Building Manitoba with Manitobans: Budget 2025 Delivers on Jobs and Infrastructure
March 20, 2025
Building Manitoba with Manitobans: Budget 2025 Delivers on Jobs and Infrastructure
Winnipeg, MB – March 20, 2025– Manitoba Building Trades (MBT) welcomes the Manitoba government’s Budget 2025, reinforcing a strong commitment to infrastructure investment and workforce development. The introduction of the Manitoba Jobs Agreement ensures that public projects are built by Manitobans, strengthening the skilled trades workforce and protecting jobs amid growing trade uncertainty.
“With this budget, the Manitoba government is making a clear statement: when we invest in building our province, we invest in Manitoba workers,” said Tanya Palson, Executive Director of Manitoba Building Trades. “We are pleased to see commitments that will put local tradespeople to work and create new opportunities for the next generation of apprentices.”
MBT acknowledges that the government’s investment in critical infrastructure will be a game-changer for the province’s construction outlook, with a record $3.7 Billion in capital projects.
“Infrastructure projects like these don’t just improve our province—they create thousands of good-paying, family-supporting jobs for Manitoba’s tradespeople,” said Dave McPhail, President of Manitoba Building Trades and Business Manager of IBEW Local 2085. “We look forward to working with the government to ensure these projects are completed efficiently, on time, and to the highest standard.”
Alongside these historic infrastructure commitments, the Manitoba Jobs Agreement ensures that Manitobans will build Manitoba. Manitoba Building Trades will monitor the specifics of these agreements and continue to advocate for them to focus on local hiring, prevailing wages, and apprenticeship opportunities.
“We see these agreements as an action to ensure fair and open tendering on public projects,” said Palson. “The Manitoba Jobs Agreement should level the playing field so that infrastructure projects are awarded for maximum social and economic benefit for Manitobans through prevailing wages and training opportunities – not just to contractors with the lowest bid.”
Manitoba Building Trades is eager to work alongside the government, contractors, and industry partners to bring this initiative to life. The Manitoba government is building a solid foundation for long-term economic growth and a thriving skilled trades workforce by focusing on local hiring and investing in high-quality infrastructure.
About Manitoba Building Trades
Manitoba Building Trades Council (MBT) represents the common goals of over 10,000 construction and trades professionals across our 13 member unions. For over 115 years, MBT has promoted the interests of our member unions and engaged in project partnerships to deliver safe, skilled and highly productive labour.
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Tanya Palson, info@mbtrades.ca / 204-619-2068
For more information, visit www.mbtrades.ca