Articles from On-site

In May, Canada experienced a stagnation in housing starts with a slight increase in the six-month trend but a minor monthly decline, according to CMHC. Actual housing starts rose by 9% year-over-year in cities with populations over 10,000, partly due to single-detached homes and rentals in Quebec and the Prairies. Montreal saw an increase in housing starts, while Vancouver and Toronto experienced declines, largely due to weaker condominium markets.

Fleet managers are increasingly using AI, specifically Geotab's Generative AI assistant, to gain insights into driver safety and performance. The most used prompts focus on identifying safe drivers and tracking safety improvements rather than penalizing poor performance. A majority of drivers support the use of technology to enhance driving performance, and over 1,500 companies now use this AI solution. This approach reflects a shift towards a supportive and coaching mindset in fleet management.

In April, the total value of building permits in Canada declined by 6.6%, largely due to a decrease in the residential sector. Residential construction intentions fell to $7.4 billion, with a significant drop in multi-family dwelling permits, particularly in British Columbia. Conversely, non-residential building permits rose by 3.3%, led by industrial and commercial sectors, especially in Ontario. Overall, Ontario saw an increase in non-residential permits, while British Columbia experienced the largest decline in residential permits.

The deadline for nominations for On-Site Magazine's '40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction' has been extended to June 23, 2025. The event, co-hosted with SitePartners, aims to recognize young leaders in construction across Canada, particularly those in infrastructure, ICI, high-rise residential, and mixed-use segments. The selected honorees will be featured in the September 2025 issue of the magazine, and nominations are open to professionals under 40 years old residing in Canada. Self-nominations are allowed, provided there are supporting references.

The Canadian employment rate remained stable in May 2025 despite the unemployment rate rising to seven percent, the highest since September 2016. The construction sector reported a decrease of 7,400 workers from April but had a year-over-year increase of nearly 46,000 workers, reflecting a 2.9% gain. This marks the third consecutive month of rising unemployment. Overall, 1.6 million people were unemployed in May, a 13.8% increase from the previous year.

In March, Canada's construction sector experienced a 0.3% decline in payroll employment, mirroring the overall drop in Canada’s employment. The construction industry lost 4,000 workers, with a cumulative decline since January reaching 17,800 workers. While non-residential building construction saw a slight increase in employment, heavy and civil engineering construction contributed to a year-over-year loss in the sector. The construction workforce had a job vacancy of 3.7% with 44,600 open positions in March.

Procore, a construction technology firm, has announced significant investments in its BIM capabilities by acquiring Novorender and FlyPaper. These acquisitions aim to enhance Procore's platform by integrating advanced 3D modeling tools, which will help improve BIM adoption, streamline coordination, and connect BIM data across its platform. Novorender's 3D-rendering technology allows faster integration of complex models, while FlyPaper's tools enhance design coordination and clash detection. These developments are aimed at improving project predictability, reducing costs, and enhancing jobsite safety.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reports a significant increase in housing starts in Canada, with April seeing a 30% rise to 278,606 units compared to March. Montreal experienced a 64% surge in starts, while Toronto saw a 25% decrease. Despite a 17% year-over-year rise in actual starts in large centers, the year-to-date total remains 2% below last year's figures. CMHC's deputy chief economist indicated that economic uncertainty may impact the supply and demand of new housing in the future.

Nominations are now open for the 6th annual 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction, recognizing young leaders in the industry. This initiative by On-Site Magazine and SitePartners highlights individuals making significant contributions to construction in Canada. Nominees must be residents of Canada under 40 as of December 31, 2025, and will be evaluated on their professional achievements, innovation, leadership, and community involvement. The winners will be featured in the September 2025 issue of On-Site Magazine.

EPAM Systems' report highlights challenges in AI adoption for businesses, including a disconnect between perception and reality in AI implementation. Despite many companies rating themselves as advanced in AI, only a fraction have successfully launched AI use cases. AI investments are increasing, but the transition from experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment remains difficult. Success relies on aligning technology with business goals, and cultivating strong governance, talent, and security frameworks.

Bob Fairbank has joined Priestly Demolition Inc. as the vice-president for Western Canada. With over 30 years of experience in construction and concrete in Alberta and British Columbia, Fairbank is expected to drive innovation and expansion at Priestly. CEO Ryan Priestly highlighted that Fairbank's appointment will significantly strengthen their business operations in the West. Fairbank aims to leverage his expertise in sales, business development, and operational efficiency to propel the company's growth.

Canada's construction sector experienced a slight decline in employment in April, losing 1,800 jobs according to Statistics Canada. The overall employment rate in the country decreased marginally to 60.8%, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.9%. Ontario saw a significant drop in employment numbers, though this was partly mitigated by gains in other provinces like Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Despite the recent monthly declines, construction employment is still up by 1.6% compared to the previous year.