According to Statistics Canada, total investment in building construction rose 1.0 percent from August to $15.6 billion in September. Investment was up for both the residential (+1.2 percent to $10.8 billion) and non-residential (+0.4 percent to $4.9 billion) sectors. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction rose 0.7 percent to $12.9 billion. Total investment grew 2.4 percent from the second to the third quarter.
Investment in the residential sector was up in five provinces in September, led by Ontario (+$89.4 million) and Quebec (+$43.3 million). Nationally, investment in the single (+1.4 percent to $5.4 billion) and multi-unit (+1.1 percent to $5.3 billion) dwellings increased compared with August. In Ontario, investment in multi-unit dwellings rose for the fourth consecutive month, up 1.9 percent in September to $2.1 billion.
Investment in the non-residential sector edged up 0.4 percent to $4.9 billion in September. The commercial component increased 0.7 percent to $2.8 billion, with Quebec posting the largest increase (+$11.2 million) due to ongoing developments in the eco-neighborhood of Estimauville in the city of Québec. Nationally, the industrial and institutional components were largely unchanged.