The Problems of Public Procurement in Canada: Rule Layering, Strategic Purchasing, and Risk Aversion as a Toxic Stew

Abstract

This article analyzes persistent challenges in Canadian public procurement, examining in particular the federal government's complex, multi‐layered purchasing processes which have contributed to high‐profile failures, such as most recently the ArriveCan app and, over the past century, the majority of major military procurement projects. The primary issues found to contribute to these problems include excessive rule layering, unnecessary strategic purchasing complexities, bureaucratic risk aversion and political interference which together form a “toxic stew” leading to poorly designed processes hampering procurement efficiency and effectiveness. The article highlights three main strategic directions for improvement: streamlining procurement to increase efficiency, rethinking strategic purchasing to simplify decision‐making, and enhancing transparency and accountability for all projects to combat excessive caution and political interference. These proposals aim to address the key structural and political issues that have undermined procurement and help reform this key area of government activity.