July 16, 2025 - 1 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Format: Interactive Zoom meeting Registration closes on July 14, 2025 at 12 PM
AMO is excited to introduce a new modelling tool developed by Oxford Economics to help public sector organizations estimate tariff costs on capital construction projects. Designed in close consultation with municipal public works leaders and treasurers, this tool offers a practical, data-informed way to understand and communicate tariff-related cost pressures. To pair with the tool, AMO also commissioned Oxford Economics to develop a reportthat estimates the impact of trade tariffs on the expected cost of construction for municipalities over the next two years.
Although the tool was created with municipalities in mind, it can be leveraged by a wide range of public sector organizations—including school boards, provincial agencies, and broader public sector (BPS) entities—to support capital planning and procurement activities.
This session will cover:
The "why" behind the tool and the municipal context
A brief summary of the major findings of the construction cost impact report
The data sources and methodology used by Oxford Economics
A step-by-step walkthrough of how to use the tool effectively
How the tool can support council reports, procurement negotiations, and explanations for cost fluctuations
To support municipal use of the tool, Oxford Economics has developed a supplemental guide and a video tutorial to help your teams get started.
Karen Nesbitt, Senior Manager, Policy, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
Karen is a seasoned public sector leader, with various management roles with the Ontario Public Service as well as her current role as Senior Manager at AMO's Policy Centre. Karen is passionate about advocating for municipalities on critical issues like housing, infrastructure development and transportation. While with the Ontario Public Service, Karen held leadership roles driving initiatives that significantly impacted communities, such as social assistance system transformation. She holds a B.A. from Mount Allison University.
Maria Rodriguez, Policy Advisor, Policy, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
Maria is an experienced policy professional with solid expertise in policy development and analysis. Prior to joining AMO’s Policy Centre as a Policy Advisor, Maria spent four years in the federal government in various policy roles at Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and Transport Canada where she gained valuable insights into infrastructure, transportation, transit, housing, and land-use planning policies, and the crucial role municipalities play in them. She holds a M.A. from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Course Access: September 2 – 30, 2025 Mandatory Live Zoom Session: Monday, September 29, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET Registration Deadline: August 25, 2025
Delivery Format: Self-paced online + mandatory live Zoom session
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.
If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions after registration closes on August 25. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.
This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. These tasks will all have deadlines assigned that will be mandatory to meet in order to successfully complete this course.
A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Monday, September 29 from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.
Zoom link will be sent the week before the session.
This course is the pre-requisite for the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, giving an introduction to policy and procedures, authority and agency, the public purchasing cycle and other aspects of the function of purchasing. Candidates will be given an overview of legal considerations purchasing staff need to know when developing and handling bid documents, deciding the best procurement option (tender and RFP processes), as well as discuss centralized versus decentralized procurement systems.
Instructor: Michelle Trudel, NIGP-CPP, CPPB
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Explain the Law of Agency and the duties of the three parties involved in an agency relationship
• Describe the six essential elements to create a binding, valid contract
• Give a detailed description of when Contracts A and B are formed and their importance to Procurement Law
• Describe the duty of full disclosure and the duty of fairness and good faith
• Outline the key provisions of several significant cases, major Acts and Trade Agreements affecting public purchasing
COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS
You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.
Course Access: September 2 – 30, 2025 Mandatory Live Zoom Session: Monday, September 29, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM Registration Deadline: August 25, 2025
Delivery Format: Self-paced online + mandatory live Zoom session
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.
If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions after registration closes on August 25. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.
This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. These tasks will all have deadlines assigned that will be mandatory to meet in order to successfully complete this course.
A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Monday, September 29 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.
Zoom link will be sent the week before the session.
This course is the pre-requisite for the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, giving an introduction to policy and procedures, authority and agency, the public purchasing cycle and other aspects of the function of purchasing. Candidates will be given an overview of legal considerations purchasing staff need to know when developing and handling bid documents, deciding the best procurement option (tender and RFP processes), as well as discuss centralized versus decentralized procurement systems.
Instructor: Slavi Nalbantov, CSCMP
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of public procurement, and the differences from the private sector
• Explain the importance of developing clear purchasing policies and procedures
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a centralized and decentralized purchasing organization structure
• Outline the seven ’R’s of public purchasing and the steps associated with the public purchasing cycle
• Describe the legalities associated with public purchasing
COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS
You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.
September 8 + 9, 2025
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Virtual Learning
Registration closes September 2, 2025
DESCRIPTION
The Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) is a recognized certification designed for procurement professionals performing essential functions within the procurement cycle. Upon meeting the eligibility criteria, learners must also complete the CPPB exam as the final step in earning their CPPB certification.
Preparation is important and the CPPB BoK-C (Body of Knowledge and Competencies) is your best resource. The CPPB BoK-C will guide your preparation efforts as it provides a comprehensive listing of the content that you will find on the exam, as well as the number of questions that will be presented from each of the content domains that comprise the BoK-C for CPPB.
As a recognized training partner of the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC), the Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) has developed this examination preparation course based on the BoK-C. Led by a qualified instructor, the course will cover the six (6) domain areas which comprise the BoK-C for CPPB exam. The course will help learners understand their strengths and the areas that require additional focus.
This course has been designed to be one of the tools in a learner’s study toolbox, and participation in this class does not guarantee success on the examination.
Instructor: Melissa Mordue, CPPO, CPPB
DATE & TIME
Monday, September 8 at 9am - 5pm
and
Tuesday, September 9 at 9am - 5pm
*Exact timing may change, but please expect two full days.
The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session in early September.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, participants will:
Describe the structure and setup of the CPPB exam, including question types and scoring methods.
Evaluate personal strengths and areas for improvement through assessment exercises.
Identify common pitfalls and develop strategies for maximizing test performance.
Analyze test questions by applying public procurement principles and best practices.
PRE-WORK
This course does not have any pre-work assignments.
FORMAT
Learn more about the Zoom platform and its system requirements here. Remember to use a wired internet connection (as opposed to wi-fi, if possible) for the best viewing experience. In order to get the most out of the session and ensure two-way discussion, students are encouraged to fully participate by having camera and microphone on during the virtual session, or to actively participate in chat where access to a A/V equipment is not possible. Students are also encouraged to maintain a respectful learning environment by minimizing multi-tasking distractions, and background noise. Please ensure mobile phones and computer notifications are off or muted, and place yourself on mute until you want to, or are called upon, to speak.
UPPCC CERTIFICATION
This course is to prepare for the exam that completes the Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification program offered by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC). As this certification is managed and offered by the UPPCC, any questions related to exam eligibility or program requirements can only be answered by the UPPCC team.
REGISTRATION
Space is limited: this course has a minimum of 10 learners and a maximum of 20. Register early to avoid disappointment. Registration will be open until September 2, 2025. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration.
PAYMENT/REFUND INFORMATION
Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds. Cancellation/refund requests must be submitted in writing (by email) only, up to ten (10) business days before the event, after which we regret that we cannot refund your registration fee. Course fees are nontransferable to other courses.
