According to Statistics Canada, new housing construction investment totaled $4.6 billion in April, up 8.4 percent compared with April 2016. Eight provinces posted gains, led by Ontario.
Nationally, investment increased for every dwelling type. The gain was mostly due to spending on single-family dwellings, up $251.8 million to $2.4 billion. Six provinces posted higher investments in single-family dwelling construction. Ontario was well ahead of the other provinces, with $203.7 million in increased spending, a 22.9 percent increase over April 2016.
Investment in apartment building construction rose 1.9 percent in April, mainly attributable to higher spending in British Columbia (+$61.4 million). Year over year, investment in new row housing construction continued to increase in most provinces in April. Spending on semi-detached dwelling construction increased in seven provinces in April, up 13.2 percent from April 2016 to $218.1 million.