This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news related to residential and commercial construction as well as infrastructure and government initiatives and programs concerning housing and housing affordability. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Dates: 2026-03-15 to 2026-03-21

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Provincial Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• Environment and Sustainable Development Committee to Study Industrial Carbon Pricing: The House of Commons Environment and Sustainable Development Committee is scheduled to meet March 24 from 3:30–5:30 p.m. (Room 420, Wellington Building) focusing on Industrial Carbon Pricing, with representatives from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Pembina Institute, Resource Works Society, Canadian Climate Institute, and others.

Federal Government News

Build Canada Homes launches major affordable housing initiative in New Brunswick

On March 20, the Government of Canada, through its newly launched Build Canada Homes agency, announced a partnership with the Province of New Brunswick targeting the delivery of up to 1,200 new affordable homes, with future scaling to 1,500 units. The federal government plans an investment of up to $150 million, matching the provincial contribution for both capital and operating expenses to ensure long-term affordability, including wrap-around funding for supportive and transitional housing options. Criteria for project selection will prioritize deep affordability, project readiness, and the use of modern methods of construction (MMC), such as modular or prefabricated building, with a target of 40% MMC portfolio-wide. Up to 450 units are intended for rural and smaller communities. Municipalities are engaged to remove construction barriers, including waiving fees, expediting permits, and offering tax relief. Final approvals and project selection will rest with a Joint Implementation Table.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal government and Nunavut advance partnership for rapid home construction

On March 16, federal and Nunavut officials visited a new multi-unit development in Iqaluit, part of a plan to deliver up to 750 homes through the Build Canada Homes partnership. The federal government is allocating up to $250 million, and Nunavut is contributing up to $230 million for a blend of public, affordable, and supportive housing across the territory. At least 30% of units will use offsite or MMC practices to reduce build time and costs, with construction already underway in locations including Cambridge Bay, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, and Arviat. The partnership includes 25 units to be delivered by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. through the Igluvut Corporation, consistent with the Inuit-led housing model. Project participants aim to modernize construction processes across the territory.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada and Nova Scotia direct funding to wastewater infrastructure to support housing in Chester

A combined federal, provincial, and municipal investment totaling $17.5 million, including $7 million from Ottawa and $5.8 million from Nova Scotia, will fund a new wastewater treatment facility in Chester Basin, announced on March 19. This infrastructure upgrade will service 107 current dwellings and create capacity for up to 652 future housing units, helping address bottlenecks in residential development. Coastal flooding concerns will also be addressed through upgrades. The initiative supports the launch of the Build Canada Homes agency, aiming to facilitate affordable housing construction by coordinating with regional partners, enabling builders’ financing, and promoting advanced construction technologies.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal, New Brunswick investments in wastewater infrastructure open doors for 500 new homes in New Maryland

On March 19, Minister Gilles LePage and MP David Myles announced a joint federal-provincial investment exceeding $2.2 million, with $1.3 million from the federal government and $880,000 from New Brunswick, plus $440,000 from the municipality, through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. Funds will build a new wastewater pumping station and sewer main, expanding transmission capacity to unlock a 500-unit mixed-use housing development. The investment is structured to enable rapid construction, with specific provisions to encourage industry innovation and increase supply chain efficiency.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Build Communities Strong Fund allocates $183 million to Toronto for 2025-26 infrastructure

On March 19, over $183 million in direct federal funding was allocated to Toronto for transit accessibility, upgrades to subways, and other foundational municipal works under the Build Communities Strong Fund. This is part of a broader multi-stream federal infrastructure plan, which dedicates $17.2 billion over 10 years for provincial/territorial projects, $6 billion for direct delivery, and $27.8 billion for local infrastructure, consolidating the Canada Community-Building Fund. The scheme targets upgrades to health facilities, transit, roads, and community centres with timelines and streams now defined. Details for further applications will become available in the coming weeks.

Sources: www.canada.ca

CBSA initiates trade remedy investigations on unarmoured building cables from China

On March 16, the Canada Border Services Agency commenced investigations regarding dumping and subsidizing of unarmoured building cables imported from China, following a complaint by PTI Cables Inc. The inquiry aims to assess whether these imports have materially injured Canadian producers via price undercutting, depressed margins, or lost sales. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will determine by May 15 whether injury has occurred, while the CBSA will deliver preliminary determinations by June 15. Potential outcomes include provisional duties. The cases proceed under the Special Import Measures Act, which, as of 2025, covered $3.3 billion in imports and protected over 43,000 jobs.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canadian International Trade Tribunal opens preliminary injury inquiry into imports of unarmoured building cables

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal began a preliminary injury inquiry (PI-2025-010) on March 17, focused on imports of unarmoured building cables from China, again resulting from PTI Cables Inc.'s trade case. The Tribunal will issue a determination on market injury or threatened injury by May 15, which, if affirmative, would lead the CBSA to formal preliminary decisions by June 12 and potentially to a final injury inquiry. Stakeholders can participate by completing a Notice of Participation.

Sources: www.canada.ca

StatsCan: Building construction investment drops 1.9% in January

Statistics Canada data released March 19 shows total investment in building construction fell $448.3 million (-1.9%) to $23.4 billion for January 2026. This monthly decline signals a contraction in construction activity relative to late 2025 levels.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan: New Housing Price Index, February 2026

The New Housing Price Index for February 2026 was published by Statistics Canada on March 20. The updated figure offers timely reference for price trends in the residential construction sector; details available in the latest Daily release.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan: Industrial product prices edge up in February

The Industrial Product Price Index rose by 0.4% in February from January and posted a 5.4% increase year-over-year. Raw Materials Price Index advanced 0.6% month-over-month and 8.6% compared to last year, reflecting ongoing cost pressures for construction and building inputs.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan: Employment by industry in rural Canada dashboard updated for February

On March 18, Statistics Canada updated its Employment by Industry in Rural Canada dashboard for the February 2026 reference month. The dashboard offers sectoral and regional insights, relevant for stakeholders monitoring rural construction and housing employment patterns.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario supports 18-bed transitional housing project in Newmarket

Ontario and Canada jointly committed $630,772 to a new 18-bed transitional housing build at Inn from the Cold in Newmarket, with additional federal funding of over $1 million through Reaching Home and $1.5 million from Ontario’s Homelessness Prevention Program.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Nova Scotia funds two affordable housing projects in Pictou

A new 27-unit affordable development and the completed conversion of Stonehouse Manor add a combined 42 units in Pictou, with federal and provincial funding contributions totaling more than $13 million.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

Ontario invests nearly $29 million to expand rural infrastructure in Perth, Wellington Counties

On March 18, Ontario announced $29 million for water and wastewater infrastructure across Perth and Wellington counties via the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, affecting over 5,500 homes.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Quebec increases infrastructure investments by $5 billion in Budget 2026-2027

The Quebec government's 2026-2027 budget boosts infrastructure spending by more than $5 billion over six years, brings the total to $167 billion, and includes $741 million for building affordable housing and renovations.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

B.C. opens 48-unit supportive housing for homeless in Duncan

British Columbia opened 48 new supportive housing units in Duncan with provincial, federal, and local agency support, funded in part by a $25 million BC Housing grant and $2.4 million from the federal Affordable Housing Fund.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• New federal home rebate will ‘make a difference’ in Windsor’s chilled construction environment: Coverage on the impact of a new federal rebate on construction sector sentiment in Windsor.
• Fee could add millions to Manitoba construction projects: Industry: Industry reaction to a new provincial fee and its implications for project costs in Manitoba.
• Construction groups raise concern over charge for contractors on public projects, citing 'zero transparency': Manitoba industry associations express concern over a new contractor charge impacting public construction contracts.
• Jasper changes tack in trying to deal with chronic housing shortage: The Globe and Mail reports on Jasper’s new strategies for addressing longstanding housing shortages post-wildfire.
• What's in Quebec's budget for you on housing, cost of living and homelessness: Coverage of Quebec’s budget and its implications for housing, cost of living, and support programs.
• Ontario records consecutive months of improving housing starts: Reporting on Ontario’s continued growth in housing starts over recent months.
• London's construction season ramps up with new work on Dundas, Wellington and York: Update on new municipal construction schedules starting in London, Ontario.
• Opinion: Fixing Canada’s dysfunctional mortgage system: Opinion piece from The Globe and Mail considering changes to Canada’s mortgage framework.
• Thinking of moving to a more 'affordable' part of the country? Consider this: Broader look at factors shaping regional housing affordability in Canada.
• Province and feds add funding for brand new $20-million transitional housing build in Newmarket: Overview of new capital committed to a transitional housing initiative in Newmarket.

.