The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) welcomed the federal government’s continued commitment to building Canada’s housing, infrastructure and industrial capacity, noting the budget takes a fiscally prudent approach while making important investments in housing supply, community infrastructure, Indigenous infrastructure and major projects that will create opportunities for Canada’s construction industry.
The budget puts major projects, the construction workforce and the electricity grid at the centre of the government’s economic plan.
CCA is particularly encouraged by the additional $13 billion for Build Canada Homes, the continued implementation of the Build Communities Strong Fund to help reduce development charges and barriers to new construction, and investments in First Nations on-reserve infrastructure.
Budget 2026 proposes to provide $1.5 billion over nine years through the Build Communities Strong Fund to support the construction, expansion, retrofit, and rehabilitation of community recreational facilities and ice rinks across Canada. This includes $750 million for the ice rinks and $750 million in additional funding for other community recreational facilities.
The advancement of major projects and measures to improve government efficiency and streamline processes are also positive steps toward strengthening Canada’s capacity to build.
“Canada needs to build, and this budget recognizes the important role construction plays in delivering on that ambition,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of CCA. “We appreciate the government’s action on housing supply, strengthening communities, and advancing projects of national importance. The next priority must be ensuring the conditions are in place to turn these commitments into completed projects.”
Canada’s ability to deliver on its housing, infrastructure, and major project ambitions will depend on having enough workers to build them. CCA welcomes Budget 2026’s proposed transition of up to 200,000 temporary residents already in Canada to permanent residency by the end of 2027, including 100,000 workers eligible for Express Entry or the Provincial Nominee Program, providing greater flexibility to respond to labour market pressures.
While CCA recognizes the government’s ongoing commitment to construction workforce development through initiatives such as Team Canada Strong, it notes there were minimal new measures to address the significant and persistent workforce shortage.
The British Columbia Construction Association also praised the budget but emphasized that ambitions must be backed by predictable project planning, fair procurement, and reasonable risk allocation rather than just funding announcements,
