💻 AI dilemma

Good morning! 🤠 Wanted: Outlaw steel. A $1,000 bounty has been set for anyone reporting the use of foreign steel on public construction projects. The reward comes from Zekelman Industries, as part of its advocacy for the Buy Canadian Act. Here’s how Barry Zekelman, Executive Chairman and CEO explained it: “When we allow foreign materials to be used in our projects, we are not just building with steel of uncertain quality; we are exporting our jobs, weakening our economy, and undermining our own national self-sufficiency.

⏰ Today’s read: 6 minutes

✍🏼 Editor's note: Expect to hear from us tomorrow. We have a major announcement about the next step to expand SiteNews and enhance media coverage for the industrial sector. We want our subscribers to be the first to know!

MARKETS

Economy: Officials say that Canada’s federal budget, scheduled to drop today, will lean on tens of billions in savings while shifting the tax mix and updating capital cost allowance rules—moves pitched to spur private investment in buildings, machinery and vehicles and offset tariff-driven cost pressures on materials. The plan would separate operating from capital spending, aiming to balance day-to-day costs within three years while still funding “generational” capital—particularly defence assets, affordable housing and a broader climate-competitiveness strategy.

GIVEAWAY

Golf course or $2,000 cash?

The choice is yours. ​​If you want to hit the links with a friend or get $2,000 in gift cards, all we need is five minutes of your time. We're running a short survey and we’d love to better understand the state of AI in Canada within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry. Anyone who completes all survey questions will automatically be entered into a draw for a chance to win the prize. Good luck!

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

🌿 Emissions reduction: Nine major Canadian contractors (Aecon, Bird, Chandos, EllisDon, Graham, Ledcor, Multiplex, PCL, Pomerleau) partnered with The Transition Accelerator on a data-driven plan from 600+ projects to cut jobsite emissions via five actions: electrify light vehicles/small equipment, optimize/electrify temporary heat, use renewable diesel as a bridge, connect sites to grid power, and deploy hybrid/electric excavators. 

✍🏼 Drawing a line: Premier David Eby says he’d risk an early election if a bill to accelerate a transmission line project fails.  B.C. introduced Bill 31 to fast-track BC Hydro’s North Coast Transmission Line—new 500-kV lines from Prince George to Terrace and north to Bob Quinn—to power industrial growth (mining, LNG, ports). Construction could start as early as next summer with full operation targeted in the 2030s.​​

🪨 Critical minerals: The Canada-led Critical Minerals Production Alliance, backed by G7 nations, announced major investments in Canadian critical mineral projects to counter China’s dominance in global supply chains. The initiatives include purchase agreements, stockpiling, and price floors to support developments such as Nouveau Monde Graphite’s and Northern Graphite’s Quebec mines, Torngat Metals’ rare-earth project, and Rio Tinto’s scandium plant. 

⛏️ Frontier Lithium: Ontario named Frontier Lithium’s PAK project the first to enter its new “One Project, One Process” fast-track approvals framework, advancing mine, mill and conversion plant plans in northwestern Ontario while drawing scrutiny over consultation capacity for affected First Nations.

THE BIG STORY

How are GC's grappling with rapidly advancing AI?

Artificial intelligence is being hailed as the fourth industrial revolution. While it could have massive implications for the construction process, Canada’s large builders are still grappling with its implications. We recently spoke with EllisDon’s Sr. Director of Project Delivery and some clear themes emerged. 

Data security: Inputting sensitive company information was such an immediate concern, EllisDon outright banned certain AI tools until they could be run in safer environments. They aren’t alone. According to a recent TELUS survey, 68% of employees use personal AI accounts for work instead of company-approved platforms.

Knowledge transfer: EllisDon told us that they worry new workers won’t learn from more experienced staff and gain critical thinking skills if AI is overused. But it’s starting even sooner. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Canadian students now rely on generative AI for their schoolwork, up from 59% in 2024 and 52% in 2023. A recent study from MIT found ChatGPT users had low brain engagement and “consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels.” 

Data hoarding: While AI’s potential in construction is vast, its progress is limited by a lack of shared industry data. Builders are hesitant to release information on RFIs, schedules, and processes, fearing it could erode their competitive edge. UK builders have tried to solve this by setting up the Construction Data Trust, which securely pools granular project data across firms so advanced analytics can tackle sector-wide issues that single companies can’t see. 

Mission possible: The key, Lalonde suggests, is to use AI to handle the repetitive rote work, freeing up the next generation of builders to focus on the big, critical decisions that truly move projects forward.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Placemaking

Place des Montréalaises in Montreal is a sprawling public plaza designed to honour women and repair urban infrastructural divides. Led by Lemay+Angela Silver+Atkins Realis, the project transforms a dense highway and metro junction into a freely accessible, sculptural landscape. Constructed by Construction Génix, it features a large inclined plane concealing infrastructure, an urban meadow with twenty-one plant species, mirrored enclosures engraved with the names of local women.

PROJECT UPDATES

Work begins on cancer centre in Nanaimo

EllisDon breaks ground on Sir Robert Peel Centre

Pattullo bridge to open for Christmas

North Van announces swimming platform project

Windsor-Detroit tunnel turns 95

Calgary eyes future of historic downtown Hudson's Bay site

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

🔥 PHOTOS: The world’s largest heat pump

🏗️ READ: AI boom lifts heavy equipment stock

🚔 READ: Serial construction arsonist on the loose in Edmonton

🛻 WATCH: Retired tires reinforce Manitoba roads

🗑️ READ: Saving historic Vancouver homes from the dump

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

Disclaimer: SiteNews is an independently-operated news website. Views expressed are that of the editorial team and are based on publicly available information unless otherwise noted through sponsored content.