Investment in non-residential construction hit a record high between April and June in the wake of healthy economic conditions in British Columbia and Alberta, Statistics Canada said today.

The government agency said total investment in commercial, institutional and industrial buildings hit an all-time high of $7.6 billion in the second quarter of this year, up 2.6% from the first quarter.

While, the biggest contributor to the increase record spending in the two westernmost provinces, across the country all three non-housing sectors registered second-quarter gains.

The commercial sector led the way with a 3.4% increase to $4.3 billion, followed by institutional construction, which was up 1.9% to $2.0 billion, and the industrial sector, up 1.1% to $1.3 billion.

“British Columbia posted the largest increase in total investment, with a 19.1% jump to a record $932 million,” StatsCan said.

“This was followed closely by Alberta where investments increased 13.4% and surpassed $1 billion for the first time. In both provinces, investment rose in all three sectors.”

The biggest declines were in Quebec and Ontario.

Investment fell 2.9% to $1.3 billion in Quebec, and 1.1% to $3.3 billion in Ontario.