Canadian Office Vacancy Expected To Hit Pre-Pandemic Levels By 2029
The national office vacancy rate in Canada peaked in 2025 at 14.9%, but is now on the decline again. Howard Chai, May 08, 2026 Six years later, office markets across the country (and beyond) are still feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which changed the world forever by making remote work mainstream. But things are on the upswing. In Q1 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, the national office vacancy rate was just under 8% according to commercial real estate services firm Colliers....
read moreBrick-and-mortar retail resilient as macroeconomic storm clouds gather
Population growth drives retail traffic and demand for space Howard Chai, May 1, 2026 Online shopping has been the bogeyman of brick-and-mortar retailers since well before the COVID-19 pandemic forced everybody online. But the reports of the death of in-person retail were greatly exaggerated. “We’re always talking about the demise of retail because of e-commerce, but it’s persevered over the years,” said Raymond Wong, vice-president of data solutions with Altus Group. A survey of investment...
read more‘Trump effect’ continues to exert a powerful hold on Canadian housing market outlook
The US president’s decisions over the past 16 months have weighed down the market – and that trend looks set to continue for the foreseeable future By Fergal McAlinden, 20 Apr. 2026 Five-year Government of Canada bond yields wobbled on Monday morning amid a jump in inflation and fresh uncertainty over the future of the US-Iran war. The national inflation rate rose to 2.4% in March, according to Statistics Canada, confirming that the continuing conflict in the Middle East is jolting prices and...
read moreB.C. population drops by 41,000 residents, first decline in 151 years cools housing demand
Kenneth Chan, Apr 17 2026 British Columbia’s population declined by more than 41,000 people in 2025 — marking only the second annual decrease in the province’s history. This is based on a new housing market report by Vancouver-based real estate and marketing firm Rennie that links the drop directly to shifting immigration policy and a cooling housing market. There has been a dramatic reversal after years of rapid population growth and intensifying housing demand across the province. After...
read moreNet office leasing was positive in 6 out of 11 Canadian cities: CBRE report
The national downtown office availability rate dropped to 18.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 By Jacqueline So , Apr 08, 2026 Net office leasing was positive in six out of 11 Canadian cities over the first quarter of 2026, according to the “Q1 2026 Canada Office Figures” report published by CBRE. Net office leasing across Canada hit 2.1 million square feet; thus, the national downtown office vacancy rate dropped to 18.2 percent. Toronto spearheaded the leasing momentum, with 1.9 million...
read moreCanada’s rental vacancy rate to hit highest level in a decade: RBC
Cooling rents mask future supply risks for investors, lenders and brokers By Liezel Once, 02 Apr. 2026 Canada’s rental market appeared to be moving out of crisis mode in 2025, with purpose‑built vacancy rates edging toward territory traditionally seen as balanced. However, RBC Economics argued that the apparent relief for tenants concealed a shorter‑term correction rather than a lasting reset. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)’s latest Rental Market Report showed the national...
read moreCanadian Commercial Real Estate Is Warming Up To AI, But Slowly
For companies with smaller portfolios and less capital, AI overhauls and massive returns aren’t a quick process. Still, optimism surrounding the autonomous tech persists. Teagan Sliz, March 27, 2026 Increased efficiency and reduced costs. That is what AI promises the commercial real estate industry. And it’s a tantalizing promise, but despite the big buzz around big tech, a recent report shows uptake of AI solutions in the commercial segment has been underwhelming. Why? According to a...
read moreOpinion: Disastrous budget threatens N.B.’s economic future
Residents should demand better after Liberals deliver ‘a clear threat to the province’s economic future’ Alex Whalen and Grady Munro, Published Mar 17, 2026 Not long ago, New Brunswick was among Canada’s fiscal bright lights. The provincial government had a string of balanced budgets, declining debt as a share of the economy, and the top-ranked fiscal performance in Canada. Less than two years into its term, the Holt government has erased this record and its new budget,...
read moreHow Canada can turn housing investments into more rental homes
Presented in partnership with Starlight Investments The Hub Staff, 12 March 2026 The federal government’s $51 billion Build Strong Communities Fund represents a significant commitment to addressing Canada’s housing crisis, but ensuring those investments translate into new homes will require strong coordination between all levels of government, according to a major rental housing provider. Howard Paskowitz, vice president, development & public affairs, Canadian residential at Starlight...
read moreAlberta eyes a brighter future for commercial real estate
Home-grown investors are showing strong interest in opportunities By: Cory Wosnack and Brennan Yadlowski, Avison Young (Canada) Inc., for Western Investor Mar 6, 2026 Optimism is growing for Alberta’s commercial real estate sector in the coming year as we continue to build upon successes from 2025. We anticipate growth in Alberta’s gross domestic product (GDP), and strong performance in Calgary’s industrial and multi-family segments, while there is positive potential in Edmonton retail and...
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