Canadian Cities

There are 10 CMAs with positive short- and long-term expectations this month, the same number as last month. There are only three CMAs in the down-down quadrant, signalling negative expectations for the short and long terms.

Online experience  |  3-min read
January 11, 2021
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Housing markets have always mirrored social trends in Canada. The automobile, for example, helped fuel suburban growth in the mid-20th century. A home-ownership tsunami brought on by baby boomers led to a decline in the construction of new rental units in the 1990s. And in the past 20 years, the housing story has been about the growth of our cities, at the cost of small towns and rural communities.

Op-ed  |  5-min read
November 19, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Canada’s population is aging, and this has profound economic and social implications for the country. It means a rising number of workers are exiting the labour force and fewer younger workers are entering the job market, constraining the economy’s ability to grow. In fact, even the adoption of labour-saving technology and delayed retirements will not be enough to fully offset these effects.

Impact paper  |  50-min read
October 28, 2020
Focus Area—Immigration

There are seven CMAs with positive short- and long-term expectations this month. Short-term expectations for all the Western census metropolitan areas (CMAs) continue to be negative. All three British Columbia CMAs report negative expectations for both the short and long terms.

Online experience  |  2-min read
October 26, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Canada's existing housing markets continued to surge in September, despite evidence of a second COVID wave and still-uncertain economic prospects. Markets are responding to ultra-low interest rates and households' desire for living space as COVID restrictions and work-from-home practices persist.

Online experience  |  2-min read
October 22, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

The Canadian economy is in the midst of its worst downturn in decades. Life in cities across the country has been brought to a standstill by the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures imposed to control it. While the impacts are being felt across all cities and industries, some are being hit harder than others.

Online experience  |  3-min read
October 20, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

For the first time in our monthly flyer, there are no CMAs with positive expectations for the short term, as residential permits have fallen in all areas, due in part to COVID-19.

Online experience  |  2-min read
October 1, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Canada’s existing housing markets continued red-hot in August, despite end-of-month signs of a COVID-19 uptick and still-soft employment conditions. Markets are responding to ultra-low interest rates and a desire for living space in the event of another lockdown.

Online experience  |  2-min read
October 1, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

In the coming months, more than 1.3 million jobs in the accommodation and food services sector will be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in Canada. This represents approximately 7 per cent of all Canadian jobs. However, the economic impact on the sector will be felt unevenly across the country because economic regions are specialized in different industries.

Commentary  |  3-min read
March 31, 2020
Focus Area—Innovation & Technology

The metropolitan housing provides the recent trends in housing starts for 29 metropolitan areas and expectations for starts over both the short and long term. There are six census metropolitan areas (CMAs) with positive short- and long-term expectations.

Online experience  |  2-min read
March 23, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

The COVID-19 outbreak presents considerable downside risk to the resale market. Threats include uncertain job security, canceled open houses, and plunging values of consumer investments slated to become down payments.

Online experience  |  2-min read
March 19, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Toronto is North America's second largest financial centre, ranking among the most important in the world. The city’s financial services sector continues to grow and has a significant influence on the local economy, Canada’s international footprint, and the success of Canadian businesses.

Online experience  |  5-min read
March 9, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

The monthly Metropolitan housing starts publication provides the recent trends in housing starts for 29 metropolitan areas. There are 6 CMAs with both positive short and long-term expectations, the same number as last month.

Online experience  |  2-min read
February 25, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

The monthly Metropolitan resale snapshot provides an overview of the existing home market. Widespread sales increases, combined with proliferating drops in listings, are producing taut markets in many areas.

Online experience  |  2-min read
February 25, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Canada just entered a new decade in 2020, but there are several unsolved challenges that we’ll have to deal with over the coming years. The external landscape is also challenging, especially as the United States and China are, one day, working toward a trade deal, or the next day, ramping up the tariff war—with either outcome likely hurtful for Canada’s own trade prospects.

Op-ed  |  5-min read
January 30, 2020
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Trade uncertainty on the rise again, threatening Canada’s economic performance. On the positive side, labour markets continue to do well. Job growth is running at record levels and wage growth is solid. However, the housing sector has softened, with both home construction and prices expected to decline this year.

Report  |  50-min read
November 5, 2019
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Trade wars threaten Canada’s economic performance. The economy got off to a poor start in 2019 as the trade sector took a toll on economic growth. While growth bounced back in the second quarter and is expected to remain decent over the rest of the year, the weak start means that Canada’s overall economic performance this year will be subpar.

Report  |  50-min read
September 17, 2019
Focus Area—Canadian Economics

Economic growth remained sluggish in the first quarter of 2019, with real GDP growing by a meagre 0.4 per cent at annual rates. A key area of weakness was new home construction, which tumbled. Exports were another soft spot, as volumes have declined.

Report  |  50-min read
August 1, 2019
Focus Area—Canadian Economics