Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that the value of building permits in June fell 2.5 percent to $6.8 billion, after permits rose 7.1 percent in May. Activity in Alberta and British Columbia led the decline.
In the non-residential sector, contractors took out $2.5 billion worth of permits, a 12.3 percent decrease following a 3.6 percent gain in May. The value of institutional building permits fell 45.9 percent to $519 million in June, following a 72 percent surge in May, while the value of permits in the institutional component edged down 0.2 percent to $476 million in June. Commercial building permits were $1.5 billion in June, up 6.8 percent.
In the residential sector, the value of building permits increased 4.2 percent to $4.4 billion in June,as $1.9 billion worth of permits were issued for multi-family dwellings in June--4.2 percent more than in May. Intentions for single-family houses rose 4.2 percent to $2.4 billion.