MHCA Wins Two Awards at CCA Convention

At the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Annual Convention held March 6-11, 2011, the MHCA received two awards:

CCA Member Association Award of Excellence
The MHCA was presented with the 2010 CCA Member Association Award of Excellence for demonstrating outstanding leadership and excellence in achievements in a number of areas including:

• Successfully promoting sustainable and dedicated investment in core municipal infrastructure, safe and secure surface transportation systems, and strategic infrastructure that platforms new economic investment.
• An earned access and influence with all levels of government.
• Its president initiated and chaired the Mayor’s Trade Council, whose recommendations were instrumental in forming the core strategy from which Canada’s first inland port – CentrePort Canada – emerged.
• Its president chairs the Infrastructure Funding Council which is tasked to develop a comprehensive funding strategy to address the province’s growing municipal infrastructure deficit.
• Its public and government relations have resulted in part in a quadrupling of the Manitoba highways capital program since 2005, and the tabling Manitoba’s first multi-year highways program, underpinned by a 10-year $4 billion investment with targets consistently exceeded, among many other achievements.
• Dedication to enhancing industry safety through its WORKSafely program. Its Certificate of Recognition (COR) Program has resulted in significant reduction in incidents and claims costs.
• Significantly increased membership through a well-developed strategy of personal outreach and ‘touch’ strategies, with a series of brochures, website and one-to-one means of attracting new members to the association.

CCA International Business Award
The MHCA was also presented with the CCA International Business Award which recognizes the outstanding activities, programs or accomplishments of a Canadian-based business or association active in the construction industry in the area of international business or trade.

The MHCA was singled out for being an integral part of the conception and creation of an inland port that will provide businesses with cheaper, faster and more efficient access to the North American marketplace, and help contribute to Canada’s long-term trade competitiveness.

The MHCA and its President were recognized for its leading and collaborative efforts in Manitoba to create and establish CentrePort Canada, Canada’s first inland port in Winnipeg, on 20,000 acres of lands designated to such purposes by provincial legislation which was unanimously adopted by the Manitoba legislature.

This initiative included secured financial commitments approaching $300 million including $212.5 million in federal-provincial funding to build CentrePort Canada Way, a new high speed-expressway linking the inland port to key transportation corridors. In September 2010 CentrePort Canada was named one of the top 100 infrastructure projects in North America by CG/LA Infrastructure for its strategic contribution to long-term competitiveness in North America.

This association, through its President, led the 2008 Winnipeg Mayor’s Trade Council which recommended the creation of the inland port and subsequently participated on the Manitoba Premier’s Leader’s Committee which confirmed the model for the inland port, its location, the infrastructure priorities for supporting trade in and out of the inland port, the marketing strategy to attract new and to expand businesses relying on export activities, and the necessary legislation to make it effective.  Its president serves as a member of the Founding Board of Directors of CentrePort Canada.

CentrePort Canada has emerged as Canada’s first “single window” test-case for international business development and Foreign Trade Zone cumulatively providing businesses with cheaper, faster and more efficient access to the North American and global marketplace through an integrated trade and transportation gateway and corridor.