OTTAWA — Canadian municipalities issued $8.1 billion worth of building permits in October, StatCan reports, edging down 0.2% from September. The decrease was mainly attributable to lower construction intentions for industrial and institutional buildings. In the residential sector, the value of building permits increased 4.2% from September to $5.2 billion. Both multi-family and single-family dwellings posted gains. The value of permits for multi-family dwellings rose 3.8% to $2.9 billion.
Gains in Ontario and British Columbia more than offset a decline in construction intentions in Quebec. In the single-family category, municipalities issued $2.3 billion worth of building permits in October, up 4.6% from September, the first increase in five months.