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: 2026-03-08 to 2026-03-14

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Provincial Government News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

Federal investment in green shipping corridors and port electrification to modernize construction supply chains

On March 13, 2026, Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon announced up to $6.4 million for R.W. Tomlinson Ltd. Ontario Trap Rock facility, under the Green Shipping Corridor Program. This investment will fund an electric-powered ship loading system to replace diesel trucks transporting aggregates from quarry to dock at Bruce Mines, Ontario—an upgrade expected to reduce truck traffic on Highway 17 and enable up to 25% higher annual shipments of construction aggregates used across the Great Lakes region and Northern Ontario. The project is paired with plans for dock expansion and aims to reduce emissions while increasing the efficiency of moving aggregate for infrastructure builds. Ontario Trap Rock, employing approximately 50 workers, serves as a major supplier for construction projects in the region.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Bill C-4 receives Royal Assent: Key measures enacted for construction and housing

On March 12, 2026, Bill C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, received Royal Assent. For the construction and housing sector, the Act eliminates GST for first-time home buyers on new homes up to $1 million and lowers the GST for new homes valued between $1 million and $1.5 million, with savings up to $50,000 per purchase. The GST rebate covers agreements entered into on or after March 20, 2025, through 2031. The Canada Revenue Agency may now process claims associated with these measures. The Act also permanently removes the federal consumer fuel charge, eliminating the requirement for consumer-facing carbon pricing at the provincial or territorial level as of April 2025, impacting the cost of materials and transport.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program delivers $94.5 million to support industry labour data capacity

Employment and Social Development Canada announced on March 9, 2026, that $94.5 million over five years will go to 14 organizations to develop sector-specific labour market information (LMI). For construction, BuildForce Canada will produce 10-year LMI forecast reports to inform residential and non-residential construction workforce needs, and Canada Green Building Council will focus on workforce trends and training for green construction roles. Funds will support interactive career pathways, upskilling, demographic analysis, and industry toolkits to help forecast and address workplace gaps. The initiative is targeted at supporting affordable housing projects and major infrastructure builds.

Sources: www.canada.ca

New immigration measures to support Quebec employers and targeted rural workforce needs

On March 13, 2026, the federal government announced a temporary measure permitting eligible skilled workers in Quebec—invited to submit a Demande de Selection Permanente—to obtain up to a 12-month employer-specific work permit while their eligibility for permanent residence is assessed. A parallel measure for rural employers, effective April 1, 2026, allows for a temporary increase in the allowable share of low-wage temporary foreign workers from 10% to 15% of the workforce in participating provinces and territories (until March 31, 2027). These changes aim to address labour supply challenges in construction and related industries without exceeding national policy thresholds for temporary residents.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Tripartite Advisory Council for Labour Policy launched

On March 12, 2026, the federal government convened the inaugural meeting of the new Tripartite Advisory Council for Labour Policy. The council consists of representatives from government, employers, and labour unions and is intended as a consultative body on workplace and labour issues of national relevance. This advisory structure is now a standard component of federally regulated labour matters and is expected to help identify and respond to emerging concerns affecting key sectors, including construction, skilled trades, and public works.

Sources: www.canada.ca

New workforce training investment in Quebec for Red Seal trades

On March 9, 2026, the Governments of Canada and Quebec jointly announced $24.7 million over five years for skills training in 18 Red Seal trades in Quebec. Up to 3,750 apprentices and journeypersons are projected to benefit, with funds allocated under the Union Training and Innovation Program and administered by Quebec’s Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity. The investment supports apprenticeships and certification, aiming to strengthen workforce capacity in carbon-neutral construction and support the housing sector as well as industrial and infrastructure builds.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Support programs for Ontario workers impacted by tariffs and market shifts

On March 10, 2026, federal and Ontario governments announced the $228.8 million Canada–Ontario Workforce Tariff Response fund. Delivered via the Labour Market Development Agreement, this program will support approximately 27,000 workers in softwood lumber, steel, automotive, and secondary industries affected by tariffs or global shifts. Assistance includes upskilling, retraining, and job support through existing employment service networks, with priorities set for construction, trades, and supply chain resilience.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Competition Bureau addresses retirement home sector merger conditions

On March 12, 2026, the Competition Bureau reached a consent agreement with Chartwell Master Care LP concerning the proposed acquisition of six retirement homes from Sifton Properties Limited. The Bureau required Chartwell to divest the Clair Hills retirement home in Waterloo, Ontario to an independent purchaser, after a review found the transaction would likely have reduced competition in health care services and accommodations within the licensed retirement home industry in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. The measure aims to preserve price and service quality competition relevant for residential care providers and property developers.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada: Building permits, January 2026

Statistics Canada reported an increase in building permits for January 2026, with total permit value up $607 million (+4.8%) to $13.3 billion nationwide. This movement signals adjustments in construction activity levels, affecting contractors, suppliers, and planners.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Statistics Canada: Real estate agents and brokers, 2024

Operating revenue in the real estate agents and brokers industry rose 9.2% to $19.2 billion in 2024, reversing consecutive declines in 2022 and 2023. This figure provides a reference point for market participants regarding transaction volumes and service demand in the property market.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Quarterly rent statistics and rural/small town business dashboard released

Statistics Canada released experimental estimates for asking rents in 42 census metropolitan areas in Q4 2025 and updated its Business Conditions in Rural and Small Town Canada dashboard for Q1 2026. These datasets inform rental market conditions and provide new analysis tools to gauge economic dynamics affecting housing and construction demand in smaller communities.

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

Provincial Government News

Alberta commits $200 million to new and updated seniors housing

The Alberta government announced more than $200 million for construction and modernization of over 1,000 seniors lodge units across small and rural communities, contingent on Budget 2026 approval. The Seniors Lodge Modernization Program and other allocations are intended to meet increased demand as the senior population grows.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Ontario announces $45 million for municipal road and bridge repairs

Twenty municipalities across Ontario will receive funding for 21 projects under the 2026-27 Connecting Links program, supporting infrastructure repairs on key roads and bridges used for freight and public access.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Windsor, Nova Scotia moves forward with 16-unit public housing development

Build Nova Scotia issued a request for proposals for the design and construction of two eight-unit apartment buildings in Windsor. The project advances the province's housing plan, with first work expected to begin in late spring 2026.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

Quebec implements new contracts law and related municipal procurement regulations

Quebec’s new Law on Contracts of Municipal Organizations (LCOM) and related regulations come into force April 1, 2026. New rules cover contract threshold management, deadlines, territorial discrimination, and simplified award procedures for municipal contracts, impacting construction, services, and supply sectors at the local level.

Sources: www.quebec.ca, www.quebec.ca, www.quebec.ca, www.quebec.ca, www.quebec.ca

Ontario and federal governments announce $228 million for tariff-impacted worker support and training

Ontario will administer training and employment support for up to 27,000 workers impacted by tariffs and global trade, with funding to soften labour market shifts in construction-adjacent sectors through the Skills Advance Ontario (SAO) initiative.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Government Consultations

Health Canada consults on new registration for Etofenprox-based pest control products

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency launched a new consultation March 12, 2026, on proposed registration for Etofenprox Technical, RF2129 EC, and RF2220 Premium Aerosol II-M Premise Spray for use in buildings and transport structures. The review addresses health and environmental aspects of usage.

Sources: www.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Ottawa housing construction could benefit from federal workforce data investment: CTV News reports on regional sector impacts of the new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program funding.
• National housing supply made strides in 2025 amid weak demand, condo struggles: CMHC: CTV News covers CMHC findings on housing stock trends through 2025.
• Canada made ‘meaningful’ housing supply gains in 2025, CMHC says: The Globe and Mail details CMHC’s report on housing supply outcomes.
• Economist says new home construction could fall in B.C. as home sales sluggish in February: CBC News examines B.C. housing construction outlook amid soft sales.
• B.C.’s non-profit housing sector reels from loss of provincial funding: The Globe and Mail looks at program funding losses for non-profit housing providers in B.C.
• Canada’s housing crisis won't be solved by doing the same things. Here's what must happen: The Toronto Star opinion column considers potential changes addressing the housing supply challenge.
• NOVAGOLD & Paulson Award Engineering Contracts to WSP, Worley, and Hatch for Key Infrastructure and Unit Operations in Bankable Feasibility Study: GlobeNewswire details engineering awards for key infrastructure in a mining feasibility study.

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