Quebec and Ottawa must change their bidding criteria for transport in order to prioritize local purchasing and put an end to the lowest bidder rule, argues Marc Bédard, president and founder of Lion Électrique.
The leader of the electric bus and truck manufacturer expressed this wish during a speech organized by the Canadian Club of Montreal on Monday. He underlines that many countries have adopted criteria favoring local assembly.
He gives as an example the “Buy American Act” which obliges the Saint-Jérôme company to assemble vehicles ordered in the United States in its factory in Illinois. This plant should come into operation in the second half of 2022.
“In Canada, no such rule currently exists. We are really at a disadvantage, ”he laments.
“Even worse, the rule of the lowest bidder is still present in several service offers,” continues the manager. This rule must be completely revised. It is a “killer innovation” and it encourages production in countries that do not have the same social and environmental criteria as in Canada. ”
Removing the lowest bidder rule would not mean that governments would accept any price, assures Mr. Bédard at a press briefing on the sidelines of his speech. “It’s still possible to do it intelligently. ”
He gives the example of California which assesses the qualification of its bidders by assigning them a score, according to various criteria. The price becomes an issue only after this call for qualification. “This is not a blank check! ”
Prioritizing local purchasing would bring significant local economic benefits, he said. “We know that each job in the manufacturing sector creates between seven to 10 indirect jobs. It’s not nothing. ”