17
NATIONAL BULLETIN | Issue 2, 2025
Another powerful driver is the rapid rise 
of data centres and the infrastructure 
required to support them. While much 
of the early momentum has been 
concentrated in the United States, 
Canada is experiencing similar growth. 
Herein, mechanical contractors are 
poised to play a role in bringing these 
facilities and related infrastructure (e.g., 
HVAC, power generation, energy-
management systems) online. “This is 
a whole new industry that has basically 
come from out of nowhere,” says Carrick.
There are additional tailwinds shaping 
Canada’s economic activity. The return-
to-office movement, for example, is 
emerging as a measurable economic 
factor. As workers are encouraged to 
return to downtown areas, demand 
increases for commercial building 
operations, retrofits and energy 
optimization – areas where mechanical 
contractors play a critical role.
Housing remains another structural 
driver. Canada’s population growth 
and persistent supply gap continue 
to underpin long-term construction 
demand. The Canada Mortgage and 
Housing Corporation (CMHC) 
estimates Canada will need substantially 
higher levels of housing construction to 
restore affordability, with various analyses 
pointing to a range of roughly 290,000 
to 480,000 new homes per year through 
2030. While Carrick acknowledges this 
target is unrealistic, “It tells you about 
the level of demand.”
Energy Demand  
and the Long View
If there is a unifying theme behind 
today’s economic drivers, it is the surging 
demand for clean, reliable energy. “The 
need for power – for electricity alone – 
there’s never been anything like that in 
history,” Carrick notes. 
This transition has far-reaching 
implications for mechanical contractors. 
Electrification of buildings, expansion 
of district energy systems, upgrades to 
industrial processes and integration of 
renewable and low-carbon technologies 
all rely heavily on mechanical expertise. 
Whether in health-care facilities, transit 
systems, industrial plants or commercial 
buildings, mechanical contractors are 
positioned at the centre of Canada’s 
energy transformation.
Taken together, the year ahead appears 
likely to be driven by nation-building 
infrastructure, next-generation facilities 
and the foundational components of 
the energy transition. Each of these 
requires specialized mechanical skills, 
coordination and long-term planning.
“As an industry, we have a lot to look 
forward to,” says Lancastle. “Governments 
at all levels are talking about build, build, 
build – and we, as mechanical contractors, 
are being recognized for the critical  
role this industry plays in the  
Canadian economy.”
Carrick echoes that sentiment. “I don’t 
see that this can’t just be boom times for 
construction,” he says.
Preparing for What Comes Next
Certainties over Canada’s economic future 
are hard to come by. Going by today’s data 
and the industry activity on approach, 
it is safe to say that the industry remains 
strong and robust for those who can 
manage volatility, assess risk and  
plan strategically.
“There’s going to be fluctuations,” 
Lancastle cautions. “That’s where we need 
to keep positioning ourselves accordingly 
– whether through contracts, supply chain 
arrangements or staying ahead of the 
curve on risk allocation.”
“It may take some training and proactive 
investments,” he adds, “but you want to 
position yourself in such a way that when 
those challenges arise, you’re ready.”  
©2025, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved. BWBUL1225
INFINITI® GS & GR TANKLESS GAS WATER HEATERS 
•  Robust stainless steel heat exchanger for longer life
•  Residential and commercial applications
•  Cascade and common venting between standard  
 and recirculation models 
 
•  Certified Green Product™ by the Green Restaurant  
 Association
Only One Tankless Is
Built to be the Best®

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.