Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) is raising concerns about new data showing that more families with children are moving out of the City of Ottawa and into surrounding municipalities, as affordability and housing mix continue to shape regional population shifts.

The association said intra-provincial migration trends indicate Ottawa is increasingly losing households seeking ground-oriented, family-friendly housing, even as the broader region continues to attract new residents from elsewhere in Ontario.

“Over the past year, the City of Ottawa has made meaningful progress to streamline and improve its development approvals process, with the goal of becoming the most housing-friendly city in the country,” said GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf. “While the market has been stuck in a very long period of low activity, it is critical that the City remain committed to these reforms.”

Burggraaf said the improvements to approvals processes will be essential when housing demand rebounds, allowing construction activity to scale more quickly.

New analysis from the Missing Middle Initiative suggests Ottawa has been losing families with children to surrounding communities over the past decade, despite continued regional population growth.

“While the region as a whole continues to gain people from elsewhere in Ontario, a growing share are choosing communities outside Ottawa’s municipal boundaries in search of more suitable and affordable housing,” said Mike Moffatt, founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative.

The data also points to diverging demographic trends within the region.

“The City of Ottawa itself is losing kids and mid-to-late career professionals, while gaining large numbers of college-age adults and, to a lesser extent, early career professionals,” Moffatt said. “Communities surrounding Ottawa are attracting more kids and late-career professionals, while also gaining residents across all age groups.”

The concerns come as multiple levels of government advance housing policy measures aimed at increasing supply and reducing development costs.

Recent initiatives include Ontario’s Bill 98, which focuses on accelerating home construction, and the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, which aims to reduce development charges. The province has also approved Official Plan Amendment 46 for Ottawa and urged the city to address gaps between municipal and provincial growth projections.

A joint meeting of Ottawa’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee and Planning and Housing Committee is scheduled for May 5, 2026, to review progress on the city’s Housing Acceleration Plan.

GOHBA is urging the City of Ottawa to maintain its focus on housing affordability and continue working with provincial and federal partners to lower the cost of new housing supply.

The association said increasing the availability of family-oriented housing within city boundaries will be key to reversing outward migration trends.

“More and more growing families are moving outside the City to find the type of housing they want,” Burggraaf said. “They are telling us with their actions that Ottawa needs to meet that market demand for ground-oriented, family-friendly homes, or we’ll continue to lose young families.”

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Special to Ottawa Construction News

Work on a test phase preceding the planned construction of high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City is to begin in 2029 or 2030, says the CEO of Alto, the federal Crown corporation managing the project.

Martin Imbleau told reporters in Montreal that the first 200-kilometre phase will connect Montreal and Ottawa and function as a test case for construction on the eastern and western parts of the Toronto to Quebec City project that is slated to begin by 2032.

Engineering work on the Toronto-Ottawa and Montreal-Quebec City tracks is to begin during construction of the Montreal-Ottawa route.

“Construction of the western part and eastern part will start probably a couple of years after the initial construction period,” Imbleau said.

Prime Minister Carney has said the Liberal government’s new major projects office would fast-track engineering and regulatory work to get construction underway within four years. Imbleau said some expropriations will be necessary but did not provide details.

The Crown corporation plans stations for Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Laval, Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Quebec City.

In a speech at the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Imbleau cited the challenges an “intense urban environment” poses to a railway that would see up to 72 trains per day traversing a 1,000-kilometre corridor on electric tracks at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour.

The network would cut travels times to make for a trip of less than one hour between Montreal and Ottawa.

Alto estimates project costs at between $60 billion and $90 billion, though Ottawa has not made a final funding approval decision.

A three-month public consultation is set to begin this month and continue through March, including an Indigenous consultation that has already commenced.

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The Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association (GOHJBA)  treasurer reported a healthy financial balance at the association’s annual general meeting on March 6, as the association gears up for a staff leadership change by recruiting of a new executive director.

The association reported a surplus of $187,184 on revenues of $1,004,696, Ray Charron told the meeting at Dows Lake Pavilion.  Expenses declined to $816,892 from $902,326 in 2016

“We’ve increased our cash position, and increased our reserves, which is great,” he said.

Charron said the association expects to have a balanced budget in 2017-18 with revenues reaching $1,248,199 compared to expenses before depreciation of $1,218,697.  After depreciation is counted at $26,444, the budget would be balanced with a $3,058 surplus.

At the meeting, association president Josh Kardish outlined the progress to find a new executive director and a redesign of its organization chart.  In addition to the new executive director, there will be an administration manage and a dedicated membership services manager, supported later by a full-time events co-ordinator.

Kardish said former executive director John Herbert “did an exceptional job” over 15 years as the association’s leader.  “With the recent changes in the association, 2018 promises to be an exciting year,” he said.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

A major boost in Ottawa building permit approvals in February from the same time last year continued the sharp comparative increase between January 2017 and 2018 – indicating an exceptionally healthy winter construction market.

Total permits recorded in Feburary this year reached $161.5 million, compared to $119.8 million last February.

In January, the city recorded $140.7 million in permits for the first 31 days of the year, compared to $107.5 million in January 2017.

Overall, for the two first months of the year, there were $302.3 million in permits issued compared to $227.3 million in 2017, representing an impressive almost 33 per cent increase in the traditionally slowest months of the year.

Significant projects with permit values greater than $5 million in February included:

530 De Mazenod Ave. – $23,796,437

Morley Hoppener Inc. is building the nine-storory Terraces at Greystone (Phase I) condominium building in Old Ottawa East. The address given in promotional material for the project is 175 Main Developers are eQ Homes and The Regional Group, while Barry J. Hobin is the architect.  The building will be LEED certified.

1 Elgin St. – $12,350,143

PCL Contruction received this permit for its work on the massive National Arts Centre renovation. This permit is for interior alterations. Previous publicity indicates this is a wrap-up permit, as the overall renovation with the final work, new grand meeting rooms and a revitalized Mackenzie King Bridge entrance, were to have been completed in February.

120 Cortile Pvt. – $5,903,393

Urbandale Construction is building a four-story apartment structure.  This is for “Building A” of the complex.

269 Hunt Club Rd. –  $5,361,547

Laurin & Company (152610 Canada Inc.) is building a new Audi West Hunt Club dealership for Mark Motors. The permit covers “footings, foundation and structure (to roof) only.”

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Ottawa Construction News

The federal government has allocated $73.3 million for the new Ottawa Public Library/national archives project in Lebreton Flats, meaning the $168 million “super library” project has passed a critical milestone on its way to construction, with completion by 2023.

The city needed the federal government to contribute $69 million towards the construction costs on the city-owned property at 557 Wellington St.  The city’s share of costs, about $99 million, will largely be covered by the sale of the existing Metcale St. site.  The larger number announced in the Feb. 27 federal budget, includes operating costs and covers a six-year period.

Mayor Jim Watson said reports will go to the library board and council about the next steps on the project. He told the Ottawa Citizen that the city has been in “serious discussions” with a potential purchaser, but a deal hadn’t been concluded.

There are still issues to be resolved including parking, which hasn’t been budgeted in the project costs.  A possibility is that private developers may build the garage as a combined facility serving the library, archives and private projects in the area.

Preliminary plans suggest the four-story building will occupy 215,458 sq. ft., divided 61 per cent and 39 per cent between OPL and Library and Archives Canada. The two organizations would share the entrance plaza, meeting rooms, outdoor programming space, an exhibition gallery and a genealogy centre.

“This new building will be an iconic community hub, a single door to the national library and archives, and a world-class public library in Canada’s capital city which will increase citizen participation in the community and improve access to Canada’s history, culture and collective knowledge,” the federal budget says.

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By Paul Fooks

Special to Ottawa Construction News

Labor Tek has been supporting confined space entry for many companies, sub-contractors and departments for the last 15 years, with the aim at educating the employer to ensure worker safety. Needless to say there are many risks associated to confined spaces but the biggest risk is still lacking of training, knowledge and/or leaving it all up to luck.

Entrants, attendants, supervisors, watchers and rescuers all have specific roles during a confined space entry, not to mention each role require specific training. All companies that have confined spaces where workers may enter must have and follow a confined space training and rescue plan program in accordance with Ontario Confined Space Regulation 632/05. (Federal regulations also stipulate the same requirements and specifications in the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations SOR/86- 304.)

Under the rules, each location requires an inventory, a method of assessing each space, training plans for workers and a permit system. This can prove to be a daunting task for an employer, and is where Labor Tek can assist.

From inventories to assessments, from programs to training, Labor Tek has the resources and partnerships to support safe confined space entry. We have a well-equipped van to support the entry and provide external rescue for non-Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (non-IDLH) entries. We also have supporting partners for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) entry and internal rescue that may be required.

The biggest risk is not knowing or not taking the steps to protect workers because of lack of training. The other risk is training to only one rescue plan, without being site specific. Rescue plans need a step-by-step procedure, practiced to a reliable level and with the proper equipment to ensure any rescue requirements.  It’s too late to try and figure out what to do to rescue a worker in a confined space if nobody knows what the risks are.

In closing, it is paramount to note that 60 per cent of confined space related deaths are would-be rescuers, either trying to just help out, poorly trained or they did not follow the rescue protocols. Train your workers to get in and get out safely.

          Paul Fooks is Labor Tek Safety Training Inc.’s head trainer. For more information, visit www.labortek.com or phone (613) 741-1128.

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Ottawa Construction News special feature

After years of investigating workplace accidents, our consultants have determined that the top 5 causes of construction related accidents are:

1. Workers not paying attention;
2. Workers, rushing and taking short cuts;
3. Supervisors that would not enforce safety rules or safe work practices;
4. Lack of specific instructions to workers; and
5. Lack of hazard identification and communication to workers.

Certainly, this information is not a new revelation to anyone in the construction industry. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on training to prevent most accidents; you just need to have a strong leadership team. If employers and supervisors were to make safety a priority at work, communicate safety all the time and plan how you will work safely, you will reduce the frequency of accidents, incidents and near misses.

What should employers be doing?  Ensure and provide competent supervision to your workers to ensure they are following the proper procedures, wearing PPE, inspect the workplace to ensure any existing hazards are identified and controlled, and provide your workers with adequate training.

As of Dec. 14, 2017, the maximum fines for non-compliance under the Occupational Health and Safety Act increased from $25,000 to $100,000 for individuals and from $500,000 to $1,500,000 for corporations. These fines were increased to send a message to all employers in Ontario that the Ministry of Labour is serious about enforcing workplace health and safety.

ConstructionSafetyTrainers.ca (CST) are advocates for the employer, we understand the challenges of employers and are experts in offering solutions and coaching. We can help you minimize workplace accidents through a positive culture change.

Give our local help line at (613) 274-3662 a call and one of our consultants will discuss tactics your facility can implement to keep workers safe.

            Randy Dignard is CST’s president.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

            Ottawa’s construction industry has started 2018 with a booming increase in building permit volume, at last compared to the last two years.

            The city recorded $140.7 million in permits for the first 31 days of the year, compared to $107.5 million in January 2017, $116.2 million in January 2016 and $119.1 million in January, 2015.  Compared to last year, this represents almost a 31 per cent increase in activity.

            There are a diversity of projects in the January totals, with the top five permits including a school, two apartment buildings, and two office projects.

785 Goulbourn Forced Rd. – $9,478,735

            The Ottawa Catholic School District expects the new Kanata North Elementary School to be ready for the start of the next school year in September.

            The school, on a 6.52 acre site on the south side of Terry Fox Dr., will have the capacity to accommodate 461 students.

70 Gloucester St. – $9,397,160

            Claridge Homes has received a foundation permit for  a 27 storey apartment building with five levels of underground parking.

420 Cooper St. – $4,822,309

            This permit for the Centretown Community Health Centre includes interior alterations to the ground floor of a nine-storey office building.

60 Moodie Dr. – $3,092,000

            Another piece of the conversion of the former Nortel site into the Department of National Defence headquarters, this project involves interior alterations to all floors of a five storey office building (Building 5).

150 Greenfield – $3,019,510

            The Independent Development Group is building a four storey, 23 unit  low rise apartment building, with 19,899 sq. ft. The developer reports the project, called Canal Lofts, has sold out all of its units.

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The City of Ottawa announced that the first phase of a major construction of Elgin Street will begin on March 12.

Bell Canada will start upgrading the city’s underground infrastructure, which has deteriorated and needs repair. The city’s existing underground infrastructure has reached the end of its service life. So, this work is required to ensure that integral city services will continue to be delivered to residents and businesses in the area, the city said in a statement.

The construction will be staged so that lane reductions and on-street parking impacts are limited to the area where the work is taking place, and will not affect the entire length of Elgin St. The first phase of Bell Canada infrastructure upgrades will last approximately eight weeks.

The city is undertaking the design and construction for the Elgin’s renewal from Gloucester St. to Isabella St. The project also includes the renewal of Waverley St. from Elgin Street to Metcalfe St. through Jack Purcell Park, as well as roadway renewal on Isabella St.from Elgin t to Queen Elizabeth DrThe T.

The project, which will cost $36.3 million, will include: wider sidewalks, shared use lanes (for cycling and vehicles), and transit facilities (bus stops, bus pads and shelters); traffic control signal system and traffic calming measures including raised intersections, narrowing lanes and reduced speed limit (30 km/h); flexible space to accommodate on-street parking, patios or other seasonal uses; streetscape enhancements and street amenities including landscaping (such as tree planting, and hardscape features), public art and street furniture (including benches, waste receptacles, and bicycle racks); watermains, sanitary, storm and combined sewers; utility reconstruction (Hydro Ottawa, Bell, Rogers, Enbridge); street lighting and signage; and road structure and pavement.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Ottawa’s housing community enjoyed an “absolutely incredible year” in 2017 and things look equally positive for 2018, says Cheryl Rice, president of PMA Brethour Realty Group’s Ottawa division.

Speaking at The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA)  annual Sales and Marketing “Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018: Housing Market Outlook” breakfast on January 23, Rice outlined data indicating that the local market is the healthiest it has been since 2010 – and will continue that way even with new, tighter mortgage rules and somewhat higher interest rates.

She said last year, 5,560 new homes were sold in the Ottawa area, “19 per cent above the 10 year average, and the highest number of new home sales since 2010.”

The market didn’t reach the peak of almost 7,000 homes sold in 2007, before the global recession hit in 2008, but reflects a significant improvement from the years 2012-2016, when annual sales were well under 5,000.

The 702 sales in June broke the city’s monthly record, and while other months weren’t so exciting, the overall numbers still reflected a healthy market, Rice said.

The reason: In part, thousands of new government jobs have been created and Ottawa residents have confidence in their security and future. “Pent up demand was a significant factor,” she said.

As well, huge price increases in Toronto have caused purchasers to look at the Ottawa market’s relative affordability – a factor that means that even with the higher interest rates and new mortgage restrictions, the local market won’t be too severely affected by the changes, she said.

“All the whole, what was happening in Toronto was that sales were heating up very fast,” she said. “Toronto forced buyers to seek affordable housing elsewhere, including Ottawa. Toronto buyers were absolutely everywhere.”

Resale market developments also demonstrate the market’s healthiness. The market has shifted from a balanced market for resale homes to a seller’s market – while condos have shifted from a buyer’s market to a balanced market. The average resale price in 2017 was $425,063, an increase of 6.8 per cent from 2016 and 45.2 since 2007. Condo (one level) apartments meanwhile had an average resale price of $269,903, an increase of 3.4 per cent from 2016 and 36.1 per cent since 2007.

Overall, in 2017 the resale market commanded a 75 per cent market share while new home sales reached 25 per cent, an increase of three per cent from the previous year. Townhouses gained market share in the past year, increasing from 41 to 45 per cent, while single family homes still captured the largest market share at 39 per cent compared to 41 per cent in 2016. Condo apartments held steady at 14 per cent market share, while there was a decline from four per cent to two per cent for condo townhomes.

The last year saw a decline in market share in the eastern suburbs from 21 per cent to 18 per cent, with increases in the central area from 12 to 15 per cent of the overall market, while the south gained a percentage point to 38 per cent and the west declined a point to 29 per cent.

This year, Rice expects the good times will continue.

She doesn’t think that possible problems with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will impact the Ottawa market substantially. “Ottawa’s unemployment rate is 5.9 per cent, less than it has been in 10 years,” she said. “The Light Rail Transit project and others has construction booming.”

She said housing here continues to be affordable. “We have jobs, we have high consumer confidence, we see economic growth – all the fundamentals indicating a very resilient Ottawa new home market.”

“I think we can expect 2018 new home sales to match and possibly exceed the 2017 numbers,” Rice said.

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