Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE)

Published purpose

This 30-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19 through systemic change. Ontario Society of Professional Engineers will achieve this by developing and promoting inclusive language for public sector procurement of engineering services, thereby fundamentally expanding career opportunities for diverse women in engineering and the attractiveness of an engineering career to young women. It will compile and analyze procurement policies and practices, develop model language for inclusion in procurement policies for engineering services, obtain endorsement and support from key stakeholders, advocate to municipal and provincial public sector entities to urge adoption of inclusive criteria in procurement for engineering services, advocate to industry associations, and promote the model language through social media and trade publications. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by advancing inclusive policies and practices, supporting positive distribution of resources, developing networks and collaborations and changing norms and attitudes to support women’s equality. This project will engage Prism Economics and Analysis to conduct research and implementation of the project, collaborate with Engineers Canada, draw on the experience of social procurement specialists including Buy Social, and liaise with stakeholders including Ontario Public Buyers Association and the Canadian Public Procurement Council.