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

2023 Annual Report

Celebrating 80 years

1943 - 2023

MHCA Chair Dennis Cruise
reviews 2023

Overcoming obstacles.
Gaining ground

Read full ‘Year in review’ report here

MHCA PRESIDENT & CEO
CHRIS LORENC
LOOKS AHEAD

The trade corridor era

Read full ‘Year ahead’ report here

⋙ 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

BOARD CHAIR

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

PRESIDENT & CEO

Chris Lorenc, 
B.A., LL.B.

VICE CHAIR

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

SECRETARY/ TREASURER

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

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

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

AT LARGE

Tony Teixeira
J.C. Paving Ltd.

AT LARGE

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

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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

HIGHWAYS

Marcel Machado, B.Sc., C.E.
Nelson River Construction

WINNIPEG

Tony Teixeira
J.C. Paving Ltd.

AGGREGATE PRODUCERS

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

EQUIPMENT RENTAL RATES

Greg McKee
SMS Equipment

WORKSAFELY®

Peter Paulic
Brandt Tractor Ltd.

EVENTS

Michael Byrne
Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc.

MEMBERSHIP

Michelle Magdic
BFL Canada

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

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

WORKFORCE Development Committee

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

DIRECTORS – AT LARGE

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

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

Tyler Bennett, M.E.T.
Sigfusson Northern Ltd.

Tina Larson,
P. Eng., M. Sc.
Lafarge Canada

⋙ Advocacy – MHCA working for you

The rising costs and labour shortages did not deter the commitment of industry members to deliver projects on time and on budget.

MHCA supported the industry with advocacy to see public program budget levels reflect these realities, and with initiatives to drive interest, training and recruitment of entry and skilled labour.

In 2023, especially during the provincial election campaign, MHCA ensured political leaders publicly acknowledged infrastructure investment was key to economic growth. Leaders, including now Premier Wab Kinew, said they’d build on the $500-million+ highways capital budget.

Here are some 2023 advocacy highlights:

  • Our advocacy that ‘growing the economy is job #1’ for every level of government gained traction and was reflected in provincial party leader messaging throughout the provincial election.
    • The MHCA led the creation of a nine-member business group to host a party leaders forum on growing the economy. That effort will continue between elections.
  • Provincial party leaders committed, in responses to MHCA’s election campaign questionnaire, to supporting trade corridors, widening Kenaston Boulevard, extending Chief Peguis Trail and supporting the buildout of CentrePort Canada
  • Strong public messaging (radio, billboard, social media) during the election campaign ensured that core and trade infrastructure investment was a priority of party election platforms
  • For the first time, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) adopted MHCA recommendations to publish publicly a 5-year infrastructure capital budget.
  • The MHCA initiated and the provincial government announced in July, the formation of a Construction, Renovation, Demolition Waste Reduction Task Force which the MHCA will co-chair.
    • The MHCA continues to advocate for the City of Winnipeg to accelerate the use of RCAs in road base materials design.
    • The MHCA has asked the Canadian Construction Association to strike a task force to examine ways to accelerate environmental sustainability in the industry.
  • MTI has agreed to strike a Specification Review Committee with membership from MTI, MHCA and ACEC-MB, to provide for input on changing or introducing new design specs
  • The MHCA established with the MTI deputy minister a working group to review and consider course corrections in the annual highway program delivery
  • The province has agreed to update of aggregate mining and transportation fees, reflecting our industry and MHCA’s long-standing recommendation.
  • At MHCA’s initiative, the City of Winnipeg hired a third-party facilitator to recommend terms of reference for a Specification Review Working Group, and agreed to implement the working group.
  • MHCA pressed Winnipeg Council’s Public Works Committee to form a budget working group to review the future of the funding plan for the local and regional street renewal program.
  • The MHCA pressed for industry engagement in the City’s plan to insert environmental and social procurement requirements in construction tenders.
  • MHCA, as part of a stakeholder group, was a leading voice pressing the province to amend the Builders’ Liens Act to include rules for prompt payment
    • discussions continue on amendments to strengthen rules of recourse and appeal
  • The Quarry Rehab Program now has 5 full-time support staff (from 2 part-time in 2022) and 5 inspectors (from 1)
    • the rehab levies are to move to 22 cents/tonne from 12 cents/tonne in 2024
  • The Construction Industry Wages Act was updated, with a new schedule for minimum wages for the heavy construction industry – a long-standing advocacy priority of the MHCA

⋙ Partners in Progress – priorities for 2024

Canadian Construction Association (CCA)

CCA, in partnership with WCR&HCA and the Civil Infrastructure Council Corporation, is working to press for federal recognition of the need for the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan, a multi-year trade corridor investment strategy that harnesses trade to grow the economy.

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.

  • MHCA Past Chair Nicole Chabot serves on the CCA Board of Directors. Chabot also serves as Chair of the CCA’s Civil National Advisory Council

  • MHCA Chair Dennis Cruise and MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc serve on the Civil NAC

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

The WCR&HCA will build on good progress toward the adoption of the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan, the principles of which were endorsed by the Premiers’ Council of the Federation, in July 2023.

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

  • partnerships with regional and national business groups for trade infrastructure investment
  • collaborating in advocacy to ensure economic growth is Job #1 at all government levels
  • Planning for the 2025 WCR&HCA Convention, including business sessions on the key role of regional and national trade transportation networks in economic growth.
  • MHCA Chair Dennis Cruise serves as Sec. Treasurer of the WCR&HCA
  • MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc serves as President & CEO of the WCR&HCA
  • MHCA Past Chair Nicole Chabot serves on the WCR&HCA Board.

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

⋙ 2022 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.

MHCA Cornerstone Award winners Richard Arpin and Belal Zuabi with WORKSAFELY® Safety Advisor Peter Mandryk

Richard Arpin

Arpin is a 4th year student in the Construction Management program. He hopes to work in the heavy civil construction field after graduation, with a specific focus on concrete work.

Belal Zuabi

Zuabi worked as a Project Coordinator during a co-op placement at Penn-Co Construction. His interest in heavy construction came from the courses Infrastructure/Heavy Construction and Estimating – Heavy Construction or Building Construction. Upon graduation, he plans to return to Penn-co Construction.

⋙ WORKSAFELY®

2023 – YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 has been a year of returning to normal after weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. Our industry has been busy and our team at the WORKSAFELY® program has been busy working to improve the safety services and training we deliver to our companies.

Investments you’ve all made in your workplaces continue to result in significant returns to all our industry companies.  Although the injury rate for 2022 increased slightly after the recovery from COVID-19, indications for 2023 suggest a continuing decline in the overall rate that has been achieved since 2015. 

Read report here

WORKFORCE Development Committee

The Workforce Development Committee (WCD) was established in March 2022 by the MHCA and is tasked to shape a workforce development strategy for the heavy construction industry. The strategy’s main goal is to attract, retain, train and develop a skilled and diverse workforce.

Read report here

⋙ Diversity

Strength in recruiting

Message from MHCA President & CEO

The heavy construction industry has always been a natural home for those looking for a foothold in a good job, with training while-you-work that offers advancement, good pay and long careers. Naturally, it has been a magnet for newcomers.

The industry is building on that foundation to reach into some not-so-traditional communities, to recruit and train tomorrow’s workforce.

Read report here

⋙ 2022/23 EVENTS

The MHCA and your Events Committee were thrilled to be hosting events in person again.

Awards Breakfast & Annual General Meeting

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Read more

CHair's Gala

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Read more

Heavy Santa

December 16, 2022
David Livingstone School

Read more

Curling Bonspiel

February 26, 2023
Heather Curling Club

Read more

Chair’s Reception

April 5, 2023
RBC Convention Centre

Read more

Breakfast Sessions

2023
Holiday Inn Express Winnipeg Airport – Polo Park

Read more

Spring Mixer

May 30, 2023
Assiniboia Downs

Read more

Annual Golf Classic

August 9, 2023
Quarry Oaks Golf Course, Steinbach

Read more

⋙ NEW MEMBERS IN 2022/2023

Total number of new members 22

Boar Trail
(Div. of Pasak Farm)

GME Excavation
Sewer & Water

Jim Fluker Construction Ltd.

⋙ 2023 financials

The annual report financials are accessible to all MHCA members. Please log in to access them.

MHCA Treasurer’s Report

⋙ Staff

CHRIS LORENC, BA, LLB
President & CEO

WENDY FREUND SUMMERFIELD
Manager of Finance & HR

CHRISTINE MILLER
Operations Manager

CATHERINE MITCHELL
Policy and Communications Manager

JULIE DESROCHES
MHCA Office Administrative Assistant

LEE WOODS, MBA
Marketing & Communications Coordinator

DON HURST,
B. A., M.A. (Econ.)
Director of WORKSAFELY®, Education and Training

PHIL McDANIEL, OH&S Cert., P. Gold Seal Cert., NCSO, CRM
WORKSAFELY® Senior Safety Advisor & Indigenous Engagement Leader

RANDY OLYNICK,
NCSO, CRSP
WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Eastern Region

TREVOR SHWALUK,
NCSO, B.P.E.
WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Central Region

DAVE McPHERSON, NCSO
WORKSAFELY® Safety Advisor and Indigenous Liaison, Northern Region

GERRY McCOMBIE,
Gold Seal Cert., NCSO
WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Western Region

DELANEY KUNZELMAN-GALL, B.Env.Sc., OH&S Cert., NHSA 
WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Southern Region

JESSIE SMITH,
OH&S Cert., NCSO
WORKSAFELY® Education Programs Coordinator

SARAH CRAIG, OH&S Cert.
WORKSAFELY® Client Services Advisor

KRISTEN RANSON
MHCA WORKSAFELY®
Administrative Coordinator

⋙ 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Overcoming obstacles. Gaining ground

When you set out to move earth, you’re bound to hit some unknowns. That’s equally true in advocacy as it is in heavy construction.

A significant achievement in 2023 saw the City of Winnipeg appoint a facilitator to help work out obstacles as we agreed on a process for industry input to new or adjusted construction specifications.

This was the culmination of work that started in 2019 when Public Works introduced changes to the base and sub-base material specs.

MHCA and senior representatives of our industry worked diligently, and convinced decision-makers we needed a third-party facilitator to help to design a formal approach for consultation on roadbuilding specification changes.

To that end, former Dillon partner Dave Krahn was appointed to chart the way forward and I am pleased to report his recommendation is not only that the City bring discipline and predictability to how construction specifications changes are introduced, but he also called for the establishment of a Specification Review Working Group. Krahn’s appointment, by the way, was made with the consensus of Public Works, ACEC-MB, UDI and the MHCA.

A formalized spec working group, with terms of engagement, will be central to our future work with Public Works.

Further, it is also serving as the model for a spec review working group at the provincial level.

The goal is to see early notice to industry, meaningful consultation and a process that reflects serious considerations of our concerns and respect for practical, in-field experience.

On that note, MHCA and senior industry members are continuing to work through the Winnipeg surface works specifications and, at the province, the correlation of lab material test results. We thank members for your input; your engagement makes the work toward collaborative resolution of issues that much easier.

There were other notable gains in the last year of special significance.

Provincially, MHCA’s work during the election campaign ensured party leaders were aware and speaking about the role of core infrastructure investment in economic growth. Our industry’s work was prominent in the public discussions through high-profile media advertising.

The Party Leaders Forum, organized by MHCA and co-hosted with eight leading business organizations in September, was sold out and garnered considerable media attention. Party leaders, including now Premier Wab Kinew, committed to increasing trade, investing in trade corridors (including Kenaston Boulevard and Chief Peguis Trail), maintenance of highways and in building out CentrePort Canada.

These commitments, including a promise to build upon the minimum annual $500-million highways infrastructure budget, were confirmed in the party leaders’ responses to MHCA’s campaign questionnaire. MHCA is in the process of following up with Premier Kinew, Transportation & Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, MTI senior leadership and Finance Minister Adrien Sala. You can read more on the NDP commitments here.

Manitoba’s, and Canada’s, economy rests on global trade. And MHCA made equally remarkable progress on the campaign to build the trade transportation infrastructure our province and country need not just for the present, but the future.

Since January, through the WCR&HCA, MHCA worked tirelessly to put the need for a Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan (CTIP) on provincial and federal priority lists. WCR&HCA organized a meeting in January with a coalition of leading Canadian business organizations and then-premier Heather Stefanson, where she pledged to champion the need for a national trade infrastructure plan.

Following that meeting, the need for a national, long-term strategic investment plan garnered wide support, across Canada, including an MOU among Western Canadian provinces, and then at their July 2023 meeting, Canada’s premiers endorsed the principles of CTIP, and called upon Prime Minister Trudeau to hold a First Ministers meeting on strategic infrastructure.

The CTIP coalition, including Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Construction Association, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Canada West Foundation, Civil Infrastructure Council Corp. and WCR&HCA, now is engaged in a vigorous government and public relations campaign to get federal attention, to see recognition of CTIP in the 2024 federal budget. You can read more on the campaign here, and we invite all members to join in the Call to Action.

These were big projects, and while they are notable achievements, they laid the groundwork for successes to come. All are “projects in progress.”

Ground was broken, as well, on other priorities in 2023, including

  • MHCA pressed the City of Winnipeg to establish a budget working group to discuss the local and regional street renewal budgets. Budget 2023 increased the street renewal budget against what was projected; MHCA will focus on pressing for additional revenues as the program is responsible for funding for additional priorities. The province agreed to increase to $500 million for the annual highway capital program with a commitment to ensure that budget set is budget tendered and awarded. While lagging on the program flow, we have a good working relationship with MTI towards achieving the objective.
    • Between 2011-2015 MTI tendered and awarded between 95 and 110% of announced budgets which exceeded $600 million in the last year, so the objective is clearly achievable.
  • The province went from a 3-year highway capital plan, to a five-year capital plan. Each was a historic milestone for Manitoba. We continue to press for an annual and five-year program to provide flexibility, and a long-term view.
  • The MHCA continues to press for industry engagement in the City’s plan to insert environmental and social procurement requirements in construction tenders, including local and regional street renewal projects. This will affect training, hiring and employment practices, human resources policies, and see CBAs in larger construction projects.
  • The MHCA Workforce Development Committee stepped up targeted efforts to identify and recruit workers to the heavy construction industry, including Manitobans and newcomers. The Committee is working with and beyond Manitoba Construction Sector Council initiatives, to tailor awareness and recruitment to youth, young adults and new residents with specific interest and affinity for heavy civil work, to enable retention and career development.
  • MHCA and the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region are co-chairing the provincial Construction, Renovation and Demolition Task Force, announced in June. The intent is to dramatically increase the recycling and reuse of construction waste across Manitoba, including in Winnipeg.
  • The Quarry Rehab Advisory Council, co-chaired by Scott Aikman and Brad Saluk, Reeve of the RM of Brokenhead, is reactivated and engaged
  • The Quarry Rehab Program is rebuilt, having added five full-time support staff (from two part-time in 2022) and five inspectors (from 1)
  • As recommended by the advisory council, the rehab levies will move to 22 cents/tonne from 12 cents/tonne

These are just some highlights from 2023 – progress built upon, in some cases, long-standing priorities and past efforts.

As any who have had the opportunity to work on or with our Board of Directors and association committees can attest, there will be new challenges around the corner.

I have had the great honour of serving with a savvy group of industry leaders on the Board, and hard-working industry members on our active committees.

In closing, I want to stress that the dedication of the Board, committee members and the association has made the difference in 2023, moving the obstacles and, occasionally, daunting barriers that stood in the way of progress.

Lasting achievements are not made in the space of a few months.

Advocacy for a trade infrastructure strategy, for example, has been building for the better part of a decade.

The struggle to see meaningful consultation on specification changes has played out over nearly a half-decade, now.

Successes, big and small, are built on a solid history of thoughtful, dogged advocacy rooted in foundational principles that at their core, speak to the best interests of the province and all Manitobans.

I am proud to serve as Chair of the MHCA Board of Directors. I am proud to serve you, members of Manitoba’s heavy construction industry.

I encourage everyone to join me, get involved, lend us your insight, support and engagement.

Make us a better industry and a better association.

Help move those obstacles and pave the road to a stronger economy and more prosperous province.

Dennis Cruise, CET, G.S.C.

Chair, Board of Directors

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The trade corridor era

Canada’s economy in the foreseeable future will ride on its trade corridors.

The question is: will we be going places or mired, unable to take full advantage from the trade partnerships at our doorstep because our infrastructure is not up to the task?

We must invest in economic generators. Trade generates 66% of Canada’s economy, 53% of Manitoba’s, but ‘if you can’t move it, you can’t sell it.’

The MHCA, on its own and with our strategic partners including the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, will advance trade corridor investment as a top advocacy priority in 2024.

MHCA, through the WCR&HCA, is part of a coalition of leading Canadian business organizations pressing for federal government support for a Canada trade infrastructure plan (CTIP). The immediate goal is to see an initial budget commitment to CTIP in Budget 2024.

Building on the unanimous support from Canada’s premiers, secured at the July 2023 Council of the Federation meetings in Winnipeg, we will push for Ottawa to call a First Ministers’ meeting to talk about strategic infrastructure, including a trade infrastructure investment strategy, so investments are aligned, carry high ROI to GDP and are shovel worthy, not merely shovel ready.

We are building on real achievement on the CTIP advocacy efforts. To see how far we’ve come on campaigning for CTIP click here. And lend your voice, too.

In Manitoba, we will work with Premier Wab Kinew, who has committed to continuing the advocacy for CTIP, to elicit federal planning and investment support.

Manitoba has done a lot in the last couple of years to promote trade corridors; linking and raising the year-round reliability of our commercial routes; moving the Perimeter to freeway status; and, committing to investing at least $500 million annually in highways. And this spring, Manitoba signed an agreement with Saskatchewan and Alberta, to collaborate as a regional bloc of interest on investing in trade corridors.

But there’s work to be done.

This province has an estimated $9-billion transportation infrastructure investment deficit. We need to see the annual highways capital program incrementally, but significantly increased, to “catch up.” MHCA will continue to press for annual and five-year, rolling budgets at MTI for highways capital and for water-control infrastructure. We are almost there.

Of equal importance is the work we will continue with MTI senior administration to ensure we are in position, every year, of fully expending the highways capital budget. We now have a commitment to meet regularly with MTI, including the deputy minister, to work through the barriers to early tenders and awards, before the beginning of the construction season.

These meetings have resulted, as well, in the formalizing of a specification working group. There have been substantial changes to roadbuilding specs from both MTI and the City of Winnipeg in the last years. MHCA will make sure our industry gets early notice of contemplated changes and, at the working group, has concerns and suggestions heard. Practical experience tempers theory with reality.

Other provincial priorities include:

  • Budget set, budget delivered: We’re working with MTI so project planning and tender awards rollout in advance of construction season, to ensure the full annual program is fully expended.
  • Workforce recruitment: the province has agreed to assist, through workforce education and training funding and programs, the construction industry attract, recruit and retain skilled labour.
  • Building on the recent passage of prompt payment rules, to see Manitoba’s Builders’ Liens Act provisions align with best practice across Canada.
  • Working through CCA’s Civil National Advisory Committee to assess the state and future of net-zero and low-carbon technologies, processes and equipment in our industry. Legislative and regulatory changes will challenge our industry to do business differently; we need to know what’s possible, where we’re going and how best to get there.
  • Co-chairing, with the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, a construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) task force. Our industry has a history of recycling some construction materials, such as aggregates and asphalt, and there’s a lot of potential yet.

At a municipal level, MHCA’s work on specification review has seen the City of Winnipeg agree to establishing a formal specification working group. This creates a reliable process in which industry gets early notice, feeds into and flags potential issues on planned specification changes.

Recycling of construction waste materials is very much a continuing concern in our discussions with the City of Winnipeg’s Public Works department. A great deal of hard work since 2019 has achieved the formalization of a spec review committee, where senior industry members will be able to table concerns and suggestions for planned spec changes.

Budgets for local and regional street renewal will increasingly occupy our attention. The 2% annual tax hike, initially started to fund road repair, is now being spread among more priorities – active transportation paths, traffic safety engineering and tree canopy restoration. A plan to begin reducing the 2% tax hike for roads was delayed, while councillors on the Public Works Committee examine how to mesh competing demands for revenues with (potentially) less cash.

The impact of the City’s new social procurement action plan will begin to be seen, first in the ICI sector, which will see tenders and contract documents contain requirements that touch upon hiring, sourcing materials and skill development of workers recruited from under-represented groups, such as Indigenous, racialized, women and those facing poverty. The City will be requiring compensation to meet a “living wage” standard.

We will be speaking to the practicalities of implementing such requirements and the realities of the heavy construction industry, as the social procurement tools are developed for public works tenders and contracts.

I want to close with these reflections, to give context to the agenda before us as we move into 2024, and beyond

The 2023 provincial election campaign illustrates that persistent, principled and experienced advocacy – the marathon that it is – pays off and is built upon achievements gained, year by year.

In the campaign leading to the election of our new government, it was evident that all political leaders have listened and learned from the case we’ve made on the verified economic return gained from strategically investing in infrastructure. They heard and now are using our industry language about

  • the ROI of trade infrastructure investment
  • connecting people to jobs and goods to market
  • protecting communities, businesses and people from increasingly frequent and extreme weather with water, waste water and water-control structures.

The growing recognition in political and senior administration of the fundamental role core infrastructure plays in economic growth and community well-being shows what can be done through strong working relationships with business groups, the public service and elected representatives.

All of it made possible by the consistent, solid support, advice and work of our Board of Directors and 400+ members.

With your continuing engagement, we’ll build on our record of achievement.

Chris Lorenc, B.A., LL.B.,

President & CEO, MHCA

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WORKSAFELY®

2023 – YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 has been a year of returning to normal after weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. Our industry has been busy and our team at the WORKSAFELY® program has been busy working to improve the safety services and training we deliver to our companies.

Investments you’ve all made in your workplaces continue to result in significant returns to all our industry companies.  Although the injury rate for 2022 increased slightly after the recovery from COVID-19, indications for 2023 suggest a continuing decline in the overall rate that has been achieved since 2015. 

Improvements in safety performance, which have contributed to lower WCB compensation rates and the introduction of the 15% prevention rebate for COR® companies, save companies in our industry over $2 million annually in reduced WCB premium costs.

Average WCB compensation rates for the industry, while having risen slightly in recent years, are markedly lower than in 2015, down from $2.67/$100 to $1.86/$100 in 2022.

Enhanced Services & Training

We’ve continued to work to improve our services and products.

We have worked with our partners in the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations to update the COR® program and the COR® audit instrument to better support harmonization of the COR® program across provinces. The new audit instrument will be launched in January, 2024.

We have undertaken a number of updates to much of our training, including

  • Revising all of our primary COR®-related courses – Leadership, Principles and Audit;
  • Working with other industry-based programs to update a number of other courses to meet new provincial standards established by SAFE Work Manitoba: Excavation and Trenching; Investigations; Inspections; Safety and Health Committees; Hazard Identification and Risk Control; and, Supervisors and Safety
  • We deliver training at the MHCA office, in communities across the province as well as individual workplaces
  • We have also continued to provide distance learning through video conferencing, which benefits our more remote clients, allowing them enhanced access to our services

Client Outreach

Ensuring good communication with our clients remains a key objective.  In addition to newsletters and e-blasts, which reach all our clients, WORKSAFELY® staff consistently made one-on-one contact with close to 2/3 of our COR® client base, or over 200 companies, each quarter in 2023. 

 The overall objective was to connect with our companies to deliver services, provide advice and ensure we met companies’ training needs, and assist with their safety and health programs.

Workforce Development

In addition to the safety program, we have provided support for the MHCA’s workforce development activities under the direction of the MHCA Board’s Workforce Development Committee, including:

  • Organizing a construction industry job fair in April 2023 and attending various career fairs hosted by schools and community organizations
  • Surveys on industry salaries and barriers to new worker recruitment
  • Beginning the development of a plan for marketing the industry to our potential workforce
  • Work on the development of micro-credentials for the industry pipelayer occupation

2024 – LOOKING AHEAD

New Leadership at the WORKSAFELY® Program

2024 will see a change in the leadership at MHCA’s WORKSAFELY® Program as I will be retiring at the end of December.  It has been my pleasure serving the heavy construction industry for the past 8 years.

With the outstanding team at WORKSAFELY® the industry can be confident the Program will be in good hands as we move forward. You will, of course, learn more about the new leadership and direction of the program in the coming weeks.

I know the new director will have a huge impact on the direction of the program as we move forward so I will touch on several ongoing initiatives for 2024 that are consistent with the WORKSAFELY® strategic plan.

Updating and Enhancing Services

 WORKSAFELY® will be:

  • Working with our companies to implement the updated COR® audit process
  • Continuing to update our training programs to ensure they meet provincial standards for training
  • Working with the Manitoba Construction Sector Council on the implementation of a new web-based training registration system and training management software
  • Continuing to work with other industry-based safety programs to promote practical approaches to enhanced safety certification, injury/illness prevention and regulations, including participation in the ongoing review of the Workplace Safety and Health Act

 

Growing COR® Program Participation

Our continuing goal is to grow the COR® client base beyond our more than 300 COR® companies or organizations, including:

  • New companies in the heavy construction sector
  • Municipalities and Manitoba’s government-administered northern affairs communities
  • Companies in concrete supply, snow removal, waste management, forestry, and oil & gas sectors

To this end, we are working with almost 60 new companies and organizations that have chosen to become COR® certified.

Promoting the WORKSAFELY® Program

MHCA’s safety program, including the nationally recognized COR® Program, has been serving our industry for more than 20 years!

Promoting the success our companies have achieved by improving safety in our industry and diversity in our workforce, is a big part of our pitch to our potential workforce about job opportunities in our industry. 

We will be working with our client companies, and our partners like SAFE Work Manitoba, to promote the accomplishments and the brand of the MHCA WORKSAFELY® Program and our COR® Program.

Client Service

WORKSAFELY® will continue to

  • Focus on one-on-one contact with our WORKSAFELY® clients
  • Implement new learning management software to simplify the training registration and administration processes
  • Promote the WORKSAFELY® Program to new clients to the heavy construction industry and related sectors

Diversity and Workforce Development

We will work under the direction of the MHCA Workforce Development Committee to:

  • Develop the credentials process and training for the pipelayer occupation
  • Promote our industry to our future workforce
  • Develop a longer-term strategy for training and recruitment

WORKSAFELY® Safety Leader Award

We want to recognize our WORKSAFELY® Safety Leader Award recipient for 2023 – Chrissy Hildebrand from Horizon Earthworks. The WORKSAFELY® Safety Leader Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates outstanding achievement and commitment to the pursuit of safety in our industry. 

Chrissy takes pride in promoting a strong safety culture to ensure workers at Horizon Earthworks feel valued and have the confidence to perform their jobs, knowing they have the training, knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe.

Congratulations, Chrissy!

New 2023 COR® Companies

The WORKSAFELY® Program certified 11 new companies or organizations (see below) so far in 2023 and we are working with close to 60 new companies or communities on their initial COR® certification.  As of November, 2023, 312 of our industry companies – covering approximately 75% of the industry workforce – are COR® certified. 

  • 2937876 Manitoba Ltd. o/a Ken’s Crane Service
  • Barricades and Signs
  • Delaurier Concrete & Construction Ltd.
  • GFL Environmental Inc. (Solid Division)
  • Haywood Concrete Products Ltd.
  • Keller Foundations Ltd.
  • Miller Environmental Corporation
  • Schnell Construction Inc.
  • Fourth Gen Enterprises Inc.
  • Multicrete Precast Inc.
  • Ellmar Construction Inc.

Congratulations on achieving your COR® certification!

In closing, I want to take this opportunity to thank MHCA Board members, the management and all my colleagues at the MHCA and the WORKSAFELY® Program for all their support over the last 8 years.  I wish all in the industry and at the MHCA the greatest of success in the coming years.

I am confident the new leader and team at WORKSAFELY® will be working hard to help you all work safely and stay healthy in 2024 and beyond.

Thank you!

Don Hurst,

Director, WORKSAFELY® Program

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WORKFORCE Development Committee

The Workforce Development Committee (WCD) was established in March 2022 by the MHCA and is tasked to shape a workforce development strategy for the heavy construction industry. The strategy’s main goal is to attract, retain, train and develop a skilled and diverse workforce.

The 2023 committee members include: John Highmoor, Vice-President, Tri-Core Projects; Jackie Kent, HR Manager, EF Moon Ltd.; Morgan Garand, Human Resources Supervisor, Nelson River Construction; Floyd Buhler, Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Sigfusson Northern Ltd.; Jamie Plesh, Project Manager, Arnason Industries Ltd.; Julie Parenteau, Senior Program Office, First Peoples Development Inc.; Carol Paul, Executive Director, Manitoba Construction Sector Council; and Chris Lorenc, President & CEO, MHCA. The committee is supported by Don Hurst and Jessie Smith from MHCA.

Priorities carried over from 2022 include:  

  • Identifying workforce needs and gaps
    • A Workforce Needs and Gaps survey was sent to MHCA members, identifying top areas on which to focus recruitment efforts
  • Working with government and partnering with community organizations on the recruitment of workers through various immigration programs
  • Partnering with the Manitoba Construction Sector Council and other organizations to develop training opportunities to address critical skills shortages and entry to the heavy construction industry workforce
  • Working with schools to promote the industry and look for opportunities to provide training for entry-level workers

New priorities include:

  • Growing the task force established to create a micro-credential for a pipelayer course, and then working with Red River College to accredit the course
  • Creating and developing a marketing strategy for the heavy construction industry to better attract individuals.

MHCA will continue to build on the work to address critical skills shortages and meet industry needs.

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Strength in recruiting

Message from MHCA President & CEO

The heavy construction industry has always been a natural home for those looking for a foothold in a good job, with training while-you-work that offers advancement, good pay and long careers. Naturally, it has been a magnet for newcomers.

The industry is building on that foundation to reach into some not-so-traditional communities, to recruit and train tomorrow’s workforce.

This is a function not just of skilled labour shortages – an undeniable challenge for this and many industries Canada-wide. It is a savvy strategy and a responsibility to our community.

We, however, do not take a scatter-shot approach to our workforce development initiatives. The MHCA is adopting intentional and strategic approaches:

  1. Working with industry and social enterprise groups to collaborate with the provincial government on education and training initiatives and program development that identify challenges, barriers and potential recruits, with an eye to programs tailored for our industry. In other words, we want to get the word out, offer opportunity and develop individuals with inclination to work in heavy construction, for the best odds for retention.
  2. We have surveyed our members, identified the barriers and now, developing marketing approaches to highlight the benefits of heavy construction and target people interested in the kind of work and potential for advancement we all know our industry holds.

That will build upon and augment work in past years, especially with the now well-established Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC).  Its mandate is to identify and fill education gaps both with development of course content and delivery options. The MHCA is a founding member of the MCSC.

The MHCA continues to work with the City of Winnipeg and stakeholders to develop and refine the city’s social procurement policy and action plan, which will eventually require within heavy construction tenders evidence bidders recruit, retain and promote individuals from equity groups (Indigenous, racialized, newcomer or LGBTQ2S+).

Our industry knows the value of diversity. It is now reaching into broader communities to raise awareness of opportunities in heavy construction. Formalizing these practices for bid submissions will be new to many, but the reality is that in many respects we’ve led the pack.

Please take the time to visit MHCA’s Diversity webpage to learn more.

Chris Lorenc, B.A., LL.B.,
President & CEO, MHCA

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Awards Breakfast & Annual General Meeting

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure (MTI) Award Winner

  • Grading – Strilkiwski Contracting Ltd.: PTH 6 Grahamdale
  • Paving – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PTH 83
  • Urban Works – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PA 634 and Bituminous Pavement PTH 5
  • Special Projects – Mekhana Development Corp/Arnason Industries Ltd: Theresa Point Airport
  • Major Structures – D. Steele Construction: Bridge Replacement over the Red River Floodway on PTH 59N
  • Minor Structures – Moncrief Construction Ltd.: Reinforced concrete box culvert on PTH 5
  • Water Management – Brunet Ltd.: Flood response, Morris ring dike closure

200 members and guests gathered to hear greetings from Premier Heather Stefanson and the newly elected Mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham. Hon. Doyle Piwniuk, Minister, Manitoba Infrastructure, handed out the MTI Awards.

31 companies were recognized for their milestone membership commitments.

Matthew Neziol, of Bayview Construction, received the Safety Leader Award.

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Chair’s Gala

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Close to 650pp attended from both industry, government and stakeholder partners.  It was the closing of Nicole Chabot’s two year term as Chair.  Dennis Cruise of Bituminex Paving was welcomed as the new Chair.

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2022 Heavy Santa

December 16, 2022
David Livingstone School

This event was made possible through fundraising at the MHCA Chair’s Gala and Spring Mixer.

104 goodie bags and presents were prepared for the grades 1-4 students at David Livingstone School. 

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2023 Curling Bonspiel

February 26, 2023
Heather Curling Club

22 teams participated in this fun-filled day of curling and networking.

A side winners:  ATS Traffic – Manitoba Ltd.

B side winners: Superior Asphalt Paving Co. Ltd.

C side winners: MHCA/WORKSAFELY™

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Chair’s Reception

April 5, 2023
RBC Convention Centre

MHCA’s second Chair’s reception saw 200 people register, including members, 13 provincial ministers, the mayor of Winnipeg and 8 city councillors.  However, with an incoming storm and travel advisories, not everyone was able to attend.

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2023 Breakfast Sessions

2023
Holiday Inn Express Winnipeg Airport – Polo Park

  • Premier Heather Stefanson
    • April 11
    • 135 people registered

  • Provincial Party Leaders Forum
    • September 12
    • 260 people registered  

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2023 Spring Mixer

May 30, 2023
Assiniboia Downs

This casual networking event retained its perennial popularity, and drew over 510 attendees – members, politicians and key industry stakeholders – for an evening of dining, races and the silent auction.

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2023 Annual Golf Classic

August 9, 2023
Quarry Oaks Golf Course, Steinbach

The Golf Classic this year continued its popularity at the Quarry Oaks Golf Course.   Wintec Building Services placed first under par and WD Industrial Group placed second under par.

This event continues to be extremely popular and sells out in record time, accommodating 232 golfers.

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MHCA Treasurer’s Report

MHCA Treasurer’s Report – November 17, 2023

I am pleased to submit the MHCA Treasurer’s Report for the year ended June 30, 2023.

The MHCA Board of Directors remains focused on balanced budgets. The 2022-23 fiscal year saw a return to a more normal environment, post-Covid. The MHCA was able to host all of its traditional major events which has provided revenue stability. Reduced social restrictions and inflation have brought expense challenges in some areas of the operation.

MHCA Financial Statements – Year ended June 30, 2023

The audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023, as reported on by MHCA auditor KPMG LLP, were adopted by the Board of Directors on September 13, 2023.

MHCA assets have increased by $22,750. Liabilities, including accounts payable and deferred revenues, were increased by $2,377.

The MHCA exceeded budget estimates, posting a gain of $20,373 at year-end against a projected gain of $7,450. The MHCA continues to closely monitor its expenditures and revenues to minimize the impact of economic conditions in the coming fiscal year.

The MHCA Board, by policy, attempts to maintain cash reserves of $290,000 in alignment with the MHCA auditor’s recommendation. The MHCA Board also reserved the amount of $245,188 for industry education and training. In addition, $518,645 remains in the general fund. The Board continually reviews the reserve amount as a matter of fiscal prudence.

MHCA Schedule of SAFE Roads Campaign Revenues and Expenses – Year ended June 30, 2023

The MHCA collaborates with public and private-sector stakeholders on the SAFE Roads public-awareness media campaign. SAFE Roads was initiated by the MHCA 17 years ago and since inception has been chaired by the MHCA President & CEO. The MHCA holds and administers in trust a fund of $60,816 for the SAFE Roads Committee. The fund was audited by KPMG LLP. The review engagement was presented to and adopted by the MHCA Board on September 13 and the SAFE Roads Committee on September 26, 2023.

TRIP/CANADA – Manitoba Chapter – Year ended June 30, 2023

The MHCA makes an annual payment of $6,250 to the CCA for the work of the Civil Infrastructure Council Corporation (CICC) (formerly TRIP/Canada) on behalf of the industry.

The MHCA levies a small, voluntary surcharge on all members invoiced since November 2001, to build a reserve for promoting infrastructure renewal. The reserve has funded media promotion, sponsorships and strategic partnership initiatives. As at June 30, 2023 the reserve fund stood at $174,426.

Respectfully submitted,

John Highmoor, BA.,B Sc. (C.E.)
MHCA Board of Directors
Secretary/Treasurer

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An industry for all

Message from MHCA President & CEO

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.

This work included working as part of a coalition to ensure that the necessary pre-employment, education and training are tailored to the needs of individuals in the equity group communities, and that provincial education and training programs and policies are aligned with both the needs of those individuals and the labour force needs of employers. This is seen as the best means of helping individuals ladder successfully from training to employment and careers – from poverty to prosperity.

In addition, the MHCA met with Hon. Jon Reyes, co-chair of the Immigration Advocacy Council (IAC), an IAC sub-committee and submitted recommendations to the IAC to:

  • Minimize the Provincial Nominee Program processing to enable timely arrival to Manitoba of immigrants possessing demonstrated skills in occupations needed by the private sector
  • Eliminate the biased point selection, allowing equal priority consideration to each skilled trade or occupation identified as being needed by the marketplace; and
  • Request that identified Heavy Construction Skilled Occupations be recognized as skilled occupations in demand by the heavy construction industry.

These are examples of the industry’s and MHCA’s dedication to diversity and inclusion. This will step up MHCA’s collaboration with these groups on meaningful efforts and initiatives to see diverse and non-traditional individuals enter the heavy construction workforce.

Please take the time to visit MHCA’s Diversity webpage to learn more.

Chris Lorenc, B.A., LL.B.,
President & CEO, MHCA

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