Housing starts for all areas in Canada increased 4.5% in February (250,900 units) compared to January (240,148 units), according to new data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Actual housing starts were up 10% year-over-year in centers with a population of 10,000 or greater, with 15,886 units recorded last month compared to 14,420 units in February 2025. The rural starts monthly estimate was 20,400 units.
The year-to-date total was 31,974 units, up 5% from the same period in 2025, driven by higher starts to begin the year in British Columbia and Ontario.
“In February, the six-month trend in housing starts was essentially flat, indicating that the trend in new construction activity remains relatively steady despite ongoing monthly volatility,” said Kevin Hughes, CMHC’s deputy chief economist. “Looking ahead, we expect heightened levels of business uncertainty and construction costs to weigh on the rate and trend of housing starts in the near-to-medium term.”
