Latest Construction News

Montreal must significantly increase its housing construction efforts to restore pre-pandemic housing affordability levels, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The report suggests that to achieve affordable housing, the city will need to triple its current rate of construction. The housing market is currently constrained, affecting overall accessibility for residents. The city's current strategies may fall short if these targets aren't met.

Montreal is facing a severe housing crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic more than any other major Canadian city. To address the situation, it is necessary to build approximately 50,000 new homes annually. This implies that Montreal will need to double its current housing production rate to meet demand and alleviate the crisis.

The CNESST released the investigation report on a fatal accident involving a worker from Terrassement Excavation Vallée that occurred on September 30, 2024, near Senneterre, Quebec. The accident happened during maintenance of a forest grinder when a worker's foot got stuck, leading to their tragic death. The investigation identified a lack of specific energy control procedures as a cause and emphasizes the need for energy control methods to prevent such accidents. CNESST plans to share the report with forestry sector stakeholders and educational institutions.

The Quebec Government has announced the commencement of repair work on the Turcotte Bridge in Sorel-Tracy. Led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Geneviève Guilbault, the project seeks to enhance the safety and durability of this key infrastructure with a $19.9 million investment. The repairs will include structural and security feature enhancements, electrical works, and resurfacing, aimed at removing current vehicular restrictions. These efforts are expected to ensure a reliable and multi-modal transport network over the next two years.

The Quebec government and the City of Val-d'Or are hosting a press conference about the construction of affordable housing in Val-d'Or. The event, scheduled for June 20, will feature France-Élaine Duranceau, the Minister responsible for Housing, and Céline Brindamour, the Mayor of Val-d'Or. Media personnel planning to attend need to confirm their presence by June 19 at 2 PM.

The Quebec government has launched an interactive map detailing over 700 public infrastructure projects in the province. These projects, each valued at more than $20 million, are part of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan and include schools, hospitals, and roads. The map provides transparency and allows citizens and construction entrepreneurs to access project details such as location, progress, and costs. This tool complements the existing Public Infrastructure Projects Dashboard.

A tentative agreement has been reached between Quebec's construction association (APCHQ) and the construction union alliance, ending a residential construction strike that began on May 28. The agreement includes an 8% salary increase for 2025, with arbitration set for subsequent years under specific parameters. This agreement will be subject to ratification by both the union members and employers. The residential sector was the last of the four construction sectors in Quebec to renew its collective agreement.

The construction labor union Alliance has reached a tentative agreement with the APCHQ, ending the strike in the residential construction sector. The agreement was finalized on Wednesday evening, signaling a conclusion to ongoing negotiations. This development allows for the resumption of residential construction projects that had been stalled due to the strike.

An agreement in principle has been reached in the residential construction sector, leading to the end of a strike. The strike, which began on May 28, had affected numerous projects across the region. The resolution of the strike is expected to restart and accelerate halted construction activities. The terms of the agreement have yet to be fully disclosed.

The strike in the residential construction sector, which started on May 28, has come to an end. Both parties confirmed the conclusion of the strike on Wednesday evening. An agreement in principle has been reached, allowing work to resume. This marks a successful negotiation that has resolved the labor dispute in residential construction.

The executive committee of Gatineau has authorized an investment of $469,364, which is seen as a small amount considering the substantial funds—hundreds of millions of dollars—that will be needed to fully address the city's wastewater infrastructure capacity issues. This investment is a step towards solving the problem, but much more will be required in the future to ensure complete resolution.

CertainTeed Canada has launched CarbonLow, a new line of low-carbon gypsum panels with up to 60% less embodied carbon than traditional panels. These panels are produced at CertainTeed's facility in Quebec, which is transitioning to use only hydroelectric power, becoming North America's first zero-carbon gypsum wallboard plant. The CarbonLow line includes several gypsum solutions for a variety of building applications and requires no changes to standard installation practices. This initiative supports Saint-Gobain’s larger sustainability efforts and aims to encourage the use of sustainable building materials.