Osler recognizes the critical role that both the public and private sectors play in the creation and sustainability of rapid and affordable housing in Canada, through programs such as Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative. We have supported municipalities, community housing organizations and private sector companies in the implementation of social housing initiatives, including new modular construction and existing building retrofits to extend usage and maximize energy efficiency, and understand the unique legal, commercial and social considerations of these projects.
Osler's National Construction and Infrastructure Group provides our clients with expert advice through the life cycle of their projects and can provide valuable insight and business acumen in the areas of pre-qualification and procurement, government funding and cost management, appropriate standard forms of contract, contract negotiation, finalization, and administration, and, if necessary, formal dispute resolution.
We have diverse experience assisting on social and community housing initiatives, as well as modular construction and retrofitting projects.
Unique understanding of the Construction Landscape: Clients rely on our unparalleled understanding of the construction landscape in the Canadian market. We also have experience with various project delivery models (including the use of modular solutions), as outlined further below.
Many of our lawyers hold both law and engineering degrees and will bring their hands-on experience to each project mandate. As a result, clients benefit from the best technical excellence and commercial skills on their projects, as well as Osler's top-quality project management methodologies.
A multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to your projects: Our highly qualified lawyers routinely work as multidisciplinary teams, because mandates will typically involve multiple level of governments, municipal governance issues, funding issues, corporate structuring, and real estate development. This allows us to structure relationships and navigate the hurdles that can arise during the course of a construction project, with a view to the long-term needs and goals of our clients.
Leaders in legal project management: Osler has integrated rigorous legal project management principles and processes into the way we manage our client's projects – fueled by technology and open, ongoing client communication we will ensure that your projects are handled efficiently, transparently and cost-effectively.
Select representative experience with social and community housing initiatives
- Toronto Community Housing Corporation on several matters, including advising in connection with the procurement, negotiation and contracting for the DBOM of several combined heat and power generator systems to serve multiple apartment complexes in Toronto.
- DREAM and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation on a loan financed through the Affordable Rental Housing Innovation Fund.
- Raising the Roof, a national organization providing national leadership on long-term solutions to homelessness, on the review and transfer of residential property from the City of Toronto to develop transitional housing for members of the city's homeless population.
- Borrowers in connection with the CMHC’s Rental Construction Financing Initiative (RCFi), to facilitate the development and construction of a rental housing project located in Toronto.
- A private equity real estate investment business in the formation of an Affordable Housing Fund that will invest in affordable housing initiatives.
- Shuhab Housing Development Fund Corporation, a New York-based organization working to provide affordable housing to low and moderate-income individuals and families in New York City, on matters arising as a result of COVID-19.
- Select representative experience with modular builds and retrofitting projects
- Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of the Solicitor General in reviewing and updating IO's template CCDC 14 Supplementary Conditions for use in connection with rapid design and construction projects.
- CreateTO in reviewing and updating CreateTO's template CCDC 14 Supplementary Conditions for use on Phase One of the City of Toronto's modular housing initiative, a fast-track project to design, build and install modular residential housing units.
- Royal Bank of Canada on various rehabilitation projects, including the retrofit of office towers and major capital facilities.
- Atomic Energy of Canada Limited concerning the design and creation of procurement documentation and construction contracts for various projects including a shielded modular above-ground storage building in Manitoba.
- Bruce Power on the construction of its Protected Area Office Complex, a 75,000 square-foot modular office and support facilities building inside the protected area of Bruce Power’s nuclear generating station.
- A Canadian construction services company in connection with its negotiation of a series of agreements to license the modular technology and use this technology to design, build and operate modular buildings in Canada.
- Acted for a shortlisted bidder in the design, build, finance, and maintain MacDonald Block Reconstruction Project in Ontario. The Project includes the renovation of the historic MacDonald Block part of an administrative hub of government operations that has not undergone a major renovation since it was completed in 1971.
- Advised a shortlisted bidder on the Ottawa-based Gatineau 2 Preservation Facility P3 project, a core element of the project was to ensure that Library and Archives Canada's facilities are energy-efficient and sustainable, and as a net-zero carbon building.
- Advised on the retrofitting and refurbishment of numerous existing social infrastructure projects, including the Kelowna and Vernon hospital project in British Columbia and Women's College Hospital in Toronto.
Industry Recognition
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Ranked Band 1 - Construction
“Highly regarded group recommended for its extensive capabilities in front-end construction issues across the country, particularly in the energy, transportation and social infrastructure arenas. Clients benefit from the expertise and hands-on experience of lawyers also qualified as professional engineers.”