Council to study social procurement practice

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/12/2020 (2114 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Businesses that improve the community may get credit for their efforts when they apply for a city contract.

Council’s executive policy committee voted Wednesday to study how the city could reward companies that offer “community benefits” such as by hiring people who face employment barriers.

The motion calls for the city to create a system that offers preference or points to companies that meet certain criteria when competing for city contracts.

“The city’s spending money anyway on different contracts, different work that needs to be done. Why not do that with a social conscience?” asked Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River), who raised the motion.

Companies could be rewarded for hiring Winnipeggers who have disabilities, have been involved with the criminal justice system, have been part of the child welfare system, did not complete high school, dealt with addictions and/or relied on social assistance, said Coun. Shawn Nason.

Nason (Transcona) has pushed for the city to adopt some form of this practice, known as “social procurement.”

He said the city should be willing to spend 10 to 20 per cent more for some contracts, if needed to ensure the change, though he suspects many contract prices would match or come close to those of other bids.

“From my perspective, there is going to be a higher cost, at the start, to deliver this… but the societal cost of not going down this route has a much higher escalator,” said Nason.

Chambers said firms that help the environment, reduce crime or combat poverty could also benefit.

Mother Earth Recycling urged EPC to approve the change, noting its effort to hire Indigenous women and youth has been a success.

“The need for social procurement… can be seen every day when you walk or drive through our core neighbourhoods. People are wanting to work and there is work needing to be done,” said general manager Jessica Floresco.

Mayor Brian Bowman said he supports the idea, but cautioned its cost must be studied before change is made.

Bowman said Nason’s mention of a 10 to 20 per cent higher price for contracts that produce such benefits could equate to millions of dollars of extra costs, if applied to major city projects.

“One of the main concerns that (some) members of council and I have is: what would be the investment? What would be the additional cost, if any?” he asked.

The study won’t proceed unless council approves it. 

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga