initiatives, and together, we’ve set a strong foundation for what’s next.

The year ahead is full of opportunity, and together—through collaboration and shared commitment—we’re poised to achieve even greater success. Here’s a look at what’s coming in 2026:

• Expansion of OPBA’s Mentoring Program: Building on last year’s success to connect even more members and foster professional growth.

• Expansion of the Public Procurement Learning Lab: Introduction of specialized courses, through the Public Procurement Learning Lab to deepen expertise in strategic sourcing, sustainability, and innovation. Plus, join us in March for the return of a full month of free professional development sessions—featuring expert speakers and interactive workshops—as we celebrate you, the public procurement professional, during Procurement Month

• Public Procurement Training for Elected Officials & Senior Leaders: Launching in 2026 in partnership with OECM

• Leadership Day 2026: A brand-new event focused on leadership development for public procurement professionals

In the spirit of collaboration, I encourage every member to take an active role in shaping the future of OPBA. Your insights and contributions are invaluable. If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact our Executive Director at rozalyn@opba.ca. 

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year filled with health, prosperity, and exciting opportunities. Let’s make 2026 a year to remember!

Warm regards,
Victoria Mirlocca, Chair
Ontario Public Buyers Association

New CFTA & CETA Procurement Thresholds for 2026–2027

Procurement thresholds under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) have been updated for the 2026–2027 cycle.

View the OPBA summary and resources on the OPBA website.

The summary is currently featured on the OPBA homepage and is also posted in the OPBA Member Portal under the Resources section for future reference.

The update is based on the official policy notice issued by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

How Does Your Procurement Program Measure Up?

Have you ever wondered how your procurement operations measure up against recognized best practices? The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) Award, founded in 1995 by the National Procurement Institute, recognizes public and non-profit organizations that demonstrate excellence in public procurement and a commitment to the continued pursuit of excellence.

The AEP Award offers organizations a structured opportunity to assess procurement maturity, strengthen internal practices, and gain external recognition for excellence. Its comprehensive evaluation framework spans areas such as ethics, professional development, automation, leadership, and continuous improvement—highlighting the strategic value procurement brings to the organization.

The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® Award application is due May 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

That value is clearly reflected in the experience of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville:

FEATURE SPOTLIGHT

OECM Launches 3rd Generation EUC Agreement

OECM, Ontario’s trusted partner in collaborative strategic sourcing, proudly announces the launch of its third-generation End-User Computing (EUC) Products and Related Services Agreement. Since its initial introduction in 2012, the EUC Agreement has been instrumental in supporting Ontario’s Education, Municipal, and Broader Public Sector (BPS) customers.

Discover the benefits of the new EUC Agreement today at bit.ly/4hE6M9T

Contact Us
For more information, please contact OECM's dedicated Customer Support team via email at customersupport@oecm.ca.

Follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest OECM news and agreements.

📅 March Procurement Month – Weekly Webinar Series

Free for OPBA Members

March is Procurement Month, and OPBA is marking the occasion with a four-part weekly webinar series designed to support public procurement professionals with timely, practical insights.

Mark your calendar for Thursdays at 1:00 PM ET.
Upcoming sessions include:

Mar 5 | 1:00 PM ET
•    Topic to be announced

Mar 12 | 1:00 PM ET
•    Best Practices for Vendor Debriefing Sessions

Mar 19 | 1:00 PM ET
•    Embedding Accessibility into Procurement Processes

Mar 26 | 1:00 PM ET
•    From Capital Planning to Project Delivery: A Procurement Perspective

Registration details and session information will be shared soon.

Your Experience Matters: Become an OPBA Instructor

Interested in Sharing Your Procurement Expertise?

Are you an experienced public procurement professional looking for a new challenge this year—one where you can share your expertise and help shape the next generation of procurement leaders? If so, read on!

OPBA Mentoring Program Returns for 2026

We’re pleased to share that OPBA’s Mentoring Program, launched last year, was very well received and continued to grow throughout 2025. Thanks to the strong interest and positive feedback from participants, we’re excited to bring the program back for 2026!

We invite public procurement professionals, suppliers, consultants, and sector stakeholders to share insights, best practices, and forward-thinking ideas that support professional growth and advance the profession.

Whether your session is geared toward emerging professionals or experienced practitioners, your expertise can help inspire and equip the 230+ attendees expected to join us.

👉 Submit your proposal by Friday, February 13.
For full details, please download the Call for Speakers document.

Coming Soon: OPBA Public Procurement Benchmarking Survey

OPBA is launching the Public Procurement Benchmarking Survey, a new initiative to gather sector-wide data that will help strengthen procurement practices across our community. This survey will collect comparative information on staffing models, responsibilities, approval thresholds, RFx processes, technology use, and performance metrics.

Why this matters:

Members regularly ask for comparative data to support policy development, process improvements, and staffing decisions. By participating, you’ll help create a credible, centralized benchmarking resource that reflects real practice across municipalities, broader public sector agencies, education, healthcare, transit, public safety, and more.

What you’ll get:

Results will be published in the OPBA Public Procurement Benchmarking Report—free for OPBA members. The report will provide actionable insights you can use to:

•    Support staffing and resourcing discussions
•    Strengthen procurement policies and procedures
•    Benchmark performance metrics and timelines
•    Inform modernization and strategic planning

Your participation is essential.

When the survey opens, we encourage all member agencies to contribute. The broader the participation, the stronger and more meaningful the insights will be.

More details will follow—thank you for helping build a shared benchmarking resource that benefits our entire sector.

2026 Membership Renewals

As we approach the end of the year, we want to thank you for your continued dedication to the OPBA community. Our strength comes from our members — and as OPBA grows, that becomes more evident every year.

We’re excited for everything 2026 has in store and hope you’ll join us for another year of learning, collaboration, and professional growth.

New Members

OPBA warmly welcomes the following new members: 

Nathalia Reis, Municipality of Central Elgin
Melissa Shelley, Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
Erin McCarthy, District School Board of Niagara
Nikki Memarkermani De Rojas, District School Board of Niagara
Michelle Coltman, City of Peterborough
Danielle McGillen, City of Peterborough
Carla E. Alvarez Elias, George Brown College
Thomas Dunbar, George Brown College
Ifeyinwa Okoli, Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Chantelle Anson, Town of LaSalle
Melissa Extross, City of Ottawa
Karen Nicolson, District School Board of Niagara

OPBA warmly welcomes the following new associates: 

Amberley Cleland
Sanjeath Murugavel, Durham College

Beat the Rush—Register for Upcoming Courses Today

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.

Principles – PPLL Competitive Bidding 

Course Dates: February 1 – February 28, 2026
Mandatory Live Zoom Session: Friday, February 27 | 9:00am - 12:00pm ET
Registration Deadline: January 23, 2026
Click here to register

 
PPS – Zoom RFPs - A Step by Step Guide for Public Procurement Professionals
Course Dates: February 10 + 11, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Registration closes Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Click here to register
 
PPS – Zoom Supplier Performance
Course Dates: March 16, 2026
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Registration closes Monday, March 9, 2026
Click here to register

Beat the Rush—Register for Upcoming Courses Today

Audit-Proof Procurement - How Ontario Public Buyers Can Defend Decisions in a Higher-Scrutiny Era

 
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
10 AM - 11 AM ET (Virtual Event)
Registration closes on January 27 at 12:00PM.
 
Public procurement has never been under greater scrutiny—and even sound, well intended decisions can be vulnerable without strong documentation and clear rationale. This OPBA Ignite session pulls back the curtain on what auditors actually look for and equips procurement professionals with practical, real world strategies to protect their work from being challenged.

Register Here

Coffee with Counsel: Understanding Bill 72 – What Buy Ontario Means for Public Procurement

Cost: Free for OPBA Members | $35 for Non-Members
Registration closes on January 28 at 12:00PM.
 
Ontario’s new Bill 72, the Buy Ontario initiative, aims to strengthen Ontario’s economy by prioritizing provincial suppliers, enhancing supply chain resilience, and increasing transparency and accountability in public procurement.
Join Rosslyn Young, Chief Legal Officer at Supply Ontario, for an insightful walkthrough of the legislation, its intent, anticipated requirements, and what it means for procurement processes, vendor engagement, and policy alignment.

Register Here

OPBA Ignite: Achieving Excellence in Procurement: An Overview of the AEP Award

Friday, February 27, 2026
1 PM - 2 PM ET (Virtual Event)
Registration closes February 26, 2026 - 12:00 PM ET.

What does procurement excellence really look like—and how can you measure it?

This webinar provides a practical overview of the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) Award and how it can be used to assess procurement maturity, strengthen governance, and demonstrate the strategic value of procurement.

Designed for public and non-profit procurement professionals, the session will outline the AEP criteria, what the application process involves, and how organizations of all sizes can use the framework as a benchmark for continuous improvement—even if they are not yet ready to apply.

Whether you’re new to the AEP Award or considering applying in the future, this session will help you understand what excellence looks like in public procurement and how to work toward it.

Register Here

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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