MHCA building on past achievements, vision for 2023
MHCA Chair Nicole Chabot, in her farewell address to the membership, said the work done this year on the trade transportation file in Manitoba, the West and nationally by the association has laid down a path to industry growth and economic growth for all.
“Canada’s economic dependence on trade is also why the MHCA has placed growing the economy as a guiding principle to its advocacy,” Chabot told the annual MHCA Awards Breakfast this morning. “I’m happy to report that MHCA has effectively moved strategic investment of trade transportation infrastructure into the spotlight of advocacy on the provincial, regional and national levels.
“This year, the MHCA’s push to make investment in trade infrastructure a federal priority saw real take-up among partner organizations at all three levels. In Manitoba, six leading business associations, of which MHCA is one, have coalesced around the pressing need to grow the economy and has made regional and national investment in trade infrastructure one of its primary advocacy files.”
Chabot noted that the campaign has been joined by leading business organizations in the West, such as the Canada West Foundation, and at the national level by the Canadian Construction Association, the Civil Infrastructure Council Corporation – on which all 11 heavy civil roadbuilder associations sit – the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Canada.
But our economy isn’t just moved by highways and trade gateways, she said.
“Growth and new development in our communities spring from services – nothing gets built before the pipes go into the ground, as one partner organization says.
“And here’s some really hopeful signs: all four of Winnipeg’s leading mayoral candidates – including the man who won on October 26 – committed to seeing the south lands of CentrePort Canada serviced if elected. That will enable billions of dollars of private sector investment. What that tells me is that our community leaders, those who pay attention, understand the basic role the critical services we make happen play in our towns, cities and province.”
MHCA President Chris Lorenc reviewed the association’s priorities for 2023, but began his address noting that Chabot, who has served as Chair of the Board of Directors through the difficult pandemic years, has been central to the advocacy progress seen.
“Through her skillful and articulate leadership, MHCA has asserted itself, in my view, as one of Manitoba’s strongest, voices for Growing the Economy as Job #1 of all governments,” Lorenc said.
“And 2022, as noted by our Chair, witnessed significant investment in key areas of policy advocacy supporting growth. Building on our past, our efforts in 2022 have laid out a path full of possibilities in the next years to come.”
The association will continue to press ahead with its campaign for a national trade gateways and corridors investment fund, but Lorenc stressed it has a number of other important priorities for 2023, including:
- ensuring the Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure programs for highways and water-related projects fully expended, or at minimum tendered and awarded.
- Collaborating in a working group with MTI and Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-MB to consider approaches to enable budget set/budget awarded and supporting industry growth, being achieved
- Pressing for a review with MTI to reduce bidding risks. Clarity, timeliness, contract language, and risk-sharing balance are key ingredients to minimizing risk and therefore the need to bid risk in pricing
- Working with MTI and the City of Winnipeg to ensure industry has early knowledge of potential changes to specifications, is able to help develop proposed specs so that market realities help shape the end result
- Working with the province and the capital region municipalities to protect aggregate resources and improve the application and permitting process for pits and quarries
- Pushing out our #FixOurRoads public messages so investment in roads remains a top public priority
- Heading into the 2023 provincial election, we will press party leaders and candidates to understand the value of and support for sustained infrastructure investment, to ensure good highways and bridges, and strong, resilient water, wastewater and water-control structures as they form their election priorities
- MHCA will lead with the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, a provincial task force to improve recycling and reuse of construction, renovation and demolition waste materials
- Working alongside industry, social enterprise organizations, Manitoba and City Council, we will try to ensure Winnipeg’s social procurement practices align with targeted, market-relevant education and training, so equity groups find not just a job for the season, but a career and a lifetime of potential, a move from poverty to prosperity
