A Toronto Star analysis that was published on 5 October found that companies controlled from the United States received approximately $7.8 billion in federal contracts over Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first 16 months in office. The analysis examined government procurement records and corporate-ownership data.
During question period that day, Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre clashed over whether the government’s infrastructure agenda gives sufficient priority to Canadian materials.
From Carney’s swearing-in in March 2025 through the end of July 2026, the federal government awarded $25 billion in contracts, with $22.4 billion listed in federal contract data as going to Canadian companies. The records classify just under $1.2 billion as awarded to American companies.
The data treats locally owned businesses and Canadian-incorporated subsidiaries of US corporations alike. As a result, suppliers including Lockheed Martin and Amazon can be recorded as Canadian companies. The Star reported that Amazon has received about $49 million in contracts under Carney.
To distinguish between Canadian-controlled and US-controlled businesses, the Star cross-referenced the procurement records with the federal Inter-Corporate Ownership index, which identifies the country of control for more than 50,000 companies. It also checked the largest contractors using US securities filings, company websites and other public records.
Using that approach, the Star calculated that Canadian-controlled companies received $14.9 billion in contracts during the period, a little less than double the amount awarded to US-controlled firms.
The government’s Buy Canadian Policy came into effect on 16 December 2025 for large infrastructure and defence procurements. It gives companies that invest, employ and innovate in Canada an advantage when submitting bids for federal work.
Initially covering procurements worth $25 million or more, the policy defines Canadian suppliers according to their place of business in Canada, rather than their ownership. Additional requirements include filing Canadian taxes and employing personnel in Canada. For evaluation purposes, Canadian suppliers receive a 10 per cent reduction to their financial proposals.
The threshold that applies to strategic procurements has subsequently fallen to $5 million.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) did not respond to the Star’s questions about the proportion of contract dollars awarded to US-controlled firms. Its spokesperson, Jean-François Létourneau, said 34 contracts totalling $1.5 billion have been awarded through the Buy Canadian Policy since December.
Conservative procurement critic Dan Mazier and two colleagues said in a statement that US-controlled companies’ share of contracts had increased from 20 to 31 per cent since Carney entered office. They also said six of the ten companies awarded the largest federal contracts were American-domiciled.
In July, Carney pledged nearly $2 billion over four years to buy 190 more Armoured Combat Support Vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada, taking the fleet from 360 to 550 vehicles. Production takes place in London, Ontario, while the company’s parent is headquartered in the United States.
According to Carney, the partnership is the first under the Defence Industrial Strategy and would create and sustain 6,000 jobs over the next eight years.
Released in February, the strategy targets a 70 per cent share of defence acquisitions for Canadian firms. It calls Buy Canadian “the North Star toward a new way of doing business in defence acquisitions” and allows purchases from allies when building in Canada or partnering is not feasible.
Létourneau said Ottawa continues to take measures to increase domestic participation and reinforce Canadian supply chains.
Related coverage: Anvil North’s supplier directory records each company’s documented Canadian operations. The US market analysis covers the cross-border corridor for Canadian defence firms.