Author: Russell Hixson

Key Takeaways:

• The B.C. government has doubled the protection period from 12 to 24 months for eligible Metro Vancouver projects, helping developers avoid sudden cost increases and freeing up capital to keep housing builds on track.
• The move comes amid rising construction costs, slower presales, and layoffs across the development sector, with builders warning that financial uncertainty is putting many projects at risk.
• The change supports access to $250 million in federal infrastructure funding and complements other provincial measures, such as deferred development fees, aimed at boosting housing supply during a period of economic volatility.

The Whole Story:

The B.C. government has moved to give homebuilders in Metro Vancouver more financial certainty, extending the length of time projects are protected from increases to regional development cost charges (DCCs). The change comes as developers across Canada face increasing financial strain, rising construction costs, and a series of high-profile layoffs.

Under the new rules, eligible residential and commercial projects will be shielded from DCC hikes for 24 months—double the previous 12-month window. The province says this could free up hundreds of millions in capital, helping builders advance housing projects that might otherwise be stalled or cancelled.

“There’s no question that global financial uncertainty and rising costs of goods and skilled labour have challenged the housing market in cities all over the world,” said Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “That’s why we’re taking more steps to ensure major housing projects in our biggest region have the financial certainty they need to succeed.”

The move follows warnings from the Urban Development Institute and major homebuilders that escalating fees and volatile costs are threatening the viability of housing projects. In recent months, some developers—citing construction cost pressures and slower presales—have laid off staff and put projects on hold. The Fraser Institute and other analysts have pointed to a broader productivity slump in the sector, adding urgency to policy relief efforts.

The DCC rate freeze supports Metro Vancouver’s eligibility for $250 million in federal infrastructure funding and will apply to development cost bylaws governing water, wastewater treatment and regional parks. Officials say it allows the region to continue upgrading critical infrastructure without pushing costs onto future homeowners.

“This change reflects the realities of today’s development environment,” said Anne McMullin, president and CEO of the Urban Development Institute. “Without it, many projects would not have been able to proceed.”

The change builds on recent provincial reforms allowing builders across B.C. to defer 75% of certain development fees for up to four years or until occupancy, part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of delivering new homes.

For developers like Townline, Onni Group, and Bosa Properties, the extended timeline helps protect pipeline projects from financial volatility and offers much-needed stability in a challenging market.

The regulatory change, enabled by provisions in the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, applies to qualifying projects that submitted applications before March 22, 2024, and receive permits between March 23, 2025, and March 22, 2026.

History is being built right now in Charlottetown, PEI. 

Crews are assembling Canada’s largest modular apartment complex ever and experts hope it could help show the entire industry what’s possible with the right team. 

The Malpeque apartment project includes two six-storey buildings: one is an 82-unit seniors’ apartment, and the other is a 63-unit family-oriented building. Both are being built for the Province of Prince Edward Island and the seniors’ building is the first one under construction.

Leading the effort is 720 Modular. Their approach was to gradually build modular capacity in the region by working with local builders. It’s their sixth project in PEI and it’s given contractors a chance to learn the ropes from industry veterans, 720 Founder and CEO Troy Ferguson and his business partner, Craig Mitchell, the company’s Project Development Lead. As the pair enters the latter half of their careers, they hope these seeds can create a legacy for years to come. 

“What you’re seeing now is a strong team in PEI that’s been able to deliver multiple modular projects,” said Craig Mitchell, Project Development Lead at 720. “We’ve got the same design team from the beginning, and the expertise they’ve built allows the design process to move faster. There’s a real spirit of collaboration and culture now. Everyone knows each other—it’s more like working with friends.

Ferguson explained that the Province first partnered with them on Fitzroy, a multi-storey housing project, and the relationships have grown from there. 

“They were at the table during pre-construction, seeing how modular works and watching their local businesses do the work with us guiding the process,” he said. “That early involvement facilitated future projects, including homeless shelters with repurposed assets from Western Canada. That relationship eventually led to this—the largest modular housing project in the country. The government had been keen to learn along with everyone else.”

The site sits on the outskirts of Charlottetown, allowing the team to plan for cranes, laydowns and access. But the true challenge is manufacturing. Malpeque is using substantial annual capacity of the region’s largest modular factory, something that few factories are willing to commit to a single client. To deal with this, work on the buildings has been broken into phases. 

Another major challenge of the project is pushing the limits of what’s allowed—six storeys is the maximum for light wood-frame construction under the code and most modular projects in Canada are four storeys or under.

“You really have to reinforce the first and second storeys to support everything above. It’s not just a challenge—it’s a discovery process,” said Ferguson. “Now that we’ve done it, we can share that knowledge. Hopefully it kickstarts more mid-rise projects using conventional factory-ready materials.”

Despite this, one of the key advantages of modular construction is the ability to conduct certain offsite activities in parallel with site preparations. In this case, factory processes commenced while the project team continued working through final permit approvals. Foundations were completed just before Christmas, ensuring the site was ready for module delivery by early spring.

“In the field, we’re only going to be on-site for six months. From permit to building turnover—roughly five to six months. Compare that to a conventional timeline of 14 to 15 months,” said Mitchell. 

There’s also schedule and cost certainty. Every design decision is made upfront—right down to coat hooks. By the time production starts in a controlled factory environment, the budget is essentially baked in. 

“The only change during our design phase was a $6,000 addition for additional shower heads in accessible bathrooms. That’s it,” said Ferguson. “And because of that certainty, we locked in our craning date eight months ahead of time. That level of precision is possible in this emerging industry while using the same traditional construction professionals and materials.”

For industry veterans like Ferguson and Mitchell, Malpeque is more than a project. It’s an opportunity to pass down their modular construction knowledge when the country needs it the most. 

“We’re creating a playbook as we go—lessons learned, the architecture of a business model that uses existing resources in a new way,” said Ferguson. “We hope it’ll guide others—contractors, developers, factories, and owners.”

Mitchell noted that 720 is already working on replicating their model in Ontario. 

“We’re trying to give the industry a case study it can adopt and scale,” he said. “We think we’ve found a model to scale housing in Canada—and we want to share it.”

Key Takeaways:

• $203 million in joint funding from the federal and Alberta governments will support the construction of more than 2,300 affordable housing units across the province through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program.
• Major projects are planned in Edmonton, Calgary, and smaller communities, including office-to-residential conversions, mixed-income developments, and supportive housing for vulnerable populations.
• The investment is part of the National Housing Strategy, a $115-billion federal plan aimed at addressing housing needs through partnerships with provinces, municipalities, and non-profits.

The Whole Story:

More than 2,300 affordable housing units are set to be built across Alberta thanks to a $203-million joint investment from the federal and provincial governments.

The funding, announced Monday, is part of the Canada–Alberta Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy and will support 25 projects in communities ranging from Calgary and Edmonton to Jasper and Okotoks.

The funds are being delivered through Alberta’s Affordable Housing Partnership Program and are aimed at supporting low-income Albertans by building new units, converting existing buildings, and expanding mixed-income housing developments.

The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, federal Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and MP for Edmonton Centre, joined Alberta’s Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services, Jason Nixon, for the announcement.

“Alberta’s government is focused on results,” Nixon said. “With this record investment, thousands more low-income Albertans will have a safe, affordable home they can count on.”

Projects were selected based on community needs, their ability to deliver outcomes for vulnerable populations, and overall value for taxpayer dollars. Eligible initiatives include constructing new buildings, redevelopments, conversions, or renovations that add at least five new affordable units.

Major funding recipients in Edmonton include Civida ($20 million) and The Mustard Seed Foundation ($4.67 million), while Calgary projects include $30.5 million for Onward Homes Society and $13 million for a downtown office-to-residential conversion by 800 GP Corporation.

Outside the two major cities, millions in funding will go to projects in Banff, Jasper, Strathmore, and Canmore. In Fort Saskatchewan, land is being transferred to Heartland Housing Foundation for a new development.

Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson said the funding represents “a new generation of housing,” adding that partnerships with non-profits are critical to meeting the scale and speed of current demand.

The National Housing Strategy is a $115-billion, multi-year plan that aims to increase housing supply and improve affordability for those most in need, including seniors, Indigenous people, and those at risk of homelessness. As of March 2025, Ottawa says it has committed $65.8 billion toward building over 166,000 new units and repairing more than 322,000.

All projects funded under the strategy must align with core NHS principles, including collaboration with local governments, Indigenous organizations, and the private sector.

Key Takeaways:

• The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has launched a request for qualifications to select a construction team for the landmass and wharf portion of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.
• The terminal is expected to generate over 18,000 construction jobs, support 17,000 long-term jobs annually, and contribute $3 billion to Canada’s GDP each year.
• The project includes habitat enhancement and fish migration infrastructure, with mutual benefits agreements signed with 27 First Nations and ongoing commitments to Indigenous procurement and employment.

The Whole Story:

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has launched the procurement process to find a construction team for the landmass and wharf component of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, a major container terminal expansion in the Port of Vancouver.

The port authority issued a request for qualifications Thursday as the first step in a competitive selection process that will see three teams shortlisted this fall. The chosen contractor will be responsible for delivering key infrastructure, including a 100-hectare marine landmass, a 1,300-metre wharf structure and berth pocket, a widened 35-hectare causeway, and an expanded tug basin.

“We’re excited to issue the request for qualifications today and move this vital project forward,” said Victor Pang, the port authority’s chief financial officer. “To meet Canada’s needs in today’s quickly evolving trade landscape, we have accelerated our efforts to deliver Roberts Bank Terminal 2—a project that will strengthen Canada’s economic security and deliver trade resilience.”

The new terminal is projected to unlock over $100 billion in trade capacity and contribute $3 billion to Canada’s GDP annually. Once operational, it is expected to support 17,000 long-term jobs and generate more than 18,000 construction jobs.

The port authority has selected a progressive design-build procurement model with a target price approach. An independent fairness monitor has been appointed to oversee the process.

To align with the port’s environmental strategy, the construction contract also includes civil works for habitat enhancement, the South Arm Jetty Tidal Marsh Project, and a marine terminal fish passage to support juvenile salmon migration. These initiatives are priorities for First Nations communities and intended to protect regional ecosystems.

Pang said the terminal “will be a catalyst for economic transformation nationally—from supporting Prairie grain exports and B.C.’s forestry sector, to communities who depend on reliable and affordable access to essential goods on store shelves.”

The port authority has signed mutual benefits agreements with 27 First Nations, who have provided consent for the project to proceed. Future collaboration will include Indigenous procurement and employment opportunities, the agency said.

Following federal and provincial approvals in 2023, the port authority submitted a Fisheries Act Authorization application in 2024 and is aiming to receive a decision on the permit by October 2026. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with terminal operations projected to start by the mid-2030s.

A community legacy fund worth $6 million will launch this summer to benefit Delta residents.

Interested construction teams must confirm their interest by Sept. 18, 2025, and submit their qualifications by Sept. 25. A project information session will be held in Vancouver on July 22.

Key Takeaways:

• GWL Realty Advisors plans to fully restore College Park’s historic Art Deco building, including completing its original Yonge Street podium and expanding The Carlu event venue—realizing the vision first imagined nearly a century ago.
• The proposal includes three new residential towers—up to nearly 100 storeys tall—adding 2,334 housing units, a hotel, retail and entertainment space, and a raised pedestrian pathway connecting the complex.
• Landscape upgrades, rooftop gardens, and a new public plaza aim to enhance the area’s livability, while GWLRA’s “College Park 100” initiative invites public feedback to shape the project throughout its development.

The Whole Story:

GWL Realty Advisors has unveiled an ambitious proposal to redevelop College Park, aiming to transform the prominent intersection of Yonge and College into a major cultural, residential, and retail destination in time for the building’s 100th anniversary in 2030.

The plan, submitted to the City of Toronto for approval, includes a full heritage restoration of the historic Art Deco complex, originally designed by Ross & Macdonald. It would complete the long-unfinished Yonge Street podium, revive the interior arcade with Parisian-style storefronts, and expand The Carlu event venue with new terraces and conference space.

“This project is our chance to get it right for the beginning of [College Park’s] second century,” said Scott Weir, principal at ERA Architects, who previously worked on the 2003 restoration of The Carlu. GWLRA’s approach breaks from the common practice of “facadism” by preserving the full structure rather than just its exterior walls.

Three new mixed-use towers — the tallest reaching nearly 100 storeys — would rise behind the restored heritage building. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the towers reflect the verticality and setbacks of 1920s skyscrapers, with sculptural forms that visually tie the old and new elements together. The towers would include 2,334 residential units, a hotel, and new retail and entertainment offerings.

To connect the project’s indoor and outdoor spaces, a raised, ribbon-like pedestrian pathway would wind through the site from Yonge and College streets to a glass atrium and redesigned public plaza. Landscape architecture firm PUBLIC WORK plans to enhance the surrounding public realm with native plantings, a new tree canopy, rooftop gardens, and topographic features inspired by early 20th-century design.

“College Park would mark a new metropolitan culture in Toronto by demonstrating how public and urban vitality can expand from the park and the street, inside and out, from the ground floor into the sky,” said PUBLIC WORK principal Marc Ryan.

The proposal also includes transit and streetscape improvements, with particular attention paid to minimizing disruption to the roughly 250,000 weekly commuters who pass through College Station.

As part of its community engagement efforts, GWLRA has launched “College Park 100,” a public website and event series designed to explore the site’s history and gather public input on its future. That feedback will inform the ongoing design process.

“This is just the beginning of a multi-year, iterative process,” said Daniel Fama, vice-president of development at GWLRA. “We encourage the public to stay involved and share feedback through College Park 100.”

No construction timeline has been confirmed, and the redevelopment is still subject to municipal approval. The project is being developed on behalf of The Canada Life Assurance Company and will be allocated to the company’s participating life insurance account.

Key Takeaways:

• Vancouver City Council unanimously approved the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan, setting the stage for 30 years of growth, including up to 10,100 new homes and 8,300 new jobs near two SkyTrain stations.
• The plan introduces four neighbourhood types—Rapid Transit Areas, Villages, Multiplex Areas, and Employment Lands—with high-density towers up to 45 storeys permitted near transit, while preserving job lands and encouraging mixed-use developments.
• A key feature of the plan is the restoration of Still Creek through daylighting, green space expansion, and groundwater protection, blending urban growth with flood mitigation and environmental revitalization.

The Whole Story:

Vancouver’s city council has unanimously approved the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan, unveiling a sweeping vision set to shape growth around the Rupert and Renfrew SkyTrain stations over the next three decades.

The plan, which builds on the city’s broader Vancouver Plan, aims to deliver new and varied housing, job space, public amenities and cultural offerings, while integrating nature-based measures to boost ecological health and manage flood risk along Still Creek.

Mayor Ken Sim described the plan as promoting “thoughtful growth in a key part of our city — bringing new housing, jobs and amenities while making sure families can continue to build their lives here.” He added that it supports the creation of “complete, connected neighbourhoods” inclusive of people from all walks of life.

Planning department head Josh White noted the plan will steer impending zoning changes due later this year while providing clarity and confidence for future development. “We’re setting the stage for growth by putting the right policies, infrastructure and land‑use direction in place,” he said.

Community-driven, Indigenous-led

The plan was shaped by extensive consultation since 2022, including four engagement phases featuring 43 open houses, 72 public events and over 2,100 surveys. Important contributions came from the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil‑Waututh Nations. Key documents were translated into traditional and simplified Chinese, Vietnamese and Tagalog to ensure broad access.

New zoning and land‑use model

Development is organised into four neighbourhood types:

• Rapid Transit areas around the SkyTrain will permit towers up to 45 storeys, with incentives for below-market-rental or public amenities. Both residential and commercial uses — including hotels and retail — will be encouraged via private, site-by-site rezonings.
• Villages, centred on existing low-rise commercial nodes, can expand to six-storey mixed-use buildings and multiplexes, supporting “missing-middle” housing.
• Multiplex areas further away will remain in Residential Inclusive (R1‑1) zoning, allowing up to six strata units or eight rental units, with corner stores available via rezoning applications.
• Employment lands will be preserved and even expanded to foster job growth, especially in arts, culture and service industries. Small commercial nodes, artist studios and nonprofit facilities will be encouraged — while residential uses are largely banned. A notable exception is the 3200 E Broadway site, co-developed by Indigenous Nations and Aquilini Development.

A prominent feature of the plan is the enhancement of Still Creek, one of Vancouver’s few open urban waterways. The proposal includes daylighting sections of the creek, widening its corridor to reduce flooding, improve habitat and support groundwater recharge — with underground parking restricted to maintain groundwater flows.

There are also plans to support ecological recovery, with reports noting the return of salmon following enhancement efforts.

Implementation will proceed through a mix of private site rezonings, city‑initiated rezonings and development permits. City staff plan to seek council approval for rezoning in select low-rise and village neighbourhoods in the coming months, aiming to speed up the delivery of housing and community infrastructure.

The 660-hectare Rupert–Renfrew area, home to approximately 31,000 residents — over 70% of whom identify as visible minorities — traditionally supported fishing and harvesting along Still Creek. The planning process, launched in late 2021, aims to accommodate up to 18,700 additional residents, 10,100 new homes and 8,300 new jobs over 25 years.

When Hammad Chaudhry left EllisDon earlier this year to join construction technology startup Timescapes, the news circulated quickly through Canada’s construction industry. Chaudhry had spent more than a decade rising through EllisDon’s ranks, eventually leading national innovation and digital strategy efforts. His departure raised eyebrows not because it was controversial, but because it was rare. Few people make that kind of leap from a secure leadership role at a Tier 1 contractor to a startup environment.

Six months later, Chaudhry says the move was not about dissatisfaction, but about timing and opportunity. After years of evaluating, piloting, and deploying technology within a large organization, he wanted to gain hands-on experience on the product side.

“I had always worked with startups from the outside—as a client, a partner, sometimes an advisor,” he said. “But I’d never built something from within. I felt like if I didn’t do it now, I might never get the chance.”

Chaudhry joined Timescapes, a company focused on visual jobsite intelligence through automated camera systems and software. He was already familiar with the product through past collaboration and saw a practical advantage in how easy it was to use. In contrast to many construction tools that require complex onboarding or technical fluency, Timescapes stood out for its accessibility—something he believes is increasingly important as user expectations evolve.

“A big reason I was drawn to it was the simplicity,” he said. “It just worked. People on site didn’t need a tutorial to understand it, and that’s where a lot of technology falls short.”

Now embedded in a smaller team and faster-paced environment, Chaudhry has shifted from corporate innovation strategy to direct product involvement. His focus is on ensuring that Timescapes stays aligned with jobsite realities, drawing from his background working with project teams across Canada. He said the change has been refreshing—less process, more immediacy, and a stronger connection between decision-making and outcomes.

The move also highlights a broader trend in the industry: experienced professionals crossing into the tech space to help shape tools that are better informed by construction practice. As more contractors adopt digital workflows, there is growing recognition that successful technology must be intuitive, field-ready, and integrated into the way projects actually run.

“One of the biggest challenges in this space is building tools that match how construction really works,” he said. “If you’ve never built a project, it’s easy to miss the mark.”

Looking more broadly at construction technology in Canada, Chaudhry remains cautiously optimistic. He acknowledges that progress is being made—particularly in regions like Alberta and British Columbia—but believes the national ecosystem still lacks the strategic support necessary to retain and grow early-stage contech companies. Many promising startups, he notes, continue to scale by shifting their focus to U.S. markets. That reality underscores the importance of creating more supportive conditions for innovation at home.

At Timescapes, Chaudhry is focused on product strategy, customer integration, and ensuring that field workflows inform the company’s development roadmap. “We want to be known as a trusted, reliable tool that’s actually built for construction—not just for tech’s sake,” he said. “That means staying close to the people who use it every day.”

While the startup environment has its own challenges, Chaudhry believes the shift reflects a necessary convergence between construction and technology. “This wasn’t about leaving construction,” he said. “It was about contributing to it in a new way.”

Key Takeaways:

• North Vancouver RCMP are investigating the detonation of a homemade explosive device that caused minor damage to an office building on June 27.
• Police believe the device was made from fireworks or bear bangers and are seeking help identifying two male suspects seen on CCTV.
• Authorities have increased patrols in the area and are urging the public to review suspect images and report any information that could aid the investigation.

The Whole Story:

Mounties are asking for the public’s help identifying two suspects after a homemade explosive device was detonated outside a Lower Lonsdale office building late last month.

North Vancouver RCMP say officers responded to reports of a loud bang in the 200-block of West Esplanade Avenue around 4:15 a.m. on June 27. When officers arrived, they found minor damage to the front door of an office building. No injuries were reported.

Following an investigation by the RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit and the Explosives Disposal Unit, police confirmed the damage was caused by a rudimentary homemade device, likely constructed using commercially available fireworks or bear bangers taped together and ignited with a burning fuse.

Police have since conducted extensive video canvassing, reviewed hours of surveillance footage, and interviewed witnesses. They’ve also increased foot patrols in the area to reassure the public and deter further incidents.

Investigators have released images of two men considered persons of interest. CCTV footage shows the detonation occurred at exactly 4:04 a.m.

The first suspect is described as a Caucasian man with short, balding hair, a stocky build, wearing a black jacket, dark T-shirt, and blue jeans. The second suspect is described as a Caucasian man with a slender build, wearing a long blonde wig, a black hoodie, and dark blue pants.

“We are urging the public to review these images and contact police if they recognize the suspects,” said Cpl. Mansoor Sahak in a statement. “Even a small tip can be the final piece of the puzzle in a complex case.”

Police have not determined a motive and say there is no indication yet whether the act was politically motivated.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Vancouver RCMP at 236-481-9100, quoting file number 25-13204.

Key Takeaways:

• Morgan Construction secured $200 million in financing from Gordon Brothers to support working capital, purchase new equipment, and drive long-term growth.
• The five-year partnership includes both capital and advisory services through Nations Capital to help Morgan optimize its fleet and expand operations across Canada and the U.S.
• Gordon Brothers continues to expand its presence in Canada, offering asset-based financing and consulting services to support companies in heavy industry and construction.

The Whole Story:

Morgan Construction, one of Canada’s largest heavy civil contractors, has secured $200 million in financing to support its working capital, expand its fleet, and drive long-term growth.

The deal, facilitated by global asset advisory firm Gordon Brothers, includes a five-year, $150 million revolving credit facility and a $50 million accordion feature. In addition to the funding, Morgan will receive ongoing asset advisory and consulting services through Nations Capital, a Gordon Brothers company.

“As we’ve established a strong presence in Canada and continued expansion of solutions supporting Canadian borrowers, we’re proud to partner with a respected family-run business and industry leader like Morgan Construction and provide financing and asset-advisory services that drive long-term value,” said Kyle Shonak, Chief Transaction Officer at Gordon Brothers. “By combining our traditional lending capabilities, advisory and consulting services, and our deep asset expertise, we’re able to provide a full, comprehensive solution that enables growth within the Canadian market.”

The partnership aims to help Morgan acquire new, high-calibre equipment and optimize its existing fleet to meet the demands of its expanding operations in energy, mining, and site development across Canada and the U.S.

“Gordon Brothers’ vast industry experience and equipment expertise has been critical as we continue to service our customers throughout Canada,” said Peter Kiss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Construction. “As we continue to expand existing operations and enhance growth prospects, the firm’s well-structured facility and holistic partnership will enable us to scale operations.”

Morgan Construction is one of Canada’s leading heavy civil contractors, providing earthworks, environmental and demolition services, and site development solutions across key energy and mining sectors. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, with operations spanning the country and into the United States, the company employs over 1,100 people and partners with more than sixteen Indigenous communities.

Gordon Brothers, founded in 1903 and based in Boston, provides capital and advisory services to clients undergoing transformation, with a global footprint across more than 30 offices.

Key Takeaways:

• The City of Toronto has selected the Spanier Group to lead a real estate strategy and Monumental to oversee public engagement for the revitalization of Old City Hall.
• Following the relocation of court services, the landmark building will be repurposed with a focus on public access, heritage preservation, and local economic development.
• A long-term redevelopment plan will be delivered to City Council by the second quarter of 2026, guided by key principles including financial sustainability and community engagement.

The Whole Story:

The City of Toronto has selected a team led by the Spanier Group and Monumental to guide the future of Old City Hall, a National Historic Site and prominent downtown landmark that recently became vacant after serving as a courthouse for decades.

The Spanier Group, working alongside partners CBRE, Turner & Townsend, Bespoke Collective, and Artuitive Group, will lead real estate advisory efforts to develop a long-term strategy for the site. Their work will include market analysis, vision development, and financial modelling aimed at identifying the building’s highest and best uses, in line with a City Council directive issued earlier this year.

“This initiative aims to enhance public access, drive economic development, and ensure the long-term preservation of this nationally significant site,” said Meghan Wong, vice-president of the Spanier Group, in a statement.

To complement that work, Monumental will lead public engagement efforts with support from CreateTO, the City agency overseeing real estate and development. The firm, which specializes in socially equitable urban planning, will focus on building relationships with local stakeholders and prototyping potential future uses of the building.

“We’re thrilled to be opening the doors on the next chapter of Old City Hall,” said Zahra Ebrahim, co-CEO of Monumental. “We’re committed to an engagement process that acknowledges the building’s colonial past and stimulates our collective creativity in imagining its future.”

CreateTO CEO Vic Gupta called the initiative a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to transform the space into a vibrant public asset.

Old City Hall, located at Queen and Bay Streets, was completed in 1899 and functioned as a courthouse from 1972 until this year, when operations moved to a new facility at 10 Armoury Street. The building is currently vacant, and no long-term use has been designated.

The revitalization effort will be shaped by four guiding principles: increasing public access, conserving the heritage site, fostering local economic development, and achieving financial sustainability. A strategic report is expected to be presented to City Council by the second quarter of 2026.

Mass timber is reshaping Canada’s construction landscape, and several innovative companies are leading this sustainable charge. Our recent video highlights seven prominent firms making significant contributions to the sector.

These companies are not just constructing buildings; they’re shaping the future of sustainable architecture in Canada.

Mass timber offers a range of advantages that are transforming the way we design and construct buildings. Engineered for strength and precision, products like cross-laminated timber (CLT), glulam, and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) provide structural performance comparable to steel and concrete, while being significantly lighter.

This can reduce foundation requirements, lower transportation costs, and speed up construction through prefabrication and on-site assembly. Mass timber is also a sustainable building material—renewable, carbon-storing, and often sourced from responsibly managed forests—making it an attractive option for reducing a project’s embodied carbon footprint.

Key Takeaways:

• Ontario is investing $10 million to replace the 52-year-old Chippawa Willoughby Memorial Arena with a new NHL-sized rink, expanded seating, changerooms, and a community hub featuring a library and year-round programming.
• The province is also providing $420,000 to retrofit the YMCA of Niagara for energy efficiency and $698,000 to refurbish the Niagara Olympic Club’s track and field infrastructure.
• These investments are part of Ontario’s $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, tied to a broader $200 billion plan to strengthen communities and promote economic growth across the province.

The whole Story:

The Ontario government is investing more than $11.1 million in sport and recreation infrastructure across the Niagara Region, including a major upgrade to the aging Chippawa Willoughby Memorial Arena in Niagara Falls.

The funding is part of the province’s $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, which aims to revitalize community facilities and promote active living across Ontario.

The centrepiece of the announcement is a $10 million commitment to overhaul the 52-year-old Chippawa Willoughby Arena. Plans include constructing a new NHL-sized ice pad, seven changerooms, expanded spectator seating and a new community hub with an accessible library and space for multi-generational programming.

“This major investment will change lives for generations in Niagara Falls,” said Mayor Jim Diodati in a statement. “It will support our growing community… and be a cornerstone for recreation, learning and community connection.”

The provincial funding also includes $420,000 for energy-efficiency upgrades at the YMCA of Niagara — including new LED lighting and HVAC replacements — and $698,000 to refurbish the Niagara Olympic Club’s track and field infrastructure.

Sport Minister Neil Lumsden said the investments will help lower costs, boost local economies and expand access to healthy activities.

“With investments in infrastructure like this, we are protecting Ontario jobs, strengthening our communities and building a more resilient and self-reliant economy,” Lumsden said.

The CSRIF initiative is part of Ontario’s broader infrastructure strategy, which includes a $200 billion commitment to projects such as highways, hospitals, schools and transit.

Key Takeaways:

• Starting in 2026, qualified developers will be allowed to defer more development-related fees and use more flexible financial guarantees to help speed up housing construction. These changes aim to lower upfront costs and address housing affordability challenges.
• While the changes are welcomed, developers like Rob Blackwell argue that the root problem is the high cost of fees and infrastructure charges, which have been layered over time. These costs ultimately get mostly passed on to homebuyers, making housing unaffordable.
• Blackwell stresses the need for more stable policies, better federal support for municipal infrastructure, and immigration strategies that support the construction workforce. He warns that frequent rule changes and lack of investor certainty are deterring capital and driving up prices.

The Whole Story:

B.C. is looking to speed up home construction by accelerating timelines and lowering costs for builders. Some developers say that while they support the changes, the issues that make home prices high go much deeper.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, qualified developers will be allowed to defer a larger portion of development-related fees and use more flexible financial guarantees to begin projects sooner. The changes are part of amendments to the Development Cost Charge and Amenity Cost Charge (Instalments) Regulation, which has remained largely unchanged since 1984.

Rob Blackwell, Executive Vice President of Development at Anthem Properties, explained that builders have been urging the province to address these issues for years, but only when home affordability reached a critical level did they act.

“I think as a real estate development company and as an industry, some of the things announced with regards to deferrals have been things we have asked the government to do for a long time,” said Blackwell.  “What has been most alarming was the increase in costs. The affordability ceiling was hit. People aren’t prepared to pay anything more for rent or to buy housing and what makes that housing so expensive are the costs that go into it.” 

Blackwell says B.C. has reached a tipping point where the costs have become so high for housing that the market can’t bear it. While deferring development cost charges (DCCs) helps save developers from having to pay interest on loans used to pay those costs upfront, the real issue is much bigger.

“The real problem is the fees are too high,” said Blackwell. “The $10 million paid on a project in DCCs should be $5 million. This definitely helps but doesn’t get to the core issue.” 

He added that over time, well-meaning policies, costs or fees kept getting added. On their own they aren’t much but when stacked together they create a complex problem that can’t be fixed with any silver bullet. 

One of the biggest issues is how to pay for infrastructure. Blackwell explained that cities are limited in how they can fund the necessary upgrades needed for roads, water treatment, transit and more. Either raise property taxes or add DCCs. He believes that many cities have opted to avoid the political cost of raising taxes by dumping this burden on to new development, and essentially, onto new homebuyers. 

“If you aren’t in the housing system, like an immigrant, a young person, a first-time homebuyer, you are being penalized,” said Blackwell.

He believes that those costs should be more spread out among everyone and that the federal government needs to do a better job of helping municipalities access funding. They should give them the ability to borrow more, and allow for creative financing models, like issuing municipal bonds. 

“There’s a major infrastructure deficit all through Canada,” said Blackwell. “But all the things that support growth have to be paid for by more than people buying condos, that’s part of the reason why housing prices are out of control.”

Another major issue Blackwell believes needs to be addressed is constantly changing policies. He argues that the government should freeze policies for a while to give developers some certainty while they progress projects or even allow them to progress projects under the rules in place when the project started. 

“Once a business makes a decision they should be grandfathered in under the rules in place when that decision was made,” said Blackwell. “They shouldn’t be able to change things halfway through. The uncertainty this creates has scared away capital.” 

He also noted that caps on rent increases but no caps on property taxes or operating costs disincentivizes people from investing. He also noted that GST should be nixed on housing as it hits buyers with a major price increase right at the end of the sale.

Blackwell also argued that while the government has lowered immigration levels, it should be utilizing immigration to bring in the skilled workers that builders need.

“The goal here is to reduce costs and reduce the barriers for people to enter the market if they want to rent or buy,” said Blackwell. “The things we do from a provincial point of view should be geared towards that. We want to have a business that makes sense and people want to be able to buy or rent a house without it being such a stressful part of their life, that means we need to reduce those barriers and get some flex financing options into the market.”

Key Takeaways:

• The provinces signed two MOUs to develop new pipelines and rail lines aimed at connecting Alberta’s oil and gas with Ontario refineries and exporting Ontario’s critical minerals via new routes, including a proposed deep-sea port in James Bay.
• Premier Doug Ford and Premier Danielle Smith framed the infrastructure push as a way to diversify Canada’s trade partners, strengthen domestic supply chains, and reduce reliance on U.S. markets amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
• Ontario and Alberta pledged to advocate for a more favourable federal regulatory environment, explore financing options, and commit to Indigenous consultation as part of advancing “nation-building” energy and trade projects.

The Whole Story:

Ontario and Alberta have signed two new agreements aimed at strengthening energy and trade infrastructure, part of a broader push to diversify Canada’s export markets and reduce economic reliance on the United States.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) Monday, pledging to build new pipelines, rail lines and related infrastructure connecting Western Canada’s oil and gas to Ontario refineries, while expanding market access for critical minerals through northern ports.

“By building pipelines, rail lines and the energy and trade infrastructure that connects our country, we will build a more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant economy,” said Ford. “Let’s build Canada.”

The agreements propose new rail connections between Ontario’s Ring of Fire region and western Canadian ports, using Ontario steel. Plans also include a feasibility study to map optimal routes and financing options, as well as commitments to consult Indigenous communities and leverage domestic supply chains.

Premier Smith said the agreements mark a shift toward industry-led development.

“These MOUs are about building pipelines and boosting trade that connect Canadian energy and products to the world,” she said. “Government must get out of the way, partner with industry and support the projects this country needs to grow.”

The provinces also agreed to advocate for a more favourable federal regulatory environment to support private investment in infrastructure, while deepening cooperation on nuclear energy development — including small modular and large-scale reactor technology.

In a nod to interprovincial trade, Ontario committed to prioritizing made-in-Canada vehicles for Alberta’s fleet and increasing the availability of Alberta alcoholic beverages on Ontario store shelves.

The new MOUs build on a trade agreement signed by the provinces in Saskatoon in June. Since April, Ontario has inked trade deals with six provinces and passed legislation eliminating all province-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement — a first in Canada.

Ontario’s interprovincial trade totalled over $326 billion in 2023, with Alberta alone accounting for $62.4 billion in 2021, the most recent year of available data.

The Ford government says the latest agreements will help build a more integrated and resilient Canadian economy by cutting red tape, boosting supply chains and encouraging labour mobility across provinces.

“By tearing down interprovincial trade barriers and investing in strategic infrastructure, we are strengthening vital industries and ensuring a prosperous future for workers and businesses,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s minister of economic development.

Ontario officials framed the announcements as part of a broader strategy to counter U.S. protectionism and strengthen Canada’s internal economy, with Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce calling the move “a message to President Trump” that Canadians are ready to act decisively to protect their sovereignty.

Key Takeaways:

• Ottawa is investing over $21.5 million in five Alberta-based carbon capture and storage projects to accelerate clean energy innovation and reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like diesel engines and industrial processing.
• Key recipients include Bow Valley Carbon, Enbridge, Enhance Energy, OptiSeis Solutions, and OCCAM’s Technologies, with projects focusing on CO₂ storage, monitoring technologies, and diesel emissions reduction — several of which include Indigenous partnerships.
• The funding supports Canada’s broader clean energy strategy, aligning with $93 billion in clean investment tax credits and contributing to the 2050 net-zero target while aiming to position the country as a global energy leader.

The Whole Story:

The federal government is investing more than $21.5-million in five Alberta-based carbon capture and storage projects as part of its push to reduce emissions while bolstering Canada’s energy sector.

Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson made the announcement Thursday in Calgary, saying the funding will support the development of technologies that permanently store carbon, improve monitoring of underground storage sites, and reduce emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors like diesel engines.

“We are taking action to make Canada a conventional and clean energy superpower,” Hodgson said. “Today’s announcement highlights how Canada is showing the world that we are not just talking about clean energy — we are building it.”

The projects are funded through the federal Energy Innovation Program’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) stream, which was established following a $319-million commitment in Budget 2021. Ottawa says the goal is to drive down the cost and increase the viability of next-generation carbon capture technologies.

Among the recipients is Bow Valley Carbon, a partnership between Inter Pipeline and Entropy Inc., which will capture emissions from the Cochrane Extraction Plant and explore long-term carbon storage in western Alberta.

“Bow Valley Carbon will help ensure society can count on these products for decades to come,” said Paul Hawksworth, CEO of Inter Pipeline. “It will also create a path for long-term emissions reduction across the region.”

Enbridge is receiving support to advance its Wabamun Hub, a large-scale CO₂ transportation and storage network near Edmonton. The company says the project is being developed with plans for co-ownership opportunities for five nearby Indigenous communities.

Other funded projects include Enhance Energy’s Origins CCS Hub, designed to permanently store carbon from a range of industrial sources, and OptiSeis Solutions, which is validating subsurface geophysical technologies for monitoring underground carbon storage.

OCCAM’s Technologies will also receive support to demonstrate its emissions-reducing system for diesel engines at a commercial scale — part of an effort to target emissions from smaller but widespread emitters.

The funding announcement aligns with the federal government’s broader push to create jobs and reduce emissions through clean energy development. Ottawa has pledged $93 billion in clean investment tax credits through 2034–35, including incentives specifically targeting carbon capture technologies.

Officials say the projects will help meet Canada’s 2050 net-zero target while securing the country’s role as a global leader in both conventional and low-carbon energy.

“These investments are examples of how innovation can help Canada strengthen and modernize our energy industry, support good local jobs, reduce pollution and grow a cleaner economy,” the government said in a statement.

Key Takeaways:

• Toronto is introducing pre-approved building plans for garden and laneway suites to help homeowners and builders save time and money during the design and permitting process.
• Online building permit services are being expanded, allowing digital submissions for various residential projects, including new homes, secondary suites, and multiplex conversions.
• The City is widening its reliance on professional engineers’ seals, a move expected to cut permit-to-occupancy timelines by nearly a month for some housing types.

The Whole Story:

Toronto is rolling out a slate of new measures aimed at accelerating home construction, including standardized building plans and expanded online permit services, as the city works to address housing supply and affordability challenges.

Mayor Olivia Chow announced the initiatives Thursday, saying they are designed to cut red tape and help builders and homeowners get shovels in the ground faster.

“We need to build more affordable homes faster that people can afford,” Chow said. “Today’s announcement will simplify approvals at city hall by enabling online applications, supporting faster approvals and providing pre-approved designs to accelerate building.”

The new actions include:

• Pre-approved building plans for garden and laneway suites that comply with the Ontario Building Code and are freely available to the public. The standardized designs will reduce time and costs during the early design phase, although applicants must still undergo site-specific reviews.
• Expanded online services for building permit applications, allowing digital submissions for new homes, secondary suites, multiplex conversions and accessory dwellings. Automation features are expected to reduce manual processing and allow reviews to begin sooner.
• An expanded reliance on professional engineers’ seals, allowing qualified engineers to take responsibility for compliance with building code requirements. The program, launching July 14, will now include laneway and garden suites, mechanical systems and fire protection upgrades. A pilot of the program found it shortened permitting timelines by about 28 days.

The city is also publishing demonstration models to help residents visualize how so-called “missing middle” housing can fit into existing neighbourhoods, including pre-approved designs for multiplexes and secondary units.

The moves come as Toronto continues to grapple with a historic surge in housing proposals. Between 2020 and 2024, the city recorded its largest-ever residential development pipeline, with over 850,000 homes proposed.

City officials say the new tools will support both homebuilders and skilled trades, while helping Toronto meet the growing demand for diverse housing options.

Key Takeaways:

• Net Zero Now is building a 320-acre energy campus in Alberta to support data centres with 400MW of base load power, aiming to ease constraints in Canada’s fastest-growing data centre market.
• The project offers a workaround to Alberta’s grid limitations, allowing hyperscale operators to connect directly or virtually to on-site generation, bypassing AESO’s interim cap on large load connections.
• Alberta is being positioned as a rising data centre hub, with Net Zero citing low electricity costs, a favourable tax environment, and fully permitted, construction-ready sites as key advantages.

The Whole Story:

A Calgary-based infrastructure company says it has completed environmental studies for a new “energy campus” aimed at solving one of the biggest bottlenecks facing Canada’s growing data centre industry: access to reliable power.

Net Zero Now Ltd. plans to build the campus on a 320-acre site in Alberta, which it says was strategically chosen to align with the infrastructure needs of electricity generation and data centre operations. The development will include 400 megawatts of base load generation, power quality services, backup supply, and a co-located data centre campus.

“With the AESO’s large-load interconnection queue growing exponentially, we recognized the need for a fundamentally different approach to powering these large loads,” said Scott Martin, Head of Energy at Net Zero, in a statement. “We’re giving hyperscale operators the ability to directly connect through a co-located energy campus or contract virtually through the grid to bring their own generation online.”

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has placed a temporary cap on large load connections at 1,200 megawatts, even as applications from data centre operators have ballooned to over 16,000 megawatts. Net Zero’s approach—providing pre-permitted, construction-ready sites with embedded power infrastructure—is designed to bypass those constraints.

“While Alberta is not currently ranked as a top-tier global data centre market, we expect that will change in the near future,” said Logan Downing, Head of Carbon Strategy at Net Zero. “We provide fully permitted, construction-ready campuses that enable speed-to-market, low-cost electricity, and best-in-class carbon intensity.”

The company said it will also deploy net zero building techniques, such as advanced insulation and sustainable materials, to reduce both embodied and operational carbon from the data centre structures.

Net Zero’s campus model is pitched as a win for both the tech industry and the province. The company says the project will create jobs, add tax revenue, and contribute more supply to Alberta’s electricity system at a time of rising demand.

The province has recently seen increased interest from global data centre operators due to its low electricity prices, favourable tax climate, and relatively stable political environment. Net Zero says it is evaluating additional sites across Alberta to support future demand.

Key Takeaways:

• Finlayson says it’s not just tariffs hurting Canada—it’s the uncertainty. It’s freezing investment, stalling exports, and could tip the economy into recession.
• He warns that Canada’s counter-tariffs are raising the cost of construction and urges a smarter response that doesn’t make building even more expensive.
• Trump-era tensions have jolted Canadian leaders into prioritizing nation-building, speeding up project approvals, and focusing on infrastructure investment.

The Whole Story:

In the debut episode of Digging In, a new SiteNews podcast, ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson joined editor Russell Hixson to break down how economic uncertainty—fueled by trade tensions and shifting geopolitical winds—is impacting Canada’s construction sector.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube here:

To access all our videos, subscribe to our YouTube and to download this episode and receive all our podcast updates, subscribe to us on your favourite podcast platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts (coming soon).

During the discussion, Finlayson explained that the biggest challenge isn’t tariffs themselves, but the lingering fog they create.

“The uncertainty is really hurting investment, and even consumer confidence,” he noted.

While Canada has avoided blanket tariffs so far, key sectors like steel and autos are already feeling the pinch—particularly in Ontario. But when it comes to how we fight back, Finlayson was critical of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, especially those affecting construction inputs.

“We shouldn’t be retaliating in ways that raise the cost of building things,” he said, urging policymakers to avoid moves that would worsen affordability challenges.

He also pointed to an unexpected upside: renewed interest in nation-building projects.

“Trump has kind of shocked Canada out of its complacency,” Finlayson said, adding that Ottawa and the provinces are now showing more urgency around infrastructure, housing, and trade-enabling projects.

But the long-term economic dependency on the U.S. remains. “We don’t really have an alternative,” he warned. “We’re not going to transform the Canadian economy into something no longer heavily dependent on the U.S.”

Finlayson flagged two emerging headwinds for construction: a planned reduction in immigration, which could cool demand, and climate policy uncertainty—especially if the U.S. under a second Trump administration abandons its emissions agenda. Canada, he said, risks losing investment unless it reassesses how far ahead of the U.S. it wants to be on climate targets.

His advice for construction leaders? Stay engaged, speak up, and push for smarter policy.

“Now is the time to step up on big projects and cut the time it takes to get things built,” he said.

Key Takeaways:

• Starting in 2026, qualified homebuilders can defer 75% of their development-related charges until occupancy or within four years, instead of paying most costs upfront.
• B.C. will expand the use of on-demand surety bonds, giving builders an alternative to traditional letters of credit and improving access to capital during early project stages.
• By lowering financial barriers and streamlining payments, the province hopes to unlock stalled housing projects and accelerate the delivery of new homes amid high costs and interest rates.

The Whole Story:

The B.C. government is introducing changes aimed at lowering upfront costs for homebuilders and speeding up construction timelines, in an effort to unlock more housing amid the province’s affordability crisis.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, qualified developers will be allowed to defer a larger portion of development-related fees and use more flexible financial guarantees to begin projects sooner. The changes are part of amendments to the Development Cost Charge and Amenity Cost Charge (Instalments) Regulation, which has remained largely unchanged since 1984.

“We are committed to finding innovative and cost-effective solutions to build housing, so everyone has a fair chance to live in communities where they work and belong,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “These changes are about supporting housing development and easing the financial burden on builders and developers so they can get shovels in the ground faster.”

Under the new rules, eligible homebuilders will be able to pay 25% of development and amenity charges when a permit is approved, with the remaining 75% due at occupancy or within four years—whichever comes first. The current regulation requires a minimum one-third payment upfront and full payment within two years.

The province is also expanding the use of on-demand surety bonds as an alternative to traditional letters of credit, allowing developers greater access to capital. On-demand bonds are preferred by builders because they do not tie up credit capacity and can be converted to cash within 15 days if needed, without court involvement.

These financial tools are already in use in cities such as Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and Mission, but will now be available provincewide.

The changes follow consultations with local governments and industry organizations, including the Urban Development Institute and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC.

“The ability to defer a portion of development charges and use on-demand surety bonds is a practical measure to address the current economic realities of building housing across British Columbia,” said Neil Moody, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC. “This announcement reflects significant collaboration that will help unlock capital, ease cost pressures and support the delivery of more homes.”

Anne McMullin, president and CEO of the Urban Development Institute, said shifting payments closer to project completion will reduce early-stage financing pressure. “This policy lowers early-stage financing costs, frees up capital for construction and helps builders reinvest in new housing,” she said.

The province says the reforms will improve the financial viability of housing projects at a time when interest rates and construction costs remain high.

Local officials welcomed the move, calling it a smart balance between housing demand and sustainable infrastructure delivery.

“This smart, balanced policy shift will support both growth and sustainability,” said Delta Mayor George V. Harvie.

Langley Mayor Nathan Pachal noted that his city has already been piloting the use of on-demand bonds. “It is exciting to see this being rolled out provincewide,” he said.

Municipalities will have 18 months to prepare for the changes, including time for system upgrades and staff training.

The B.C. government has made increasing housing supply a central pillar of its response to affordability challenges. These latest reforms build on previous measures such as zoning changes, expedited permitting, and investments in public housing.

According to the province, a qualified developer is one that has been approved by a surety provider and has more than $50,000 in development-related charges payable to a local government.

More information on the regulatory changes can be found on the B.C. government’s website.