🏠New agency

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Good morning! 🏗️ Brantford called in the big guns to replace a bridge. The Tadano CC38.650, which stands taller than 185 feet, is one of North America’s largest cranes. Contractors say it’s one of the only pieces of equipment in the world that can handle the challenging crawler lift this project demanded.

⏰ 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 COOPER EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Q&A: Justin Wharton shares what trends are dominating Western Canada

Want to better understand the western Canadian market? Check out our Q&A with Cooper Equipment Rentals’ Director of Operations – Canada West Justin Wharton where he reflects on his journey, the trends shaping construction, and how Cooper is supporting customers, workers, and communities across the region. He’s helped grow Cooper's footprint in the region exponentially and shares some of the knowledge he’s picked up along the way.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

⚡ Fast track: The federal government has announced five major projects it intends to fast-track. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson defended the list against Conservative criticism that the projects were already underway, emphasizing that many initiatives fail near the finish line and that the government’s Major Projects Office will help ensure success.

🏠 Hippodrome: Following more than a decade of planning, Montreal’s Namur-Hippodrome project is set to begin its first phase in spring 2026, with 2,250 affordable housing units expected to be move-in ready within two years. The federal and municipal governments have committed $320 million to fund infrastructure, including wastewater and drinking water systems, for the initial phase. 

🥅 Carbon capture: Canada is pushing to advance the Pathways carbon capture project in Alberta’s oil sands as part of a broader strategy to reduce emissions and potentially enable a new oil pipeline, according to Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. The 400-kilometre initiative, led by the Pathways Alliance, aims to cut 22 megatonnes of CO₂ annually by transporting captured emissions to an underground hub near Cold Lake.

🍃 Wind west: Nova Scotia is seeking federal support—including tax credits, low-interest financing, and direct investment—to advance a $60-billion offshore wind and transmission plan, Wind West, which could supply 15 gigawatts of power by 2040. The project aims to reduce energy costs with federal aid and involve Mi’kmaw communities through equity participation. 

THE BIG STORY

New agency: Build Canada Homes launches

Prime Minister Mark Carney has launched a new federal agency, Build Canada Homes, with the goal of reshaping how affordable housing gets built in Canada. Backed by $13 billion in capital and a transfer of 463 hectares of federal land, the agency is tasked with doubling housing construction, reducing homelessness, and restoring affordability.

How it works: The model is simple: use government land and capital, lean on modular and mass timber methods, and cut costs and timelines through scale. Ottawa says the approach could deliver homes 50% faster and 20%, while also supporting Canadian manufacturers through a “Buy Canadian” policy. Federal sites in cities like Dartmouth, Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg are slated for the first wave of development, with roughly 4,000 factory-built units in the pipeline and a broader target of 45,000 units across the land portfolio.

The pushback: Some argue that without long-term affordability requirements, units will eventually slip back into the speculative market. Others say the program will cost a lot and deliver little, arguing that the private sector should be trusted over the government. Some of the biggest challenges will be coordination across dozens of jurisdictions, market pressures and workforce availability.   

Why it matters for builders: For contractors, developers and suppliers, Build Canada Homes could represent a rare source of long-term, stable demand. The federal land bank offers opportunities for large-scale, repeatable projects, while the emphasis on modular and mass timber could provide steady work for Canada’s growing factory-built sector. The first test will be how soon procurement notices go out for the six identified cities and how industry responds.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

27/7 assistance

Pomerleau is leading the construction of Toronto’s new Multi-Function Paramedic Station, a 24/7 operational hub. The building integrates sustainable design features—including a mass timber structure, geothermal heat pumps, solar panels, and energy-saving ambulance bay vestibules.

PROJECT UPDATES

18-year extension for B.C.’s biggest copper mine

Annacis water tunnel nears end of excavation

HDR to design Mississauga rapid transit project

Bright Meadows Solar project received provincial approval

Alberta county rejects AI project proposal

Edmonton’s new Beaver Hills Bridge opens

EllisDon selected to design RCAF training facility

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

📅 EVENTS: The best networking opportunities left in 2025

🎙️ PODCAST: Digging In Podcast recaps the week’s top 4 headlines

✍🏼 REPORT: Vancouver needs transit to solve housing crisis

📈 DATA: $800k+ mortgages seeing largest rise in delinquency 

🏠 WATCH: Building a new home inside a 100-year-old home

⛏️ READ: Calgary man arrested for tunnelling into neighbours home

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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.