Cross-border ties deepen on energy efficiency

Proposed updates to Canada’s energy efficiency regulation designate additional energy-using products and impose more rigorous standards on some products that are already mandated to comply. The majority of these contemplated changes align with energy performance requirements enshrined in the United States code of federal regulations (CFR) and involve a shift from currently prescribed CSA testing standards to those dictated in the U.S. CFR.

A draft amendment with an accompanying summary of the government’s intentions and rationale was posted online in the June 20 Canada Gazette and is open for public feedback until Aug. 29, 2026. The package of proposed changes is dubbed Amendment 19, reflecting that it is the 19th in an ongoing series of updates. This round focuses on various electrical and mechanical equipment and appliances, following a 2024 amendment that addressed water efficiency.

Manufacturers and distributors/retailers obligated to meet energy efficiency thresholds and/or comply with rules for importing and selling products into the Canadian market have the most direct stake in the proposals. Meanwhile, purchasers and end-users of regulated equipment and appliances will absorb both flow-through capital costs of compliance and the lifecycle operational costs of energy consumption.

Analysts with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) calculate the entirety of Amendment 19 could deliver 48 petajoules (PJ) or 13.2 terawatt-hours (TW-h) in annual energy savings and 2.7 megatonnes (MT) of annual reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) measured as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) by 2050. That would equate to $26.7 billion in cumulative net benefits over the same period, of which nearly $10 billion worth is projected to accrue in the commercial sector. The removal of outdated standards and other tweaks to better align with requirements in other jurisdictions are also touted as measures that will make the regulations more workable for businesses and trading partners, with spinoff benefits for consumers.

“Amendment 19 was established through an evidence-based analysis of market data and a cost-benefit analysis, while balancing various public interest considerations. Canada is following the lead of other jurisdictions when analyzing where to leverage minimum energy performance standards to support energy security, climate action, affordability for Canadian households, businesses and industrial sectors, and trade,” the regulatory analysis states.

Although many of the proposed requirements now reference the U.S. CFR, Canadian rule-makers are pegging them to a particular point in time. To date, Canada has generally followed the U.S. lead as it has ratcheted up the stringency of energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment — reflecting an effort to harmonize standards for manufacturers selling into both markets, which is encouraged in the Canada, United States, Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on trade. The updated amendment stays true to that objective, but would block any reverse trajectory.

“For standards of other jurisdictions incorporated by reference, Amendment 19 would clarify the protection against potential backsliding of the jurisdiction that could cause the regulations to no longer work as intended,” the regulatory analysis advises. “Energy efficiency standards incorporated by reference would continue to apply at their current level if another jurisdiction subsequently reduced its requirements.”

Many of the products captured in the proposed amendment would also have to comply with updated energy rating and labelling requirements that are harmonized with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Energy Labeling Rule and associated EnergyGuide labels. However, NRCan’s EnerGuide system would continue to be the consumer-facing brand in the Canadian market.

Impacts for commercial/institutional products and end-users

If the amendment is enacted as proposed, replacement gas-fired storage water heaters in commercial and institutional buildings would have to meet the same energy-efficiency standards as first-time installations. (Currently, the regulation sets the minimum thermal efficiency threshold at 80 per cent for replacement units versus 90 per cent for originals.) It’s one of several categories of commercial energy-using products tapped to meet more rigorous energy efficiency standards, harmonized with the U.S. CFR, as of Jan. 1, 2028.

Manufacturers, importers and distributers/retailers of commercial gas furnaces, commercial electric water heaters, commercial gas-fired instantaneous water heaters and battery chargers would face the same compliance date. There would be a more imminent June 1, 2027 introduction of updated standards for electric motors, while new requirements for commercial clothes washers would take effect slightly later on March 1, 2028.

All products proposed to be newly added to the regulation — air cleaners, computer room air conditioners, gas clothes dryers, pool heaters and pool pump motors — have commercial/institutional applications. New energy efficiency requirements would be harmonized with the U.S. CFR and go into effect in the Canadian market between Jan. 1 and May 30, 2028, depending on the product.

Four additional products, grouped within two product categories, are also slated to be newly included in Canada’s energy efficiency regulation even though they are not currently regulated in the U.S. Those are:

water-to-water ground-source heat pumps;
direct exchange ground-source heat pumps;
energy recovery ventilators; and
heat recovery ventilators.

In these cases, CSA or HRAI (Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada) testing standards are cited. The regulatory analysis acknowledges that this introduces additional discrepancies between the Canada and U.S. markets, and will require dealers importing such equipment into Canada to meet the prescribed standards. Yet, it suggests this won’t necessarily present a new regulatory burden for Canadian businesses since energy performance verification is already required under the ENERGY STAR labelling program.

Turning to the end-user perspective, NRCan projects benefits in energy/water savings and GHG emissions reductions across the entire package of proposed changes that should outweigh the incremental extra costs of purchasing, installing and maintaining the designated products by a ratio of greater than three-to-one. The costs-benefits breakdown varies for specific products with commercial/institutional applications. At the low end, the return on imposing energy efficiency standards for computer room air conditioners is pegged at slightly less than two-to-one, whereas paybacks on more efficient gas-fired instantaneous water heaters and electric motors are respectively estimated at 14-to-one and 11-to-one.

Notably, analysts actually foresee negative upfront costs for purchasers/end-users of air cleaners that comply with the proposed new energy efficiency standard. Canada-wide the annualized incremental extra cost for the technology is calculated at about $20 million based on 2024 dollar value, but that would come with an associated $57.7 million reduction in filter replacement costs even before benefits related to energy efficiency are considered.

The regulatory analysis also points to a potential cost qualifier arising from industry innovation. “It is important to consider that incremental costs to consumers may not materialize to the extent modelled, as manufactures often find novel ways to reduce costs when meeting energy efficiency standards,” it states.

Forêt condo community breaks ground in midtown Toronto

Canderel has officially started construction on Forêt Forest Hill— a three-tower, master-planned condo community that will rise in midtown Toronto on a long-vacant site at Bathurst and St. Clair.

The construction financing was recently secured from a consortium that includes CIBC, National Bank, TD, Desjardins, and Laurentian Bank, signalling renewed confidence in Toronto’s condo market.

Jonathan Wener, founder and chairman of Canderel, compares this financing milestone to Aura at College Park, a highly complex project that was brought into construction with a consortium of 10 banks following the 2008 recession.

“While today’s environment presents a different set of challenges, Forêt reflects a similar achievement: moving a major project forward with the confidence of leading Canadian financial institutions at a time when the industry is facing significant headwinds,” he reflected.

Forêt sits at a prominent intersection near Forest Hill, Cedarvale, Wychwood and Casa Loma, in an area where new supply is extremely limited. The plan will transform the property into three residential towers with retail at grade: 35, 37- and 41-storey buildings that total 1,310 suites, and a new public park.

The condo community will also feature approximately 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a two-storey fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam rooms, a juice bar, children’s recreation spaces, a pet spa, private dining areas, and various entertainment spaces including a wine lounge.

The top nine floors of the eastern tower will offer boutique suites with a private lobby and elevator, and dedicated amenity spaces. Typical suites will reach up to 2,000 square feet with options to combine suites to create much larger and unique living spaces.

“Today’s groundbreaking signals renewed energy in Toronto’s condominium market and reflects both a strong consistent sales program and recent uptick in buyer activity,” said Riz Dhanji, president of RAD, which leads sales for Forêt and other condo projects across the city. “Overall, in today’s market we are seeing buyers gravitate to well-designed and well-located projects with highly reputable developers.”

Feature photo: Canderel leaders with consortium of bank lenders at the groundbreaking ceremony of Forêt.

Canada unveils plans to restore 24 Sussex Drive

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to restore 24 Sussex Drive. A national design-build competition, launched last week, will allow a Canadian firm to rehabilitate and modernize the long-vacant Gothic Revival mansion that had officially housed Canada’s prime ministers for 75 years.

Abandoned since 2015 after decades of deferred maintenance left the property in critical condition, the residence will be renewed into a more accessible, sustainable, and functional home through a non-partisan fundraising campaign that will pay for the multi-million-dollar project while preserving its heritage character.

Built in 1868, 24 Sussex Drive was acquired by the federal government in 1949. Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent became its first prime ministerial resident in 1951. Since then, the property has not undergone a comprehensive rehabilitation, despite being designated a Classified Federal Heritage Building in 1986.

Going forward, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) will provide advice on the competition framework and convene an independent jury of distinguished Canadian experts in architecture, heritage conservation, and design. The winning proposal will be announced by Canada Day, July 1, 2027.

“24 Sussex Drive is more than a residence; it is an enduring symbol of Canadian democracy and an important part of our architectural and cultural heritage,” said Johanna Hurme, RAIC’s president-elect. “The opportunity to renew it comes only once in a generation. By inviting Canada’s leading multidisciplinary teams to compete through an independent and transparent process, this initiative will showcase the design excellence, creativity, innovation, and expertise that define Canadian architecture and engineering.”

Chaired by Moshe Safdie, CC, one of Canada’s most renowned architects, the jury will provide key input to assess the proposals and will recommend the winning design to Cabinet. The jury’s members are: Carol Bélanger, Nicolas Demers-Stoddart, Omar Gandhi, Mamie Griffith, Patricia Kell, and Brigitte Shim, OC.

To ease the burden on tax-payers, the Rideau Hall Foundation will lead a national crowd-funded campaign to give Canadians and philanthropic organizations an opportunity to cover all or most of the renewal costs.

Design competition for 24 Sussex Drive launches

The federal government is launching a national design-and-build competition to restore and modernize 24 Sussex Drive, the prime minister’s official residence in Ottawa.

The competition will be open to all Canadian firms, with the winning team tasked with designing and constructing the new official residence. The list of donors will be made public.

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) will provide advice on the competition framework and create an independent jury of distinguished Canadian experts in architecture, heritage conservation, and design.

“24 Sussex Drive is more than a residence; it is an enduring symbol of Canadian democracy and an important part of our architectural and cultural heritage. The opportunity to renew it comes only once in a generation. By inviting Canada’s leading multidisciplinary teams to compete through an independent and transparent process, this initiative will showcase the design excellence, creativity, innovation, and expertise that define Canadian architecture and engineering,” said RAIC president Johanna Hurme.

The winning proposal will be announced next year on July 1. The selected team will be responsible for both the design and construction of the project, ensuring that its proposal is ambitious yet achievable, and supported by a credible construction plan.

The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) will lead a national, non-partisan fundraising campaign, with the goal of raising all or most of the cost of the project. The campaign will give Canadians and philanthropic organisations an opportunity to contribute to the renewal of this important national landmark.

PCL awarded Green Line LRT storage facility

PCL Construction has been awarded a contract for the Green Line LRT – SE Project to advance construction of the Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF), a key component of Calgary’s future transit system.

The MSF is a large, multi-building complex that will support day-to-day operations of the Green Line, including the storage, maintenance and preparation of light rail vehicles.

PCL’s scope of work includes site grading, underground utilities, and construction of building foundations. This will establish the base for the facility’s maintenance shop, train storage building and associated operations and administrative spaces.

“This work marks a key step in advancing the complex maintenance and storage facility that will support future Green Line transit operations in Calgary,” said Keith Bowers, manager, civil operations, PCL Construction Management Inc. (Calgary). “We are proud to partner with the City of Calgary and the Green Line team to deliver this important phase of the project.”

Work also includes site stripping and rough grading across the building footprint and surrounding areas, construction of drainage infrastructure and retaining walls, installation of underground services and duct banks and protection of existing utilities. Foundation work will include subgrade preparation and cast-in-place concrete, as well as embedded mechanical and electrical components and anchor bolts to support future structural systems.

Construction began in late May and work is expected to be completed later this year.

Affordability tops renters’ concerns in new national survey

The new Spring Renter Preference Survey from Rentals.ca shows that affordability remains the defining challenge for Canadian renters, with 70 per cent of respondents identifying high rent prices as the biggest obstacle in their housing search. Using input from 1,194 renters across Canada, the annual survey found that affordability concerns outweigh all other rental market challenges by a wide margin. Unsuitable listings (11%) and low rental supply (6%) ranked far behind rising housing costs.

The data shows that Affordability pressures also cut across income levels. Renters with lower budgets overwhelmingly cited rent prices as their primary barrier, while higher budget renters were more likely to report difficulty finding suitable units or enough available inventory. Still, high rents remained the top concern across all groups. Four in ten respondents (40%) said they plan to move primarily to find a more affordable rental—making it the most common reason for relocating. By comparison, 30 per cent cited a need for more space, and 22 per cent said they are moving for work or school.

Renters are also bracing for continued cost pressures. Only 25 per cent said they expect rents to decline over the next six months, while nearly half anticipate prices will stay the same or rise further.

The survey highlights a widening gap between renters’ budgets and market realities. Forty two per cent reported a monthly rental budget below $1,500, while Canada’s average asking rent now exceeds $2,000 per month.

Key findings include:
• High rent prices — 70% say this is the biggest challenge in their housing search.
• Moving for affordability — 40% plan to relocate to find a more affordable unit.
• Budget constraints — 42% have a rental budget under $1,500 per month.
• Rent control preferences — 36% are only considering rent controlled units for their next move.
• Uncertainty about rent control — 41% are unsure whether rent control matters in their search.
• AI adoption — 29% have used AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini during their apartment search.
• Amenity preferences — 67% would pay more for in suite laundry, making it the most sought after amenity.

Meanwhile, AI is emerging as a new tool in the rental search process. Nearly one third of renters reported using AI to compare prices, interpret lease terms, research neighbourhoods, and communicate with landlords. Adoption was highest among renters aged 25 to 34 and among those entering the rental market for the first time.

For a comprehensive overview, visit: Spring 2026 Renter Preference Survey Canadian Renters Survey 2026: Affordability, AI and Rental Trends

GTA’s new low-rise sales surpass 10-year average

Ontario’s HST rebate program helped push low-rise new home sales in the Greater Toronto Area over the 10-year average for a second consecutive month in May, according to the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD).

Edward Jegg, research manager at Altus Group, explained why the program hasn’t quite registered with condo sales. “Much of the existing product is locked into legacy pricing with higher costs; and any new high-rise projects are unlikely to be able to meet the “substantially completed” requirement of the HST rebate program,” he said.

In May, there were a total of 1,023 new home sales, up significantly from the record low of 2025 but 57 per cent below the 10-year average. Historically, total new home sales for a typical May in the GTA would be 2,353 units based on the previous 10-year average.

Condominium apartments, including units in low, medium, and high-rise buildings and stacked townhouses, accounted for 193 units sold, 89 per cent below the 10-year average. In the single-family category, which includes townhomes, there were 830 sales, marking a significant year-over-year increase and 26 per cent above the 10-year average.

Total new home remaining inventory in the GTA dipped below the 20,000 mark for the third time in 24 months with 18,763 units, including 13,138 condo units and 5,625 single-family dwellings. This represents a combined inventory level of 32 months, based on average sales for the last 12 months. There is an expectation that as sales increase, the months of inventory statistics will decrease rapidly.

“While new single-family home sales surpassed the 10-year average for a second straight month, they did slightly decrease from the sales levels we saw in April 2026 – the first month that the HST rebate program was introduced,” said Justin Sherwood, COO at BILD. This decrease is largely due to potential new homebuyers still waiting on the sidelines for clarity on how the HST rebate will be administered.

“For the high-rise sector, condominiums continue to struggle with higher existing inventory, a price floor and very low new product launches (only one new condo project has launched in 2026). In addition, the HST rebate program eligibility requirements have defined start and completion dates for new housing projects that are too tight for most new high-rise condominium projects to meet, which is likely also impacting sales. Providing clarity on these details will ensure that the momentum experienced since April continues.”

The benchmark price for new condos in May was $1,029,489, remaining at an apparent price floor. The price for new single-family homes was $1,427,543, which was down 5.2 per cent over the last 12 months. These are gross prices, not reflective of any HST rebate, in order to facilitate a like-on-like comparison with previous years. Purchasers who qualify for an HST rebate would realize additional benefit from this rebate.

New Brunswick maintains 3% rent cap for 2027

The Government of New Brunswick announced it will maintain its residential rent cap at three per cent for the 2027 calendar year in response to ongoing affordability pressures. According to the government, the cap is intended to prevent sharp rent increases and reduce tenant displacement. It limits annual rent hikes to a maximum of three per cent and is subject to yearly review. The next review is scheduled for May 2027.

“Following years of massive rental hikes, the rent cap has been a welcome stabilizing force for tenants in the rental market across the province,” said David Hickey, the minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation. “We’re keeping the rent cap in place for the 2027 calendar year to maintain that stability and predictability that tenants need, and to give us more time to improve market conditions here in New Brunswick.”

The decision aligns with broader provincial efforts to expand housing supply and strengthen the rental market.

“This follows other supports we’ve introduced to help tenants, landlords and developers,” Hickey said, pointing to the removal of HST on multi‑unit development projects and the ongoing review of the Residential Tenancies Act, expected to be completed this fall.

For more information, visit: Rent increases – gnb.ca

Canada and B.C. sign historic $5B partnership

Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby unveiled a 10-year infrastructure partnership that will direct more than $5 billion toward local infrastructure across the province with a focus on housing, health care, and transit.

The Government of Canada will invest nearly $1.6 billion over 10 years through the Build Communities Strong Fund, matched by B.C. for a combined $3.2 billion, to reduce development charges for multi-unit housing by up to 50 per cent in priority communities. The initiative aims to save up to $40,000 per unit and expand housing-enabling infrastructure including water systems, wastewater systems, and local roads.

An additional $600 million from Ottawa over three years, matched by the province for a total of $1.2 billion, will modernize and expand health infrastructure such as hospitals, emergency rooms, and urgent care centres.

The federal government will provide a one-time transfer of $284 million to British Columbia to reduce barriers to new construction through recently introduced legislation.

The two governments will also launch the Canada-British Columbia Partnership on Condo Conversion, leveraging innovative financing tools to convert more than 2,200 vacant condo units in priority growth areas into affordable homes. The initiative will operate through Build Canada Homes and BC Housing.

Through the Canada Public Transit Fund, the federal government will invest $2.5 billion over 10 years to build new transit projects, including the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension currently underway, and increase service access and frequency in high-traffic areas. This funding supplements the $852 million previously announced to support TransLink and BC Transit.

Canada and B.C. are also partnering to build new infrastructure for the community of Tumbler Ridge, including a new secondary school and renovations to the local health centre. The federal government and the provincial government will each provide $100 million for construction, which is expected to begin as early as this summer – starting with the removal of the existing school.

Chris Gardner appointed CTF board chair

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) announced the appointment of Chris Gardner as chair of its board of directors.

Gardner has served as president and CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) since 2017. Before joining ICBA, he worked for one of Canada’s largest modular construction companies, served as Principal Secretary to British Columbia’s 35th Premier, and worked in Seoul, South Korea for Samsung Electronics and for the Dutch financial services company ING Group. He holds a law degree from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia.

“Governments have never spent more, taxed more, or wasted more – and taxpayers are buried under ever higher taxes and red tape,” said Gardner. “Every day, the CTF fights for common sense and accountability in government, making the case for lower taxes, less waste, and an end to the abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

CTF president Scott Henning added, “Chris’ leadership has built ICBA into one of the largest business associations in Canada, and we look forward to benefiting from his insights and advice. His practical experience both inside and outside of government will help us continue to execute our mission on behalf of hardworking taxpayers.”

Founded in 1990, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a non-partisan, not-for-profit citizens’ group advocating for lower taxes, less waste, and accountable government.

Mississauga expands tenant protections during redevelopment

Mississauga announced it has updated its Rental Housing Protection By-law, approving amendments designed to “better support tenants” as older apartment buildings undergo redevelopment. First enacted in 2019, the by-law applies to roughly 360 rental buildings with six or more units. More than 85 per cent of these buildings were constructed before 1990, a stock that typically offers more affordable rents but is increasingly vulnerable to redevelopment pressures. The City says regulating this activity helps balance tenant protection with the need to expand the overall rental supply.

“As Mississauga grows, we need to build more rental housing while making sure tenants are supported every step of the way,” said Andrew Whittemore, Commissioner, Planning and Building. “Our updated Rental Housing Protection By-law strikes that balance by supporting redevelopment, strengthening tenant protections and preserving affordability so residents aren’t left behind as our City moves forward.”

The approved amendments introduce stronger supports for eligible tenants living in affordable units affected by redevelopment. These include compensation to cover the difference between a tenant’s current rent and market rent during construction, if temporary relocation is required. Moving cost assistance of $1,000 to $1,500 per move will be provided, and developers must help tenants secure temporary housing by offering support services. Tenants will continue to have the right to return to replacement units at similar rents, with increases limited to provincial rent guidelines.

To reflect current market conditions, the City has also updated its affordability requirements. Replacement units must remain affordable at similar rents for at least 10 years and must stay as rental housing for at least 20 years. The threshold for protected units has been lowered from 175 per cent of average market rent to 125 per cent of vacant-unit average market rent, meaning more moderately priced units now fall under the by-law’s protections. The amendments also introduce income-based tenant matching, ensuring that if original tenants do not return, the affordable replacement units are offered to households whose incomes align with the affordability criteria. Replacement units must also be comparable in size to the original homes.

These changes are part of a broader effort to support renters in Mississauga. Council recently approved a new Rental Repairs and Renovations Licensing By-law, taking effect September 1, 2026, to protect tenants from unlawful renovation-related evictions. Landlords undertaking major repairs will be required to obtain a license, clearly inform tenants of their rights and provide financial supports where needed.

Unified data transforming P3 facility management

In many P3 environments, facilities already contain huge amounts of operational data. The problem is that it’s trapped in digital pockets around the building. Connected buildings and digital twin environments are helping to bridge the gap between static building information and live operational data.

The cost of siloed systems

For FM teams managing complex P3 infrastructure, even routine tasks can become unnecessarily time-consuming when critical information is spread across multiple systems, spreadsheets and departments. A study from the International Data Corporation found that “data professionals are losing 50 per cent of their time every week” – 30 per cent of the time searching for, governing and preparing data, and 20 per cent duplicating work.

While FMs may not describe themselves as data professionals, access to accurate operational data increasingly defines service performance. As teams spend more time pursuing information, the limitations of siloed data become harder to ignore. Maintenance records sit in a CMMS, performance data lives in a BAS, contractors store compliance documents in SharePoint, and building floor plans remain tucked away in a drawer – meaning fast, informed decision-making becomes almost impossible.

Often, it’s easier to duplicate the data—manually take the reading, repeat the measurement or carry out the inspection again—rather than waste time and mental energy in jumping through hoops to get it from the source. This is why more FMs are embarking upon a digitalization journey, aiming to make an integrated, accurate single source of truth for all their building data. A rip-and-replace approach to upgrade existing systems to communicate with each other can be prohibitively expensive (and often unrealistic mid-contract) so many FMs are instead looking for best-of-breed integrations.

From reactive maintenance to predictive insight

Time sensitive environments like P3s or healthcare FM contracts mean there is no slack when it comes to resourcing. According to the US Department of Energy, reported by IFMA, reactive maintenance costs around 20 per cent more than preventative maintenance, and the National Institute of Standards Technology found that those relying on reactive maintenance experienced 3.3 times more downtime and 16 times more defects. But planned preventative maintenance (PPM) also comes with its own problems.

Regular PPM schedules are more reliable than waiting for a fault to develop but they can use spares unnecessarily and waste engineering time where maintenance is not required. Over-maintaining can also shorten asset life, such as over-lubricating a bearing in a pump.

This is where connected sensors and real-time operational data are starting to change the picture. By monitoring factors such as vibration, temperature, energy consumption and runtime hours, facility teams can gain a far clearer understanding of how assets are performing, rather than relying solely on fixed maintenance intervals. Combined with AI-driven analytics, this data can help identify patterns and early warning signs that would be almost impossible to spot manually across large estates or multiple buildings.

Reducing risk In performance-based P3 contracts

Service providers are often penalized with deductions because they cannot adequately monitor or measure what they are doing. In the past, facility managers used off-the-shelf software to manage all the operational contract elements. Now, a combination of building information modeling (BIM), the emergence of digital twins, and sophisticated CMMS, which offer in-built payment mechanism capabilities, provide extra layers of data integrity and auditability.

Integrated with BIM, organizations can streamline the transition from construction to building operation, with a wealth of asset and building lifecycle data as well as an intelligent 3D model. This allows contractors to remotely visit the site before arrival to assess what resources they may need, any permits required, and verify part serial numbers to check inventory. For large sites such as hospitals or universities, the model can even be used for wayfinding so tight SLAs are not failed due to contractors getting lost.

From building data to operational Intelligence

Unlike static BIM models, digital twins ingest live operational data from connected systems and sensors to create a real-time representation of building performance. This allows operators to move beyond simply viewing building information towards actively monitoring and analyzing how facilities are functioning day-to-day.

While AI is still sometimes viewed as experimental within FM, adoption is quickly accelerating. By combining lifecycle, maintenance and live operational data into a unified platform, AI tools can dramatically reduce the time spent searching for information or compiling reports manually. Instead of navigating multiple systems, FM teams can query the data conversationally to identify trends, investigate recurring faults or generate operational insights in seconds. Questions could be strategic – such as “which assets are developing faults most often and who is servicing them?” – or more operational, such as “the lift door won’t close properly, show me the steps to resolve this.”

Across large estates, AI can also detect recurring failures in the same asset type, potentially identifying defective components or systemic operational issues much earlier. It may even identify that mean time between failures consistently drops after a particular contractor services an asset category, helping operators uncover supplier quality issues that would otherwise remain hidden.

The sustainability challenge no single system can solve

Sustainability is now a top priority for Canadian P3 operators, but fragmented data is making it difficult to manage. Increasingly, facility teams must demonstrate measurable improvements in energy use, carbon emissions and asset performance while maintaining ageing estates and delivering against long-term contracts that predate today’s sustainability targets.

This is where digital twin environments and integrated lifecycle platforms are starting to provide significant value. Rather than replacing every existing system, more organizations are creating integrated data environments that bring operational, asset and energy information together into a single view. By connecting live IoT sensor data with BIM and maintenance systems, facility teams can better understand how buildings are performing in real time.

For Canadian healthcare estates, campuses and civic infrastructure operating across multiple buildings and regions, this visibility is particularly important. Digital twin technology can help operators identify underperforming HVAC assets, ensure occupancy comfort, compare energy performance across similar facilities and model how operational changes may affect carbon reduction targets before implementation. AI-driven analytics can also help uncover patterns that would otherwise remain hidden, such as ventilation systems operating inefficiently during low occupancy periods.

Connected data. Better decisions

The organizations seeing the greatest success are not necessarily those replacing every legacy system, but those finding ways to connect the data already available to them.

Bringing together BIM, IoT sensors, CMMS platforms and digital twin environments into a unified operational view, can help facility teams move beyond reactive decision-making towards more predictive, informed and proactive management. Whether improving maintenance strategies, reducing payment disputes or supporting sustainability goals, connected data is becoming the foundation of smarter P3 facility management.

Kelly Widger is general manager (North America) at Service Works Global, international provider of CMMS, building lifecycle management and P3 payment mechanism software. Kelly is responsible for managing key customer accounts and overseeing P3 project delivery throughout Canada and North America. She has a background in FM with extensive experience working at leading FM service providers.

Historic $1.5B deal cuts Toronto’s development charges

The City of Toronto will receive $1.5 billion through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) in recognition of its commitment to lowering development charges by 40 to 60 per cent, depending on unit type, for a period of more than three years. The funding is intended to accelerate homebuilding, support community infrastructure, and advance the province’s plan to protect Ontario by investing in projects that drive economic growth and keep workers employed.

“Our government is doing everything we can to lower costs for families, keep workers on the job and get shovels in the ground faster on new homes,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Combined with our historic 13 per cent cut to the HST on new homes, today’s agreement will lower the cost of building new homes by more than $200,000 in Toronto, getting more shovels in the ground and creating thousands of good-paying construction jobs in the process.”

Toronto estimates that reducing development charges and investing in housing‑enabling infrastructure will unlock more than 44,000 new housing units and deliver roughly $1.95 billion in relief for homebuilders. The city expects development charge reductions to generate approximately $83,000 in savings on the construction of a new single or semi‑detached home. These reductions will take effect following Toronto City Council approval and must remain in place for at least three years.

“People should be able to afford a home in our city. Today’s announcement will make that easier while creating tens of thousands of good jobs in Toronto,” said Mayor Chow. “Through our strong partnership with the provincial and federal government, we’re reducing the cost of building new homes and ensuring the city can keep investing in the infrastructure we need to support communities.”

Development charge rates would be reduced as follows:

60 per cent reduction — single and semi‑detached homes; apartments and multi‑unit homes with two or more bedrooms; and dwelling rooms.
40 per cent reduction — studio and one‑bedroom apartments and multi‑unit homes, including condos and rental units.

Subject to further due diligence, the DCRP will provide Toronto with up to $1.5 billion to support infrastructure projects that unlock housing across the city, including:

New buses to meet current and future ridership demand
Modernized Line 2 signalling to enable more frequent service
Expanded watermains serving the Lower Don Lands and south Leslieville
Traffic improvements on St. Clair West between Keele Street and Old Weston Road
Support for the Liberty Village New Street project
Reconstruction of the Scarlett Road railway overpass
Widening Steeles Avenue East from Tapscott Road to Ninth Line
Revitalizing John Street to create a pedestrian‑oriented corridor between Front Street and Stephanie Street
Extending Broadview Avenue south at Eastern Avenue
A new road connection extending Tradewind Avenue north to Sheppard Avenue East via Bonnington Place

In March 2026, Ontario and Canada agreed to a cost‑matched structure providing $8.8 billion over 10 years for infrastructure investments, with the federal share delivered through the Build Communities Strong Fund. The fund, launched this year, aims to accelerate infrastructure projects and reduce costs nationwide. Both governments also agreed to remove the full HST on new homes from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, saving homebuyers up to $130,000 in addition to DCRP‑related savings.

As part of the Canada‑Ontario Partnership to Build, the DCRP will deliver funding over 10 years for housing‑enabling infrastructure. Priority will go to municipalities that reduce development charges for all residential types by 30 to 50 per cent or more and maintain those reductions for at least three years.

“The Building Industry and Land Development Association and its members applaud the announcement by the City of Toronto, the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada on the reduction of development charges in the City of Toronto by 40 to 60 percent for the next three years,” said Dave Wilkes, President and CEO, Building Industry and Land Development Association. “The leadership shown by this first, historic announcement under the Development Charge Reduction Program, enabled by the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build will significantly increase housing project viability in the city, increasing residential construction activity, supply, economic activity and will protect jobs.”

“This is a major step forward for Toronto. Significantly lower development charges will help unlock investment in new purpose-built rental housing, make more projects viable and send a powerful message that Ontario’s capital is ready to build,” added Tony Irwin, President and CEO, Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario. “The federal, provincial and municipal governments are demonstrating real leadership by addressing one of the most significant costs facing new housing. More viable rental projects mean more supply and, over time, greater affordability for Toronto renters.”

For more information, visit Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Toronto | Ontario Newsroom

Exterior painting tips for maintenance managers

Exterior maintenance often includes painting to help increase curb appeal, reinforce your brand, and stay on top of on-going building maintenance. This time of year often offers the right combination of dry conditions, lower humidity, and moderate temperatures, making it a great time to take care of your building’s exterior painting needs.

However, maintenance managers should consider certain factors to ensure that the job gets done properly and reduces future maintenance.

Start with a fresh canvas, free of any damage caused throughout the winter. That means chipping away, stripping, or power washing any old, peeling paint to provide a clean surface for your new paint. Winter
This is a good time of year to paint outside because when it gets too hot, paint can blister or crack, and when the weather is too cool, the paint may not cure and adhere to the surface. Choose a day where there is no rain in the forecast for the next 24 hours, and avoid painting directly in the sun, following it throughout the day for best results.
Wear the appropriate PPE, including boots for ladder safety, goggles, and a mask to help protect against inhaling fumes. Check on regulations for your area to ensure that your teams are safe and compliant.
Use premium paint designed for your climate, with better UV resistance, the flexibility to handle thermal movement, and better moisture resistance than economy-grade products. You want the paint to stay in great shape for as long as possible, so choosing the appropriate materials is critical.
You might think that applying one thick coat will save you time, but applying two thinner coats and following manufacturer guidelines will allow the appropriate dry times for the best application and longevity.
If you are covering up graffiti, ensure that you research the proper removal practices for the appropriate surface. Concrete, brick, wood, and glass all have specific products and methods that are required to clean the surface without causing damage to the surface.
As the seasons change, schedule annual exterior building assessments to identify blisters, peeling, scratches, or worn coatings that will need addressing and can allow moisture to enter into the building. This will allow you to be able to better plan and budget for upcoming exterior maintenance ad keep your building looking its best.
Similarly, practice regular maintenance to keep your paint job in good condition and avoid a build up of dirt, environmental dust, pollen, and mildew, and to keep maintenance minimal throughout the year.
If you have building tenants, schedule your work strategically. Scheduling outdoor maintenance like painting before peak summer season or when you are expecting increased traffic to limit the daily disruption and inconvenience for your tenants.
Keep leftover paint to address touch-ups or have the colour to refer to when you need it next. Store remaining paint in a dry place out of direct sunlight, with the lid on to keep it fresh and usable.

Take advantage of the nicer weather and lower humidity to add exterior painting to your spring and summer maintenance plans to improve your curb appeal and keep your building looking its best this season.

Pest control giant receives regulatory swat

Illegal non-compete agreements have been nullified for more than 18,000 pest control technicians, customer service representatives and other employees and former employees of Rollins Inc.. A United State Federal Trade Commission (FTC) order to the publicly traded pest control company received final approval earlier this week, directing it to cease tactics to constrain employee movement and undermine competition in the U.S. market.

Rollins is parent to 21 different brands offering pest control and wildlife management services for the commercial and residential sectors. That includes three entities based outside the United States — Orkin Canada, Orkin Australia and Orkin United Kingdom — where the FTC order does not apply.

Within the U.S., Rollins has been directed to give formal notice to all affected employees and former employees that they are free to seek employment with a competing company or start their own pest control businesses. The ruling was issued after an FTC investigation found that new hires to Rollins and employees of acquired companies were pressed to sign non-compete agreements as a condition of employment.

“That sort of indiscriminate ‘general policy’ approach of requiring every single worker to sign a non-compete agreement irrespective of the worker’s position or responsibilities cries out for scrutiny under the antitrust laws,” FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Mark Meador asserted in a joint statement when they first issued the order to Rollins earlier this spring.

Signatories to the agreements were prohibited from working for any pest control company located within a 75-mile radius of a Rollins business for a two-year period after leaving Rollins’ employ. The FTC also collected evidence that Rollins had issued hundreds of threatening cease-and-desist letters to former employees and, in some cases, filed lawsuits contending they had breached the non-compete agreements.

“The targets of this enforcement campaign often lacked the resources to litigate and acceded to the threat at great personal and professional expense,” Ferguson and Meador noted. “The agreements imposed additional anti-competitive effects, including impeding the expansion of existing competitors and delaying entry of new small-business competitors who could challenge Rollins.”

Under the FTC order, Rollins can legitimately continue to impose non-compete agreements on directors, officers and senior company executives who hold policy-making authority and have employment benefits that entitle them to share in company profits or equity.

24 projects target climate-ready health care

The federal government is investing more than $17 million through its Climate Change and Health Capacity Building program to support 24 community projects that help Canada’s health care sector adapt to climate change.

The program includes two streams: climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems (HealthADAPT) and protecting Canadians from extreme heat (HeatADAPT).

“Climate change is already affecting people’s health, from extreme heat to poor air quality,” said Minister of Health Marjorie Michel. “We’re working with partners across the country to strengthen our health system so it can better respond and protect Canadians when these impacts happen.”

More than $13 million has been allocated through HeatADAPT. The University of British Columbia and B.C.’s Provincial Health Services Authority together received nearly $1.1 million in funding.

UBC’s research is examining the complex health risks that individuals with schizophrenia face during extreme heat events and chronic heat exposure. This will help to develop critical insights into the roles housing security, indoor environmental quality and social inequities play in vulnerability to heat and other climate change events. B.C.’s Provincial Health Services Authority’s work will strengthen partnerships, research and data expertise to better understand and respond to extreme heat impacts, including heat-related illness and mortality.

Other examples include the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, which is developing toolkits and policy guides to reduce the impacts of extreme indoor heat in hospitals, long-term care facilities and residential care homes, while Newfoundland and Labrador is creating a Heat Alert and Response System to better prepare for such events.

As part of HealthADAPT, nearly $4 million has been allocated to organizations across Canada for six projects. The University of Alberta is developing evidence-based guidance, training, and education programs to build a climate-ready health workforce. The City of Ottawa will accelerate early targeted actions identified in its vulnerability assessment, such as equity-focused communication and cooling options. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia Health Authority will conduct a climate change and health vulnerability assessment to better understand the health impacts to its central zone population and improve climate resilience and health outcomes.

Energy efficiency proponents to meet in Montreal

Canada is the host nation for the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2026 global summit on energy efficiency, which will draw more than 600 government and industry leaders to Montreal, June 29-30, for two days of policy discussions and strategy development. Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will serve as co-chairs with IEA executive director, Fatih Birol, for the invitation-only event focused on public-private collaboration to foster enabling technologies, economic viability and social buy-in for energy efficiency.

Middle East conflict and resulting constraints on global energy supply and upward pressure on prices bring an extra measure of urgency to the IEA’s agenda to steer the transition away from fossil fuels toward low-emission alternatives. Energy efficiency is tapped to be a key element of that journey. Notably, IEA recommendations underpin the target for a 4 per cent annual improvement in global energy efficiency every year to 2030 and a pledge to regard energy efficiency as the “first fuel” in energy policy, planning and investment decisions, which 133 nations, including Canada, endorsed at the 2023 United Nations climate change conference (COP28).

“Energy efficiency can simultaneously shield consumers from the worst effects of short-term price shocks while making whole economies and industries more resilient in the longer term,” the program for the upcoming IEA conference maintains. “Integrating demand-side measures, achieving energy savings and promoting resilience will be at the forefront of discussions in Montreal, allowing governments and industry alike to learn from the previous crisis and to address the current one.”

Business leaders from the financial services, energy management, utilities, commercial real estate and smart technology sectors will participate and contribute to panel discussions on topics such as retrofit financing, artificial intelligence, demand management technologies, electricity grid modernization, connected, interactive buildings and data centres. Government officials from across IEA’s 32 members and 19 affiliated nations will consider enabling policies and support mechanisms.