This month's feature member is Red River Siding & Eavestroughs!

Manitoba owned and operated, Red River Siding & Eavestroughs has been proudly serving Manitoba & NW Ontario since 1995.

They have been an associate member of the MHBA for 15 years. Scott Sellors (Owner) believes that a MHBA membership is beneficial as "the support of each other helps everyone succeed as we are all on the same page with regards to business relationships".

Read the full interview with Scott Sellors 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.

Advertise in the Parade of Homes Magazine!

There is only one month left to secure your ad space in the 2023 Fall Parade of Homes Magazine!

As Manitoba’s most widely circulated new home publication, the magazine is distributed to city and rural Free Press subscribers. Additional copies are also distributed by the MHBA and builders at the show homes and in their offices.

Both the magazine and the Parade of Homes are promoted extensively by the Free Press and the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association.

View the rate card and the sponsored content special offer HERE

To reserve your advertising space, contact Rob Waite at 204-782-6992 or rob.waite@freepress.mb.ca

Booking Deadline: Friday, June 16th, 2023

Renovation Awards Reception

May 18th - Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre

Annual Golf Tournament

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

Material Carbon Emissions Estimator Breakfast Workshop (LEEP)

June 6th - 7:30-10:30am (Registration information coming soon)

Annual Meet & Greet

June 21st - The Gates on Roblin

Topic: "Nail Guns"

Nail guns are very powerful and very dangerous if not used properly. They have the capacity to fire several nails per second.

Keep yourself safe by learning more in CSAM's toolbox talk HERE

Hearing damage can't be repaired or undone. CSAM has put together some guidelines for maximum daily unprotected exposure.

View the safety alert HERE

Did your company fill out an online service application on Thursday, May 4^th between 8:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. through the Manitoba Hydro website? Unfortunately, a technical issue during an internal server upgrade may have deleted your application. 

Manitoba Hydro has indicated that the problem was an isolated incident and immediately addressed. The issue was caused by an internal server upgrade, and not a cyber-attack by a malicious actor so no personal or project information was compromised.  

As a valued partner, Manitoba Hydro has reached out to let you know about the data loss and give you some next steps. 

If you were part of the 50+ customers who submitted a form related to one of the areas below during that time, Manitoba Hydro asks that you resubmit your service application form.  

• Service and lighting applications (including Residential Service application, Commercial service application, Temporary service disconnection, Service removal request)

The other application/request forms that were affected include:

• Permits and inspections  (including Self wire application, Hot Dig application, Structure Move Clearance request)
• Tree trimming
• Damage claims
• Accessibility requests
• Landlord Express requests

If you are unsure if your company applied for service during this time, please email CESapplications@hydro.mb.ca

Confirmation Numbers of Lost Application/Request forms.

If your application confirmation # appears below, it will need to be resubmitted to Manitoba Hydro.

Manitoba was very well represented at the 2023 CHBA’s Day on the Hill, a national advocacy day that brought CHBA members from across Canada to meet with Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, and officials from all political parties. MHBA CEO Lanny McInnes was joined by 3 MHBA Board members - Chair Jason Jaquet, 2^nd Vice Chair David Eggerman, and CHBA Urban Council member Dave Boles – for meetings during the day with Manitoba and Saskatchewan MPs. Over 45 meetings took place during the day as members stressed the need to address issues surrounding housing supply, labour shortages, and the affordability of market housing in Canada. The CHBA’s Day on the Hill wrapped up with a very well attended reception that featured speeches by the Hon. Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Hon. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing, Diversity & Inclusion. 

For more information on CHBA’s recommendations to the federal government, visit CHBA’s infoguide HERE on unlocking the door to homeownership.

As a result of the Manitoba Construction Industry Job Fair on April 18, Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) now has a database of over 400 job seekers. This includes but is not limited to drywallers, concrete finishers, project managers, retired company owners and construction labourers.

If you're interested in accessing this list of job seekers, please reach out to James Murphy at MCSC at jmurphy@mbcsc.com letting him know your needs.

he City of Winnipeg has launched consultations on its new long-term development plan for Downtown Winnipeg. CentrePlan 2050 will guide investments in Downtown parks, streets and buildings. The Plan will help transform what Downtown looks like, how we get around, and how we experience Downtown.

The City’s stated goal of CentrePlan 2050 is to get more people living and visiting Downtown.  

Public feedback is being accepted until June 15, 2023. To visit the CentrePlan 2050 consultation page, please click here.

Meet Downtown at the open house

Join City of Winnipeg officials at the open house to learn more about the project, speak with the project team, and provide input on topics that interest you.

Date: Thursday, May 25

Location: Manitoba Hydro Place - 360 Portage Avenue (entrances on Graham and Portage avenues)

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Format: Come and go (drop-in)

Provide your Input

You can also provide input until June 15 through online surveys, interactive mapping tools, and the ideas board on topics that interest you:

• Living & visiting Downtown
• Greening Downtown
• Getting around Downtown
• Building Downtown
• Re-imagining Graham Avenue

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 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.

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.

City proposes massive changes in downtown redevelopment

CentrePlan 2050 would set annual targets for new residential units, reimagine Graham Avenue without buses, create new bike and pedestrian paths, slow traffic

Study finds search for women’s remains at landfill could take years, cost up to $184M

A search for the remains of two First Nations women at a Winnipeg-area landfill could take up to three years and cost $184 million, says a study examining whether a successful search is possible.

Winnipeg’s Portage Place set for massive $500m revitalization

After years of debate over the beleaguered downtown Winnipeg mall’s future, Portage Place got a massive shot in the arm Friday with a joint announcement from the province,

City to consider tax incentives to help transform vacant heritage building into 148 apartments

Winnipeg's Keewayden Block, scorched by fire in 2019, poised to become East Block Lofts

Pedestrian scramble at River and Osborne part of neighbourhood blueprint

Plan from Osborne Village BIZ also calls for allowing on-street parking on both sides, widening sidewalks

Competing motions on Portage and Main coming to Winnipeg city council

Winnipeg city councillors are veering off in opposite directions over the question of whether to reopen Portage and Main to pedestrians.

New site for Transit garage elusive: city report

The City of Winnipeg is still searching for a site to replace Transit’s north garage, years after it began looking for one.

Derailment builds momentum for potential rail line relocation

A train derailment that temporarily closed a major artery in Winnipeg has resurrected discussions about relocating rail lines outside the city.

Plan to lure residential sites called sweeping

A potential change meant to attract more residential development has triggered concerns it could reduce public scrutiny and city council oversight on some projects.

Spring and summer a great time to view MHBA show homes

While the MHBA’s Parade of Homes receive a lot attention while they are in full swing, it’s important to remember that the show homes featured in the Parade are open year-round.



Safety is always a priority on all job site

All visits to construction sites should be done by appointment only and with the full awareness of both the builder and their site supervisor.

Make sure to Click Before you Dig

Every year, homeowners in Manitoba damage buried utility lines on their property resulting in costly repairs, injuries and even fatalities.

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.

Latest update dated: May 15, 2023

• Appointments in the North area are available for the next day.
• Appointments in the East area are available for the next day.
• Appointments in the South area are available for the next day.

The Utility Billing Centre is currently responding to builder's webform requests within 2-3 business days.

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.