Rise in commercial building permits offsets fall in housing sector: StatsCan
Last Updated: Thursday, November 6, 2008 | 10:12 AM ET
CBC News
Municipalities issued $6.5 billion worth of building permits in September — an increase of 13.4 per cent over the previous month, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
The increase, which followed August's 11.7 per cent decline, was driven by construction in the non-residential sector, the federal agency.
"In the non-residential sector, the value of permits rose 41.7 per cent to $3.2 billion," said Statistics Canada.
Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta recorded the most growth in this area.
"This increase was generated by a substantial gain in institutional permits, and lesser increases in the industrial and commercial components."
In the residential sector, the value of permits declined 4.9 per cent to $3.3 billion.
Statistics Canada attributed the decline to fewer requests for multi-family dwellings — such as condominiums and apartments, particularly in Ontario and British Columbia.
