April monthly housing starts key highlights:

• The trend in housing starts increased by 3.2% in April with 256,777 units.
• The trend measure is a 6-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of total housing starts for all areas in Canada.
• Actual housing starts were down 1% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or greater. 21,805 units were recorded in April 2026, compared to 21,938 units in April 2025.
• Toronto posted a 34% year-over-year increase in actual housing starts this month driven by higher multi-unit starts.
• Vancouver recorded a 30% decrease due to lower multi-unit and single-detached starts.
• Montréal starts increased 21% due to higher multi-unit starts.

April Standalone Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR):

• The total monthly standalone seasonally adjusted annualized rate of housing starts for all areas in Canada increased 17% in April, at 279,317 units compared to 239,747 units in March. This highlights the volatility of month-over-month starts figures and the caution with which they should be interpreted.
• Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 13,694 units.