Capital expenditures (CapEx) refer to major expenses incurred to acquire, upgrade, or extend the life of a property or its major systems, beyond routine maintenance.
Why Capital Expenditures Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate, CapEx impacts budgeting, reserve funds, tax planning, and asset valuation for both residential and commercial properties.
Examples of capital expenditures include:
Roof replacement
Elevator modernization
Building envelope repairs
Major HVAC system upgrades
CapEx is typically planned for in condo reserve funds or landlord capital budgets, and may affect rent increases, special assessments, or investor returns.
Understanding CapEx is key to long-term property management and investment planning.
Example of Capital Expenditures in Action
The condo board allocated reserve funds for a capital expenditure project to replace aging windows throughout the building.
A construction loan is a short-term, interim financing option used to fund the building or major renovation of a property, with funds disbursed in. more
A certificate of occupancy is an official document issued by a municipal authority confirming that a building complies with applicable codes and is. more
A bylaw variance is official permission granted by a municipal authority allowing a property owner to deviate from local zoning or building bylaw. more
Corporate restructuring refers to the reorganization of a company’s operations, assets, or liabilities, often under court supervision, to improve. more
A consumer proposal is a formal, legally binding agreement in Canada between an individual and their creditors to repay a portion of their debt over. more
When Ontario Place closed its doors after more than 40 years, it wasn't clear what would become of the once-beloved tourist destination. In its heyday, the waterfront attraction had served as a sort of promotional hub for the Province of Ontario based on the Ontario Pavilion at Expo ’67, later adding event spaces like Atlantis, Echo Beach, and Budweiser Stage alongside a water park and amusement rides that made the island a popular destination for school trips and family outings.
But after years of falling attendance, the once-bustling island park was closed in the dead of February 2012 — save for Atlantis, the marina, and the music venues, in a move that was said to save the Province $20 million annually. The park remained closed for more than five years, until the first phase of a revitalization project orchestrated by Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Infrastructure opened in June 2017.
The newest addition to the island — Trillium Park and the William G. Davis Trail on the eastern edge of the east island — was carried out by internationally recognized landscape design firm LANDinc, who, after the success of the newly-opened park, was selected in 2022 to take on the daunting task of redesigning the rest of Ontario Place's east island.
Not LANDinc's First Rodeo
"We were able to kind of leapfrog into that next phase — having been successful in working with the Province and the developer, the contractors, and the public, and all the issues that are related to a complex project like that — to move into that next phase with the rest of the east island," Michael Hubicki, Director Design and Planning at LANDinc, tells STOREYS.
Hubicki explains that the Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail served as an excellent primer for what would be in store for them in the next phase, as they had faced issues with restoring the long-standing man made islands in need of some serious TLC.
Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail/Ontario Place
"These islands were built in the early 70s as part of Ontario Place, so land has settled, there's been soil issues on site, there's older infrastructure, a lot of it's been paved over," says Hubicki. "So there was a significant amount of design planning that went into Trillium Park, and Trillium Park has turned into an award winning, beautiful example of how to redevelop, with a nature-based solutions, urban waterfront land that's been kind of treated as parking lot, and a second thought."
The Ontario Place revitalization will have five main components: the controversial Therme spa and waterpark in the westernmost section of the park, the Live Nation year-round amphitheatre addition at Budweiser Stage, the new Ontario Science Centre location and parking structure located along Lake Shore Boulevard West, and the sprawling public park on the east island.
LANDinc's slice of the Ontario Place revitalization includes a reimagined Brigantine Cove and Marina, and the addition of three new destinations: the Mainland, Water's Edge, and the Forum. Detailed plans and renderings were released in late-June of this year and catch the eye with intriguing features like a giant tree-shaped and turtle play structures, a massive one-acre fountain, a 1,200-pound bronze Japanese Temple Bell, and several beaches.
Ontario Place overview/Government of Ontario
Together, these five areas will serve as what LANDinc calls "the green heart of Ontario Place," offering a place to reconnect with nature, play, relax, and engage with meaningful public art and cultural expression.
Indigenous Perspectives
Throughout the community consultation and design process, Hubicki shares that he and his team worked closely with the seven rights bearing First Nations, two urban indigenous groups, and special consultant Elder Shelley Charles with Indigenous advisory services collective MinoKamik, who advocated for a four-directional approach to community engagement that emphasized "seeing, relating, knowing, and doing," which Hubicki says was the underlying approach to everything they did.
"So being very, very open and transparent and engaging and very curious, always asking a lot of questions," he describes. "We really wanted to recognize and integrate the diverse indigenous cultures and histories, and then visualize the indigenous community feedback."
Indigenous culture flows through the designs, sometimes manifesting in more overt features like the 3,400-sq.-ft Indigenous Cultural Pavilion in Brigantine Cove, but also in more subtle ways, such as the park's four-directional layout along north, south, east, and west axes, as well as an overall focus on restoring and protecting the natural environment and biodiversity.
Restoring The Landscape
"What we heard from the [indigenous] communities is that they wanted to connect the people, share their indigenous knowledge and histories, celebrate their languages and cultures, and to reconnect with the landscape and the natural environment," says Hubicki. "And in order to do that, you have to create the foundation for a healthy landscape to thrive."
Hubicki explains that the designs honour that mandate in a number of ways. New soils will be brought in and irrigation components implemented to set the stage for landscape designs that would cultivate spaces for native flora and fauna, both on land and in water, to flourish.
Brigantine Cove wetlands
On land, the team worked with Indigenous groups to identify locally-sourced plant palettes that hold both historical and practical significance for the land and that are suited for the oftentimes harsh conditions along the waterfront, where wind, waves, and sun can take their toll on the land over time.
Currently, LANDinc is in the process of designing "micro forests" throughout the park for plants and animals to thrive. And along the shorelines and in the water, they aim to create vegetative wetlands that will preserve and protect things like turtle nesting and basking sites and fish foraging areas.
A Place For Play
Creating a thriving natural landscape was top of mind for LANDinc, but equally important was building spaces for people to gather, connect, and most importantly, have fun.
The designs include several spaces for visitors to discover, such as a canoe launch at Brigantine Cove, woodland trails and a Trillium-shaped fountain in the Forum, or a large sand beach on the Mainland, but arguably the most eye-catching renderings released are of the massive treehouse and turtle play structures located in Brigantine Cove.
Dubbed the Tree of Life and Turtle Playground, these wooden play structures provide a multi-generational hub for children and adults to play and interact and serve as a focal point of the park at 30-feet tall.
"We wanted to make it so it was very engaging, and became this iconic landmark on the site that people could see from afar," says Hubicki. "We've got a snapping turtle and a painted turtle as the two species that we're celebrating, and they've got lots of colour in them, they're going to be really fun. And there will be lots of shade trees all around so the family could can rest and relax in the shaded areas."
LANDinc began working on the east island designs after being selected to lead the project in February 2022, and while Hubicki says a construction timeline is still being finalized, the currently-open Trillium Park offers a taste of what's to come, with public trails, green spaces, art installations, and gathering areas already enjoyed by many.
"We look at every single project as an opportunity to bring people, place, culture, and nature together," says Hubicki. "[The second phase] is going to be accessible to everyone of any ability and age, year round, and it's just so exhilarating to know that we were the lead designers for a huge team of professionals who are all passionate about delivering a fantastic project for the people of Ontario and visitors from around the world."
Before the first showing is booked, and before the first offer is made, something critical has to happen: the listing needs to be found.
In today’s market, where buyers begin their home search online — and often begin making decisions before setting foot in a property — the visibility of a listing can directly influence the outcome of a sale.
And not all listings are created equal. Some sit buried on under-trafficked websites. Others get prime placement in front of millions of motivated buyers. For those looking to win in today's competitive market, remax.ca offers the latter.
More than just another listing portal, remax.ca is the most visited real estate franchisor website in Canada1, according to ComScore Media Metrix®. Every year, millions of people visit remax.ca looking for homes, agents, and market insights (in fact, to get granular, the site sees 40 million+ total site visits, 166 million+ page views, and 65 million+ listing views2 on an annual basis).
In short, if a home is listed on remax.ca, it’s placed directly in front of interested buyers and savvy sellers across the nation, providing a tangible advantage: more eyes, which lead to more clicks, which lead to more potential — all underscored by the built-in credibility that a REMAX® agent will get the job done.
The Power Of The REMAX Brand
But visibility only goes so far on its own. What gives remax.ca its unique edge is the brand behind it.
Over the past several decades, REMAX has become the #1 name in real estate3, consistently reinforcing that position through high-impact national advertising and longstanding consumer awareness. According to an MMR Strategy Group study, the company is #1 in unaided brand awareness— and REMAX agents were recently voted the most trusted real estate agents4 in the country by consumers.
For those looking to sell their home, this instant recognition can be a game-changer. When a buyer sees a listing prominently displayed on remax.ca, they’re engaging with a powerful brand they already know and trust. In fact, REMAX is four times (!) more likely to be the brand mentioned first, says that aforementioned MMR Strategy Group study5. This quick familiarity can carry real weight at a moment when buyers are deciding which homes to prioritize (and place their confidence in).
“Homebuyers and sellers entrust their real estate agent with one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives, and every listing, every showing, every conversation is an opportunity to reinforce the knowledge and expertise of the REMAX network. Our reputation isn’t just our legacy, it’s our most valuable asset,” says Don Kottick, President of REMAX Canada.
The company’s marketing efforts span every major platform and medium — from TV to social, from streaming services to out-of-home campaigns, and now artificial intelligence (AI). This kind of visibility helps agents — and their listings — stay top of mind, reinforcing brand trust with every impression and every click.
Our Innovative Strategy Sets The Stage For Success
And that trust isn’t only built through our unique marketing and our powerful advertising. REMAX is also one of the most visible voices in real estate news and media coverage, with over 14,000+ news stories and 2 billion impressions expected this year6.
The brand’s commentary anchors national housing conversations; not only do buyers and sellers alike see REMAX agents as go-to experts in the field, but our reports published via remax.ca serve to educate and inform consumers directly about what’s happening in the real estate market — right now.
A Full Support System
The final result? A full-scale ecosystem that buyers and sellers can step into with confidence.
“Choosing a REMAX agent means having a trusted expert by your side — someone equipped with the tools, knowledge, and brand support to help you navigate your complex real estate journey with confidence,” Kottick says. “Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, REMAX agents are committed to helping you reach, and exceed, your goals while delivering exceptional service and supporting all the local communities we each call home.”
A listing on remax.ca benefits from national and global exposure, but it’s also supported by localized expertise. Through professional photography, guided staging, and strategic promotion, REMAX agents leverage the brand’s national momentum and apply it directly to each property. Whether it’s through social content, email campaigns, AI searches, or listing enhancements, the comprehensive and exclusive tech solutions they bring to the table as part of MAXTech® are designed to amplify both a home and the transaction’s outcome.
REMAX out-of-home
Ultimately, when buyers and sellers choose a REMAX agent, they’re not just hiring an agent — they’re activating and enabling an entire ecosystem. One that’s been built to promote, protect, and position their homebuying or selling journey with every available advantage. In a market shaped by speed, competition, and digital-first decisions, this ecosystem can make all the difference in your real estate journey.
Because in this modern market, a home shouldn’t just be listed. It should be seen.
1.ComScore Media Metrix®. All data is representative of January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, unless otherwise specified. All data is based on real estate franchise brands in Canada.
2.Google Analytics and internal data. Unique visits and average reach exclude Quebec data. All data is representative of January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, unless otherwise specified. All data is based on real estate franchise brands in Canada.
3.Source: MMR Strategy Group study of unaided awareness.
4.Voted most trusted Real Estate Agency brand by Canadian shoppers based on the BrandSpark® Canadian Trust Study, years 2021–2025, 2019, and 2017.
5. Source: MMR Strategy Group study of unaided awareness (first mention recorded).
6. 2025 performance estimates based on third-party projection data as well as past performance data. RE/MAX, LLC does not guarantee, and is not in any way responsible for, the accuracy of estimates and third-party data. Data is current as of 1.30.2025.
Rendering of 1151 Weston Road/SvN - Architects + Planners
In contrast to the intensely colourful Mount Dennis mural at Weston Road and Eglinton Avenue West, the abutting Scotiabank branch at 1150 Weston Road doesn’t make much of an impression. But, perhaps surprisingly, it’s a notable building that’s been around for 75 years and on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register since 2013. Given its heritage significance, a 46-storey development proposal that went to the City at the beginning of July calls for the incorporation of the existing building at its base.
The plans come from a numbered company (2629964 Ontario Inc.), and a representative from Republic Developments tells STOREYS that they are entitling the development "for now." The proposal calls for a height of around 482 feet along with 354,380 sq. feet of gross floor area (GFA), and of the total GFA, 3,390 sq. ft of commercial space is planned in the base of the building. The remainder — around 350,990 sq. ft — is set to be dedicated to the 512 residential units planned.
Although the tenure of the proposed units is not specified in the planning documents, it is indicated that the units would break down into 19 studios, 315 one-bedrooms, 127 two-bedrooms, and 51 three-bedrooms, translating to an almost 30% share of larger family-sized units.
Proposed site plan/SvN - Architects + Planners
In addition, the planning report floats three levels of underground parking, 14,337 sq. ft of combined indoor and outdoor amenity space, 27 bike parking spaces, and 23 vehicle parking spaces.
Renderings prepared by SvN - Architects + Planners show an irregularly-shaped site informed by frontage on three rights-of-way: Weston Road, Eglinton Avenue West, and Hollis Street. As such, the planned 42-storey tower has an unusual built-form reminiscent of a flat-iron building with a triangular floorplate. The tower element sites atop a four-storey base, which includes the retained heritage bank building and has “high levels of glazing” and “strong horizontal articulation,” according to the planning report.
Rendering of 1151 Weston Road/SvN - Architects + Planners
Massing model of the west side corner of the building from Weston Road/SvN - Architects + Planners
“To highlight the heritage asset, the podium is thoughtfully stepped back from the first level to clearly distinguish the two base building components. Stepbacks are proposed along the Weston Road frontage, building corner, and Eglinton Avenue West frontage, respectively,” the report goes on to say.
“An additional stepback of at least [26 feet] is proposed above the third storey along the Eglinton Avenue West frontage to create a ‘reveal’ leading to the tower component. The roof of the 3rd storey is proposed to be utilized as an outdoor amenity area connected to the interior amenity space proposed at the fourth storey.”
A major draw of the proposed development is the site’s situation within the Mount Dennis neighbourhood of the city, characterized as “a rapidly growing area experiencing significant intensification, driven by its proximity to the Mount Dennis Crosstown LRT Station.” (In fact, the station is around a five-minute walk from the subject site.) In addition, the Mount Dennis Protected Major Transit Station Area (PMTSA) has a “planned minimum density target of 174 people and jobs per hectare by 2031,” making a strong case for the development's approval.
Once criticized for its slow start, the City of Toronto’s dedicated housing agency, CreateTO, has made major strides over the past two years. A new Housing Progress Update set to be presented at the agency’s next meeting on Monday highlights that three projects have begun construction since the summer of 2023, while six others have major development segment partners in place, including Ellis Don, Collecdev-Markee, Windmill Developments, Kilmer Group, Tricon Residential, KingSett Capital, and CentreCourt.
“These programs have included a wide variety of eligibility criteria and requirements, leading to inconsistency and a lack of clarity in direction when City land is mobilized for housing,” says the CreateTO report.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Builds report that went to Council in May lays out the new and improved policies, some of which are related to affordability (ie, 20% of affordable units in Toronto Builds Projects must be made available for rent-geared-to-income housing opportunities), rent control, (ie, all affordable rental homes must be rent-controlled per the Province’s rent increase guideline), and unit mix (ie, projects should deliver at least 10% three-bedrooms and 35% two-bedrooms, and a maximum of 45% one-bedrooms and 10% studios, to support the creation of family-sized units).
Although Toronto Builds is in its infancy, it’s set to be applied to almost 40 sites for the purpose of affordable rental housing, including 15 sites highlighted in the CreateTO progress report.
Also emphasized in the May report was the desire for the federal and provincial governments to create a Canada-Ontario-Toronto Builds (COT Builds) program, which would take a cue from BC Builds. Launched in February 2024, BC Builds is a program under BC Housing designed to speed up construction of rental housing available to middle‑income households. In addition to acting as a land bank and identifying property that is under-utilized and helping to make that land available for redevelopment, BC Builds also provides low-cost construction financing, and has a role in fast-tracking approvals if it becomes necessary. To date, the program has provided $77.1 million in grants.
BC Builds has already inspired a federal entity called Canada Builds, launched in April 2024, and in an interview with STOREYS from that month, former Housing Minister Sean Fraser went as far as to say that other provinces and territories should be following suit with their own versions of the BC Builds initiative.
Coming back to the City of Toronto report from May, it notes that the recent announcement of a landmark agreement between the City and the federal government to allocate $2.55 billion in low-cost financing for 4,831 new rental homes, including a minimum of 1,075 new affordable rental homes, “is an important step towards realizing the COT Builds program.”
Left: existing building at 931 Yonge St/Cushman & Wakefield, Right: Rendering of 931 Yonge St/Zeidler Architecture
Steps from Rosedale Station, a residential development site has been listed by Cushman & Wakefield, offering prospective developers a 99-year land lease to develop the City-owned site through CreateTO's ModernTO initiative.
931 Yonge Street is one of eight properties identified by CreateTO that have been or will be marketed for sale, all of which are deemed "high-value" sites located within close proximity to higher-order transit. The other seven sites include 610 Bay Street, 277 Victoria Street, 33 Queen Street E., 75 Elizabeth Street, 1900 Yonge Street, 18 Dyas Road, and 95 The Esplanade.
Launched under former Mayor John Tory in 2019, the ModernTO program aims to reduce the City’s office footprint while unlocking an estimated land value of $450 million for "city-building purposes, including the delivery of affordable housing, City services and other priorities," according to the City of Toronto.
"The City of Toronto has set ambitious housing goals to meet the challenges of our time," Chief Development Officer at CreateTO, Michael Norton, tells STOREYS. "CreateTO is working diligently to advance projects like 931 Yonge Street, which will repurpose a City asset into much-needed housing, including affordable rental homes, to meet Council’s targets. 931 Yonge is just one of the residential opportunities CreateTO currently has in market, with more to follow in the coming months."
The property is located on the corner of Yonge Street and Aylmer Avenue in the coveted Midtown neighbourhood of Rosedale, home to fine dining, a wealth of retail options, and lush green spaces like Ramsden Park and the Rosedale Ravine. "The area is known for its upscale charm, with boutique shops, cafes, and fine dining along Yonge Street, blended with heritage buildings and new developments," reads Cushman & Wakefield's brochure, adding that close proximity to Yorkville, the University of Toronto, and the downtown core also boosts the site's appeal.
Currently the site is occupied by the head office for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), but Council approval was granted in April 2024 for a Zoning By-Law Amendment (ZBA) application to permit a 32-storey purpose-built rental tower with 250 residential units, 33% of which (75 units) are proposed to be affordable, and 1614 sq. ft of commercial space, pending a successful Site Plan Approval (SPA) application. Plus, the site has been exempt from underground parking requirements, "enhancing design and construction efficiency," reads the brochure.
Designs for the proposed development come from Zeidler Architecture and envision a sleek white tower atop a darker podium element with large windows at grade.
931 Yonge St/Zeidler Architecture
On top of coming ready with ZBA approval, the future developer would benefit from the long-term land lease structure, which reduces upfront costs. Costs would be further minimized by incentive installed via the Toronto Builds Policy Framework approved this May to help deliver more rental housing options on City land.
As a purpose-built rental project on City land, the development planned for 931 Yonge Street could take advantage of incentives for affordable housing units like the exemption of development charges, parkland dedications, application and permit fees, and property taxes (the latter pending Council approval). Additionally, upon filing the required SPA, the application would undergo expedited review via the City's Priority Development Review Stream.
This offer comes to market at a decent time and place within the City of Toronto, with the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) posting a vacancy rate of 3.5% as of Q1 2025, which Cushman & Wakefield notes is "relatively balanced." Meanwhile, says the firm, the surrounding area poses "little competitive product." The brochure compares 931 Yonge to nearby development The Ivy, which is an upscale rental building that currently has a vacancy rate of just 2.2% and average rents ranging from $5.13 to $5.72 per sq. ft.
Combining location, proximity to transit and amenities, and several time and cost advantages on the permit application and project feasibility side of things, this offer represents a promising opportunity to deliver market rate and affordable rental housing to one of Toronto's most vibrant neighbourhoods.
Billed as “one of the most sustainable and innovative structures in North America” at its official opening ceremony in April, the four-storey mass timber building was also marked out as a highlight of Toronto’s annual Doors Open event on May 25.
But in between those two occasions, Eastern Construction Limited — the contractor selected to lead the building project — filed for a lien on the property, following up with a statement of claim seeking $32.3 million for “breach of contract and/or as the unpaid price or value of the labour, construction, services, materials and work supplied by Eastern” for the project.
Eastern’s statement of claim, filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, blames TRCA for the late delivery of the project, alleging that “TRCA’s breach of contract and negligence also resulted in substantial delay,” pushing back completion from its originally planned date in December 2021 to March 21, 2025.
“Despite challenging construction conditions, extensive delays caused by events and circumstances that were either the responsibility of TRCA or otherwise beyond Eastern’s responsibility and control, Eastern constructed the Project in accordance with the Contract terms, resulting in a finished product that is a source of pride for both TRCA and Eastern,” the claim reads. “Notwithstanding both the end result and Eastern’s fulfillment of its contractual obligations, TRCA has refused to grant Eastern the compensation and scheduling adjustments to which Eastern is entitled under the Contract or otherwise at law.”
None of the allegations in the claim have been proven in court.
Eastern’s lawyer Howard Krupat — a partner with DLA Piper’s Toronto office — declined to comment, while TRCA provided an emailed statement saying they were aware of the claim.
“As we are actively involved in this legal matter, we are unable to provide comment at this time,” the statement continued.
After just a few months in operation, the TRCA building — located at 5 Shoreham Drive near the York University campus in the north end of the city — has already collected a string of accolades for its environmental credentials, including recognition from the Carbon Leadership Forum and the Canadian Green Building Awards.
In addition to its green roof and smart solar shading, TRCA highlights the building’s mass timber construction and wood-first design prioritizing wood as the construction material of choice for stairwells, elevator cores, and other structural components, as well as an open-loop geothermal system that improves heating efficiency compared to traditional closed-loop systems. Altogether, TRCA estimates that the reduction in carbon emissions associated with the building is equivalent to taking 240 cars off the road for a year.
However, issues with some of the structure’s environmental features were cited in Eastern’s lawsuit. For example, the contractor’s claim alleges that “lengthy and protracted decision-making” over the selection of the open-loop geothermal system “delayed key elements of the Work, including the start of the mechanical room.” Eastern claims a suitable subcontractor was in place in 2019, but that TRCA took until May 2022 to finally settle on its preferred system, while the necessary change order and negotiations were not resolved until May 2023.
According to board meeting minutes, TRCA initially approved a $65-million budget for the administrative building construction project back in 2015. The new building sits on the same site as its old headquarters, which had been built in the 1970s and had been long outgrown by TRCA’s staff, which currently number around 350.
After budget approval, TRCA then hired a team of architects to design the building before Eastern signed on to the project under a CCDC 5B Construction Management Contract in November 2017. In April 2024, the TRCA board approved an extra $9 million to fund the completion of the project, noting the impact that Covid-19 had imposed on costs across the construction sector.
Eastern’s claim alleges that the project got off to a bad start when TRCA was slow to obtain an early works permit, delaying the installation of rammed aggregate piers. In addition, the contractor alleges that the project was characterized by repeated and continual modifications to the design of critical path work, claiming that the contract entitles it to time adjustments for Covid-related supply-chain and shut-down delays.
Jiwan Thapar, CEO of JTE Claims Consultants, is frequently retained as an expert witness in construction disputes and says innovative building projects typically require a greater emphasis on due diligence in the pre-construction phase.
“When the contractor is on site, it’s very expensive to make major changes,” says Thapar.
“Very often, the owner wants to be creative, but they don’t understand how that creativity is going to unfold when you have 100 men on site with equipment, machinery and tools, all waiting for direction,” he adds, noting that it is still too early to draw conclusions about what happened in the TRCA case. “We’ve only got allegations from one side, so we will see what the other side has to say.”
While gains remain marginal compared to the first half of 2024, housing starts continued to tick up in June, according to the most recent data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
After surging 30% in April, the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of housing starts remained more or less flat between April and June, meanwhile the six-month trend in housing starts grew by 3.6% to 253,081 units following a slight 0.8% increase in May. Actual housing starts were also up 14% year over year, clocking in at 23,282 units last month, compared to 20,509 units in June 2024.
Month over month, housing starts remained in the positives, but at 0.4%, the growth between May and June was also nominal, increasing from 282,705 to 283,734 units.
CMHC
According to analysis from TD Economics, June's numbers, while tempered, "surpassed expectations, helping second-quarter starts growth notch a record gain." TD foresees this stable growth bolstering residential investment in the near-term and helping to support other sectors in our weakened economy.
With building permits at elevated levels, TD sees homebuilding maintaining it's solid clip in the near-term, but warns that factors like oversupply and low immigration are weighing on rents, driving down investment in new housing starts. Meanwhile, high construction costs and economic uncertainty stemming from a range of geopolitical conflicts, including the trade war with the US, could further weigh on sales, and thus, housing starts.
Progress, however, varies widely depending on geographic location and property types.
“Through the first six months of the year, national housing starts have increased marginally compared to 2024, however, new home construction varies significantly across Canada," said Kevin Hughes, CMHC’s Deputy Chief Economist. "Québec and the Prairie provinces have accelerated the pace of construction for single-detached homes and purpose-built rentals. By contrast, weak condo market conditions in Toronto and Vancouver have contributed to declines in overall housing starts in these regions."
Starting with Canada's three largest cities, Vancouver posted a 74% year-over-year jump in starts this month, boosted by a 97% increase in multi-unit starts. It should be noted that these June data points buck a longer-term trend of Vancouver dragging down national housing starts alongside Toronto, which saw its starts fall 40% in June, driven by a 47% drop in multi-units.
Looking back to the beginning of the year, Vancouver saw actual housing starts fall 48% in February, 59% in March, and 10% in May, broken up by a 37% increase in January and a 6% uptick in April. In Toronto, starts plunged 41% in January, 68% in February, 65% in March, 25% in April, and 22% in May.
In another reversal of recent trends, Montreal posted a 8% decline in actual starts in June, driven by a decrease in multi-unit starts after recording substantial gains in that segment over the course of 2025.
On the provincial level, only three provinces saw month-over-month seasonally-adjusted increases, led by BC at a 76% increase from 36,371 units in May to 64,194, followed by PEI with a 54% increase, and New Brunswick with a 12% increase. On the flip side, the Prairies struggled in June, with Manitoba posting at 39% decrease, followed by Saskatchewan at -15% and Alberta at -9%. Meanwhile, Ontario and Quebec both reported at 14% drop in housing starts.
The Edmonton City Centre mall and office complex at 10025 102A Avenue in Edmonton. / Canderel
In what may be one of the most high-profile real estate insolvencies of the year in Canada, both in terms of the amount of debt and the parties involved, the Edmonton City Centre mixed-use complex in the heart of downtown Edmonton has been placed under receivership, according to filings in the Court of King's Bench of Alberta.
The Edmonton City Centre complex is located at 10025 102A Avenue and includes not just the mall, but also the Centre Point Place at 10205 101 Street NW that's home to CBC, the 29-storey TD Tower at 10088 102 Avenue NW, and the 24-storey 102A Tower directly to the north that was formerly known as the Oxford Tower.
The mixed-use complex spans across 1.4 million square feet over three city blocks and was acquired by LaSalle Investment Management in November 2019 — through its LaSalle Canada Property Fund — alongside Frankfurt-based Universal Investment on behalf of Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK), North American Development Group (NADG), and Montreal-based real estate firm Canderel from Oxford Properties, the real estate subsidiary of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). Financial details were not disclosed.
According to a press release announcing the acquisition, North American Development Group handles property management and leasing for the retail component, while Canderel handles property management and leasing for the non-retail components. According to court documents, the property is owned under Edmonton City Centre Inc. (ECC) and beneficially owned by LaSalle Canada Core Real Property LP (45%), BAEV-LaSalle ECC Holdings Inc. (45%), NADG (ECC) LP (5%), and Canderel ECC Participant Limited Partnership (5%).
The Receivership
Edmonton City Centre. / Canderel
The receivership application was filed by Otéra Capital Inc., which is the real estate finance arm of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), the investment manager of pension plans in Quebec. Last year, CPDQ announced that it was integrating Otéra and its real estate arm Ivanhoé Cambridge into CPDQ. (The latter was renamed this year to La Caisse.)
According to CPDQ, Otéra entered into a commitment letter with Edmonton City Centre Inc. on August 30, 2019 and a formal mortgage agreement on November 7, 2019. The agreement consisted of two loan facilities: an acquisition loan in the principal amount of $128,500,000 and a capital expenditure/leasing facility in the principal amount of up to $27,000,000. Loan documents state that the loan was conditional on the borrowers acquiring Edmonton City Centre for a purchase price of $311,500,000.
CPDQ says that the owners had defaulted on both facilities after failing to make the required payments on December 1. Both loans were on an interest-only basis, but the second facility also matured on December 1 and the borrowers failed to repay all of the principal as well. The owners then also failed to make payments on both January 1 and February 1.
Both sides then entered into a forbearance agreement until July 1. However, prior to that, the owners committed defaults that were not covered by the forbearance agreement, including not properly maintaining the property.
"ECC acknowledged its inability to fund necessary maintenance and planned capital expenditures to maintain and protect the Property, and the Beneficial Owners confirmed they are unwilling to further fund ECC's funding requirements, and, as a result, Otéra considered that its position was insecure and that its collateral had become further materially deteriorated or impaired," said Otéra in its application.
As of June 1, Otéra was owed a total of $139,508,037.26, plus accrued and accruing interest, costs, and other expenses, and Otéra says it made a formal demand for payment on June 16. The owners have not made any payments since then, prompting Otéra to initiate the receivership proceedings. On July 7, the receivership application was granted and the proceedings are likely headed towards a court-ordered sale of Edmonton City Centre.