Procurement Ombud Hosts a Solutions Forum as Another Step Toward the Implementation of His Proposed Top 5 Foundational Changes Needed in Federal Procurement
News release
Ottawa, Ontario – December 22, 2025
On December 17, 2025, the Office of the Procurement Ombud (OPO) took another step toward the implementation of foundational changes to improve the federal procurement system by hosting the first in a series of Solution Forums.
This initiative builds on OPO’s Knowledge Deepening and Sharing study, Top 5 Foundational Changes Needed in Federal Procurement, which identified longstanding systemic issues and proposed actionable solutions to improve the system.
The first session brought together procurement leaders, including Associate Deputy Ministers, Senior Designated Officials, and members of the federal procurement community to discuss one of the study’s key recommendations: the establishment of a federal Chief Procurement Officer (CPO).
Panelists Chris Mitchell (CPO for Nova Scotia), and Frank Butler (CPO for Newfoundland and Labrador) shared success stories and valuable lessons learned in implementing the CPO role within their jurisdictions. Their insights included strategies for streamlining processes, saving taxpayer dollars, professionalizing the procurement function, measuring success, and improving accountability in federal procurement. Having senior procurement officials at the table ensures that the perspectives of those shaping and implementing federal procurement policies are front and center.
OPO is proud to champion solutions for the procurement community that will result in better outcomes for all. The mission remains the same but today it seemed one step closer to reality. We will continue on this path with the next solutions forum focussing on vendor performance management in the coming months. Please stay tuned!
Quotes
"This discussion is a big step toward tackling issues that have been around for decades. By bringing key procurement stakeholders together to examine successful approaches and discuss the way forward, we’re getting closer to implementing the solutions that will make federal procurement more efficient, transparent, and fair."
– Alexander Jeglic
Procurement Ombud
Quick facts
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In July 2025, the Office of the Procurement Ombud released a report titled “Time for Solutions: Top 5 Foundational Changes Needed in Federal Procurement” outlining 5 key foundational changes to address long-standing systemic issues in federal procurement.
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The first change proposed is the establishment of a Chief Procurement Officer as a way to streamline processes, enhance training, and improve accountability in federal procurement.
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The 4 other foundational changes are the creation of a government-wide Vendor Performance Management system, the development of one universally applicable set of federal procurement rules, the use of Artificial Intelligence advancements to modernize federal procurement tools, systems and processes and the establishment of a government-wide framework for procurement data collection to increase transparency of federal procurements
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The Office of the Procurement Ombud (OPO) is a neutral and independent organization of the Government of Canada whose mandate includes reviewing widespread federal contracting issues and providing recommendations on how to improve them.
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Office of the Procurement Ombud
Phone: 613‑947‑9755
Email: MediaBOA.OPOMedia@boa-opo.gc.ca