Canada’s housing starts in June remained steady overall, with a slight increase of 0.4% in the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) from May, reaching 283,734 units. This national stability, however, masks significant regional variations.
Here’s a breakdown of the key findings:
- National Trend: The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada was nearly flat, with a 0.4% increase in June. The six-month trend in housing starts showed a 3.6% increase, reaching 253,081 units. Actual housing starts in urban centers with a population of 10,000 or more were up 14% year-over-year, with 23,282 units recorded in June 2025.
- Vancouver: The city experienced a substantial surge in housing starts, with a 74% year-over-year increase in June. This growth was primarily driven by a rise in multi-unit starts.
- Toronto: In contrast, Toronto saw a significant decline in housing starts, with a 40% year-over-year decrease. This slump was attributed to fewer multi-unit starts and weak condo market conditions.
- Montreal: Montreal also experienced a decrease in actual housing starts compared to June 2024, with an 8% year-over-year drop, mainly due to fewer multi-unit starts.
- Other Regions: Quebec and the Prairie provinces have accelerated the pace of construction for single-detached homes and purpose-built rentals. Edmonton, for example, saw an 82% year-over-year increase in housing starts for June, reaching a record high for the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area.
Despite the national stability, new home construction varies significantly across Canada, with some regions facing weak condo market conditions impacting overall housing starts.
This information is based on reports from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and other news sources, including Monthly Housing Starts and Other Construction Data Tables – CMHC, Housing starts for June 2025 – CMHC, and Canadian housing starts inch up despite Toronto, Montreal slump.