INNISFAIL – The Town of Innisfail will examine its procurement policy for goods and services with a hope it could lead to bolstering the fortunes of local businesses and the community at large through reciprocal contributions from a more benefits-driven strategy.
The issue of the town’s current policy, last updated in 2016, was discussed at council’s regular meeting on March 11 during a serious of requests from administration to purchase new vehicles, and approve a new Solid Waste Collection contract.
Steven Kennedy, director of operations for the Town of Innisfail, asked council to approve the purchase of four 2024 1500 pickup trucks for the total price of $236,732 from Innisfail’s Palliser Chevrolet. The request was quickly approved.
Kennedy then asked for council’s approval for the purchase of two emergency services pickup trucks, specifically a pair of 2024 1500 Silverado pickup trucks from Wolfe Chevrolet – an Edmonton auto dealer - at a total price of $151,460.
Wolfe Chevrolet’s bid won over two Innisfail auto dealers; Fourlane Ford and Palliser Chevrolet.
But before council voted on the issue Mayor Jean Barclay told Kennedy she was “not necessarily” supportive of the motion because she wanted to “support local.”
“I look at our community economic development strategy and it's based around supporting local, and local businesses expanding and when we buy local that money stays in our community and there's local businesses that do a lot for the community,” said Barclay. “So, I am wondering what leeway do we have on this recommendation?”
Todd Becker, chief administrative officer for the Town of Innisfail, told Barclay the town’s “tools” for procurement go through a “pretty robust policy” that outlines how the town tenders and how it scores.
Becker was then asked by the mayor if the local procurement policy could be changed.
“We have an obligation through Northwest Partnership Trade Agreement (NPTA). There are rules in how we procure it,” said Becker. “We have to make it fair and equitable, even outside our municipal boundaries. Fortunately and unfortunately.
“Definitely, if legalities are part of those discussions, you're subject to some liability.”
Other council members then weighed in, with Coun. Dale Dunham saying he was not ready to vote on the emergency service vehicle purchase and needed more time to digest additional information.
Coun. Don Harrison recommended administration bring back a report on what the requirements are from NPTA, an accord established in 2010 between the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba that created western Canadian procurement parameters.
For local governments, any goods or service over $75,000, and construction work over $200,000 is covered by the NPTA.
All four goods and services items before council on March 11 were priced at more than $75,000.
“It really ties our hands in many respects,” said Barclay, of the NPTA agreement.
Barclay is a passionate advocate of social procurement, also know as benefits procurement, that aims to contribute vibrancy and well-being to the community that is purchasing goods and services.
As an example, Barclay noted Elemental Energy, the B.C.-based company that created Innisfail Solar in 2020, now donates $20,000 a year as a local community benefit that is used to support other local initiatives.
“We always want to support local as much as we can. Is there an opportunity where that scoring is not only looking at the price? Let's also look at the whole value chain that purchases brings,” Barclay later told the Albertan.
“If you support local what else are you supporting? Yes, you are buying a widget but are you supporting local employment or local taxes, like property taxes, or local organizations, like minor hockey or other groups in Innisfail.
“Is there a way of valuing that total purchase?” she asked. “There has certainly been research done where there is clear value when you can support locals.”
Council ultimately decided to vote on the emergency service vehicle purchase, and it was passed, as was the purchase of a 2024 Bobcat S76 Skidsteer from Bobcat of Red Deer for the total price of $84,241.76.
The fourth and final procurement item, a new Solid Waste Collection contract with E360s for a period of three years with the option of extension for two, one-year extensions, was also passed. The budget for the new contract is $689,324.
Most importantly for the mayor, council also passed a motion directing administration to bring back additional information on procurement at a “future” meeting.
“Maybe it's even a bigger discussion. I know when we started the journey we kind of went down the path of social procurement but we've never prioritized that,” Barclay told council. “I think that's where this fits at some point in time and having a different policy.
“We've seen other communities in Alberta that have those policies, and some of that is around creating some ability to shop local, if possible.”
