Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The total value of building permits issued in Canada fell by nearly $1 billion in April, led by declines in both residential and non-residential construction intentions, according to Statistics Canada.
Building permit values dropped 7.7 per cent from March to $12.5 billion. On a constant-dollar basis, permit values were down 7.7 per cent month over month but up 2.7 per cent compared with April 2025.
The value of non-residential permits fell 10.5 per cent, or $585.9 million, to $5 billion.
The institutional sector posted the largest decline, falling $388.2 million to $1.4 billion, followed by the industrial component, which dropped $323.2 million to $1.2 billion. The commercial component rose $125.6 million to $2.3 billion, partially offsetting the losses.
British Columbia led the decline in institutional construction, with permit values falling $607 million after strong growth in March. Ontario helped moderate the decrease with a gain of $210.1 million.
The industrial sector also weakened across much of the country. Ontario recorded the largest drop at $227 million, followed by British Columbia at $59 million and Manitoba at $35.3 million. Eight provinces and two territories reported declines in the component.
Growth in commercial permits was driven primarily by Quebec, where values increased by $141.1 million. Ontario and Yukon also posted gains, while a decline in British Columbia tempered overall growth.
Residential construction intentions fell 5.5 per cent, or $437.7 million, to $7.5 billion, concentrated in the multi-family component, which dropped $429.7 million to $4.8 billion. Permit values for single-family homes were little changed at $2.7 billion.
In the single-family component, Ontario led the decline with a drop of $27.1 million. Gains in Manitoba, Quebec and Prince Edward Island helped offset some of the losses.
Statistics Canada said 19,900 multi-family dwellings and 4,100 single-family dwellings were authorized across Canada in April, down eight per cent from March.
Over the 12 months from May 2025 to April 2026, municipalities authorized 303,700 housing units, compared with 304,000 units during the same period a year earlier.
