Canadian Cities
Have a clear understanding of economic growth in Canadian cities to reinforce or shift your business decisions.
City Economies Feel the Pinch: Major City Insights
Canadian Economics March 28, 2023
With higher borrowing costs and inflation eating away at incomes, which sectors of local economies across Canada will be hit hardest by weakening consumer demand? To what extent will higher interest rates affect the housing market and related industries in Canadian cities? We share our economic outlook for 24 major cities, including output, employment, and population growth.
Online experience • 8-min read
Positive Expectations Continue to Dwindle: Metropolitan Housing Starts
Canadian Economics January 27, 2023
Only two CMAs remain in the Up-Up quadrant this month, two fewer than last month. Negative expectations now outweigh positives for the short term.
Online experience • 5-min read
Spreading the Growth: How Canada’s Smaller Cities Can Make Bigger Gains
Canadian Economics January 23, 2023
Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, and Calgary are the biggest census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in Canada and have been major drivers of growth in the country. With a combined economic output of nearly $870 billion in 2019 (real 2012 dollars), their sheer size suggests that they’ve played an important role in shaping and driving the Canadian economy over time.
Issue briefing • 15-min read
The Resale Market Stabilizes: Metropolitan Resale Snapshot
Canadian Economics December 1, 2022
National existing home sales inched higher in October as an increase of 1.3 per cent interrupted a string of seven straight declines. Buyers continue to be wary against a backdrop of high interest rates and uncertain economic prospects.
Online experience • 8-min read
Paving the Way to an Election
Canadian Economics April 29, 2022
Seemingly taking a page from the federal budget’s playbook, this provincial fiscal plan echoed the increased spending and infrastructure themes of its federal counterparts. This de-emphasis on a balanced budget as the critical fiscal target over the next few years allows the province the flexibility to present a more realistic—though still challenging—spending plan that will not detract from the economic recovery.
Quick take • 5-min read
Delivery Notice: Sustainable Urban Freight Solutions for the Last Mile
Sustainability April 28, 2022
E-commerce growth is being fuelled by retail innovation and shifting consumer behaviour. Consumers and businesses are increasingly comfortable with digital purchasing and attracted to the convenience and choice provided by digital shopping environments. Retailers are improving the quality of the online storefront experience and increasing the efficiency of logistics operations.
Issue briefing • 14-min read
Making Rural Immigration Work: Settlement Services in Small and Rural Communities
Immigration March 31, 2022
In Canada, immigrants disproportionately settle in urban areas. The three largest cities—Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver—are home to 35 per cent of Canada’s population but receive more than half of all arriving immigrants. Canada needs a strategy to establish and fund settlement services in small and rural communities.
Impact paper • 46-min read
Essential Skills for Learning and Working: Perspectives From Education and Employment Leaders Across Canada
Education & Skills March 10, 2022
How can workers be sure they have the skills they will need to succeed? How we learn and demonstrate skills through qualifications is also changing. For example, while there is much uncertainty around the future of microcredentials, these new, short-term offerings are becoming increasingly common.
Impact paper • 16-min read
Partner: Future Skills Centre
Social and Digital Infrastructure: Laying the Groundwork for an Inclusive Recovery
Education & Skills March 8, 2022
Gaps in Canada’s infrastructure leave many without the social and digital supports they need to succeed. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified these gaps. Too many Canadians, without basic services including child care and broadband Internet connection, are unable to access employment and education.
Impact paper • 18-min read
Partner: Future Skills Centre
Wellbeing by Design: Lessons from the Pandemic on Canadian Communities and the Built Environment
Sustainability February 8, 2022
Changing our built environment has tremendous potential to help Canadians live healthier lives. Throughout the pandemic of 2020–22 we are learning lessons that can advance the thought process. But reflection is key to this advancement. Through a series of interviews and assessment, this report gathers new insights that inform: how the design of the built environment can contribute to community wellbeing and the research and editing of the Community Wellbeing Framework, version 2.
Impact paper • 22-min read
How Ontario Universities Benefit Regional Economies
Innovation & Technology December 9, 2021
The purpose of this study is to quantify the collective economic impacts of Ontario universities in the various regions of the province. Universities create economic and social value for their host communities through a multitude of channels. First, universities support economic activity via spending related to their activities.
Impact paper • 30-min read
Workplaces for the Future: A Playbook for Municipal Leaders on Exploring Remote, Hybrid, and On-Site Models
Human Resources October 25, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented employers with a unique opportunity to reinvent the workplace. For most organizations, the future workplace will likely involve a blend of remote and on-site work. This impact paper examines the benefits and challenges of fully on-site, fully remote, and hybrid workplace models for the Regional Municipality of York.
Impact paper • 32-min read
Green Homes: Sustainable Finance for Residential Retrofits
Sustainability August 18, 2021
Single-attached and detached homes are responsible for approximately 7 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Reducing this requires new financing tools that make it easier to invest in building improvements. That’s a challenge. Sustainable financial innovation is needed both to mitigate consumer barriers and to connect individual projects to green capital markets.
Issue briefing • 15-min read
