City creates more opportunities in Brampton for certified diverse businesses

The Voice of Canada News:
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The City of Brampton is officially the newest Corporate Member of five non-profit Supplier Certification Organizations: Buy Social Canada; the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council; the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; the Inclusive Workplace Supply Council of Canada and WBE Canada, Certified Women Business Enterprises.

This means that the City is creating equitable access for small and medium businesses, including but not limited to, women, Indigenous people, visible minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S-owned organizations and social purpose enterprises, to bid on City procurement projects and do more business in Brampton.

This is a milestone in the City’s new Supply Chain Diversity Program, which offers Certified Diverse Suppliers equitable access to bidding on City procurement projects valued at $25,000 to $100,000. A diverse supplier is a business that is at least 51 per cent owned, managed and controlled by an equity-seeking community or social purpose enterprise.

Brampton is leading the way in creating opportunities for diverse businesses, as one of two municipalities, with a corporate membership with non-profit Supplier Certification Organizations and a Supply Chain Diversity Program, alongside Toronto.

Become a Certified Diverse Supplier with the City of Brampton
Eligible diverse suppliers should be certified by one or more of the above organizations in order to bid on City procurement projects.
Starting in spring 2021, the City will access its Certified Diverse Supplier List for Invitational Procurements valued at $25,000 to $100,000. Through this program, when the City invites bids from organizations, it will include at least one business from its Certified Diverse Supplier List to bid on the given project. 

Links

• Buy Social Canada
• Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council
• Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• Inclusive Workplace Supply Council of Canada
• WBE Canada, Certified Women Business Enterprises
• City of Brampton procurement practices
• City of Brampton bids&tenders webpage

Quotes

“The City of Brampton is a diverse, inclusive and socially conscious municipality. We know how important it is to create business opportunities for small and medium businesses, especially those owned by women, Indigenous people, the LGBTQ2SA community, and minorities. This is a milestone in developing the City’s Supply Chain Diversity program, and a great example for other cities to follow.”– Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“We support businesses owned by all people. Improving our supplier diversity demonstrates how Brampton is an inclusive community, where everyone is encouraged to do business with the City. Diverse businesses should apply to be a part of the Certified Diverse Supplier List as soon as they can.”- Harkirat Singh, Chair, Corporate Services; City Councillor, Wards 9 & 10, City of Brampton

“We are helping create opportunities for diverse businesses in Brampton, and we encourage them to participate in the City’s transparent and fair procurement process. We’re constantly learning and growing the ways in which we engage diverse businesses, and we’re proud to be a Corporate Member with these five new suppliers.”- Rowena Santos, Vice-Chair, Corporate Services; Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5, City of Brampton

“The City of Brampton is a diverse, inclusive and socially conscious municipality. We know how important it is to create business opportunities for small and medium businesses, especially those owned by women, Indigenous people, the LGBTQ2SA community, and minorities. This is a milestone in developing the City’s Supply Chain Diversity program, and a prime example for other cities to follow.”- David Barrick, Chief , administrative Officer, City of Brampton

“As a Buy Social Canada Social Purchasing Partner the City of Brampton is demonstrating their commitment to get ‘best value’ for how they use existing spend, to create community value, and leverage local economic impacts, and create opportunities to build back better.”- Elizabeth Chick, Executive Director, Buy Social Canada

“CAMSC (Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council) welcomes the City of Brampton as our newest corporate member. In 2019, the City of Brampton successfully launched its Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to develop a stronger and more vibrant Brampton. CAMSC is extremely honoured to work with the City of Brampton as it expands its Inclusion strategy to include supplier diversity. We look forward to forging strong relationships to create opportunities and to drive economic parity for our indigenous and minority suppliers in Canada.”-  Cassandra Dorrington, President and CEO, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council

“Corporate and government partners are the backbone of our Supplier Diversity Program. We welcome the City of Brampton, and look forward to connecting them with CGLCC’s innovative certified suppliers. Together, we will continue supporting Canadian LGBT+ entrepreneurship.”- Darrell Schuurman, Co-Founder and CEO, the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

“Congratulations to the City of Brampton for their great work in supplier diversity! The Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada is thrilled to be a part of it! The case for supplier diversity is well documented in Canada and it is gratifying to see the City of Brampton recognize the benefits of working with disabled and Veteran entrepreneurs. Looking forward to great success!”- Deidre Guy, Founder, Inclusive Workplace Supply Council of Canada

“It is exciting to welcome City of Brampton into the WBE Canada Community. They are now the second Canadian city to launch their supplier diversity program. While many municipalities talk about supporting women-owned businesses through procurement opportunities, we are glad to see the City of Brampton take decisive action, actively pursue relationships with Canadian Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) and open up opportunities for them. This step speaks volumes about Brampton’s commitment to supporting diverse communities and helping them to scale up which is extremely important especially during pandemic.”- Sylvia Pencak, President, WBE Canada