[DiNaMo]

I don’t disagree with your sentiment, at all. We all know it’s easier and cheaper most of the time to jus my go get the product.
However, municipalities are bound by several things, least of which are the CFTA and the NWPTA. If someone was to just go ahead and order 400 iPads from wherever, they would be in violation.
And imagine if PetSmart, PetWorld, Dexters, TailBlazers etc. found out Animal Services was just calling up PetLand for their dog food? Not only is that a flaggarant violation, you have multiple local business owners who have lost the right to bid competitively and would have a valid reason to be pissed off and file a complaint.
I know it’s frustrating to see apparently silly practical application of laws and trade agreements, but they do exists for a reason. Municipalities have this crazy balancing act with this kind of stuff, and one way or another they’re going to piss someone off and will always be ‘idiots’.

Fair Comment. I guess just chalk it under the reasons why government is less efficient then private enterprise column.