Highways capital tender ad schedule a concern, MHCA Board
MHCA is meeting early February with the Deputy Minister of MTI regarding the highways capital program, including the plans to ensure the tender ad schedule rolls out according to expected advertising dates, the MHCA Board of Directors were told January 24.
The discussion will include review of the last construction season experience, the need to see the program budget fully tendered in each year, continuing commitment to reviewing construction specifications with industry and long-term strategy for trade corridors investment.
Attending that meeting with the senior leadership of MTI is open to all members of MHCA’s Highways Committee; the committee members will be informed where the February 14 meeting will take place.
The tender ad schedule released in November, by Minister Naylor at the MHCA Awards Breakfast, includes a number of projects carried over from previous schedules. The Board was told the discussion with MTI will stress the need for a predictable schedule, with delays prevented, to avoid tendering of projects from backing up toward the end of the construction season.
“We have seen in the past where construction tenders are released late in the year, which causes problems for industry in planning their business, optimally timing of mobilization of materials and equipment and hiring workers,” MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc said. “Further, delayed tenders is one of the factors that contribute to seeing the annual program – the budget and the construction projects – not fully rolling out.”
The Board requested an email be sent to Deputy Minister Ryan Klos, expressing concern about the potential delay to advertising of construction tenders, according to the schedule released in November.
The Board was also updated on the discussions between industry representatives and the City of Winnipeg Public Works officials regarding proposed changes to asphalt concrete specifications. The process of review is expected to see pilot projects with the new specs in 2024, and then specifications will be rolled out in 2025, but without penalties for the year.
Other priorities discussed by the board include:
- the WORKFORCE Development Committee is working on a strategy for recruitment, training and retention of workers for the heavy construction industry. The Board approved a motion for the Committee to return at the next meeting with a business case, recommended strategy and proposed budget.
- MHCA presented a pre-budget paper to Finance Minister Adrien Sala and Deputy Minister Silvester Komlodi and discussed the need for long-term, strategic investment in the transportation network, especially trade corridors. Manitoba’s trade corridors are central to moving goods to and from market and therefore a necessary investment for economic growth.
- Minister Sala committed to pressing at his meetings with provincial Finance ministers for support of the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan, in an effort to see inclusion of the need for a working group within the federal Budget 2024.
- Winnipeg City Council will present Budget 2024 February 7; MHCA members will get an analysis of the local and regional street renewal program via email the same day.
- The Board confirmed MHCA’s nominees for representatives to the Manitoba Construction Sector Council will be:
- WORKFORCE Development Committee Chair John Highmoor
- Jackie Kent, member of the WORKFORCE™ Committee, and HR manager of E.F. Moon
- Jaquelyn Oduro, MHCA Director of WORKSAFELY™ Education and Training.
