The value of building permits fell 7.6 percent in April to $12.5 billion.
The permit values were down by $1 billion from the previous month. On a constant-dollar basis, the total value of permits declined 7.7 percent from March, though it remained 2.7 percent higher than a year earlier.
The non-residential sector posted the largest decline, with permit values falling 10.5 percent to $5 billion. Institutional projects led the decrease, dropping $388.2 million to $1.4 billion, while industrial permits fell $323.2 million to $1.2 billion. Commercial permits rose $125.6 million to $2.3 billion, limiting the overall decline.
British Columbia accounted for much of the weakness in the institutional sector. After recording strong gains in March, the province posted a $607 million decline in institutional permits in April. Ontario partially offset those losses with a $210.1 million increase.
Industrial construction intentions also weakened across much of the country. Ontario recorded a $227 million decline, followed by British Columbia at $59 million and Manitoba at $35.3 million. Eight provinces and two territories reported decreases in the industrial component.
Commercial construction moved in the opposite direction. Quebec led gains with a $141.1 million increase, while Ontario and Yukon added $52.4 million and $47 million respectively. British Columbia recorded a $95.4 million decline in the category.
Residential permit values fell 5.5 percent to $7.5 billion in April. The decrease was concentrated in the multi-family segment, which dropped $429.7 million to $4.8 billion. The single-family component was little changed at $2.7 billion.
British Columbia again recorded the largest decline, with multi-family permit values falling $432.7 million. Ontario and Manitoba also posted notable decreases.
The single-family sector showed less movement. Ontario led provincial declines, while increases in Manitoba, Quebec and Prince Edward Island helped offset part of the drop nationally.
Municipalities authorized 24,000 new housing units in April, including 19,900 multi-family dwellings and 4,100 single-family homes. The total number of units approved was down eight percent from March.
Over the 12 months ending in April, municipalities authorized 303,700 housing units across Canada, compared with 304,000 during the same period a year earlier. The figures point to little overall change in the pace of housing approvals despite monthly fluctuations in construction activity.