Home construction in Toronto seeing a huge boost, says survey

A major increase in Toronto home construction occurred last month, according to a recent survey.

Recently, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released numbers based on April’s movements concerning housing starts — the metrics on home construction projects across the country.

Based on the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), housing starts for all areas in Canada increased 17% in April (279,317 units) compared to March (239,747 units).

However, despite this long-awaited jump start in construction, the overall economy surrounding new housing projects remains in a state of flux.

“While the six‑month trend in housing starts rose slightly in April, it follows several consecutive months of decline, underscoring the uneven nature of current construction activity and month-to-month volatility,” said Kevin Hughes, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC, in an official statement.

Out of Canada’s largest metropolitan areas, when surveyed accordingly, Toronto showed a massive boost in housing stats when comparing April 2025 to April of this year, a staggering 34 pr cent increase in housing starts.

Representatives with the CMHC were quick to note that this metric, compared to permits, is crucial for economic growth, as shovels in the dirt show greater progress in construction movement than contracts signed.

Building permits provide an early signal of future residential construction activity, while housing starts capture construction that has begun and offer the best indication of future housing supply. Together, these measures show how development intentions translate into real construction activity,” Mathieu Laberge, CMHC’s Chief Economist, said in an official statement.