MHCA Seeking Meeting with Minister Ashton
On March 8, 2012, the MHCA was provided with a revised MIT Tender schedule reflecting substantial reductions and changes to the 2012 Highways Construction Program.
The MHCA has identified 15 projects whose tender advertisement dates have been significantly moved back and at least 10 substantive projects – we estimate a $50 million value – which were removed and cancelled – click here for a copy of the changes.
The impact of the above is not insignificant. At a time when our industry struggles to attract new labour, keep existing talent from accepting opportunities in Saskatchewan and Alberta, we now must substantially slow their return to gainful employment, if we have access to them at all.
Manitoba’s heavy construction industry was able to attract skilled workers from the oil patch because the employment certainty was an acceptable trade-off for the higher wages. Now, any competitive advantage is potentially lost as skilled workers can find better pay and certainty out West.
However, the great employment story of the past few years has been the attraction of hundreds of entry-level, low skilled workers into our industry. These workers have various backgrounds (Aboriginal, on and off reserve, Métis, new immigrants, women) many of which were not employed, or perhaps even employable. The advancements made in growing our workforce, training these new entrants, and developing their abilities will be lost.
What message do we pass along to the new and seasoned employees? We don’t know if we and therefore you will have jobs this summer? We don’t know what the program will be? Speculate on your employment earnings? What certainty do any of those applicable statements provide our employees.
There is as well impact on aggregate producers, equipment supply and repair, the petroleum and oils sector and all of the other related supply sides of the industry. The ripple impact is immediate and counterproductive to the province’s economic best interests.
Transportation assets are under significant deficit pressure. They underpin the economy’s trade efficiency and they ensure a competitive economy. The above measures run counter to the collaborative work with your government to support economic growth in Manitoba.
The MHCA is very strongly opposed to the above measures and on March 8, 2012 asked for an urgent meeting with Minister Ashton.
We will advise of the nature of those discussions.