Housing starts are substantially down – around 29% – year-to-date in 2026 compared to the year prior. There have been 2,525 starts to date this year, compared to 3,249 units in 2025. However, the month saw virtually exactly the same number of units under construction at this point this year compared to last, and a very substantial increase in the number of completions.
In April 2026, 603 apartments, 109 rows, 12 semis and 92 singles were started. In April 2025, 1078 apartments were started, 171 rows, 16 semis and 114 singles were started.
Completions, though, were substantially up year-over-year for April. In 2026, 636 apartments were completed, 119 rows, 10 semis and 52 singles were completed. In 2025 the comparable figures were 91 apartments, 105 rows, 10 semis and 101 singles.
There were 1,606 units of housing completed in 2025 at the end of April, compared to 2,579 this year – a very substantial 60% increase. This year’s YTD completions at the end of April was the second highest of the years I’ve been tracking, only a few units shy of the 2625 units completed from January to April 2023.
Find the most recent nationwide CMHC reporting here. Over the years, it’s become increasingly difficult to read the charts as they get presented on a WordPress page. Click here to see all the data and charts in Google Sheets.