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 rely on 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 government 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.
‘Turn the Corner’ Budget
Highways Capital investment rises in Manitoba’s 2021 Budget Budget Highlights The highways capital program should reach roughly $505 million this year and remain at minimum…
Keep readingWorkers, employers should decide on unionization, not government: MHCA
It should be the natural right of construction workers and companies to decide, among themselves, whether to unionize, MHCA President Chris Lorenc says, noting forced…
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 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 on September 17, 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 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
- On September 21, 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
Manitoba 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 readingMHCA asks for a plan toward increased use of recycled aggregates in Winnipeg
The heavy construction industry will present to the Winnipeg’s Public Works officials their experience in 2020 working with new road-building specifications. It will also seek…
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).
