Optimism has never been higher in Ontario’s construction industry and Windsor is expected to be busier than most in what is anticipated to be a record year in 2023.

According to the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) annual contractors’ survey, 81 per cent of respondents believe business will be as good or better this year. Only 16 per cent expected a drop in business in the survey released this month.

“It’s the most positive outlook I’ve ever seen,” said Windsor-Essex Construction Association president Jim Lyons, who is also on the OCS board of directors.

“There’s a volume of business everywhere in the province and Windsor is going to be leading the way with the Gordie Howe bridge, the NextStar battery plant, Windsor Assembly and some additional infrastructure for the Herb Gray Parkway.

“The infrastructure improvements we have made with the bridge and parkway are bringing more investors.”

The OCS represents the interests of Ontario’s unionized construction industry in the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) construction sectors.

Lyons said the historic levels of optimism both locally and provincially is based mostly on known public projects approved through government infrastructure funding bodies.

Lyons said the longer-term prospects also remain good for the region. As the building of the Gordie Howe International Bridge draws to a close over the next couple years, construction of the new hospital will be nearing launch.

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