Statistics Canada’s latest report on building construction investment shows a slight uptick in activity in November.

The national statistics agency reports that investment value rose by just 0.1 percent to $15.5 billion. Investment in the non-residential sector rose 0.8 percent to $5.0 billion, while the residential sector decreased 0.2 percent to $10.6 billion.

Here in Ontario, investment values also edged up by just 0.3 percent to $6.27 billion in November. Investment in all three non-residential components in the province increased by 2.0 percent—led by a jump of $29 million in the commercial component—while an increase of nearly $80 million in the multi-family sector was more than offset by a drop of more than $90 million in single-family homes. Ontario’s residential sector investment dropped by 0.4 percent.

Across the country, residential sector investment was down in five provinces in November. Ontario (-$17.3 million), Quebec (-$14.0 million) and Manitoba (-$11.8 million) posted the largest monthly declines. Nationally, investment in single-unit dwellings decreased 2.0 percent to $5.2 billion, while multi-unit dwellings increased 1.6 percent to $5.4 billion.

Non-residential sector investment, meanwhile, rose 0.8 percent to $5.0 billion in November. The commercial component increased 1.4 percent to $2.9 billion, led by Ontario (+2.8 percent to $1.1 billion) and Quebec (+3.2 percent to $578.7 million). Somewhat offsetting the national growth, British Columbia (-2.0 percent to $533.0 million) reported its first decline in commercial investment since May 2018.

Investment in the institutional component edged down 0.2 percent to $1.1 billion, largely due to Alberta which declined 2.7 percent to $158.5 million. This was the 20th consecutive monthly decrease in institutional building construction for the province. In Manitoba, a new $60 million addition to Red River College led to the largest provincial gain in November, increasing 12.5 percent to $38.0 million.

Nationally, the industrial component rose 0.4 percent compared with October to $906.8 million. Growth in Ontario (+2.0 percent to $394.3 million) more than offset the declines reported in six provinces.