Tighter public-health measures aimed at controlling the further spread of COVID-19 brought employment lower in several provinces, including Ontario. Nationally, construction shed 12,700 jobs.

The $34-million project will create a community-wide smart grid that can lower electricity costs for customers, and improve system reliability.

The increase of 5.6 percent in the cost of residential construction is the largest on record, and is largely due to rising demand and material shortages. Non-residential building construction prices, meanwhile, rose by 1.5 percent.

New legislation introduced by the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development on May 6, would create a single-window entity that would cut red tape and make the skilled trades and apprenticeship system more efficient, accessible and easier to navigate.

The federal funding will go toward building or renovating nearly 6,300 units in the city, many of which will be targeted for priority vulnerable groups, including seniors.