Building Permit Growth Leads the West
According to Statistics Canada, December 2017 building permits were up considerably in Saskatchewan, rising 69.7 per cent year over year (seasonally adjusted), the second highest percentage increase among the provinces, and the highest percentage increase in western Canada. Nationally, permits were up only 11.5 per cent.
The total value of building permits in Saskatchewan was $242 million.
“Saskatchewan’s building permit growth rate in December was significantly higher than the national average,” Export and Trade Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “This shows confidence in our economy in both the short and long term with jobs and investment.”
Building permits were also up 31.5 per cent month over month, the second highest percentage increase in the nation, and the highest in western Canada, well ahead of the 4.8 per cent growth recorded nationally.
The major increase was in non-residential construction which improved by 86.5 per cent over December 2016, the second highest among the provinces. Residential construction had a 56.9 per cent increase over this period.