Digging In

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Go beyond the biggest headlines in Canadian construction with the Digging In Podcast by SiteNews. Anchored by veteran industry journalist Russell Hixson, go behind the headlines and learn about the economic, political, technological and cultural machinery that makes job sites go and the visionaries pushing things forward.

  1. 2025-12-11

    Microsoft's $7.5 Billion Data Center Play in Canada

    This episode highlights: • Eglinton Cross Town LRT Reaches Substantial Completion: After more than a decade of work beginning in 2011, and following years of detours and delays, Ontario's Eglinton Cross Town LRT has finally reached substantial completion. Control of the line is now transferring from Metrolinx to the TTC, which will handle operations, staff training, and setting an opening date, currently estimated for early 2026. The project, which was originally promised to open in 2020, ran approximately $8 billion over budget and is considered by some to be a cautionary example of how P3 projects can go wrong. • Microsoft's $7.5 Billion Digital Sovereignty Investment: Microsoft has announced a significant digital sovereignty play in Canada, pledging $7.5 billion over the next two years to expand its Azure data centers in Toronto and Quebec City. This investment is part of a broader $19 billion commitment spanning from 2023 to 2027. Microsoft has also promised to keep Canadian government cloud services running even if foreign governments exert pressure to shut things off, addressing a major vulnerability identified by the Canadian government. • Cross-Border Betrayal Over Potash Export Terminal: Federal officials, including Transport Minister Steven McKinnon, are urgently meeting with the Saskatchewan-based fertilizer company Nutrien to persuade them to build a proposed $1 billion potash export terminal in Canada. Nutrien has instead chosen the US port of Longview in Washington state, just across the border from BC. BC Premier David Eby expressed serious frustration, stating that losing the deal "pissed me off" because he believes it was "entirely avoidable". This high-profile effort by Canadian officials may be a form of public pressure intended to keep the investment within Canada. • Ottawa Looks to Modify Tax Code to Lure Real Estate Investment: The federal government is reportedly examining tax tweaks to attract more foreign capital into Canadian real estate projects, focusing particularly on new rental construction due to the essentially frozen current development pipeline. Potential changes include adjustments to withholding tax rules for non-US investors and offering targeted tax incentives for purpose-built rentals. This comes after large international lenders walked away from deals because the existing withholding tax rules made the projects uneconomic. Developers have pushed back against policies like foreign buyer bans, arguing that foreign investment is crucial for financing condo and multi-family projects. • Bonus Story: Historical Fragments Uncovered in Halifax: Dredging work near Pier 6 in Halifax, conducted as part of the expansion of Irving Ship Building's yard, uncovered more than 100 fragments of the Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc was the munitions-laden ship whose explosion in 1917 killed nearly 2,000 people, injured about 9,000 more, and leveled most of the north end of Halifax. At the time, this blast was the largest humanmade explosion in the pre-atomic age. The recovered car-sized chunk of history is set to go on display at the Naval Museum of Halifax.

    10 min

  2. 2025-12-02

    Canada's $26.8 billion nuclear push

    Major nuclear news  Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has received government approval for a $26.8 billion refurbishment of four candu reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. This project intends to extend the facility's operations by up to 38 years, creating approximately 30,500 jobs during construction. Once completed in the mid-2030s, the refurbished station will provide up to 2200 megawatt of clean power, enough to power about 2.2 million homes. It also secures the long-term, global production of the medical isotope Cobalt 60. Steel policy Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled a broad package of sharp measures to shield Canada's steel and lumber sectors from steep US tariffs. The plan centers on a "Buy Canadian" policy requiring Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber on federal defense and construction contracts over $25 million. Measures also include tighter import quotas, hefty surtaxes on foreign steel, and rail subsidies to cut freight costs for shipping Canadian materials across provinces. Clean BC checkup Clean BC's plan has gone under the microscope. An independent review warned that the province's current climate policies will achieve only about half of its 2030 emissions reduction targets and risk slowing down housing and industrial growth. The report calls for major proactive expansion of BC Hydro's electricity system and recommends changes to building rules, such as federating step code timelines and pushing most new homes toward heat pumps. BC Hydro estimates electricity demand will rise by about 15% by 2030 compared with 2021. New node The Ontario government has secured a $3.2 billion investment from Vianode, a Norway-based synthetic graphite manufacturer, to build a new production facility in St. Thomas, marking the company's entry into the North American market. Bonus Story The Mechanical Contractors Association has released a new children's book. "Suzy and the Marvelous World of Me" (M.E. standing for mechanical and electrical), is designed to spark interest in mechanical and electrical careers in young women and challenge gender stereotypes in construction.

    10 min

  3. 2025-11-25

    Can BC's new Dash platform really solve zoning and review delays?

    This episode highlights: • BC has launched "Dash," a first-in-Canada digital platform designed to streamline design, zoning, review, and prefabricated construction. This tool allows developers to input land parcel details and building specifications to generate compliant 3D building plans within minutes. Dash is optimized for local zoning regulations and available BC manufactured materials. Developed collaboratively by BC Housing, Metro Vancouver, over a dozen BC-based architects and engineers, and 13 prefab home manufacturers. The platform is open source and free of user access fees. It forms part of BC's strategy to scale construction innovation and has potential for national adoption, though it is currently tailored to the BC regulatory environment. •The Ontario government has secured a $3.2 billion investment from Vianode, a Norway-based synthetic graphite manufacturer, to build a new production facility in St. Thomas, marking the company's entry into the North American market. •The Post, a landmark major heritage redevelopment in downtown Vancouver (originally a Canada Post office built in 1958), has been sold for approximately $1.1 billion to Pontag Gadilla. This transaction is considered one of the largest office transactions in the region's history. The building was transformed into a 1.1 million square foot office facility anchored by Amazon. While the price and buyer have not been officially confirmed by Quadreel, insiders note the sale. Quad Real plans to remain on as the property manager. The sale is speculated to be a strategy by the large developer to shuffle assets, create cash flow, pay off debt, or fund new rental projects amidst the real estate sector taking a hit. • Toronto Tower Sets New Record: Sky Tower at Pinnacle One Yonge in Toronto has reached its 100th floor, marking a major milestone as the first building in the nation to do so. The tower is heading toward a final height of 106 stories, which will make it the country's tallest building. Designed by Heri Pont Ptorini architects, the super-tall tower anchors a major mixed-use development on Toronto's eastern waterfront. It features about a thousand residential units, a major hotel, retail, extensive amenities, and future transit integration. Construction began in 2020, accelerated recently, with completion and resident move-in expected in about 2026. • Bonus Story:  A high-stakes rescue in Calgary. The fire department successfully rescued a crane operator who experienced a medical emergency and could not descend from about 50 meters (approximately 16 stories) up at a downtown construction site. The 45-minute operation involved a technical rescue safety team using a rope system anchored at the top of the crane to lower the alert and conscious operator to the ground for treatment. This incident highlights the fire department's specialized skills in high-angle rescues using rope and vertical rescue techniques.

    9 min

  4. 2025-11-17

    Canada's first multi-storey, 3D-printed student residence

    There are only days left to nominate someone exceptional for a Site Service Award. Do so today at www.siteserviceawards.com   This episode highlights: • Canada's Expanded Nation Building Pipeline: Ottawa has added a second wave of projects worth over $56 billion to its major projects office, bringing the total investment pipeline referred to more than $116 billion. This is part of a broader push toward Canadian economic diversification and self-sufficiency. The priorities focus heavily on the Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor, requiring major new infrastructure—including transmission lines, highways, telecom ports, and rail—to unlock critical mineral deposits in Northwest BC and the Yukon. Key energy projects include the North Coast transmission line and Sylmus LNG, an electrified Nisga Nation-led facility that could draw nearly $30 billion in investment and potentially help double national LNG output. Northern clean energy is also prioritized, including a major hydro project in Nunavut that would be the region's first fully Inuit-owned hydro development, replacing massive diesel use and delivering emissions-free power. • The Condo Takeover on the West Coast: Apartments are projected to account for 55% of all Metro Vancouver homes by 2050, rising significantly from 46% in 2024. Simultaneously, single-detached homes are forecasted to fall to just 14%. Officials anticipate the region will need roughly 20,500 net new homes per year to reach about 1.7 million dwelling units by 2050. Approximately two-thirds of all new housing is expected to be apartments, reflecting policies that prioritize compact, transit-served development, such as the growth along the Broadway corridor. While townhouses are expected to hold a steady share, the decline of single-detached construction is attributed to land constraints and shifting municipal planning priorities. However, there is controversy, as many view these smaller, expensive condo units as being built more for investors than for people raising families. • Quebec's REM Deux-Montagnes Branch Opens: Part of one of Canada's largest transit projects under construction, the REM's Deux-Montagnes branch, has finally opened to riders, marking the second major segment to be completed. The complex build, which took seven years and involved tunnel rehabilitation under Mount Royal, now connects directly into three existing metro lines (via McGill, Édouard-Montpetit, and Central Station Bonaventure). While it started as roughly a $6.9 billion project, costs are now expected to be around $9.4 billion due to delays, tunnel surprises, and pandemic impacts. The project is built and operated by CDPQ Infra, Quebec's pension fund's infrastructure arm, which has publicly stated it is absorbing the cost overruns, making it an interesting case study for risk transfer in Canadian mega project delivery. • 3D Printing Creates a Living Laboratory in Ontario: The University of Windsor has begun constructing Canada's first multi-story 3D printed net-zero student residence. The printing is happening on site using a large-format concrete 3D printer. The building, which will contain seven residential units, is designed to serve as a living laboratory for researchers and engineering students to study 3D printed construction in real time, focusing on long-term structural performance, energy use, and durability. This project aims to demonstrate how 3D printing can potentially make construction faster, more affordable, and more sustainable by dramatically reducing the need for formwork and traditional framing, which can cut down on required skilled labor. The federal government has expressed interest in supporting new construction technologies, making this a pivotal example of additive construction moving from concept to reality

    10 min

  5. 2025-11-10

    Land rights on shaky ground in BC right now

    Nominate someone incredible in the construction industry today at: ⁠⁠siteserviceawards.com This episode highlights: • Land Rights on Shaky Ground in BC: A landmark ruling in BC concluded that the Kawichin have Aboriginal title to about 800 acres in Richmond, establishing this as a prior and senior right over fee simple title for private landownerWhile the BC Premier David Eby has appealed the decision and stated landowners should be concerned about the ruling potentially having national implications, legal representatives for the Kawichin Nation and the judge herself disagree, saying private property owners are unaffected. However, specialized attorneys argue that Aboriginal title and fee simple title are both absolute and cannot coexist or overlap.  • Wood Fiber LNG Doubles Down on Flotels: The Wood Fiber LNG project in Squamish, BC, has secured approval to deploy a second floating accommodation vessel, the MV Saga X. This flotel will provide approximately 642 more rooms for skilled trades workers and create up to 900 additional jobs, serving to accelerate project construction and relieve pressure on local housing and services in the community, a concern raised during 2019 consultation. • Manitoba's Rental Housing Incentive Program: Manitoba launched a $176.5 million rental housing construction incentive program designed to encourage private and nonprofit developers to build new rental housing. The program offers refundable tax credits of $8,500 per unit, with an additional $5,000 available for affordable units. Projects must include at least four units and remain rental housing for a minimum of 10 years to qualify.  • Ottawa's $2 Billion Critical Minerals Strategy: The federal government introduced a $2 billion critical minerals fund aimed at reducing reliance on China and supporting Western supply chains by stockpiling domestically produced graphite and scandium. This strategy benefits projects like Neuvo Mond graphite, which secured a federal offtake agreement including a price floor to enable the construction of its $550 million mine. The fund is also investing $25 million and agreeing to stockpile scandium from Rio Tinto's Scandium plant in Quebec—the only facility of its kind in North America. • Edmonton Manhunt for Construction Arsonist: Law enforcement in Edmonton is actively searching for a serial construction arsonist believed to be responsible for eight property fires targeting infill construction projects since September. As a result, developers are considering additional protective measures, such as cameras and patrols, and may face higher insurance and safety costs.

    11 min

  6. 2025-10-20

    September housing starts are rising in Canada

    Support the Construction Challenge and help fund the fight against blood cancers. Donate to team FIRST ONSITE ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or Team Beckett ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Nominate someone incredible today at: ⁠⁠siteserviceawards.com⁠⁠   This episode highlights: • Lumber Production Cuts and Tariffs: Interfor, one of the world's largest lumber producers, plans to cut timber production in Q4 by approximately 250 million board feet, representing a reduction of around 26%. This decision is driven by a weak lumber market, bad conditions, and ongoing economic uncertainty, which has kept prices "unsustainably low". The Canadian softwood lumber industry faces a significant accumulated tax of 45% when entering the United States, following a recent additional 10% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump. This environment has led to the indefinite shutdown of the Ear Falls sawmill in Ontario. • Contrasting Housing Market Data: Canada's housing starts trend rose 4.1% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 277,147 units, a gain bolstered by increases in the prairies, Quebec, and Ontario. However, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Hamilton market experienced a significant slump in condo sales, hitting a 35-year low in the third quarter. Condo sales in that region were down 54% from the previous year, with only 319 units sold. Furthermore, there has been a record number of project cancellations year to date, totalling 18 projects, or 4,040 units. • Canada's Largest Mass Timber Prefabrication Project: Intelligent City and Sustainable Development Group have partnered to construct Canada's largest mass timber prefabricated housing project by unit count in Barrie, Ontario. The complex, which involves four mass timber towers sitting atop a two-story concrete base, totals 1,000 units. Intelligent City is starting to implement AI and robot-driven prefabrication to reduce construction time, lower carbon emissions, and require less skilled labor. This scale-up of industrialized timber construction aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to double the rate of new home building and his pledge of $25 billion in federal financing for builders of innovative and prefabricated homes. • Global Prompt Payment Legislation: Following recent prompt payment legislation tabled in BC, the episode features a bonus story about Hong Kong, one of the world's most densely populated regions, implementing its own prompt payment scheme after nine years of consultation. The Hong Kong scheme requires contractors to respond to payment claims within 30 days and mandates that an adjudicator decide on a dispute within 55 working days. The ordinance prohibits "pay when paid" clauses, ensuring subcontractors are paid even if their upstream payer has not received funds. The scheme provides a statutory adjudication process to avoid costly court procedures.

    11 min

  7. 2025-10-13

    Prompt Payment Arrives in BC, Finally

    Nominate someone incredible today at: ⁠siteserviceawards.com⁠   This episode highlights: • Prompt Payment Legislation is advancing in BC with the introduction of Bill 20, the Construction Prompt Payment Act. If passed, the legislation will set clear payment timelines, requiring owners to pay general contractors within 28 days and contractors to pay subcontractors within 7 days, while also including an adjudication system for disputes.• Industry groups, including the BC Construction Association, the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, and the Electrical Contractors Association of BC, are celebrating the proposed law but are urging officials to avoid following Alberta's prior path of excluding some public sector projects. • Montreal-based Deep Sky has announced plans for a large-scale carbon removals facility in southwestern Manitoba. The initial phase of the project is valued at $200 million and is scheduled to begin construction in 2026. • The Deep Sky facility aims to capture 500,000 tons of CO2 annually when at full capacity, utilizing Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology powered by Manitoba's renewable hydroelectric grid. Performance data from the company's 3,000-ton per year Deep Sky Alpha facility in Alberta will inform the technology selection for the Manitoba site. • Metrolinx has initiated a 30-day final test, known as the revenue service demonstration, on Toronto's 19-kilometer Eglinton Cross Town LRT, which features 25 stops. The project, which began construction in 2011 and was originally slated to open in 2020, has faced repeated delays, technical issues, and cost overruns. • The project delays have drawn substantial public criticism, including calls for the Ontario government to launch a full public inquiry into the matter. • A consortium of Pomelo and Aecon has launched the next phase of the Port of Montreal expansion in Contrecoeur, a $69 million project which is positioned as Eastern Canada's largest container port development. The work includes constructing two berths totalling 675 meters to accommodate larger container ships, with operations expected to start around 2029. • PCL Construction is donating $1.5 million to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to curate programming and education tools designed to help construction workers and their families address addiction and mental health challenges. This initiative responds to staggering statistics, including the fact that 64% of construction workers wish employers would do more to support mental health initiatives, and the industry represents nearly 8% of opioid toxicity deaths. • Plus, a bonus story reveals the secrets of the "subway deer," or Toronto Seros. This scientifically significant fossil fragment of a skull with antler stubs was uncovered in 1976 during excavation for a subway extension in Toronto's West End, and recent DNA analysis has resolved decades of debate regarding its relation to modern deer species.

    12 min

  8. 2025-10-06

    Vancouver Art Gallery goes back to the drawing board

    Nominate someone incredible from the construction industry today at ⁠siteserviceawards.com⁠   This episode highlights: The federal government's announcement to move to a fall budget cycle (delivered in November instead of spring), which officials say provides construction organizations and businesses with better lead time to plan projects ahead of the spring construction season. Finance Minister François Philip Champagne stated that this change, alongside a new capital budgeting framework, aims for more transparent and better timed generational investments in infrastructure and housing. Alberta's gearing up for a major project push by committing $14 million to the early planning of a proposed crude oil pipeline destined for BC's northwest coast, with a formal submission expected in spring 2026. Premier Danielle Smith and the Energy Minister Brian Jean claim the project, supported by Enbridge, Trans Mountain, and South Bow, is critical to Canada's energy future and economic potential. The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) has selected new design partners, Formline Architecture Plus Urbanism and KPMBB Architects, for its new home at Larill Park, making it the city's largest cultural infrastructure project in over 30 years. This follows a previously stalled attempt where the project budget skyrocketed from $400 million to over $600 million, prompting VAG to halt construction in August 2024 after already investing $60 million. The ongoing drama surrounding Ontario's $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund, which came under scrutiny after the auditor general determined the selection process was "not fair, transparent or accountable". Despite findings that 549 lower-rated applications received $742 million, the fund continues to receive strong support from construction stakeholders, unions, and training organizations who rely on it for targeted, industry-led training programs. Plus, a bonus story spotlights the unusual way Halifax is previewing its future emergency department, set to open in 2027, by unveiling a gigantic Lego model. The model, designed and built by award-winning artist Shawn Mcloud of Holdfast Bricks, used 25,000 bricks and took over 400 hours to complete, serving to entertain children while showcasing the future built environment

    11 min
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About

Go beyond the biggest headlines in Canadian construction with the Digging In Podcast by SiteNews. Anchored by veteran industry journalist Russell Hixson, go behind the headlines and learn about the economic, political, technological and cultural machinery that makes job sites go and the visionaries pushing things forward.

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  • Creator
    SiteNews
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Digging In