Ontario and Alberta push permits higher in February
By Adam Freill
Commercial Construction Industrial Institutional ResidentialHigh-value non-residential permits in Alberta and multi-family residential permits generated a nine per-cent rise in intentions.
Building permits, February 2023. (Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0066-01, Building permits, by type of structure and type of work.)
The total value of building permits in Canada rose almost nine per cent in February, reaching $10.7 billion as intentions escalated for both the residential and non-residential sectors. According to the latest figures released by Statistics Canada, residential permits jumped almost eight per cent, hitting $6.6 billion, while non-residential landed just shy of double-digit growth, rising 9.8 per cent to $4.2 billion.
Seven provinces reported monthly increases, with the most notable gains coming in Ontario, which was up 10.7 per cent, and Alberta, with a 25.6 per cent gain.
Within the residential figures, the multi-dwelling component saw a sharp increase, gaining 13.6 per cent, led by a variety of large value permits in Ontario. That province saw a 25.4 per cent rise over the January results. Single-family homes remained more stable, gaining just a half per cent. Overall, residential permits were issued for 22,900 new units nationally, 3,600 more than the intentions reported in January.
Several high-value projects in Alberta bolstered the non-residential sector. The total monthly value of non-residential permits increased 9.8 per cent to $4.2 billion, the highest non-residential value since February 2022. Across the country, gains in the industrial (+42 per cent) and commercial (6.2 per cent) components more than offset losses in the institutional (-7.6 per cent) component.
