OTTAWA—Statistics Canada says the economy grew at an annual rate of 5.6 percent in the first quarter of the year. The figure for the first three months of the year is better than the contraction first forecast months ago, but still represents a slowdown from the 9.6 percent annualized growth seen over the last three months of 2020. The economic boost was aided by the loosening of public health restrictions that helped increases in goods−producing and services sectors. The statistics agency says the quarter ended with an increase of 1.1 percent in real gross domestic product in March, following the 0.4 percent registered in February. Construction expanded for the third consecutive quarter, driven by construction of single-family homes and renovations as Canadians looked to improve their houses or find a larger space. Statistics Canada notes output in the public sector contributed the most to growth service-producing industries in the first …