Category: Projects

Struggling to keep up with the Greenbelt saga? The ongoing scandal around Ontario’s land swap has been moving at a furious pace. Here is a timeline of major Greenbelt events going all the way back to 2005 when it was first created.

2005:

• The Greenbelt Plan is officially launched by Premier Dalton McGuinty, designating protected land in Southern Ontario to prevent urban sprawl and promote agricultural and environmental conservation. It establishes the world’s largest Greenbelt, encompassing the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine, and nearly one million acres of farmland: “Our government made a choice to preserve greenspace and plan intelligently for growth. This will improve the quality of life for the people of Ontario and make this province the place to be for years to come.” – McGuinty

2006:

• The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe is introduced to complement the Greenbelt Plan, focusing on urban development, transportation, and infrastructure. Officials noted that the region is a massive economic driver for the province and the country, generating upwards of 25% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.

2007:

• The Niagara Escarpment Plan, Canada’s first large-scale environmental land use plan and another component of Ontario’s land use planning framework, is revised to align with the Greenbelt Plan.

2015:

• The Greenbelt is expanded to include additional land in the Lake Simcoe area.

2017:

• The province of Ontario releases the Coordinated Land Use Planning Review, which includes proposed changes to the Greenbelt boundaries.

2018:

• February: The Ontario government, under Premier Doug Ford, announces plans to open up the Greenbelt for development, which sparks controversy and opposition from environmental groups and the public.

• May: After intense public outcry, the Ontario government reverses its decision to open up the Greenbelt for development: “I looked at it as making sure we have more affordable housing. The people have spoken. I’m going to listen to them, they don’t want me to touch the Greenbelt, we won’t touch the Greenbelt.” – Ford

2020:

• The Ontario government releases the final report of the Coordinated Land Use Planning Review, which includes changes to the Greenbelt boundaries, such as minor expansions and adjustments.

2022

• Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark announces plans to cut 7,400 acres in 15 different areas of the Greenbelt to construct 50,000 homes. However, he notes that the province also intends to add 9,400 acres in other areas, in order to build 50,000 homes. It contradicted a pledge he made in 2021 not to open up the Greenbelt “to any kind of development.”

2023:

• August: Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk releases a blistering report that finds the Greenbelt deal heavily favoured a small group of developers and did not consider environmental impacts. The report comes with a list of recommendations that include revisiting the deal in a way that follows proper procedures.
• Premier Doug Ford accepts all recommendations but one, refusing to undo the deal: “I have admitted numerous times that the process could have been a lot better and we are moving on that, but the good news story is that there are going to be 150,000 people with a roof over their heads.” -Ford
• Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake releases his report on the Greenbelt deal, recommending that Housing Minister Steve Clark receive a reprimand for his role in the land swap: “Minister Clark’s lack of oversight led to some developers being alerted to a potential change in the government’s position on the Greenbelt, resulting in their private interests being furthered improperly.” – Wake
• In conducting the inquiry, the commissioner, general counsel and office staff received evidence from 62 witnesses and reviewed more than 2,300 documents.
• The RCMP consider whether or not to investigate the land swap after a referral from provincial police in Ontario.

• September: Facing intense pressure in the fallout of the Wake report, Clark resigns from his position as minister: “As someone who has given my life to serving the people through our democratic institutions, it is my responsibility to adhere to the principles of Ministerial accountability.” – Clark
• Ford reshuffles his cabinet after Clark’s resignation.
• Ford announces a sweeping review of the Greenbelt lands and development applications. The province already has a mandate to review the Greenbelt lands every 10 years. This decision bumps up the mandatory review by two years.
• Ford reverses decision to allow development in the Greenbelt: “I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise. And for that I am very, very sorry.” – Ford
• Mississauga East-Cooksville MPP Kaleed Rasheed resigns from Ford’s cabinet after reporting shows he spent time with developers while on a trip to Las Vegas.

• October: The RCMP O Division’s Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) officially launches an investigation into the land swap deal after a referral from Ontario Provincial Police.

Key Takeaways:

• The city of Calgary, The province of Alberta, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, and Calgary Stampede have signed agreements to advance the project. 
• The permit process is expected to be completed in 2024, followed by construction beginning the same year.
• Beginning this fall, the development manager, CAA ICON, will begin utility and site preparations 

The Whole Story:

Calgary is one step closer to breaking ground on a new event centre. 

All four parties have formally signed the final agreements, which gives the project a green light to begin the design and construction phase.

The signed agreements signify the partnership between The city of Calgary, The province of Alberta, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, and Calgary Stampede to deliver the Event Centre project. It’s a commitment that supports Calgary’s downtown revitalization and growing a vibrant and welcoming city.

The project includes new community amenities and infrastructure, including downtown’s only community rink, new public plazas and gathering places, new mobility connections and streets and public realm improvements. 

City officials called the community improvements a “generational investment” in Calgary’s future.

“At this critical moment when we are seeing explosive population growth and increasing private sector interest in our city, the confirmation that the event centre project is proceeding to design and construction phases will generate strong investor confidence in our Culture + Entertainment District,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “This project will create better public gathering spaces, improved transportation networks, a downtown community rink and an arena to drive events that spur hosting and tourism opportunities, along with creation of jobs in the construction, retail and entertainment sectors.”

Beginning this fall, the development manager, CAA ICON, will begin utility and site preparations to make room for the community rink, public plazas and event centre. They will also begin work for the development permit process, which includes designing the community rink, Event Centre and public gathering spaces on the Event Centre Block. The permit process is expected to be completed in 2024, followed by construction beginning the same year.

“Calgary is a city of big dreams, big projects, and big expectations. Our investment in the Rivers District is one that helps build Calgary and continues the momentum of revitalization in the downtown core,” said Premier Danielle Smith. “It’s one more shot of energy for Calgary’s culture, entertainment, and business scenes and the city and province will reap the economic benefits for decades to come.”

The Calgary Construction Association, which has long advocated for the project, stated that it is thrilled at the announcement. 

“The new event centre will serve as a hub for sports and entertainment, attracting major events and acts to the region,” said Bill Black, president of the association. “This facility will not only provide a boost to the local economy through its construction, but also create follow-on jobs, investments and opportunities for businesses in the area.”

The association added that the new event centre is a prime example of how construction can play a vital role in creating economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for Calgarians. It added that new event center facility promises to be a catalyst for economic development, generating job opportunities and fostering growth in the construction sector.

Key Takeaways:

• 10 municipalities were selected: Vancouver, Kamloops, Delta, Abbotsford, North Vancouver, Victoria, Port Moody, Saanich, West Vancouver and Oak bay.
• The housing targets mark a 38% increase in overall housing to be built in these communities over what was projected to have been created based on historic trends.
• The province also sent a list of housing target guidelines, including a recommended number of units by size, rental versus owned units, below-market rental units and units with on-site supports.

The Whole Story:

B.C. has released housing targets for municipalities that it wants to see increase supply. 

The 10 municipalities were selected as part of the Housing Supply Act and officials say this lays the groundwork for thousands of homes to be built. 

“The housing crisis is hurting people, holding back our economy and impacting the services we all count on,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “We’re taking action and working with municipal partners to make sure more homes are built in communities with the greatest housing need. The targets include thousands of below-market rental units for the largest and fastest-growing communities. This means more people will be able find a home in the community they love.”

To support implementation, the province stated that it will continue to provide local governments with resources to speed up approval processes, including $10 million for continued implementation of the Development Approvals Process Review, and the province’s work accelerating and streamlining provincial permitting across multiple ministries and developing a new digital permitting process. This is funding in addition to the $1-billion Growing Communities Fund launched in February 2023 and the recently announced $51 million to support local governments in meeting new density initiatives.

The first 10 municipalities were selected for housing target assessment in May 2023 under the authority of the Housing Supply Act, which allows the province to set housing targets in communities with the most urgent housing needs. The Province consulted with the selected municipalities during the summer to set the final housing target orders. These housing targets are net new units to be completed within five years.

The target orders for each municipality:

• City of Abbotsford – 7,240 housing units
• City of Delta – 3,607 housing units
• City of Kamloops – 4,236 housing units
• District North Vancouver – 2,838 housing units
• District of Oak Bay – 664 housing units
• City of Port Moody – 1,694 housing units
• District of Saanich – 4,610 housing units
• City of Vancouver – 28,900 housing units
• City of Victoria – 4,902 housing units
• District of West Vancouver – 1,432 housing units

The housing targets put forward by the province mark a 38% increase in overall housing to be built in these communities over what was projected to have been created based on historic trends.

In addition to the targets, the province has sent each of the 10 municipalities a list of housing target guidelines, including a recommended number of units by size (one bedroom, two bedroom, three bedroom), rental versus owned units, below-market rental units and units with on-site supports. These guidelines include more than 16,800 below-market rentals.

The province said its analysis took into consideration the total number of units that are needed to address the shortage of housing now and to respond to population growth over the next five years

Officials added that while they encourage municipalities to work hard to meet the total housing need, the targets have been set based on 75% of that municipality’s identified housing need.

“These targets are a step toward creating more homes to meet the diverse housing needs of Saanich residents,” said Dean Murdock, mayor of Saanich. “We are committed to working together with the Province on housing solutions, and welcome their support to help us achieve our goals.”

Municipalities will be evaluated after six months, and every year thereafter, on their progress toward achieving the housing targets and actions taken to meet the target. The province said it will monitor progress and work with municipalities to better understand challenges and opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

• Dream Unlimited plans to develop 5,000 units of purpose-built rental housing.
• The projects will be in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Calgary and Toronto.
• In the next six months Dream can advance its shovel ready projects, which includes 1,350 units.

The Whole Story:

Ottawa’s new policy to exempt rental construction from GST is already bearing fruit. 

Toronto-based developer Dream Unlimited announced it will move ahead of building 5,000 new units of purpose-built rental housing and cited tax breaks from the federal government and provinces as being deciding factors. 

The developer stated in a press release that the tax breaks establish a newfound ability for the entire development industry ecosystem to partner with all levels of government, not-for-profit and private sector organizations to collectively address the affordability crisis by increasing the amount of market and affordable rental units available to Canadians.

“With Thursday’s introduction of new legislation formalizing the removal of GST, Dream is positioned to move forward on 5,000 net new purpose-built rental apartment units in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Calgary and Toronto collectively,” says Michael J. Cooper, president and CEO of Dream Unlimited. “This legislation is a game changer for the development industry, and more importantly for Canadians. The housing crisis has impacted every urban centre from coast to coast. What this legislation unlocks is our ability to get shovels into the ground quickly at a time when it’s never been more critical to build new homes.”

Each of the sites identified by Dream currently have approvals in place.

Dream officials say that in the next six months its team can advance its shovel ready projects, which includes 1,350 units. In Ottawa, Dream will be advancing 1,010 units of which 43% – equivalent to 438 units – will be dedicated as affordable. Rents for the Ottawa units will range from 59% of median market rent to market rents, contributing to 7% of the city’s targeted annual construction starts of 15,000 units. In addition, Dream will bring 340 units to Saskatoon. By 2025, Dream expects it will be able to advance another 3,700 units across Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Saskatoon.

Dream officials noted that its progress in Ottawa is largely due to a unique partnership between Dream and the Multifaith Housing Initiative of Ottawa (MHI), a Canadian non-profit charitable organization founded in 2002 that is a coalition of 80 faith communities. 

As a result of the partnership, both organizations are able to deliver an integrated rental community that will include affordable housing, transit connectivity and unprecedented sustainability targets. Located on the Library Parcel of LeBreton Flats, the development is a net-zero, mixed-income community that includes 608 rental units, 41% of which will be dedicated as affordable. Dream and MHI will also develop integrated programs and support systems.

“Multifaith Housing Initiative strongly supports the legislation tabled by the federal government on Thursday to eliminate the GST from new purpose-built rentals and encourages all provincial governments to proceed with the exemption of the PST,” said Suzanne Le, executive director, Multifaith Housing Initiative.” 

Key Takeaways:

• Ford announced he will keep his original promise to not touch the Greenbelt.
• He called opening it up to development “a mistake” and noted that the development process was too fast.
• The RCMP is currently considering wether or not to investigate the $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap after the matter was referred to them by Ontario Provincial Police

The Whole Story:

After months of reports, staffing changes and pressure from the public, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has nixed plans to develop housing in the Greenbelt, a protected area of green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds.

The announcement came after several days of meetings with caucus and cabinet. 

“I want the people of Ontario to know I am listening. I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise. And for that I am very, very sorry.” said Ford. “It was a mistake to open the Greenbelt, it was a mistake to establish a process that moved too fast. This process left too much room for some to benefit over others. It caused people to question our motives. As a first step to earn back your trust, I will be reversing the changes we made and won’t make any changes to the Greenbelt in the future.”

Ford added that he still believes opening the Greenbelt could make a major impact in the province’s housing crisis by adding housing for a minimum of 150,000 people. 

“But we moved too quickly, and made the wrong decision,” he said. “The truth remains that Ontario is growing at an unprecedented speed. And doing more of the same and accepting the status quo will only make the housing affordability crisis worse. We need to build homes, we need to change the way we build these homes, building more density in cities close to transit.”

He cited modular homes, cutting through red tape and holding builders accountable as ways they plan to tackle the crisis.

The announcement comes after a troubling few months for the province’s leadership. In August Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released a blistering report that found the Greenbelt deal heavily favoured a small group of developers and did not consider environmental impacts. The report came with a list of recommendations that include revisiting the deal in a way that follows proper procedures.

Weeks later, Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake released his report on the Greenbelt deal, recommending that Housing Minister Steve Clark receive a reprimand for his role in the land swap. Earlier this month, Clark resigned, stating that it was his responsibility to adhere to the principles of ministerial accountability.

But the deal’s troubles aren’t over. The RCMP has confirmed that it is looking into investigating the Ford government’s Greenbelt land swap controversy after the matter was referred to them by Ontario Provincial Police.

Key Takeaways:

• The report found that delays and inefficiencies within the city of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment (COA) process add $21,000 to $58,000 annually to the cost of renovations and infill building projects.
•  The study found that the total average decision timelines for typical COA applications, regardless of COA district, were 95 days 
• The report recommends delegating authority for minor variances to staff and fixing the underlying zoning issues that are creating increasing volumes of applications.

The Whole Story:

Delays and inefficiencies are adding tens of thousands of dollars to construction projects, a new study shows. 

The study, commissioned on behalf of the professional renovation industry by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and conducted by Altus Group Economic Consulting, found that delays and inefficiencies within the city of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment (COA) process add $21,000 to $58,000 annually to the cost of renovations and infill building projects. The study further identified that in order to meet the city’s goal of building 285,000 homes by 2031, the system must be overhauled.

“Toronto is a rapidly growing city, and the building of infill homes and renewal of existing housing stock add much-needed housing supply for current and future residents,” said Justin Sherwood, BILD’s senior vice president. “With the city recently adopting various zoning reforms such as four units per lot as of right, and looking to make additional changes in the near future, the need for a more efficient process that reduces strain on city resources has never been greater.”

Altus Group Economic Consulting was retained by BILD to undertake a study of the city of Toronto’s COA timelines for decisions on minor variances, as part of a broader examination of the factors contributing to housing affordability challenges. BILD stated that the Altus study reinforces the city’s own findings, through a study with KPMG, that process improvements and data transparency would support approval timelines and efficiency.

The Altus study looked at the timelines for minor variance applications for the last eight years (2015-2022), using data from the City of Toronto’s Open Data Catalog. It found that the volumes of applications to Toronto’s COA and TLAB processes have doubled over the last decade, resulting in lengthy delays. These delays can add 8% to 14% annually in additional construction-related costs, amounting to between $9 per square foot to $19 per square foot annually, or approximately $21,000 to $58,000.

Notably, the study found that the total average decision timelines for typical COA applications, regardless of COA district, were 95 days across the entirety of the 8-year period. This is 65 days longer than the 30-day service standard required by the Planning Act and 32 days longer than the 63-day target for service standards set by the city.

The report provides six major recommendations for action by the province and the city to successfully improve decision timelines for minor variances. Most notably, it recommends delegating authority for minor variances to staff and fixing the underlying zoning issues that are creating increasing volumes of applications. To see all of the recommendations, download the report.

“Renovators in Toronto have long been advocating for improvements to the COA process,” said Peter Di Scola, chair of BILD’s Renovator Executive Committee. “The current process sees a 93-95% approval rate of applications through the COA process, meaning it would be far more efficient for the City to update zoning bylaws to permit the most common types of COA applications.”

Key Takeaways:

• Earlier this year, Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. was awarded a $204.8-million contract for the design and construction of the facility.
• The collections and research building will house artifacts and facilitate learning.
• The mass timber project is expected to open in 2026.

The Whole Story:

Construction has begun on the Royal BC Museum’s (RBCM) collections and research building (CRB) in Colwood.

The new 15,200 square-metre (164,000 square foot) building will be a state-of-the-art facility using mass timber that will house the province’s collections and BC Archives. It will improve access for the public as only 1% of the province’s vast collection is on display. It will also provide dedicated research labs and learning spaces.

In preparation for construction, Shaker Faith workers led a ceremonial land blessing to bless the site and workers.

“It’s an important day as we move forward on a new collections and archives building that will properly store and safeguard our province’s shared history, priceless artifacts and archives,” said Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport. “I was honoured to witness the Shaker Faith workers bless and prepare the land of the CRB prior to construction. I look forward to working with the Royal BC Museum, Maple Reinders, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, and the City of Colwood on this important new building.”

Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. was awarded a $204.8-million contract for the design and construction of the CRB in Colwood. Total capital project costs for the CRB are estimated at $270 million. Government expects substantial completion in fall 2025 and anticipates a public opening in 2026.

“The provincial collections and archives help us to share the stories of our cultures and communities. It’s vital to ensure they’re kept safe for future generations,” said Tracey Drake, acting CEO, Royal BC Museum. “This exceptional facility will also provide a window into the world of the museum, enabling visitors to see our paleontologists, entomologists, botanists, zoologists and more, engaged in active research projects.”

Key Takeaways:

• The $200 million facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of approximately 350 million board feet. 
• Planning, construction, and commissioning of the new facility is expected to take between 28 and 32 months depending on contractor availability and equipment lead times. 
• Earlier this year, Canfor announced plans to wind down operations at existing mills in Chetwynd, Houston and Prince George. 

The Whole Story:

Canfor, a global forest products company, plans to spend $200 million on a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Houston, B.C. 

Canfor officials stated that the low cost, high efficiency facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of approximately 350 million board feet. 

The news comes after significant Canadian closures. The company, which has been based in B.C. for 85 years, announced earlier this year that it would wind down operations at mills in Chetwynd, Houston and Prince George. 

Don Kayne, president and CEO of Canfor, explained that the decision to build the new facility came following a comprehensive evaluation of customer requirements and a careful evaluation of the availability of economic fibre in the region to support a successful investment. 

“We believe we have the plan, the people and the know-how to build a best-in-class facility that showcases B.C. workers, suppliers and technology,” he said. “Today’s announcement underscores our ongoing commitment to British Columbia and the Houston community. It will strengthen our ability to provide our high-quality, sustainably produced forest products to the world, while providing good, family-supporting jobs here in B.C.”

He added that the project will be part of Canfor’s efforts to build  strong, collaborative relationships with Indigenous Nations in the area.

Work will begin immediately on detailed project engineering and permitting requirements. Vendor and equipment selection will be finalized in early 2024 with demolition and site preparation scheduled for the spring. Planning, construction, and commissioning of the new facility is expected to take between 28 and 32 months depending on contractor availability and equipment lead times. 

“We are very excited to be taking this important step to strengthen our manufacturing capacity and look forward to working with our partners to build a world class facility that will supply our valued customers with the high quality, low carbon products that are in demand around the world,” said Kayne.  

Canada’s healthcare demand is increasing.

According to data released from the Canadian Institute for Health Information earlier this year, in 2021–2022, there were almost 2.9 million acute inpatient hospitalizations in Canada, up from 2.7 million visits in 2020–2021, the first year of the pandemic. After adjusting for differences in age, sex and population growth, the hospitalization rate was 6,983 per 100,000 population.

With more demand for care, comes a bigger need for hospital facilities. Here are a few major hospital projects creating new facilities or updating older ones.

St. Paul’s Hospital 

Something massive is rising out of Vancouver’s False Creek Flats neighbourhood. The $2 billion new St. Paul’s Hospital aims to be an internationally renowned, full-service, acute-care hospital and integrated health campus. It will have capacity for up to 548 beds, which includes 115 net new beds. The site will be the home of several leading provincial programs and referral centres, including for heart and lung care, renal, eating disorders and specialty surgeries and transplants. PCL was awarded the design-build contract for the facility in 2021. It is scheduled to open in 2027. The current St. Paul’s Hospital first opened in the 1800s.

Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital

The new Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital project, led by EllisDon and PCL Healthcare Partners, is a full replacement of the existing hospital. At 22 storeys, it will almost triple the size of the current hospital in Mississauga, Ont. and will be approximately 2.8 million square feet. It will have over 950 beds, 23 operating rooms and a new emergency department. The new hospital will also include advanced diagnostic imaging facilities and a new pharmacy and clinical laboratory. Once complete, it will be the largest hospital in the country. Officials say it will be roughly a decade before the project is completed. 

Surrey Hospital 

Shovels are in the ground for a second hospital in Surrey and new cancer centre. The groundbreaking comes despite massive cost escalations for the project due to inflation, supply-chain disruptions and labour shortages. Officials stated that despite high costs, the project is too critical to delay any longer. Construction of the new hospital and cancer centre is anticipated to be complete in 2029 and open in 2030. The total cost of the project is anticipated to be $2.88 billion. It is being built through a design-build Agreement with EllisDon Design Build Inc.

Ottawa Hospital’s New Campus Development project

Last March, the Government of Ontario announced the approval of The Ottawa Hospital’s (TOH) New Campus Development project, with a commitment to fund more than $2 billion in construction costs.  The project is now into the implementation stage and when it opens in 2028, the new campus will be the largest and most modern teaching and research hospital in Canada. Construction is expected to begin next year with completion scheduled for 2028. 

Cariboo Hospital redevelopment

Earlier this year, Interior Health signed a contract for the construction of the Cariboo Memorial Hospital redevelopment project in Williams Lake, B.C. with its preferred proponent, Graham Design Builders LP. The $366 million project includes an addition to the hospital as well as renovations. The addition will be three storeys, plus a basement, and approximately 9,300 square metres. The redevelopment will add 25 in-patient beds. Construction will happen in two phases. Phase 1, which includes the addition, will begin in spring 2023 and is expected to finish in fall 2026. Phase 2, which includes renovations to the existing hospital, will begin in fall 2026 and is scheduled to be complete in early 2029.

Burnaby Hospital expansion

A business plan has been approved for a new inpatient tower and integrated cancer centre, as part of $1.7 billion Phase 2 of the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment. The proposed 12-storey inpatient tower is expected to include 160 private rooms. The tower will also include general medicine, medical oncology, cardiac telemetry and intensive care and high-acuity units. Additionally, a new medical-imaging department, featuring space for two CT scanners, a spiritual care suite, public spaces and more. The new tower will also be home to a new BC Cancer Centre, which will include 54 ambulatory care rooms, 31 chemotherapy chairs, space for five linear accelerators, space for two PET/CT scanners, an oncology pharmacy, and clinical trials and research space.

Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital modernization

Quebec has announced plans to move forward with the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital modernization project. Health Minister Christian Dubé told reporters this month that the project should take eight to 10 years to complete and could cost as much as $4 billion. The project involves renovating and expanding multiple sections of the 1950s building and bumping up the number of beds to 720.

South Niagara Hospital

Earlier this year, crews broke ground on the 1.3-million-square-foot South Niagara Hospital in Ontario.  The 12-storey structure will add more health capacity for the region, including 469 single patient bedrooms, eight operating suites, 42 hemodialysis stations, and two MRI machines. The hospital aspires to become the first WELL-certified hospital in Canada, with design features prioritizing the health and well-being of hospital users. EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare secured the $3.6-billion contract for designing, building, financing, and maintaining the hospital back in February.  Excavation is scheduled to commence by the end of the summer, and the entire construction process is estimated to take five years, with the hospital slated to officially open its doors in the summer of 2028.

Shovels are in the ground for a new second hospital in Surrey and new cancer centre.

The groundbreaking comes despite massive cost escalations for the project due to inflation, supply-chain disruptions and labour shortages. Officials stated that the project is too critical to delay any longer. 

“Surrey has been experiencing tremendous growth and people are struggling to get the health services they need while health-care workers are burning out,” said Premier David Eby. “We’re taking urgent action while carefully planning for the future. As we break ground on the new, state-of-the-art Surrey hospital and cancer centre, work continues on immediate actions to improve health services in the region, so everyone gets the timely, high-quality health care they need.”

Changing costs and timelines

Construction of this new hospital and cancer centre is anticipated to be complete in 2029 and open in 2030. The total cost of the project is anticipated to be $2.88 billion. Last year, officials announced the project would cost $1.72 billion. The timeline called for construction to begin this July and to wrap up in April 2027.

Fraser Health has executed a Design-Build Agreement with EllisDon Design Build Inc., which will be responsible for completing the design and construction of the new facility, making Surrey the first community in decades to get a second hospital.

“The new Surrey hospital and cancer centre gives us a rare opportunity to build a net-new hospital and cancer centre that will add much-needed capacity for health-care services in the community,” said Adrian Dix, minister of health. “The facts are the people of the fast-growing Surrey community need a second hospital and they need it as soon as soon as possible. So, despite significant cost escalation due to inflation, supply-chain disruptions and labour shortages, we are moving forward to deliver the new state-of-the-art hospital and cancer centre.” 

Adding capacity

The second hospital in Surrey will bring 168 more hospital beds, including medical/surgical beds, high acuity beds and medical oncology beds, and a second emergency department for the community with 55 treatment spaces and access to specialists through virtual technologies.

It will include a surgical/perioperative suite with five operating rooms, four procedure rooms and virtual care options in all clinical service areas, such as virtual intake, emergency followups, outpatient clinics and pre- and post-surgical care, as well as robotics, wearable technology and smart beds.

Adding a second hospital in Surrey will also bring a large medical-imaging department, including three CT scanners and two MRI machines, as well as a pharmacy, a full-service laboratory that can perform biochemistry, hematology and transfusions, and academic spaces. As well, a dedicated area for spiritual care and family gatherings will support cultural diversity and spiritual practices.

“The new hospital in Surrey will provide annual capacity for more than 28,000 surgical procedures, 280,000 additional medical-imaging exams and 120,000 emergency department visits with the addition of a second emergency department to serve the community,” Dix said.  

Extra supports

In addition to building a second hospital in Surrey, the community will also have a BC Cancer Centre with a 50-room oncology ambulatory care unit. The new Surrey cancer centre will include 54 chemotherapy treatment spaces and room for six linear accelerators for radiation therapy to provide care and support for people diagnosed with cancer, two PET/CTs and a cyclotron. This new centre is expected to provide approximatley 105,000 ambulatory oncology care visits, 50,000 radiation therapy visits and 22,000 chemotherapy visits each year.

The cancer centre in Surrey is a part of B.C.’s 10-year B.C. cancer action plan, which outlines immediate steps to prevent, detect and treat cancers and deliver improved care for people facing cancer.  

A new stand-alone 49-space child care centre will be built to support on-site health-care professionals, making it one of the first health-care capital projects to include on-site child care services.

It will also be a fully electric hospital, one of the first in Canada.

Ontario’s largest passive house multi-residential building has opened. 

Meadowbrook Place, located at 3100 Meadowbrook Lane, is Ontario’s largest “passive house” multi-residential building and features 145 units of much needed housing for those of all income levels including individuals, small families and seniors. The Windsor complex features 46 accessible units, and includes both indoor and outdoor shared spaces, and outdoor fitness equipment. Construction on the project began in late November 2019 and began welcoming residents in the Summer of 2023.

The Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (WECHC) project saw $33.8 million in funding from the federal government, $13.3 million of which is a contribution, through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF). 

This is in addition to the just over $5 million in funding announced for the project in September 2020 by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario through the Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF), the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) program, and the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI).

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing. “Through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, small families, individuals, and seniors in Windsor now have access to more housing options to raise their families or access to critical support services at a time of need. Meadowbrook Place will help increase the availability of affordable homes and support those in need in Windsor.”

Key Takeaways:

• FPInnovations has been testing asphalt mixes that use wood-derived products instead of petroleum-based ones.
• The asphalt has already been tested in a variety of environments and will soon be tested in Quebec.
• The technology could increase pavement preservation and extend service life for pavements and roads in the face of climate change.

The Whole Story:

Natural Resources Canada will contribute $1.5 million to FPInnovations for an innovative project that aims to develop asphalt that contains wood-derived products from Canada’s forest sector.

FPInnovations, in collaboration with the construction firm Eurovia and the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec, will conduct an on-road pilot in Ange-Gardien, Quebec. Pilots have also been conducted in other provinces to test the asphalt’s performance in the wide range of climate conditions.

“Canada is blessed with immense forest resources,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of energy and Natural Resources. “Finding innovative ways of managing and utilizing these resources can provide new pathways for low-carbon solutions. This means lower emissions and good, sustainable jobs for workers. This partnership with FPInnovations is paving the way for a more sustainable Canada.”

The new asphalt being tested contains a renewable bioproduct, lignin, which is intended to replace a portion of the petroleum-based bitumen currently found in the asphalt used in roads. This new product would increase pavement preservation and possibly extend service life for pavements and roads in the face of climate change.

The $1.5-million contribution is being delivered through the Forest Innovation Program (FIP), which supports the development of new technologies and practices that improve the environmental sustainability and economic productivity of Canada’s forest sector.

Key Takeaways:

• The $150 million will be dispersed as fully repayable low-interest loans through the Rental Construction Financing Initiative (RCFi).
• The loans will be used to build more than 364 purpose-built rental homes across three developments in Vancouver.
• The 19 on the Greenway project has benefited from the loan program will be developed into two separate rental buildings and will offer 118 units for Vancouver residents.

The Whole Story:

The Government of Canada will provide $150 million in fully repayable low-interest loans through the Rental Construction Financing Initiative (RCFi) to build more than 364 purpose-built rental homes across three developments in Vancouver.

“We are working with all levels of government, non-profit organizations and with the private sector to increase housing supply,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing. “Through strategic investments, like the one announced today which will help build 364 purpose-built units in Vancouver, we are helping to increase housing supply across Canada so that all Canadians have a safe place that they are proud to call home.”

The announcement took place at Evolve, located near the University of British Columbia (UBC) at 3518 Wesbrook Mall. 

The Evolve project offers 110 rental units for faculty and staff at the university. Evolve received Passive House Certification, an internationally recognized building certification that provides third-party verification and a stamp of quality assurance that a building meets the high performance and comfort levels of the Passive House standard. 

The project received a $44.2 million RCFi low-interest loan from the federal government through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and $3.5 million from Natural Resources Canada. UBC contributed $15.1 million in land equity. Construction was completed in August 2022 and the project is fully leased.

Mundell House, also located near UBC at 6038 Birney Avenue, offers 136 rental units for faculty and staff at the university. The project received a $46.4 million RCFi low-interest loan from the federal government through CMHC. UBC contributed $23.6 million in land equity. Amenities for residents include a bicycle room, a communal courtyard and rooftop amenity space. Construction was completed in August 2020 and the project is fully leased.

Located at 3619 and 3681 Arbutus Street, 19 on the Greenway will be developed into two separate rental buildings and will offer 118 units for Vancouver residents. The project received a $59 million RCFi low-interest loan from the federal government through CMHC and PCI Developments contributed $30.7 million in cash equity.

The project is located across the street from the Arbutus Greenway which is well serviced by public transit through frequent bus service, as well as the future Broadway Transit line. Construction is expected to complete in March 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• Bird Construction has been selected as construction manager for the Vancouver Community College (VCC) Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation and the University of Victoria (UVIC) Engineering Expansion Project.
• both facilities will extensively leverage mass timber structural elements, including columns, beams, and lateral bracing.
• The interior spaces will be designed with the intentional selection of low-emitting materials and recycled contents.

The Whole Story:

Bird Construction has been selected as construction manager for the Vancouver Community College (VCC) Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation and the University of Victoria (UVIC) Engineering Expansion Project. The combined value of the contracts is approximately $280 million.

The VCC Centre is an eight-storey, 343,832 sq. ft., LEED Gold and energy-efficient facility with elements of exposed mass timber. Bird stated that the facility will provide education and skills training for people in B.C. and Red-Seal-certified apprentices of modern automotive trades, including electric, hydrogen fuel cell, plug-in and autonomous vehicles. The facility will accommodate as many as 1,400 students annually.

The UVIC Engineering Expansion Project consists of two new state-of-the-art academic buildings: the Engineering Computer Science Building Expansion, a six-storey, 68,180 sq. ft. building, and the High Bay Research and Structures Laboratory Building, a two-storey, 20,900 sq. ft. building. The complete UVIC Engineering Expansion project will have a Net Zero Carbon Ready Design and will target LEED Gold. 

To support reduced greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller carbon footprint, both facilities will extensively leverage mass timber structural elements, including columns, beams, and lateral bracing, and the interior spaces will be designed with the intentional selection of low-emitting materials and recycled contents.

“We are excited to be part of these transformative projects that align well with Bird’s purpose of bringing life to vision and creating greatness together. With a focus on LEED Gold and Net Zero Carbon Ready Designs, these projects exemplify our innovative solutions that drive a lower carbon future,” said Teri McKibbon, president and CEO of Bird. “Our team in B.C. has a long history of strong execution on institutional projects and a solid track record in construction management project delivery. We are proud to be a part of shaping the future of education and research in British Columbia and beyond.”

Key Takeaways:

• Work building the dam portion of the Site C project in B.C. has wrapped up.
• When signed in 2015, the civil works contract was worth $1.75 billion. 
• In total, more than 16 million cubic metres of material was used in its construction.
• The entire project is expected to be completed in 2025. 

The Whole Story:

ACCIONA and its partners in the Peace River Hydro Partners consortium (PRHP) have completed the construction of the Site C dam, in B.C. Awarded in 2015 for $1.75 billion, it is one of ACCIONA’s largest projects in Canada.

At 60 meters high and approximately 500 meters wide, the dam stretches more than one and a half kilometers along the Peace River. Officials say it is the largest dam of it’s kind in the country.

The dam fill works began in 2021. In total, more than 16 million cubic metres of material was used in its construction which was 100% self-performed by PRHP. Most of the material was obtained from the site while the remaining seven million tons was moved on a five-kilometer-long conveyor belt, avoiding CO2 emissions from vehicle haulage.

During construction, ACCIONA and its partners achieved records placing the roller-compacted concrete (RCC) foundation. The team reached daily RCC placement peaks of over 9,460 cubic metres per day.

To divert the river, the PRHP excavated two twin tunnels 800 meters long and 11 meters diameter with road-headers. The tunnels were then lined with concrete. In total, more than 100 cubic metres of earth was moved.  In addition, half a million tons of rip-rap rock protection for the dam was produced and transported by rail from a local quarry. 

The construction of the Site C dam was built in compliance with international and Canadian safety practices, enabling it to withstand natural disasters.

The PRHP construction of the earthen dam, the roller-compacted concrete dam and the diversion tunnels are part of the Site C Clean Energy Project, one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in Canada. 

Once completed in 2025, the project will provide energy to a population equivalent to 450,000 homes or 1.7 million electric vehicles per year.

Key Takeaways:

• bp Gas Marketing has a total firm LNG offtake for the project of 1.95 million tonnes per annum.
• Work on the project is scheduled to start this month and operations are expected to start in 2027.
• Officials say it will be the world’s first LNG export facility targeting net-zero carbon emissions.

The Whole Story:

All of Woodfibre LNG’s offtake has been spoken for.

The B.C. LNG project, set to begin construction this month, announced it has now committed all of its offtake for sale to bp Gas Marketing Limited (BPGM), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of bp p.l.c., with a total firm LNG offtake of 1.95 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and the remainder on a flexible basis. 

Woodfibre LNG Limited Partnership has signed a third LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with BPGM for the delivery of LNG from the Woodfibre LNG export facility. Under the terms of this SPA, BPGM will receive an additional 0.45 MTPA of LNG over 15 years on a free on board (FOB) basis. 

“Canada, and particularly British Columbia, is uniquely positioned to take the lead on exporting lower-carbon LNG overseas as part of the global energy transition. Today’s announcement demonstrates there is demand for lower-carbon energy today and well into the future,” said Christine Kennedy, president of Woodfibre LNG. “We look forward to working with BPGM as the offtaker from the Woodfibre LNG project to deliver Canadian LNG from one of the lowest carbon intensive LNG export facilities in the world. The global demand for lower carbon energy makes Woodfibre LNG a supplier of choice in the energy transition,” said Ratnesh Bedi, Pacific Energy president.

Woodfibre LNG is scheduled to begin construction this month in Squamish and operations are expected to begin in 2027. Officials say it will be the world’s first LNG export facility targeting net-zero carbon emissions.

“As a leader in the energy transition and partner in the Woodfibre LNG Project, Enbridge is pleased with today’s announcement. Woodfibre LNG will play an important role in providing global LNG markets with a safe, secure and sustainable source of natural gas produced by one of the lowest emission LNG facilities in the world,” said Cynthia Hansen, Enbridge Executive Vice President and President of Gas Transmission and Midstream.

Key Takeaways:

• The CHF is a $3.3-billion investment to build more than 20,000 affordable rental homes for people with moderate and low incomes by 2031-32.
• Proposals for the CHF are managed by BC Housing and will be accepted until mid-November 2023.
• Projects will be prioritized based on several criteria, including prioritized populations and the effect the project would have in addressing the community’s affordable rental housing need.

The Whole Story:

B.C. announced it will fund thousands of new homes through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund (CHF).

“We are in a housing crisis, and this new round of CHF funding will ensure more people have access to an affordable place to live by creating approximately 3,500 homes,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “This is a significant step toward our goal of 20,000 CHF-funded homes by 2032, as our province increases its housing stock faster than ever so people have the homes they need now and into the future. Together, with our many partners, we’re making progress, but we know there’s much more work to be done.”

Proposals for the CHF are managed by BC Housing and will be accepted until mid-November 2023. The project proposals will be evaluated and projects totalling approximately 3,500 units are expected to be announced in early 2024.

Non-profit organizations, housing co-operatives, municipalities, First Nations and Indigenous-led societies are encouraged to submit their housing proposals and apply for funding.

“We welcome this response to the desperate and growing need for more safe, secure, affordable housing for British Columbians,” said Thom Armstrong, CEO, Co-operative Housing Federation of British Columbia. “Help is on the way for 3,500 more households that are struggling to make ends meet in this overheated housing market. This government continues to lead the way in Canada by making new affordable housing supply a priority.”

Projects will be prioritized based on several criteria, including prioritized populations and the effect the project would have in addressing the community’s affordable rental housing need. Project-development funding will also be available for projects that require further development to prepare them for the next CHF funding call.

“The City of Vancouver is focused on delivering more affordable housing and will continue to do what it takes to lead the region in new housing approval and secure attainable housing in the city,” said Ken Sim, mayor of Vancouver. “We appreciate our partners in the provincial government who understand that we need more housing for the people who call this city home. We will continue to work hand in hand to build the housing Vancouverites need.”

The CHF is a $3.3-billion investment to build more than 20,000 affordable rental homes for people with moderate and low incomes by 2031-32. Approximately 9,000 of these homes are open or underway throughout the province. Additional CHF proposal calls will be issued during the next four years to allocate funding for the remaining units.

“With rents rising faster in B.C. than anywhere else in the country, the homes funded through the Community Housing Fund could not come at a more critical time,” said Jill Atkey, CEO, BC Non-Profit Housing Association. “Non-profit housing providers have been eagerly anticipating this call, and the affordable developments they bring forward will impact the lives of thousands of individuals and families for decades to come.”

Key Takeaways:

• The sites include Highway 97 at Cottonwood Hill north of Quesnel and Blackwater Road at Knickerbocker Road.
• Crews at both sites are completing geotechnical investigations and environmental investigations to inform the ultimate project design.
• Construction is scheduled to begin next year. 

The Whole Story:

B.C. has approved $538 million worth of road improvement projects for the Cariboo.

Officials say the projects will improve highway safety and reliability with two restoration projects that will stabilize roads located on historic landslide sites. 

“Restoring safe and reliable highways and roads in the Cariboo supports vital services and connections for people in the region,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “With weather patterns changing as part of our new climate reality, building infrastructure that withstands extreme weather in the long term will keep people safe and maintain critical goods movement corridors across the province.”

On Highway 97 at Cottonwood Hill north of Quesnel, a segment of highway affected by a significant slow-moving landslide will be stabilized. Highway 97 is a north-south artery that provides crucial access between communities in the region and is vital to the province’s economy.

On Blackwater Road at Knickerbocker Road, a road segment affected by landslides will undergo realignment and reinforcement, as well as measures to help prevent future slides in the project area.

Crews at both sites are completing work, such as geotechnical investigations, which includes collecting soil and water samples to inform the project designs, and environmental investigations. Construction is scheduled to begin next year. 

These are the first two projects within the Cariboo Road Recovery Projects program to move to construction. Both are being designed with a focus on resilience to changing weather patterns while addressing stability issues and building infrastructure for the long term.

The province has approved $538 million in funding for these projects. This includes $334.6 million for the Highway 97 at Cottonwood Hill project and $203.4 million for the Blackwater Road at Knickerbocker Road project.

The federal government announced that $500 million in low-interest, repayable loans will help deliver more than 1,100 purpose-built rental homes in Vancouver. These loans were made possible by the Rental Construction Financing Initiative (RCFi).

“We must increase the supply of housing,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing. “Doing so requires an all-hands-on-deck commitment from all levels of government. The federal government will continue to make strategic investments through programs like the RCFi and the Housing Accelerator Fund, while also working with our provincial and municipal partners so that all Canadians have a safe place that they are proud to call home.”

The loans were announced by Fraser at 5728 Gray Avenue, a project that will be providing residential housing to faculty, staff, and other campus community members of the University of British Columbia (UBC). There will be 150 residential homes within this six-storey building, offering a mix of studio, 1,2,3, and 4-bedroom units.

The project will also have easy access to public transit, car and bike share systems within the neighbourhood. In addition, a minimum of 10% of the project’s units will be prioritized for occupancy by the elderly, youths, students, individuals in need of assistance, or individuals whose eligibility is dependent on them being members of UBC’s faculty or staff.