MHCA presses for investment plan for highways from MTI
The MHCA, after repeated meeting with senior departmental leadership, has proposed to Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure that a long-term asset management plan be released publicly, similar to the State of the Infrastructure report the City of Winnipeg publishes.
“Such a report is the foundational planning document for responsible management and strategic financial stewardship of our transportation system and core infrastructure,” MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc told the MHCA Board of Directors meeting June 26.
“We assert that the document must be publicly disclosed, so Manitobans can see for themselves what is the shape of the roads, highways, bridges and water structures, how much investment is required to bring the assets to good condition and how the province plans, financially, to make that commitment.”
The board was also informed of the discussions with MTI about the lack of work being seen in tender advertising to date this season. MTI has said that fully 80% of the $500 million highways capital budget has been tendered and awarded.
The tender ad schedules issued since November have also not aligned with industry expectations, with projects being pushed back in tendering on Merx.
MTI says that a significant piece of the 2024 highways budget is from planned and unplanned carryover of projects from last year.
Also relating to provincial advocacy, Lorenc told the Board that MHCA and senior members of the industry met with the deputy ministers of Finance, Economic Development Investment & Trade/Natural Resources and MTI to talk about delays seen in permitting, approvals and locates.
The association stressed that delays in quarry permits and casual leases and to the provision of locates services by utilities risk holding up the start or the completion of projects.
Numerous suggestions were made to the deputies for improving both the communication with the industry and the processing of permits as well as to the method by which locates services are provided in a timely manner. A working group will continue to discuss and review progress.
Other items discussed at the Board included:
- MHCA submitted a letter to Winnipeg Council’s Executive Policy Committee, encouraging it to reject a motion presented by Coun. Russ Wyatt, who requested the City purchase and operate its own portable asphalt plant. The matter was received as information by City Council at its meeting June 27.
- MHCA submitted a letter to EPC, as well, supporting the next step to analyzing the return on investment for improving Route 90, including widening Kenaston Blvd to three lanes both directions between Taylor and Ness Avenues.
- The CCA, at MHCA’s request, is pursuing with local construction associations a proposal to partner with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum in an initiative (2025-2030) to address skills shortages in the industry.
- Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino will name a Construction Industry Wages Act review panel with a mandate to review, update and recommend increases to the minimum wage rates for the construction industry.
