Source: The Canadian Press

The value of building permits increased 12.2% in March to $6.3 billion after four months of decline.

Statistics Canada reports the figure was 38.9% higher than year earlier, mainly on the strength of multi-family and industrial building permits.

Construction intentions increased 13.9% in the residential sector to $4.2 billion, thanks to a substantial gain in permits for multi-family dwellings, particularly in Ontario and British Columbia.

In the non-residential sector, municipalities issued $2.1 billion worth of permits, up 9.1% from February mainly as a result of higher construction intentions in the industrial and institutional components.

The total value of construction intentions rose in all provinces, except Quebec.

IE