Thunder Bay's residential construction season is seeing a slow start due to a late spring, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports.

According to recent CMHC data, there were two single-detached housing starts for the month, on par with February activity and activity in March 2000. The two units bring the year's total to 10 - six singles and four multiples - equal to the 10 units started in the first three months of 2000.

CMHC is still expecting a better year for residential construction. Three hundred starts are expected in 2001, led by 190 single-detached starts.

With a few multiple unit projects in the works for the coming year, CMHC is forecasting 100 units to go along with 190 singles, bringing the forecast to an even 300 units.