WHY I Support Strategic Investments in Roads

• I will work with Council to support investment in key economic trade routes – specifically Kenaston Boulevard and the extension of Chief Peguis Trail.  I have been and always will be a supporter of investing in economic trade routes. We need to focus on avenues of economic development to aid in recovering from the pandemic, and to continue supporting and improving the quality of life we have now, and for the future.
• Kenaston Boulevard and the extension of Chief Peguis are designated economic trade routes within the City of Winnipeg, Capital, Region and Province of Manitoba. These trade routes provide access to major industrial and commercial sites and link into national and international trade routes.

Centreport Canada

Since 2019, Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba and Government of Canada have been investing hundreds of millions of tax dollars into CentrePort Canada.

“CentrePort Canada is North America’s largest trimodal inland port and Foreign Trade Zone, offering 20,000 acres of high-quality, affordable industrial land. Strategically located at the hub of international trading corridors, CentrePort Canada connects businesses to major markets around the globe. The inland port’s 20,000-acre footprint offers on-site access to world class rail, truck and air cargo operations.”

• Currently hundreds of millions in private capital investments have been made in Centre Port North – with almost 100 companies already situated on the lands.
• For example, recently in March of 2022, CentrePort and the Provincial government announced a development partner for the CentrePort Canada Rail Park.  Focus Equities Inc., a Canadian real estate developer, will be the developer of the rail-served industrial project. The Rail Park is to provide a critical stimulus for significant economic growth, trade, business attraction and investment, job creation and increased tax revenues for Manitoba. The 665-acre rail-served industrial space is projected to create more than 4,800 direct and indirect jobs with an economic impact that exceeds $3 billion dollars.
• CentrePort Canada is an international trucking hub with some of Canada’s largest carriers located on site.
• The Winnipeg Richardson International Airport offers 24/7/365 operations and the most dedicated freighter movements in Canada. Carriers on site include FedEx, Purolator, UPS, Canada Post, Air Canada Cargo and Cargojet.

Investing into roads that support economic trade routes benefit all Manitobans. People move to communities that provide job opportunities and they move away from those that don’t. To continue attracting investment and job opportunities in our city in the future, as a city we need to work with the Provincial and Federal governments to continue investing in the growth of CentrePort North and CentrePort South.  CentrePort North is located in the RM of Rosser, and CentrePort South is located within the City of Winnipeg.

Important to Note:

• The quality of transportation links can affect the relative competitiveness of one area over another area, because of quality of life, lower costs to access resources and markets, and access to larger markets.
• The impact of improved transportation links on regional economies is context-specific and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Not all transport investments will be equally effective in enhancing economic growth.

Good Movement Network

Kenaston Boulevard and the extension of Chief Peguis Trail are key links in Winnipeg and the capital region’s goods movement network. These routes make a crucial contribution to economic development, growth and are an enabler of important social benefits. The fact of the matter is – Winnipeg has no freeways, we have made a significant investment in the development and future of CentrePort, and we need to ensure the trade routes leading to Centre Port are in top condition.

• Investments in strategic transportation infrastructure ensures commercial and other traffic flows safely and smoothly through the capital region.
• Investments in strategic transportation infrastructure enables Winnipeg and Manitoba to remain competitive in the world markets.
• Investments in strategic transportation infrastructure is an enabler of important social benefits and quality of life.

Furthermore, for every $1 of public funds invested in strategic infrastructure, the Manitoba economy realizes a return to GDP of between $1.30 and $1.90, depending on the nature of the investment. The ROI is felt both in the same year – because of the immediate job creation, with generation of tax revenues – and long-term, especially in the development of trade-enabling infrastructure.

Do we have to many roads in the City of Winnipeg to support over the long term? For sure we do. In the last eight years we have made unprecedented investments in our road network, yet we still have many in poor condition*. We can’t stop investing roads, but we can work to invest more strategically.

Strategic investment in roads is one of the many reasons why I am supporting mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham.

Regional and Local Road Investments:

2015   – $ 105.29

2016  –  $ 107.96

2017  –  $ 109.88

2018  –  $  121.40   ( Start of the Accelerated Regional Roads program with $100 million each from the Provincial and Federal governments. Program is from 2018 to 2023.

2019  –  $   89.46

2020  –  $ 133.94

2021  –  $ 154.10

2022 –   $ 176.72 (include $8.85 million from the Province of Manitoba to provide financial support for road construction, rehabilitation and preservation projects).

Total:    $ 998.74