Canada Housing Starts Decline in August 2026

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that the annual pace of housing starts declined in August 2026 compared to July. The seasonally adjusted annual rate fell to 229,046 units, down from 229,360 units the previous month. This downward trend extended to the six-month moving average for total housing starts across Canada, which dropped 1.3 percent in August to 244,149.

Actual monthly housing starts in centers with populations of 10,000 or more totaled 17,691 units, a decrease from the 18,112 units recorded in August 2025. Rural starts for the period were estimated at 11,224 units.

Kevin Hughes, deputy chief economist at the agency, stated that modest gains in Alberta and Quebec were insufficient to offset declines in other provinces, particularly Ontario.