The total value of building permits issued in Canada fell $1.0 billion, or 7.6%, to $12.5 billion in April. Both the non-residential and residential sectors contributed to the decrease, according to Statistics Canada.
On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value declined 7.7% from the previous month and rose 2.7% year over year.
The value of non-residential building permits fell $585.9 million to $5.0 billion in April. The institutional component fell $388.2 million to $1.4 billion and the industrial component fell $323.2 million to $1.2 billion, while the commercial component rose $125.6 million to $2.3 billion.
Regional movements in the non-residential sector included a $607.0 million reduction in the institutional component in British Columbia and a $210.1 million increase in Ontario. Industrial losses were led by Ontario (-$227.0 million), followed by British Columbia (-$59.0 million) and Manitoba (-$35.3 million). Commercial growth was primarily attributable to Quebec (+$141.1 million), Ontario (+$52.4 million) and Yukon (+$47.0 million); British Columbia (-$95.4 million) moderated the commercial increase.
Residential construction intentions declined $437.7 million to $7.5 billion in April. The multi-family component fell $429.7 million to $4.8 billion and the single-family component was virtually unchanged at $2.7 billion.
The reduction in the multi-family component stemmed largely from British Columbia (-$432.7 million), with additional decreases in Ontario (-$99.7 million) and Manitoba (-$67.9 million). The single-family decrease was led by Ontario (-$27.1 million), while gains in Manitoba (+$22.7 million), Quebec (+$22.1 million) and Prince Edward Island (+$15.8 million) tempered the decline.
Across Canada, 19,900 multi-family dwellings and 4,100 single-family dwellings were authorized in April, a decline of 8.0% from March. From May 2025 to April 2026, the total number of multi-family and single-family dwellings authorized was 303,700, down from 304,000 during the same period one year earlier.