Canada’s building permits contracted sharply in February 2026, reversing the strong momentum seen at the start of the year. Month-over-month, permits fell by 8.4%, a steep pullback from January 2026, when they had risen by 3.5% compared with December.
The latest figures, updated on 13 April 2026, underscore increased volatility in construction intentions. While January’s positive reading suggested a solid start to the year for the sector, February’s downturn points to a loss of short-term momentum in permit activity. On a month-over-month basis, the new data reflect a clear shift from expansion to contraction as developers and builders scaled back compared with the prior month.