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
  • Leaders agreed to support the push for federal recognition of the need for a Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan. You can read more on the NDP commitments here.
• 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