Rising unemployment and a sluggish economy contributed to make more than 9.4 per cent of Canadian offices sit empty in the third quarter this year, real estate consultancy CB Richard Ellis Ltd. said Monday.

The vacancy rate at office towers in Toronto neared double digits in the third quarter, CB Richard Ellis Ltd. said Monday. (CBC)

Office vacancies continued to rise across Canada in the quarter, with the 9.4 per cent commercial vacancy rate above the 6.3 per cent level it was during the same time last year, the company said.

Rates rose most dramatically in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary.

In Calgary, the oil and gas slowdown helped push the rate from 4.7 per cent last year to 13.1 per cent.

In Vancouver, rates climbed from 5.4 to 8.9 per cent, year-over-year, while in Toronto, the commercial vacancy rate rose to 9.1 per cent from 6.6 per cent last year.

"Limited new job creation in Canada's 'white-collar' industries and the addition of new inventory in two of Canada's three largest office markets are cited as reasons for the increase," the agency said in a release.

Regional strength

Backed by strong local economic conditions, commercial activity in Winnipeg remained healthy in the third quarter, as the city recorded one of the country's lowest vacancy rates, rising from 4.8 to 7.5 per cent, year-over-year.

Ottawa recorded the lowest overall third quarter vacancy rate in the country, rising from 5.0 to 5.8 per cent, year-over-year.

In the technology-intensive Waterloo, Ont., region, where Research in Motion, Inc. is based, the rate increased from 6.4 to 6.7 per cent, year-over-year.

"Waterloo Region and the surrounding area remain among the most stable markets in the country," the company said.

The report predicts vacancy rates will keep rising in the fourth quarter and into 2010, "as Canada continues to grind its way out of the recession."