Mayor, councillor clash during discussion about Calgary's social procurement program
Half a decade after it was pitched at city council, Calgary's strategy to partially evaluate suppliers on social policies is leading to a majority of contracts going to small or medium-sized businesses or groups that have diverse representation.
A report to a city committee Thursday showed the city purchases about $725 million of goods and services each year and 53 per cent of the contracts awarded in 2022 went to suppliers with the highest "social procurement score."
The policy, which was first presented in 2018, means the city doesn't just evaluate suppliers on cost and quality -- it also looks at whether a supplier has LGBTQ2S+, newcomer or racialized representation in its organization.
"Simply put, if a business meets the requirements for price and quality, its ability to receive additional points through the social procurement questionnaire could provide the advantage needed to win a competitive bid," reads administration's report to committee, in part.
Officials are now focusing on developing an Indigenous procurement strategy to be incorporated.
In questioning administration about the policy, Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Coun. Dan McLean sparred over comments the Ward 13 representative made about a bid process he was involved in 13 years ago.
"I was bidding on the Olympic bid for providing golf and utility vehicles in 2010. Lots of people competing against. They asked me if I had an Indigenous component and program. My daughter's boyfriend was a First Nations guy. So, I tick 'Yes.' What's your recycling program? What's your environmental impact? And you know, I took my bottles and I could (tick) 'Yes,'" McLean said.
"I mean, people can just tick the boxes and say a little story. I mean, is that where we're going? Is that where we're at?"
Gondek later referred back to the councillor's comments.
"I also need to point out that we just had a member of council openly admit that he scammed the system on a bid," Gondek said while McLean tried to respond.
"He openly admitted in public that he checked off boxes that shouldn't have been checked off," she said.
McLean countered that he did have Indigenous and recycling programs and nothing he did was illegal or a scam. He says he used the example to make a point about concerns he has about the effectiveness and efficiency of the program.
"I would just say that it was miscommunicated by the mayor. I did not say (that I scammed the system). A lot of people are worried about government programs that are put forth that people do look at as a ticking-the-box exercise," McLean told reporters later.
Administration told councillors there was no cost increase caused by the social procurement policy, but it allows the city to purchase with intent to add "positive impacts in social equity, economic growth and climate resiliency."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.