11. Looking Ahead
a. Are there any proposals to change the law in the future?

In October 2016, the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement ("CETA"), a proposed trade agreement between Canada and the European Union ("EU"), was signed by both the EU and Canada. Increased access to government procurement opportunities is one of the key features of the agreement. CETA is expected to enter into force provisionally when Canada ratifies the agreement, which is expected to take place in 2017.

In July 2016, the Canadian provinces and territories reached an agreement in principle on a new Canadian Free Trade Agreement ("CFTA"), to replace the AIT. The CFTA is expected to introduce rules to foster broader, more transparent access for Canadian companies to government procurement contracts.

While the courts can be expected to continue to play an important role in procurement, some provinces are considering introducing significant reforms to procurement procedures, in part with a view to harmonizing the procurement framework across their jurisdictions.