b"FROM OUR CHAIRCelebrating AchievementsWhile Looking AheadMy first year as WCA chair is officially in the books, and it was certainly an interesting one. I have learned quite a bit in the first year of my term, and Im looking forward to the year ahead.Advocacy was a major focus for our board in 2024. We have been working on making prompt payment legislation a reality for many years now, and on April 1, revisions to the Builders' Liens Act came into effect. I would like to take a moment to recognize everyone in our industry who has worked on prompt payment over the yearsit has been a massive collective effort thats required a lot of hard work. Thank you to everyone who has pitched in.While we are happy with the prompt payment progress, that does not mean 2024 was without its setbacks. WCA was the strongest voice fighting for the apprenticeship system, but despite our efforts, the provincial government reverted the apprenticeship ratio to 1:1. We have not given up on this file and will continue to advocate for the industry. We are also concerned with a lack of spending from the provincial government. We will keep an eye on this for our members in 2025and beyond.There are always new challenges in our industry. As I am writing this, we are trying to get a handle on what Trumps tariffs mean for our province and the construction industry. These things move quickly, so by the time you read this we might be looking at a completely different situation. You can rest assured that no matter what transpires, WCAs board of directors and advocacy team will work with our industrys best interests in mind.It has been extremely encouraging to see a continued interest in joining WCAs board of directors. Once again, we had more applicants than available seatswhich is a good problem to have! I encourage this years unsuccessful applicants to stay involvedwhether that is through division committee meetings, our working groups, or with MWC or YCLM. Our industry is at its strongest when we are working together. While advocacy takes up much of the focus of our board, I do want to recognize the other WCA pillars. The education program continues to grow and thrive, our events were bigger and better than ever in 2024. I never thought I would see a carousel at Builders Night! And of course, our construction information products remain unmatched within the industry.On behalf of the entire board, I would like to thank you for a rewarding 2024. Let us work together to make sure 2025 is a great year for our industry.Roger TukIssue 1 | Spring Edition | 2025 BUILD MANITOBA 7"