WRLA COMPLETES FIRST-EVER MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH DAY

Five cabinet ministers. Four opposition MLAs. One party leader, and one deputy minister. That was the result of the Western Retail Lumber Association’s inaugural Legislative Outreach Day, held at the Manitoba Legislative Assembly on Friday, November 18.

For the first time ever, WRLA devoted a full day to meeting as many decision-makers at the provincial level as possible, with a view to informing them, and gaining support for key initiatives of importance to members. Advocacy is a key component in influencing public policy that affects WRLA members. This organization is advancing its outreach to build bridges to government, and to be top-of-mind for political parties as they develop platforms in advance of the 2023 Manitoba provincial election.

WRLA President Liz Kovach and WRLA members Chris Lee, Area Sales Manager at Owens Corning, and Gary Stevenson, Project Manager at Treaty One Building Supplies, spent the day at the Manitoba Legislature, briefing government officials on the work of the organization and the concerns of its members while working to cultivate positive relationships for the long term.

Kovach noted, “We wanted to familiarize legislators with our industry and its contemporary challenges. Those challenges include supply-chain bottlenecks, cost escalation, labour shortages, concerns around rail capacity, and the lack of trucking back hauls. We felt that leaders were responsive to our concerns.”

It was also an opportunity to advocate for a home renovation tax credit. Given its success in Saskatchewan it can be a powerful economic tool during an economic downturn, which is widely expected to occur in the coming months.

Chris Lee added, “Governments hear from a variety of interests and groups every day. Therefore it is especially important that we make our voices heard. Our industry needs to be at the table.”

In addition to meeting Deputy Premier and Economic Development Minister Cliff Cullen, the WRLA representatives met with Finance Minister Cameron Friesen, Environment Minister Jeff Wharton, Advanced Education and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes, and Natural Resources Minister Greg Nesbitt.

In the meeting with the Minister of Advanced Education and Immigration, Jon Reyes, Liz and the WRLA members spoke of the difficulty in finding technical personnel, and as a result of the meeting, connections will be made with Apprenticeship Manitoba. There are also opportunities via Express Entry, a program administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The province is keen to grow Manitoba’s labour force, with immigration being key to that pursuit.

The home renovation tax credit, undertaken by Saskatchewan in 2020, was a focal point during the discussion with Finance Minister Cameron Friesen. The Minister pledged to follow up with his staff and wanted to learn of the results of the Saskatchewan approach. It was noted that such a tax credit is often of minimal impact on government coffers, as receipt requirements ensure above-the-table work, resulting in tax revenue offsetting credit expenses.

Discussions with Ministers Cullen and Nesbitt centred around training and skills development, and efforts to advance “micro-credentials,” which are rapid training programs designed to provide specific skills which employers need. Liz made a note of the recent partnership with the Calgary Board of Education which, on apprenticeship, allows students to be paid for their work, with a 50/50 funding split between the school and the employer, while allowing students to gain valuable skills while also counting as course credits.

Environment Minister Jeff Wharton mentioned his many years in the trucking business and understood very well the difficulties WRLA members are facing in finding trucking back hauls. He also welcomed WRLA input, too, on recycled aggregate.

On the opposition side, WRLA also met with Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont and NDP MLAs Diljeet Brar, Matt Wiebe, Jamie Moses, and Lisa Naylor.

The New Democratic MLAs signalled full support for Centreport and also were interested in the LBM sector as a career path, given how WRLA noted the full gamut of career options and advancement available in the sector. The MLAs stated that their party will advance economic development in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont, who also attended the 2022 Building & Hardware Showcase, discussed opportunities for leveraging investment in Manitoba, methods for rebuilding in a post-COVID 19 world, and WRLA members pledged to provide the economic impact study to him, given his interest in this.

The Deputy Minister of Transportation, Sarah Thiele, and her staff also took a meeting with the WRLA delegation. Thiele noted how the government of Premier Heather Stefanson incorporated Transportation and Infrastructure into one department, given the government’s emphasis on trade gateways. Thiele noted that the province finally has a multi-year capital plan, designed to provide stability and predictability. Discussion ensued on the Port of Churchill and the repairing of the rail line, as well as the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, enabling a connection from Churchill to Mexico. This meeting also provided a unique forum to address rail capacity issues with a particular focus on winter programs by the railways.

WRLA plans to continue these outreach efforts in the coming years. Just four days later, Liz and WRLA members from Saskatchewan had an equally successful legislative outreach in that province, with similar results.

Kovach noted, “This needed to be done. Many other organizations are meeting with government on a weekly basis. Our members are extraordinary contributors to the Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Canadian economies. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to be as active as other industry associations. This experience taught us the importance of reaching out, making vital linkages and showing the government how we are a strategic partner.

WRLA members concluded their meetings by bringing attention to the 2023 Building & Hardware Showcase, being held in Winnipeg in January, and inviting the government officials to attend. Follow-up is occurring to ensure ample attendance by members of the governing party, the opposition parties, as well as key public servants.

All photos are supplied the WRLA. View a full album on the WRLA Facebook page.

Left: Liz Kovach and WRLA members meet with the Deputy Minister of Transportation, Sarah Thiele and her staff.

Right: Liz gets down to business with Finance Minister Cameron Friesen.

Bottom: Liz was joined by members Chris Lee and Gary Stevenson to meet with NDP MLAs Diljeet Brar, Jamie Moses, Lisa Naylor, Matt Wiebe.