New figures from Statistics Canada show that contractors took out building permits worth $8.0 billion in June, up 13.5% from May.The June increase was mainly due to higher construction intentions for institutional and industrial buildings in Quebec and commercial buildings in Alberta.
In the residential sector, the value of permits edged up 0.4% to $4.2 billion, a fourth consecutive monthly increase. Construction intentions for multi-family units fell 6.0% to $1.7 billion in June. This decline came in the wake of three straight monthly increases and was mainly due to lower construction intentions in Western Canada.
Conversely, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec posted gains. Nationally there was a drop in the number of permits issued for multi-family dwellings while the demand for single-family homes increased.
