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Aboriginal Set-Aside Initiative

As part of the Red River Floodway Expansion Project, the Manitoba Floodway Authority (MFA) has established an Employment Equity Strategy to encourage the participation of designated employment equity groups (Aboriginal people, women, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities) to work on the project. An important objective of the strategy is to increase the pool of skilled equity group members available to work on the floodway and other future construction projects. A key component of this strategy focuses on creating opportunities for Aboriginal people and Aboriginal businesses through the establishment of an Aboriginal set-aside.

What is the Aboriginal Set-Aside Initiative?
An Aboriginal Set-Aside is an initiative that is “set-aside” for members of the Aboriginal community in order to create employment and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people and businesses. Aboriginal set-asides have been implemented for other major projects. On the Red River Floodway Expansion Project, the West Dike component of the project will be established as the Aboriginal set-aside.

The objectives of the Aboriginal Set-Aside on the floodway expansion project are:

To create employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal people on the floodway project
To create opportunities for Aboriginal contractors to gain experience and to build capacity in the industry
To enhance spin-off economic opportunities for the Aboriginal community from the floodway project

Who can Qualify to Bid on Work on the Aboriginal Set-Aside?

To qualify as an Aboriginal firm to bid for work on the Aboriginal Set-Aside, a contractor must be at least:

51% Aboriginal-owned; and
1/3 of its employees must be Aboriginal persons

All sub-contractors working on the project will be required to meet the same requirements.

In addition, all contractors bidding on work on the project will be required to be Certificate of Recognition (COR) or equivalent safety certified and will be required to sign the Project Management Agreement (PMA), consistent with all other floodway tenders.

Pending the outcome of the work on the first section, additional sections may be tendered as an Aboriginal Set-Aside in subsequent years.

Construction on the West Dike

Over the next few years, the West Dike, which is currently approximately 45 km (28 miles) in length, will be extended between 10 km (6 miles) and 15 km (9 miles) and raised in height in varying amounts to 1.5 metres (6 feet) to increase the flood protection safety factor. With these improvements, the dike will be capable of protecting against wind and wave effects from a 100 year wind storm on the 700 year floodwaters of the Red River for flood water levels up to El 237 meters (El 778 feet) at the Inlet Control Structure, increased from the current level of El 236 meters (El 774 feet) at the Inlet Control Structure.

Listening to Contractors: Development of the Aboriginal Set-Aside Initiative

Ongoing Outreach

Year 1 Construction

May 19, 2006: Aboriginal Set-aside Initiative Established for the Red River Floodway Expansion Project (52kb)

August 17, 2006: Four Aboriginal Firms Awarded Work on Red River Floodway Expansion Project (47kb)

Year 2 Construction

March 21, 2007: 2007 Aboriginal Set-Aside Initiative Tenders Announced (63kb)

July 13, 2007: Floodway Authority Announces Successful Aboriginal Contractors to Undertake Work on Floodway Expansion Project (242kb)

February 1, 2008: Three Contracts Awarded on the Floodway Aboriginal Set-Aside Initiative (52kb)

Year 3 Construction

April 14, 2008: 2008 Aboriginal Set-Aside Initiative Tender Plan Unveiled (276kb)

August 7, 2008: Floodway Authority Awards Four Aborigianal Set-aside Contracts (248kb)