Advocacy
MHCA’s advocacy serves our communities and our industry because it recognizes that without a vibrant and growing economy, Canadians could not enjoy the standard of living that is envied globally.
Strategic investment in core infrastructure – highways, streets, bridges, sewer & water, and water control structures – instantly creates well-paying jobs. We all need strong, reliable core infrastructure.
Whenever you:
- turn on the tap, or flush the toilet
- walk, cycle or ride to work or school
- stay high and dry when flood waters threaten
you’ve been served by our industry.
Sustainable, long-term and incremental core infrastructure programs support our economy because strategic infrastructure investment has been verified in repeat economic analyses to hold amongst the highest returns to our GDP. A healthy GDP reliably generates the revenues governments depend on to provide the social programs Canadians expect and deserve.
We speak loudly and proudly for the approximately 15,000 workers whose jobs directly or indirectly are attached to the heavy construction industry.
Manitoba to review jurisdictional policies for recycling construction waste
The provincial government has committed to scanning the practices and policies in other jurisdictions, in Canada and beyond, for the recycling and reuse of construction,…
Keep readingWestern Canada trade infrastructure initiative gains support, national voice
The Canadian Construction Association has agreed to work with Western Canadian heavy construction associations to elevate the call for a new, federally financed investment program…
Keep readingMHCA engaging with Springfield on zoning bylaw changes
The MHCA is reviewing changes to the RM of Springfield zoning bylaw and intends to participate in the municipality’s virtual ‘open house’ on it and…
Keep readingRecycling of construction waste is a capital region priority
The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region has appealed to the provincial government to promote recycling of construction, renovation and demolition waste, in line with the MHCA’s push…
Keep readingRecent results of MHCA’s advocacy
- Right to appeal for when applicants are denied requests to open pits or quarries
- MHCA worked with the province to introduce an appeal mechanism in the Planning Act. Lilyfield quarry owner Colleen Munro won her appeal at the Manitoba Municipal Board in September 2020, after the RM of Rosser rejected her conditional-use application.
- Core infrastructure investment rises, construction declared an essential service in pandemic
- MHCA and WORKSAFELY™ pressed to ensure our industry’s work was declared an essential service in March 2020 when most businesses closed
- MHCA’s advocacy saw Manitoba’s economic restart plan add an additional $265 million, over two years, to core infrastructure investment, securing more work for the industry
- Winnipeg Council committee directs the Public Works department to work to ensure recycled concrete aggregates are used in road-building projects
- In September 2020, the Public Works department was directed to work with MHCA, the Specification Review Committee and U of M Prof. Amed Shalaby to compile best practices and recommendations, including a cross-jurisdictional analysis, for increased use of recycled concrete aggregate.
- Quarry rehabilitation work restarts
- Manitoba has approved applications for rehab work on spent pits and quarries, after vigorously work by the MHCA to reactivate the Quarry Rehabilitation Program. The program was halted in 2018, pending review by the Auditor General.
Advocacy Works
MHCA engaging with Springfield on zoning bylaw changes
The MHCA is reviewing changes to the RM of Springfield zoning bylaw and intends to participate in the municipality’s virtual ‘open house’ on it and…
Keep readingManitoba budget expected to boost highways, infrastructure investment
Budget 2021, to be released April 7, is expected to see larger investment for highways capital and other infrastructure priorities, partly due to carryover of…
Keep readingProvince lines up water & waste projects for 2021/22
The recent announcement of water and waste projects out of Manitoba’s economic re-start program holds about $30 million worth of work for the heavy construction…
Keep readingMHCA Board of Directors presses MI, City of Winnipeg to harmonize specifications
There is some “low-hanging fruit” among roadbuilding specifications that can and should be harmonized between the Winnipeg and Manitoba, the MHCA Board of Directors was…
Keep readingNeed help with a problem? Submit an issue
6 PRINCIPLES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
The MHCA has developed 6 fundamental principles for sound investment in core infrastructure – streets, highways, bridges, land drainage, water distribution and wastewater treatment systems. We propose infrastructure investment programs that are:
- PERMANENT, STRATEGIC AND SUSTAINED
Infrastructure investment should be set out in a long-term plan, with predictable cost-sharing between governments - FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
Evidence shows that investment in strategic infrastructure has defined returns to the economy, $1.60 for every $1 invested (Finance Canada, 7th Report to Canadians, 2011) - EMBRACING INNOVATION
Adopting new ways to sustainably build or maintain infrastructure will get more value out of the infrastructure budgets - HARNESSING PRIVATE-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
The private sector is the source of ingenuity - FUNDED BY DEDICATED REVENUE STREAMS
Taxpayers must be able to follow the dollar, to know how much is invested, for what purposes - REVIEWED ANNUALLY
Regular review of investment programs ensures accountability, discipline to purpose and allows for adjustment to benefit from lessons learned
Working together to serve our members better! FOCUS on MHCA
Across Canada, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) represents more than 20,000 member firms drawn from 63 local and provincial integrated partner associations. These firms join CCA through their local or provincial construction associations; and enjoy CCA-provided services through this partnership.
View the article highlighting Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA).
