Building permit values increased in January.
Municipalities issued $13.3 billion in permits, up 4.8 percent from December.
Permit values in non-residential construction climbed 9.4 percent to $5.4 billion because of stronger industrial activity. Industrial permits increased by $356.8 million to $1.2 billion.
Quebec recorded the largest gain, followed by Ontario. Plans for new transportation terminals in the Toronto census metropolitan area contributed to the increase.
Institutional construction also strengthened. Permit values reached $2.0 billion, up $235.7 million from December. Ontario accounted for most of the growth after the approval of a new medical facility in the Toronto area valued at more than $800 million.
Permit values in the commercial construction fell by $128.5 million to $2.2 billion.
Residential construction posted modest growth. Permit values rose by $143 million to $8.0 billion, due to the single-family housing segment.
Single-family permits increased by $222.3 million to $2.7 billion. Ontario and Quebec recorded the largest gains.
Multi-unit residential construction declined in January. Permit values fell by $79.3 million to $5.3 billion, due to decreases in Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta.
Across Canada, municipalities approved construction of about 21,400 multi-unit dwellings and 4,000 single-family homes in January. The total number of units authorized declined 1.8 percent from December.
Over the 12 months from February 2025 to January 2026, the total number of permits is about 256,500 multi-family units.