The city' s year-end economic bulletin marks what interim city CAO Kevin Fowke is calling a “transformative year” for the city.
Among the figures the city uses to exemplify this banner year is their issuance of permits totalling $282 million in residential construction value.
This includes 148 new residential permits and 1,122 permits for alterations or renovations, including 854 housing units issued for construction (meaning, the final construction documents have been approved and issued for use in the construction phase).
This is a jump from the $213.5-million in residential permits issued in 2023 (675 units of new housing), which was at the time the highest number in five years.
A significant contributor to last year’s housing unit jump was the 347-unit Project Manito housing complex, which is currently under construction and expected to open next year.
Industrial, commercial and institutional permits were roughly on par with 2023, with 302 permits issued in 2024 with a total construction value of $277 (in 2023, 321 permits were issued, carrying a total construction value of $277 million).
The population also surged to 179,965, according to a Statistics Canada estimate, which is a jump from the 175,307 estimate, and assessment growth hit $181 million, which led Northeastern Ontario.
“Greater Sudbury’s growth in 2024 is a testament to our community’s resilience and strong direction,” Mayor Paul Lefebvre said in a media release.
“Our efforts to attract new residents and investments are delivering real results, making our city an even better place to live, work, and play. We’re excited to build on this momentum in 2025 and seize new opportunities for investment and development.”
Recent years’ population jump has been attributed in part to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which concluded after five years in August 2024 after approving 1,400 candidates through partnerships with more than 700 employers and welcoming 2,700 new residents.
It was recently announced that this program would be replaced by a Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. Expected to open later this year, these two replacement programs are projected to recruit a total of 570 newcomers annually.
The city’s 2024 economic bulletin also notes that 30 film productions took place last year, filming across 397 days and contributing $15.8 million in local direct spending.
This compares to 18 film productions in 2023, which resulted in 342 days of filming and $16.6 million in direct local spending.
"2024 was a transformative year for Greater Sudbury, with significant achievements in healthcare, economic development, talent attraction, and infrastructure,” Fowke said in the city’s media release. “These accomplishments are a look into the future for the city, where we continue to invest and grow to keep Greater Sudbury as a hub of business, innovation and leadership in Northern Ontario."
The full economic bulletin for 2024 can be viewed by clicking here.