The Canadian Press

The value of building permits edged down 0.5% to $5.7 billion in February, but it was still 56.7% higher than a year earlier.

Statistics Canada reports increases in permits for commercial buildings and single-family dwellings failed to offset a significant decline in multiple-dwelling permits.

Residential construction intentions fell 7.5% to $3.7 billion.

A 52.5% drop in the value of multiple dwellings in Ontario was largely responsible for the national decline.

In the non-residential sector, municipalities issued permits worth $2 billion, a 16% advance after three straight months of declines.

The value of building permits was up in six provinces, with Quebec and Alberta leading the way.

Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Manitoba posted declines in February.

The value of building permits for multi-family units declined 28.3% to $962 million in February.

The value of building permits for single-family dwellings rose 3% to $2.7 billion, its second straight monthly gain.

Municipalities approved the construction of 16,107 new dwellings in February, down 14.2%.

The value of commercial building permits totalled $1.3 billion, up 27% from January.

In the industrial component, the value of building permits advanced 2.1% to $264 million.

The value of institutional building permits edged down 0.4% to $440 million, after falling 14.9% in January.

IE