The total value of Canadian building permits fell 2.5% to $6.8 billion in June, following a 7.1% increase in May, according to Statistics Canada. The decline was largely the result of a decrease in the non-residential and residential sectors in B.C. and Alberta.
Contractors took out $2.5 billion worth of permits in the non-residential sector, down 12.3%. This decrease followed a 3.6% gain in May. Non-residential construction intentions declined in six provinces, with B.C. and Alberta accounting for most of the decrease.
In the residential sector, the value of permits rose 4.2% to $4.4 billion in June, a second consecutive monthly increase. The June advance was mostly attributable to an increase in Ontario.
The total value of building permits was down in seven provinces in June, with Alberta and B.C. posting the largest declines.
In B.C., the decline resulted from lower construction intentions for institutional and commercial buildings and for multi-family dwellings.
The total value of permits was down in most census metropolitan areas (CMA), with 22 of the 34 CMAs recording drops.
Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton experienced the largest declines.
In Vancouver, the decrease was primarily attributable to construction intentions for institutional buildings and, to a lesser extent, multi-family dwellings, which had recorded large increases in May.
