The Government of Canada recently announced the latest Call for Proposals of the Building in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) – a procurement program whose primary goal is to promote innovation and help small- and medium-sized businesses connect with federal government departments and agencies that have a need for innovative products and services.

Our government’s top priority is creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.  Helping Canadian businesses expand and succeed directly benefits Canadian workers and their families. By selling to the federal government, businesses receive support to get innovations out of the lab and into the marketplace. That kick-start means that they can potentially generate future sales out of the government both in Canada and around the world.

Originally created as a pilot project in 2010, the Build in Canada Innovation Program has now been made permanent to bolster innovation in Canada’s business sector and help companies bridge the pre-commercialization gap for their innovative products and services.

The program also now includes a component of military procurement. It is in Canada’s best interest to have a strong defence industry right here at home that can help meet the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces. It is important that we be able, if necessary, to compete with the best in the world. 

By supporting innovation designed in Canada, we are helping bring Canadian businesses one step closer to moving their innovations into domestic and international markets.

To build on the early success of this pilot program, Economic Action Plan 2012 allocated additional funding for three years, starting in 2013. As of 2016, $40 million will be permanently dedicated to the BCIP annually. In February 2013, the Jenkins report recommended making the program permanent, in order to more effectively provide incentives for solving operational problems identified by federal departments.

The federal government supports innovation and entrepreneurship in Canada, starting with the ideas that begin in small businesses in communities just like those within the constituency of Yorkton-Melville.

The fourth Call for Proposals is currently available on www.buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders. If you are a supplier and your company fits the program’s parameters, I encourage you to craft a proposal and submit it. You have until January 7, 2014, to do so.

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The audio version of Garry's December 9, 2013 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here