In May 2025, the total value of building permits issued in Canada surged 12.0% to $13.1 billion, driven primarily by strong growth in Ontario’s institutional sector according to Statistics Canada. On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the value of building permits increased 11.8% month-over-month and 5.1% year-over-year.

The non-residential sector led overall growth, rising by $1.2 billion to $5.6 billion in May. This was largely due to a major hospital project in the Niagara census metropolitan area, whose permit value was nearly seven times the typical average for institutional components. As a result, Ontario’s institutional permit values grew by $1.3 billion, pushing the national institutional component to a record $2.5 billion in both current and constant dollar terms.

Commercial permit values also rose, gaining $87.8 million to reach $2.3 billion. Quebec contributed the most to this increase (+$59.1 million), while Ontario saw the largest decline (-$71.9 million) after strong growth in April.

Conversely, industrial construction intentions fell by $117.2 million, with the largest decrease recorded in Quebec (-$50.8 million) alongside declines in six other provinces.

Residential construction intentions increased by $169.8 million to $7.5 billion, led by strong growth in British Columbia’s multi-family segment. The Vancouver area rebounded significantly, adding $696.4 million after a dip in April. Nationally, multi-family permit values rose by $194.8 million to $4.9 billion. However, Ontario’s multi-family component declined by $382.8 million, partly offsetting BC’s gains.

Single-family permit values edged down by $25.0 million to $2.6 billion in May, mainly due to a $77.5 million decline in Ontario, though increases in other provinces and territories helped mitigate the overall drop.

In total, Canada authorized construction of approximately 21,000 new multi-unit dwellings and 4,400 new single-family dwellings in May, a slight 0.2% decrease in the total number of units compared to April.

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