The cost to build residential construction increased by 5.6% in the first quarter of this year, in part due to a lack of skilled trades workers. Non-residential costs rose by a more modest 2.6%, largely because of supply chain constraints.

The drop was mainly due to the fact that February’s total activity was inflated by two hospital permits worth a combined $1.9 billion.

A four-year construction timeline that starts in 2027 is one of the key pieces of news coming out of the latest P3 Market Update document from Infrastructure Ontario.

Ford said the formerly shuttered rail service would bring economic and personal benefits to the region's residents. 

Ontario's New Democrats are promising to expand an urgent care centre in Brampton and build a new hospital in the city if elected to form government in June.