Fair & Open TO
This is a campaign by Fair & Open TO

 

Fair and Open TO

Toronto residents are paying far too much for local infrastructure projects — from new libraries to community centres. Why? Because Toronto is the only municipality in Ontario that does not allow a fully competitive bidding process on construction projects funded by your tax dollars.

 

Open tendering means more bidders, more skilled labour, better competition, and better value for taxpayers. When competition increases, more of the projects Toronto residents need actually get built.

 

The Problem
Right now, only contractors affiliated with select U.S.-based building trade unions can bid on industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) construction work in Toronto. That shuts out qualified local companies whose workers may belong to a different union — or no union at all.

 

Less competition means higher costs. And Toronto taxpayers are the ones footing the bill.

 

The Cost of Closed Tendering
Independent research shows Toronto could save $347 million every year by opening up the bidding process. That’s money that could go toward fixing aging infrastructure, building more housing, improving transit, or simply easing the burden on property taxpayers.

 

Meanwhile, Toronto’s property taxes have increased by 25% in just three years, even as the city’s repair backlog continues to grow.

 

Proof It Works

In 2019 the Region of Waterloo, Hamilton, and Sault Ste. Marie all adopted open tendering – and the City of Toronto said ‘NO.’ Now, they’re saving millions annually, and reaping the benefits of local contractors and workers building their projects. Waterloo Region alone is saving $24 million every year.

 

More Competition = Better Quality
Open tendering does not weaken Toronto’s fair wage policies or community benefits initiatives. Contractors would still have to meet the city’s rigorous standards for quality and safety. The only difference? More competition, lower costs, and more projects getting built.

 

It’s time for Toronto to adopt fair and open procurement. Taxpayers deserve better value — and a city that invests in more of the services and infrastructure we all rely on.

Allow For More Competition on City Construction Projects
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Dear <politician_name>,

As a Toronto resident and taxpayer, I am deeply concerned about how our city awards construction contracts. Toronto’s current rules restrict bidding to companies tied to select American-based unions. This practice not only drives up costs for taxpayers like me, but it also unfairly prevents many qualified local contractors and their skilled trades workers from competing for city projects.

Every other municipality in Ontario allows fair and open tendering, giving all qualified contractors, regardless of union affiliation, a chance to bid. The result is more competition, lower costs, and better value for taxpayers. Toronto’s closed system, by contrast, limits choice, inflates prices, and shuts out local, hardworking small businesses and local workers that take pride in building our communities.

This is both a fairness issue and a fiscal one. Contractors and tradespeople who pay taxes here should have the same opportunity to work on public projects as anyone else. At the same time, taxpayers should not be asked to pay more because competition is restricted.

Property taxes are already out of control. In just the past three years property taxes increased by 25%. With the City facing serious financial pressures, open tendering is one of the clearest ways to save millions of dollars annually without cutting services or raising taxes further.

I urge Council to support a resolution for fair and open tendering. It’s time Toronto opened the door to fairness for contractors and savings for taxpayers.

For more information, please visit: https://app.goadvocate.ca/en/campaigns/fair-open-to/email/

Sincerely,
<full_name>
?
To:

Councillor in Toronto (dependent on postal code)

Olivia Chow <Mayor of Toronto>

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