In a bold move set to reshape Manitoba’s educational landscape, the provincial government has unveiled a comprehensive school construction trades agreement that promises to deliver 14 new schools across the province. The landmark agreement, announced Thursday by Premier Wab Kinew alongside Labour and Immigration Minister Jamie Moses, represents a significant step toward addressing the province’s growing educational infrastructure needs while bolstering its skilled trades workforce.
The new Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) establishes a framework that prioritizes local hiring, apprenticeship opportunities, and equitable access to construction jobs. Under this agreement, contractors working on Manitoba’s school construction projects will be required to meet specific targets for employing Indigenous workers, women, and newcomers to Canada—groups traditionally underrepresented in the construction trades.
“This agreement is about more than just building schools; it’s about building futures,” Premier Kinew stated during the announcement at Winnipeg’s St. John’s High School. “When we invest in construction projects, we have an opportunity to ensure those dollars benefit the community in multiple ways—providing quality education spaces while creating meaningful career pathways for Manitobans.”
The agreement marks a significant departure from previous approaches to public infrastructure projects. Rather than focusing solely on cost efficiency, the CBA emphasizes broader community impacts, including workforce development and economic inclusion. According to Canada News, the agreement will help address Manitoba’s pressing need for skilled tradespeople, with the construction industry facing significant labor shortages in coming years.
Labor Minister Moses highlighted the agreement’s potential to transform lives: “For many young people, especially those from underrepresented groups, access to apprenticeship opportunities can be life-changing. This agreement creates structured pathways into well-paying careers while building the schools our growing communities desperately need.”
The 14 planned schools will be distributed across the province, with particular focus on high-growth areas experiencing classroom shortages. The Manitoba Building Trades, representing 13 affiliated unions and approximately 6,000 skilled workers, played a key role in developing the agreement’s framework.
“This is about creating sustainable career opportunities, not just temporary jobs,” said Tanya Palson, CEO of Manitoba Building Trades. “When we train local workers on these projects, we’re building capacity that remains in our communities long after the schools are completed.”
The agreement has garnered support from CO24 Business analysts who note its potential economic multiplier effects. When construction dollars flow to local workers and suppliers, they tend to recirculate within Manitoba’s economy, generating additional economic activity beyond the direct project spending.
Critics, primarily from opposition parties, have questioned whether the agreement might increase costs or delay completion timelines. However, government officials maintain that similar agreements in other jurisdictions have demonstrated that well-structured CBAs can deliver projects on time and within budget while achieving important social goals.
Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Nathan Martindale expressed support for the initiative: “Our members have long advocated for both new schools and educational opportunities for students. This agreement delivers on both fronts by creating learning spaces while potentially offering students pathways into the trades that will build those very spaces.”
Industry experts interviewed by CO24 News suggest the agreement could serve as a model for future public infrastructure projects across Canada. As governments at all levels face the dual challenges of aging infrastructure and workforce development, agreements that leverage public spending to achieve multiple policy objectives may become increasingly common.
Construction on the first schools under this agreement is expected to begin later this year, with completion dates staggered over the next five years. The province estimates the projects will create thousands of direct construction jobs and hundreds of apprenticeship positions.
As Manitoba embarks on this ambitious school construction program, a crucial question emerges: Can this model of infrastructure development successfully balance fiscal responsibility with broader social and economic objectives, potentially creating a new standard for how public projects are delivered across Canada?
