In response to criticisms raised by the Ontario Auditor General’s report on the use of consultants in the public health sector, as well as the concerns of the public over the use of public money, the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010 (Bill 122) past through the legislative process in December 2010 and proclaimed into law in January 2011. This Act authorizes the Government of Ontario’s Executive Council to issue directives to broader public sector organizations related to the procurement of goods and services.  As a result, the Management Board of Cabinet released the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive which took effective on April 1, 2011.

The Directive reflects increased public scrutiny of government procurement in an era of fiscal constraints and in the wake of some high-profile failures in the procurement process.