According to results from the last monthly poll taken by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), residential construction has decreased in Quebec last month in the centres of 10.000 inhabitants and more. On the whole, 3.169 dwellings were put under construction in September, compared to 3.575 one year before. Moreover, the annualized ‘de-seasonized’ number of new housing starts for this same month (34 800) shows a rate of activity weaker than the one of August (43 600). In Canada, the annualized ‘de-seasonized’ new housing starts in the urban centres was
“We expected a fall of regimen in September, because the pace observed in July and August was insupportable under the current conditions”, notes Kevin Hughes, regional economist at the CMHC.
The retreat of residential construction recorded in September in Quebec is ascribable to a fall in collective housing (semi-detached or row houses and apartments), in particular in the census metropolitan areas (CMA) of Gatineau and Saguenay, where the operational new housing starts of this type of unit retreated by 63% and 88%, respectively.
For the whole of the CMAs, new individual housing starts posted a progression of 7%, while those of collective dwellings retreated by 20% compared to the same period in 2008. However, the disaggregated data of the poll reveal a very varied portrait (see table). On the whole, the foundations of 2.586 residences have been laid in the CMAs in the month of September, which represents a fall of 12% compared to the 2.947 units put under construction one year before.
In the great agglomerations of census (50 000 to 99.999 inhabitants), the assessment of new housing starts was stable in the month of September (209 new housing starts). The new housing starts of individual homes were fewer there (- 21%), but a significant rise of the activity in the segment of collective housing (29%) has evened things out.
Still according to the poll, housing starts for dwellings intended for the market of absolute property were on the rise, while those of rental residences and joint-ownerships clearly decreased compared to September of 2008.
Putting to contribution more than 60 years of experience as a national organization responsible for housing in Canada, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) assists Canadians in reaching a range of durable and accessible residences of quality, thus supporting the creation of communities and dynamic and healthy cities everywhere in the country.