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The total value of building permits in Canada declined 1.5 percent in June: StatsCan

The total value of building permits in Canada declined 1.5% in June to $11.9 billion, mainly due to the non-residential sector, which dropped 10.4% to $3.7 billion, after posting its second-highest monthly value.

On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), the total value of building permits decreased 3.4% to $7.2 billion.

Non-residential sector down in June

The total value of non-residential sector permits fell 10.4% to $3.7 billion, largely due to decreases in British Columbia’s commercial and institutional components.

Commercial permit values decreased 2.7%, with declines in eight provinces. In contrast, Ontario saw a notable increase (+37.5%), driven by a permit for a large office building in the city of Toronto.

Construction intentions in the institutional component fell 32.2%, following strong growth in May resulting from a large hospital permit in British Columbia.

Conversely, the value of industrial permits rose 0.6%. Notably, it shot up 206.0% in Saskatchewan, largely due to the construction of a new power plant in Moose Jaw.

Record high reached in second quarter of 2022

In the second quarter of 2022, the total value of building permits increased 2.8% from the previous quarter to $35.9 billion with gains in both the residential and non-residential sectors.

The residential sector increased 7.2% this quarter, with gains in the value of both single- (+5.0%) and multi- (+9.3%) family permits. British Columbia led the growth, followed by Alberta and Ontario.

The number of new residential units rose 6.0%, after a decline of 7.8% the previous quarter. This incline was driven by a rebound in the multi-unit component (+8.9%).

The non-residential sector decreased 5.1%, following a strong first quarter. The institutional component (-21.9%) dragged down the sector, following the issuance of two large hospital permits in the last quarter. Commercial permits declined 0.6%, while industrial permits posted gains of 11.4%.