The total value of building construction investment edged down by 0.2% in May, in part due to strikes across the unionized construction sector in Ontario.

Statistics Canada reports that total investment for the month reached $20.6 billion. That figure would have been higher were it not for a series of construction-trades strikes across the province during May – after the three-year collective agreements in many trades expired. The strikes caused significant delays on numerous residential and non-residential construction projects throughout the province.

Excluding Ontario, investment increased 1.1% at the national level.

The value of residential-sector construction investment across the country rose 0.1% for the month, reaching a total of $15.4 billion. Excluding Ontario, the value of residential-sector investment would have risen by 1.3% in May.

Multi-unit construction continued to climb, increasing 3.4% to $7.0 billion, with six provinces posting gains, led by Quebec (+10.0%).

Investment in single family homes declined 2.5%, ending its seven-month growth streak. Overall, six provinces reported growth in May, which was offset by declines in four provinces, with Ontario and Quebec causing most of the fall.

Investment in the non-residential sector, meanwhile, contracted 0.9% to $5.2 billion in May, with the construction worker strike in Ontario offsetting the gains of eight provinces and driving all three components downwards.

Investment in the industrial component edged down 0.2% to $935 million, with the increase in Quebec (+2.0%) largely offset by the declines in Ontario (-1.2%).

The institutional component fell 0.8% to $1.4 billion, with seven provinces reporting declines.

Despite gains in eight provinces, the commercial component decreased 1.2% to $2.9 billion based on the strike in Ontario. This was the first decline in 13 months.