Last verified 2026-06-27
The 10-working-day rule
If you believe a federal procurement covered by trade agreements was run unfairly, the window to act is short. You generally have 10 working days to file a complaint with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, and the clock starts on the day the basis of your complaint was known, or should reasonably have been known. Working days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and federal statutory holidays, so a holiday inside the window moves the deadline out by a day and the calendar date matters more than a rough count.
Object first, or go straight to the CITT
You have two paths. You can file directly with the CITT within the 10 working days. Or you can first object to the contracting institution within that same window. If the institution denies your objection, a fresh 10-working-day clock starts from the day you learn of the denial, within which you can then file with the CITT. The objection route can resolve the issue faster, but it does not buy you extra time if you skip it.
The discretionary 30-calendar-day extension
There is one narrow exception to the 10 working days. The Tribunal may, at its discretion, consider a complaint filed within 30 calendar days where the circumstances were beyond the complainant's control or the complaint raises a systemic issue. It is discretionary and exceptional, not a deadline you can rely on, so plan to the 10-working-day date and treat the extension only as a last resort.
When the Procurement Ombud handles it instead
The CITT has jurisdiction over procurements at or above the trade-agreement thresholds. Below those thresholds, complaints are reviewed by the Office of the Procurement Ombud on its own timeline and on a more informal basis. Knowing the threshold for your contract tells you which body to approach, so check it before you file.
What this tool leaves out
This is a planning count of the 10-working-day deadline, past weekends and federal statutory holidays. It does not decide jurisdiction or judge the merits, and provincial holidays or office closures can still affect filing. Use the date as guidance, not legal advice, and confirm against the specific solicitation and the governing regulation with the CITT (citt-tcce.gc.ca) and the Office of the Procurement Ombud (opo-boa.gc.ca).