🎁 Merry SiteMas

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Good morning! 🚧 Newfoundland police have nabbed the “backhoe bandits” who have been using heavy construction equipment to rip ATMs out of banks. Once they have served their time, maybe they can put those equipment skills to better use. 

⏰ Today’s read: 3 ½ minutes

MARKETS

Economy: Canada's economic outlook remains uncertain as growth has lagged behind population increases, resulting in declining per capita GDP since late 2022. Persistent challenges include weak business investment, sluggish housing starts, and declining productivity compared to the U.S. While the Bank of Canada’s interest rate cuts have provided some relief, the economy is expected to grow modestly by 1.2% in 2024, with higher unemployment and limited private-sector job creation.

THE BIG STORY

Happy holidays from SiteNews

From the entire team at SiteNews, thank you for subscribing, attending our events and reading our stories. We are so grateful and proud to be part of the Canadian construction community. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season with those who are dear to you.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

Extended experiment: 🔬 The timeline for the new Ontario Science Centre’s relocation to Ontario Place has been delayed, with the center now expected to open in 2029 instead of the previously announced 2028. This delay follows structural issues that led to the abrupt closure of the original facility in Toronto. 

Cabinet renovation: 🤝 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Ontario MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith as the new Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities, replacing Sean Fraser, who stepped down to focus on family. Erskine-Smith, a lawyer and nine-year MP for Beaches-East York, brings experience in commercial litigation and recently came in second in the Ontario Liberal Party leadership race.

Long lines: 🚃 The Alberta government’s proposal for an elevated Green Line through Calgary’s downtown is outlined in a newly released AECOM report, but critical cost details and the consultant’s preferred alignment are redacted. The report highlights that extending the line to Eau Claire would cost an additional $400 million, with Premier Danielle Smith emphasizing that the entire Green Line project could reach $20 billion, far exceeding initial estimates of $4.5 billion for a 40-kilometer line.

Infrastructure plan: 🏗️ Manitoba has unveiled a five-year infrastructure investment strategy focused on enhancing connectivity, safety, and economic growth across the province. Key projects include twinning a section of the Trans-Canada Highway, constructing interchanges on the south Perimeter Highway, allocating $600 million for flood protection in the Lake Manitoba-Lake St. Martin area, advancing new airport construction at Wasagamack, and building a bridge at Sea Falls.

EVENTS

Who’s going to our ‘25 Innovators’ event

Leaders from Canada’s smartest, most cutting-edge companies are meeting at SiteHQ in Abbotsford in February to Celebrate the 25 Innovators in Construction awards. If you want to meet them and hear their secrets to success, we have an exclusive deal for our subscribers. Use promo code SITESUB to get 25% off tickets in the link below. See you at the event!

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Animal hospital

Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo is set to replace its aging 7,000-square-foot animal health center, built in 1965, with a state-of-the-art 20,000-square-foot hospital that prioritizes modern veterinary care and transparency. A key addition is a glass-enclosed public viewing area, allowing visitors to watch medical procedures and engage with veterinarians.

PROJECT UPDATES

Cariboo energy plant still in limbo

$146 million community centre approved for Brentwood 

Gupta breaks ground on Toronto’s Yonge City Square

Toronto to advance bridge repairs ahead of next stage of Gardiner Expressway

Francophone school planned for West Edmonton

Get our full breakdown of the week’s project updates in the link below

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

VIDEO: 🧱 Calgary city crews remove Olympic Plaza bricks

READ: ♻️ Rethinking how we look at construction waste

VIDEO: How upside down models revolutionized architecture 

READ: 💰 Millennials are having a financial comeback

VIDEO: 🎁 Ledcor’s 3D model holiday card

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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.