Ontario and Alberta lead residential building permit losses, August 2025
AI Article Summary
In August 2025, the total value of building permits in Canada decreased by 1.2% to $11.6 billion. The residential sector saw a 2.4% decline primarily due to losses in Ontario and Alberta, while increases in British Columbia and Quebec mitigated the decline. Non-residential permits slightly increased by 0.8%, with significant growth in Ontario's institutional component due to hospital construction. Meanwhile, commercial permits decreased, also mainly affecting Ontario.
What This Means for Canadian Contractors
For Canadian builders, this means a challenging landscape in the residential sector, particularly in Ontario and Alberta. The declines in building permits could impact timelines and increase competition for existing projects. However, growth in regions like British Columbia may present new opportunities, especially in multi-family construction.
