MHCA acknowledges it is located on Treaty One land and the homeland of the Metis Nation

ANNUAL REPORT

2022

MHCA Chair Nicole Chabot reviews 2022

On the road, closing in on a major milepost

MHCA PRESIDENT CHRIS LORENC LOOKS AHEAD

Building bridges, laying pipes and pavement, protecting our future

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

BOARD CHAIR

Nicole Chabot, G.S.C.
L. Chabot Enterprises Ltd.

PRESIDENT

Chris Lorenc, B.A., LL.B.

VICE CHAIR

Dennis Cruise, CET, G.S.C. Bituminex Paving Ltd.

SECRETARY/ TREASURER

Kevin Brown, P.Eng, G.S.C.
Maple Leaf Construction Ltd.

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Jack Meseyton, G.S.C.
E.F. Moon Construction Ltd.

AT LARGE

Robert Reidy, P.Eng.
Taillieu Construction

AT LARGE

Barry Arnason
Arnason Industries Ltd.

AT LARGE

Greg Orbanski, B.A., CET
Tri-Line Construction Ltd.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Nicole Chabot, G.S.C.
L. Chabot Enterprises Ltd.

HIGHWAYS

Kevin Brown, P.Eng, G.S.C. Maple Leaf Construction Ltd.

WINNIPEG

Dennis Cruise, CET, G.S.C. Bituminex Paving Ltd.

AGGREGATE PRODUCERS

James Kaskiw, P.Eng.
Lehigh Inland Group of Companies

EQUIPMENT RENTAL RATES

Greg McKee
SMS Equipment

WORKSAFELY^®

Peter Paulic
Brandt Tractor Ltd.

EVENTS

Michael Byrne
Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc.

MEMBERSHIP

Robert Reidy, P.Eng.
Taillieu Construction Ltd.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

Jack Meseyton, G.S.C.
E.F. Moon Construction Ltd.

WORKFORCE Development Committee

Tony Teixeira
J.C. Paving Ltd.

DIRECTORS – AT LARGE

Richard Wilson, CET, G.S.C.
MD Steele Construction Ltd.

Denis Collet, B.Comm.
Gravier Collet Gravel Inc.

John Highmoor, B.A. B.Sc. (C.E.)
Tri-Core Projects

Tony Teixeira
J.C. Paving Ltd.

Advocacy – MHCA working for you

As the economy struggled back to its feet, the heavy construction industry continued to pave the path that moved people to jobs and goods to market; laying down the pipes and water-control infrastructure that protect communities, homes and business from increasingly frequent events of extreme weather.

All of that requires strong infrastructure investment plans and budgets. In 2022, MHCA saw good progress among governments in recognizing that investment in infrastructure is an investment in our economy and, by extension, our social welfare. Here is a summary of some of the top advocacy priorities:

When fuel prices spiked in early 2022, MHCA worked to ensure Winnipeg and Manitoba adopted/updated fuel cost adjustment clauses
For the first time in its history, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) has moved, as MHCA has recommended, to a publicly posted three-year infrastructure capital budget with a commitment to move to five-year plans.

MHCA, amid concerns about the roll-out of provincial tenders, continued to press MTI to fully expend its program budget for highways, structures and water-related infrastructure.
The province has passed a regulation allowing for the update of aggregate mining and transportation fees, reflecting our industry and MHCA’s long-standing recommendation. It is up to municipalities now to pass bylaws adopting or updating the fees
MHCA ensured that strong municipal investment in roads was a top election campaign issue, in the minds of voters and municipal candidates. Its advocacy included:
- Working with the Manitoba Trucking Association, which saw MTA members applying Vote to #FixOurRoads decals on their trailers
- Public messaging on radio, social media and billboards in Winnipeg and on highways
- Working with nine leading business organizations to host the leading Winnipeg mayoral candidates at a forum that focused on Growing Winnipeg’s Economy – the only such mayoral forum to do so
  - As a result of the sold-out success of the forum, which drew widespread media attention, the business coalition decided to make Growing the Economy forum a standing feature of civic and provincial election campaigns
- MHCA has been a leader in collaborating with six Manitoba business organizations — the WCR&HCA, the CWF, the CCA, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Canada and the Civil Infrastructure Council Corp. — in shaping and developing advocacy for a federally leveraged national trade gateway & corridor initiative harnessing investment in trade infrastructure to grow Canada’s economy
- MHCA has been instrumental in the resurrection of WCR&HCA’s participation in regional and national advocacy harnessing investment in trade to support growing Canada’s economy
- MHCA has played a leading role in pressing the Manitoba government to proceed with amendments to the Builders’ Liens Act to provide for a legislated prompt payment regime
- The MHCA was a vocal participant on the Construction Industry Wages Act Review Panel which recommended updates to minimum wage rates paid heavy construction industry workers

Partners in Progress – priorities for 2023

Canadian Construction Association (CCA)

CCA in partnership with WCR&HCA, with supporting advocacy from the Civil Infrastructure Council Corporation, of which MHCA is also a member, is working with a public and government relations consultant to cultivate federal/provincial political support for a federally leveraged and sustained multi-year National Trade Gateways & Corridors Program, harnessing trade to grow the economy, commencing with the 2023-24 Budget. That effort will be guided in part by the Canada West Foundation report From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy (May 2022).

CCA will also engage with the broader business community to advocate to the federal government to get funds flowing by loosening criteria, uncluttering the funding mechanism, and supporting the real and immediate infrastructure priorities of provinces and municipalities, including sourcing the necessary workforce.

Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA)

The WCR&HCA will continue to elevate the profile of the heavy civil industry through:

partnerships with regional and national business groups for trade infrastructure investment
pressing for a National Trade Gateways and Corridors Program
collaborating in advocacy to ensure economic growth is Job #1 at all government levels

Civil Infrastructure Council Corp (CICC)

The CICC, composed of the 11 heavy civil associations across Canada, will support raising the profile of the industry’s role in Canada’s economy by:

advocating, with the CCA, for increased, sustained public investment in national and regional trade gateways and corridors
advancing the proposition that economic growth is Job #1 of government at all levels, trade is central to economic growth and trade productivity relies on efficient transportation networks

2021 BURSARIES

MHCA Cornerstone Award

Established in 2010, the MHCA Cornerstone bursary recognizes its Board Chairs who, since 1945, have laid the cornerstone foundations upon which the MHCA has been built. The $2,000 bursary is awarded to a full-time student in any year of the Construction Management Degree Program.

SUKHJEET BRAR

Brar, a full-time, 4^th year student in the Construction Management Degree program, has stellar marks in her courses, with a GPA of 4.30 in her 3rd year. She comes to the program with experience working at the City of Winnipeg Public Works department, on projects for partial depth repair of roads, joint and crack sealing, and cement stabilization of soil.

"I am planning to be a project manager within 1-2 years. I will utilize my unique energy, optimism, passion, and tireless creativity in the management field."

Sukhjeet Brar

MATTHEW PAQUETTE

Paquette, a 4^th year student in the Construction Management Degree program, has a cumulative 3.90 GPA and good experience in heavy construction, having worked for a concrete contractor on road works and parking lots. He also worked with Stantec and Manitoba Infrastructure during his co-op program placements, working directly with the heavy construction industry.

"I hope to join a Manitoba Heavy Construction Association member and do estimating, surveying or project management in some capacity."

Matthew Paquette

WORKSAFELY^®

2022 – YEAR IN REVIEW

Investments in safety by the heavy construction industry continue to result in significant returns to our companies. The overall injury rate has fallen consistently to 3.4 injuries per 100 workers in 2021 (the most recent full-year of data) from 4.7 injuries per 100 workers in 2015.

WORKFORCE Development Committee addresses critical industry shortages

The economic turmoil and general aging of the workforce have combined to create critical occupation shortages in heavy construction, not unlike that being experienced across the industries and sectors. The Canadian Construction Association’s Manitoba Labour Market Outlook, 2021-2025, estimates a shortage of 1,600 to 2,000 trades helpers and labourers in the broader construction industry within five years. Discussions specific to our industry consistently point to difficulties in recruiting both entry-level and skilled construction labourers, equipment operators, low-bed drivers, pipe layers and concrete finishers.

Diversity

Russel Spence, operator, L. Chabot Enterprises Inc.

An industry for all

Message from MHCA President

MHCA and the heavy construction industry are expanding efforts to raise awareness, educate and recruit new workers from the broad community, including among Indigenous groups, women and newcomers. This builds on the numerous training program and outreach efforts to date, including in 2019 when MHCA became a signatory to the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord.

In 2022, the MHCA worked diligently as part of a working group to advise the City of Winnipeg on the development of its social procurement policy and action plan. The MHCA, other industry and social enterprise organizations sought to help create a policy and an action plan that would ensure the targeted equity groups (Indigenous, racialized, newcomer or LGBTQ2S+) benefit from the city’s $400-million+ annual procurement program.

2021/22 EVENTS

This past year presented new challenges and opportunities, as MHCA and your Events Committee worked around pandemic restrictions while reimagining ways to present new and continue our ever-popular networking events.