Civil Infrastructure Council plans campaign to support trade gateways

WINNIPEG — The Civil Infrastructure Council Corporation (CICC), which represents 11 heavy civil local construction associations across Canada, is planning a national campaign to increase investments in trade gateways and corridor infrastructure.

The advocacy push parallels the release of the Canada West Foundation’s From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy report in May 2022 which called for a strategy to select and invest in priority nation-building trade infrastructure and a significant ramping up of federal investment, a Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA) release stated.

The CICC campaign also complements an initiative by the Western Canadian Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) to press regional and national governments to invest strategically in trade corridors and gateways across Western Canada.

“The momentum for serious attention to and investment in our country’s trade infrastructure is growing, recognizing that without increased trade Canada’s economic growth cannot achieve its potential and trade moves on our highways, airports, through our inland and marine ports and border crossings,” WCR&HCA president Chris Lorenc said in a statement.

At a Sept. 14 meeting the CICC board approved both the selection of Prospectus Associates as consultants to the public/government relations campaign and a budget to accompany the work, the release stated.

Work will also include highlighting events by the Canadian Construction Association and working with regional heavy civil associations to “spotlight the intrinsic link between the economy, trade and transportation infrastructure and the fact Canada has fallen behind its global competitors in both planning and levels of investment,” the release said.

The WCR&HCA and eight other organizations also signed a letter in August to Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson seeking her support and encouraging her to put trade infrastructure investment on the table as a priority for the premiers at their next Council of the Federation meeting in 2023. Stefanson will be the council’s next chair.