The value of building permits issued across the country reached its third-highest level in November.

Statistics Canada reports that municipalities issued $9.4 billion worth of permits for the month—an increase of nearly 13 percent from October. Much of the growth, said the national agency, was led by large permits for multi-family dwellings in British Columbia and Ontario, and one large permit for an office building in Toronto.

Helping to drive the strong monthly performance was a significant gain in residential-sector activity. The value of housing permits rose 10 percent to $6.4 billion—the sector’s highest-ever level. Every province bar Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island posted gains, with British Columbia’s permit values rising nearly 28 percent, and Ontario recording its fourth consecutive month at or near record levels.

The value of permits for multi-family dwellings rose 14.8 percent to $3.5 billion. The majority of that growth came from British Columbia (41.3 percent). A $376-million permit issued for the Sugar Wharf Condominiums in Toronto, meanwhile, contributed to a record-high volume of permits in Ontario ($1.6 billion).

Single-family permits increased 4.4 percent to $2.8 billion in November, continuing the strong upward trend observed over the past six months. Values have been well above pre-COVID levels since August 2020.

The value of non-residential permits, meanwhile, rose by almost one-fifth (19.5 percent) to $3.0 billion in November. The increase was propelled by a $507-million permit issued for the new Cadillac Fairview office building in downtown Toronto. Excluding this permit, the non-residential sector would have shown a slight decline nationally.

The value of commercial permits rose by almost one-third (31.2 percent) to $1.6 billion, based on the strength of the Cadillac Fairview office building. Consequently, Ontario (94 percent) reached its second-highest level on record.

The total value of institutional permits rose by nearly one-quarter (23.2 percent) to $900 million in November, with gains in seven provinces. Finally, industrial permits fell for the fifth time in six months, declining 9.3 percent to $537 million in November. Ontario (-11 percent) and British Columbia (-44.1 percent) registered the sector’s largest drops.