Buying What We Build: A CCI Policy Report on Public Buying for Canadian Innovation and Prosperity

Public procurement is one of Canada’s most powerful policy levers. Each year, governments direct hundreds of billions of dollars toward goods and services that shape markets, set standards, and determine where intellectual property and data reside. Yet current procurement practices too often fail to reward genuine Canadian innovation, leaving high‑value activity and economic returns offshore.

Today, the Council of Canadian Innovators is publishing its latest policy report, Buying What We Build: A Strategy for Canadian Innovation and Prosperity. This policy blueprint sets out practical ways government officials can use public buying more effectively to scale homegrown innovators, retain IP and data under Canadian stewardship, and create the conditions for long‑term economic growth.

“Around the world, governments are using their buying power to support domestic companies and build new industries,” said Patrick Searle, Chief Executive Officer of CCI. “Canada already spends billions every year through procurement. The question is whether we use that spending to help our companies get to market and scale — or continue to leave that opportunity on the table. This report shows how to start using procurement with intent.”

The report explains how federal and provincial governments can move from low‑bar domestic preference rules to procurement practices that meaningfully reward R&D, IP ownership, data stewardship, and Canadian strategic control so proven technologies and firms are not disadvantaged by fragmented rules or superficial local presence requirements.

“We can no longer treat procurement as neutral,” said CCI Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Laurent Carbonneau and co‑author of the report. “When governments buy strategically, rewarding real R&D, IP ownership, data stewardship, and Canadian strategic control, they make it easier to bring new things to market, keep high‑value activity here, and help Canadian firms scale and compete on the world stage. This report lays out practical steps government can take to drive Canadian innovation leadership, modernize public buying for the benefit of Canadians, and help turn around economic growth in Canada.”

In Buying What We Build, CCI recommends that federal and provincial governments implement:

1. Using public buying power strategically to strengthen Canada’s innovation capacity by assessing bidders’ activity in Canada, including R&D, and contributions to Canada’s innovation ecosystem, such as IP licensing and data control.
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2. Building up more world-class businesses and entrepreneurs in Canada by using existing legal frameworks to assess bidders’ Canadian control and Canadian strategic management as part of Canadian content assessment.
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3. Learning from global best-in-class systems and best practices for procurement based on economic value-added and innovation.

Each recommendation is explained in detail in the report.

The stakes are high. Canada's access to our largest export market is under immense strain, and domestic sales have become more important than ever for scaling firms with the potential to become truly global companies. Government procurement is one of the most powerful levers available to build the innovation economy Canada needs. We should want that spending to create real and lasting value for Canadians – and to help our best companies grow, compete, and win on the world stage.

Download a full PDF of the report here.

Read the French version here.

CCI Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Laurent Carbonneau unpacked the report alongside Skaidra Puodziunas CCI’s Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, in conversation with Jayiesh Singh, CEO, Able Innovations Inc. and Pierre Olivier, Regional Managing Director, HATCH, at the virtual launch.

About the Council of Canadian Innovators

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) represents more than 170 of Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies. Founded in 2015, CCI advocates for policies that help Canadian innovators scale globally, create prosperity at home, and strengthen Canada’s economic sovereignty.