Social procurement info session with City November 30

The MHCA and the Winnipeg Construction Association have arranged for an industry meeting November 30 with the City of Winnipeg, to discuss the City’s plans to rollout pilot projects of tenders that contain social procurement requirements.

“We have worked diligently with the City as it prepared its social procurement policy and action plan. Now we are asking industry members to come to hear what kind of clauses will be making their way into heavy construction tenders in the future,” MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc said.

Lorenc discussed the social procurement requirements at the November 9 Board of Directors meeting, among a number of advocacy priorities.

An invitation to the social procurement seminar will be sent soon to the MHCA members. It is important that industry members join in, Lorenc said, so the City hears industry experience and market realities before finalizing the clauses for use in pilot projects, initially, and then construction tenders.

Social procurement requirements will affect HR policies and practices, including hiring. The City’s action plan aims to spread the benefits of its $400-million procurement spending each year to targeted equity groups, including those within Indigenous, women, BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+ and newcomer communities.

 Lorenc also reported on the recent meeting the MHCA and senior Board representatives had with new MTI Minister Lisa Naylor and Deputy Minister Ryan Klos.

The MHCA stressed the need to build upon MTI’s $500-million highways capital program, publish publicly its asset-management plan and adopt an annual and five-year highways capital and water-related infrastructure program.

Other priorities discussed at the Board of Directors meeting included:

• MHCA and senior board representatives met October 23 with Coun. Janice Lukes, Chair of Public Works, regarding a number of issues including the plans to appoint a Chief Construction Officer and the Spec Review Working Group, which will see Public Works and industry representatives discussing, on a formal basis, changing or new roadbuilding specifications
  • there was agreement to call the Winnipeg Road Construction Working Group for a meeting to assess work toward improving procurement and design, and early notice to residents and businesses affected by construction projects
• the All Party Leaders Forum on September 12 which focused on Growing the Economy during the provincial election campaign drew a capacity crowd and garnered significant media attention. All three party leaders committed to investing in trade corridors.
  • the nine business groups hosting the forum have agreed to host annual leaders forums, alternating each year between the Winnipeg Mayor and provincial Premier.
• The MTI Deputy Minister has committed to continuing with the regular highways capital program review with senior departmental and MHCA representatives. The intent is to ensure budget program dollars are fully expended each year.
• The Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan is engaged with federal offices, aiming to see a CTIP acknowledged within the federal 2024-25 budget