The seasonally adjusted value of building permits issued by Alberta municipalities* pulled back by 9.6% in December compared to the month before, but was well ahead of where it was in December 2020 (+30.0%) and in December 2019 (15.7%).

The numbers for both single dwelling and multiple dwelling units were up in December 2021 compared to December 2019 (before the pandemic) whereas the permit value for all three types of non-residential construction (industrial, commercial, and institutional/governmental) were down.

Comparing the annual (unadjusted) totals, permit value was up across all categories in 2021 compared to 2019 except for the industrial buildings sub-sector, which was down by 29.7%. Permits for single dwelling residential units rose the most, posting a 46.9% increase between 2019 and 2021.

Nationally, permit value in 2021 was 23.3% higher than before the pandemic in 2019 with residential permits up by 40.4% while non-residential permits were off by -2.8%. Annual permit value in 2021 surpassed its pre-pandemic level in every province except Newfoundland and Labrador.

*Statistics Canada’s Building Permits Survey covers all Canadian municipalities that issue permits.

Answer to the previous trivia question: At 3.3 million barrels per day compared to 1.7 million barrels per day, Alberta produced more crude oil and condensate than Norway in 2020.

Today’s trivia question: What is the record for the tallest tower built out of Lego?