Government Hosts Stakeholder Roundtable to Identify Infrastructure Priorities

Participants Coming Together to Create Good Jobs, Ensure Steady Growth: Minister

A series of roundtable meetings with key stakeholders from across the province will help develop a multi-year plan to build infrastructure that will support and grow the provincial economy, Jobs and the Economy Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.

“We’re bringing together Manitoba businesses, municipalities and workers’ associations to identify our strategic economic infrastructure priorities and get down to building.  It can’t happen unless we work together,” said the minister.  “This type of infrastructure is the backbone of our economy.  A multi-year commitment to keep building will mean steady growth in our economy and good jobs for families.”

Today’s meeting brought together a range of stakeholder representatives including those from the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, the Manitoba Trucking Association, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, the Brandon, Winnipeg, Manitoba and Aboriginal chambers of commerce, the Manitoba Federation of Labour, the Winnipeg Airports Authority, CAA and CentrePort Canada.

“There is growing recognition that sustained and strategic investment in core infrastructure is one of the most effective ways for governments to fuel economic growth.  To achieve this, we need a strong, multi-year commitment from the province,” said Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.  “Our discussions today are building upon that understanding and we look forward to its outcomes.”

The minister noted that achieving the provincial government’s commitment to add 75,000 more skilled workers to Manitoba’s workforce by 2020 will be the key to ensuring these critical infrastructure investments can be made with matching federal dollars through the renewed 10-year Building Canada Fund.

Joining the minister on behalf of the provincial government were Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton, Municipal Government Minister Stan Struthers, Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief, minister responsible for the City of Winnipeg, and Finance Minister Jennifer Howard.

Additional roundtable discussions with other stakeholder groups will take place in November and December.

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