MAY BUILDING PERMITS BEST IMPROVEMENT IN NATION

Statistics Canada reported today that building permits in Saskatchewan for the month of May 2009 recorded the highest ranking amongst the provinces.

Seasonally adjusted, building permits were up by 54.5 per cent between April 2009 and May 2009 to $188 million. The improvement on a seasonally-adjusted basis was also the best in Canada. Nationally building permits improved by 14.8 per cent.

"The surge of construction activity between April and May 2009 is good news for the provincial economy," Enterprise Saskatchewan Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. "We are confident these figures will continue to improve over the coming months as the Saskatchewan economy picks up steam in the latter part of 2009."

Building permits in the province totalled $210 million in May 2009, down by 0.7 per cent from last May on a seasonally unadjusted basis. Saskatchewan ranked first amongst the provinces in percentage change. Nationally, building permits fell by 25.2 per cent.

"Although the seasonally unadjusted numbers were down just slightly, the numbers are still well ahead of what is happening on a national front," Cheveldayoff said.

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For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-0503
Email: Deb.Young@enterprisesask.ca