Statistics Canada reports that total investment in building construction edged up 0.1% from October to $15.5 billion in November. Investment in the non-residential sector rose 0.8% to $5.0 billion, while the residential sector decreased 0.2% to $10.6 billion. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction was largely unchanged at $12.8 billion.

For more information on housing, please visit the Housing Statistics Portal.

Residential investment

Residential sector investment was down in five provinces in November, particularly in Ontario (-$17.3 million), Quebec (-$14.0 million) and Manitoba (-$11.8 million). Nationally, investment in single-unit dwellings decreased 2.0% to $5.2 billion, while multi-unit dwellings increased 1.6% to $5.4 billion.

Non-residential investment

Non-residential sector investment rose 0.8% to $5.0 billion in November. The commercial component increased 1.4% to $2.9 billion, led by Ontario (+2.8% to $1.1 billion) and Quebec (+3.2% to $578.7 million). Somewhat offsetting the national growth, British Columbia (-2.0% to $533.0 million) reported its first decline in commercial investment since May 2018.

Investment in the institutional component edged down 0.2% to $1.1 billion, largely due to Alberta which declined 2.7% to $158.5 million. This was the 20th consecutive monthly decrease in institutional building construction for the province. In Manitoba, a new $60 million addition to Red River College led to the largest provincial gain in November, increasing 12.5% to $38.0 million.

Nationally, the industrial component rose 0.4% compared with October to $906.8 million. Growth in Ontario (+2.0% to $394.3 million) more than offset the declines reported in six provinces.

See more charts on the Statistics Canada website

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