NDP to prioritize locals in government infrastructure plans: Kinew

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This article was published 11/09/2023 (769 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Democratic Party Leader Wab Kinew is promising to put “Manitoba first” by giving more government infrastructure contracts to local firms, as part of a campaign pledge to create 10,000 new jobs.

On Monday, Kinew argued too many taxpayer-funded projects are being built by companies from out-of-province at the same time Manitoba tradespeople are out of a job.

“A Manitoba NDP government is always going to put Manitobans first and hire local people to build our infrastructure,” Kinew said at an election campaign announcement outside Victoria General Hospital in southwest Winnipeg.

“This is a commitment at the government level to improve the way we do procurement — to be a hard-nosed negotiator when it comes to these projects.”

An NDP government, if elected Oct. 3, would change procurement processes to prioritize the local workforce, Kinew said, adding he’s prepared to drive a “hard bargain” at the negotiating table to advance the province’s interests in existing free trade agreements.

“We’re always going to invite people to submit bids and to be invited to participate, but my message to other provinces would be this: Manitoba is getting serious about standing up for our own workers and not only are we going to build up our local economy here, but watch out because we might be coming for some of your economic share, as well.”

Kinew said he’s confident local enterprises can offer good value for taxpayers and argued there is a “cost of being cheap.”

“How much does it benefit our local economy if we hire people out-of-province and they take their paycheques home with them? How much better is it for Manitoba’s economy if we hire somebody who is going to spend money at the local restaurant, the local retailer, who is going to fill their (tank) at the local gas station.”

Infrastructure projects at the municipal level should also prioritize local workers — and a NDP government would ensure that’s the case, Kinew said. He declined to provide specifics.

The Fort Rouge candidate was backed by members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2085, which represents construction electricians.

According to union business manager Dave McPhail, 440 construction electricians are currently unemployed and another 100 are working outside Manitoba.

“Workers are forced to leave their families because there is nothing here in Manitoba for them,” McPhail said.

Local workers will build promised new emergency departments at Victoria, Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals in Winnipeg, Kinew said. Other jobs will be guaranteed through “consistent investment in the province.”

“There’s going to be enough work here in Manitoba that you’re going to be able to use your trade, to use your skills right here and build up the province that you call home,” Kinew vowed.

On Monday, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association president Chris Lorenc said he’s not heard of members unfairly losing business to out-of-province competitors and cautioned against policies that would threaten free trade.

The advocacy group represents companies involved in the construction of roads, highways, bridges, waterworks and other core infrastructure.

“We have a very competitive industry that does the work for the public and private sectors in this province and we also compete and are awarded projects in Ontario… in Saskatchewan and Alberta,” Lorenc said.

“It’s very important to our economy and to our industry that we leave the borders open for the opportunity of competing for work.”

It’s the association’s opinion public-sector construction contracts be awarded through an open-bid process and to the “lowest qualifying bidder,” Lorenc said.

“This isn’t a case of we have companies from other jurisdictions coming to Manitoba and stealing work from Manitoba companies — that’s just not happening.”

Rather, members can take on more work and what’s needed is reliable government infrastructure spending, Lorenc said.

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“What is important to our economy in Manitoba… is sustained, predictable, incremental, strategic investment, not peaks and valleys and definitely not protectionism.”

Progressive Conservative party spokesman Shannon Martin slammed the NDP’s commitment, claiming it runs into conflict with existing trade agreements.

“This is more evidence that Wab Kinew and the NDP have no experience running a government or managing an economy,” said the McPhillips MLA, who is not seeking re-election.

“They don’t even understand the simplest of things like trade and labour mobility agreements, which benefit all Canadian workers, and especially Manitoba businesses.”

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca