Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 3 Celebrating 75 GROUNDBREAKING years in 2018 T he Pallister government recently released its final accounts for the 2016 year, and it looks like the big target — the deficit — is getting hit. Getting back to balance will take time, but we're on the road to getting expenditures under control. What about that other bull's-eye? at's the one Premier Brian Pallister drew around the Manitoba economy; growing it is central to his goal of making this the most improved jurisdiction in Canada. How's that faring? Manitoba is humming at projected economic growth of between two and three per cent. at is not bad, but it's not where we want to be, to get employment rates rising and making this province attractive to relocating and expanding businesses, and prospective new citizens. What is Manitoba's economic-growth strategy? It cannot simply be controlling expenditures, beating down deficits, and easing the burden of red tape. It has to be ambitious and focused on return on investment. Time and again, economic analysis has shown that investing in trade, specifically the infrastructure that enables the free flow of people, goods and services, is the key to economic growth. Trade generates 50 per cent of Manitoba's $64-billion GDP each year; it engages 5,200 employers and 240,000 jobs. It is responsible for $3.3 billion in payroll. Provincially, that's 16 per cent of total payroll. Canada is poised for trade growth. Despite the protectionism and tough talk swirling about trade agreements, Canada, especially with the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), has heady prospects for expanding trade ties. As the U.S. pulls back, new opportunity opens for the rest of us — yes, in Mexico but especially in Asia. Other countries are poised to move in; we can't afford to be le behind. at is equally true of Manitoba, working with and competing against other provinces. But Manitoba needs a trade policy, clearly defined with growth targets. Fundamental to that policy is strategic investment in trade corridors, border crossings, development of our inland and marine ports and municipal partnerships, such as in the Capital Region. What we need is a Trade Team Manitoba, to bring together the best minds across the private and public sectors, to identify impediments to commerce and trade, key in on prospective sectors for growth and highlight the infrastructure — new and improved — needed to get trade moving efficiently. Premier Pallister made the right decision to join the New West Partnership. Manitoba is a part of the West, but we must remember it is a trade "gateway" in all four directions — Churchill is this country's sole inland and Arctic deep-sea port, and Emerson sees $18 billion in trade move north and south annually as one of Canada's busiest border crossings. CentrePort Canada has put us on the map; this foreign trade zone is Canada's largest inland port. Manitoba is unique as a trade hub in this country. What would Trade Team Manitoba do? TTM would bring together trade- and export-oriented private interests in Manitoba to collaborate with public bodies and agencies to increase the capacity and raise the profile of Manitoba's commercial interests and industries, through strategic investment in highways, roads, trade-transportation hubs and corridors. Strategic investment in critical transportation assets has a significant, defined return to the economy. e Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, a federal program that strengthened Western Canada's supply chains to booming Asian economies, saw $1.4 billion in federal funding/$3.5 billion of public investment leverage $14 billion in total investment (private and public). e APG&CI, however, saw an uneven distribution of that investment: Fully 60 per cent of the federal funding was invested in British Columbia's transportation facilities. APG&CI is nearing its end; we must ensure Manitoba outlines a plan, identifies projects to qualify now for federal joint funding under the $2-billion National Trade Corridors Fund. Manitoba has lagged behind the country in making use of such federal infrastructure funding agreements. We can't allow this to continue. Trade Team Manitoba would promote projects that raise Manitoba's trade profile, including: • Transportation efficiency: Identifying and supporting strategic investment in key multi-modal infrastructure assets to enhance the productivity and efficiency of the trade transportation network. is means taking the next step to update the network of strategic road and rail links, border crossings as well as inland and marine ports for new and enhanced domestic and global trade opportunities, including with the United States. • Regulatory harmonization: Support for fast-tracking efforts to eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers and to promote harmonization of related regulations. • Foreign investment: Attracting direct foreign investment and increasing exports to leverage new trade agreements, including through CentrePort Canada. • Business opportunities: Leveraging public- and private- sector investment in new and existing business opportunities and jobs. Opportunity awaits. We should be ready to move on it. We need to step up the capacity of our trade-transportation assets so we are ready to move greater volumes of goods to continental and overseas buyers. We should have a Trade Team Manitoba to help design the policy, and strategy, to get it done. ❱❱❱ TIME TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH MANITOBA NEEDS A TRADE STRATEGY B Y C H R I S L O R E N C , P R E S I D E N T , M H C A Chris Lorenc is the president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. MERITMB.COM SUPPORTING MANITOBA ' S HEAVY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. The heavy construction industry plays an integral role in strengthening Manitoba's economic health and growth. It helps build the infrastructure that benefits our industry, it's workers and families. Merit Manitoba is proud to support the same goals. By pooling together the largest group of open shop contractor companies across the province and the country, we can offer the most competitive contractor specific coverage in the industry, passing on plenty of savings to you. CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA For Comprehensive Employee Benefits, Advocacy & Lobby Support, Training & Education Programs, Career Advancement & Promotion, visit us at TRADE TEAM MANITOBA WOULD BRING TOGETHER PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS TO INCREASE CAPACITY AND RAISE THE PROFILE OF MANITOBA'S TRADE ASSETS.

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