July building permits totalled $8 billion, up 20.7 per cent from June

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says contractors took out building permits worth $8 billion in July, up 20.7 per cent from June, as the total value of building permits continued to trend upward with six gains in seven months.

The agency says the July increase came mainly from higher construction intentions for commercial buildings in Ontario, Alberta and Quebec.

In the non-residential sector, the total value of building permits rose 45.5 per cent to $3.9 billion in July, with Ontario, Quebec and Alberta accounting for most of the increase.

Municipalities issued $2.6 billion worth of commercial building permits in July, up 89.2 per cent from June as a result of higher construction intentions for a variety of buildings, including office buildings, retail complexes and recreational facilities.

The value of permits in the residential sector increased 4.1 per cent to $4.1 billion in July following a 12.8 per cent decline in June.

The value of residential permits rose in five provinces, led largely by Quebec, followed by Alberta and Ontario. British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia accounted for most of the declines in July.