Buy Canadian Policy to help boost Windsor-Essex businesses

The federal government was in Windsor on Monday, announcing a big investment, supporting a ‘Buy Canadian’ policy.

The federal government has announced $186 million to support the implementation of the Buy Canadian Policy.

“As global trade tensions become more unpredictable, we need to make sure that Canada’s success is not dependent on decisions made elsewhere,” said Hon. Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State, Small Business, and Tourism.

“Canadian materials and Canadian innovation. We control who we can buy from, and we choose to buy Canadian.”

This includes $98.2 million over five years, $9.8 million ongoing for public Services and Procurement Canada and $7.7 million over three years for Treasury Board Secretariat to help departments like our Crown corporations make this new policy part of their everyday operations.

Valdez was unable to details around how much of that figure will come to Windsor-Essex businesses.

“Across Canada, small and medium-sized businesses are the heartbeat of our communities,” said Valdez, a University of Windsor alumni, who joined workers and management Monday at Anchor Danly.

“Small and medium-sized businesses were among the first to feel the impact of the tariffs,” said Darren Clarke, Anchor Danly, VP Operations.

“Through every challenge, Windsor’s manufacturing workers have shown resilience, skill, and pride in their craft. They are the backbone of the industry and the reasons companies like Anchor Danly continue to grow and compete in this global stage.”

Anchor Danly produces products like die sets, molds, and machinery bases for industries including mining, construction, and energy.

“We’re looking at all opportunities as to where we might be able to leverage our growth in these different markets,” said Clarke.

“For example, large milling is an opportunity for us in the Windsor-Essex area, and there’s probably a very strong demand for that.”

That includes high level quality products that will assist the Canadian military.

Valdez stated that ‘defense’ is one of the federal government’s top priorities.

“We’re looking at different things such as nuclear,” Clarke said.

“Another growing market is data centres.”

Clarke encourages all Windsor-Essex businesses to seek out this funding.

“Look at what is your core competency and what you can do to leverage your current capabilities, maybe to get into these other markets and really partner with your local government agencies to see what opportunities there are to support from,” he said.

Details on the Buy Canadian Policy are expected to be released in Spring 2026.

“Our intention is to help them (businesses) have a single place to go so they can get all their questions and answers,” added Valdez.