Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Non-residential permit activity shows strength

A surge in non-residential construction helped propel Manitoba to one of the largest increases in building permit activity in the country in May, new figures show.

Statistics Canada said Friday Manitoba municipalities issued $193.4 million worth of permits during the month. That was a 13.6 per cent increase from April's total of $170.2 million.

The percentage gain was the fourth largest in the country. Saskatchewan saw the biggest improvement, at 66.9 per cent.

All of Manitoba's increase was on the non-residential side of the market, where permit values soared by 53.9 per cent to $99.4 million. Institutional (government) and commercial projects led the way, with increases of 157.8 per cent and 99.2 per cent respectively, while the value of permits for industrial projects plunged by 64.9 per cent.

The surge in non-residential permits overshadowed an 11 per cent drop in the value of residential permits issued in June.

Nationally, Canadian municipalities issued $7 billion worth of permits in May. That was the highest level since May 2007, and was an increase of 7.4 per cent from April, StatsCan said.

It said the national gain was largely the result of higher construction intentions for institutional buildings in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, and for multi-family dwellings in British Columbia.

-- staff

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 7, 2012 B17

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