Canadian municipalities issued $8.1 billion in building permits in December, up 4.8% following a 7.3% decline in November. The December increase stemmed from higher construction intentions in the residential sector. Across Canada, all components climbed in 2017, up 10.4% from the previous year, led by the multi-family dwelling component.

Construction intentions for single-family homes led the rise in December. Canadian municipalities issued $2.8 billion in permits for single-family dwellings, rising 8.9% from the previous month and the largest month-over-month increase in 2017. Ontario reported the largest gain, up 15.7% from the previous month. Permits issued for new single-family housing developments in the census metropolitan areas (CMAs) of Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo and Barrie helped offset the 12.1% decline in the CMA of Toronto.