Montreal, September 3, 2020 – The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and Propulsion Québec, the cluster for electric and intelligent transportation, in partnership with Bombardier Transport, today unveil a new study entitled Making public procurement a strategic tool for economic development and strengthening innovation in Quebec. This analysis aims to initiate a reflection on the strategic role of public procurement in economic development and in strengthening innovation in Quebec.
Quotes
« Public procurement can be an important asset to lay the foundations of a prosperous, green and innovative recovery. This is all the more true now that the COVID-19 crisis has forced us to reflect on the direction our strong economic recovery will take. This new study highlights the legal, political and organizational issues observed in current policies and regulations that hinder the achievement of these objectives. I invite decision-makers and public organizations to read it and to adopt the courses of action it puts forward to make public procurement a leading lever for recovery and support for innovation in Quebec, » said Michel Leblanc, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.
« In Quebec, we must focus on our local companies and our industrial sectors with high potential, such as electric and intelligent transportation. The current context is a real opportunity to implement new strategies in the fight against climate change, while improving the quality of life of millions of Quebecers by facilitating mobility. If we want to increase the number of electric vehicles on our roads, it is essential to adapt public procurement rules and practices to encourage the electric transition. Through this study, we therefore propose several recommendations to make public procurement an important strategic tool for the recovery of a sustainable and resilient economy, » added Sarah Houde, President and Chief Executive Officer of Propulsion Québec.
« It is thanks to Bombardier Transport winning the Montreal metro contract that Quebec has gradually become a hub for innovative and sustainable mobility. We hope that the solutions proposed in this study will help implement concrete measures that protect and grow this strategic ecosystem, which has generated positive impacts both here and elsewhere in the world, » said Gabriel Trottier-Hardy, Director, Business Development and Sales at Bombardier Transport.
The study Making public procurement a strategic tool for economic development and strengthening innovation in Quebec focuses on best practices observed around the world and across various industries to encourage the deployment and commercialization of innovations through public procurement and enable the achievement of sustainable development objectives, notably by promoting solutions that contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions. It includes detailed case studies from the electric and intelligent transportation (EIT) sector with the aim of stimulating the development of this high-growth-potential industry.
The study highlights the solutions most appropriate to the Quebec context. These are the subject of ten recommendations aimed at achieving the objectives at the heart of the study’s three strategic axes:
- A clear political will and operational public policies;
- A legal framework adapted to achieving the objectives of promoting innovation, developing Quebec businesses of all sizes, sustainable development and generating local economic benefits;
- A strengthened organizational culture, systematic evaluation of public procurement and encouraged collaboration.
The study proposes several important recommendations to achieve this, including the following:
- Modify the legal framework applicable to public procurement in order to increase the promotion of innovation, sustainable development, SME participation and local economic benefits;
- Review awarding methods to favor value rather than price;
- Provide the Ministry of Economy and Innovation with a funding envelope to support innovation and carbon neutrality;
- Provide Quebec with a "Green Bank" managed by Investissement Québec with responsibility for the development, support and delivery of intergenerational structural projects, notably in the fight against climate change.
To consult the full study and the highlights, click on the links below:
About the study
Making public procurement a strategic tool for economic development and strengthening innovation in Quebecis a study by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and Propulsion Québec, the cluster for electric and intelligent transportation, carried out with the support of the Government of Quebec, in partnership with Bombardier Transport.
About the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM)
With a network of more than 8,000 members, the CCMM acts on two fronts: representing the voice of Montreal’s business community and offering specialized services to companies and their representatives. Always up to date on current affairs, it intervenes in matters that are decisive for the prosperity of businesses and the metropolis. With the support of its Acclr experts, the CCMM aims to accelerate the creation and growth of companies of all sizes, here and internationally.
About Propulsion Québec
Quebec’s cluster for electric and intelligent transportation mobilizes all stakeholders across the value chain around coordinated projects aimed at positioning Quebec among the leaders in developing and deploying land transportation modes that promote electric and intelligent mobility. Created in 2017, Propulsion Québec now has more than 160 members from various sectors and deploys its resources across seven distinct workstreams aimed at developing and supporting innovative projects. The cluster benefits from financial support from the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM), the FTQ Solidarity Fund and the City of Quebec.
