Buy local advantage would violate trade agreements: mayor

Following a controversial decision to replace Salisbury House with an American-based company at two city-owned golf courses, Winnipeg’s mayor says some buy local efforts would break trade rules.

Mayor Scott Gillingham initially told the Free Press he would support a motion that called for staff to provide options to update the city’s tendering process so it awards some points to local businesses. On Tuesday, he raised a different motion instead.

“The original motion that came from (city councillors) was, (and this is) my paraphrase, find other ways to give local companies an advantage. Our staff has said that would violate trade agreements,” said Gillingham.

Instead of the call to seek options for “a point system that promotes local businesses,” staff would now study “possible bid criteria that could be used to ensure local companies are given equal and fair opportunity to bid on city contracts.”

The new proposal comes after Salisbury House, the longstanding city eatery, along with many Winnipeggers, criticized the decision to award Aramark Canada — the Canadian branch of a major U.S.-based company — a food and beverage service contract at the city-owned Kildonan Park and Windsor Park golf courses. The contract took effect April 1, after Salisbury House had provided the service for 16 years.

Critics argued locally owned companies tend to create more jobs and keep more money in the city than others.

On Tuesday, the mayor stressed the awarding process for the golf course contract was fair.

“I will say the one local company in question on the golf course bid had fair and equal treatment,” said Gillingham.

The mayor noted city staff would also study how other cities tender contracts and pursue buy local initiatives.

“If there’s any city, any jurisdiction around Canada, (that) has a way to introduce a buy local initiative that we can learn from, then let’s learn from them as well,” said Gillingham.

Council’s executive policy committee voted in favour of the mayor’s motion Tuesday.

If city council casts the final vote to approve it, a report would be due back in about six months.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga