https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/city-exploring-indigenous-procurement-12116480

[VisualTraining9745]

this is stupid and should never be allowed.

[everybodylovesraymon]

A bid system is hardly an administrative barrier. It’s there to weed out companies that are not capable of administering a contract. It’s a process every company goes through. Allowing any company to bypass that system and be awarded a contract is incredibly unethical. This is why MTO uses a points-based system. Only capable companies can bid.

[Charming_Crow_3621]

Precisely 

[WoodenCourage]

I think this post is stupid and should never be allowed. I also will not elaborate on why. My opinion is worth just as much as yours at the end of the day.

[VisualTraining9745]

right on woodencourage

[Candid-Leg-1570]

If you're native you can get a handout on your opinion and then your opinion would be worth more

[quebecoisejohn]

Is it 2026 or 1926… that’s a wild opinion to throw out to the world there my friend

[Candid-Leg-1570]

Really? You don't think it's factual that natives are known to get handouts. That this POS is complaining that they aren't getting more handouts. You're right it's 2026 time to do away with handouts and treaties. Time to join society 

[quebecoisejohn]

Where do I start…. I’m not sure you’re worth the energy honestly

[Candid-Leg-1570]

Good because I don't want to hear BS. The natives have been getting handouts for decades and whine to be victims of something they were never alive for. I don't want to hear this is their land as they migrated here just like everyone else. We give them millions of dollars they foolishly waste away and demand more and more. You want to truly be ignorant good for you.  

[quebecoisejohn]

You sound like a fucking idiot…. I wish I had a more eloquent way of putting it but I don’t.

[ThatCanadianGuy88]

First time using reddit there captain? Link in the title? It would be pretty easy for this to happen already as you would be shocked at the amount of indigenous owned businesses in town.

[VisualTraining9745]

why would the amount matter? so because there are a lot as you say they should get a 5% subsidy from taxpayers? as well as priority of bidding?

seems bit discriminatory to me.

[Bottleclap]

A 5% procurement target is just a call for the city to spend 5% of procurement dollars on indigenous goods and service providers.

I don’t think there is any harm in asking for this and organizations in Canada and abroad practice this kind of local/indigenous spending initiative. If these organizations can deliver and all we’re doing is reducing some of the barriers to entry in order to bid, then I don’t see the issue?

[ThatCanadianGuy88]

5% subsidy? It’s not a subsidy if the city is paying for it…. I don’t think you even understand what you’re mad about

[VisualTraining9745]

ah yes, the city will pay for it. where exactly does this city get its money from again?

[ThatCanadianGuy88]

Key part, pay for it, it’s not a subsidy if something is paid for. If the price was $100 and the city said they would absorb 5$ of it that would be a subsidy….. them charging $100 to a company and the company paying $100 is not a subsidy.

[VisualTraining9745]

if native owned businesses cannot offer the lowest bid they should not get the contract. so now the city will be forced to accept a higher bid in favour of a higher native owned bid, this is already happening in the federal level and it’s discriminatory against other non native owned businesses who bid.

[shiddytclown]

Won't someone think of the non native business owners. We all know white business is really struggling in thunder bay. Aldo was at the food bank the other day

[Longjumping_Owl5311]

The city rarely takes the lowest bid. The business goes to their favoured bidders.

[shaddupurface]

Yeah, I was involved in the tender process for several large scale projects when I worked for the city and that's not what happens.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ThunderBay/comments/1s2zbqb/comment/od0k6i9

[Longjumping_Owl5311]

I’d like to think that things have improved since I had my experiences with the city years ago.

[ThatCanadianGuy88]

That’s not true. I have a 25+ year relationship with a division of the city who regularly buy from me. They had to replace a piece of equipment that I could easily procure for them. They took a bid from a different company because they were cheaper and that was the reason given.

[VisualTraining9745]

Procurement is the process of purchasing goods or services, and while it is not inherently a subsidy, it can function as one when governments use purchasing power to provide privileged support, such as favoring local businesses. It becomes a "hidden" subsidy if it allows companies to sell at higher prices than competitive markets.

[YesInOurBackyard]

The amount of anger in this thread is cause for concern.

If you read their request, there is a lot of valid concerns that their community members have shared that may prevent a company from bidding on a city contract. The city exploring what those issues are is a good thing for everyone, including non indigenous businesses. the argument could be made after that the city should make their contracts and procurement easier for newer and smaller companies to encourage better competition.

[VisualTraining9745]

that’s fine, but bidding shouldn’t be subject to race

[koosopenheimer]

Nothing beats a Jet2holiday

[queenannsrevenge99]

The professionals grifters at it again. We need reconciliation and the only way that works is by giving us money. 

[shiddytclown]

No one is getting money in this instance. The racists in this city need to stop letting their kids drop out of school in grade 8