Contractors took out building permits worth $6.6 billion in June, down 10.3% from May and the first decrease in six months. Despite this decline, the total value of building permits continued to trend upward. The decrease in June came mainly from the non-residential sector in Quebec and the residential sector in Ontario. After three consecutive monthly increases, the total value of permits in the residential sector declined 12.9% to $4.0 billion in June. The value of residential building permits was down in nine provinces, led largely by Ontario, followed by Quebec and Alberta. Saskatchewan and the Northwest ... (full story)