RC121 NovDec 2025 - Magazine - Page 4
EDITOR’S NOTE
THE MOD SQUAD
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 6
by John Tenpenny
THE MODS ARE BACK. No, not the Vespa-riding, army coat wearing subculture featured in The Who’s
rock opera Quadrophenia. Rather, the concept of modular construction—the practice of fabricating
building components, or “modules,” in a factory-controlled environment—has resurfaced as
governments explore innovative construction methods to meet the challenges of building new
infrastructure, particularly a昀昀ordable housing and long-term facilities.
Some estimates suggest 4.3 million more homes for people with low incomes, students, and the
homeless are needed, not to mention 199,000 new beds in long-term care facilities by 2035. Add to
this the fact that an estimated 700,000 workers in the skilled trades are expected to retire by 2028, and
construction costs have risen by 51 per cent in recent years, and policymakers need solutions—and
quickly—to catch up to rising demand as the population grows and the skilled labour force shrinks.
Build Canada Homes—a new federal agency created by Mark Carney’s government—
announced it will focus on using cost-e昀케cient and modern methods of construction such as
modular. Through bulk procurement and long-term 昀椀nancing, Build Canada Homes hopes to
mainstream these advanced methods of construction, which they indicate have the potential to cut
building timelines by up to 50 per cent, reduce costs by as much as 20 per cent and lower emissions
by approximately 20 per cent during construction.
“We will create an entirely new housing industry using Canadian technology, Canadian workers,
and Canadian resources—and give builders the tools they need to build more, build sustainably,
and build at scale,” said Carney at the announcement.
In Ontario and Quebec, modular construction is being used—in partnership with municipal
governments—to make some headway in the a昀昀ordable housing crisis.
The provincial government is partnering with the City of Toronto and Habitat for
Humanity GTA to build 33 modular homes in a six-storey condominium building. The site was
identi昀椀ed by the city as part of its commitment under the Ontario-Toronto New Deal to make use
of surplus properties appropriate for the construction of below-market, attainable modular homes.
Of the 33 modular homes, 22 will be large enough to accommodate families.
Ontario is investing $10 million in this project, with Toronto funding a further $4.8 million.
Recently, the City of Montréal o昀케cially opened its 昀椀rst modular housing project in partnership
with the provincial and federal governments. This new project, with involvement from the Old
Brewery Mission, will provide homes to 30 vulnerable individuals in a stable social situation who
are on the housing waitlist. The modular housing units were designed reusing structures used
for site o昀케ces by Hydro-Québec during the construction of the La Romaine hydroelectric project.
These structures were redeveloped into 27 bedrooms, in addition to o昀케ces and common areas.
Other types of infrastructure, such as student housing, are being built using modular
construction, as well as correctional facilities. In Ontario, several projects are under construction
or have been completed using modular construction, including the Niagara Detention Centre, the
Kenora Jail expansion, and the new $1.2-billion Thunder Bay Correctional Complex.
The bene昀椀ts of modular construction can only be realized with broader awareness and
understanding of modular methods, greater regulatory consistency, and more compatible
procurement and 昀椀nancing practices.
John Tenpenny is the
editor of ReNew Canada.
john@actualmedia.ca
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