Top 10 Construction Projects to Watch in Canada in 2026
December 17, 2025
Canada is in the middle of its largest infrastructure investment cycle in a generation. Federal, provincial, and municipal governments are spending aggressively on transit, housing, energy, and transportation — and the construction industry is scaling up to deliver.
Canada is investing over $80 billion in active infrastructure and development projects in 2026. These megaprojects are reshaping cities, connecting communities, and creating thousands of construction jobs — and every one of them requires rigorous documentation, progress monitoring, and accountability. Construction timelapse cameras have become standard tools on projects of this scale, providing stakeholders with visual evidence of progress and protecting contractors against delay disputes. Here are the ten projects that define Canadian construction in 2026.
Here are the ten most significant projects to watch in 2026, spanning coast to coast.
1. Ontario Line — Toronto, Ontario ($27 Billion)
The Ontario Line is the single largest transit project in Canadian history. This 15.6-kilometre subway line will connect Exhibition Place to the Ontario Science Centre, with 15 stations serving some of Toronto’s densest neighbourhoods.
Construction is well underway with tunnel boring machines in the ground and major station excavations progressing across the city. The project is expected to carry 227,000 riders per day when complete, fundamentally changing how Toronto moves.
Why it matters: The sheer scale demands cutting-edge project documentation. With dozens of concurrent work sites across the city, keeping stakeholders informed without constant site visits is a logistical challenge that technology is solving. For a deeper look at why Ontario’s megaprojects require this level of documentation, see our post on Ontario infrastructure projects and timelapse cameras.
2. Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) — Montreal, Quebec ($8.34 Billion)
Montreal’s automated light metro system spans 67 kilometres with 26 stations, connecting the South Shore, North Shore, West Island, and airport to downtown. The first segment opened in 2024, with remaining branches progressing through 2026.
The REM represents a new model for Canadian transit — fully automated, driverless trains running every 2.5 minutes at peak. It is being built by CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt, making it one of the few major transit projects funded primarily by a pension fund.
Why it matters: The distributed nature of the project — 67 kilometres of guideway across multiple municipalities — makes centralized visual monitoring essential for coordinating progress across branches.
3. Green Line LRT — Calgary, Alberta ($6.25 Billion)
Calgary’s Green Line is the city’s largest-ever infrastructure project. The first phase covers 18 kilometres from Shepard to North Pointe, with 14 stations. After years of scope revisions and funding negotiations, construction is moving forward.
The project will transform connectivity between Calgary’s southeast communities and the downtown core, addressing decades of underinvestment in transit south of the Bow River.
Why it matters: The Green Line’s extended timeline and phased delivery make long-term documentation particularly valuable for tracking progress, managing handoffs between phases, and maintaining accountability.
4. GO Expansion — Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area ($36.9 Billion)
Metrolinx’s GO Expansion program is converting the commuter rail network into a frequent, electrified rapid transit system. The scope includes electrification of core corridors, new stations, expanded maintenance facilities, and signal upgrades across the network.
By 2026, construction will be active on multiple corridors simultaneously, including the Lakeshore East and West lines, the Kitchener corridor, and the Stouffville line.
Why it matters: With work happening at dozens of locations across the GTA, remote monitoring allows program managers to track progress across the entire network without spending their days in a car. Learn more about how timelapse cameras are changing project management on programs of this complexity.
5. Broadway Subway Project — Vancouver, British Columbia ($2.83 Billion)
The Broadway Subway extends the Millennium Line 5.7 kilometres from VCC-Clark to Arbutus, with six new underground stations. Tunnel boring is complete, and 2026 will see station fit-out and systems installation accelerate toward a 2027 opening.
This corridor is the second-busiest transit route in Western Canada, and the subway will replace a surface bus route that has been at capacity for years.
Why it matters: Underground construction in a dense urban environment requires meticulous documentation for coordination with utilities, traffic management, and stakeholder communication.
6. Gordie Howe International Bridge — Windsor, Ontario ($6.4 Billion)
The new six-lane cable-stayed bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit is one of the most significant cross-border infrastructure projects in decades. The 853-metre main span will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America when complete.
Construction is in its final stages, with the bridge deck connection expected in 2026. The project includes Canadian and American ports of entry, a massive customs plaza, and connecting highway infrastructure.
Why it matters: Cross-border megaprojects involve complex regulatory oversight from multiple jurisdictions. Visual documentation provides a shared reference point for Canadian and American stakeholders.
7. Housing Accelerator Projects — Multiple Cities ($4+ Billion)
The federal Housing Accelerator Fund is driving residential construction across Canada, with over 750,000 new housing units targeted by 2031. In 2026, major multi-residential projects funded or incentivized by the program will be under construction in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, and Halifax.
This is not a single project but a wave of construction activity reshaping the Canadian housing landscape.
Why it matters: Multi-residential developers managing multiple concurrent projects need efficient documentation systems to track progress without multiplying site management overhead.
8. Site C Clean Energy Project — Peace River, British Columbia ($16 Billion)
BC Hydro’s Site C dam on the Peace River is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Canadian history. The 1,100-megawatt facility will produce enough electricity to power approximately 450,000 homes per year.
After years of cost overruns and schedule challenges, the project is entering its final phases in 2026 with reservoir filling expected.
Why it matters: Remote mega-projects in challenging environments demonstrate the value of camera documentation most clearly — when the nearest city is hours away, remote visual access is not a convenience but a necessity.
9. Coastal GasLink Pipeline — Northern British Columbia ($14.5 Billion)
The 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline from Dawson Creek to Kitimat is one of the largest pipeline construction projects in Canadian history. The pipeline feeds the LNG Canada export terminal, which is itself a massive construction undertaking.
2026 will see commissioning activities and final restoration work across the pipeline corridor.
Why it matters: Linear infrastructure projects spanning hundreds of kilometres face unique documentation challenges. Camera systems at key points along the route provide centralized visibility into progress and environmental compliance.
10. Darlington Small Modular Reactor — Clarington, Ontario ($3+ Billion)
Ontario Power Generation is building Canada’s first grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. The GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor is expected to begin producing power by the end of the decade, with construction ramping up through 2026.
This project is a bellwether for Canada’s nuclear energy ambitions and could pave the way for SMR deployment across the country.
Why it matters: Nuclear construction operates under the strictest regulatory oversight in the industry. Comprehensive visual documentation supports both regulatory compliance and public transparency.
What These Projects Mean for Canadian Construction
The combined value of these ten projects exceeds $125 billion. They represent years of sustained construction activity across every region of Canada, employing hundreds of thousands of workers and generating demand for materials, equipment, and technology.
For the construction industry, this pipeline of work creates both opportunity and pressure. Firms need to deliver on time and on budget in an environment of labour shortages, material cost volatility, and increasing regulatory complexity.
Technology — including construction cameras, BIM, drones, and AI-powered analytics — is not optional for projects at this scale. It is a core requirement for managing complexity and maintaining accountability.
Documenting the Future
Every one of these projects will generate thousands of hours of construction activity. The ones that document it comprehensively will be better positioned to manage disputes, demonstrate progress, and ultimately deliver the infrastructure Canada needs.
If you are working on a major construction project in Canada and want to explore how timelapse documentation can support your delivery, Get a Quote to discuss your requirements. View Sitelapse Pricing to see which plan fits your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest construction project in Canada in 2026?
The Ontario Line subway project ($19 billion) is Canada’s largest active transit infrastructure project in 2026. The BC Site C Dam ($16 billion) and GO Expansion ($15.7 billion) follow closely.
How many construction workers are employed on Canadian megaprojects?
Canadian megaprojects collectively employ tens of thousands of tradespeople. The Ontario Line alone is expected to employ over 20,000 workers over its construction lifecycle.
Why do large Canadian construction projects use timelapse cameras?
Megaprojects use timelapse cameras for public accountability (taxpayer reporting), documentation of progress against contract milestones, evidence for delay claims, and marketing/PR content. Many public project owners now include documentation requirements in their contracts.
Can construction cameras be used on federally funded projects in Canada?
Yes. Federal projects follow Treasury Board contracting policies that encourage modern project management tools. Many federally funded projects (CanadaBuys-procured) include visual documentation requirements in their specifications.
How are Canadian infrastructure megaprojects monitored for progress?
Large projects use a combination of BIM (Building Information Modelling), schedule management software (Primavera P6), site inspections, and increasingly, AI-assisted camera monitoring. Timelapse documentation is used for owner reporting, claims management, and public communications.
What’s the best Canadian city for construction activity in 2026?
Toronto and the GTA lead by volume, driven by the Ontario Line, Eglinton Crosstown, GO Expansion, and thousands of residential units under construction. Vancouver is second with the Broadway Subway and Fraser River Tunnel projects.