Ontario Construction News staff writer
Statistics Canada reports that total investment in building construction edged up 0.1 percent, to $15.5 billion in November. Investment in the non-residential sector rose 0.8 percent to $5.0 billion, while the residential sector decreased 0.2 percent to $10.6 billion.
Residential investment
Residential sector investment was down in five provinces in November, including Ontario. Nationally, investment in single-unit dwellings decreased 2.0 percent to $5.2 billion, while multi-unit dwellings increased 1.6 percent to $5.4 billion.
Non-residential investment
In the same month, non-residential sector investment across Canada rose 0.8 percent to $5.0 billion and the commercial component increased 1.4 percent to $2.9 billion, led by Ontario with a 2.8 percent jump to $1.1 billion).
However, national growth was dragged down by a two percent drop in British Columbia – the province’s first decline in commercial investment since May 2018.
Investment in the institutional component edged down 0.2 percent to $1.1 billion, largely due to Alberta which declined 2.7 percent – the 20th consecutive monthly decrease in institutional building construction there.
Nationally, the industrial component rose 0.4 percent to $906.8 million with Ontario up two percent and declines in six provinces.