July 12, 2024 – The total value of building permits across Canada in May was $11.7 billion, down 12.2% from a record high of $13.4 billion in April, reports Statistics Canada.

British Columbia led the national decline in May with a significant drop of 50.7% after experiencing a record high for the total value of building permits issued in April.

Excluding British Columbia, the total value of building permits for the remaining provinces and the territories edged down 0.7% in May.

The value of residential building permits fell 16.3% to $7.1 billion in May. Again, British Columbia (-53.7%, -$1.1 billion) drove the decline in May following an unusually strong April, led by a record high value of multi-unit permits in the province.

Excluding British Columbia, residential construction intentions declined 3.8% for the remaining provinces and territories in May.

Monthly declines were observed in Ontario (-7.9%, -$261.2 million), Alberta (-10.9%, -$122.4 million), and three Atlantic provinces (collectively down 4.5%, -$17.7 million).

Across Canada, 22,700 dwelling units were authorized in May, contributing to the 12-month cumulative sum of 267,600 units since June 2023.

The value of non-residential permits decreased 5.0% to $4.6 billion in May 2024.

Declines in the institutional (-18.0%, -$236.4 million) and commercial (-7.4%, -$194.1 million) components offset growth in the industrial component (+20.6%, +$187.2 million).

Despite month-over-month increases in non-residential permit values in six provinces and two territories, the substantial decline in British Columbia (-44.1%, -$420.3 million) weighed down the entire sector in May.

Excluding British Columbia, construction intentions in the non-residential sector increased 4.5% month over month.

The issuance of permits for large new construction projects in New Brunswick led the province to a record-high level for the commercial component ($65.3 million) and the third-highest level in the series for the industrial component ($30.4 million) in May.