by Jeff Olson | Aug 11, 2022 | Financial Shock, Home Maintenance, Public-Private Partnerships
The cost of home repair is increasing, driven by a labour gap shortage, rising labour and materials costs, much of it the result of 39-year high inflation, which hit 8.1% in June. As a result of the inflation, the Bank of Canada raised interest by an entire percentage...
by Jeff Olson | Apr 11, 2022 | Home Maintenance, State of the Home Survey
The pandemic has changed many things, including the way we look at our homes. After months of working and living at home, many of us want a change, because we want our homes to be more functional, more comfortable or better reflect who we are. And one of the biggest...
by Jeff Olson | Dec 22, 2021 | Financial Shock, Green Initiatives, Infrastructure
Climate change is the new reality for Canadian infrastructure, and its effects have become so pronounced that it can no longer be denied – the Prairie and Great Lakes are seeing droughts, the Arctic Circle is seeing glacial loss, everything is becoming hotter and...
by Jeff Olson | Oct 29, 2021 | Home Maintenance, Infrastructure
As temperatures continue to drop and a La Niña develops over the Pacific for the second year in a row, experts are expecting a cold start to winter and early snow this year. Temperatures will be up and down throughout the winter season, but extra cold weather is...
by Jeff Olson | Aug 20, 2021 | Green Initiatives, Infrastructure, Ontario, Water
Green infrastructure not only has 5 to 30 percent less upfront costs than traditional grey infrastructure, but it serves a variety of purposes, including decarbonization, aquifer recharging and flood mitigation. It is also 25 percent less expensive to maintain over...