According to Statistics Canada, investment in non-residential building construction totaled $12.9 billion in the third quarter, up 3.6 percent from the previous quarter. At the national level, spending increased in all three components (institutional, industrial, and commercial), led by commercial (+$186.5 million) and institutional buildings (+$158.2 million).
Investment in the institutional component rose by 4.6 percent to $3.6 billion in the third quarter, following two consecutive quarterly declines. The largest gains were reported in Ontario and Quebec, led by spending on educational buildings.
Investment in educational buildings, which includes schools, colleges and universities, rose by 18 percent (+$285.6 million) in the third quarter to $1.9 billion.
Spending on educational buildings accounted for approximately 15 percent of total investment in non-residential buildings in the third quarter, surpassing total investment in industrial buildings for the first time since the third quarter of 2011.
Spending on educational buildings increased in seven provinces, led by Ontario (+$145 million) and Quebec (+$91 million).
Spending on commercial buildings rose 2.6 percent to $7.4 billion in the third quarter, with Ontario (+$127.8 million) posting the largest gain, followed by Quebec (+$112.1 million). The increase in both provinces was mainly attributable to higher investment in office building construction.
Investment in industrial projects increased 6.0 percent to $1.9 billion in the third quarter—the largest month-over-month increase since the third quarter of 2012. At the national level, the gain was the result of higher investment in the construction of farm buildings and, to a lesser extent, manufacturing plants.