Halton Region

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 [...]