STRONG MONTH FOR SASKATCHEWAN CONSTRUCTION

Saskatchewan's value of building permits for May 2008 continues to be one of the best in the nation according to a Statistics Canada report released today.

Overall building permits for May 2008 totalled $217 million, up by 34.5 per cent from last May, and the second highest percentage increase in Canada (seasonally unadjusted). Prince Edward Island posted a 131.9 per cent increase over the same period, while nationally, permits decreased by 8 per cent.

"Construction in Saskatchewan is on an upward trend, in residential, industrial and commercial sectors," Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart said. "What is really surprising is that Saskatchewan is the only western province to post an increase in May - attesting our economy is one of the hottest in the nation."

In the month of May, Manitoba was down 8.4 per cent, Alberta had a decrease of 33.6 per cent, and British Columbia had a drop of 15.9 per cent when compared to May 2007.

Building permit values in Saskatchewan for the first five months of 2008 are up 47.8 per cent to $772.8 million over the same period last year.

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For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Enterprise and Innovation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1691
Email: deb.young@gov.sk.ca