\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"JOHN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4346892_web1_260623_17_wing_4.JPG\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
JOHN WOODS \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
The Winnipeg Construction Association is tracking roughly 33 projects tied to 17 Wing Winnipeg, the city\u2019s Royal Canadian Air Force base, in the coming years.<\/p>\n
He expects most projects to begin in the next three years. Construction should stay \u201cconsistently strong\u201d for five to seven years, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201c(This) represents brand new construction spend \u2014 so construction spend that we haven\u2019t planned for already,\u201d Harrison said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to have the appropriate workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
A BuildForce Canada report released in April 2025 forecasted a need to hire up to 19,400 new construction workers in Manitoba by 2034. Twenty-one per cent of the current labour force is expected to retire by then, the report says.<\/p>\n
It estimates that the majority of the labour gap \u2014 up to 11,500 spots \u2014 would be filled by young adults in Manitoba entering the sector.<\/p>\n
Another 7,900 workers would need to be recruited outside the local pool, BuildForce Canada said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is labour needs across the board in most trades,\u201d Harrison said.<\/p>\n
Companies are especially lacking at the project management level, he added.<\/p>\n
Labour needs vary by union, but generally, they\u2019re ready to meet the demand. It depends on how new projects unroll \u2014 and how many are ongoing at the same time, said Tanya Palson, executive director of Manitoba Building Trades.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited for the work,\u201d Palson said, adding she expects the defence project rollout to be staggered.<\/p>\n
If it isn\u2019t, given \u201cthe math,\u201d a skilled labour shortage could be impending, she said.<\/p>\n
The Winnipeg Construction Association estimates 17 Wing projects could exceed $400 million in federal spending. Southport could house another $300 million to $400 million in upgrades, Harrison said.<\/p>\n
He provided lower numbers to the Free Press earlier this week; on Thursday, he said he\u2019d been updated.<\/p>\n
Manitoba Building Trades encompasses 13 member unions.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been \u201cdesperately advocating\u201d for a provincial construction workforce development strategy, which would include workforce data and forecasts of supply and demand for provincial projects, Palson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not enough current data that says we\u2019re going to be short \u2018x\u2019 amount of tradespeople,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Meantime, Harrison is lobbying for a return to two-to-one apprenticeship-to-journeyperson ratios. The New Democrat government changed the policy to one-to-one in 2024, citing worker safety and better apprentice support.<\/p>\n
Harrison argues boosting the ratio will get more people into the trades.<\/p>\n
The provincial government declined to comment. It\u2019s in a blackout period leading up to a July 21 election in The Pas\u2013Kameesak.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, dozens of construction firm employees filed into the RBC Convention Centre for a panel about the upcoming defence-sector projects.<\/p>\n
The panel included representatives from the Royal Canadian Air Force and 17 Wing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it\u2019s billions of dollars \u2014 if that doesn\u2019t get your attention, I don\u2019t know what does,\u201d said Gil Carmichael, a project manager with Tri-Core Projects.<\/p>\n
He and fellow attendees shared a desire to ink contracts.<\/p>\n
Carmichael hasn\u2019t worked on Department of National Defence jobs for Tri-Core. However, he\u2019s done so with past employers. The clearance process is \u201ca bit of a tricky situation\u201d and can require \u201can amazing amount of paperwork,\u201d he said, adding it\u2019s worth the effort.<\/p>\n
Companies must obtain security clearances at both contractor and individual staff levels.<\/p>\n
Infrastructure projects are still in the planning phases, said Col. Jody Hanson, 17 Wing\u2019s commander. Leadership is determining where to place new buildings, for example.<\/p>\n
Hanson didn\u2019t have an exact number of personnel incoming. Current projections say 1,500 to 1,800 military members could arrive over the next two decades, along with their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the course of that period of time, the Air Force is going to be asked to increase production of air crew training for future operations,\u201d Hanson said.<\/p>\n
A new 17 Wing training facility is slated to be built over five years. It\u2019ll include an aircraft hangar, flight simulators and classrooms.<\/p>\n
Other projects will include housing, building expansions and heating system replacements, among other things.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really need to see the Royal Canadian Air Force as a key part of our economy,\u201d Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said before the panel.<\/p>\n
His office co-organized the event, which was closed to media.<\/p>\n
Manitoba Hydro will add 10.5 megawatts of power to 17 Wing. The base will have a new substation to supplement its overall expansion.<\/p>\n
CFB Shilo will also likely see increased defence spending.<\/p>\n
gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Gabrielle Pich\u00e9 Gabrielle Pich\u00e9 reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Reporter
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n