According to a recent Housing Trends and Affordability report from RBC Economics, housing affordability in Canada increased in the third quarter of 2014, despite an upward trend in house prices. Factors affecting affordability included declines in fixed mortgage rates, rising incomes and reduced utility costs, say economists.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a spending boost of $5.8 billion for infrastructure projects including museums, research centres, heritage sites and other federally owned buildings.

A new mixed-use condo and commercial development has been announced for Calgary, A.B. The Royal, a 223-unit project with 90,000 square feet of retail and office space, will be developed by Embassy BOSA and First Capital Realty Inc.

The National Bank recently earned the highest BOMA BESt certification at level 4, after scoring higher than 90 per cent on environmental performance and management

Canadian health care facilities are able to further reduce their environmental footprint with the release of a free, critical review tool called Greenhouse Gas and

Stuwix Resources Joint Venture, a woodlands management company located in the interior of British Columbia, has won a top business award from the Forest Products

The largest private Canadian health care donation ever made will help to fund the construction of the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research in Toronto, O.N. The $130-million donation, supplied by the Rogers family, will assist the development of the facility, which will specialize in individualized genomic medicine, tissue engineering and advanced cardiac care. An additional $139-million in funding will be supplied by SickKids, the University Health Network (UHN) and the University of Toronto (U of T).

The Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CAPREIT) has entered into a mutually beneficial agreement with Irish Residential Properties REIT plc (I-RES) in which both companies will have the opportunity to acquire properties from one another. For up to one year, CAPREIT will have access to €150 million to acquire high quality Irish properties and, once funding has been sourced, I-RES will be able to acquire CAPREIT properties.

The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) has officially opened its $35-million, 67,800 square foot Innovation Centre, offering space for Economics and Management faculty and staff, the Offices of the Registrar, a student commons and classrooms. The facility, which was completed in a mere 21 months, is a LEED silver targeted project built by PCL Constructors with the design help of Moriyama & Teshima Architects.

The Forensic Science and Coroner's Complex (FSCC) in Toronto, a 665,000 square foot, LEED certified facility, has been recognized with an award from the 2014 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Justice Facility Review. The Award of Merit was presented at the AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Justice National Conference on November 6.

Glenlawn Collegiate, a grade 10 to 12 English high school in Winnipeg, M.B., is undergoing renovations to create an approximately $300,000 state-of-the-art science lab. The modern laboratory, which will replace a geography classroom, is the result of Manitoba’s $25-million science lab renewal program, known as the Action Plan for Science Education in Manitoba. Funds were provided to the Louis Riel School Division, of which Glenlawn Collegiate is a part.

The North tower of a two-building luxury condominium development in Kingston, O.N. has sold out in less than a month. The University Suites Condominiums, located at Princess St. and University Ave. near Queen’s University, are attracting both homeowners and investors.

The Government of Ontario has invested $4.2 million to assist in the construction of a high-tech manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls, O.N. at Niagara College. The development, known as the Niagara College Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, will allow students, Ontario-based manufacturers and faculty access to state-of-the-art equipment and research facilities.

In the first 14 days of November, a total of 3,350 residential real estate sales were reported through the Toronto MLS system, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB). This represents an 8.3 per cent increase over the same period in 2013. Listings were also up, year-over-year, by 2.2 per cent.

A new condominium development, comprised of two 38-storey towers and 17 townhouses, is poised to become downtown Montreal’s largest privately developed residential real estate project. Known as the YUL development, the condo is a collaborative effort between Canadian company, Tianco Group, and the Montreal-based Brivia Group.

A new specialized care facility for individuals with dementia has opened in Bonavista, N.F. With an investment from the provincial government, the $2.6 million project offers 12 beds to local residents living with the brain disease. The development includes a residential-style kitchen, dining facilities, lounge, recreation areas and a garden.

Mississauga’s Square One shopping and entertainment centre has opened a newly renovated and expanded North side wing. The $60-million renovation marks the end of the second phase of a $480 million multi-phase redevelopment plan. Once fully complete, the redevelopment will increase the mall’s retail space by 2.1 million square feet.