September 13, 2026 to September 19, 2026

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.

📋 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

• HUMA committee to consider draft report on housing starts and federal programs: On September 22, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development will meet in Ottawa to plan future business and review its draft report on housing starts in relation to federal programs, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 420, Wellington Building.
• Government Operations Committee reviews use of surplus federal lands for veterans’ services: The Government Operations and Estimates Committee will meet September 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to receive testimony on leveraging underused federal lands and buildings for veterans’ services.
• Status of Women committee examines role of shelters and transitional housing: On September 23, the Status of Women Committee is scheduled to hear witnesses discussing the capacity and role of women’s shelters and transitional housing in Canada, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Senate Banking, Commerce and Economy Committee reviews access to credit for SMEs: The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy meets September 23 at 6:45 p.m. in Ottawa, in camera, to consider access to credit and capital markets for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Government Operations Committee continues study on surplus lands for veterans’ services: The Government Operations and Estimates Committee is set for a September 24 hearing from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., as it continues its study on the use of underused federal lands and buildings for veterans’ services.

Federal Government News

Federal Government outlines Team Canada Strong: $8B initiative to recruit, train, and hire skilled trades workers

On September 18, Minister Patty Hajdu detailed the first suite of measures under the $8 billion Team Canada Strong initiative, aimed at increasing the number of Red Seal skilled trades workers by up to 100,000 by 2030-31. Organizations can now submit expressions of interest for the Team Canada Strong Youth Placements program, backstopped by $880 million, to connect young Canadians seeking careers in the skilled trades with paid placements lasting up to four months, supporting career exploration and on-the-job experience. The Build Canada Apprenticeship Service, launching later this fall, will provide up to $10,000 for employers hiring first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades, as well as support services to ease apprentice integration. A $5,000 Red Seal completion bonus will be available to eligible certified tradespeople, including those certified after April 1, 2025. The government also announced a weekly grant of $400 for apprentices attending mandatory in-class technical training, to be rolled out in spring 2027, supplementing EI benefits. Bilateral negotiations with provinces and territories are underway for a federal $2 billion investment to expand access to training opportunities. The overall effort combines paid placements, direct employer incentives, training modernizations, income supports, and expanded union training center capacity.

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

Federal investment targets water and wastewater infrastructure in Mount Pearl, NL and Selwyn, ON

The Government of Canada, through the Build Communities Strong Fund, has announced over $7 million for water and wastewater upgrades in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, and over $3.9 million for sewer infrastructure modernization in Selwyn, Ontario. In Mount Pearl, funding will expand water and sewer capacity along Park Avenue, supporting new housing and population growth, while improving service reliability for existing residents. Selwyn's investment will replace and enhance sections of the sewer network and install a twin force main beneath the Otonabee River to bolster system reliability, capacity, and fire protection as the community’s population grows. Both projects aim to raise the foundational infrastructure required to accommodate new residential development.

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

Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory receive federal funds for critical water infrastructure

Federal support continues for Indigenous infrastructure needs, with over $38 million directed to watermain construction in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Ontario, and more than $66 million provided to expand water access in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. The Wiikwemkoong project will support approximately 430 homes and enable new roads, fire hydrants, and drainage, connecting more residents to municipal water and wastewater services and ending dependence on trucked water. The Tyendinaga initiative will extend watermain access to previously unserviced areas, ultimately ending a community-wide drinking water advisory, enhancing fire protection, and unlocking housing development potential.

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

Ottawa announces $27M for new overnight healthcare facility for children, and $76M for community basketball hub

The Build Communities Strong Fund is providing over $27 million for an accessible, medically supported camp for children with cancer or serious illness in Ottawa, including a dining hall, activity centre, and equestrian facilities. Separately, $76 million is being invested in a state-of-the-art Athletic and Community Recreation Hub at Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus in Etobicoke, which will feature six gymnasiums for basketball competitions, a high-performance training centre, and community-accessible facilities. The new hub will house Canada Basketball training and operations and provide 32,000 hours of annual community use.

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

Retrofits to Charlottetown’s Cody Banks Arena receive federal funding

Charlottetown’s Cody Banks Arena is receiving more than $199,000 in federal investment for retrofits including installation of heat pumps and a solar PV system. Integrated with the city’s building automation system, the upgrades will reduce facility energy consumption and emissions and provide upgraded recreational infrastructure.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal data: Building permits in July see significant decline; Raw materials and industrial product prices trend upwards

Statistics Canada reports that in July 2026, the total value of building permits issued fell by $2.6 billion, or 17.3%, to $12.2 billion. Concurrently, the Industrial Product Price Index rose 1.3% month-over-month, representing a 13.5% year-over-year increase, while the Raw Materials Price Index increased 3.1% for the month, up 22.8% from a year ago. These shifts may affect input costs and capital planning across the construction ecosystem.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca, www.statcan.gc.ca

New Housing Price Index available for August 2026

The New Housing Price Index for August 2026 is now available from Statistics Canada, providing updated metrics for tracking movements in new home prices across Canadian markets.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Survey of Household Spending, 2023: latest data released

Updated data from the 2023 Survey of Household Spending were released by Statistics Canada, offering industry and government new insights into patterns and allocations of Canadian household expenditures.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Nova Scotia exceeds key targets in housing strategy, with 79,100 new units since 2023

The Nova Scotia government reports creating the conditions for nearly 80,000 additional homes and surpassing targets on affordability and new unit development since launching its five-year plan in 2023.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

Ontario awards construction contract for new Little Current Swing Bridge on Manitoulin Island

The province has named EllisDon as construction manager for the replacement of the Little Current Swing Bridge, upgrading connectivity for residents, businesses, and visitors to Manitoulin Island.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Manitoba records strong apprenticeship training growth, surpasses construction hour targets

Manitoba reports certifying more journeypersons than in the past five years and doubling its Manitoba Jobs Agreement target, with apprentices accounting for 21% of construction hours on monitored projects.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

BC adds 800 skilled trades training seats at Thompson Rivers University, part of 5,000 seats province-wide

Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops will add 800 new trades-training seats in 2026-27, expanding local access to skilled trades programs under the province's $241 million Look West strategy.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

BC begins Peardonville Road crossing construction as part of Highway 1 Corridor improvements

Construction is underway on the new Peardonville Road crossing and 1.6 kilometres of Highway 1 widening, providing new HOV, EV, and bus lanes for more efficient travel through Abbotsford.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Wall Street week ahead: housing market, unemployment updates: Media piece surveys upcoming trends in North American housing and employment data.
• Carpet tariffs snag builders, the Home of the Week and more top real estate stories: Canadian publication examines impacts of carpet tariffs on builders.
• Annual pace of housing starts dips in August, CMHC says: Coverage of recent trends in Canadian housing starts.
• From investment buzz to building: Canada’s major projects face hurdles, experts say: Analysis of challenges shaping the progress of major Canadian construction projects.
• What are the solutions to homelessness and housing? A panel had some ideas of where to start: CBC panel discusses various perspectives on homelessness and housing supply.
• N.S. sees record number of housing starts in 2025, but officials say more work needs to be done: News segment on housing starts and the status of construction in Nova Scotia.
• Planning a home renovation? Expand your imagination at the 2026 Fall Home Show, Oct. 2 to 4: Preview of a major upcoming home renovation event.
• Efforts to create more affordable housing are paying off, says province: Provincial officials discuss progress in affordable housing initiatives.
• Toronto Star bestsellers: In ‘Housing Inc.’ Leilani Farha takes on the financial firms fuelling the housing crisis: Review of a book exploring financialization in Canadian housing.
• Opinion | Before you vote: Why the GTA needs every type of home — not just condos: Editorial discussing Greater Toronto Area housing diversity.

.