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October 19, 2026

WCA Welcomes Recommendations from Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters Public Inquiry Final Report

WCA Welcomes Recommendations from Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters Public Inquiry Final Report

Winnipeg, MB – October 19, 2026 – The Winnipeg Construction Association (WCA) welcomes the release of the final report of the Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters Public Inquiry and supports the Commissioner’s recommendations aimed at strengthening accountability, transparency and oversight in public construction projects.

 The Inquiry’s final report contains troubling findings of falsified financial documents, inflated billing claims, inappropriate financial dealings and serious conflicts of interest. WCA unequivocally condemns the misconduct identified by Commissioner Garth Smorang. Such practices are fundamentally inconsistent with the ethical standards expected of construction companies and public officials. They represent a serious breach of public trust and undermine the reputation of construction businesses that operate honestly and professionally.

“There is no place for the conduct described in the report in our industry. Contractors have a responsibility to deal honestly with their clients and those who fail to meet that responsibility must be held accountable,” said Darryl Harrison, WCA President and CEO. “Our industry is overwhelmingly made up of honest, hardworking construction professionals who take pride in their work and their integrity.”

While the Inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding a specific project, WCA believes its findings provide important lessons for public construction procurement and project delivery more broadly.

“One of the most important lessons from this Inquiry is that accountability must extend to everyone involved in delivering a public project,” Harrison said. “Contractors must be accountable for their conduct, billing practices and contractual obligations. Equally, public owners must have the expertise, systems and independent oversight necessary to properly manage projects and safeguard public funds. Weak oversight does not excuse dishonest conduct, and dishonest conduct does not excuse weak oversight.” 

WCA participated in the Inquiry by convening a panel of experienced construction industry representatives who met with Commissioner Smorang and subsequently provided a written submission outlining practical recommendations on procurement, construction contracts, project management, financial controls and independent oversight.

The Association is encouraged that several of its recommendations are reflected in the Commissioner’s final report, including:

  • Standardized construction contracts: Greater use of Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) contracts to establish clear responsibilities, fair risk allocation and consistent contractual expectations.
  • Fair and transparent procurement: Stronger procurement practices that maintain competitive integrity, particularly when significant changes to project scope or delivery models occur.
  • Independent oversight: Improved owner-side project management, financial controls, independent payment certification and accountability.
  • Early industry engagement: Meaningful consultation with the construction industry to identify project risks, assess market capacity and establish appropriate procurement approaches.
  • Modern project controls: Improved project management information systems and consideration of broader adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to strengthen project coordination, monitoring and accountability.

With the Inquiry now complete, WCA believes attention must turn to implementation. The Association encourages the City of Winnipeg to establish a clear plan for responding to the recommendations and to engage construction industry stakeholders in developing practical improvements to procurement and project delivery practices. 

“We have an opportunity to learn from what went wrong and strengthen public confidence in future infrastructure projects,” Harrison said. “WCA stands ready to work with the City and other public owners to make that happen.”

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About the Winnipeg Construction Association

The Winnipeg Construction Association (WCA) represents the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) construction industry in Winnipeg and surrounding areas, with members spanning general contractors, trade contractors, and manufacturers and suppliers. WCA advocates on behalf of an industry that employs tens of thousands of Manitobans and contributes billions to the provincial economy annually.