Greatest Boom Ever

Mortgage rates finally eased a bit last week, but it was not enough to light a fire under demand. Total mortgage application volume dropped 2.5% compared with the previous week according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The week’s results include an additional adjustment for the Memorial Day holiday.       Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4b2ynf4m  

Council approved a budget request Monday of more than $1 million to replace a large number of gas meters that have experienced wear and tear and do not meet current regulations.       Read more: https://tinyurl.com/nrdmnc9k    

Australia needs to build the equivalent of two entire new suburbs every month in extra supply alone to meet the Federal Government’s ambitious housing goal.       Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3yb9dfrk  

Two westbound lanes underneath the CN Rail bridge between 121 Street and 124 Street on Yellowhead Trail reopened Tuesday morning after being closed Monday night due to flooding.   Read more: https://tinyurl.com/yc88ydta  

Canada’s workforce is shrinking, as record numbers of older Canadians retire and fewer younger workers step up to replace them.       Read more: https://tinyurl.com/ms8upwf6    

The timing may be tight, but it appears the Canadian oilpatch will be able to keep adding production without exhausting all available pipeline space in the coming months.       Read more: https://tinyurl.com/ywwj55zj      

Following a 2.5-hour public hearing that included a break to receive legal advice during a brief closed recess, council unanimously voted to adopt changes to the city’s Land Use Bylaw.       Read more: https://tinyurl.com/5bn8utw8  

Australia’s housing shortage is set to deepen as small builders warn hiring and training apprentices has become too great a financial risk.       Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4ck4e66k  

    Alberta is embarking on an ambitious transportation overhaul with a multi- billion dollar investment designed to enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and strengthen economic corridors across the province. The 2025 budget allocates a substantial $8.5 billion over three years for transportation and economic corridor projects, marking a $333.7 million increase from the previous year's funding 1 2 3 . This significant investment demonstrates the government's commitment to building critical infrastructure that supports job creation and economic growth while addressing the needs of Alberta's growing population 5,6 .   Major Highway Corridor Developments   A substantial portion of this funding—$2.6 billion—is dedicated to planning, design, and construction of major highway and bridge projects 7. Key initiatives include the twinning of Highway 3 from Taber to Burdett and Highway 11, along with major upgrades to Deerfoot Trail in Calgary and Highway 881 4,7 . Thes...