• 40 homes a year, 40 full-time staff, Arviat housing factory opens to fanfare

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-16 10:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Housing, Indigenous, Infrastructure, Labour, Economy]

  Sakku Innovative Building Solutions—the development arm of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA)—has officially opened Nunavut's first Inuit-owned modular housing factory in Arviat, following a 40 per cent cost increase to a total project price tag of $70 million. Operating year-round, the facility is designed to produce 40 homes annually specifically for northern climates, beginning with an initial project of nine three-bedroom homes for Arviat by spring. The factory currently employs 15 full-time staff, 14 of whom are Inuit, and will scale up to 40 full-time employees while providing local training in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work to address severe territorial housing shortages and overcrowding.

  Read Original

• Carney government to study new major projects bill with tool last used in Harper era

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-25 20:34:29.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Economy, Labour, Governance, Indigenous]

  The federal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced Bill C-39, a 244-page omnibus bill titled the Building Canada Strong Act designed to fast-track major economic development projects and address labour disruptions across 24 different acts and regulations. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon announced that the bill will be referred to a specialized "legislative committee"—a parliamentary mechanism last used by the federal government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2012 for Bill C-11. The legislation has drawn criticism from organized labour, environmental groups, and the Assembly of First Nations over proposed alterations to consultation practices, impact assessments, and the Canada Labour Code. While opposition parties intend to scrutinize the bill and propose amendments in committee, the governing Liberals hold a majority to pass the legislation in the House of Commons.

  Read Original

• AFN chief warns Carney against 'abusing' majority to pass new major projects bill

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-22 18:30:50.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Energy, Labour, Indigenous, Governance]

  Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has warned Prime Minister Mark Carney against abusing majority government powers to pass Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act. The legislation shifts project reviews for major infrastructure such as pipelines and power transmission lines from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to the Canada Energy Regulator while also proposing amendments to the Canada Labour Code. The AFN chief criticized the federal government for limiting debate and consultations, stating that staff in the Alberta-based major projects office lack understanding of First Nations rights and demanding that leadership be permitted to bring forward legislative amendments.

  Read Original

• New trades centre in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., promises to bring houses, jobs to community

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-02 15:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Housing, Infrastructure, Labour, Indigenous]

  A new trades centre has opened in Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories, to support year-round indoor construction of modular housing and address a territorial housing shortage requiring up to 2,700 new homes according to a March 2026 needs analysis. Operating with a crew of about a dozen workers, the facility is currently constructing a duplex destined for Tulita to be delivered early next year. The centre features a built-in classroom designed to help community members pass pre-trades entrance exams, secure Red Seal certification, and build local employment experience that students like Thomas Manuel aim to apply toward future projects such as the proposed 800-kilometre Mackenzie Valley Highway supported by the federal government's Major Projects Office.

  Read Original