Canadian retail real estate

Canada’s tight retail real estate market is shifting negotiating power toward landlords as limited construction and high occupancy constrain available space. JLL, Primaris, RioCan, McDonald’s and Empire executives discuss the implications, including the temporary opportunity created by former Hudson’s Bay locations.

Retail Insider's latest Real Estate & Leasing Report examines how limited retail space, selective investment, and redevelopment strategies are reshaping Canada's commercial property market, with growing performance gaps between prime retail assets and secondary centres.

Q1 2026 saw tight vacancy and rising rents collide with higher build-out costs. Winners are landlords who can reconfigure space fast; weaker assets face stress.