💰 Tariffs 2.0

Together with

Good morning!  😢 This week, Canada is mourning Olympic hockey losses. While we didn’t win the gold, this year marked a major shift in the games. Driven by the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 reforms, efforts are moving away from extravagant building programs. Instead, host nations are looking to utilize more than 90% existing or temporary venues, rather than starting from scratch.

⏰ Today’s read: 5 minutes

MARKETS

Economy: Even home sales got frozen in recent weather. National housing sales in Canada fell 5.8% in January 2026, a decline the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) largely attributes to severe winter weather stalling activity in Ontario. While economists suggest the slump may also be a continuation of a soft 2025 market and buyer hesitation over stagnant interest rates, the CREA remains optimistic, maintaining its forecast for a modest price increase of 2.8% for the year.

TOGETHER WITH POMERLEAU

Collaborative construction is redefining Ontario healthcare

Ontario’s healthcare builds are getting more spacious, more complex, and more difficult to deliver in isolation.

Across the province, project success increasingly depends on early collaboration, local insight, and the ability to build within live, sensitive environments — without disruption.

From Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario to major urban hospitals, teams are finding that national capability alone isn’t enough; projects succeed when builders partner closely with local stakeholders from day one.

Learn more about why collaborative construction is becoming Ontario’s new gold standard (and how Pomerleau is leading the way).

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

🥩 Grocery run: Loblaw Companies has announced a $2.4 billion investment in the Canadian economy for 2026. The capital will fund the opening of 70 new stores alongside the renovation of 191 existing sites and the completion of an automated distribution centre in Ontario. This expansion is expected to create approximately 9,700 retail and construction jobs nationwide

💰 Tax bill: Several B.C. property firms controlled by developer Terry Hui are trying to block a $91M tax assessment, arguing that it would jeopardize future construction projects. The companies, which were audited for 12 years regarding interest payments routed through Luxembourg between 2007 and 2013, claim they will suffer "irreparable harm" and lose vital working capital if forced to pay. 

🚢 Port study: The Canadian and Manitoba governments, in partnership with the Arctic Gateway Group and the Major Projects Office, have launched a market sounding study to assess the long-term growth potential of the Port of Churchill Plus project. The study will engage industry executives to evaluate how transformative infrastructure investments.

⚡ DASH: B.C. and Build Canada Homes have partnered to deliver at least 1,100 affordable housing units, led by 400 rental homes through B.C.’s Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing (DASH) program. The $800M initiative utilizes standardized designs and prefabricated components to cut costs and accelerate construction.

THE BIG STORY

Tariffs 2.0: Court ruling causes Trump to dig in

The highest court in the land has slapped down some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. But rather than rethink the strategy, he surged it forward. 

Supreme rebuke: The Supreme Court ruled Trump’s global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful. It’s a stinging setback that reinforces Canada’s stance that these measures aren’t grounded in a credible “national security” rationale. 

New loophole: Trump had a stern response: Doubling down on his tariff strategy using different tools. Within hours, He pivoted to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — a rarely used authority that allows a temporary across-the-board tariff — first set at 10%, then raised to 15% (the maximum), with the new duty set to kick in immediately. 

Deals in doubt: The European Commission demanded “full clarity” and said U.S. commitments should be honoured, while EU lawmakers moved to pause ratification of last year’s deal. When trade partners start freezing agreements, global supply certainty gets worse — and that bleeds into construction inputs. Trump has warned countries not to “play games”, floating higher tariffs and other fees.

What builders should know: Construction won’t necessarily be spared. Builders should assume continued risk on structural steel, fabricated metal components, rebar, fasteners, curtain wall systems, specialty glass, elevators, HVAC equipment, electrical gear, appliances and heavy equipment containing imported steel or aluminum. Even if an item avoids the 15% blanket tariff, it may still fall under separate steel and aluminum duties that remain in force.

What this means: While it was not a knock-out blow, with mid-terms approaching and a struggling economy, some are saying the dominos are starting to fall. Here’s how Ontario premier Doug Ford put it: 

“President Trump still has a lot of tools, but I think the walls are closing in.”

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Bridging old and new

The Île d’Orléans Bridge project is a $2.76 billion public transportation initiative led by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable to replace the existing crossing with a modern, multi-functional link by 2028. Executed by the Groupe Héritage Île-d’Orléans S.E.N.C. consortium (comprising Dragados Canada Inc. and EBC Inc.), the project features two traffic lanes, wide shoulders, and dedicated multipurpose paths.

PROJECT UPDATES

Road to Ring of Fire reaches milestone

TramCité selects Kiewit for major utility relocation work

Panel wants to assess status of Burnaby Hospital project

Alberta fast-tracks four school projects

Fredericton school receives $4.4 million for upgrades

Work starts Construction at net-zero rec facility in North Bay

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

🔓 PODCAST: How Trump’s tariff wall could totally crack

🍎 OPINION: Is Vancouver school building broken?

🚧 READ: Canadian tech companies deploy cement-free masonry

⚒️ OPINION: How data centre snubs could sideline B.C. trades

⛪ PHOTOS: World’s tallest church reaches major milestone

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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.