Calandra said key changes encourage the building of more homes near major transit stations and on underused low-density lands such as shopping plazas and malls.

A CFIB report said small business owners reported losing an average of 22 per cent of revenue during the biggest construction period they faced within the past five years.

The increase was primarily driven by the residential sector (+3.8%); gains in the non-residential sector (+0.4%) were modest.

The rest area is the only one of its kind that can accommodate truck drivers in the middle of a 220-kilometre stretch of Highway 17.

The province is investing $200 million through the fund to help communities revitalize existing community sport and recreation infrastructure and build new facilities.