Development Liaison Advisory Committee (DLAC)

On January 14, 2026, leaders from Cambrian College, Collège Boréal, Laurentian University and NOSM University took part in a Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce panel discussion about how Sudbury’s post-secondary institutions are adapting to meet the evolving needs of northern Ontario’s workforce and economy.

Following this panel, the four leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), creating the Sudbury Partnership for Higher Education. The partnership marks a significant milestone in regional collaboration and long-term economic development.

To learn more, visit: https://collegeboreal.ca/en/actualite/post-secondary-leaders-share-insights-create-new-partnership-at-chamber-luncheon/

The Greater Sudbury labour force survey results for December 2025 are in.

Labour Force refers to the total adult population available to the labour market at a specific time. As of December 2025, the labour force of Greater Sudbury (Census Metropolitan Area) is 102,500 , a increase of 1000 from November 2025.

The unemployment rate for Greater Sudbury (Census Metropolitan Area) in December is 6.7%. The unemployment rate in Ontario is 7.6% and Canada is 6.7%.
The number of people employed in the city is 95,600, up from 94,800 in November 2025.

The participation rate is 62.8%, a slight increase from November 2025. The participation rate remains below the pre-COVID peak of 65.1% in May 2019.

Effective December 27, 2025, to January 1, 2026, Building and Planning Services of the City of Greater Sudbury will be offering reduced front-facing services to the public. We will be launching temporary service measures that will give our public and stakeholder groups the ability to provide information to staff and access services during this holiday season.

Submitting Applications 

Building Services: Permit applications from the public or stakeholder groups may be electronically submitted directly through PRONTO. Permit processing times may be impacted during this time. All other inquiries can be submitted directly to Building Services general email buildingservices@greatersudbury.ca.

Planning Services: Applications made under the Planning Act by the public or stakeholder groups may be electronically submitted directly through PRONTO . All other requests can be submitted directly to Planning Services general email planningservices@greatersudbury.ca.

Receiving Permits

From December 27, 2025, to January 1, 2026, Building Services will only be issuing permits through PRONTO to residents or stakeholder groups on an emergency basis where impact to life safety is of concern.

Building Inspections

Building Services will not be conducting regular inspections as of 2 p.m. on December 24, 2025, and will resume on January 5, 2026. Inspections will be granted to residents or stakeholder groups only on an emergency basis where impact to life safety is of concern. Building Services Inspection requests can be directed to the Manager of Inspection Services by calling 311.

The Greater Sudbury labour force survey results for November 2025 are in.

It's been a big week for our post-secondary schools, and what looks to be an even bigger 2025/26 school year.

1. Laurentian University Continues Steady Enrolment Growth

Laurentian University has released its preliminary enrolment figures for the Fall 2025 term, showing stability in its overall student population. The data reveals that the overall student headcount has remained consistent year-over-year.

This stability is driven largely by a resurgence of interest from domestic students. Domestic enrolment has risen by 8%, with gains seen across both undergraduate (+7%) and graduate (+11%) levels. Notably, the university is reporting a historic milestone in its bilingual mandate: 27% of the student population is now studying in a French language degree program, the highest proportion in the university’s history.

While the domestic growth is a positive indication of a recovering reputation and strong community ties, it is counterbalanced by shifting global trends. The university looks forward to building on this foundation, ensuring that student success and the quality of the bilingual and tricultural experience unique to Laurentian remain at the forefront of its mission.

2. Cambrian College Climbs Higher on National List of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

Cambrian College has climbed the rankings of Canada’s research colleges and placed first in a specific category.

Every year, Re$earch Infosource Inc. compiles its list of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, according to research income. For 2025, Cambrian is ranked 32nd nationally, up six places from the previous year, with more than $4.55 million in applied research funding. It is the 14^th year in a row that Cambrian has made the list.

Among medium-size colleges, Cambrian placed first overall for use of paid student researchers, with 231 student positions created for projects last year. Cambrian also placed third among medium-size colleges for growth of research income from industry partners, which increased year-over-year by 157%. Cambrian also ranked fifth among medium-size colleges for industry funding as a percentage of total research income, sixth for overall growth in research income, sixth for industry research income, and tenth for research partnerships in total, which numbered 61 last year.

Cambrian R&D works with industry partners in the fields of mining, heavy industry, heavy electric vehicle technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and social sciences.

3. Collège Boréal in the 2025 Ranking of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

For the fourth consecutive year, Collège Boréal’s applied research projects stand out while actively contributing to the growth of Ontario's businesses and organizations.

Research and Innovation Boréal (RIB), Boréal’s research office, has once again been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges for 2025. This achievement highlights the institution’s role as a key partner for the communities and organizations it works with. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, 11 major projects helped advance research in areas as diverse as agriculture, construction, immigration, social innovation, and mental health.

In collaboration with private and university partners, and with the support of funders such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Colleges and Institutes Canada, and the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS), RIB leads meaningful projects. These initiatives support food-waste management, soil rehabilitation, the socioeconomic integration of newcomers to Canada, access to health care for French-speaking communities, and efforts by Indigenous communities to reclaim the natural resources of their ancestral lands.

Greater Sudbury City Council approved the 2026 municipal budget on December 3, 2025, achieving a reduction of nearly 2 per cent from the tax levy increase originally tabled on November 4. The budget includes targeted investments in infrastructure, public safety and employee well-being.

Originally presented as a two-year budget, Council opted to approve funding for 2026 only due to recent organizational changes and upcoming elections. However, the capital budget was readopted for 2026-2027.

For more information about the budget, visit greatersudbury.ca/budget.

The next phase of the City’s Employment Land Strategy Commercial and Industrial Policy Review is now online for your feedback.

As part of the implementation of the Employment Land Strategy a review of the City's current policy framework for commercial and industrial development is being undertaken. The review will examine the City's Zoning By-law and Official Plan and include community engagement to ensure that appropriate guidelines are in place to reflect current industry standards and practices.

The review will include:

• modernizing the commercial and industrial zone categories including simplifying zones and/or definitions, along with related Official Plan policy changes;
• reviewing zone standards with respect to modern requirements (e.g. lot size, frontage, parking ratios); and
• recommendations that respond to specific recurring issues that have been identified by staff as well as those that emerge through discussion with internal and external priority audiences.
  
  

To learn more, visit the Over to You page. Virtual open houses for feedback will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

You are invited to view the newly-updated Downtown Master Plan (DMP) on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at one of two drop-in sessions:

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• 5 to 7 p.m.

The sessions will be hosted in the Studio Desjardins at Place des Arts, located at 27 Larch Street

These sessions will reflect the feedback that the City has collected from the community and will support a transparent planning process for this exciting initiative. Residents will have the opportunity to complete a survey, providing thoughts on the implementation of the updated plan.

Once endorsed by Council, the updated DMP will be the blueprint for a more vibrant, inclusive and thriving downtown Sudbury. These improvements capture the evolving needs of our community and are meant to better serve our Greater Sudbury residents and local businesses. Key milestones of the DMP like the construction of the McEwen School of Architecture and Place des Arts have already been realized, while exciting projects such as the Cultural Hub and Event Centre are still underway.

The review of the DMP is now in its last phase, with final completion expected in early 2026.

For more information on the DMP and the review process, visit: https://overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca/

Effective November 3, 2025, the Ontario Building Code (OBC) was amended to support policies under the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17) that amended the Development Charges Act,1997.

These changes impact the timing and process for payment of development charges for non-rental residential developments within the City of Greater Sudbury. This bulletin summarizes the key changes for our residents, builders, and industry partners.