Building permits in Canada rose by 4.8% month-over-month to C$13.3 billion in January 2026, following a downwardly revised 6.1% advance in the prior month, against market forecasts of a 2% slump. The increase was mainly driven by non-residential intentions (9.4% to C$5.4 billion), with industrial permits (+C$356.8 million to C$1.2 billion) posting the largest monthly gain since July 2024 and institutional permits rising C$235.7 million to C$2.0 billion. Conversely, commercial permits fell C$128.5 million to C$2.2 billion. Residential construction intentions rose C$143.0 million to C$8.0 billion, as gains in the single-family segment (+C$222.3 million to C$2.7 billion) more than offset by a decline in the multi-unit segment (-C$79.3 million to C$5.3 billion).