Thread by @BrianDijkema

A few words about @JohnTory's interview with @SueAnnLevy yesterday. Found here: edmontonsun.com/news/local-new… #Topoli

Mayor Tory and the council keep speaking about "hypothetical cost savings" as if it's a coin toss as to whether competitive tendering will save @cityoftoronto money. But there is compelling evidence that cost savings are far from "hypothetical." @JohnTory @SueAnnLevy

The @cityofhamilton staff report (secret until last week) showed actual cases where costs savings of 9-32% could have been achieved if there was competition. The average savings was 21%. That report can be found here (start at p.101): pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ash… @johntory @SueAnnLevy

That's real $$$. Based on @cityoftoronto estimates of $616 million worth of ICI work per year, here is the range of estimated savings:
9% cost savings = $55.5 million/year
32% cost savings = $197 million/year
21% (average) cost savings = $129 million/year. @JohnTory @SueAnnLevy

Again, these numbers aren't just sucked out of a thumb. They come from real cases in a city with analogous (actually lesser) restrictions. There is absolutely no reason to believe one shouldn't expect similar savings in Toronto. And there's more...

Even thought the savings are real, the economics is 2ndary. It's a matter of basic justice. @cityoftoronto 's own procurement policies REQUIRE that “suppliers are given an equal opportunity to bid” on city projects. (toronto.ca/legdocs/munico…) @JohnTory @SueAnnLevy

Bill 66 made equal opportunity the default, & cities had to choose whether they wished to stay closed. @JohnTory & the other Councillors chose against equal opportunity, and had to override their own policies requiring openness to do so. Why? @SueAnnLevy

The reasons given by @JohnTory et al is safety and training and labour peace. But these are red herrings. @cityoftoronto already has world-class safety pre-qualification criteria, just like other municipalities. Is @RegionofDurham unsafe? Is @regionofpeel; @citymississauga? No.

The entire ICI construction sector is absolutely committed to safety, & there are provincial standards (@IHSAnews) which set the bar. Likewise training should mean that unionized contractors have a competitive advantage in a market w/out restrictions. @JohnTory @SueAnnLevy

"labour peace" is code for strikes. The @cityoftoronto is primarily a purchaser of construction. 99% of its major projects are contracted. If it were open, it would not be affected by strikes. Indeed shouldn't they be mitigating that risk by being open? @JohnTory @SueAnnLevy

.@JohnTory et al keep speaking about "one person" saying all this. But the rationale for competitive tendering are affirmed universally. The OECD recommends it. And -- here's the kicker -- SO DOES ITS OWN POLICIES! Competitive tendering is utterly uncontroversial. @SueAnnLevy

FWIW, @AMOPolicy and LUMCO also support open tendering. The only people who support closed tendering are those who benefit financially from it. This alone should be cause for skepticism about the decision @JohnTory and @cityoftoronto council made. @SueAnnLevy .

Let me cite this OECD paper on procurement: "Weak governance in public procurement hinders market competition and raises the price paid by the administration for goods and services, direct impacting public expenditures and therefore taxpayers’ resources." oecd.org/gov/ethics/489…

.@JohnTory & those who voted against equal opportunity in procurement have exhibited weak governance. The costs will be borne by city residents and businesses who will pay more, and get less. And, frankly, that's a damn shame for a world class city like #TOpoli. @SueAnnLevy -30-

@threadreaderapp unroll please.

@threadreaderapp "unroll"