FEATURE

A Stronger Quarter, Uneven Ground: What Q4 Housing Data Means

Canada’s 2025 housing starts increased year over year on a raw annual basis, rising from 245,367 in 2024 to 259,028 in 2025 (+5.6%). ... Read more.

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Canada’s Q4 2025 housing starts showed year-end strength, particularly in multi-family construction, reshaping interior component demand and emphasizing repeatable manufacturing and capacity planning in urban centres. Meanwhile, the latest Consumer Reports kitchen appliance rankings highlight LG’s broad category leadership and strong performances from Frigidaire, Bosch, Samsung and GE — valuable insight for designers specifying reliable products.

– Tyler Holt, Editor

LATEST NEWS

April and May minimum wage hikes roll out across multiple provinces

Minimum wage rates are scheduled to rise in several Canadian jurisdictions in 2026, with Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Quebec ... Read more.

Interfor and West Fraser post Q4 losses

Interfor and West Fraser both reported loss-making fourth quarters as elevated softwood lumber duties, Section 232 tariffs, and uneven demand pressured pricing and operating rates heading into early 2026. ... Read more.

Lynden Door, Alliance Door expand Canadian manufacturing footprint with new Ontario facility and Yarrow upgrade

Lynden Door, a family-owned manufacturer of residential, commercial and architectural interior doors, ... Read more.

Nova Scotia moves to modernize trades training with new NSCC institute and industry governance model

The Nova Scotia government and Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) are launching an Institute of Skilled Trades (IST) designed to modernize trades ... Read more.

COLUMN

Report Reveals Kitchen Appliance Brand Rankings

Consumer Reports has released its first-ever ratings of kitchen appliance brands. The 2026 rankings are for cooktops, ranges, wall ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators. LG emerged as the top brand in several categories and ... Read more.

BUSINESS

Ottawa asks industry for input on modular and prefab housing as Build Canada Homes opens MMC RFI through March 5

Build Canada Homes (BCH), the federal agency launched in September 2025 to help scale up affordable ... Read more.

Contributors wanted! We’re always looking for contributing writers and stories for our newsletter. If you have something you’d like to share with readers and want more details, please email Jake Blanchard at jakeb@mediaedge.ca.