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Hamilton Mayoral Debate Draws Business Community Together   On September 22, the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association joined the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, West End Home Builders' Association, and Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® to host the 2026 Hamilton Mayoral Debate at Carmen's Event Centre. Moderated by Steve Paikin, the debate featured mayoral candidates Andrea Horwath, Keanin Loomis, and Rob Cooper, who shared their perspectives on key issues impacting Hamilton's future, including housing, economic development, investment attraction, public safety, taxation, infrastructure, and municipal leadership. The event provided business and industry leaders with an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates ahead of [...]

Hamilton Secures $572M for Housing-Enabling Infrastructure The governments of Ontario and Canada have announced a combined $572 million investment in Hamilton through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP). The funding is tied to the City's commitment to eliminate residential development charges for three years, helping reduce the cost of building new homes and encouraging new housing construction. According to the announcement, removing development charges could lower the cost of a new home in Hamilton by up to $100,000, while expanded HST relief could provide additional savings for homebuyers. The City estimates these measures, combined with major infrastructure investments, could [...]

Ontario Launches Construction of First Standardized GO Station Design Infrastructure & Growth Focus The Ontario government has officially broken ground on the new Grimsby GO Station, a project aimed at improving transit access, reducing travel times, and supporting future GO service expansion across the Niagara Region. The station will feature a single platform, 220 parking spaces, a bus loop, and dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas. Notably, Grimsby GO will be the first station built using a new standardized design model intended to reduce construction costs, accelerate delivery timelines, and improve long-term operational efficiency. The project is part of Ontario’s [...]

Immediate Action Required for Development Charges Reduction Program Application Last week, the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association joined the West End Home Builders’ Association, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, and Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® in submitting a joint letter to City Council encouraging a strong and ambitious application to the new Development Charges Reduction Program ahead of the June 19 deadline. For the ICI construction sector, housing isn’t a separate issue—it’s directly tied to the health of the broader industry. New residential development drives demand for infrastructure, institutional, and commercial projects, supports jobs across the sector, and helps sustain a stable pipeline [...]

Buy Ontario Requirements Now Affect Municipal Construction Tenders The Province of Ontario’s Buy Ontario framework is now moving into municipal construction procurement, with requirements taking effect on May 15, 2026. As these changes begin to appear in live tenders, contractors should expect to see Buy Ontario considerations embedded directly into bid documentation and evaluation. While municipalities retain flexibility, the practical impact on bid preparation and competitiveness will be real and immediate for many firms. In general, contractors should expect more questions earlier in the procurement process about where materials, equipment, and key services are sourced. Municipalities may identify major [...]

Ontario Begins Civil and Utility Work for Hamilton LRT The Ontario government has awarded the first major civil and utilities contract for the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) to the Hamilton Transit Alliance consortium led by Aecon Infrastructure Inc., marking a key milestone in advancing the 14‑kilometre, east‑west transit project. The work includes utility relocations, road and sidewalk reconstruction, traffic signal upgrades, and early bridge and underpass design—laying the groundwork for major construction along the corridor. Once complete, the Hamilton LRT is expected to support approximately 50,000 daily riders, connect key destinations across the city, and generate significant economic [...]

Ontario Introduces New Legislation to Cut Red Tape and Support Workers On April 20, the Ontario government introduced the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 (POWER Act), a new piece of legislation aimed at reducing red tape, speeding up permits and approvals, and strengthening Ontario’s economic competitiveness. If passed, the act would build on recent efforts to streamline business‑facing regulations and help projects move forward faster with greater certainty. The proposed legislation focuses on simplifying and modernizing provincial permitting processes, including improved service standards, expanded use of digital tools, and initiatives such as One Project, One Process [...]

Have you taken a look at your contract lately? Considering the ongoing geopolitical instability stemming from the conflict involving Iran in the Middle East, the construction industry is experiencing renewed volatility across multiple cost drivers. While much attention has been given to escalating material prices, it is equally important to recognize the significant impact that rising fuel costs—particularly diesel—are having on construction operations. For many contractors, fuel is a substantial component of day-to-day project execution, affecting everything from equipment operation to transportation and logistics. The recent surge in diesel prices is placing additional pressure on project margins and overall project [...]