Manitoba Municipal Elections: Construction Associations Outline Key Priorities

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As Manitoba prepares for its municipal elections on October 28, construction industry leaders are urging candidates to prioritize economic growth and infrastructure development to support the province's construction sector.

In Manitoba, a total of 137 incorporated municipalities will hold elections on October 28, where eligible voters will choose mayors, reeves, councillors, and school trustees. The outcomes of these elections are anticipated to have significant implications for the construction sector within the province. Felicia Wiltshire, vice-president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA), emphasizes the importance of economic growth as a priority for the next municipal government in Winnipeg. She states, "A growing economy creates jobs, attracts investment, expands the municipal tax base and generates the revenues needed to support the roads, infrastructure, and core services that Winnipeg residents and businesses rely on every day." Wiltshire cautions that the city cannot forge a stronger future by continually increasing the burden on property taxpayers and instead calls for growth in the economic base that sustains the city.
The MHCA has outlined five key priorities for the new administration: first, to establish a chief economic development officer position within the city’s executive leadership; second, to form a working group tasked with reviewing the long-term funding model for local and regional streets; third, to accelerate the incorporation of recycled concrete aggregates into municipal infrastructure projects; fourth, to commit to advancing and funding the Route 90 expansion project; and lastly, to promote the Chief Peguis Trail extension as a critical project for economic development and housing.
Similarly, the Winnipeg Construction Association (WCA) has articulated its own priorities for the incoming mayor and council. WCA president and CEO Darryl Harrison points out three major areas of focus. First, it is essential for the city to finance and execute major projects, including the upgrade of the North End Water Pollution Control Centre and the widening of Kenaston Boulevard (Route 90). Second, Harrison stresses the need for increased efficiency in the building process, particularly for multi-family, commercial, and industrial projects. He notes, "This starts with a more efficient permits department and providing developers with better information regarding wastewater capacity at the neighborhood level. Some areas in Winnipeg lack the necessary underground infrastructure to support increased density, which developers need to be aware of before making investments."
Third, Harrison highlights the importance of the city as a significant purchaser of construction services, advocating for fair procurement practices. He mentions the city’s pilot initiative utilizing standard Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) contract documents, which he views as a positive step towards fairer risk allocation and competitive pricing. Harrison expresses a desire for all city construction contracts to adopt CCDC standards to encourage more local firms to participate in bidding.
The WCA has also posed three critical questions to every candidate for mayor and council: Will you ensure fair procurement for construction services? Will you reform permitting and development services? And will you commit to delivering the essential projects that Winnipeg needs? Harrison indicates that the association has organized a video outlining these priorities, with candidates sharing their responses on the platform TogetherWeBuild.ca.
Jeremy Read, CEO of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation and UWCRC 2.0 Inc., the largest developer in downtown Winnipeg, underscores the necessity for the new administration to prioritize sustainability. He argues against outward expansion of the city’s footprint and advocates for utilizing existing infrastructure. Read also highlights the urgent need for affordable housing, asserting that adequate availability is crucial in combating homelessness.
The issue of homelessness, along with associated challenges such as drug abuse and overdoses, is projected to be a pivotal topic in the upcoming Winnipeg elections. Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, describes Winnipeg as being in crisis, with residents fleeing the city center and development shifting to the suburbs. Some advocate for relocating freight yards to pave the way for affordable housing.
In rural Manitoba, Shawn Wood, executive director of the Construction Association of Rural Manitoba (CARM), stresses the need for towns, cities, and villages to proactively plan their infrastructure and housing to support community growth. Wood points out that rural Manitoba is well-positioned to capitalize on its rich natural resources, particularly in the mining sector. He notes that new mining projects and the influx of families and jobs will exert pressure on local infrastructure, necessitating timely planning to address these challenges.
Wood mentions that CARM has engaged with mayoral candidates in Brandon regarding future project planning, procurement strategies, and development cost charges. He concludes that with proper foresight, the risk of project cancellations can be minimized, and the potential for more competitive bids can be enhanced.

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