🏗️ Second chances

Good morning! 🚶 For the first time in 46 years, Winnipeg’s iconic Portage and Main intersection has reopened to pedestrians, marking a major shift in the city’s downtown revitalization efforts. Closed since 1979 due to the development of an underground concourse, the intersection now features new pedestrian lights, reconfigured traffic lanes, and improved accessibility.

⏰ Today’s read: 5 minutes

MARKETS

Economy: The federal government has removed all remaining exemptions under its control in the Canada Free Trade Agreement that hinder interprovincial trade, Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland announced, meeting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Canada Day deadline. Most of the eliminated barriers related to federal procurement, with earlier exemptions largely reduced before the spring election.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

🏠 Home slowdown: A new report from Altus Group warns that if new home sales in the Greater Toronto Area don’t rebound, the region could lose up to 41,000 construction-related jobs and see more than $10 billion in lost residential building activity by 2029. The study highlights persistently low sales — already down over 50% for single-family homes and 65% for condos. 

✍🏼 Place making: The Ontario government has unveiled final designs for the transformation of Ontario Place into a year-round public waterfront destination featuring over 50 acres of green space, beaches, trails, playgrounds, and an Indigenous Cultural Pavilion. The $400-million redevelopment includes a 3,500-spot publicly owned parking facility expected to generate up to $60 million annually, with improved transit, cycling, and pedestrian connections. 

🚧 Stop work: The town of Stewiacke, N.S., has introduced temporary restrictions on residential and commercial development due to concerns over its aging and overburdened water treatment system. Mayor Doug Glasser said the plant, which draws from the low-flowing and silty St. Andrews River, is near the end of its life, prompting new rules to limit apartment permits and water-intensive businesses.

⚛️ Critical mass: A proposed large-scale nuclear power project near Peace River, Alberta, has entered the public input phase, marking a major step forward for what could become the province’s first nuclear plant. Calgary-based Energy Alberta plans to build two twin Candu Monark reactors on a 1,424-hectare site north of the town, with a 70-year operational lifespan and a maximum output of 4,800 megawatts. 

THE BIG STORY

Canada’s second shot at LNG

After a decade of delays and doubts, Canada is finally exporting liquefied natural gas — and with global demand rising, the window of opportunity may not be closed just yet.

In the game: After years of construction and more than a decade of debate, the massive LNG Canada project in Kitimat, B.C., is preparing its first shipment.  The $40-billion project is the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history and the door is open for a Phase 2 expansion, which would double capacity — and kick off a new wave of industrial construction. 

How we got here: In the early 2010s, Canada was hyping up its potential to become a global LNG powerhouse. Dozens of projects were proposed. The Harper government promoted LNG as a nation-building opportunity. But years of regulatory delays, cost escalations, political uncertainty, and a shifting investment landscape stalled nearly every proposal.

Resurrected: With LNG Canada operational, momentum is building again. Several projects are now jockeying to follow in its wake: Cedar LNG, a partnership between the Haisla Nation and Pembina Pipeline, is awaiting a final investment decision. Ksi Lisims LNG, a floating facility proposed by the Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG, is also advancing. Woodfibre LNG, near Squamish, B.C., has already started site preparation. If all proposed projects went ahead, it would mean more than $100B in construction investment. 

Why it matters: These projects all promise construction jobs, economic growth, and — critically — lower-carbon pathways to energy for markets. For the construction sector, the opportunities are significant. LNG terminals require major industrial construction capacity — marine infrastructure, process facilities, massive storage tanks, compressor systems, and camp accommodations. They also demand pipelines, roads, and port upgrades. 

Roadblocks ahead: Canada has the gas, the expertise, and — thanks to the completion of the Coastal GasLink pipeline — the infrastructure to compete. But delays, regulatory bottlenecks, and public opposition remain real risks. Environmental groups continue to raise concerns about upstream emissions and Indigenous consent. There’s also a ticking clock. LNG projects take years to build, and markets are competitive. If Canada doesn’t move quickly, others will fill the gap.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Contemporary coastal

The Eel Brook House on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, designed by Kingman Brewster Studio, is a contemporary coastal home that reflects the island’s evolving architectural identity shaped by the influential Fogo Island Inn and the Shorefast Foundation. Positioned on exposed bedrock and oriented toward the shoreline for privacy and views, the house exemplifies how modern design can engage with traditional local forms and remote landscapes.

PROJECT UPDATES

Eau Claire Plaza to hold grand opening

Construction begins on Woodbine GO Station

New pier coming to Sandwich Town

Deep Sky completes carbon-removal centre in Innisfail

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

📏 PHOTOS: Canada’s first supertall building reached 300 metres

🏠 PHOTOS: Hempcrete contractor builds home in Beausejour

🏆 AWARDS: Green building projects and people honoured

🖥️ READ: Palantir announces AI project for nuclear construction

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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.