- Prior was -8.4% (revised to -7.8%)
In March, the total value of building permits issued in Canada increased $1.3 billion (+10.3%) to $13.5 billion. The increase in construction intentions was led by the non-residential sector (+$1.5 billion) and tempered by the residential sector (-$270.6 million).
On a constant dollar basis, the total value of building permits issued in March rose 10.1% from the previous month and was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis.
In the first quarter of 2026, the total value of building permits increased $445.7 million to $39.0 billion, up 1.1% from the previous quarter. On a constant dollar basis, the total value of building permits was up 0.5% to $35.6 billion.
For background on the permits data, Statistics Canada’s building permits series is a key leading indicator of construction activity, capturing the value of permits issued for new buildings, renovations, and alterations across roughly 2,400 municipalities representing 95% of the national population. Because permits precede actual construction spending, the data offer an early read on investment trends in both the residential and non-residential sectors.
