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StatsCan building permits report: August 2019

Oct. 10, 2019 – The value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities rose 6.1% to $9.0 billion in August, largely because of increases in multi-family and industrial permits. Gains were reported in seven provinces, with over one-third of the national increase in Quebec.

Value of industrial permits increases
Industrial permits were the only component in the non-residential sector to increase in value, rising 18.9% to $675 million. The increase was largely due to a high-value permit for a bio-pharmaceutical company in the  of Toronto.

The value of commercial permits declined 5.9% to $1.9 billion, following gains in July. Quebec showed some strength in the commercial component (+$73 million) despite the national decrease.

Five provinces reported declines in the value of institutional permits, down 10.7% to $651 million.

The value of permits was down in all three non-residential components in British Columbia, which also reported the largest provincial declines in the values of commercial (-$118 million) and institutional (-$48 million) permits.