The Canadian federal government is streamlining its 'Buy Canadian' procurement process to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to compete in federal contracts. Minister Joël Lightbound announced three key changes: simplifying the Small Business Procurement Program requirements, improving online user experience with digital tools like chatbots, and standardizing procurement documents. These measures aim to reduce bureaucratic complexity and help businesses navigate government systems more efficiently. The policy, launched in December 2025, was designed to strengthen domestic supply chains amid U.S. trade tensions. Lightbound emphasized that the main barriers for small businesses are not market competition but excessive paperwork and outdated systems. The government plans to invest $80 million over five years in Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC), which funds entrepreneurs to develop prototypes and test innovations. This follows a recent reduction in the procurement threshold from $25 million to $5 million, opening doors for smaller firms. The changes reflect broader efforts to reduce reliance on U.S. trade and boost domestic economic resilience.

Canada Post is installing community mailboxes for approximately 136,000 addresses by late 2026, part of a five-year plan to transition four million addresses from door-to-door delivery. The corporation claims the mailboxes are 'being provided by a Canadian supplier' but refuses to name the company or disclose manufacturing locations, citing commercial confidentiality. A Montreal-based manufacturer, P. Riopel Inc., which has produced mailboxes since 1957, lost a bid for the contract in 2025 to a Danish firm, Treco A/S. Despite Canada's Buy Canadian Procurement Policy, which encourages crown corporations to prioritize domestic suppliers, Canada Post maintains it follows government directives without specifying which policy applies. Experts note such rules can either ban foreign firms or force higher prices for domestic bids, both of which carry costs. The federal policy, effective December 2025, applies to federal departments and agencies but its applicability to crown corporations like Canada Post remains unclear. While some manufacturers remain silent on their involvement with Canada Post, the corporation has not confirmed whether the current Canadian supplier is also the manufacturer.