Ottawa, ON — The total value of building permits in Canada grew by 6.8 per cent ($821.3 million to $12.8 billion in December, reports Statistics Canada. Both the residential and non-residential sectors recorded gains.
Residential construction intentions rose by 533.5 million to $8.0 billion in December. Gains recorded in the multi-unit component (up $653.2 million) were tempered by a decline in the single-family component (down $119.7 million).
Specifically, gains in the multi-unit component were led by Ontario (up $548.8 million), Manitoba (up $236.9 million) and Quebec (up $130.7 million). Meanwhile, the decline in the single-family component was driven by Ontario (down $75.4 million) and Saskatchewan (down $32.6 million).
In the non-residential sector, the value of building permits rose by $287.8 million to $4.8 billion in December. The overall gain was led by the institutional component (up $412.6 million), while both the commercial (down $71.1 million) and industrial (down $53.8 million) components moderated it. Both the industrial and the commercial sectors recorded their second consecutive monthly decrease.
Gains in the institutional sector were led by Ontario (up $317.0 million), Quebec (up $103.1 million), and Alberta (up $82.5 million). Meanwhile, losses in the commercial component were driven by Alberta (down $146.4 million) and Quebec (down $69.3 million). Losses in the industrial component were led by Ontario (down $33.0 million).