Indigenous procurement

Indigenous Procurement Initiative

The B.C. government is committed to true and lasting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis). Under the B.C. Procurement Plan, the Province aims to address gaps, barriers, and inequities affecting Indigenous Peoples’ participation in government procurements.

The Indigenous Procurement Initiative (IPI) is co-led by the Ministry of Citizens’ Services (CITZ) and the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (MIRR). The goal of the IPI is to increase Indigenous Peoples’ participation in B.C. Government procurements while also helping to address the legacies of colonization which have contributed to the systemic exclusion of Indigenous Peoples from economic opportunities.

Engagement with Indigenous partners and businesses

Through engagement, the B.C. government gathered input from over 300 Indigenous partners, organizations, business owners, and community members across the province. Their stories and visions shaped the Report on What We Heard (PDF, 234KB).

A key theme heard throughout the engagement was that continued collaboration and engagement should form the foundation of government's approach. As a result, in November 2022, the B.C. government established an External Advisory Committee (EAC).

External Advisory Committee

The EAC consists of members from First Nations, Métis Nation B.C., Indigenous organizations and businesses. Its mandate is to provide advice and recommendations to the B.C. Government on how to increase Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the Province’s procurement opportunities.

The EAC, in collaboration with government, has made steady progress in its first year. The EAC Interim Update provides more detail on the committee’s work to date and next steps for the year ahead.