Types of construction

Non-residential projects may be as small in scale as a gas station, or as massive as an oil refinery. The gigantic Hibernia offshore oil drilling platform in the Atlantic Ocean and the Confederation Bridge joining Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick were two such immense non-residential undertakings completed in the 1990s.

Today, there are several major projects that are underway which will take several years to complete. Based on the estimated costs, 6 of the top 10 projects are related to oil sands development in Northern Alberta, and 7 of these 10 projects are related to energy. In Fort McMurray, Alberta, various oil sands plant expansions began in 1997 and are expected to be completed by 2008. Near Toronto, the Pearson Airport Development project has been underway since 1998 with expected completion in 2008. In Montréal, massive road and rail expansions won't be completed until 2010. All these are multi-billion dollar undertakings.

The launch of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges or sewer systems is not necessarily tied to a booming economy; in fact, governments tend to use such projects to provide jobs during economic slowdowns. However, if the backers are businesses, projects will be launched when the economy is doing well and a return on investment is more likely.

In 2002, investment in residential construction accounted for just under $58 billion, up from $51 billion in 2001, while investment in non-residential construction fell to $61 billion, down from $64 billion in 2001.