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Value of building permits see slight drop in April: StatsCan

The total value of building permits in Canada declined 0.6% in April to $11.7 billion. Decreases in residential permits (-3.3%) were mostly offset by gains in the non-residential sector (+5.0%).

On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), the total value of building permits increased 0.5% to $7.5 billion.

Residential sector pulls back following strong month

Residential permits in April decreased 3.3% to $7.7 billion nationally, driven mostly by lower intentions in Ontario and British Columbia, while seven provinces posted increases.

Construction intentions in the single-family home component declined 2.0%, with Alberta (-11.9%) behind much of the decrease.

The value of multi-family building permits pulled back 4.4%, as Ontario (-21.7%) returned to more normal levels following a strong February and March.

The total value of permits in the non-residential sector advanced 5.0% to $3.9 billion in April. The industrial component surged 35.1%, stemming from large gains in Ontario (+48.8%) due to permits for several mining buildings in Greenstone.

Commercial permits decreased 6.4%, with most of the declines in British Columbia as the province returned to more normal levels following a high value permit for the Oakridge Centre redevelopment issued in March.

Construction intentions in the institutional sector rose 7.2%. Ontario posted the largest gain, reflecting the expansion project of the Runnymede Healthcare Centre in Toronto and a new elementary school in Kingsville.