Infrastructure vital to economy, services: Premier Stefanson
The profound impact of the flooding and mudslides and flooding in British Columbia on people, businesses and communities underscores the critical nature of strong infrastructure in keeping people safe and the economy stable, Premier Heather Stefanson said at the MHCA’s annual Awards Presentation this morning.
The premier was the keynote speaker to more than 120 MHCA members and guests, leading off the event, which included the Annual General Meeting.
Stefanson said the valuable, cooperative relationship the provincial government has with the MHCA and the industry is especially important in ensuring Manitoba’s infrastructure is reliable and capable of withstanding challenges, which include moving to a post-pandemic economy for growth and prosperity.
Strategic infrastructure investment, including the annual minimum of $500 million for Manitoba Infrastructure’s programs in highways capital and Restart Manitoba funding, are key to putting Manitobans to work immediately and long-term, the premier said.
The premier specifically noted that the move by MI to lay out multi-year highways capital programs is critical to the collective success of the program and the industry.
The morning’s event also saw presentations by Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler, who released the 2022 tender advertising schedule, and by Canadian Construction Association Chair Ray Bassett and President Mary Van Buren.
Stefanson was introduced by MHCA Chair Nicole Chabot, who delivered the MHCA’s priorities for 2022.
“I am pleased to say, we are seeing results from our advocacy for long-term, strategic infrastructure investment plans,” Chabot said. “Manitoba Infrastructure has acknowledged the benefit of preparing and publicly presenting multi-year budgets, starting with a three-year highways capital program in the next budget and moving toward five-year programs.”
Further, she said in 2022 MHCA will press the City of Winnipeg to ensure that the integrity of the financing plan for local and regional street renewal is not weakened by calls to use the revenues raised by the dedicated 2% annual tax for other purposes.
“The MHCA supports the construction and maintenance of all modes of transportation. Bridges, rapid transit, bicycle facilities – all deserve attention and priority. But the dedicated, 2% tax financing plan for street renewal was never contemplated to be the solution to all investment deficit problems.”
Other areas of advocacy that MHCA will focus on include:
- Restructuring delivery of the Quarry Rehabilitation Program
- Supporting truth and reconciliation efforts through engagement in the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord and through industry initiatives to attract, train and retain new workers from Indigenous and equity groups
- Collaborating as members of the Manitoba Construction Sector Council to ensure training gaps are addressed
- Supporting safe workplaces by efficiently and strategically managing delivery of the MHCA WORKSAFELY® Program
- Working with the RM of Springfield in its development of the Zoning By-Law and Quarry Operations By-law
- Engaging in discussion with the City of Winnipeg about the combined sewer overflow program
- Working with the province and MI to ensure funding of the Lake Manitoba/Lake St Martin outlets
MHCA President Chris Lorenc’s year-in-review address highlighted the work with the RM of Springfield on its draft new zoning bylaw, and pressing, with regional and national partners, for significant federal investment in Ottawa’s trade corridors fund to boost Canada’s and the West’s trade productivity and profile.
Lorenc noted that real progress was made to ensure the scope and timing of the Manitoba’s Lake Manitoba-Lake St. Martin outlet channels project allow for competitive bidding by Manitoba companies.
Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler, who presented the MI Project Awards to industry companies, assured that his department understands the need to ensure the local industry is capable of bidding for work in this project.
The minister said his department has made transformational changes in its organization and has moved on big projects to bolster Manitoba’s trade-reliant infrastructure and its economy.
The department’s new Infrastructure Capital Projects division is “focusing on innovative approaches in developing, managing and reporting on MI’s capital plan and projects,” including:
- Engagement on the Trade & Commerce Grid, allowing feedback from municipalities and industries that will contribute to build and maintain a robust highway network to support the economy through access to interprovincial and international markets. The proposed grid includes more than 7,000 km of provincial roads, with nearly 6,000 km of the grid already supporting Manitoba’s heaviest truck loads. When completed, the grid of trade and commerce routes will represent 36.5 per cent of Manitoba’s all-weather provincial road network.
- the Strategic Investment Categories online engagement. MI proposed four strategic investment categories to consistently plan and prioritize projects based on what is important to Manitobans. These categories provide the foundation for an infrastructure strategy and short-term infrastructure investment planning.
CCA Chair Ray Bassett and President Mary Van Buren, delivered a synopsis of the CCA’s priorities.
Bassett noted that top among the items is seeing the federal government’s national infrastructure assessment initiative stress the importance of trade-enabling infrastructure, particularly in Canada’s trade gateways and corridors.
MHCA WORSAFELY® Director Don Hurst reviewed the program’s 2021 work. The overall injury rate has fallen to 3.5 injuries per 100 workers in 2021 from 4.7 injuries per 100 workers in 2015.
“As for all industries, COVID-19 posed a significant challenge for the heavy construction industry. Our industry responded well and there were few significant disruptions due to the pandemic in 2021. Our industry showed leadership by following public health direction in implementing appropriate prevention measures,” Hurst said.
“The key reasons our industry was able to work throughout the pandemic were the experience and safety and health discipline developed by our companies through their implementation of practices and procedures in the COR® program.”
The Awards Presentation also saw MHCA service awards to members presented by Chair Chabot, and a salute to long-serving MHCA Board member and past Chair Henry Borger, who has retired from the board.
