Quebec encouraging civil servants to buy local and avoid Amazon

Delivery trucks leave Amazon's DXT4 warehouse in Laval, Que., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Amazon Canada says it is closing all seven of its warehouses in Quebec. (Christinne Muschi / The Canadian Press) (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

With Donald Trump’s tariff threats still looming over the Canadian economy, the Legault government is tightening purchasing rules for government departments and agencies to encourage public servants to buy local, and thus avoid online platforms like Amazon.

For example, a government employee wishing to place an order for office supplies via a platform that has no outlet in Quebec will need to obtain authorization from his or her manager.

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The authorization will then have to be sent to the Treasury Board.

“Public bodies will also be required to adopt internal guidelines for purchasing from Quebec,” according to a news release issued on Monday.

“Some online purchasing platforms sell very few, if any, Quebec goods. Nor do they encourage public organizations to purchase from regional suppliers,” said Treasury Board president Sonia LeBel, in the same release.

The new directive affects 400 organizations, including “ministries as well as establishments in the health and social services, education and higher education networks.”

On Jan. 22, Amazon announced the closure of its seven warehouses in Quebec. These closures resulted in the loss of 1,900 direct jobs in Quebec, in addition to 2,600 indirect jobs with subcontracted delivery firms.

The CSN severely criticized Amazon’s decision.

“These changes do not apply to companies that operate such websites and have a retail outlet in Quebec, or when their main activity is the sale of Quebec goods,” Quebec added.

Quebec has also indicated that it intends to improve its strategy for awarding public contracts “to include criteria that may be more favourable to local businesses, such as carbon footprint or social responsibility.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 24, 2025.