Manitoba municipalities eyeing federal infrastructure stimulus

Municipal leaders in Manitoba say they'll be looking at the fine print in Tuesday's federal budget, to see the extent to which billions earmarked for infrastructure projects will have to be cost-shared.

Local budgets are stretched, Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz said, but the Manitoba capital is ready to fast-track projects if that means accessing federal funds. And the city has its priorities: rapid transit, road repairs, fixing back lanes and bike trails.

In pre-budget leaks, federal officials have indicated today's budget will include $7 billion for new infrastructure projects.

"I don't know if it's all going to be one-third, one-third, one-third," he said. "This might be different."

Winnipeg officials said they don't want a repeat of the Building Canada Fund which has had so many conditions attached that municipalities have only been able to access a fraction of the funds.

As well, in the past, labour shortages have left Winnipeg scrambling to find contractors and workers for big projects.

But Katz doesn't expect that to be the case this time around.

"Quite a few skilled trades in other provinces have been coming back to Winnipeg," he said. "So I believe once we identify them, we can make it happen. I also believe there's certain opportunities for some of the smaller trades that are here, and they can do some projects as well."

Across Manitoba, municipal leaders say they've learned some hard lessons from previous federal programs aimed at upgrading infrastructure.

"You get tied up in so many different levels of government," said Winnipeg Coun. Gord Steeves. "You get tied up in so much parochialism. You get tied up in so many different priorities that nothing ever gets done."

Doug Dobrowolski, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, said he hopes smaller towns and  municipalities have their building priorities identified and funding applications ready. Otherwise, he warned, deadlines could be missed.

"A lot of communities might not have their applications ready to go," Dobrowolski said. "And that's a big concern, given the need that's out there."

Notwithstanding those concerns, Manitoba has a $7-billion infrastructure deficit, officials claim, and cities and towns will take whatever Ottawa has to offer in today's budget.

And so Manitoba's construction industry is mobilizing to meet the demand for workers.

Chris Lorenc, head of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association said the province has 17,000 construction and trades workers during peak seasons.

He said more workers can be recruited if contractors are given enough lead time on projects.

"I think after all is said and done it is a pretty good market in Manitoba. We don't suffer the boom and bust of some of the other economies like, for example, Alberta and more recently Saskatchewan," Lorenc said. "And because we do offer a fairly stable economic climate and environment, it's a good place to pursue a career."