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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) originally known as the Prairie Roadbuilders Association had its origins in 1943. Its founding members were the roadbuilder associations from the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. At that time they were the nucleus of the Prairie Roadbuilders Section of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).
In 1956 the Alberta Roadbuilders Association joined and the 'Prairie Roadbuilder Association' name was formally adopted. When the British Columbia Roadbuilders Association joined in 1973, its name was again changed to the Western Canada Roadbuilder Association. To more fully reflect the broad nature of industries it represents, the name was further amended in 1996 to its current Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA).
MANDATE
The WCR&HCA has from its inception been concerned about the need to properly invest in Canada's infrastructure including its transportation network. The record of the Annual Convention held in Saskatoon in 1953 shows that the following resolution was adopted:
"1. Continued Federal Aid Asked in the Building of Highways
WHEREAS - A properly integrated road system is necessary from the standpoint of improved lines of transportation for use in both peace and war. To provide access to undeveloped areas, to provide mobility of defence projects, to expand our tourist industry, to provide dust-free roads and has become vital in the daily economic life of our country; and
WHEREAS - The Construction of the Trans-Canada highway demonstrates that the Federal and Provincial Governments can work together in accord;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED - That the Prairie Roadbuilders section of the Canadian Construction Association urges that the Federal Government in Canada set up a National Highway Commission to co- ordinate the planning, financing and construction of main highways in Canada and provide the Federal appropriations in keeping with the financial abilities of the Canadian people, to be made available to the provinces on a percentage basis having due regard to area, population, vehicle registration and the ratios of mileage of road per unit of population."
TRIP/CANADA
Commitment to the above principles led the WCR&HCA to initiate in 1983, formation of The Road & Information Program Canada (TRIP/Canada). Since then a number of TRIP/Canada reports on the condition of Canada's municipal infrastructure and highways were prepared and circulated nationally to all 3 levels of government. The WCR&HCA supported the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) calling for and completing a series of reports addressing the concept of and funding for a National Highways System.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
The WCR&HCA has consistently maintained a focussed attention on national infrastructure policy issues. In 1996/97 the Board of Directors adopted a National Infrastructure Policy (NIP) which targeted its attention at 3 program component parts: the municipal infrastructure deficit then estimated at $44 billion (now in the vicinity of $162 billion); the national highways system requirements then estimated at $12 billion (now in the vicinity of $30 billion); and strategic infrastructure investments aimed at creating new areas of economic activity.
The above policies were in substance subsequently adopted by a number of national and provincial associations including the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), the Coalition to Renew Canada's Infrastructure (CRCI) and TRIP/Canada.
Recognizing that TRIP/Canada's mandate should be broadened, the WCR&CHA successfully recommended in 1997, that TRIP's name should stand for "The Road & Infrastructure Program Canada (TRIP/Canada).
In 1998 the WCR&HCA prepared a brief (updated in 1999) on national infrastructure policy, which fleshed out the "Guidelines to a New Infrastructure Program", adopted by the Premiers at their 1996 and 1997 Annual Premiers Conference. The brief was then used in national, provincial and municipal government lobby efforts to pursue adoption by the federal government of a formal National Transportation & Infrastructure Policy.
TRANSPORTATION AWARENESS PARTNERSHIP (TAP)
"If the public had an appreciation for the critical contribution that transportation makes towards life in Canada, to the same extent it has for healthcare and education, the public sector would be better able to address its policy challenges and issues more effectively."
Independent of one another, a broad range of transportation stakeholder organizations in western Canada came to similar conclusions. To change public policy, we must have the support of an informed and active public opinion.
It is in this regard that the Transportation Awareness Partnership (TAP) was formed in 2004 with the support of the WCR&HCA Board and active participation of the Chief Operating Officers of the four member Associations. Its objective quite simply is to participate in an awareness campaign that seeks to accomplish the following objective:
The TAP Steering Committee consisted of seven (7) with two (2) representatives from the WCR&HCA. It assembled a number of viewpoints from across western Canada and then nationally about the viability of pursuing a national education campaign whose objective it would be to raise the public and therefore public policy profile of the importance of transportation to the general well-being and standard of life that Canadians had come to enjoy.
Notwithstanding best efforts of the Tap Steering Committee the effort ended when there was insufficient interests from a broad enough group to raise the necessary capital to pursue such a campaign.
What was accomplished however was the basis around which the WCR&HCA pursued its next national policy initiative launched in 2005.
WESTERN CANADA TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (WCTS)
In March 2005 the Western Transportation Minister's Report (WTM Report) was released which for the first time ignored provincial boundaries and looked at developing a transportation system for western Canada in a regional, multi-modal, efficient, 'just in time' competitive global context.
That report formed the basis upon which the Council of the Federation Report - the Premiers - in December 2005 again called upon the federal government to develop a 'national transportation vision.'
The WCR&HCA, based upon the WTM Report, organized in October 2005 a western Canada stakeholder based group of individuals and associations to advance the notion and concept of a Western Canada Transportation System (WCTS). The WCR&HCA President chairs the WCTS Group which includes:
David Colledge - Colledge Transportation Consulting, B.C.
The WCTS Group Mission statement is:
The WCTS Group met individually with all four western Canada Transportation Ministers promoting the stated Mission Statement and secured ongoing political commitment to the WTM Report which called for a $16 billion - expressed in 2003 dollars - investment in western Canada's transportation system of which $12 billion was earmarked for highways, bridges and related structures. The system was laid out strategically to enhance east west, north south trade and seize emerging trade with the Asia-Pacific Rim countries.
The WCTS Group was offered as a private sector ally to the provinces to promote the WCTS concept to the private sector, the federal government, the public and media. It flowed naturally from the WTM Report which itself called for enhanced collaboration with the private sector to achieve the objectives of the WTM Report.
As a result of those successful meetings each Minister committed their respective Deputy Minister to meet with the WCTS Group to pursue next steps. That meeting took place on December 16 & 17, 2007 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Following presentations to the Deputies and general round table discussion the minutes record that:
i) The Deputies undertook to update the WTM Report of March 2005 and add territory concerns;
The WCTS has completed its brief recommending removal of trade impediments, and the Deputy Minsters have completed their update of the WTM Report including territory concerns.
It is anticipated that the next joint WCTS Group and Deputy Ministers meeting will convene in the fall of 2008 to examine moving forward with the fourth objective above noted.
There is reason to be optimistic that this public policy initiative will result in significantly enhanced investment in transportation system assets in western Canada.
It will be the continued objective of the WCR&HCA to make the WCTS a reality to benefit not only western Canada but the nation as well.
HOURS OF SERVICE
All four member associations of the WCR&HCA have contributed to the development of allocation requests to the provincial government related to the federal Hours of Service Regulation. It is hoped that by the fall of 2008 a joint 'western position' might be developed which would then be marketed at the national level.
NATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
The WCR&HCA is an active member of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), is a member of the CCA Roadbuilder & Heavy Construction Council and TRIP/Canada, and supports efforts of the Coalition to renew Canada's Infrastructure (CRCI). It also has a seat on the Board of Directors of the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC).
ORGANIZATION
The WCR&HCA currently headquartered in Winnipeg, has 4 member associations, which represent the heavy construction industry in western Canada. They are: B.C. Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association of Saskatchewan and Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.
The governing body of the WCR&HCA is its Board of Directors. It is made up of two (2) directors plus the Chief Operating Officers from each of the 4 member provincial associations. The office of Chairman rotates annually, with the annual convention hosting association concurrently holding the office of Chairman.
For further information please contact Chris Lorenc, B.A., LL.B., WCR&HCA President at 204 947 1379 or e-mail at clorenc@mhca.mb.ca
Updated July 2008
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Ruth Sol, President WESTAC, B.C.
David Fung, Chair Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters of Canada (CME), B.C.
Dr. Roger Gibbins, President & CEO, Canada West Foundation (CWF)
Peter Wallis, President, Van Horne Institute, Alberta
Dr. Graham Parsons, President, Organization for Western Economic Cooperation (OWEC), Sask.
Dr. Barry Prentice, Director, Asper School of Business, Transport Institute, Manitoba
Chris Lorenc, B.A., LL.B., President WCR&HCA "To champion an integrated, internationally competitive, efficient, sustainable and secure multi-modal Western Canada Transportation System (WCTS), to achieve a healthy economy, environment and quality of life for Canadians."
ii) The WCTS Group agreed to identify regulatory, legislative harmonization and investment impediments to the free flow of trade;
iii) The two reports will be reviewed for approval by the 'Working Group' before moving to the next stage; and
iv) A 'go forward' communications, media, public and government relations strategy would then be developed with responsibilities for 'go forward steps' being assigned - who best to carry out which element(s) - championed separately by each group, while others could be championed as a collective effort."
