2. Policy statement

Government contracting shall be conducted in a manner that will:

1. stand the test of public scrutiny in matters of prudence and probity, facilitate access, encourage competition, and reflect fairness in the spending of public funds;

2. ensure the pre-eminence of operational requirements;

3. support long-term industrial and regional development and other appropriate national objectives, including aboriginal economic development;

4. comply with the government's obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement and the Agreement on Internal Trade.