Manitoba Premier Pledges Local Jobs for New K-8 School in Brandon

Premier Wab Kinew announced on Tuesday that a new K-8 school in the southwest corner of Brandon, Manitoba, will be constructed by local workers. This commitment is part of a broader initiative to bolster the province’s economy, especially in light of recent trade tariffs imposed by the United States. Kinew made this declaration during a press conference held in Winnipeg.

The new school is one of four educational facilities slated for construction under a newly signed Manitoba jobs agreement (MJA) with the Manitoba Building Trades. The total investment for these four schools will exceed $200 million, and the projects are expected to generate approximately 600 well-paying, unionized jobs for Manitobans. About 150 jobs will specifically be created for the Brandon school.

Kinew emphasized the importance of keeping construction jobs within the province. He stated, “We’re focused on local, we’re focused on people here who’ve got the skills, we’re focused on doing the job right, doing the job once, and the best way to do that is to work with the building trades.” The province aims to prioritize hiring Manitoba union members first, followed by other Manitobans, then Canadian union members, and finally other Canadians.

Commitment to Local Workforce and Standards

Kinew underscored the necessity of establishing a framework that ensures fair compensation, pensions, benefits, and safety regulations on construction sites. “This thing is going to be open for everyone to come work on these school projects, but the first priority is going to go to Manitoba union members,” he added.

The MJA represents a significant shift in policy, aiming for all major public infrastructure projects exceeding $50 million to utilize local labour. Tanya Palson, executive director of Manitoba Building Trades, explained that at least 10 percent of the work would be allocated to local apprentices, with another 20 percent designated for equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous workers, women, and newcomers.

“This is thousands of hours of hands-on learning for young Manitobans, creating pathways into good, paying, stable careers in the trades,” Palson noted during the press conference. She further stated that this agreement is just the beginning, highlighting the potential for similar initiatives in future projects related to hydro, hospitals, and transportation.

Future Infrastructure Projects

Each new infrastructure project will have its own agreement, which may adjust the commitments for specific worker categories. Palson indicated that future agreements might allow for more tailored hiring practices based on local needs. “It’s important to hire local, especially for your apprenticeship hours, where we can maximize the number of hours and then justify bringing a lot of the training programs to the Westman area,” she explained.

A provincial government spokesperson confirmed that the two new schools in Brandon are on track for completion. The first is a K-8 school located west of 34th Street, scheduled to open in September 2027. The second is a French language K-12 school on Maryland Avenue, which will be part of the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine and is expected to open in the 2028-29 academic year.

While the French school is not yet part of the agreement, the spokesperson mentioned there is a “good chance” it will be included as construction approaches. This potential inclusion reflects the government’s commitment to involving local labour in educational infrastructure projects.

As Manitoba moves forward with these developments, Kinew and his administration are focused on fostering a skilled workforce while enhancing the economy through local job creation.