MHCA acknowledges it is located on Treaty One land and the homeland of the Metis Nation

MHCA Executive Committee congratulates government, eyes infrastructure priorities

The Executive Committee of the MHCA on Wednesday asked that a letter of congratulations be sent to the Progressive Conservative government on its re-election September 10, and set out the priority files for the industry that will be pursued in the coming weeks with the province.

Topping the list is the Quarry Rehabilitation Program, which has been effectively suspended since 2018, when a review was launched by the Mines Branch of Growth, Enterprise and Trade.

While payments of work completed by contractors, and inspected and approved by the branch have begun to flow, there are outstanding invoices yet and contractors are at a loss to understand when full payment will be made by the province, the Executive Committee members were told.

Further, the program itself has been put on hold this year, pending the Auditor General’s review of the branch’s findings.

“We are pressing the department to reinstate the program so rehabilitation of spent pits and quarries can proceed,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said. “This program is vitally important to the communities in which aggregates are sourced because it allows for the return of the land to a state more in line with the environment or in a way the community can use.”

The quarry rehab program is one of a number of items the MHCA was directed to follow up on, now that the government is installed in its offices again.

Other items of concerns are:

  • Pledges the Conservatives made during the election campaign to incrementally increase the investment in Manitoba highways and to produce multi-year budgets for strategic rollout of core infrastructure priorities
  • The Infrastructure minister’s mandate letter focuses on infrastructure investment that spurs private investment and creates jobs.
  • MHCA has prepared a paper called the Elements of a Manitoba ‘Highways & Trade Transportation’ Investment Plan: A key enabling pillar in Manitoba’s economic-growth action planThat document advocates for the formation of an industry-government working group to review and reframe the current model of investment to focus on the greatest economic benefits, and the renewal of Manitoba’s highways and bridges.

The executive also heard that:

  • WCB premiums for the industry-based safety program will be capped at 5 percent, with the remaining revenues for the program to be funded by the WCB. See a fuller article on this topic here.
  • The initiative for a Grade 12 heavy construction introduction program for students at Southeast Collegiate is proceeding
  • A keynote speaker is being confirmed for the MHCA Awards Breakfast and AGM, which takes place at the RBC Convention Centre November 15.

Chair’s Gala

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Close to 650pp attended from both industry, government and stakeholder partners.  It was the closing of Nicole Chabot’s two year term as Chair.  Dennis Cruise of Bituminex Paving was welcomed as the new Chair.

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2022 Heavy Santa

December 16, 2022
David Livingstone School

This event was made possible through fundraising at the MHCA Chair’s Gala and Spring Mixer.

104 goodie bags and presents were prepared for the grades 1-4 students at David Livingstone School. 

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Awards Breakfast & Annual General Meeting

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure (MTI) Award Winner

  • Grading – Strilkiwski Contracting Ltd.: PTH 6 Grahamdale
  • Paving – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PTH 83
  • Urban Works – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PA 634 and Bituminous Pavement PTH 5
  • Special Projects – Mekhana Development Corp/Arnason Industries Ltd: Theresa Point Airport
  • Major Structures – D. Steele Construction: Bridge Replacement over the Red River Floodway on PTH 59N
  • Minor Structures – Moncrief Construction Ltd.: Reinforced concrete box culvert on PTH 5
  • Water Management – Brunet Ltd.: Flood response, Morris ring dike closure

200 members and guests gathered to hear greetings from Premier Heather Stefanson and the newly elected Mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham. Hon. Doyle Piwniuk, Minister, Manitoba Infrastructure, handed out the MTI Awards.

31 companies were recognized for their milestone membership commitments.

Matthew Neziol, of Bayview Construction, received the Safety Leader Award.

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