⌚Wayback

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Good morning! 🪓 A B.C woman who has become famous for chopping wood is offering her axe hacks in a recent book. Here’s a video of her explaining how to go from weak, pathetic chops to explosive Power Chops.

⏰ Today’s read: 5 minutes

MARKETS

Economy:  Natural resources and commodities are becoming increasingly attractive investments due to rising global demand driven by infrastructure needs, electrification, and demographic shifts. Experts say Canada, with its strong resource sector, is well-positioned to benefit, as commodities like copper, timber, and agricultural land are expected to see significant growth.

EVENTS

SiteSummit: Housing panel announced

Canada is facing a massive housing crisis and is looking to the construction sector for answers. At SiteSummit we are bringing together some of the industry’s sharpest minds to discuss the issue and share their insight on how we can pick up the pace and build more with less. Follow the link below to get your tickets so you don’t miss the discussion.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

📉 Dow down: Dow has announced a delay in its $8.9 billion Path2Zero project in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, citing challenging market conditions, and has reduced its 2025 enterprise CapEx forecast from $3.5 billion to $2.5 billion. 

🚧 Dig this: Ontario is introducing new legislation to streamline and accelerate mine development by cutting government review times by at least 50% through a “One Project, One Process” framework. The plan aims to drive critical mineral investment, especially in northern regions like the Ring of Fire, while maintaining environmental standards and Indigenous consultation. 

🚔 Arrested: Police have made an arrest in connection with a 2024 shooting at a Green Infrastructure Partners (GIP) facility in Vaughan, Ontario, where the suspect allegedly fired at the building and vehicles without causing injuries. Morgan faces multiple charges but has not been linked to subsequent attacks on GIP and GFL Environmental properties, including arsons and shootings at executives' homes, which police believe are connected. 

🪫 Rethinking nuclear: New Brunswick remains committed to exploring small modular reactors (SMRs) for future power generation but is reassessing its approach, likely delaying construction beyond 2030 and considering more conventional, proven reactor models.

THE BIG STORY

Wayback machine: How we got here

The Liberals are projected to maintain control of Parliament after an election season that got flipped on its head by a crisis nobody could have predicted. As crazy as things feel right now, let’s look at where Canada was in the last election.

Setting the stage: Then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dissolved Parliament on August 15, 2021, seeking a majority mandate after 18 months of minority rule.

Deja vu: Housing Affordability was one of the biggest campaign issues. Sound familiar? The Liberals promised a foreign-buyer ban and tax on property flipping. The Conservatives pledged to build 1 million homes and ease mortgage rules. The NDP Proposed a 20% tax on offshore buyers and 500,000 affordable units. The Greens aimed to declare a housing emergency and boost social housing funding.

Pain and gain: Early post-pandemic starts rebounded $80 billion (from C$60 billion in 2020), led by infrastructure, renewables, and residential projects. Immigration-driven housing demand: Despite a 2020 drop to 200,000 immigrants, targets were set at 400,000+ for 2021-22 to sustain housing starts. However, Lumber price spikes and COVID safety measures offset low interest rates (held at 0.25% until 2023.

What went down: Trudeau’s gamble paid off (sort of). While they won, the Liberals retained a minority government, with the Conservatives winning the popular vote but failing to gain seats. And rather than keeping builders up at night over tariffs, Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden and was impeached over January 6 riots. 

Beyond the election: Unprecedented rain caused by an atmospheric river that devastated B.C. In the following months, roadbuilders were into the national spotlight and would rebuild highways and roads at legendary speed. Site C dam was hounded by cost overruns. But today it is completed and generating power. 

The bottom line: We have gone through unprecedented times before. We will go through them again. We made it through the worst of COVID 19, supply chain spikes, atmospheric rivers and more. Whatever happens with the election or in the years that come after, builders will rise to the occasion.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Back on the market

Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market will celebrate the grand opening of its redeveloped North building next month, featuring a new design by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Adamson Associates Architects. The upgraded complex includes the Farmers’ and Antique Markets, courtrooms, administrative offices, and a 250-space underground garage, replacing the old one-storey structure and enhancing the landmark’s utility, historical significance, and economic impact.

PROJECT UPDATES

Montreal’s LaFontaine Tunnel is half done

Canada’s first Hard Rock Cafe is open for business

Yellowknife to open new aquatic centre

Ontario takes big steps towards tunnelling under Highway 401

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

WATCH:💰Do we have a housing tax crisis? 

READ: 💧 ‘Lessons learned’ report released on Calgary Bearpaw failure 

REPORT: They audited every top contractor’s website

READ: 💵 BCCA calls for fairness in prompt payment laws

VIDEO: 🗼 Inside Dubai’s latest record-breaking skyscraper

READ: 🐘 Do tariffs make the Gordie Howe Bridge a white elephant?

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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.