BUILDING PERMITS END ON POSITIVE NOTE IN 2009

Building permit statistics for December 2009 were released by Statistics Canada today and indicate Saskatchewan had the highest monthly percentage increase among the provinces on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Building permits increased by 21.7 per cent between November 2009 and December 2009 in Saskatchewan, the highest increase in the nation and well above the 2.4 per cent posted on a national front.

"The jump in permits at the end of 2009 is definitely encouraging, and will be important in boosting confidence for business and future investment," Enterprise Saskatchewan Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. "The positive numbers for construction exceed our expectations for what turned out to be an excellent year for the Saskatchewan economy."

For December 2009, building permits in the province totalled $150.6 million, a 21.7 per cent increase over November 2009, and the highest percentage increase among the provinces on a seasonally adjusted basis.

On a seasonally unadjusted basis, Saskatchewan's December building permits were up 19.2 per cent in December 2009 compared to December 2008, fourth among the provinces.

Annually, Saskatchewan's building permits dropped by 13.7 per cent when comparing 2009 and 2008 (seasonally unadjusted). Only Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had an increase in permits on an annual basis. Nationally building permits were down 13.4 per cent for 2009.

"The improvement in the last month allows us to look back at 2009 as a positive year, where we set records for population, job numbers and average weekly earnings," Cheveldayoff said. "What it boils down to is we have more people, more opportunity and more economic activity that creates a better quality of life for Saskatchewan people."

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For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6315
Email: Deb.Young@enterprisesask.ca