Where Is Ontario Building Next?
If you want to understand where real estate could be heading, don’t look only at today’s listings.
Look at what’s being built.
Ontario recorded approximately $2.17 billion in industrial, commercial and institutional building permits in July 2026.
Commercial construction represented just over half of that activity.
Toronto remained Ontario’s largest market.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Brantford recorded about $136 million in ICI permits.
Barrie’s permit activity jumped sharply from the previous month.
And major development continues around transit and redevelopment sites throughout the GTA.
One particularly interesting project is the redevelopment of the former Downsview Airport lands.
Northcrest has brought a 43-acre employment block to market as the massive redevelopment moves from planning toward construction.
This is why commercial investors need to look beyond downtown Toronto.
Vaughan.
Markham.
Mississauga.
Barrie.
Hamilton.
Brantford.
Ottawa.
And other Ontario growth markets all deserve attention.
The next major commercial opportunity isn’t necessarily sitting on Bay Street.
It could be beside a new transit station, highway interchange, employment district or rapidly growing residential community.
That’s what we’ll investigate on this show.
Not just:
What’s selling today?
But:
Where is Ontario going tomorrow?
I’m speaking for Metro Commercial Team.
This has been Ontario Real Estate: The Week in 15.
Ontario first. Canada when it matters.
We’ll see you in the next episode.