This month's feature member is Federated Insurance!

Federated Insurance is 100% Canadian owned and operated and has been in business for 103 years.

They have been an associate member of the MHBA for almost 25 years. Federated Insurance joined the MHBA as they know our members are more experienced and professional than non-members, they recognize and value these businesses.

Read the full interview with Curtis Chubey to learn more about the company, click HERE.

This profile was posted on MHBA's website and social media feeds! If you are interested in your company being featured on our Monthly Member Profile, please contact Amanda at aserediuk@homebuilders.mb.ca.

Join the Manitoba Home Builders' Association for another great Industry Night at Trans Canada Brewing Company on May 2nd, 2023! Enjoy some drinks, food, live music and conversations with your fellow association members for a casual mix and mingle opportunity.

Each registrant will receive one beer flight sampler. Appetizers will be provided.

Registration is $35.00 (plus GST) per person.



The deadline to register is Monday, April 24th, 2023.

Register HERE

When: Wednesday May 24, 2023

Where: Pine Ridge Golf Club & Elmhurst Golf and Country Club

Shotgun Start @ 12:00 pm

BBQ Lunch: 10:30 am - 11:45 am | Cocktail Reception: 5:30 pm

Registration Fee:

Golf & Reception: $225.00 (plus GST) per person

Deadline for registration is Friday, May 5th

No cancellations/refunds will be accepted after that date. 

Register HERE

There are various opportunities to support our most popular event!

Please read our SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE to learn more about how your company can get involved.

Sponsorship registration is on a 'first-come first-served basis'. Submitting the sponsorship registration form does not guarantee you a spot. The MHBA will contact you to confirm.

Deadline to register is May 5th (or until all spots have been secured).

Questions? Please email Amanda Gomes at agomes@homebuilders.mb.ca.

The MHBA is asking our members to support this great event by donating prizes! All prizes, whether cash donations or merchandise are greatly appreciated!

When you donate prizes, your company will be recognized as a "Prize Sponsor". Your company name will be featured on a poster located beside the prize table for all the attendees to see! We will also acknowledge your company on the MHBA website and e-newsletter.

If you would like to make a donation, please email Amanda Gomes at agomes@homebuilders.mb.ca.

When: Thursday May 18, 2023, 5:00-9:00pm

Where: Victoria Inn

Join us for a fabulous evening of networking as we celebrate and recognize this year's RenoMark Renovation award recipients!

Registration is $60 (plus GST) per person.



The deadline to register is Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Register HERE

GOLD SPONSOR ($500.00)

• Sponsor acknowledgement in the awards presentation
• Inclusion of company logo on MHBA's Reno Awards webpages
• Inclusion of company logo on the Winnipeg Free Press Reno Awards Winner's Issue
• Acknowledgement on the MHBA website and e-newsletter
• Two (2) complimentary tickets to the Reno Awards Reception.

If you are interested in the sponsorship opportunity above, please email Amanda Gomes at agomes@homebuilders.mb.ca

Educational Breakfast Seminar

April 19th - Canad Inns Fort Garry

2023 Spring Parade of Homes Reception

April 21st - Club Regent Event Centre

Industry Night

May 2nd - Trans Canada Brewing Co.

Annual Golf Tournament

May 24th - Elmhurst Golf & Country Club / Pineridge Golf Club

Renovation Awards Reception

May 18th - Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre

Topic: "Any Equipment can be Hazardous"

Even the simplest tools and machines can have the potential to cause severe injuries when used or maintained improperly. Staying safe around equipment requires knowledge of what could go wrong and how to protect yourself from it.

Learn more in CSAM's toolbox talk HERE

An excavation may flood if the work is below the water table, near a watercourse bank, or exposed to adverse weather conditions. When there is risk of flooding, an emergency evacuation plan must be developed. 

View the safety alert HERE

The Manitoba government is investing $3 million in two housing programs that will allow more Manitoba seniors to safely age in their homes and communities.

The new home modification grant program will have an annual budget of $1.5 million and provide financial assistance to seniors over the age of 65 and/or family members who have seniors over the age of 65 living with them with a household income of $60,000. The provincewide grant will allow for home modifications that enhance safety during daily living activities. Home modifications include adaptations designed to increase safety, accessibility and participation in daily activities such as ramps, curbless showers and increased lighting, which are common solutions that can keep people living in at home as they age. Introducing a home modification grant program was one of the MHBA’s pre-budget recommendations to Finance Minister Cliff Cullen for the 2023 provincial budget.

A further $1.5-million investment will stabilize and strengthen the Manitoba government’s supportive housing program, which has over 750 units including 528 in Winnipeg and 236 in rural areas. 

The government media release can be found here.

The Construction Safety Association of Manitoba is celebrating Safety & Health Week this year with a series of FREE webinars from May 2nd to 4th.

See the full list of webinars and register HERE

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) has been steadily working with federal government officials in the offices of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Revenue, as well as the Canada Revenue Agency, to find a solution to the unnecessary red tape caused by the new Underused Housing Tax (UHT) that is impacting the home building industry. CHBA is actively advocating for industry to be completely excluded from UHT tax filing, but in the meantime, has secured two very important interpretations, one providing clarity and one greatly reducing the level of effort to complete the UHT tax return.

CHBA has secured clarification on what constitutes “substantially completed” as it pertains to the construction of a residential property, which was a key concern for members. Very importantly, CHBA has also successfully secured an interpretation to avoid requiring filing a taxable value (assessed or sale price, Lines 280 and 285 of UT-2900) of a property if the owner is exempt from paying any tax, which greatly minimizes the reporting burden.

For the CHBA’s full update, click here.

Is your company looking for talent? MCSC can help!

Beginning April 2023 MCSC will help match Residential, Commercial and Industrial needs from entry level labourers to level 4 skilled trade apprentices.

The potential hires will be pre-screened for you:

• Youth
• Indigenous
• Women
• Newcomers

MCSC will assess and categorize each individual.

For more information, contact James Murphy at jmurphy@mbcsc.com.

The Manitoba government has initiated a study to develop a functional design for PTH 101 (the North Perimeter Highway).

The goal of the study is to develop a preferred functional design for reconstructing PTH 101 to a freeway standard, and conceptual and preliminary designs of its associated structures. These may include proposed interchanges, rail grade separations and waterways crossings.

To follow-up to the stakeholder meeting that was held on February 9, please find a copy of the Phase 1 newsletter for your information HERE. This contains a link to the project website where a copy of the presentation materials from the meeting are available. 

When: May 25th & 26th

Where: RBC Convention Centre

Tickets for the Skills Symposium are now on sale! Join Skills Canada to bring together government, industry, and education to discuss important topics relating to this year’s theme, Embracing Adaptability: Navigating Change in the Skilled Trades and Technologies. Hear from experts on recruiting & retention, accessibility in the trades, sustainable building practices, and more. Check out the full agenda HERE!

What’s Included:

• Two full days of sessions
• Breakfast (each day)
• Lunch (each day)
• Networking Reception
• Access to Canada’s only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices!

Space is limited, get your tickets today HERE!

You probably use various systems for billing, scheduling and inventory. You likely handle information electronically or store them in a filing cabinet, and that means this data could be at risk – even if printed on paper. If any of your devices or documents are lost or stolen, or if your computer network is breached leading to stolen or ransomed data, business interruption or systems corruption, the consequences can be more severe than you may think.

• Small and medium sized businesses account for almost half of all Canadian cyber security incidents.
• 47% of small businesses are more concerned now about cyber attacks than before the pandemic.

While big company breaches tend to make headlines, the fact is that cyber criminals target businesses of all sizes. As you might not be familiar with invisible threats such as Cyber risks or how to be prepared, Federated Insurance cybersecurity experts have created a short video. With increased awareness and Cyber insurance, you can better protect your bottom line and reputation should a cyber attack or data breach occur.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba have announced the launch of a new grant program using federal funding to help Manitoba municipalities with local and regional long-term infrastructure planning. The Municipal Capacity Building Fund is a new, application-based grant program that will help Manitoba municipalities undertake local and regional long-term infrastructure planning, such as the development of asset management plans. Funding is provided through Manitoba’s portion of the Canada Community-Building Fund, formerly called the federal Gas Tax Fund. Any grants provided under the Municipal Capacity Building Fund would be in addition to municipalities’ allocations under the Canada Community-Building Fund.

Eligible recipients for the Municipal Capacity Building Fund can be a single municipality undertaking its own project, municipalities collaborating on a joint project or a municipality sponsoring a non-municipal entity to launch a capacity-building initiative for the benefit of one or more municipalities. Municipalities can access more information about the program and the application form through Manitoba Municipalities Online at https://www.gov.mb.ca/mao/subscriber/login.aspx.

The government media release can be found here.

Forget boundaries, construction group urges

It’s time for a repositioning of Manitoba’s role in the global trade network, the province’s construction advocates say.

Edmundson named new president and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc.

Carly Edmundson has been named the new president and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc., returning to the organization where she’d previously spent six years.

Mentorship Builds Careers in Construction

Having attended most of the job fairs in Winnipeg this year and years past, MCSC’s outreach team observes the industries that have had the most success at job fairs are strongly supported by key stakeholders

Winnipeg Jets owner True North considering purchase of Portage Place mall

The real estate division of True North Sports and Entertainment is considering a purchase of downtown Winnipeg's beleaguered Portage Place mall to redevelop it into a mixed-use building.

25th annual Parade of Homes highlights creativity and innovation in new home construction

The Parade of Homes that provides prospective buyers with an opportunity to see new trends in home building design, as well as in home décor.

Economic challenges in forecast

Higher interest rates mean steeper payments on mortgages and other loans

City to consider appeal on Wellington Crescent development

A city committee's decision to reject a controversial development on Wellington Crescent is being appealed.

It's not a good picture'

Manitoba performing poorly in economic indicators

Development promises vibrancy, renewal

The five-storey multi-use development at 198 Sherbrook St. expects to be completed this fall

'No cheap and cheerful allowed'

UM Properties has high hopes, standards for its housing development near university

Building economy a priority for Home Builder's Association ahead of fall election - Global News Clip

Manitoba Home Builders' Association president Lanny McInnes talks about the future of development in this province, and what the industry is watching ahead of a provincial election.

Winnipeg Home and Garden Show on now

With sub-zero temperatures hopefully fully behind us and the snow melting away, it’s a great time for home owners to begin planning for the renovation projects they want to tackle this summer or fall.

Protect yourself when doing home improvements

There are some key points to remember when you are getting a “really great deal” on home renovations, especially on “cash deals” where the person doing the work is being paid “under the table”. 

Loans and grants available for home renovations

Making our homes more energy efficient has been a major focus for homeowners and for all levels of government over the past year.

Still time to check out Spring Parade of Homes

Most show homes that have been part of the Parade will remain open for viewing well after the Parade of Homes ends.

Quality training never goes out of style

On February 14 and 15, the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba (CSAM) will again be hosting its annual Safety Conference at the RBC Convention Centre

The MHBA has been asked by the City of Winnipeg’s Water Services to provide the following reminder to our members:

Before a water meter installation appointment can be scheduled, a contact phone number is required. Please provide Water Services with a phone number where you can be reached during the day, evening or weekend.

To ensure customer’s and employee’s safety during the pandemic, you will receive a phone call, approximately 1 day prior to the appointment date, to ask you questions related to COVID-19. If the City is unable to reach you at the phone number you provide, your appointment will be cancelled.

When you respond to this email with a phone number, your appointment will be scheduled.

See the latest newsletter and sign up for timely updates from the Manitoba Construction Sector Council here.

In a tight Canadian labour market, employee retention is more important now than ever. The largest barrier preventing most organizations from having better employee retention rates is an over-reliance on outdated methods and mindsets.

Learn more on how to build a successful employee retention strategy here.