Statistics Canada has just released its
building permit results for November of 2016 and the numbers are down overall largely as a result of a decline in construction intentions in Alberta. According to Statistics Canada:
In the residential sector, the value of building permits fell 1.6% to
$5.1 billion in November, following three consecutive monthly increases.
Declines were posted in four provinces, led by Alberta. The largest
gains were posted in British Columbia and Quebec. The value of non-residential building permits rose 3.0% to $2.6 billion
in November, the fourth increase in five months. Higher construction
intentions were registered in five provinces, led by Quebec and Ontario.
The largest decline was reported in Alberta.
The interesting results are for Census Metropolitan areas as the value of building permits was down in 16 of 34 census
metropolitan areas for the month of November. Both of the major northern Ontario CMAs - Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay - registered decreases in November from October at 61.6 percent in Thunder Bay and 5.9 percent in Sudbury.
When November 2015 to November 2016 is examined, over the course of the year Moncton registered the
largest increase at 227 percent while Brantford saw the largest decrease (See Figure). Over this same period, Thunder Bay saw a 49 percent decrease while Greater Sudbury saw a 19 percent decrease.
