Value of building permits rose 1.1 per cent in April after two monthly declines

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says municipalities issued $6 billion worth of building permits in April, a 1.1 per cent increase after two consecutive monthly declines.

The agency says the increase was due to higher construction intentions in the residential sector, which more than offset a decline in the non-residential sector.

The value of residential building permits rose 2.0 per cent to $3.7 billion in April, a second consecutive monthly gain.

Most of the increase came in Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia, while three provinces reported declines, led by British Columbia.

Contractors took out $2.3 billion in non-residential building permits, down 0.4 per cent from March.

Gains in five provinces, led by Quebec, were not enough to offset declines in the other provinces, with British Columbia again recording the largest decrease.