(Ottawa) The total monthly value of building permits in Canada rose 3.4% in August to 11.9 billion, as gains in the non-residential sector offset modest declines in residential construction projects, reported Wednesday Statistics Canada.
According to the federal agency, the total monthly value of non-residential permits increased 14.8% to 5 billion in August.
“Particularly high-value” non-residential building permits have included being issued for hospital renovations in Toronto and North Vancouver, British Columbia, for a new university building in Kelowna, British Columbia, for a new correctional facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and for a new arena in Whitby, Ontario.
On the residential side, the total monthly value of permits issued decreased 3.7% to 6.8 billion in August, while the value of permits for multi-unit construction intentions fell $9.5 to 3, 9 billion. However, the value of single-family home permits increased 5.5% to 2.9 billion in August, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase.
Politicians across the country are looking for ways to increase the pace of new home construction in an effort to help ease Canada’s housing shortage.
In constant dollars, the total value of building permits increased 4.3% in August.