It was a year of highs, lows and everything in between for the construction industry.
Some megaprojects reached new heights and forged new bonds while others faced scrutiny. The health and safety landscape in Ontario forged a new path and Canada’s housing crisis continued to dominate headlines. The year was capped off with a looming tariff dispute, along with speculation of an early federal election, which has left many wondering what the future holds for a country already in flux.
MEGA-MILESTONES AND MISSES
Gordie Howe International Bridge
It was the literal definition of meeting in the middle for the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge project when the two sides joined together in June.
Ironworkers and operating engineers from both the Canadian and U.S. sides, with their countries’ flags hovering from crane cables above, worked until dawn to install the final piece that officially created the massive crossing between Windsor and Detroit.
In November paving endeavours were underway for the bridge deck with the overlay composed of a latex modified concrete which was 50 millimetres thick. Overall, the Canadian and U.S. bridge towers have reached their full height of 220 metres; all stay cables have been installed and post tensioning of the stay cables is currently underway; and approach and back span activities are ongoing in addition to ports of entry work.
Measuring 853 metres, it is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and 10th longest in the world.
Eglinton Crosstown LRT
It’s anyone’s guess when the beleaguered Eglinton Crosstown LRT project will officially open with rumblings it may be June 2025 now.
This comes after a year of ups and downs for the project. In March then Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said while construction work was complete, there were major issues with software defects in the signalling and train control system. He speculated at the time he’d have more firm dates in the summer.
In August there was still no opening date in sight. Metrolinx told the Daily Commercial News (DCN) then: “We are currently in the testing and commissioning phase which ensures the line works safely and reliably for customers. Part of this work includes increased train testing along the line as well as continued progress on TTC staff training. We need to have confidence that key milestones are being met on the Crosstown, and once we have an opening date, we will share that with the public.”
The consortium building the 19-kilometre rail line is, the contractor, their subcontractors and Alstom.
In early December it was announced Verster was leaving Metrolinx and Michael Lindsay, the former president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, was named his replacement in the interim.
Highway 413 and a Highway 401 tunnel
Ontario’s controversial Highway 413 project made significant headway in 2024, despite calls for federal environmental assessments, further study and outright halting its progress.
In December preliminary design work was 90 per cent complete. The design of all major structures, interchanges and crossings has also been determined. Fieldwork, including borehole drilling and engineering to evaluate soil composition and bedrock depth, is currently underway. 鶹ýion is slated to begin in 2025.
Highway 413 will run from Highway 400 in the east to the Highway 401/407 interchange in the west, connecting the regions of York, Peel and Halton.
But Highway 413 wasn’t the only highway to garner headlines in 2024. An announcement was made in the fall that the Ontario government was exploring the feasibility of constructing a new tunnel expressway under Highway 401. While the project is far from certain, industry stakeholders did chime in.
Ontario Place and science centre closure
For fans and employees of the Ontario Science Centre, 2024 was a devastating year after Premier Doug Ford made the decision to abruptly close the facility in June citing structural concerns with the roof and other extensive repairs. A new facility would rise at the highly contentious new Ontario Place development.
By Oct. 31 the old science centre was officially shuttered, but its legacy and controversy continues. In December, it was announced the new centre would already be delayed, opening in 2029 instead of 2028 and that it would cost more to build it then it would have to maintain the old site.
But it wasn’t just the science centre component that garnered attention, the entire redevelopment came under fire several times throughout the year, whether it was opponents or Ontario’s own auditor general.
In early December, auditor general Shelley Spence stated European company Therme Group, which is developing the spa and waterpark, got special access to provincial executives during a submission process that was not fair or transparent.
CONSTRUCTION DEATH REVIEW CHANGES
In October, the DCN reported Ontario’s unveiled the government’s new construction death review protocols.
The new procedures replace the system of mandatory inquests that had been in place since the 1970s. By the time the announcement was made in November 2023, there was a backlog of over 100 cases with the gap between a death and the inquest ranging from two or three years to over a decade.
The new system promises more experts will be involved, extensive scrutiny of data and trends, speedier resolution and better consultation with the families and co-workers of the victims. It will also create a new secretariat composed of members of the Office of the Chief Coroner that will provide logistical, policy and investigative support to a lead coroner and a new advisory committee that will conduct reviews.
HOUSING CRISIS HAS NO EASY OR QUICK FIX
It comes as no shock the nation’s housing crisis has made the list of the top issues once again. Nationwide, to restore affordability, an additional 3.5 million housing units are needed by 2030, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
In Ontario, the Residential 鶹ýion Council of Ontario states the province is on track for 81,300 starts this year, short of the 150,000 starts that are needed to reach 1.5 million homes by 2032.
While many methods were unveiled across the country such as tax exemptions; portals and tools to make the approvals process faster; incentives to bolster the desperately needed workforce; and a move towards more modular, prefabricated elements as well as housing “catalogues,” it appears it isn’t enough to make a substantial dent.
Will 2025 bring about meaningful change?
TARIFF TURMOIL JUST BEGINNING
The year is coming to an end and with it some of the most shocking government moves the country has seen in years. It all revolves around incoming U.S. President Donald Trump and what he plans to do with tariffs.
Provinces and the federal government were scrambling, convening several meetings to address how they intend to tackle the threat from Trump who said he would impose a 25 per cent import tariff on goods coming from Canada and Mexico when he takes office. But it was on Dec. 16 that the currently Liberal government’s future was called into question.
On the very day the fall economic statement was to be unveiled then finance minister Chrystia Freeland abruptly resigned sending the government into a panic. She pointed to an internal dispute with the prime minister over the path forward for the country.
Since then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been asked to resign by several members of the opposition parties, he shuffled cabinet on Dec. 20 and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh declared he is finally ready to vote down the government and attempt to trigger a snap election in the new year.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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