The number of housing starts in urban centres across Canada rose 16 percent in March to 17,052 units, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., from 14,756 units a year earlier. The increase was driven by higher multi-unit starts, up 19 percent, but single-detached starts also grew by two percent.
Housing starts were 10 percent and 15 percent higher in Toronto and Vancouver, respectively, though single-detached starts declined. Montreal’s edged down by one percent, dragged by lower multi-unit starts.
