Manitoba is integral to Canada’s global trade

Manitoba is an integral part of Canada’s trade-reliant economy. We are the keystone province providing multi-directional access to all domestic, continental and global markets, anchored by the Port of Churchill, CentrePort Canada, the Emerson border crossing, and the Trans-Canada highway.

Manitoba’s recent economic development strategy, the Premier’s Business and Jobs Council, including its trade diversification subcommittee, and the pending 2026/27 provincial budget, must collectively act to help broaden and diversify Manitoba and Canada’s global trade profile, thereby advancing our economy’s resilience and social best interests.

An outcome of the above must be a strategic plan, backed by a co-ordinated, progressive budget, enabled by an annual five-year capital plan. It must demonstrate how Manitoba is key to federal domestic and global trade diversification and our economy’s resiliency objectives.

We must no longer message to Ottawa cap in hand: “please sir, may I have some more?” Replace dithering with courage, conviction, and commitment to big-picture actions, mindful that the world around us has changed. And we must act aware that decisions we make or fail to make today will have multigenerational impacts.

For those thinking we live in a rules-based international world order, think again. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s address to the 2026 World Economic Forum was forcefully succinct in summarizing today’s global context saying this: “…. every day we’re reminded that we live in an era of great power rivalry — that the rules-based order is fading, that the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”

He called upon middle powers, including Canada, to act together guided by collective principles and pragmatism and accept that not being at the table means being its menu.

So, how should Manitoba respond to the challenge?

First, embrace the proposition championed by Carney, that growing the economy is job No. 1 for every level of government. Without success there, we have no capacity to sustainably maintain and enhance existing or introduce new social programs.

In support, the province’s economic development strategy must be implemented through a provincial economic development agency leading a co-ordinated provincial strategy driving growth. It should, as one of its immediate priorities, champion strategic investment in Manitoba’s trade gateways and corridors to support trade diversification and economic resilience.

To understand where to invest in transportation, the Kinew government must become the first government in Manitoba’s history — yes, the first in our provincial history — to publicly release an assessment of Manitoba’s transportation system condition and needs, accompanied by a critical path to achieve identified objectives, delivered through an annual and five-year capital program.

Frankly, how can decision-makers and stakeholders possibly know where to invest, maximize return on investment, and conduct informed consultation, without anchoring discussion to a public document that helps shape directions? Winnipeg has been doing this for decades. So why not Manitoba?

And remember, failing to plan, is planning for failure.

As part of next steps, let’s stop pretending that the existing annual highways budget is adequate to task. We must transition this discussion from the “fiction” of a highways capital program, to one that is evidence-based and really can invest in Manitoba’s transportation system.

Consider this: in 2018, the highways system investment deficit was pegged at $9 billion, necessitating a $900-million annual highways budget, which then was only $350 million. Adjusted for inflation, the equivalent 2018 purchasing power was $1.1 billion in 2025. The 2025 budget was only $515 million, only slightly more than half of what was required back in 2018.

To ensure federal investment participation, the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan is a policy already embraced by the premiers’ Council of the Federation which should be harnessed to advance provincial and national priorities. And Manitoba should access the new federal $5-billion Trade Diversification Corridors Fund, whose objective is to enhance port, rail, road, and airport infrastructure to support doubling overseas exports. This includes Churchill, twinning the Trans-Canada highway east of Falcon Lake to the Ontario border, along with the Route 90 enhancements and the Chief Peguis Trail extension inside Winnipeg.

And finally, to achieve economic growth, trade diversification and economic resiliency objectives, the 2026/27 provincial budget must usher in a commitment to eliminating the highways system investment gap over the next three budget cycles.

The Manitoba government is uniquely positioned to materially advance our economic and social welfare best interests by harnessing growth. It can be the first provincial government to transparently link investment in Manitoba’s transportation system to support economic growth, thereby provincial fiscal strength and stability.

Proceeding as recommended above helps create a robust growing economy, sustains employment for thousands of Manitobans and supports reaching economic and social well-being levels we have yet to experience.

And importantly, the approach recognizes the truth of the premier’s repeated statement, that it is “the economic horse that pulls the social cart.”

Chris Lorenc is president and CEO of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.