Non-residential sector recovery continues

(Source: Statistics Canada)

According to the latest figures published this week by Statistics Canada, construction intentions in the non-residential sector were up 4.2 per cent in October.

Intentions for institutional buildings jumped 63.2 per cent, with a $254 million Mills Memorial hospital project in Terrace, B.C. helping drive momentum to increase substantially in that province, compared with the previous month.

Commercial building permits rose 10 per cent for the month. Ontario led the way with 37 per cent growth as notable projects in Toronto, such as the office renovation for the SickKids foundation, were included.

September’s strong growth in industrial building permits, which largely reflected the Calgary International Airport’s Airside Maintenance expansion project, returned to more normal levels in October.

Overall, the total value of building permits in the non-residential sector at the national level rose 4.2 per cent to $3.4 billion, almost 17 per cent above the pre-pandemic level in February 2020.