Ballot being placed in ballot box, with Canadian flag in background
by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

Election 2024

Paving the way for Saskatchewan’s construction future

Ballot being placed in ballot box, with Canadian flag in background
gioiak2/123RF

This was an election year for our province, and for the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA), it’s an opportunity. Elections are a chance to draw attention to significant issues in Saskatchewan’s communities and province. Candidates are busy convincing voters to choose them, and voters are paying attention to decide who to support.

It’s an ideal time to have matters important to the construction industry seriously considered by both. The SHCA board wants all members to know the issues it advocated for during the election campaign and to help add their voices to its calls for change.

There were three primary issues impacting our industry that the SHCA focused on during the lead-up to the 2024 provincial and municipal elections. These issues were chosen by the SHCA’s board because they have the most significant impact on the financial certainty of the industry.

They are:

  • Budget planning and procurement
  • Inflation
  • Labour

What members should know

Before these issues are explained, it’s important for members to understand why the SHCA was active during the election campaign. The SHCA is always working to secure improvements for the construction industry. Members may not see a win every time the SHCA engages with the government, but the SHCA always grows stronger as an association through the effort and collaboration it takes to raise and press an issue. By working together, all members benefit.

Voters should care about the issues raised by the SHCA because the taxes they pay go toward building and maintaining infrastructure. Those taxes should be spent in ways that enhance their quality of life.

The SHCA raised these issues to benefit its members, and also to better the province and the quality of life experienced by those living and working in its communities. That focus helps the industry maintain the respect and appreciation of the public, who politicians must pay attention to if they are to win votes. Addressing these issues strengthens not only the industry, but also contributes to a healthier economy and a growing province that can afford to maintain and improve the quality of life for its residents.

Why voters should care

Voters should care about the issues raised by the SHCA because the taxes they pay go toward building and maintaining infrastructure. Those taxes should be spent in ways that enhance their quality of life.

Ask any voter who lives on a pothole-riddled street if improving that road is worth the local improvement tax they pay. Talk to the Regina resident who uses a filtration system on their tap water because they still have lead pipes, and ask whether replacing those pipes is a good use of public funds. Good underground infrastructure ensures clean drinking water. We saw how quickly underground pipes became a political issue for the City of Calgary this year, and more recently, Montreal faced similar challenges.

Lady in red jacket dropping ballot in box
erika8213/123RF

Taxpayers should also consider what it means when projects are deferred. Taxes will rise to cover them in the future, and inflation has already driven up project costs.

Construction projects such as new libraries and pools often get attention. The federal and provincial governments partially fund these projects, but unlike good roads and water infrastructure, they become a continuing expense for the municipality because they need ongoing maintenance. Meanwhile, residents wait for improvements to the infrastructure needed to meet their basic needs.

Understanding the issues

All three of these issues – budget planning and procurement, inflation and labour – are interconnected.

Budget planning and procurement

Multi-year budget commitments have been a longstanding request from the industry to the provincial government. Budget assurances allow members to better plan the resources required to complete projects. Year-to-year budgeting creates uncertainty, making it difficult for members to invest in equipment, retain quality employees or hire and train new staff. This drives them to consider out-of-province projects that don’t strengthen Saskatchewan’s economy.

Manitoba and Alberta both follow long-term budget planning cycles. Saskatchewan needs to take a close look at what they’re doing right. A five-year budget cycle would be ideal, but even allowing contractors to carry over work from one year to the next would help. Manitoba already allows this, providing contractors with some certainty of spring work.

Supporting the heavy construction industry means voters get what they want, and candidates benefit from the positive outcomes the SHCA and its members can help create.

The time is right for Saskatchewan to closely look at what other provinces are doing. The province has made a commitment to work with Manitoba and Alberta to improve the transportation system and to strengthen the economic corridors that support supply chains when it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with those two provinces in April 2023.

Planning, investment and partnership opportunities with the private sector as well as harmonizing the regulatory environment are some of the key priorities for the three provinces. So too is advocating for federal investment into economic corridors. So far, not much progress has been made on these priorities because elections were held in Alberta and Manitoba after the MOU signing. Now, Saskatchewan has had its own election. The time is right to get serious about this.

Front-end loader
alexraw/123RF

Then there is the release and awarding of work. Contractors need work to be released in September and awarded no later than the end of November for the next construction season. Delays in releasing and awarding contracts adds pressure during the building season.

The SHCA knows of no reason it should now take minimum of five days to award a job that used to be awarded the same day the bids were opened. Most construction projects are standard and are driven by data that SaskBuilds already has. The government has created unnecessary layers of bureaucracy with no advantage to business.

Inflation

Looking at budget planning through the lens of inflation, operational expenses for SHCA members have risen as inflation drives up costs for fuel, materials and labour. Yet, the provincial government’s base capital budget hasn’t been adjusted to reflect today’s realities.

Inflation impacts budget planning when the government fails to properly fund its capital plan to account for the industry’s increased operational costs. This results in fewer projects being tendered, leading to fiercer competition so governments think they are getting sweet deals while it creates increased financial uncertainty for contractors.

Labour

Labour is another critical issue. Training, recruitment and retention within the construction industry are heavily influenced by government decisions. The provincial government needs to acknowledge heavy civil construction as a priority to change how young people view the industry, encouraging them to see it as a career and not just a seasonal job. Reliable funding enables heavy construction employers to build and retain a stable workforce. When funding is unreliable, it leads to a transient workforce.

Manitoba and Alberta both follow long-term budget planning cycles. Saskatchewan needs to take a close look at what they’re doing right.

Saskatchewan also lags in recognizing civil construction as an apprenticeable trade, creating a perception that employment in the industry is less desirable than in other construction sectors. This is despite heavy construction being one of the better-paying sectors in the province, second only to mining. The government could also implement aptitude testing during high school to help identify students interested in a construction career.

Why should elected officials care?

The SHCA expects many of its members will encounter elected officials, and it is providing this information to share with them. It is in the government’s interest to support these calls by the industry. Elected officials need to understand how addressing these issues impacts not only the construction industry, but also the economic growth and quality of life in Saskatchewan. By supporting these changes, they contribute to a stronger tax base through infrastructure development that drives growth and generates revenue.

The construction industry enhances the quality of life for residents through the work the SHCA and its members do. Elected officials should recognize that a partnership with the construction industry will help them deliver on voters’ priorities. People want governments – especially municipal governments – to get back to basics: Provide good roads, clean drinking water and efficient and dependable services such as snow removal and garbage pick-up. All those examples are impacted by the work done by SHCA members.

Supporting the heavy construction industry means voters get what they want, and elected officials benefit from the positive outcomes the SHCA and its members can help create. 

Yellow hard hat
by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

Member Benefits

How to play the game – and win!

Yellow hard hat
kittiyaporn1027/123RF

Football fans know that the view of the game is much different up in the stands compared to what you can see on the sidelines of the field.

Football coaches know this even better. The value of having an eye in the sky to have a view of the entire field can be exactly what some coaches need to figure out a way for their team to win. Having someone in the booth to call plays based on that vantage point can make a big difference in the outcome of their team’s game.

Getting a different view of the field can be advantageous when running a business, too, but that can be easier said than done. Running a business can take up so much time and attention, and it can be hard to find the occasions and resources to get an accurate perspective about what is happening beyond the business.

However, it is crucial for the success of the business to pop your head up, look around and observe, to get a view of what is happening on the field. Seeing beyond what is immediately going on can give the perspective a business owner needs to find solutions to overcome current challenges and recognize issues that are on the way.

The easiest way to get an in-depth view beyond the day-to-day activities of a business is to be a member of an industry association, such as the SHCA. An industry association has a view of the broader industry and more, and is set up to share that outlook with members to help them be more successful.

Industry associations provide important context to their members who are trying to understand and cope with the forces and challenges each of them encounters in business. Those forces and challenges could be understanding evolving customer interests, navigating human resources and labour issues, securing valuable partnerships or any one of the many complex and evolving situations a member might find themselves in.

Getting a team on the field

SHCA members run businesses that are about more than building roads and infrastructure. These businesses contribute to building the economy. Collectively, the businesses that make up the heavy construction industry add more than $6 billion to Saskatchewan’s gross domestic product, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and providing $1.5 billion of income.

These figures come from the most recent economic impact analysis that was done by Praxis for the SHCA. Research like this benefits the industry and members by establishing the scale and significance of the work they are doing.

Collectively, the businesses that make up the heavy construction industry add more than $6 billion to Saskatchewan’s gross domestic product, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and providing $1.5 billion of income.

Research lends added credibility to members’ interests and experiences, but it also serves customers of the industry by helping them better understand it and the businesses that form it. Other research, such as collecting and analyzing data that can help the industry come up with answers and propose influential solutions for major economic challenges, is also important.

An example of this was the work done to produce the Canada West Foundation (CWF) report titled From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy: The Path to a National Trade Infrastructure Plan for the Next Generation of Economic Growth. That work was done through a collaboration between the Canada West Foundation and the Western Canada Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA), along with other national industry associations and business organizations.

Having access to the major leagues is possible through a membership with the SHCA. Becoming an SHCA member auto­matically provides an integrated membership to the WCR&HCA as well as the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), both of whom were a part the Shovel Worthy report and advocacy.

Getting in the game

The Shovel Worthy report was developed to get it in front of and be seriously considered by the federal and provincial governments as a plan for how Canada can return to its place in the top 10 of global trade infrastructure rankings, which is needed to restore the confidence of Canada’s trade customers.

Getting in the game and playing the best game possible is more likely when one deeply understands the sport. All governments have competing interests and concerns that must be addressed, as well as their own policy priorities. They have a process for advancing priorities and those who can best engage in the process will have their voices heard. Those who choose not to engage will have no say in decisions that could fundamentally impact their ability to do their job.

Panel of people on stage
Photo courtesy of SHCA

There is more success to be found playing as a team than going solo. The SHCA brings a voice on behalf of its members to key stakeholders and decision-makers. The association advocates on behalf of members who in turn benefit when their businesses grow.

The SHCA currently has several active working groups with the Ministry of Highways and the Water Security Agency, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, including: the Roadway Technical Committee, the Contract and Specification Committee, the Safety Committee, the Best Value Procurement Committee, the Bridge Construction Committee, the Urban Committee, the Rural Committee, and the Sand and Gravel Committee.

The SHCA has also been on the board of the Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance, where the association joins the ranks of the major Crowns as well as major mining and development companies. The SHCA also participated on the board of directors for the Saskatchewan Center of Excellence of Transportation and Innovation at the University of Saskatchewan. Once a year, the SHCA also meets with the federal members of parliament to talk about the importance of infrastructure on a national level.

Learning the sport

There are also opportunities for players to learn to play at a higher level and find more opportunities to put points on the board. Each player in the game is going to perform better when they dedicate themselves to learning the sport. This begins with knowing the most current information and status of government regulations, specifications and legislative changes affecting the industry.

The SHCA provides all current members with updates with the most recent information available. Delivered daily are e-news and tender information notifications. These notifications include information about the association events, news updates and technical notices for all members.

Strong players know who is who and what is what when it comes to their sport. The SHCA produces a popular rental rate guide, which is the definitive reference tool used by both the user and purchasers of SHCA’s members’ services. This guide can be accessed electronically, which makes it even more useful. While it comes out annually, the SHCA knows people are using it daily to inform and connect them to the people and services they require.

At least five times a year, members are invited to gather and network with others in the industry. At these events, such as the annual general meeting and the new Infrastructure Summit, speakers share valuable knowledge and viewpoints that will help members as they consider and conduct their own business. Each year, the calibre of speakers and events keep increasing.

Think BIG also continues to be a great tool for getting the industry’s messages out to the people and government. Through this publication, the SHCA promotes their vision, mandates and services, providing members with information related to what’s happening not only in Saskatchewan, but around the world.

Between Think BIG issues, the association’s social media accounts keep members and the public up to date about the latest industry developments. Follow SHCA’s Facebook and LinkedIn accounts to be notified about training opportunities and events, and see the industry and the people working in it celebrated.

Being a member also provides access to networking opportunities. At least five times a year, members are invited to gather and network with others in the industry. At these events, such as the annual general meeting and the new Infrastructure Summit, speakers share valuable knowledge and viewpoints that will help members as they consider and conduct their business. Each year, the calibre of speakers and events keep increasing.

It is important to consider who else attends these events. The SHCA has formal opportunities to listen to and be heard from, such as the panel of guests hosted from SaskBuilds, Priority Sask and the Ministry of Highways at SHCA’s 2024 spring meeting to talk about capital budget planning and procurement.

There are informal opportunities as well. Governments and key stakeholder groups often have their representatives attend SHCA events, such as the annual industry summit, giving members an opportunity to meet and casually discuss their interests.

Developing players

High-performing players also need to be strongly skilled and well-conditioned. That is where education and training come into the picture in helping members become high performers. The SHCA works with those who develop and provide education and training opportunities, so members and their employees have the skills and knowledge they need to be at the top of their game.

For example, the SHCA collaborates with the Asphalt Institute, which provides full days of training, such as the paving inspector certification session. Ministry of Highways officials have attended those sessions to explain why the ministry is making such training a mandatory requirement for paving crews working on their projects.

Think BIG also continues to be a great tool for getting the industry’s messages out to the people and government. Through this publication, the SHCA promotes their vision, mandates and services, providing members with information related to what’s happening not only in Saskatchewan, but around the world.

Watch SHCA’s social media to learn of upcoming opportunities to participate in training sessions. In June, SHCA’s sessions provided information and insight into procurement and contracting, contract law and risk management as well as Construction 101, which is training for introducing people interested in construction to the industry.

The SHCA also shared and supported opportunities for longer training courses to qualify people for careers in the industry. For example, there is the 36-week Heavy Equipment & Truck & Transport Technician Certificate program available through Southeast College in Estevan, which gives participants basic training in two high-demand mechanical trades at the same time as a heavy-duty equipment technician or transport mechanic.

To continue to develop players, coaches must keep adding people to the roster. They must send the message to those not yet in the game that they would enjoy playing and be welcomed onto the team. The SHCA actively encourages people to consider careers in the industry, working to demonstrate that heavy construction is a viable option for women, new Canadians and others who may wonder if they are a fit.

Practice how you play: how members can get make the most of their membership

How you practice is how you play. Approaching practice as an opportunity to strategically develop technically, mentally and socially will prepare SHCA members to play a stronger game. The benefits and resources offered by the SHCA empower members to stay competitive, adapt to industry changes and thrive in their market.

Those who are in business know they must invest money, time and energy to give the business the best chance at success. Investing time and effort to participate in what the association has to offer will also return a result.

There are many functions and services provided to the membership. Several have already been described, but another to take note of is SHCA’s affinity program. There are several opportunities for members to benefit from discounts on office supplies, work site supplies, shipping services, tires, and access to communication services and meeting facilities.

However, for the association to be as strong as it can be, members need to be active, engaged and involved. It takes a strong team to come together to bring forward ideas and information to formulate plans and put them into action. It requires people showing up in person to engage with one another to build the relationships needed to advance the industry’s interests.

Silhouettes of men in hardhats on construction site with setting sun in background
by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

The Industry Beyond Road Building

What falls under the category of heavy construction?

Silhouettes of men in hardhats on construction site with setting sun in background
pramotephotostock/123RF

Highways, roads and parking lots are just a portion of the list of infrastructure being built by the heavy construction industry, which means there is a significant opportunity for the SHCA to grow its membership.

The SHCA is over 200-members strong, but there are more businesses out there that the association would like to reach and welcome. Broadening the scope of members to represent businesses in all aspects of the industry will help build more connections in heavy construction, which is necessary to ensure the continued vitality of the association.

The board of the SHCA as well as its president, Shantel Lipp, are discussing the opportunity that exists to grow the membership. They are interested in hearing from businesses about the value of their SHCA membership, and are determining how to broaden and promote the appeal of being a SHCA member.

When a new commercial or industrial site needs to be prepared and excavated, that falls within heavy construction. So does the construction of sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Being clear about the types of work being done by those in the industry will be important to be able to attract and represent a broader membership.

To identify what types of businesses form the heavy construction industry, the association looks to Statistics Canada information as well as the road construction and earthwork rate code used by the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.

Dirt, gravel, concrete and asphalt often come to mind with heavy construction, but what about water, trees, air and more? There is work around water infrastructure, such as dams, irri­gation structures, hydro-electric and water diversion tunnels, water and sewer lines, water drainage and irrigation ditches, minor bridges and ice harvesting, all of which is considered heavy construction.

Logging and silviculture operations as well as businesses in landscaping, tree trimming, park development, tree thinning, compost, land reclaiming and lawn sprinkler installation are all within the WCB R code that classifies heavy construction. Land clearing, brush cutting and stumping are in there too, as are peat moss production and hauling.

Airports and airfields are another type of project done by heavy construction companies. There are those using cats and bobcats to do dirt work as well as backhoes to excavate cellars, basements and foundations. Those who work in gravel – crushing, hauling and stockpiling it – as well as claypits would qualify as well.

Then there are wires, pipes, cables tanks and more that is underground to think about. Trenching for wire conduits, plowing and directional drilling to install cable line falls into this code. Horizontal or augering services and boring services do too, as does septic tank installation. Pipeline construction, including gas lines and maintenance, repair, testing and stringing is heavy construction. Powerline and telephone line construction, maintenance and removal (other than the provincial government and SaskPower) qualify too.

Painting roads and parking lots falls in the WCB’s R code, as does maintaining, sanding and scarifying parking lots and roads. Equipment rental and incidental maintenance with operators, including cranes, as well as pneumatic concrete pumping and mudjacking are in the code too.

Moving buildings and shredding tires might not be obvious, but they are a part of heavy construction. Corral and feed lot cleaning as a business, as well as manure spreading, mowing of the right of way and custom rock picking are there too. So is railway construction and removal.

The SHCA is member-driven, so even before these future members have joined, their interests are being considered so the association can provide the best representation, advocacy and services to the industry as a whole. These future members can be located anywhere in Saskatchewan and can be large or small companies.

Those who are looking for an association to join to find someone to represent their interests, advocate for them and offer services that benefit their business are invited to contact the SHCA to learn more about how the association can benefit them and to share what they would like to gain from being part of an industry association. 

Infrastructure Summit 2023
by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

How Trade and Transportation Infrastructure Intersect in Canada’s Economic Growth Strategy

Infrastructure Summit 2023

There is growing pressure on the federal government ahead of its next budget to recognize the need to plan and invest in trade infrastructure to grow Canada’s economy. 

Advocacy work initiated by the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) has strong momentum. Several national groups dedicated to trade, business, construction, manufacturing and more joined it to form a coalition that is pressing politicians across the country to take this need seriously. Premiers of provincial and territorial governments have confirmed they are on board. 

That need for planning and investment and the effort to have it recognized by the federal government was discussed during a panel discussion held the first day of the SHCA 2023 Infrastructure Summit & Trade Show. Titled  “How Trade and Transportation Infrastructure Intersect in Canada’s Economic Growth Strategy,” the panel brought together representatives of some of those groups in the coalition – John Law, senior fellow with Canada West Foundation and co-author of From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy: The Path to a National Trade Infrastructure Plan for the Next Generation of Economic Growth, Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and Chris Lorenc, president of the WCR&HCA.

They were joined by two deputy ministers from the Saskatchewan government, Kyle Toffan of the Ministry of Highways and Jodi Banks of the Ministry of Trade and Export. Opening and moderating the panel was Gary Mar, president of Canada West Foundation. He says broadly speaking there is infrastructure Canadians want, such as parks. There is infrastructure Canadians need, which includes hospitals and schools. Then there is infrastructure that creates wealth that allows a country to be able to afford the other types of infrastructure. 

Two-thirds of Canada’s GDP depends on trade, which relies on trade and transportation infrastructure. Mar says this reality is not lost on Canada’s premiers. What Canadians produce must be moved to ports to be shipped out of country for Canada to be able to participate in trade. The important role trade infrastructure plays in Canada’s economy and its future growth is expressed in the Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy report authored by Law. In his brief overview of the report, he explained that Canada depends on road, rails, airports, bridges and other forms of trade infrastructure to get products to market. 

“Every country needs good quality trade and transportation infrastructure, but it matters more for Canada,” said Law. “It matters to the extent of being three times more important to Canada from a GDP perspective than it is for the United States, for example, who are not only our major trading partner, but also our major competitor.”

The U.S. has paid significant attention to its infrastructure with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act being passed, which the White House calls a “once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness.” This legislation will drive forward the rebuilding of American roads, bridges and rails, strengthening supply chains by improving the country’s ports, airports, rails and roads to grow its economy “sustainably and equitably.”  Law says that level of attention and investment is being made by other countries Canada competes against in trade as well.

“Our argument in the Shovel Ready report is that we need something that is not simply focussed on short-term, but rather is a long-term permanent solution for how we do this,” said Law. 

Housing is the federal government’s current infrastructure priority, as evidenced by its 2023 Fall Economic Statement, Van Buren says. There are plans in motion to change the federal Department of Infrastructure to the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, which Van Buren says is a “very strong signal” of the Liberal government’s focus. She says there is acknowledgement of the civil infrastructure that must be developed to support new housing, but she says there is a need to advocate for the federal government to recognize that trade-enabling infrastructure is a benefit to all Canadians. 

Working together is necessary when advocating for change, Lorenc says, citing a proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

“No matter where you are in Canada, goods and services have to move out and we also need them to come in,” said Van Buren. “We’re working hard [with the other organizations] to make sure that trade-enabling infrastructure is on the table. We want a balanced approach. We can’t just put all of our money now into housing. We have to also look at trade-enabling infrastructure as well as community infrastructure.”

Banks and Toffan spoke about Saskatchewan’s focus on trade and transportation, with Banks highlighting the Saskatchewan Growth Plan and the work being done by her ministry to tell Saskatchewan’s story to the world and encourage trade to strengthen the provincial economy. “We have a huge amount of gross domestic product that depends on trade infrastructure,” said Toffan. “Saskatchewan has been doing about $37 billion in trade a year through and we have targets to grow that. That means more transportation infrastructure, not less.”

He outlined the challenges and opportunities from the perspective of the Ministry of Highways, including reduced federal funding of infrastructure, strained capacity in all areas of the supply chain to develop more infrastructure, rising costs due to inflation, the impact of carbon tax and insufficient national trade and transportation planning, as well as geopolitical considerations that can impact the quantity of resources, such as potash, that are needed by other nations. 

Toffan also touched upon the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on economic borders signed by Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba in April 2022. The key priorities of the three provinces are planning, investment and partnership opportunities with the private sector as well as harmonizing the regulatory environment, but elections held in Alberta and Manitoba since the signing have significantly slowed progress. Advocating for federal investment into economic corridors is another priority. 

“If Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba can find three or four quick wins, some really big-ticket items that need investment, we’ll have a much better chance at getting investment than if we went at it alone, so we are trying to figure out a way to coordinate that as well,” said Toffan. 

Infrastructure Summit 2023

He says some judge major investments in infrastructure projects that are expected to serve the province for 100 years after just two to three years of operation, which is short-sighted. “These investments are being made for our kids, our grandkids, and our great grandkids, no different than the investments made in the 1800s and early 1900s,” said Toffan. “We have to think differently about these investments. They are nation-building and they have the opportunity to unlock all kinds of economic potential.”

Working together is necessary when advocating for change, Lorenc says, citing a proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” He says the three provinces signing the MOU is an important example of that. Successful advocacy work includes patience, principles, commitment, a stated purpose and resources. It is also important to understand your audience and harness public opinion. The message you deliver must be tailored to meet their needs, Lorenc says, otherwise they have very little appetite to listen. Going where voters are and gently persuading them to see your point of view is also necessary. 

Getting to this point of a coalition of like-minded organizations coming together to deliver a shared message to politicians, and having the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan (CTIP) developed to present them, has taken about four years of advocacy work. It started when representatives of the WCR&HCA met with Van Buren to discuss the need for research related to trade and transportation. That is when Canada West Foundation was approached about developing a report, which Law authored. It was released in May 2022. 

The next groups to be approached were the Business Council of Canada, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. They were asked to be part of a nation-building exercise that recognizes that two-thirds of Canada’s GDP is trade dependent and that three billion jobs coast to coast are sustained by this trade activity. It was pointed out that Canada’s reputation as a trading partner has fallen and needs repair to ensure Canada stays competitive and is viewed as a reliable trading partner. As a nation, Canada produces more than it consumes, and it must be moved to market. All of those principles along with the contents of Law’s report were used to develop CTIP.

CTIP urges the Council of the Federation to pursue a federally-leveraged, nation-building plan to revitalize Canada’s trade-enabling infrastructure to support sustained economic growth and expand and diversify Canada’s global trade profile.  It says Canada should adopt globally recognised best practices and harness recommendations flowing from the Shovel Ready report to “usher in an era of long-term, predictable and high-value investments in Canada’s trade infrastructure.”

“These investments are being made for our kids, our grandkids, and our great grandkids, no different than the investments made in the 1800s and early 1900s.”

– Kyle Toffan, Ministry of Highways

The process of getting this plan to the federal government began in January 2023 with a meeting with then-premier of Manitoba, Heather Stefanson, who was serving as chair of the Council of the Federation, which is made up of all 13 provincial and territorial premiers in Canada. She was presented CTIP and asked to support and champion it at a July meeting of the council. She agreed to that request.

At that July meeting, there was unanimous support for CTIP from the premiers who explicitly endorsed its principles. They urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to convene a First Ministers’ Meeting dedicated to the linked priorities of competitiveness and strategic infrastructure. The next premier to take over as chair of the council was Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston, who sent a letter in August to Trudeau reminding him of that request. It was again repeated in fall 2023. At the same time, meetings have been held with federal opinion leaders, deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers across the country, organized and led by the coalition of organizations behind CTIP (Business Council of Canada, Canada West Foundation, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, CCA, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Civil Infrastructure Council Corporation and the WCR&HCA).

Lorenc says the objective of those meetings is to push for the 2024 federal budget to include an announcement of an investment that is sustained, predictable, incremental and driven through a lens of the return on investment to the GDP and nation-building. This would not be an investment based on per capita requirements, but rather one that looks at what the country needs to develop and enhance a strategic trade-enabling infrastructure network that will result in growth and wealth generation. 

“That is advocacy at work. No single entity can do it on its own,” said Lorenc. “Saskatchewan can’t do what you heard the deputy minister speak to on its own. It has an MOU with two colleague provinces. Western premiers can’t do it individually. They meet as Western premiers. Provincial and territorial premiers can’t do it individually on their own. They do it through the Council of the Federation. Heavy construction associations, business organizations, manufacturers and exporters, rail, air, you pick your industry, can’t do it on their own, but together we can go further make a significant contribution to building this country. That’s what this advocacy is all about.” 

SHCA 2023 Infrastructure Summit
by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

SHCA 2023 Infrastructure Summit

SHCA is excited to spearhead the first-ever industry summit for Saskatchewan, which will bring together contractors, suppliers, engineers, government officials and other professionals to focus on infrastructure and transportation.

The summit will be made up of industry education sessions, an innovative trade show and networking opportunities spread over the course of two days on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, 2023, at the Delta Hotel & Convention Centre in Regina. Speakers will deliver insights and knowledge on a variety of topics. The event will wrap up with industry awards and a banquet. It is an opportunity to broadly see the importance and impact of the heavy construction industry within and beyond Saskatchewan, while deepening knowledge and insight about infrastructure, equipment, labour needs, projects, investment and much more.

“The Infrastructure Summit is important to members of SHCA because it will provide education sessions that will make us better builders,” said Shantel Lipp, SHCA president. “Projects are becoming more complex, technology is changing and communication – or more importantly how we communicate – has become more important than ever before.”

Technological advancements within the industry will be highlighted through technical sessions across a broad sector of industry applications. There will be opportunities to learn more about the production and processing of materials, as well as troubleshooting asphalt plants and greener ways of paving. Attendees can expect to see virtual reality being used to attract young people to the heavy construction sector as well as to conduct safety training.

It is an opportunity to broadly see the importance and impact of the heavy construction industry within and beyond Saskatchewan while deepening knowledge and insight about infrastructure, equipment, labour needs, projects, investment and much more.

The Brandt Group of Companies, Gerry Huber, Wirtgen Group, Water Security Agency, Asphalt Institute, SMS Equipment, SaskPower, Cenovus Energy and Women of Asphalt will all be sharing valuable information on many different topics. They will cover cold in place recycling, intelligent compaction, asphalt volumetrics, balanced mix design, artificial intelligence advancements in road building equipment, new technology in tack coats, flood mitigation, the future of carbon capture and mining, and the inclusion and retention of women in the industry.

The summit will also offer personal as well as professional development opportunities. Speakers include Pamela Barnum, who will describe how to unlock the code of non-verbal communication. There will be a presentation by Mark Nesbitt, who will discuss creating the next generation of construction leaders. Also speaking is Bob Vaughan, who will cover projects becoming more complex and how to create a culture of success.

A panel discussion on harnessing trade to grow Canada’s economy will bring together Gary Mar, president of Canada West Foundation (CWF), Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association, and Chris Lorenc, president of the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA). They have all been involved in a coalition of national organizations that also includes the Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

This coalition came together through the development of a report by the CWF titled, “From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy: The Path to a National Trade Infrastructure Plan for the Next Generation of Economic Growth.” The WCR&HCA helped initiate the report, but it has been endorsed by numerous associations and organizations concerned with the current level of investment, the lack of co-ordination and planning on a long-term strategy, and the state of the federal trade corridors fund. This coalition is approaching the three orders of government to advocate for a national building strategy that would invest in Canada’s trade corridors, enabling and harnessing trade-based economic growth.

This summit will feature numerous speakers who offer knowledge and insights they have developed through decades of professional experience and relationship building. They are sharing these insights to strengthen attendees’ abilities to navigate relationships and challenges to achieve greater success.

Topics such as the role of infrastructure in trade relationships and the need for long-term investment in infrastructure to seize opportunities and grow trade to benefit the economy are why this event will be of value to more than SHCA members. It is another opportunity to deliver the message to all who are invited that funding to develop and maintain infrastructure can deliver a return when there is a strategy for investment. “This summit is important for the government because for decades the private sector has been asking for a long-term, permanent plan,” said Lipp. “Business investment grows when our industry is allowed to build, and the prairie provinces are Canada’s export leaders.”

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in April by Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta is aimed at strengthening the economic corridors between the three provinces, but that too is a chance to do more.

“The importance of the prairie provinces signing an MOU to open up trade corridors is an opportunity for growth because we know that supply chains don’t stop at the provincial borders,” said Lipp. “While this memorandum is a step in the right direction, SHCA continues to encourage the government of Saskatchewan to look at long-term funding commitments similar to Manitoba and Alberta. Long-term commitments will help the industry plan for future growth, which will contribute to meeting the goals set out in the memorandum,” said Lipp.

Those goals include improving the efficiency of inter-provincial highway and rail networks, encouraging the federal government for infrastructure funding and national supply chain solutions, keeping these provinces’ economies competitive, growing capital investment and harmonizing regulations to support businesses, industries and shippers. An agenda for the summit and more details will be released as the date of the event gets closer. As with all SHCA events, please visit saskheavy.ca and check under the Events section of the website to find details about this event, including how to register.

SHCA 2023 Infrastructure Summit Speakers

Like many of the events hosted by SHCA, the first-ever industry summit for Saskatchewan will offer opportunities to learn and grow by featuring speakers who deliver valuable perspectives. Events are held by SHCA to help develop and strengthen the voice of the association. Gathering to share experiences, ideas and suggestions helps members recognize and realize improvements and opportunities. It is also how members can find and form the connections that make their businesses and this industry better.

On an individual level, these events are also an opportunity for members to access personal as well as professional development opportunities that will benefit them in their own businesses and careers. This summit will feature numerous speakers who offer knowledge and insights they have developed through decades of professional experience and relationship building. They are sharing these insights to strengthen attendees’ abilities to navigate relationships and challenges to achieve greater success.

Pamela Barnum

Pamela Bernum

The first speaker is Pamela Barnum, who will describe how to unlock the code of non-verbal communication. She is a trust strategist and body language expert who developed her skills and insights during her years as an undercover police officer and federal prosecuting lawyer.

While in graduate school, Barnum studied corporate negotiations and applied those skills to the non-verbal communication techniques she learned over two decades while working in the criminal justice system. In her presentations, she teaches others how to detect deception and interpret non-verbals cues in their personal and professional lives.

Those eager to know what she has to share can get a sneak peek by watching her TEDx Talk, “What Drug Dealers Taught Me About Trust.”

Mark Nesbitt

Another presenter will be Mark Nesbitt, who will discuss creating the next generation of construction leaders. Nesbitt is the founder of Nesbitt Training and is an active member of the aggregate community with 30 years as a veteran in the aggregate, mining, trucking and construction industry. He has fostered a passion for helping people develop a multitude of personal and professional assets as they strive to grow and improve upon themselves. He dedicated himself to not only his own development as a leader, but also to assisting his fellow peers in the industry.

By attending leadership seminars and additional alternate training sessions, not only did Nesbitt develop a well-rounded perspective of leadership practices, but he also identified a key component frequently missed by most training and leadership programs – valuable background knowledge and subject matter directly pulled from industry experience. Nesbitt knows the mining and construction industry is composed of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, and he is able to accommodate all of those involved given his unique collection of experiences and topical relatability.

Nesbitt knows that most industries today desperately need employees who can better their company and ensure its success into the future. Through Nesbitt Training, he is able to help companies establish better legacy knowledge practices and operational processes, as well as improve team leadership and communication skills. He wants to help everyone learn to be a valued member of a top professional team.

Bob Vaughan

Also speaking is Bob Vaughan, who will cover projects becoming more complex and how to create a culture of success. Vaughan has more than 25 years of experience in organizational effectiveness, change management and performance improvement in the private and public sectors in North America, South America, and Europe.

Vaughan will share the lessons he has learned from conducting over 100 workshops on alliance, partnering and culture for success that can be applied to project management. Today’s projects are more complex, with multiple owners, multi-discipline consultants and several sub-contracts. Everyone has good intentions to finish the projects on time and on budget, but there are many misaligned goals and miscommunications. Those who have heard Vaughan speak appreciate his quick wit, intelligence and the street smarts that come from having both entrepreneurial and business experience. He is comfortable working in both the executive boardroom and the shop floor, and his speaking style demonstrates that.

He is with Bob Vaughan and Associates (BVA), an international consulting firm providing leadership training, business coaching, partnering sessions and strategic planning to mining, heavy equipment, construction, health care and other industries. Prior to forming BVA, Vaughan was the manager of quality improvement for Finning Canada. He was responsible for employee engagement, customer experience and process improvement. He led leadership training and partnering sessions with Finning’s employees and customers in North America, Chile, and England.

Vaughan has worked with the boards of directors for the BC Road Builders & Heavy Construction Association and the Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, plus many member companies over the last 20 years. He has conducted partnering sessions on many of B.C.’s and Alberta’s most significant road-building projects, including Northwest Anthony Henday in Edmonton, Alta., Kicking Horse Canyon Project in Golden, B.C., and South Fraser Perimeter Road in Vancouver, B.C.

Barnum, Nesbitt and Vaughan are among many speakers at the summit who represent several different types of organizations including equipment dealers, government agencies, trade associations and more. They will be delivering information on a variety of topics, including cold in place recycling, how to use intelligent compaction, asphalt volumetrics, balanced mix design, AI advancements in roadbuilding equipment, new technology in tack coats, flood mitigation, the future of carbon capture and mining, and the inclusion and retention of women in the industry.

More details on these speakers, their sessions and how to register for the first-ever industry summit will be available on the SHCA website under the Events section. 

Saskatchewan's Transportation network supports provincial economy
by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

Saskatchewan’s Transportation Network Supports Provincial Economy

Safe, reliable transportation infrastructure is not just “nice to have” in Saskatchewan, but it’s how our province competes in the global market, ensuring the people of the province enjoy a high quality of life. 

That message was delivered by Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill when he spoke at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s Business Conference in May. His presentation, “Transportation: Sharing Saskatchewan’s Food, Fuel and Fertilizer with the World,” explained what was contained in the latest budget to develop that transportation infrastructure and how earlier commitments had been fulfilled. 

Saskatchewan’s transportation infrastructure allows it to meet the world’s needs by safely and efficiently shipping our commodities from agriculture, mining and forestry to the world at competitive rates. Saskatchewan ships to 165 countries around the world and in 2021, the province exported a record $37 billion in goods, Cockrill explained.

Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill
Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill

He said his government recognizes the need for shippers to have timely and predictable access to markets, and that most of what is produced here travels south to the U.S., east to Manitoba or west to B.C., making our relationships with other provinces vital. A memorandum of understanding between Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba was signed in April to strengthen economic corridors that support our supply chains. “Our cooperation makes Canada better,” said Cockrill. 

The MOU commits the provinces to investing in and joining solutions to improve highways and rail networks, he said. The three provinces will cooperate to encourage the federal government for infrastructure funding and national supply chain solutions and harmonize regulations to support businesses, industries and shippers.

Growth is his government’s “north star,” said Cockrill, and that growth benefits all in the province. He said his government has its books in order and was able to retire $1 billion in debt when other governments have not because of the bounty Saskatchewan is fortunate to enjoy.  Cockrill also highlighted what the latest provincial budget contained for investment in Saskatchewan’s transportation network, saying it is about more than kilometres of highway. It’s about what that network means to the people, businesses and communities of the province. 

The transportation network includes Saskatchewan’s 26,000 kilometres of highways, but also bridges, culverts, ferries, ice roads, gravel roads and more. Then, there are the municipal networks operated by municipalities. The province’s transportation network is “an incredible asset” built by the people of the province, said Cockrill, including the men and women who work for the Ministry of Highways who are very proud of how they contribute to that network connecting people and goods. He said they work hard every day to make that network safe, efficient, reliable and sustainable. 

The $422 million his ministry is investing in capital projects this budget will support economic growth and that benefit flows to all in the province, Cockrill said. The overall capital budget is smaller than previous years because a two-year stimulus program that saw the province release $300 million in new highways projects ended in 2022. That stimulus program saw investments in hundreds of kilometers of thin-membrane surface highways, numerous highway passing lanes, community airports and more. 

Cockrill referenced Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan, saying his government is now in the fourth year of that plan, which committed the government to improving 10,000 kilometres of highways over a decade. After this year, it will be ahead of schedule, Cockrill said.

Saskatchewan’s transportation infrastructure allows it to meet the world’s needs by safely and efficiently shipping our commodities from agriculture, mining and forestry to the world at competitive rates. Saskatchewan ships to 165 countries around the world and in 2021, the province exported a record $37 billion in goods.

Major projects this budget invests in include beginning construction of twinning projects near Rowatt and Corinne on Highways 6 and 39 between Regina and Weyburn. There is the construction of passing lanes and widening of Highway 5 from Saskatoon to Highway 2 and planning for construction that will extend twinning on Highway 5 east of Saskatoon to support traffic going to BHP’s new facility. Upgrades are being made to Highway 15 east of Kenaston between Highways 11 and 2. Then, there is the planning for the third phase of the Saskatoon Freeway functional study. 

Safety is a major focus of work being done by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure. Cockrill pointed out that it has been five years since a bus carrying members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team was struck by a semi-trailer, killing 16 people and injuring 13. After that incident, an engineering review was completed, resulting in 13 recommendations to improve safety at the intersection of Highways 35 and 335, where the crash occurred. Work to implement all those recommendations will be completed this year.

Other intersections and road safety matters also got attention and investment at the conference. This year, the government will have fulfilled its commitment to spend $100 million over five years to work on turning lanes, streetlights, flashing warning lights, rumble strips, crosswalks and sightline improvements. This work often had a big impact on communities, Cockrill said. Other contributions to improving safety include spending millions on pavement marking, increasing the budget for signs and ditch mowing. 

Almost $63 million will be spent to repair and rebuild bridges and replace over 100 culverts across Saskatchewan. Major bridge projects include replacing the Montreal River Bridge on Highway 2 in the La Ronge area as well as rebuilding the Highway 6 bridge over the Ring Road at the south end of Regina. 

Cockrill encouraged those present at the conference to learn from an example out of Moosomin for “how to get stuff done” in the province. Moosomin’s airport needed improving so the air ambulance could land on the runway, which was too short. So, patients were being transferred by ambulance to Virden, Man., where Saskatchewan’s air ambulance could land. 

Many residents from the Moosomin area worked together to stay in contact with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure office to explain their situation. A partnership was formed in the area between various municipalities as well as a local employer, Nutrien, which the province joined to provide $1.3 million to extend the runway. 

Cockrill encouraged communities and regions who have a project to discuss with government to contact him about their concerns to make him aware of the opportunity to meet. He said this budget provided urban municipalities $6.6 million and rural municipalities $15 million to support their transportation needs. 

Cockrill spent some time explaining the investment being made in northern Saskatchewan and its significance. He said this budget invests $89.4 million to build, operate and maintain the transportation system in northern Saskatchewan, including gravel road improvements on Highway 924 northeast of Green Lake and continuing to work on Saskatchewan’s portion of the Garson Lake Road. A one-time investment of $6 million for gravel work and brush clearing supports the northern population and the province’s forestry industry, which Cockrill said is an important sector for the province that is poised to grow because of private investment. 

He said because the provincial highway network is the largest per capita in the country, the ministry must maximize how long those assets are in use. There is 230 kilometres of repaving to be done all over the province and other work is being done to more than 600 kilometres to extend the life of those highways, Cockrill said.

The growth Cockrill sees in the province is exciting and investing in infrastructure is an important factor in that growth. The economic prosperity has allowed the government to invest in twinning highways, safety improvements and northern roads while providing support for municipalities – all while paying down the provincial debt. The growth is attracting people to locate in Saskatchewan, Cockrill said, because of the province’s opportunities and affordability. 

Cockrill and Prabha Ramaswamy, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, were asked questions by some in the crowd during the conference. Cockrill was asked what was being done with Saskatchewan’s transportation network to ensure the agriculture and mining sectors remain competitive. 

He emphasized the importance of safety improvements, including passing lanes that allow producers to move equipment while others commute between communities. The government is advocating for more prairie voices on the board for the Port of Vancouver because so much of what is produced in this province must be exported through that port, Cockrill said. He also pointed to his government receiving intervenor status after gateway improvement fees were introduced at the Port of Vancouver, saying those fees unfairly penalize bulk shippers in the province.

Finally, Cockrill was asked what the provincial government is doing to promote sustainable transportation. He again pointed to the investment in northern Saskatchewan, saying many northern communities have a single road to get in and out. Recent fires in that part of the province demonstrate the need for people to be able to get out when they must. Investing in flood mapping is another way the province helps prepare communities. 

As for electric vehicles, Cockrill pointed out that the gas tax is a source of revenue for the province to be able to maintain highways, although what is spent on highways exceeds what is collected. The government implemented a fee to ensure that as drivers transition to EVs, the revenue generated by the fuel tax was replaced. The private sector is stepping up to add charging stations along highways, he said.

Someone else asked about innovative construction materials for highways and roads. Cockrill described a surface treatment for gravel roads, but said for highways, there doesn’t appear to be a silver bullet. That being said, they continue to work with consulting engineers to ensure highways are built properly so they last longer.  

by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

Work Zone Ahead

New training offered to SHCA members helps construction crews communicate more effectively with motorists

By Martin Charlton Communications

Motorists who are patient and cautious while driving through a work zone are appreciated and necessary.

So, too, is the training that Wade Hoffman provides to heavy construction employees, who are taught to communicate with drivers as they pass through a work zone while also learning all the other information they need to be effective traffic accommodation supervisors (TAS) in work zones. 

Hoffman is the lead instructor at Traffic Training and Consulting (TTAC), his own business that is working with the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) to make members aware of his training. His own course is in work zones, and he will provide the Heavy Construction Safety Association (HCSAS)’s course in flagging. 

Clearly communicating with motorists can make them less hazardous as they use the route established for them to transport people and goods through the area. Hoffman says the brightly colored personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as the signs in a work zone are a few ways to communicate necessary information to drivers. 

“We’re putting ourselves in harm’s way by being out in traffic,” said Hoffman. “The only way to try and protect ourselves is to let the traffic know that we’re there. So that first sign tells them we’re there.

“The rest of the information is asking the motorists to slow down, change lanes, stop – whatever we need them to do so that we can get the work done safely and that they can travel through the work zone safely and not have any incidents.”

He sees this training as relevant to anyone involved in road construction, whether they work on a provincial highway, a municipal road or for a Crown corporation. 

Any heavy construction company working on a provincial highway must have a TAS on the work site and that person must have a current training certificate from a vendor approved by the Ministry of Highways. It is a condition of their contract with the ministry. The ministry has issued a detailed list of course objectives that the training is expected to deliver. Someone working in traffic accommodation supervision must update their training every five years. 

Those working on municipal roads don’t have that same requirement, but Hoffman sees a benefit to them being trained with a similar program developed for their needs. That is something he can offer.

“The fundamentals are all the same. You just get into a few different logistics,” said Hoffman.

The person acting as the TAS can vary from company to company, Hoffman explains. In one company, it could be the foreman of the crew. In another company, it may be the person running the water truck because they have the time in their day to check the signage between loads of water.

Larger companies could have a role exclusively handling traffic accommodation supervision with that person responsible for monitoring signage, supervising flag people and handling related documentation. Sending more than one person from a company for the training provides the employer some flexibility because they have someone to fill in if their primary person gets sick or needs to be away from work for some other reason.

During the training, Hoffman teaches participants what they need to know about the law, their responsibilities and their authority under the law. 

“We go through the Ministry of Highways manual, so everybody is aware of the information,” said Hoffman.

Some more of what he covers includes occupational health and safety matters as it relates to the TAS as well as traffic control plans that are to be developed to protect workers. 

“The last half of the manual is the sign plans and they’re generic – typical situation plans that are supposed to be modified,” said Hoffman.

He then gives participants the opportunity to apply that knowledge to a situation they could encounter on the job.

“I bring in some fairly complicated scenarios, have them walk through [those] and get them to learn how to do a sign plan. [Then, I] give them some guidance as to how to set it up safely,” said Hoffman.

He wants those taking his training to understand what they are trying to accomplish so that they can determine if they have succeeded. He recognized this was missing in most training programs when he began to provide training.

“I try to give them working knowledge and understanding so that they can take the principles and apply them in any situation that they come into,” said Hoffman. “Hopefully this training will equip them better out in the field so they’re not just trying to memorize stuff and apply it, but actually understand it and then apply it.”

Zero incidents are not the only measure of success. From Hoffman’s perspective, motorists should be able to pass through the work zone efficiently, with that being another indicator of success. This is a perspective he developed as he gained experience through various roles with the Ministry of Highways and worked with people with different perspectives – not just in Saskatchewan, but throughout North America and even Australia. 

“We’re putting ourselves in harm’s way by being out in traffic. The only way to try and protect ourselves is to let the traffic know that we’re there.”

– Wade Hoffman, Traffic Training and Consulting

“If a motorist feels that they’ve been taken care of, they’re a lot more compliant with what we’re asking them to do. They do slow down more. They do pay attention more going through the work zone,” said Hoffman. “It works best for everybody. It will hopefully keep the motorists happier, but it’s also safer for us in the work zone.” 

He also helps those in his training to understand how to verify their due diligence through documentation. Being able to effectively document their thought process when determining their plan will benefit them if they are audited or investigated, he explains. 

The day-and-a-half of training concludes with a quiz. Those who complete the training successfully receive a certificate as well as a card for their wallet.

Hoffman is flexible about where and when he provides the training. It is typical for construction companies to want their employees to participate in training after the new year but ahead of the construction season in the summer. He can travel within the province to meet with groups who invite him. He is also set up to provide training to those who travel to Regina for scheduled dates. He can work with larger employers who want him to provide their team’s training at their workplace. He can even provide training on weekdays or weekends, depending on the need of employers. 

To find out about registering for Hoffman’s training – either the flagging course or the work zone course – he can be contacted by phone at 306-537-9648 or by email at wadehoffman.ttac@gmail.com.

by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

The Last Mile is Always on the Road

Growing the economy with trade-enabling infrastructure

By Martin Charlton Communications

There is a saying that goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Going together requires coordination. That coordination can happen when an objective is set and information is shared. Others can decide what they need to do now and along the way to support the group getting there.

A government wanting to grow the economy achieves that objective with others. An economy that depends on trade – like Saskatchewan and Canada’s – needs to move commodities and people through the country and out to other parts of the world. Moving goods to and from other countries makes up two-thirds of this country’s income (as compared to just over a quarter for the U.S. and 45 per cent for Australia, according to World Bank figures).

“I think that there is a growing recognition by premiers right across the country that we need to focus on growing the economy,” said Chris Lorenc, who is part of a coalition encouraging governments to see how investing in trade-enabling infrastructure can contribute to achieving that objective. Lorenc is president and CEO of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA), and president and CEO of the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA).

What he and others are encouraging government to see down the road is a Canada that has a more effective system of trade-enabling infrastructure to move commodities through the country and beyond its borders to make it more competitive in the world trade market.

If a government in this country has an objective of growing the economy, then Lorenc wants that government to know others with a role in fulfilling that objective need a longer look down the road. The heavy construction industry has such a role. A longer look down the road is provided through annual and five-year projections of strategic investing to create and maintain an effective system of trade-enabling infrastructure.

In Manitoba, Lorenc has found the current provincial government receptive to the message. In Manitoba’s last provincial budget, that government announced a $2.4 billion three-year capital plan. The plan commits to investing a minimum of $500 million per year into highways. While he is grateful for the three-year plan, Lorenc says looking five years ahead would be even better.

“We’ve been saying to successive provincial governments that what they need to be doing is moving towards an annual and a five-year program,” said Lorenc. “You (as a government) cannot expect efficiency and productivity, and therefore competitive bidding if you (as a contractor) can’t look down the road to see where your opportunities are and what the level of investment is projected to be, which then shapes your business priorities, your business plans, your choice to make investments and your choice to go after emerging market sectors.

“You can’t do that when you’re blind to the priorities of an important purchaser of your services (which is government).”

That annual and five-year projection would be useful to not just the heavy construction industry, but those who supply the industry. Lorenc points out, for example, that those in design and engineering, materials, fuels, aggregates, oils and equipment supply could also better organize themselves to be prepared for the level of investment to be made.

But the point of projecting investment in infrastructure assets five years into the future is not to support the heavy construction industry and the construction of highways. Lorenc explains it is to support a bigger objective for the country, which is to grow the economy by making Canada more competitive in global trade.

“Highways are the instruments that enable trade. It’s like you can talk about health care, but the instrument that enables it is a hospital,” said Lorenc. “Trade is the objective. The enabling instruments are trade gateways and corridors, whether air, rail, marine or road – and let’s remember that the last mile is always on the road.”

It is also a message to Canadian citizens and current and potential trading partners that Canada has a plan that is critical. Some suggest planning budgeting this far into the future limits a government, but Lorenc says it is an opportunity. It builds the country’s reputation in the global trade market as being reliable and competitive while signalling to voters that government investments are purposeful and strategic and will deliver a return.

That return can support other areas of a government’s budget. The economic growth would provide governments growing revenue to support areas such as health care, education and social programming. The federal and provincial governments are encouraged to look at these investments in terms of the return they will deliver that will allow them to achieve more – at home and in the world.

“The three foundational pillars of budget construction from our perspective are growing the economy, being socially progressive and environmentally responsible,” said Lorenc. “But you can’t do the social and the environmental if you’re not successfully growing the economy.

“And if you’re talking about growing the economy, your highest ROI to GDP is trade enabling infrastructure investment.”

Canada is regarded as a key source and provider of fuel, fertilizer and food to meet essential needs in the world. However, the infrastructure needed to reliably move those “three Fs” to market is where the country’s reputation is weak.

“Canada has what the rest of the world needs,” said Lorenc. “Why would we not position ourselves to be the enabler of global economic growth through trade and, in the process, enhance and strengthen our domestic fiscal power? It’s an investment in nation building. It’s an investment in enhancing our fiscal power. Its an investment that supports our national security.”

Other governments in the world are making the investments to ensure their countries remain competitive. This includes the U.S., where in 2021, the Senate passed the $1.3-trillion infrastructure bill to invest in roads and bridges (as well as fund new climate resilience and broadband initiatives). That commitment was made after the World Economic Forum’s ranking of countries based on the quality of their overall infrastructure showed the U.S. slipped from ninth in 2008–09 to 13th in 2019. Canada’s slip was much further – from 10th to 32nd, just ahead of Azerbaijan.

“Highways are the instruments that enable trade. It’s like you can talk about health care, but the instrument that enables it is a hospital. Trade is the objective. The enabling instruments are trade gateways and corridors, whether air, rail, marine or road – and let’s remember that the last mile is always on the road.”

– Chris Lorenc, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

Canada can improve its global competitiveness by investing in infrastructure that enables trade. That will take a lot of coordination for the country to go far, but that coordination has begun.
Restoring Canada’s global reliability reputation rankings is critical and will require a leveraging coordinated investment commitment of the municipal, provincial and federal government partnering with the private sector. Lorenc is part of a coalition of five national organizations led by the Business Council of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Construction Association, the Canada West Foundation and the WCR&HCA. They are approaching the three orders of government to advocate for a nation building strategy to invest in Canada’s trade corridors to enable and harness trade-based economic growth.

“The coalition is basically saying to the premiers and to the federal government: we are a trade-based economy. Our history is based on trade. We rely on trade to give us our economic wealth, fiscal power and standard of living. Those trading relationships are at risk.”

It is hoped their advocacy will help persuade the federal government to make a commitment in budget year 2024 to a national plan for trade corridor infrastructure so that Canada “can begin the necessary reinvestment in the very assets that have shaped who we are as a country and can continue to improve upon who we are as a country,” Lorenc explained. 

by Martin Charlton Communications Martin Charlton Communications

Building, Renovating or Demolishing?

By Paul Martin, Martin Charlton Communications

Normally this space is reserved for conversation or discussions about building or upgrading things or as Shantel Lipp likes to say: when the earth moves, it’s us. But it has been hard these days to ignore another form of construction – nation building.

With legislatures in Regina and Edmonton being asked to consider bills designed to assert the authority of provincial governments, anyone who was around 40 years ago is feeling like we’ve seen this movie already.

Back then it was Pierre Trudeau on one side of the table, facing off against Saskatchewan’s Allan Blakeney, a politician many considered the intellectual equal of the Elder Trudeau, and Peter Lougheed elegantly projecting gravitas and authority from Alberta.

Today, while the cast is different – Trudeau the Younger on the federal side squaring off against Scott Moe and Danielle Smith representing their respective provinces – the script is the same. Saskatchewan and Alberta are seeking respect at the national table.

Reasonable observers would probably think it fair to assume that after 40 years, things should be sorting themselves out but, in fact, it is showing no sign of improvement as the list of grievances dividing the parties seems to be growing and positions hardening.

The good news is that last time round, in the ’70s and early ’80s, Canada survived, although bruised and divided. The West suffered severe economic damage and decades of resentment over the imposition of the National Energy Program while the entire country found itself repatriating a constitution that a key player in the nation refused to endorse.

Four decades later, the same issues still capture us as multiple attempts to find solutions – olive branches from the West (remember The West Wants In?) to hard-line positions such as demands for Parliamentary reform for elected and equal Senate representation – have failed to bring us closer together. In fact, irritants such as anti-pipeline sentiment outside the prairies have stifled resource development, pouring salt on the wounds.

The one difference between the head butting of old and today’s version is television. Back in Pierre’s day, we got to watch federal-provincial First Ministers meetings live from coast-to-coast. Today, with no First Ministers meetings, having the arguments waged in social media 30 words at a time is what passes for progress.