�ȵ����

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA) is responding to the province’s recently unveiled Budget 2026, stating despite repeated calls by the association to increase the annual Highways Capital Budget, the amount falls short of expectations.

According to the MHCA, this aspect of the budget is set at $525 million, “a disappointing $10 million increase over 2025.”

“Notably, the highways budget includes a commitment to work with industry partners to develop a capital plan to take stock of the state of our roads and the future investments needed to maintain and sustain them,” a release reads. “This was one of MHCA’s key items in our pre-budget submission, which the association presented to Premier Wab Kinew in February.”

Other highlights as per the MHCA include critical infrastructure projects like the interchange at PTH 100 and PTH 3 (McGillivray Boulevard), along with these road projects:

• Twinning Highway 1E from West Hawk Lake to Ontario border
• Overpass at Carberry at the intersection of Highway 1 and PTH 5
• PTH 8 between PTH 67 and Gimli, involving the construction of four new passing lanes
• PTH 2-West junction PTH 21 (East of Deleau) bituminous reconstruction for 21.4 kilometres
• PTH 5 Bridge at Spruce Woods construction
• Airport at Wasagamack and connecting roads.

A new economic development agency will also be developed this year to “support economic development in every region of the province and aim to make things simpler for anyone seeking to do business in Manitoba, providing single-window access to supports, programs and services.”

Other infrastructure highlights include:

• $10 million Churchill Plus Catalyst Fund
• $262.5 million in federal and provincial funding over five years to Arctic Gateway Group to develop the Churchill port and Hudson Bay rail line
• $450,000 in operating funds to Centreport Canada to attract new investment
• $3.8 million to address critical infrastructure needs in Northern communities, including water, wastewater and solid waste capital projects  
• $24 million from The Manitoba Water Services Board to support municipalities in rural and northern Manitoba to pursue water and wastewater projects

In the mining and quarry sectors there were also several announcements, such as:

• $1.4 million for the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund
• $2 million to support the First Nations-owned Minago mine
• $1 million investment in a feasibility study to assess northern infrastructure requirements – like roads, hydro, rail, shipping, telecommunications and utilities – to support critical mineral sector development
• Accelerated remediation of orphaned and abandoned mines, contaminated sites and depleted quarries and pits.