About Procurement Assistance Canada: Ontario region

The Ontario region small and medium enterprise network (ORSMEN) is an internal government network chaired by PAC that brings together government small and medium enterprises (SME) stakeholders to discuss and develop SME outreach and engagement strategies in Ontario. By leveraging efforts and networking with each other it is expected the network can develop more strategic outreach and engagement programs for (SMEs). There are currently fifteen federal and two provincial government members. Each year, the ORSMEN hosts a government to business (G2B) information fair and workshop event in late fall in an Ontario community. This event is a one stop shop for SME programs, services and business opportunities through procurement available to help their businesses grow. If you would like to host a G2B event in your community please contact PAC: Ontario region.

The Supplier outreach network Ontario (SONO) is a strategic partnership between PAC and other levels of government in Ontario. The purpose of the SONO is to bring together representatives from the federal, provincial, regional and municipal levels of government that have an interest in reaching out to the supplier community / SMEs that are interested in doing business with government and to discuss and develop collaborative outreach and engagement strategies in Ontario. If you would like to host a Doing business with government SONO event in your community please contact PAC: Ontario region.

The Ontario region innovation information network (ORIIN) is a strategic partnership between PAC and other federal government innovation stakeholders. The purpose of ORIIN is to help develop and foster collaborative outreach and engagement strategies in Ontario within the innovation ecosystem. ORIIN host Innovation information forum (IIF) events that are a series of sessions in a number of Ontario communities that bring together Government of Canada departments and agencies to present current federal innovation programs and services that support innovation in Canada. If you would like to host an (IIF event in your community please contact PAC: Ontario region.

The Supplier Stakeholder Network (SSN) is a unique and strategic partnership fostered by PAC Ontario region between Public Services and Procurement Canada – Procurement Directorate and key industry stakeholder organizations. The SSN was created as part of the Government of Canada's Smart Procurement initiative that consists of a set of principles that guides its procurement process. A key principle of Smart Procurement is early engagement of industry at the time needs are first identified which is a contributing success factor to strategic government procurement. The SSN was formed as a buyer-supplier horizontal partnership that is a valued source of information and expertise to effectively bring needs and solutions together for values-based, innovative procurement in Ontario region. SSN provides a forum between PSPC and industry representatives in Ontario region for early engagement on future strategic procurement initiatives. Industry representatives have an opportunity to offer comments and advice on strategic procurement initiatives including, socio-economic benefits, greening of procurement and barrier reduction for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). If you are an industry or socio-economic organization and would like to take part in the SSN please contact PAC Ontario region.

In fall 2019 PAC Ontario region has established a Memorandum of Understanding with DND IDEaS to bring awareness and information about the program and how to get involved. In Strong Secure Engaged, the new defence policy launched in 2017, DND announced the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program and that it will invest $1.6 billion over 20 years. The program is a challenge-based innovation program, where we ask units within DND to provide their top priority defence and security challenges and post them to seek innovative solutions.