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.

Dates: 2025-06-29 to 2025-07-05

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 📱 Public Officials' Social Media
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal GR News

Canadian Free Trade Agreement Exceptions Removed to Enhance Procurement Mobility

On June 30, 2025, Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that Canada will remove all 53 remaining federal exceptions to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), many of which pertained to procurement in financial services, commercial land development, and transport. No federal procurement exceptions will remain in sectors that include construction or property development, and all provinces and territories have committed to reviewing their own exceptions, with a status update due at the Committee on Internal Trade meeting July 8. This measure follows the passage of the One Canadian Economy Act (Bill C-5), which aims to facilitate internal trade and labor mobility for businesses and skilled workers.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Federal Government Backs Low Carbon Construction and Retrofit Projects

The federal government announced on July 2, 2025, more than $13.3 million in Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF) support for five projects across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Among the funded initiatives: Sherritt International will receive $1.6 million to increase boiler efficiency at its Fort Saskatchewan plant; Cavendish Farms will access nearly $1.4 million for heat recovery infrastructure at its Lethbridge facility; Taurus Canada is allocated approximately $3.4 million to deliver a small-scale biogenic carbon capture and storage project on a cattle feedlot; Denendeh Manor GP Ltd. will locally upgrade its Yellowknife apartment building for energy efficiency and low-carbon heating, supported by $2.3 million; and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation will roll out nearly $4.6 million for ground-mounted solar kits at Inuvialuit-owned cabins.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Machinery and Equipment Price Index for April 2025 Released

Statistics Canada published the April 2025 update to the Machinery and Equipment Price Index (base 2016=100) on June 30. This index provides sector participants with recent pricing benchmarks for capital goods acquisition, relevant for cost estimation and project budgeting across construction subfields.

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

Federal Government Invests in Mitigating Flood Risk in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

On July 4, 2025, the Government of Canada announced a $928,000 contribution to a new project aimed at protecting Mahone Bay from coastal flooding, erosion, and stormwater runoff, while Coastal Action provided $922,100 and the town itself contributed $16,950. The multiphase works, led by Coastal Action, a local environmental group, will consist of constructing a living shoreline, a nearshore breakwater, a tidal wetland, and a raised dyke along 100 metres of Edgewater Street.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

US Federal GR News

White House: President Orders Funding Process Simplification for Energy and Mineral Projects

A presidential memorandum issued June 30, 2025 directs federal agencies to eliminate duplication and streamline application for energy infrastructure and critical mineral project funding. Agencies must revise information sharing policies, secure recipient consent before inter-agency data transfer, and develop a unified federal funding application within 180 days.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

White House Highlights Permitting Reforms and NEPA Modernization

On June 30, 2025, the White House published a fact sheet summarizing permitting reforms that set deadlines and documentation limits for federal environmental reviews, clarify NEPA's scope, and make processes for categorical exclusions more accessible. These regulatory changes are designed to support streamlined approval of federally funded infrastructure initiatives across sectors, in tandem with recent executive orders and the BUILDER Act amendments.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

U.S. Initiates Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations into Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar Imports

On June 30, 2025, the US Department of Commerce commenced less-than-fair-value and countervailing duty investigations on steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) from Algeria, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Vietnam, following petitions by the Rebar Trade Action Coalition. Allegations include evidence of dumped and subsidized rebar causing injury to the US industry.

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

HUD Solicits Public Comments on Section 3 Reporting Information Collection

HUD published a 30-day notice for continued approval of its Section 3 Reporting collection (Form HUD 60002-A) on June 30, 2025. The requirement affects approximately 10,283 recipients of HUD assistance—including public housing agencies and multifamily property owners—who must annually report labor hours provided to low- and very-low-income individuals for compliance purposes. The annual reporting burden is estimated at nearly 19,000 hours. Feedback on necessity, accuracy, and burden minimization is solicited through July 30, 2025.

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

Canadian Provincial GR News

British Columbia to Expand Use of Surety Bonds and Extend Payment Timelines for Development Charges

The BC government will amend regulations to allow province-wide use of on-demand surety bonds in lieu of letters of credit for development, amenity, and school-site charges. Qualified homebuilders will gain access to four-year payment terms, with staged payment of charges, effective January 1, 2026.

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

New Brunswick Overhauls Property Tax System Amid Market Growth

The New Brunswick government has initiated a review of its property tax system, with public and stakeholder consultation open through August 10, 2025. Key short-term measures include freezing eligible property values for the 2026 tax year and expanded monthly payment options.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www2.gnb.ca

Quebec Announces Funding for Land Use Planning Projects in Chaudière-Appalaches

On July 4, 2025, $804,401 in provincial funding was committed to two land use planning projects in the Chaudière-Appalaches region as part of Quebec’s National Policy on Architecture and Land Use Planning.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Ontario Fines Quebec Construction Company After Ottawa Worksite Injury

A Quebec-based contractor was fined $65,000 following a critical injury at an Ottawa high-rise project, where a peri box struck a worker. The incident involved a contravention of Ontario Regulation 213/91 requiring tag lines on suspended loads.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Saskatchewan and Federal Governments Support Construction of Group Homes for Saskatoon Youth

A $1.5 million investment—comprising federal, provincial, municipal, and private contributions—is funding the construction of two five-space group homes for youth in Saskatoon as part of EGADZ’s Retreat Homes program.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

Public Officials' Social Media

Garnett Genuis, MP, announced his June 30 visit to the BC Insulators Local 118 training centre, stating that Conservative proposals support union-based workforce training initiatives.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

On July 4, MP Garnett Genuis visited the CLAC training centre in British Columbia to discuss skilled trades opportunities and learn about ongoing training for Canadian workers.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• B.C. easing rules on upfront costs for homebuilders in bid to jump start project construction: Provincial regulatory changes aim to support homebuilder cash flow and kickstart developments.
• Home Depot targets contractors, rivals with US$4.3 billion deal for GMS: Home Depot moves to compete directly with building supply dealers via acquisition.
• Construction Partners Amends Credit Agreement for Expansion: US infrastructure contractor revises lending terms for future expansion.
• RIB Software Recognized as a Leader for Construction Management Software by Independent Research Firm: Industry report profiles advances in construction software integration.
• TRREB: More Interest Rate Cuts and a Trade Deal Would Further Improve Home Sales: Greater Toronto Realtors note interplay between monetary policy, trade, and housing market.