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: 2025-06-15 to 2025-06-21

📋 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

Senate Advances Bill C-5 on Infrastructure and Interprovincial Trade

On June 17, the Senate convened to debate Bill C-5, which would enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act. Ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Rebecca Alty underscored the bill’s urgency for accelerating infrastructure projects and enhancing interprovincial trade while maintaining Indigenous engagement. Senators expressed concern about the bill’s expedited review, the scope of ministerial powers, language rights, and whether environmental oversight would be diminished. Minister LeBlanc stated the federal government will maintain transparency and coordinate with provinces. The session also included inquiries into the tax and housing relief measures embedded in Bill C-4 and ongoing sectoral trade protections in supply management.

Sources: Transcripts: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

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Canada Labour Code Amendments Prohibit Replacement Workers

Amendments to Part I of the Canada Labour Code, effective June 20, 2025 under Bill C-58, have now come into force. The updated rules prohibit the use of replacement workers—including newly hired employees, contractors, volunteers, and the public—during strikes or lockouts in federally regulated workplaces. Employers may only use pre-existing employees already working at the struck location and are allowed replacement labour strictly for critical health, safety, and property protection, after offering the work first to union members. Breaches are classified as unfair labour practices, with penalties up to $100,000 per day. The legislation also accelerates requirements for employers and unions to agree within 15 days of bargaining notice on maintenance of essential services, with unresolved matters referred to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca, Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada Strengthens Measures to Defend Steel and Aluminum Sectors

On June 19, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne detailed a slate of protective measures in response to recent US tariffs and market disturbances. Effective July 21, counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum will be adjusted in alignment with ongoing US-Canada trade talks. Procurement policies will shift on June 30 to limit federal contract eligibility to domestic and select reciprocal trading partners. New tariff rate quotas, set at 2024 import levels for non-FTA partners, will be introduced and reviewed after 30 days, aiming to stabilize the domestic market. Additional safeguards based on steel 'country of melt and pour' and aluminum 'country of smelt and cast' are upcoming. Task forces for both metals sectors will be established to monitor market conditions. Access remains open to the $10 billion Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility, which targets financing gaps among impacted firms. Remission applications continue to allow certain businesses time to adapt supply chains.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CRTC Commits $17 Million to Rural Broadband Infrastructure

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announced over $17 million in new funding to five telecommunications providers—Minto Communications Society, County of Forty Mile No. 8, Vianet, MCSnet, and Missing Link Internet Inc.—to build approximately 330 kilometers of new fibre infrastructure. These projects will connect 18 rural communities and over 2,200 households in Alberta, BC, and Ontario to high-speed internet. The broadband fund is positioned to enable future business and community connectivity, with further funding rounds anticipated.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Tribunal Proceeds with Anti-Dumping Inquiry on Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal, on June 19, determined that there is reasonable indication of injury to domestic industry from the dumping of certain carbon or alloy steel wire from China, Chinese Taipei, India, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, and Vietnam. The finding follows a CBSA investigation and will advance to a preliminary determination by July 21.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Panel Review Initiated under CUSMA for US Antidumping Ruling on Canadian Large Diameter Welded Pipe

A panel review under Article 10.12 of CUSMA has been requested regarding the US International Trade Commission's final determination in its five-year review of the antidumping order on large diameter welded pipe from Canada. Filed by Evraz Inc. NA Canada on May 30, complaints may be submitted until June 30, with panel participation notices due by July 14.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

Investment in Building Construction Falls in April

Statistics Canada reported a $741.9 million decrease in building construction investment for April, bringing the national total to $22.3 billion. The dataset provides a measure of capital flows into residential and non-residential construction, potentially indicating shifts in project pipelines across commercial and residential markets.

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

Industry Data Updates: Construction Wage Rates and Credit Liabilities

The Construction Union Wage Rate Index (2015=100) has been updated to include data through May 2025, enabling revised wage escalator calculations for project costing and contract management.

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

US Federal GR News

US Initiates Trade Investigations into Imported Hardwood and Decorative Plywood

On June 16, the US Department of Commerce began antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into hardwood and decorative plywood imports from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. These filings, brought by the Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood and backed by US producers, allege underselling, price suppression, and adverse financial impacts due to subsidized exports. The International Trade Commission will make a preliminary injury determination within 45 days. Commerce is seeking responses to quantity and value questionnaires by June 25 from targeted respondent companies and will determine whether to conduct full reviews against each country. The scope covers a broad array of plywood products.

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

US Reports Largest Blue-Collar Real Wage Growth in Nearly Six Decades

According to a White House article on June 17, real wages for US hourly blue-collar workers rose 2% in the first five months of the Trump Administration’s second term, representing the strongest increase in nearly 60 years. This follows a period of negative wage growth in the early months of the preceding administration. The announcement cites Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and national press coverage as affirming the relevance of the wage trend to economic recovery among working households.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

Canadian Provincial GR News

Ontario Invests $13 Million in Niagara Region Skills Training

Ontario committed over $13 million to 11 training projects across Niagara, preparing more than 9,000 people for employment in construction, manufacturing, and related sectors through its Skills Development Fund and associated streams.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca, Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Saskatchewan Housing Starts Lead Nation in Growth

New data released June 16 by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows urban housing starts in Saskatchewan rose by 108.6% year-to-date, ranking first in the country for growth in new residential construction.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

Quebec Allocates $360 Million for Municipal Infrastructure Upgrades

The Quebec government announced an investment of $360 million to support construction, improvement, and maintenance of municipal buildings across the province, in collaboration with municipal associations.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

BC Pilots Smart Electrification in Multi-Unit Housing

British Columbia and BC Hydro have launched a pilot project in Vancouver utilizing smart panel technology to electrify a six-unit residential building without a major service upgrade, supported by $600,000 from the Province and $700 million from BC Hydro’s Energy Efficiency Plan.

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

Manitoba Invests in Affordable Housing through Asset Repurposing

The Manitoba government is funding the creation of 22 affordable housing units in Winnipeg’s North Point Douglas area by converting seized properties, also supporting trades training for workers facing employment barriers, with backing from provincial and non-profit partners.

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

Public Officials' Social Media

MP Shannon Stubbs stated on June 20 that Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland admitted existing laws impede construction projects nationwide, referencing the federal carbon tax and regulatory bills.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Sonia Sidhu, in a June 19 post, highlighted meetings with Minister Gregor Robertson and Brampton city officials, noting ongoing initiatives to reduce red tape and advance homebuilding via the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Tony Loffreda reported that he queried Minister François-Philippe Champagne on the specifics of eligibility for the First-Time Home Buyer Rebate, particularly the cutoff for purchase and sale agreements.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Mélanie Joly remarked on June 18 that officials are considering requirements for Canadian-made steel and aluminum in government-funded infrastructure and defense procurement projects.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• Home construction must double over next decade to restore 2019 affordability: CMHC: CMHC says Canada will need to double annual homebuilding over ten years to restore affordability to 2019 levels.
• Condo sales, construction crater in Canada’s two biggest markets, data show: Data points to sharp declines in condo sales and new construction in Toronto and Vancouver.
• Construction sector ramping up tech investments to address labour gap: KPMG survey: A KPMG survey indicates technology investment as a key response to construction’s labour shortages.
• New report finds housing crisis is taking a huge toll on middle-class workers: An article examines how the housing crisis is affecting the middle class.
• CMHC gives up on goal to reduce prices to 2004 levels, the Home of the Week and more top real estate stories: CMHC revises its pricing strategy and outlook for housing affordability.