Letter to Manitoba’s MLAs – 60-year-old company moving out of road building

All Manitobans should be concerned that companies with historic presence are downsizing, transitioning out, laying off people because of massive infrastructure budget cuts. Worse, the roughly $9-billion highways & bridges investment deficit – accumulated over decades of neglect – grows exponentially each year, placing a huge burden on taxpayers. 

Strategic investment in core infrastructure – streets, sewer, highways, bridges and structures, water and wastewater distribution systems, land drainage – forms the bedrock of Manitoba’s trade-based economy. Trade generates 53% of Manitoba’s GDP, and roughly 240,000 direct and indirect jobs. Agriculture, mining, manufacturing and exporting, retail, tourism, recreation and more, all rely on transportation to move people to jobs and product to market, to maintain existing economic activity and attract more to grow.

Strategic investment in trade-transportation systems has an impressive rate of economic return. Repeat studies have verified that for every $1 invested in strategic infrastructure between $1.30 and $1.60 is returned to the GDP. (Conf. Board of Canada, 2015; Economic Advisory Council, Federal Government, 2016)

Manitoba’s highways and bridges – our trade transportation system – require a long-term, multi-year plan, managed through a public annual and five-year capital program and backed up by a transparent condition and needs assessment report periodically updated to ensure information currency.

The program should be underpinned by guiding principles – we offer six: Permanent, not ad hoc program; focused first on investments that grow the economy; embraces innovation in every aspect including design, funding and construction; partners with the private sector, the source of ingenuity; funded through a dedicated stream of revenues; and reviewed annually for adjustment and assurance of discipline to purpose.

Manitobans and our industry – its companies, their suppliers, the collective thousands of women and men who make up our workforce and the families they support – all look forward to hearing from you as you enter the election period.

We are interested in hearing and knowing what your plans are to harness the strategic core infrastructure ROI moving forward. How will you be unique to Manitoba and by extension Canada with your vision, your plan, your direction? Why should Manitobans have confidence in your vision, your commitments and your approach?

We encourage you to ensure that strategic infrastructure investment is a key pillar and enabler in your ‘growing the economy’ strategy.

The above will be broadly circulated to the MHCA Board, its past chairs, members of the MHCA and its workforce across Manitoba.

We look forward to your messages well ahead of September 10.

We sincerely respect the sacrifices made by women and men who choose to offer their services to the public through elected office, and so we close by wishing well to each of you.

Best regards,

Chris Lorenc, B.A., LL.B.,

President
Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA), and
Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA)