💧Leaked

Together with

Good morning!  👷🏼‍♀️ More than 100 groups have expressed interest in repurposing BC Hydro’s $470-million Site C work camp near Fort St. John, raising hopes the 1,700-person facility can avoid being dumped in a landfill. Proposals include housing for First Nations, a wellness and addiction recovery centre, and tourism projects.

⏰ Today’s read: 5 minutes

MARKETS

Economy: Despite government efforts to boost housing, Western Canada’s residential land market is slumping, with Metro Vancouver sales plunging and prices down as much as 50% from recent peaks. Brokers say oversupply, high carrying costs, and uncertainty around municipal approvals have crushed demand for rezoning-dependent sites, leaving many Broadway Plan projects stalled. Entitled single-family lots that allow four- to six-plexes are one of the few bright spots, offering faster returns with fewer risks.

TOGETHER WITH ZS2 AND SEKO

Fire-tested in the real world — Canadian project stands after wildfire

ZS2 Technologies’ fire-resilient building system recently faced its ultimate test: a real raging wildfire. The Tataskweyak Transition Centre — a 10-room short-term living facility built by SEKO Construction with ZS2 fire-resilient prefabricated TechPanel® system in Manitoba — was in its final stages of construction when flames reached the site. Dramatic footage captured before and after the highlighted how ZS2’s highly fire-resistant magnesium cement sheathing does not ignite, does not produce toxic smoke, and remains stable under extreme heat, helping safeguard structures and air quality during fire events.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

🏗️ Eastern energy: Fermeuse Energy Ltd. has announced plans for a $12–$15 billion liquefied natural gas hub on Newfoundland’s east coast, converting the Fermeuse Marine Base into a major LNG export terminal. Drawing on 9.7 trillion cubic feet of offshore gas from the Jeanne d’Arc Basin, the project aims to supply Europe while creating thousands of construction jobs and over 500 permanent positions.

🔌 Unplugged: Quebec has officially pulled the plug on Northvolt’s much-hyped EV battery mega-factory near Montreal, once touted as the largest private investment in the province’s history. Announced in 2023 with billions in government incentives and promises of 3,000 jobs, the project unraveled after Northvolt posted heavy losses, faced production and quality issues, and ultimately filed for bankruptcy in Sweden and the U.S.

🎁 Tariff relief: Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a sweeping package of measures designed to insulate Canadian workers and industries from mounting U.S. tariffs and a rapidly shifting global trade order. They include a “Buy Canadian” policy and $5-billion strategic response fund that focuses on reskilling workers and providing loans to small and medium-sized firms. 

☀️Solar gains: Global solar power is booming, with 380 GW of new capacity installed in the first half of 2025 — a 64% jump from the same period in 2024 and the fastest pace ever recorded, according to think tank Ember. China dominated growth with 256 GW, or two-thirds of global additions, while India (24 GW) and the U.S. (21 GW) trailed far behind.

THE BIG STORY

Ottawa’s major project list gets leaked

A leaked federal document revealed a draft list of 32 projects being considered for fast-track approval under the Building Canada Act, passed in June. The Act lets Ottawa declare projects of “national interest” and send them through an expedited process overseen by the new Major Projects Office in Calgary.

What’s in it: The list includes ports, mines, energy facilities, transmission lines, and transport corridors. Standout proposals include a pipeline linking Alberta crude to the Pacific Coast, small modular reactors at Ontario’s Darlington Nuclear station, and the revival of Manitoba’s Port of Churchill. But none of it is final. 

Pushing back: Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the draft “not good enough,” pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney for projects like the Ring of Fire access road and his controversial Highway 401 tunnel. B.C. Minister Adrian Dix dismissed the oil pipeline as “not a real project” without Indigenous backing or funding. Alberta’s Danielle Smith welcomed the idea, tying it to her call for a Western economic corridor. Pierre Poilievre mocked the document as a “dream list.”

Churchill in the Spotlight: Few projects have drawn more attention than the Port of Churchill. Premier Wab Kinew called it a “nation-building” opportunity to move Western resources to Europe and beyond, framing it as a $30-billion leap. But skeptics say rail lines couldn’t handle heavy trains and ice-filled waters.

The Stakes: For Carney’s government, the Building Canada Act is about accelerating nation-building projects in the face of Donald Trump’s tariff war. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne says “no option is excluded,” but promises rigorous review. The leaked list shows how Ottawa’s fast-track agenda is colliding with provincial ambitions, industry skepticism, and Indigenous rights. With the first official designations expected in the coming weeks, the fight over which projects define Canada’s future is only beginning.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Reimagined queen

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen’s University is undergoing a $75-million transformation into “Agnes Reimagined,” a project set to reopen in 2026 with hospitality as its guiding ethos. Led by director and curator Emelie Chhangur and designed by KPMB Architects through a community-driven process, the reimagined centre will feature expanded gallery space, an artist residence, Indigenous self-determination spaces, and a welcoming “living room” for the public.

PROJECT UPDATES

One-of-a-kind disease testing facility under construction 

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital substantially completed

Ontario breaks ground on Scarborough subway station

Highway 1 improvements planned for Duncan-North Cowichan

$6M volleyball sports dome coming to Calgary

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

🐟 PHOTOS: 3D printed reefs offer hope to sea life

🛢️ READ: Why Trans Mountain wants to expand even more

✈️ PHOTOS: Jacob Bros completes emergency airport repairs

🎙️ PODCAST: Digging recaps the week’s biggest construction headlines

🌳 READ: 8 Ottawa communities urgently need more trees

👨‍🎓 VIDEO: Rental market shifts as foreign students drop 80%

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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