Statistics Canada released housing market data on Monday. Building permits in Canada climbed 11.3% in December, exceeding expectations for a 5.0% rise, after a 19.9% drop in November. November's figure was revised down from a 19.6% decrease.

The increase was driven by a rise in building permits for multi-family dwellings in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.

Building permits for non-residential construction were up 2.5% in December, while permits in the residential sector jumped 16.3%.

In 2015 as whole, buildings permits were flat.