Heavy construction important service

Imagine the economic windfall of hosting 145 Grey Cup games in Regina every year. That is the impact heavy construction has on Saskatchewan’s gross domestic product.

Our industry generates more than $5 billion (direct, indirect and induced) in provincial GDP out of a provincial economy near $73 billion — or roughly seven per cent of the total economy.

Not only is heavy construction an essential service, but also an important one in terms of economic impact, employment and in the overall quality of life of Saskatchewan residents.

We employ close to 30,000 workers, making our industry one of the largest employers in the province.

You’re familiar with our construction and resurfacing projects on highways and roadways around Saskatchewan, but our work extends far beyond that.

Our industry is involved in the preparation and excavation of commercial sites like Mosaic Stadium, the clearing of land with heavy equipment to prepare sites for new roads, industrial plants, gravel pits and the construction of dams and bridges.

The overlap and subsequent financial impact our industry enjoys with other sectors shouldn’t be ignored. Insurance supplied nearly $270 million in services to heavy construction and supported more than 1,000 jobs.

Mining energy sold gravel and aggregate for roads totalling close to $990 million, which supported more than 800 jobs in our sector.

Manufacturing, mainly asphalt, equipment, parts and fuel supplied close to $285 million in goods to heavy construction.

We as an industry are proud of our contributions to Saskatchewan and we are ready to lead this province on a path back to greater economic stability.

Shantel Lipp, Regina Lipp is president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association.