Category Archives: Construction

Federal bank regulator proposes tightening test for uninsured mortgages

OTTAWA — The federal banking regulator is proposing increased requirements to the stress test facing homebuyers with uninsured mortgages as it looks ahead to a return to pre-pandemic financial conditions with higher interest rates. The proposal from th...

Canadians hope for ‘common sense’ on Buy American as Biden talks infrastructure

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden lifted the veil Wednesday on a broad and ambitious $2 trillion in infrastructure spending but Canadian businesses, contractors and suppliers were left still wondering if they will be able to share in the largesse. ...

Dedicated rural transit money to hep fund ‘innovative’ services, McKenna says

OTTAWA — The Liberals are setting aside $250 million over five years in a dedicated fund for rural transit, with the minister in charge saying the cash could be used for innovative on-demand services, not just traditional systems. Federal infrastructur...

AG warns infrastructure plan could miss target over lack of data, slow spending

OTTAWA — The federal auditor general says the government can't show that the Liberals' $188-billion infrastructure plan is meeting its lofty goals, and warns the spending may fall short of expectations without changes in oversight.  The 12-year plan wa...

Federal Liberals earmark $7.2 billion for health care, vaccination, municipalities

OTTAWA — The federal Liberals have introduced legislation to provide $7.2 billion to cash-strapped provinces, territories and municipalities, with more than half going to immediate health-care needs. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says COVID-19 has...

Federal Liberals earmark $7.2 billion for health care, vaccination, municipalities

OTTAWA — The federal Liberals have introduced legislation to provide $7.2 billion to cash-strapped provinces, territories and municipalities, with more than half slated for immediate health-care needs. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says COVID-19 h...

New affordable housing projects announced for southern Vancouver Island

VICTORIA — More than 90 new, affordable homes are coming to southern Vancouver Island, after the B.C. and federal governments announced $13.1 million in funding for the initiative. The homes will be split between Saanich and Central Saanich, with const...

Infrastructure Bank chief clashes with MPs over private-sector investment

The head of the Canada Infrastructure Bank clashed with members of Parliament at a committee hearing on Tuesday about whether the federal financing agency was living up to its mandate of generating private-sector funding for its investments. In respons...

Infrastructure bank can bridge risk gap even in low-cost financing climate, CEO says

OTTAWA — The chief executive of a federal infrastructure agency says there is a short runway to prove its worth, and thinks it can stand out by taking on outsized risks to attract private dollars for billions in new construction

Feds unveil first-ever dedicated fund for active transportation

OTTAWA — Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna says for the first time Canada is to have a pool of money dedicated specifically to "active transportation." The National Active Transportation Fund, $400 million to be spent over five years, will near...