“Now more than ever we need a Buy Local policy,” said Don Fraser. “The problem is you need a good crisis before people face up to the problem.”

The labour council stated during the Labour Day parade it had sent a letter to councillors and the mayor asking them to adopt a policy that would emphasize local products and services under the city’s procurement policy. And if the city can’t get the services from the area, then the policy should be extended to Ontario companies, then Canadian businesses.

And it shouldn’t be just the municipality that adopts the policy, said Mr. Fraser. Hospitals, school boards, McMaster University and any other institution that receives government funding should have a buy local campaign, he said.

“Every organization should look at their purchasing policy whether it’s for clothing, paper or any good,” he said. “That is the only way to keep money in this community.”

The Ontario government has a Buy Ontario policy for transit vehicles stating that any contract must have 25 per cent Canadian content. The policy went into effect in September. The recently announcement by Metrolinx to purchase 160 buses for $70 million was the first procurement contract issued under the new content rules. All of the buses will be made from Canadian resources and will be built in the province.

The provincial NDP recently announced that as part of its $2-billion economic stimulus package, Ontario should boost its Canadian content rules on transit vehicles to 50 per cent.

The policy, the party stated, should be expanded to include all municipal and government institutions and should encompass infrastructure and green technology contracts.

Local businesses over the last four months have been pummeled by the economic crisis, said Mr. Fraser. So far, he said, Hamilton has lost about 1,500 jobs, including layoffs by Stelco, Hamilton Health Sciences, National Steel Car and CHCH television, as well as four-day work weeks implemented by some area businesses, including Arcelor-Mittal. He said his organization is feeling the impact, with about 1,200 dues-paying members gone.

“This is hitting people right between the eyes,” said Mr. Fraser. “People don’t want to face up to reality. And it is only the tip of the iceberg.”

There had been talk in the past among municipal leaders to approve some sort of buy local program, but, says Mr. Fraser, “nothing came of it. It was only talked about.”

But with the economy taking a nosedive, and like a domino effect forcing local companies to start laying off people, Mr. Fraser said the issue became more urgent during this year’s Labour Day parade.

He points out the money the labour council received from the city and used to organize the parade went to local companies. For instance, he said the council even paid a Hamilton business to install the portable toilets for the event. The company, which had not been involved in portable toilets previously, managed to expand its business because of the buy local campaign, said Mr. Fraser.

“Every little bit helps,” said Mr. Fraser.

City staff are expected to present a report to the audit and administration committee in February on the buy local request from the labour council.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger acknowledged the city doesn’t have a buy local campaign, but there are provisions in the new economic development strategy recently approved by councillors that city staff concentrate on improving the opportunities of local businesses.

“I don’t think we have a ‘buy only Canadian’ policy,” he said. “We do have an economic development strategy that is looking for manufacturing opportunities.”

Ward 4 councillor Sam Merulla, who will be introducing a motion this month asking that Hamilton study an economic stimulus package for the city, said if the Ontario government has a buy Ontario policy, why not Hamilton?

“It makes perfect sense,” said Mr. Merulla. “I’m shocked we don’t have one.”

He said if Hamilton companies can provide the necessary resources and materials to the city, why shouldn’t the city assist local businesses to keep them in business?

“I would introduce a motion to look into it,” he said.