Canada’s housing starts slowed in July, with the seasonally adjusted annual rate falling 5% to 229,074 units from 240,773 in June and coming in below market expectations of 248,000. The rural starts estimate was 11,274 units. In centres with populations of 10,000 or more, actual monthly starts dropped 19% from a year earlier to 18,834 units in July 2026. Regional performance was mixed: Vancouver posted a 42% decline on weaker multi-unit and single-detached building, Toronto fell 10% as multi-unit construction softened, and Montréal rose 3% with support from stronger multi-unit starts. For the year to date, housing starts totaled 131,851 units, down 4% from the same period in 2025, while the six-month trend was nearly flat, slipping 0.5% to 247,377 units.