Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news related to residential and commercial construction and infrastructure, and related government initiatives. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Start Date: 2025-05-25
End Date: 2025-05-31

Canadian Federal GR News

Federal Government Eliminates GST for First-Time Home Buyers on New Homes Up to $1.5 Million

The federal government has tabled legislative proposals to amend the Excise Tax Act, establishing a GST rebate for first-time home buyers on new homes up to $1 million—phasing down to $1.5 million. A 100% GST rebate will be available for homes up to $1 million, and a phased-out rebate for properties valued up to $1.5 million. The measure applies to purchases from a builder, owner-built homes, and shares in co-operative housing if the buyer is a first-time home buyer using the home as a primary residence. The proposal will be in effect for purchases or construction contracts entered into with a builder between May 27, 2025 and before 2031, with completion before 2036. The government anticipates the rebate will provide Canadians with up to $3.9 billion in tax savings over five years, with savings of up to $50,000 for eligible buyers. Conditions include that the rebate can only be claimed once per individual and is also limited if a spouse or common-law partner has claimed it previously.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Accessibility Standards Canada Publishes National Standard for Accessible-Ready Housing

On May 29, Accessibility Standards Canada released CAN/ASC-2.8:2025 – Accessible-Ready Housing, establishing a national standard intended to embed adaptability and accessibility in new housing construction. The standard includes design requirements for entrances, kitchens, bathrooms, stairs, parking, and emergency features, such as reinforced walls, wide doorways, and reachable controls. The aim is to facilitate aging in place and support disability accommodation, while making future retrofits less costly and disruptive. Recognized as a National Standard of Canada by the Standards Council of Canada following a public review, this standard is intended to reduce barriers at the design stage. The technical committee responsible was primarily composed of individuals with disabilities and members of equity-deserving groups.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Labour Ministers Advance Labour Mobility Action Plan

The Forum of Labour Market Ministers convened on May 28 to discuss efforts underway to improve labour mobility, targeting reductions in administrative burden and advancing ambitious credential recognition timelines. Recent months saw new legislation in some provinces and the launch of initiatives to cut wait times and barriers for skilled workers, with an action plan update for the Committee on Internal Trade committed by June 1, 2025. Ministers also considered additional collaboration on related issues such as occupational health and safety, licensing, and information sharing. Calls for increased funding to Labour Market Transfer Agreements were reiterated by provincial and territorial ministers in the context of economic pressures from tariffs.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Treasury Board Tables 2025–26 Main Estimates With Focus on Housing, Transfers, and Priority Sectors

On May 27, Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali tabled the Government of Canada’s 2025–26 Main Estimates in Parliament. Major allocations include new investments in housing and public works, Indigenous communities, and social supports, alongside substantial transfer payments to provinces and territories for health care and related benefits. The Main Estimates also provide updated data via the GC Infobase platform, supporting detailed analysis of expenditures and performance targets.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Enabling Accessibility Fund Opens Call for Proposals for Youth-Led Construction and Renovation Projects

Federal Minister Patty Hajdu has launched the annual call for proposals under the Enabling Accessibility Fund’s youth innovation component. The program funds construction, renovation, and retrofitting projects that enhance accessibility in communities and workplaces, with youth aged 15 to 30 eligible to apply as project leaders. Each project may receive up to $12,000, with applications due by October 6 for youth and November 3 for organizations. Since 2007, over 8,100 projects have been supported, affecting community facilities and workplaces across Canada.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Investment in Building Construction Sees Modest Decline in March 2025

Statistics Canada reports a 0.9% decrease in total investment in building construction in March 2025, dropping by $192.2 million to $22.2 billion. This data follows ongoing cost and labour-related challenges facing the sector.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canadian Survey on Business Conditions: Cost and Labour Remain Principal Obstacles

The second quarter release of the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions finds cost- and labour-related constraints to be the most commonly cited challenges by businesses, with overall optimism reaching its lowest point since early 2024. The report underscores persistent expectations of cost pressures into the near term.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

Consulting Services and Machinery Price Indices for Q1 and March 2025 Now Available

Statistics Canada has released the Consulting Services Price Index for Q1 2025 and the Machinery and Equipment Price Index for March 2025. These indices provide updated metrics on pricing trends for professional services and capital equipment utilized within construction and related sectors.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca, Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

Steel Import Monitoring Program Datasets Updated for May 2025

Global Affairs Canada has updated multiple rolling-average and harmonized-system code datasets under the Steel Import Monitoring Program. These datasets provide detailed oversight of imports subject to controls under the Export and Import Permits Act, relevant for firms monitoring steel supply chain stability and regulatory compliance.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca, Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca, Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca, Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca, Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca, Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca, Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca

US Federal GR News

Trump Administration Launches Federal Permitting Technology Action Plan

The Trump Administration, through the Council on Environmental Quality and the National Energy Dominance Council, has unveiled the Permitting Technology Action Plan, which aims to modernize federal environmental review and permitting procedures for infrastructure projects. The plan sets out minimum standards for permitting systems, introduces a NEPA data and technology standard, and includes a roadmap for agency implementation. The CEQ-led Permitting Innovation Center, working with the General Services Administration, will advise and prototype technological tools for federal permitting. The initiative is intended to expedite reviews, modernize agency processes, and increase predictability for stakeholders.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

Department of Energy Issues Correction on Stay of Compliance for New Federal Building Energy Standards

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a technical correction concerning the URL for implementation guidance related to energy performance standards for new and renovated federal buildings. The correction follows the May 5 stay of compliance for the standards, with the updated guidance reflecting ongoing review. No substantive changes to the regulation or compliance obligations are introduced by this notice.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Canadian Provincial GR News

Ontario Introduces Working for Workers Seven Act Addressing Construction Site Safety and Skills Training

Ontario has introduced the Working for Workers Seven Act, which includes a requirement for automated external defibrillators on construction projects with 20 or more workers and exemptions from certain planning permits to expedite Skills Development Fund training centre construction.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

B.C. Adds 16,130 Homes Through Municipal Housing Targets; Expands Priority Community List

As of May 2025, more than 16,000 new homes have been built in the first 30 priority B.C. municipalities under the Housing Supply Act, with additional communities now added to the program for further housing targets.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.bc.ca

Manitoba Moves Ahead With Legislation to Remove Interprovincial Trade Barriers

Manitoba has tabled Bill 47, which would harmonize standards and remove internal trade barriers for goods and services in line with recent federal and business council recommendations.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.mb.ca

Nova Scotia to Allow Modular Housing Built to National Code and Eases Vehicle Regulations

Nova Scotia announced regulatory changes allowing factory-built modular buildings meeting the National Building Code to be installed without extra provincial standards, and will recognize out-of-province vehicle registrations for certain commercial trucks and passenger vehicles.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.novascotia.ca

Affordable, Accessible Homes for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Open in Elkford, B.C.

A new Elkford development has opened 25 affordable rental units designed for seniors and people living with disabilities, with three accessible and 22 adaptable one-bedroom homes funded by $2.8 million from the B.C. government.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.bc.ca

Public Officials' Social Media

Blake Richards, MP, drew attention to pre-construction home sales in Toronto being down 89% from the decade average and mortgage delinquencies rising 6.5%, with missed payments among those under 25 increasing 15.1% in Q1 2025.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Tony Loffreda summarized that the Carney government's Speech from the Throne included a middle-class tax cut, GST removal for first-time home buyers, and withdrawal of the carbon price for consumers.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Yasir Naqvi, MP for Ottawa Centre, reiterated commitments to affordable housing construction and downtown revitalization as key priorities for the community.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Mark Carney, MP, posted about a meeting with municipal leaders at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference regarding joint action on housing and transit infrastructure development.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Amina Gerba referenced King Charles III's Speech from the Throne, which outlined priorities such as middle-class tax relief, affordable housing development, and the removal of interprovincial trade barriers.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• Provinces ‘hold the key’ to unlocking homebuilding, new report argues: A new report claims provincial governments play a decisive role in accelerating or delaying new home construction.
• B.C. given C+ housing grade by task force — but builders say cities need to step up: A housing task force grades British Columbia’s progress, while industry representatives note that municipal processes are critical to new construction.
• Carney to discuss fast-tracking housing, infrastructure projects with premiers: Mark Carney is expected to brief provincial premiers on an expedited plan for major housing and infrastructure projects.
• Provincial governments bottlenecking homebuilding, ‘report card’ says: A new report card claims some provinces are slowing down homebuilding efforts through policy barriers