Canadian Contractor

2 weeks ago | canadiancontractor.ca | Patrick Flannery

The APCHQ is conducting voting across the province to inform negotiations on a new labour contract that will be in effect until 2029. It’s asking members to vote on the following positions:The union demand for an increase in hourly wage rates: an increase of 24.35% over 4 years. The agreement on the increase in social benefits (retirement and medical insurance): increase of 22% over 4 years.

3 weeks ago | canadiancontractor.ca | Patrick Flannery

On April 2, U.S. president Donald Trump did not impose the across-the-board 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports he had previously threatened, so Canada will not be applying the additional $125 billion in retaliatory tariffs to American imports it had promised in response. He did apply tariffs to some automotive imports, triggering Canadian reciprocal tariffs on imports of U.S. vehicles.

3 weeks ago | canadiancontractor.ca | Patrick Flannery

The Ontario Homebuilders Association and the Missing Middle Initiative have released a big new report looking at the change in housing affordability in southern Ontario over the past 20 years. It’s not good, Bob. Here are the lowlights:Housing affordability remains at crisis levels. Across Ontario, home prices have doubled relative to median family incomes since 2005 (in nominal dollars, those incomes were $64,000 in January 2005 and are $115,000 today).

1 month ago | canadiancontractor.ca | Patrick Flannery

Wilden, sustainably-minded developer in Kelowna, B.C., has introduced Okanagan’s first home – and one of the first in British Columbia – to be built with hemp insulation, a pioneering step in sustainable residential construction. Located at 278 Summer Wood Drive, this innovative home embodies Wilden’s core philosophy of blending cutting-edge energy efficiency with healthy, eco-friendly materials to offer future homeowners an unparalleled living experience.

1 month ago | canadiancontractor.ca | Carey Fredericks

The difficulty, expense and delay in getting projects approved has been identified as one of the big reasons Ontario is nowhere near its homebuilding goals and not likely to be any time soon. Enter Arash Shahi and his non-profit One Ontario initiative to offer a database of municipal zoning bylaws and regulations that shows where building can happen and whether your project qualifies.