The Saskatchewan government says nearly all provincial procurement contracts continue to be awarded to Canadian companies, with most going to companies based in the province.
Over the past five years, about 90 per cent of all procurement contracts have gone to Saskatchewan companies, the province said Thursday. When local companies submit bids, that rate rises to 95 per cent.
More than 99 per cent of contracts overall have gone to Canadian companies, with less than one per cent awarded to U.S. companies during the same period.
SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said the numbers reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to prioritize local suppliers.
“Our government will always put Saskatchewan people and Saskatchewan companies first,” Marit said. “With the vast majority of our procurement going to local businesses, we will continue to support local contractors and industries during this turbulent time.”
The Ministry of Highways also awarded more than 96 per cent of the value of construction contracts to Saskatchewan companies during the 2024-25 construction year, according to the province.
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Crown corporations in the province have reported similar trends. In the first nine months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, they awarded $1.2 billion in contracts, or 75 per cent of total procurement, to Saskatchewan suppliers. About three per cent of Crown procurement came from the United States.
The government also reiterated its stance on excluding U.S. suppliers from specific purchases. Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan plans to spend $43 million on video lottery terminals and slot machines in 2025-26, none of which will be sourced from the U.S.
So far, 720 VLTs have been ordered from a Canadian subsidiary of a multinational company, with assembly taking place in Mexico using Canadian, Mexican and Asian parts.
The province also pointed to a recent SaskPower announcement to highlight Crown sector support for local businesses. The utility is moving ahead with plans to purchase 10,000 tons of steel from Regina-based EVRAZ in the coming months.
SaskBuilds and Procurement said it is working on implementing additional reporting measures and remains committed to transparent procurement practices aimed at securing value for taxpayer dollars.