Residential building permits edge down in February

The total value of building permits issued in February broke the $10 billion mark for the first time, StatCan reports, as a jump in the non-residential sector more than offset the decline in the residential sector. Residential construction intentions decreased 2.9 percent to $6.8 billion in February, following a record month in January. Building permits for single-family homes dipped by one percent to $3.5 billion, although they remained at historically high levels, with Ontario ($1.5 billion) and Prince Edward Island ($29.1 million) reporting record highs.