News

Greater Sudbury Sees Strong Growth in 2022

Aligning with growth in commercial and industrial sectors, Greater Sudbury’s residential sector continues to see strong investment in multi-unit and single-family dwellings. In 2022, the combined value of construction for new and renovated residential projects was $119 million and resulted in 457 units of new housing, the highest annual number in the last five years.

The modernization and redevelopment of many existing buildings created new residential units that have helped grow our city while increasing the number of employment and investment opportunities.

“We are seizing every opportunity to grow and strengthen Greater Sudbury’s economy,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. “At the same time, we must ensure we can accommodate the various housing needs of our growing population. My recently approved motion to direct staff to prepare a Housing Supply Strategy by the end of this year will provide a clear summary of our current housing-related initiatives, as well as recommendations on how Greater Sudbury can grow our city while helping the Province accomplish its goal of 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years. I am hopeful that we can provide the conditions to encourage thoughtful, targeted and sustainable residential development.”

Strong Employment and Development Activity

In 2022, projects with a combined construction value of $86.6 million covering all sectors, received building permits. These included:

• Increased bed capacity project at Health Sciences North
• Modifications at the world-renowned SNOLAB
• Construction of Cambrian College’s Battery Electric Vehicle lab
• Installation of the Steel Gantry Tower and the Exploration Shaft Hoist House at Vale

Throughout 2022, Greater Sudbury’s unemployment rate remained below provincial and national numbers with an average of 4.36 per cent and an employment rate of 58.59 per cent. This trend continues into 2023 with an increase in workforce participation to 87,000 from 85,900 in December 2022.

Policies for a Vibrant, Growing Community

In 2022, the City embarked on a review of Community Improvement Plans (CIPs) to be ready to support future development opportunities. Council adopted the new Strategic Core Area CIP to help rejuvenate areas in Greater Sudbury by providing funding incentives such as grants, loans and rebate programs.

“We continue to find new innovative opportunities to collaborate with our partners, stakeholders and businesses to attract newcomers and investment to our community,” said City of Greater Sudbury Chief Administrative Officer Ed Archer. “With City Council’s support, we continue to implement initiatives that streamline development approvals and enable growth.”

Service Innovations for Effective Services

To further support development in the community, the One-Stop Services development counter opened at Tom Davies Square, providing more convenient access to services, including permit applications. This innovation makes it easier for development representatives to connect with Building, Planning and Technical Services, reducing the number of steps involved in making their, or their clients’, projects become reality.

Helping Connect People with Jobs

In 2022, 265 people were approved to apply for permanent residency through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) program. This represents 494 new residents for our community, including family members. This is a 215 per cent increase from 2021, during which 84 individuals were approved. Demand continues to be strong in 2023 with new applications arriving almost daily.

Film, Television and Tourism Make Important Contributions to Economic Growth

Greater Sudbury’s film and television sector continues to be an important economic driver for our community. In 2022, 19 productions were filmed in Greater Sudbury with a total economic impact of $18.2 million, the highest since 2017, bringing the film industry back to pre-pandemic levels. The hit series Shoresy, streamed on Crave, announced its second season will film in Greater Sudbury in 2023.

Many new initiatives increased visitors to local businesses and allowed residents to rediscover the downtown, including:

• The opening of Innovation Quarters/Quartiers de l’Innovation downtown business incubator.
• The return of the Greater Sudbury Market on Elgin Street.
• The opening of Place des Arts

Other new projects are also underway, such as YES Theatre’s Refettorio project on Durham Street, which plans to open in 2023.

To learn more about Greater Sudbury’s economic growth, visit  https://investsudbury.ca/about-us/economic-bulletin/. Related information will be shared and reported quarterly in 2023.