Glenn Ackerley, WeirFoulds LLP
OCS Talks is our podcast series, hosted by CEO Brian Barron, that brings together industry leaders, experts, and changemakers from Ontario’s unionized ICI construction sector.
Through thoughtful conversations, we explore the issues shaping our industry from workforce development and innovation to health and safety and economic trends. Tune in for insights, perspectives, and stories that matter to the future of construction.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch and listen on YouTube.
Episode 15
Buy Ontario: Navigating the Complexities of Construction Procurement
What does Buy Ontario mean for construction procurement?
In this episode of OCS Talks, host Brian Barron is joined by construction procurement lawyer Glenn Ackerley to explore the complexities of putting Buy Ontario into practice.
Buying locally to support Ontario businesses, Canadian workers and domestic manufacturing may sound straightforward. But building a school, hospital or water treatment facility involves complex supply chains, contractual obligations and procurement decisions that extend well beyond choosing where a product is made.
Brian and Glenn discuss how trade agreements, domestic product availability, low-bid practices and contractor risk affect procurement. They also explore what qualifies as a Canadian-made good, how to measure success and what it means to achieve the best value for public investment.
Guest:
Episode 14
Ontario ICI Construction Outlook: Forecasting Labour Demand, Major Projects, and Market Uncertainty
In this episode of OCS Talks, host Brian Barron is joined by Bob Collins and Irwin Bess from BuildForce Canada to explore what lies ahead for Ontario’s construction industry.
Together, they unpack how BuildForce develops its construction forecasts, the key economic and project data shaping Ontario’s ICI outlook, and where investment activity is expected to grow over the next decade. They also discuss labour market pressures, the impact of public infrastructure funding, the reliability of long-term forecasting, and the major projects poised to influence construction demand across the province.
Guest:
Irwin Bess, BuildForce Canada
Bob Collins, BuildForce Canada