News Roundup for April 24, 2026
A preliminary analysis shows the federal HST cut on new homes has not translated into lower prices, with 78% of listings unchanged or higher. In Toronto, a legal battle pits Roncesvalles tenants against landlords over eviction notices, while frequent flooding is driving home insurance premiums up to 26%. The city also pushes back against Ontario’s plan to take over the island airport, amid concerns a local park could be paved for expansion. Meanwhile, subway musicians are brightening rush‑hour commutes as the Gardiner Expressway faces weekend closures.
Industry Updates: Home Sales Trends, HST Relief, Rental Funding, AGO/ROM Funding
Ontario’s one‑year temporary HST relief eliminates the 13% tax on new homes, offering rebates up to $96,000 USD and sparking a province‑wide "Best Time To Buy" campaign by BILD. Despite the incentive, BILD recorded only 948 GTA new‑home sales in...
News Roundup for April 8, 2026
Toronto is deploying AI‑controlled traffic signals to alleviate congestion, while the TTC chief issued an apology after a water spill on subway line 2 caused commuter chaos. The city also launched an East‑West water shuttle pilot on the inner harbour this...
News Roundup for April 7, 2026
Toronto’s Greater Area saw home sales rise year‑over‑year in March, the first increase in six months, while nearly three‑quarters of neighbourhoods recorded sales below asking price. Ontario’s regulator intensified its crackdown on mortgage firms, issuing fines for fraudulent documents and...
Intensifying
Concord Sky and 8 Elm are rising opposite each other on Yonge Street, just south of Gerrard in downtown Toronto. The towers will stand at 85 and 69 storeys respectively, dramatically reshaping the historic shopping corridor. While the skyscrapers dominate the...
News Roundup for April 6, 2026
Toronto’s iconic One Yonge development faces resident backlash over a modest plaza that offers little public space. The TTC announced extended operating hours and additional trains for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT in its next rollout phase. Premier Doug Ford unveiled...
News Roundup for April 1, 2026
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Housing Minister Caroline Carney propose cutting development charges to lower construction costs and accelerate housing supply. Meanwhile, the Toronto Transit Commission reports higher operating expenses and declining ridership, casting doubt on its financial recovery. A...
Building Toronto’s Skyline Podcast Event to Feature Brad Bradford in Concord
The Building Toronto’s Skyline podcast will record live on April 2, 2026 at Viale in Concord, featuring City Councillor Brad Bradford in a fireside chat on housing supply and the “missing middle.” The event targets developers, tradespeople, and investors, capping...
News Roundup for March 27, 2026
U.S. buyers are increasingly scouting Ontario cottage properties, yet transaction volumes stay in a holding pattern as price pressures persist. Environmental groups have mobilized against a proposed residential‑commercial development in northeast Pickering, citing habitat loss and water‑quality risks. Ontario’s already...
Straight Down, Somewhat Askew
The Lakeshore East GO corridor is undergoing a major upgrade, adding a fourth GO track and two dedicated Ontario Line tracks near the Don River. Metrolinx is also building a new structure, the Lower Don Crossing bridge, positioned slightly askew...
Ontario, Federal Governments Eliminate HST on New Homes for One Year
Ontario and the federal government will suspend the 13% HST on qualifying new homes for one year starting April 1, 2026. The cut applies fully to homes priced at or below $1 M CAD (about $0.75 M USD) and tapers to a $24 k rebate...
Five Toronto Landscaping Companies for Backyard Transformations and Outdoor Living
Toronto homeowners are increasingly turning to professional landscaping firms to transform underused yards into functional outdoor living spaces. Companies such as Action Home Services, Canlawn Inc., Eatonville Landscaping, The Beaudry Group, and GTA Sunrise Landscaping offer comprehensive design‑build services, ranging...
News Roundup for March 24, 2026
Toronto city councillors are pushing for platform edge doors on TTC stations, yet financing the safety upgrades remains elusive. Premier Doug Ford plans to designate Billy Bishop Airport as a special economic zone, aiming to permit jet operations and stimulate...
Sea Change
Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre is witnessing a transformative shift as newly constructed residential towers begin to replace its sprawling surface parking lot. The first high‑rise redevelopment across the street marks the start of a broader trend toward high‑density, mixed‑use projects...
UTPro Dashboard Report: More Pre-Con, More Under Construction Across the GTHA
UrbanToronto’s UTPro dashboard for March 18, 2026 shows a modest rise in both pre‑construction and under‑construction activity across the Greater Toronto‑Hamilton Area. The number of projects in pre‑construction climbed to 3,609, representing about 1.435 billion square feet of gross floor area,...