The 2023 SHCA Equipment Rental Rates Guide and Membership Roster is on its way.
Watch for your copy to arrive in April. Contact the SHCA office to purchase additional copies for your crews.
Building Relationships
Spring finally feels like it may be on its way. As we say goodbye to winter, we have also been preparing for another construction season.
Some of that preparation for our association is learning where government is at and sharing with government what matters to our industry. Each year, as the province and municipalities take stock of their situation and look around at what progress there is to be made, we must make sure we are there to offer our support while also making it clear what would improve our working relationship.
It is important that we share what will make our industry stronger, but we have an additional message we believe resonates with government. It is how our industry contributes to a growing economy.
Across Western Canada, heavy construction associations encourage governments to recognize the value of investing in trade infrastructure. Here in Saskatchewan, we know our growth depends on trade. Those buying Saskatchewan commodities want to know that this province has the infrastructure to move what they are purchasing. Investing in the infrastructure that will get those goods to market more efficiently will make the province more competitive in the world. That means more trade, which grows our economy. That economic growth can then generate revenues that support areas such as health care, education and social programming, making Saskatchewan an even better place to live.
Our association encourages the Saskatchewan government to recognize the value of making five-year commitments. It helps build our reputation in the world for being a reliable and competitive trading partner while telling voters the government of this province invests purposefully and strategically so a return on that investment is delivered.
That was one of the messages I delivered on what is an important day for many in our industry – the day the provincial government releases its budget, which this year was March 22. I congratulated the Saskatchewan Party government on delivering a budget that included an increase. I also described your interest in learning more about the Ministry of Highways capital program breakdown and how I will be sharing its impact on our industry.
It was a good opportunity to share that our industry hopes for a broader discussion on planning and investments over a longer term going forward. But a relationship isn’t built and maintained in a day. I often meet with government officials and welcome members who wish to join me at those meetings. I am encouraged by those who are eager to share their experiences and insights during those meetings.
It was great to see all of you who came to the MLA reception on April 4. If you have not been to this event before, I encourage you to talk to those members who have participated. It is a solid opportunity to have a conversation with those elected to form government as well as members of the opposition and share what you feel they need to know about your current challenges and successes. It is often the stories from our members that stick with MLAs and help them to remember what matters to our industry when making decisions.
Those stories were shared during the Spring Kick-Off and Industry Awards Gala. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn, mingle and celebrate together in Regina, reminding us all why we choose this industry for our livelihoods. There were representatives from all three levels of government there to share with our industry and to hear from our members and executive. We thank them all for participating and consider their interest an opportunity to better our relationship to continue to do more together in the future.
I recognize there is an opportunity at the municipal level and that there are relationships to maintain. While the provincial government is a source of a lot of work for our members, I know many of you are doing work for municipalities. I am in regular contact with the City of Regina and the City of Saskatoon, but I also find opportunities to connect with other municipalities through my relationship with SARM and SUMA. There is important work needed by these governments that I know members are supporting, and I continue to pursue these relationships in support of you.
This has been a long winter, but it is good to see spring arriving. As we get ready for the construction season, I look forward to moving these relationships ahead as you get ready to begin this year’s projects.
Ontario Prepping Students for Jobs in Skilled Trades
The Ontario government is implementing a new high school graduation requirement to help better prepare students across the province for the jobs of tomorrow. Starting with students entering Grade 9 in September 2024, all students will now be required to earn a Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education credit as part of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
“I am proud to announce another step forward to ensure all students learn the critical skills necessary to succeed and get a good paying job,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education in Ontario. “By requiring students to take at least one Technological Education credit in high school, we are opening up doors and creating new pathways to good jobs in STEM and the skilled trades. All students will benefit from a greater emphasis on hands-on learning experiences and technical skills in the classroom so they can graduate with a competitive advantage in this country.”
This new learning graduation requirement will expose Ontario’s students to at least one Technological Education course that could guide them to a future career in the highly skilled workforce, including the skilled trades. With more than 100,000 unfilled skilled trades jobs right now, it is critical Ontario attracts more young people to pursue a fulfilling, good-paying career in the trades.
The Technological Education curriculum covers a broad range of sectors, including construction, transportation, manufacturing, computer technology, hospitality and communication. In Ontario, men make up more than 70 per cent of workers in trades-related occupations. The exposure to these career pathways as a mandatory graduation curriculum requirement will ensure more young women make the choice to pursue a career in the trades.
While almost 39 per cent of Ontario secondary schoolstudents were enrolled in a Technological Education course in 2020–21, nearly 63 per cent were male students. With this graduation requirement, more young women will have an opportunity to explore the trades. This new requirement means a student may be introduced to programming learning in Grade 9, explore the apprenticeship pathway further and may ultimately decide to become an aerospace manufacturing technician, for example.
“For Ontario to succeed, we need more women and girls to pursue fulfilling careers in the skilled trades. I am proud our government is taking action to ensure students across our province have the tools and skills they need to build a new generation of prosperity in Ontario,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “This mandatory graduation requirement means a brighter future – not just for women and girls – but for our entire province.”
This new graduation requirement builds upon other actions taken by the government to bolster its Skilled Trades Strategy, including developing an accelerated Grade 11 to apprenticeship pathway for students to get into the skilled trades faster.
“Ontario is facing the largest labour shortage in a generation, which means when you have a career in the skilled trades, you have a career for life,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why our government is taking an all-hands-on deck approach to attract and train our next generation of skilled trades workers for better jobs and bigger paycheques for themselves and their families.”
Saskatchewan Cities Feeling Pinch of PST on Municipal Construction Projects
As municipalities finalize their municipal budgets and prepare for the 2023 construction season, Saskatchewan’s hometowns are continuing to feel the pinch of PST on municipal construction projects. Cities are paying millions of dollars in PST on infrastructure projects designed to improve the quality of life for their residents and surrounding areas.
“Local governments are responsible for approximately 60 per cent of public infrastructure,” Mayor Gerald Aalbers, chair of the SUMA City Mayors’ Caucus and vice-president of cities for SUMA, said. “Our hometowns largely build and maintain that infrastructure through government grants like the Municipal Revenue Sharing program. But one-quarter or more of our Municipal Revenue Sharing dollars are being returned to the province in the form of PST on construction projects.”
Based on data gathered by SUMA, medium-sized cities in Saskatchewan returned 24 to 39 per cent of their total Municipal Revenue Sharing grant back to the province in the form of PST on construction projects in 2021. The City of Yorkton paid approximately $1 million in PST on their infrastructure projects, and for the City of Prince Albert, the total was $2.8 million. Through Municipal Revenue Sharing, the cities received $3.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively.
When the exemption of PST on construction projects was removed in 2017, Saskatchewan’s hometowns raised concerns over the additional costs, requesting an exemption. With inflation, costs have increased drastically, further impacting the already limited budgets of Saskatchewan’s municipalities. For those cities undertaking major infrastructure projects, like the City of Prince Albert, the percentage of funding returned to the province through PST on construction projects is anticipated to rise substantially.
“We truly appreciate the funding provided to our communities through programs like Municipal Revenue Sharing,” Mayor Aalbers said. “But we are returning a significant portion of this funding through PST on municipal construction, funding that could instead be used to enhance municipal services and limit property tax increases.”
The impact of PST on infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan’s cities was discussed during the virtual SUMA City Mayors’ Caucus meeting on Feb. 9. SUMA’s City Mayors’ Caucus brings together representatives from Saskatchewan’s 16 cities to discuss issues of common concern and project a strong, unified voice on the most pressing and important local and provincial issues facing Saskatchewan’s cities.
SHCA 2023 Member Engagement Opportunities
Mark your calendars! Visit the events page on SHCA’s website for the full list of 2023 events.
COMING SOON
March 29–31, 2023 – REGINA
SHCA Spring Kick-Off and Industry Awards Gala, held in conjunction with the Asphalt Institute
Delta Hotel and Convention Centre, Regina
April 4 – REGINA
MLA Reception
5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Delta Hotel and Convention Centre, Regina
May 25-26 – SASKATOON
Board Social and Golf Tournament
Hudson’s Pub and Dakota Dunes
The Rate Guides are Coming!
The 2023 SHCA Equipment Rental Rates Guide and Membership Roster is currently at the printer, with mailing expected to begin at the end of March.
Watch for your copy to arrive in April. Contact the SHCA office to purchase additional copies for your crews.
President’s Message
I know you’re hopeful the Saskatchewan government will put out a budget that truly allows for growth. Before the end of March, our industry will have a look at whether the government will put its money where its mouth is. When the throne speech was delivered in October 2022, Scott Moe said, “Our government’s goal is to ensure that strong growth continues and that it’s growth that works for everyone. That means reinvesting in health, education and affordability measures, paying down debt and defending our economic autonomy so Saskatchewan continues to grow and create jobs.”
But it is on budget day, which this year is March 22, that we will see just how dedicated this government is to growth. Saskatchewan’s growth depends on trade and strengthening our ability to move what this province produces so that it reaches world markets, and that starts at home.
I see what is happening in our neighbouring provinces. To the west of us, Alberta’s Ministry of Transportation has allocated $8 billion for its economic corridors as part of its three-year capital plan. This year, the industry in that province will see the Alberta government increase its investment by $718 million compared to last year’s budget.
To the east of us, 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. In addition, Manitoba allows for carry-over, which is necessary for the industry. Here at home, right now there are still approximately eight projects from the fall 2022 tender schedule that have yet to be tendered. The province won’t allow contractors to carry over work from year to year, but they also haven’t been able to actually get the work out that was advertised in the fall.
I know you need government to understand that our industry can’t wait three months or longer for work to come out on the market. All the work that hasn’t gone out now can’t get done. Road bans will be starting soon and there’s no longer time to prep the material. There is that window over the winter months that allows you to crush and haul material, and it is closing.
At a minimum, this situation around carry-overs needs to improve. If contractors were at least allowed to carry over a portion of the Ministry of Highway’s budget, that would allow for some certainty of work come spring. But what would be even better would be for Saskatchewan’s government to look at what Alberta and Manitoba are doing and take it one step further.
Those governments are making three-year commitments, but provinces would see more value from five-year investments. That will provide the industry and those supplying industry some certainty, but it’s about more than the industry. It’s about the economic growth it would encourage in this province and its benefits for living here.
The highways you build and maintain support trade. We know the world depends on what Saskatchewan produces – food, fuel and fertilizer. When you invest in the infrastructure that will get those goods to market more efficiently, you become more competitive in the world. Being more competitive means even more trade and that is what grows our economy. That economic growth can then generate revenues that support areas such as healthcare, education and social programming, making Saskatchewan an even better place to live.
It is inconsistent for a government to say it wants to grow the economy and then not invest in what will support that growth. Making five-year commitments is an opportunity for the Saskatchewan government. It helps build our reputation in the world for being reliable and competitive trading partners while telling voters the government of this province invests purposefully and strategically so a return on that investment is delivered.
Adopting a strategy of making longer-term investment commitments to grow the economy should start with looking at how the Ministry of Highways tenders projects. But it needs to go further than that. I will let you know following March 22 whether that is the direction this government is headed.
City of Regina Implements Indigenous Procurement Policy
Regina City Council has approved the City’s new Indigenous Procurement Policy.
Regina is committed to reconciliation and this policy, which outlines a minimum goal of 20 per cent Indigenous procurement, is a step along our journey to economic reconciliation. Effective immediately, the procurement policy puts tools in place to foster greater success for Indigenous-led business growth and development within Regina and area.
The Indigenous Procurement Policy has been developed in collaboration with the Indigenous Procurement Advisory Committee (IPAC) who have graciously provided insight and support to Regina’s team to help them move forward together in reconciliation. The IPAC will continue to meet and provide guidance to support implementation of the Indigenous Procurement Policy to its fullest.
Visit Regina.ca/procurement for more information about the Indigenous Procurement Policy.
Have an Idea for Think BIG Magazine?
All members of SHCA are welcome to submit their article ideas for consideration. This is a great opportunity to shine the spotlight on your company, a project you completed and are proud of or to suggest a topic relevant to industry.
If interested, please direct your requests to Shantel.
