Contractions in the new housing market account for this year's decline in city building permit values.
Permits to the end of August worth $12.06 million fell $2.78 million from $14.84 million last year.
Housing construction this year has dropped $3.78 million from 2019.
Only 10 houses worth $3.44 million have been started this year compared with 20 worth $7.22 million last year.
In August three houses worth just over $1 million were started.
Major permits issued in August include $174,000 for a commercial building at 73 Hochelaga Street East, $260,000 for an industrial building at the 1750 Stadacona Street West truck wash, and $40,000 for a retail building at 240 High Street West.
