We are another month closer to the construction season getting underway. As you get ready for the projects you will work on this season, our board is preparing for a meeting we would love to have you attend.
A special meeting will be held in Saskatoon on April 24 to outline the priorities of SHCA. Members are invited to register to attend this event. Please get in touch with our office about registering – we will be providing our membership regular updates on these priorities as well as future meetings we will hold.
Our priorities are related to current developments in our province and country. I keep a close eye on issues relevant to our industry, to understand them while also advocating for our members’ interests. One issue coming to the forefront of public attention is housing. The federal government is looking ahead to an election next year as Canadians express their frustration at the lack of housing and the cost of what is available.
We need to build more homes in our country, but recent announcements by the federal government about their intent to “partner” with provinces and territories to build more housing in municipalities are being scrutinized by provincial and municipal leaders. The strings attached to the funding are a point of contention. Municipalities are in the best position to judge what the biggest benefit will be to their community, but new homes, no matter where they’re built, will require roads, utilities and other services that are challenging for municipalities to provide.
There’s infrastructure that we like, such as parks, recreation facilities, pools and more. There’s infrastructure we need, such as hospitals, care homes, clinics and schools. Then there’s the infrastructure that helps pay for it all, including roads, rail, air and trade corridor access. We can’t forget how important that last piece is to all the others. We need to be vocal about this matter, so the federal government understands that building homes isn’t about constructing a single standing structure. Before any housing can begin to be built, there is the preparation for the development, and that’s done by our industry. That is critical and can’t be lost in the discussion.
Working in this industry, I am constantly reminded of how great the people are who work in it. That extends beyond our country to our neighbours in the south. I was pleased to attend the 2024 World of Asphalt conference Nashville, Tenn., held in late March.
World of Asphalt is the leading asphalt trade show and conference, where industry manufacturers and service providers in the aggregate, asphalt, pavement maintenance, and traffic safety industry sectors come together to showcase their latest products and technologies. This event features 500 exhibitors, 150 education session and over 15,000 attendees from around the world.
A highlight for me was connecting with my peers in the U.S. chapter of Women of Asphalt. They held a one-day event as part of the conference and it was very well received. Here at home, we have a Canadian chapter of this organization, and it is looking for members and sponsors to help promote women in our industry. I’d be happy to talk to any SHCA members about it and why it matters that it thrives.
When you know what you have to say matters – and you are clear on how it matters to others – it’s easier to speak up. I want to thank all of you who attended the MLA reception on March 4. We appreciate the opportunity to gather at the Legislative Building to catch up with one another, but to also share with MLAs what they need to know about our industry and our relationship with the provincial government.
We know we play an important role in the province achieving goals that matter to our economy and quality of life. While I am in contact, sharing and receiving information with ministry officials and Minister Carr, it is important for them to hear from you as well so they can learn how those of you on the frontlines are impacted by their decisions. MLAs will often listen to hear what is happening in their constituency, which is why it’s important that those working on projects across the province speak to elected officials. You work in their constituencies on projects that matter to the voters living and working there. Those voters will decide this fall who will be getting the seat for that area. What affects us affects those projects.
The spring session is when the provincial budget is released, so expect to hear from our association once we look closely at what it contains. As we wait for that release, I would like to update SHCA members on other matters related to the federal government. There have been a few concerns we’ve spoken about to let the public know how our province and communities will be affected by politicians’ statements and decisions.
There was the statement about the funding of road infrastructure projects in Canada made by the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault. We were among many industry groups across Saskatchewan who wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ask him to clarify the federal government’s position on funding future road construction in Canada. We reminded him and his government that Saskatchewan’s economy heavily relies on a robust network of roads because all industries and sectors depend on that road system. We pointed out that in 2022, Saskatchewan reached $52.6 billion in exports, which was the highest figure recorded in our province’s history.
We made it clear that if we were unable to upgrade and improve our network of roads in Saskatchewan, our economy would falter, leading to a decline in jobs. That letter was signed by leaders of the Construction Associations of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Auto Dealers Association, Saskatchewan Trucking Association, Regina and District Chamber of Commerce, Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, North Saskatchewan Business Association, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), the Association of Consulting Engineer Companies of Saskatchewan and the Prairies & Northern Canada representative of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. At the top of the list of signatories was our association.
We have also been vocal about changes to the Canada Community Building Fund, which is used for infrastructure projects such as roads, transportation, wastewater and sewer, fire services and tourism and culture.
The federal government is looking at adding affordable housing to the mix. That would be a clear case of putting the cart before the horse. Building infrastructure, such as servicing lots for housing projects, comes before building units. SUMA recently voiced concerns regarding this proposed change to the fund, which would impact decisions made by municipalities. Our association shares that concern. If new rules are implemented by including affordable housing over investment in infrastructure, municipalities will not be able to build critical projects.
The federal government will be dictating to municipalities what they can and cannot build. The approach to addressing our infrastructure needs should be collaborative, not arbitrary. Every community has different priorities for infrastructure and those decisions are best made through a process that includes communities.
It is important that we keep speaking up about how decisions made by those who are elected affect our industry and the people who depend on the work we do. We will continue to speak up this year to draw attention to the value our industry delivers to this province and its communities as well as how SHCA members’ work is relevant to the economy and quality of life of citizens.
Saskatchewan has a big job ahead of it. Getting on top of it will take someone speaking up to say we need to do better.
That someone will be us – the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association. The SHCA board met in November, the day before the SHCA Infrastructure Summit & Trade Show started. During that meeting, the challenges facing the heavy construction industry were discussed, as were the priorities of the association during 2024. We recognized that all the issues seemed to have one theme in common: Saskatchewan is not keeping up. We see it in the lack of long-term planning for infrastructure, funding for that infrastructure as well as a lack of government policy renewal. This is impacting industry in Saskatchewan, which is lagging due to a lack of government commitment.
Plans were put in place during that November board meeting for how our association will address these priorities and work to overcome the challenges. We will be speaking up – outlining for our stakeholders and the provincial government what needs to be done to meet the demands of growth. We will be communicating the message that Saskatchewan is not keeping up throughout the year in a staged process. Each stage will have its own focus that addresses a key issue important to our members.
Better long-term planning and multi-year funding commitments will be one focus. Investment commitments of multiple years (which both Manitoba and Alberta are doing) will allow our industry to become even more efficient and productive. Our members will be able to see what opportunities are available and the level of investment being projected so decisions can be made about priorities and plans. Businesses in our industry can decide on their own investments in equipment and labour.
Consistent investment also means allowing for carryovers, which is something the Manitoba government does. Allowing contractors to carry over a portion of the Ministry of Highway’s budget would mean some certainty of work in the next construction season.
Improved procurement practices are another focus. Politicians and bureaucrats need to hear how details in the procurement process impact and even burden industry. They need to be reminded of how efficient and effective relationships with industry generate results quicker. The Ministry of Highways needs to look at how it tenders projects. Saskatchewan’s government simply must do better when it comes to getting work out in a timely fashion. Tenders continue to hit the market too late, impacting not just contractors, but those in design and engineering, materials, fuels, aggregates, oils and equipment supply.
Another issue is the need for greater government transparency. In fall 2023, we learned from the government how to assess the quantity of projects in the tender schedule, which was a significant insight. Projects that are tendered with a two-year completion date have all production quantities linked to the year it was tendered. So, for example, projects on the 2022 Fall Tender Schedule with a 2024 completion date shows all quantities in 2022 (this is why we see the same projects announced multiple times in the budget speech).
What this does, from our perspective, is skew the overall budget numbers and mislead our industry when it comes to the overall quantities shown on the tender schedule. We have asked the ministry to better display these types of jobs to paint a more realistic picture of what’s coming onto the market.
While we will be paying a lot of attention to the government during 2024, we remain committed to providing more than advocacy for our members. We will be looking at several programs and services we can bring into our affinity program suite to better serve you.
The board and I know it can be challenging to find the labour you require and that too will be a focus. We know you will be sharing employment opportunities within your own company as the construction season nears. We will be working with others as we draw attention to the reasons why those looking for work should consider our industry – that heavy construction employers offer training to those with an attitude that is a good fit and typically pay better than many other industries in the province.
We know it is not just our goal to build and maintain infrastructure necessary for this province to prosper. This goal is shared by our partner organizations who we will be working with throughout 2024 to deliver this message. As we get closer to the elections, both provincial and municipal, we will elevate this communication. The provincial election is expected to be held on or before Oct. 28, 2024. Meanwhile, those voting for mayors and councillors in urban municipalities, as well as reeves and councillors representing odd-number divisions in rural municipalities, go to the polls on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
We intend to make these issues for our industry into campaign issues. We will draw attention to them during the campaign, so the political parties and municipal candidates feel compelled to address them with voters.
As members prepare for each construction season, it is important for us to learn where the government is at and share with the government what matters to our industry. This year, we want voters to be aware of the issues that matter to industry. That is because those issues are about more than our industry. They are about the future of our province. Quality infrastructure helps Saskatchewan’s business community operate, prosper and grow. When local businesses prosper, we all prosper and the quality of life in Saskatchewan grows.
The start of a new year is a time to consider how we want to improve our situation. Whether it is your own personal life or your professional endeavours, it is a good time to initiate what is necessary to inspire change that will make a difference.
Getting where we want to go is not something we can typically do on our own. We often need others to join in our activities and support us if we are to achieve change that matters. That is true in your role – as a business owner or an employee – and it is true in mine and each of our board members’ as well. We must work with others and dedicate the time and effort necessary to move toward realizing that vision together.
At the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA), change is often discussed and as the voice of the industry. We have plenty to say about the changes needed in Saskatchewan to support our economy remaining strong. I promised in my last message published in “The Interchange” that I would have more to share about how SHCA will be speaking out about how Saskatchewan is not keeping up. That applies to long-term planning, infrastructure funding and government policy renewal.
Through the year, SHCA will be very active, speaking up about what matters to our members and our province. Now that 2024 is underway, the board and I are preparing for how this year will unfold so that we optimize when we deliver important messages not only to those in government, but all who will be running in this year’s elections as well as voters. We have an MLA reception scheduled for SHCA on March 4. This event is your opportunity to speak directly to the MLAs to fill them in on the industry’s strengths and challenges, and describe how government impacts you positively and negatively.
Saskatchewan’s budget is typically delivered that same month, so we will be watching closely to see what it contains as it relates to our members and the work available to you. We are looking for the government to show it understands the need for long-term infrastructure planning and funding, including multi-year commitments as seen in our neighbouring provinces. We also want to see changes to procurement practices and greater transparency.
Between now and then, we will continue to speak up about employment opportunities in our industry. Finding those who would be a good fit for jobs you need filled is a challenge, even though heavy construction employers are known to be one of the better paying employers in the province – statistically second only to the mining sector. I know that when hiring, you often see attitude as being more important than experience and that employers in our industry are often willing to train, seeing that training is an investment to secure the employees you need. We will be promoting the reasons why those looking for a new employment opportunity should consider heavy construction for their future.
This will help build what the province requires so people and goods can move through and beyond our province. We know other industries are as interested as we are in seeing Saskatchewan maintain and build infrastructure that meets the level of growth in the province. We will be finding ways to deliver that message together with them.
An opportune time to deliver that message will be ahead of the elections that will take place in Saskatchewan later this year, which is an election year for the province as well as in municipalities, so we will be seeing politicians campaigning later this year. The first election is the provincial election, which is to be held on or before Oct. 28, 2024. Not long after, those voting for mayors and councillors in urban municipalities as well as reeves and councillors representing odd-number divisions in rural municipalities will go to the polls on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
As I said at the beginning of this message, we want to improve our situation, and by our situation, I mean more than our industry’s situation. What we are bringing forward is important beyond those in heavy construction. It matters to our province’s fate. It is significant to many industries that contribute to our economy and its strength. It impacts the future prosperity of our province and its people as well as the services they rely on for their quality of life.
I also said getting where you want to go requires others to join in. Our members can help to amplify the messages our association is delivering. I encourage you to actively participate in SHCA’s activities this year and to share the messages we will be delivering so they reach every corner of our province. Keep an eye on our website and follow our social media accounts for updates on all we have planned and will undertake this year.
The Infrastructure Summit & Trade Show was all I hoped it would be. I hoped those who attended would find it relevant, practical and impactful, and based on the reviews I have received, it seems to have hit those marks. Summit delegates shared rave reviews of the format of the summit, and attendance for the first year far surpassed my expectations.
As we bring 2023 to a close, I am so pleased with what we have planned for 2024.
The summit was so successful that it will be the model for all future fall conferences, and we look forward to growing this event in future years. Planning for 2024 has already begun. All attendees, sponsors and exhibitors will be surveyed to gain additional information about successes as well as opportunities for improvement to make next year’s event even better.
I was told again and again there was something for everyone, which is exactly what we hoped would be appreciated. The goal of the summit was to showcase the entire industry, so that’s why there were sessions that related to business, earthmoving, paving, equipment and production.
The technical sessions were very valuable, I was told, as was the opportunity to hear about projects outside of Saskatchewan like the Ten Mile Slide in B.C. Over a very busy two days, the summit featured 34 technical sessions, two keynote presentations, 28 exhibitor tradeshow booths and was capped off with the industry awards ceremony. All the breakout rooms were full, as were the morning keynote sessions.
Highlighted by many at the summit were the opportunities for contractors, consultants and Ministry of Highways representatives to connect over our need to work collaboratively rather than meeting in confrontation. Our keynote speaker on the first morning of the summit was Mark Nesbitt, who has worked for more than 30 years in the aggregate, mining, trucking and construction industry. He explained why building relationships matters when you are trying to develop employees working for your company as well as advance your own career and business. You can read more about what he shared during his address in the next issue of Think BIG magazine.
The setting of the summit was conducive to team building and that brought people together to get to know one another and see how we can better work together to achieve what must be accomplished.
That need to work together to achieve monumental accomplishments was a key message delivered during the panel discussion on the first day of the summit. There is a need to plan long term and invest appropriately in trade infrastructure to grow Canada’s economy. Several national groups dedicated to trade, business, construction, manufacturing and more joined together to form a coalition that is pressing politicians across the country to take this need seriously.
Representatives of some of those groups in the coalition were brought together for the panel discussion to describe the relationships and work that came together to develop the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan (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. More on this work will be shared in the next issue of Think BIG as well.
While others focus on the federal government, my attention is on the 2024 election year for provincial and municipal governments. My efforts will be dedicated to pressing them on vital matters. Through most of 2024, expect to hear much from SHCA about the ways in which Saskatchewan is not keeping up. That applies to long-term planning, infrastructure funding and government policy renewal.
This lack of commitment is causing us to lag. Saskatchewan creates billions of dollars in trade every year and there are targets and efforts dedicated by the province to grow our trade. A significant portion of the provincial GDP depends on trade. Our transportation infrastructure must be able to support even more movement of products and people in and out of the province, so we must do more than keep up.
I look forward to sharing with you more details about this effort we will undertake in the coming year, and I ask that you help us amplify this message so it reaches the province’s voters and becomes an issue on the campaign trail. I know that you know it matters, but we must help others recognize and appreciate its vital importance.
Until then, I hope you have an enjoyable December filled with lots of cheer and goodwill ahead of a safe and prosperous new year.
I am counting down the days until the first ever SHCA Infrastructure Summit & Trade Show takes place in Regina next week, and I can’t wait for you to see all that it will bring to the forefront.
First, you will see the importance and impact of the heavy construction industry within and beyond Saskatchewan reinforced. I look forward to seeing contractors, suppliers, engineers, government officials and other professionals coming together to focus on infrastructure and transportation for two full days on Nov. 29 and 30, 2023, at the Delta Hotel & Convention Centre.
You have heard me say that funding to develop and maintain that infrastructure can deliver a return when there is a strategy for investment. This event is another opportunity to deliver that message. The role of infrastructure in trade relationships and the need for long-term investment in infrastructure to grow trade that will benefit our economy are why this event will be valuable to more than members.
I hope all who are there will take in the panel discussion, which is in the agenda for Nov. 29. You will hear the panel discuss how trade and transportation infrastructure intersect in Canada’s economic growth strategy. The panelists will include:
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
Gary Mar, president of Canada West Foundation
Mary VanBuren, president of the Canadian Construction Association
Kyle Toffan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Highways
Jodi Banks, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Export
Chris Lorenc, president of the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA)
Mar and VanBuren are involved in a coalition of national organizations that also includes the Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. They are concerned about the current level of investment as well as the lack of coordination and planning on a long-term strategy and the state of the federal trade corridors fund.They have endorsed the WCR&HCA report by the Canada West Foundation, From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worth: The Path to a National Trade Infrastructure Plan for the Next Generation of Economic Growth.
This coalition is approaching the three orders of government to advocate for a nation-building strategy to invest in Canada’s trade corridors to harness trade-based economic growth. This summit is important for government because for decades the private sector has been asking for a long-term permanent plan to grow business investment.
I am excited about the opportunities you will have to deepen your knowledge about infrastructure, equipment, labour needs, projects, investment and much more.
As projects become more complex and technology evolves, there is always a need to prepare for the future. At the summit, you will gain information through industry education sessions that can help you become an even better builder. Technological advancements within the industry will be highlighted through technical sessions across a broad sector of industry applications.
Valuable information on many different topics will be shared by Brandt Industries, Gerry Huber, Wirtgen Group, Water Security Agency, Asphalt Institute, SMS Equipment, SaskPower, Cenovus Energy and the Women of Asphalt. They will cover 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.
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. You can expect to see virtual reality being used to attract young people to our sector as well as to conduct safety training.
It is a time to develop personally as well as professionally. Speakers at the summit include Mark Nesbitt, who will discuss creating the next generation of construction leaders. There will be a presentation by Pamela Barnum, who will describe how to unlock the code of non-verbal communication. Also speaking is Bob Vaughn, who will cover projects becoming more complex and how to create a culture of success. There will be so many people you will want to meet and interact with – whether it is at the innovative trade show or the industry awards and banquet that will wrap up the event.
It will be a busy two days full of people embracing our industry and sharing what it means to this province we call home. I look forward to seeing you there to take part in all that activity to show you value a strong future for all who make up and support the heavy construction industry.
It’s that time of year where we begin to say goodbye to this year and look ahead at what the upcoming year will bring. As the summer construction season nears its end, I know you are eager to see what is contained in the fall tender schedule. Now that it is out, I want you to know what the board and I are doing about it.
Off the top, we are building new relationships. As you know, there is a new minister, Lori Carr, but there are also new faces in other prominent roles in the ministry. We look forward to working with Kyle Toffan, the new deputy minister, who previously served in the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement, where he was deputy minister. There is also a new chief of staff, Josh Hack.
As we approach an election year in this province, we are eager to promote how Saskatchewan as a whole can benefit from increased investment in trade infrastructure. First, we need the ministry to understand that changes are necessary to prepare for that brighter future. The board and I recently met with Carr and Toffan to lay out those changes. We have been consistently pointing them out to others who have been in her position, but this is an opportunity for someone new to see them from a fresh perspective.
Making these changes would send a strong message not just to the heavy construction industry and the industries who supply ours, but the world. Canada – and Saskatchewan in particular – has a strong reputation for being a global source and provider of fuel, fertilizer and food. Robust infrastructure is necessary to move commodities and people through the country and out to other parts of the world. When it comes to planning how that trade infrastructure will be maintained and enhanced, our country’s reputation is weak. That impacts our competitiveness in global trade, which adds a challenge to growing our economy.
Here at home, there are changes that could be made to signal to the world we are serious about competing.
First, Saskatchewan’s government must do better when it comes to getting work out in a timely fashion. Tenders continue to hit the market too late. The 2023 Fall Tender Schedule was only recently released. In the fall of 2022, there were several projects listed on the fall tender schedule that were released too late. Some were not released at all, leaving them to be carried over. It is not just contractors who are impacted by these delays, but also those in design and engineering, materials, fuels, aggregates, oils and equipment supply.
We also learned something very important about how to assess the quantity of projects in the tender schedule. Projects that are tendered with a two-year completion date have all production quantities linked to the year it was actually tendered. So, for example, a project on the 2022 fall tender schedule with a 2024 completion date shows all quantities in 2022 – this is why we see the same projects announced multiple times in the budget speech.
What this does, from our perspective, is skew the overall budget numbers and mislead our industry when it comes to the overall quantities shown on the tender schedule. We have asked the ministry to better display these types of jobs to paint a more realistic picture of what’s coming to the market.
When contractors have a longer – and more accurate – look down the road at what the level of investment is projected to be, they are able to better determine their business priorities and investments. They can be better organized and prepared, making them more efficient, productive and competitive. They can become more capable of managing costs and preparing to serve emerging market sectors. Long-term, continuing to release projects too late in the year will have a negative impact on industry capacity.
Second, neighbouring provinces are projecting their investment in the coming years while Saskatchewan continues to announce annual spending. In the spring of 2022, the Manitoba government announced a $2.4 billion three-year capital plan. The plan commits to investing a minimum of $500 million per year into highways. Alberta announced this year that it will spend $2.3 billion on roads and bridges as part of its 2023-26 Capital Plan.
Saskatchewan released a low level of work in the 2023 Fall Tender Schedule. On top of that, this year there was only one asphalt plant working in the province producing product for the Ministry of Highways. The SHCA board made it clear that our industry has the capacity to complete three times the amount of work shown on the last few fall tender schedules. That capacity is available to the Saskatchewan government, but it will be the Manitoba and Alberta governments who will see an advantage because of their commitment to long-term, sustainable funding of major highways and trade corridors.
This year’s construction season saw almost all the major paving contractors looking for work in our neighbouring provinces. Eventually, we will see more companies leaving the market, which will reduce the amount of competition in our province. This will have a negative impact on the cost and quality of building and maintaining our critical infrastructure. We encourage Minister Carr to bring a clear message to the cabinet table that there is a strong case for increasing infrastructure investment sooner rather than later, especially considering the challenges posed by inflation.
We all know construction is not immune to increased costs. It will cost less to invest in trade infrastructure now than it will later, and the return on that investment is substantial. For every dollar of investment, in the short term, there is an immediate return of one dollar and thirty cents to the province.
We are seeing the provincial government make announcements about social spending, such as the one they made at the start of October dedicating $90 million to address homelessness and addictions. Being able to find the money to announce spending on areas such as that is possible when we have a strong economy generating income for the provincial government. The return we would get on investing in trade infrastructure can make more such announcements possible.
Investing in infrastructure that supports trade helps to grow our economy by ensuring we are competitive in the world trade markets. Over the longer term, that return on the investment could be as high as four or five dollars during the asset’s lifespan. That means infrastructure built and maintained by the members of SHCA will contribute to Saskatchewan’s continued economic growth. That growth will contribute to paying for all the social investments – in health, education and more – that ensure a high quality of life for people living in this province. If we don’t sustain our investment and make changes to support the industry, it won’t be there to provide for our future needs.
Next is an election year. I, along with the board, will continue to hammer the message, “If you can’t move it – you aren’t selling it.” We look forward to the budget in the spring of 2024 that shows taxpayers the Saskatchewan Party is serious about creating “growth that works for everyone.”
Change can be good. In our province, I am working with the board to make that case so we see positive change that benefits more than our industry. It is change that is beneficial to the daily lives of the people living and working to make this province even better than it is today.
The leaves have turned colours, the temperature is dropping and as summer turns to autumn, we look forward to working through changes that have come up in this industry.
At the end of last month, numerous changes were made to Saskatchewan’s cabinet. That includes Lori Carr becoming the Minister of Highways, taking over from Jeremy Cockrill who moved to the Ministry of Education. I thank Minister Cockrill for his interest in learning about our industry and its successes and challenges, and I look forward to bringing Minister Carr up to speed along with her executive team.
I, along with the SHCA board, will be meeting with Carr in September and October to talk about this construction season, including what was built and what work may be carried over. I have heard that during this season there was only one asphalt plant processing material for highways work, when during a normal season we should see at least four or five mixing material. I will also be pointing out to her the fact that many Saskatchewan contractors were building outside of the province this year.
I have questions for her and her officials too, to learn what they see coming up in the months and years ahead. I want to discuss project planning and the upcoming budget. Then, there is the memorandum of understanding that was signed in April by our province and Manitoba to strengthen the economic corridors between both provinces. We would like to know more about what the next few years of work between the provinces will include.
Also, I will take the opportunity to point out that our neighbouring provinces have made multi-year commitments to highways in recent budgets. In Manitoba’s last provincial budget, the government announced a $2.4 billion, three-year capital plan. The plan commits to investing a minimum of $500 million per year into highways. In Alberta, the provincial government announced it was investing $7.3 billion over three years in its Transportation and Economic Corridors capital plan.
I will be sharing with Carr that inconsistent and uncertain funding burdens our industry. It makes it difficult for members to prepare for the future when the amount of capital investment can swing up and down by tens of millions of dollars from one year to the next. Deciding to invest in equipment becomes difficult, as does creating jobs and retaining employees. Those neighbouring governments are making three-year commitments, but we know provinces would see more value from five-year investments.
I know you are busy evaluating what you can realistically complete this season. With the temperature taking longer to rise in the morning, the number of hours you have in a day for pavement to cure is shortening and so being efficient matters a lot right now if projects are to get done. However, I also know you are looking forward to what other projects are coming up to bid on, so it is important that we discuss the fall tender schedule. We are working with the ministry to better identify when projects will hit the market.
Then, next month, I have an opportunity to join those gathered at the 2023 provincial Area Transportation Planning Committees Convention in Saskatoon on Oct. 10-12. Those who attend tend to be government officials, rural, urban, and Indigenous leaders, and industry specialists from across the province.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Transportation for Growth & Prosperity in Saskatchewan.” I have been asked to present on how SHCA hopes to shape a growing Saskatchewan and where we see opportunities for growth. I will be sharing who we are as an association, why strategic investing in trade infrastructure can encourage Saskatchewan’s and Canada’s economic growth, and the advocacy SHCA undertakes on behalf of our members. I will also be sharing the support we have in the province from those in other industries who recognize the importance of the work you do and the infrastructure you build and maintain for their own growth and success.
Finally, I look forward to seeing you at the board meeting and a first-of-its-kind event that SHCA is developing for our industry in November.
The first-ever industry summit for Saskatchewan, which SHCA is excited to spearhead, will bring together contractors, suppliers, engineers and other professionals to focus on infrastructure and transportation. There will be great industry education sessions, an innovative trade show and awesome networking opportunities spread over two days on Nov. 29 and 30 at the Delta Hotel & Convention Centre in Regina. More information will be published on SHCA’s website as well as in the next issue of Think BIG magazine.
Until then, I know you will be working safely and efficiently to complete everything on your to do list as the board and I work to get your challenges and successes recognized and addressed.
I am seeing evidence that a conversation very important to our industry is being taken seriously by others who matter in this province.
Last May, I explained in my President’s Message the report titled FromShovel Ready to Shovel Worthy: The Path to a National Trade Infrastructure Plan for the Next Generation of Economic Growth, which was completed by the Canada West Foundation.
We know it is a report that matters not just to our industry, but to our province, our entire country and its future. Saskatchewan people continue to hear announcements about private businesses increasing their production to meet the world’s needs. As the report explains, we need the world to have confidence that what Canada produces for export will be moved through the country efficiently and reliably so we, as a trading partner, are competitive in the world.
For more than a decade, those in the know have watched Canada spend lots of money on projects that are ready for construction. Instead, a better use of that money would be to invest in projects that will provide a return on that spending by improving Canada’s supply chain competitiveness.
The Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) helped initiate the Shovel Worthy report, but it has been endorsed by several associations and organizations concerned with the current investment, the lack of coordination and planning on a long-term strategy and the state of the federal trade corridors fund.
Many stakeholders were involved in the preparation and release of the report and since then, they have been sharing why this report matters. A coalition of five national organizations – the Business Council of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Construction Association, the Canada West Foundation and the WCR&HCA – 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.
We hope their advocacy will persuade the federal government to commit to a national plan for trade corridor infrastructure in budget year 2024, so that Canada can begin to reinvest in the assets that have shaped Canada as country and can make our country even better going forward.
When we invest in the infrastructure Saskatchewan produces to market more efficiently, our province becomes more competitive in the world
– which means even more trade.
Restoring Canada’s global reliability reputation ranking is critical and will require leveraging a coordinated investment commitment of the municipal, provincial and federal government partnering with the private sector. Goldy Hyder of the Business Council of Canada explained the significance of that during his speech at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Business Conference at the end of May.
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce represents the Saskatchewan business community and is known as the Voice of Saskatchewan business. The theme of their 2023 conference was “Transportation and Infrastructure: Connecting Saskatchewan to the World.”
The speakers at the event addressed how we can unlock Saskatchewan’s transportation and infrastructure potential to position our province as a global supplier.
Hyder spoke about how Canada’s economy depends on reliable physical infrastructure to connect supply chains, enable people and goods to move freely, support millions of jobs, facilitate the energy transition and ensure that the economy continues to grow. I encourage you to read more about his presentation in this issue because he provides some encouragement to those in business to speak up about the challenges they face that are limiting Canada’s growth, which will have an impact on the quality of life future generations enjoy in this country.
Also speaking at this conference was Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill. Just last month, I applauded Cockrill for signing a memorandum of understanding with Manitoba and Alberta to strengthen the economic corridors between our provinces.
That MOU focuses on four areas of cooperation between the three governments. First, improve efficiency of inter-provincial highway and rail networks. Second, encourage the federal government for infrastructure funding and national supply chain solutions. Third, keep their economies competitive and grow capital investment. And fourth, harmonize regulations to support businesses, industries and shippers. He discussed this MOU during his presentation, which also covered what was contained in the latest budget to develop that transportation infrastructure and how earlier commitments have been fulfilled.
Our industry knows the economic growth that investing in infrastructure would encourage in this province and the benefits that has for us living here. When we invest in the infrastructure Saskatchewan produces to market more efficiently, our province becomes more competitive in the world – which means even more trade. That grows our economy, so even more revenues can be generated to support areas such as healthcare, education and social programming to make Saskatchewan an even better place to live.
Knowing that the voice of Saskatchewan business (also known as the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce) values this province’s infrastructure enough to dedicate an event to discussing its importance is highly encouraging. The ideas and information shared by Hyder and Cockrill at this event suggests to me that what our industry is advocating for is being taken seriously by other key players in the province and country.
