The MHCA Executive met October 30th and considered broad policy and industry interest topic areas, some of which are highlighted below.
Infrastructure – A Higher Provincial Priority
The committee heard from the President that while the Premier’s first term was focused on deficit elimination and reduction of the PST along with a myriad of related fiscal matters, the second term appears focused on growing the economy and a heightened priority for infrastructure as an enabler of the growth.
MHCA optimism is bolstered by:
- Preliminary conversations with Minister Schuler – re-appointed to the infrastructure portfolio – with whom the MHCA will have an early meeting. It will include discussing a proposed industry-government working group to review transportation funding strategies going forward.
- The PC platform, related to economic growth policies and infrastructure investment, was remarkably aligned with investment approaches long advocated by the MHCA.
- The government regards economic growth and job creation as a policy imperative that cannot be achieved without strategic long-term investment in core infrastructure, especially our trade-transportation system.
- The PC platform sets out a 10-year strategic capital plan with increased investments in highways incrementally moving to $400 m by 2024; $125-m total additional investment – a start.
- The 10-year strategic capital plan pledge is accompanied by the MHCA called for commitments to release the infrastructure investment deficit for highways and bridges along with the reports compiled by MI of asset conditions and needs.
- Commitment to fully flowing the Highways Capital budget each year or rolling over the program to the following year – another approach long-advanced by the MHCA.
- The strategic investment approach implies identifying projects with the greatest ROI to the GDP, given campaign pledges that speak to dedicated funds for infrastructure projects that stimulate private-sector investment and create jobs.
- The government appears willing to consider a new fiscal deal for municipalities and to prioritize investment in the Capital Region strategic trade-transportation system. This could provide a platform for robust regional development, trade promotion and economic growth.
MI Transitioning Services
The committee heard from representatives from Manitoba Infrastructure related to article 69 in the Premier’s 100-day mandate letter addressing the transitioning of in-house service deliveries into bid or long-term agreement opportunities with the private sector. The discussion was at a very high level with an agreement that further clarification and discussions were required, including the notion of a smaller working group of industry practitioners.
Quarry Rehab Program Renewal
A joint AMM/MHCA letter to Minister Pedersen was emailed on October 4 requesting government convene the Provincial Aggregate Advisory Committee (PAAC) to review and update the rehab standards, extraction levy amount and related adjustments and re-launch the program. The response refers to engaging PAAC in the program review process.
Quarry Rehab Program – Demand for Payment
“The department has sent communication out directly to each of the contractors that have outstanding invoices and is committed to providing more details as they relate to each specific rehabilitation invoice by November 1, 2019” is what the MHCA received in response to its ask of the Minister to expedite payments owing industry for rehab work completed in 2018. The MHCA will continue to monitor payment progress.
Winnipeg Local & Regional Streets/Bridges
The MHCA is seeking clarification on a variety of budget direction topic areas related to the program including:
- budget levels for local and regional streets and how additional revenues streams will be added to fund bridges
- allocation in the 2020 program of the remaining $20 million from the $44 million transferred to Winnipeg last year as a one-time federal gas tax top-up
- status of any discussion with Manitoba related to restoring the traditional 5-year streets funding agreements;
- status of discussion with the federal government to double the federal gas tax contribution and increase them annually by 3.5%
Winnipeg Spec Review
The Winnipeg/Aggregate Producers committees are jointly meeting on October 31 to consider the aftermath of the city’s introduction of new spec for base and subbase and related relationship concerns. This is to be followed by a city hosted meeting on November 7 at which the city will share its perspectives with the MHCA and ACEC-MB.
WORKSAFELY™ – Industry Based Safety Programs (IBSP)- Financial and Program Accountability Discussions
The MHCA/WORKSAFELY™ as part of the IBSP Council is engaged in discussion with the WCB related to framing the new relationship between the WCB and IBSPs. There is strong agreement amongst the IBSPs that WCB’s role must be to champion, support and enable the success of IBSPs failing which the WCB’s ability to achieve workplace injury and cost trend reduction is not possible.
Financial program oversight and the WCB right of and expectation that funds are applied to support safety programs are legitimate and supported. However, the oversight must not result in the WCB effectively micro-managing the ability of IBSPs to deliver what the industry requires.
Leaving program governance, management and oversight in the hands of the IBSP Boards overseeing individual safety programs – a WCB commitment – must be more than just words – it must be the net outcome of agreements between the WCB and IBSPs. The WCB itself must embrace partnership as a matter of its culture.
Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Adopts Major Governance Reforms
The CCA adopted major governance reforms at its September 2019 meetings in Whitehorse. Highlights from within the By-law as adopted include: reducing the Board of Directors from 85 to 20; establishing five Advisory Councils, namely Civil Infrastructure – substantively continues existing Civil Infrastructure Council; General Contractors; Local Construction Associations (LCAs) – essentially continues the Chief Operating Council; Manufacturers, Services and Suppliers; and Trade Contractors. Appointments are based upon individual, not association nominations. Members were encouraged to submit their names for nomination consideration.
The above only highlights some of the many topic areas considered by the MHCA Executive Committee.