Brighter days ahead for provincial economies

Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, and Manitoba to outshine other provinces, posting strongest GDP growth in 2015

OTTAWA, Nov. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Following another challenging economic year for many provinces, particularly in terms of job creation and business investment, the economic prospects of Canadian provinces look more positive for the months ahead and into next year, according to The Conference Board of Canada's Provincial Outlook: Autumn 2014.

"We are finally seeing signs that lagging provincial economies are performing better and this momentum is expected to continue in 2015," said Marie-Christine Bernard, Associate Director, Provincial and Territorial Forecast. "With Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, and Manitoba leading the way, most of the provinces are heading in the right direction. Next, attention to balancing provincial budgets will still be required."

HIGHLIGHTS

• It has been another challenging year for many provinces, especially in terms of job creation and business investment.
• Economic prospects are looking more positive. Lagging provinces are performing better and will continue to make progress in 2015.
• Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, and Manitoba will be the best performing economies next year with an average real GDP growth of 3 per cent.
• Ongoing fiscal pressures will limit the public sector's contribution to economic growth in the near term.

After struggling through this year with steep job losses and lower oil production, the economic outlook is brighter for Newfoundland and Labrador.  Following maintenance and technical difficulties which stifled operations this summer, the Terra Nova and North Amethyst fields are expected to fuel growth next year as they return to normal production. Increased oil production and stronger manufacturing output will help reverse a 1.3 per cent decline in real GDP to growth of 3.4 per cent in 2015.

In spite of weak global demand and geopolitical forces bringing down crude prices  recently, Alberta's economic forecast for the next two years remains positive. Having benefited from capital investment in the energy sector over the past decade, the dividend is now paying off with higher production and a stronger export outlook. The growing population, stronger job growth, and increased industrial production will propel the economy forward by 4.4 per cent this year and an estimated 3.3 per cent next year.

Manitoba's economy is forecast to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2014, accelerating to 3 per cent in 2015, propelled by increased construction and metal mining. Business investment will be rising. At the same time, the provincial government will continue to invest heavily in infrastructure.

Prince Edward Island's economy stood still this year due to a drop in business investment and a slow-down in employment affecting consumer spending. With both employment and household income expected to rise in 2015, real GDP is forecast to grow 2.3 per cent next year, which should enable the province to come within reach of achieving its goal of a budgetary surplus by 2015-16.

Nova Scotia's economy is expected to post steady gains in the next two years. Strong growth among the goods-producing industries will help lift overall real GDP growth by 2.3 per cent in 2015, after a similar gain of 2.2 per cent this year. Increased natural gas production and robust gains in construction and manufacturing will generate better employment prospects over the near term.

New Brunswick's economy is turning the page to better growth. A promising outlook for the forestry industry, increased potash production, and improving labour markets will be the key drivers of growth.  Real GDP is forecast to grow 1.6 per cent in 2015, accelerating from a gain of just 0.6 per cent this year.

The Quebec economy will end 2014 with real GDP growth of 1.6 per cent, a slightly better performance than the previous year. Looking ahead, the ongoing export recovery will be a key contributor to the economy for a second year in a row. Exports of goods and services finally surpassed their 2007 peak in 2014, and are expected to post another robust increase next year, fuelled by the lower dollar and further improvements in the U.S. economy. Overall, Quebec's real GDP growth is expected to reach 2 per cent in 2015.

Ontario's domestic economy slowed to a crawl in the early part of this year, as construction was halted and consumers stayed indoors in the midst of a harsh winter. However, the economy quickly bounced back in the second quarter and real GDP will grow by 1.8 per cent in 2014, buoyed by strong demand from a resurgent U.S. economy and resilient Ontario consumers. Economic growth is expected to accelerate to 2.6 per cent as business investment finally ends its two-year slump and posts solid growth in 2015.

In contrast to the robust growth of the early part of this decade, Saskatchewan's economic growth is expected to reach just 1.5 per cent this year. Gains in metal mining and potash production will help overall real GDP advance by 2.4 per cent in 2015, although the forecast is muted by lower yields in the agriculture sector and more temperate gains in the oil industry.

Economic growth in British Columbia is expected to improve in 2015, as a stronger U.S. economy fuels exports and natural gas production increases a strong pace.  Real GDP is expected to advance by 2.6 per cent, after growing by 2.2 per cent in 2014.  Growth in metal mining production over the next five years will compensate for a struggling forestry industry.

Nationally, real GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 2.6 per cent in 2015, up from this year's more modest increase of 2.2 per cent. A stronger U.S. economic activity, coupled with a slightly weaker Canadian dollar will keep export activity humming in 2015.

The Conference Board of Canada will host a series of webinars on the Provincial Outlook starting Monday, December 1, 2014.

December 01, 2014 1:00 PM EDT	Atlantic Canada Business Outlook Webinar: Uptick Expected in 2015
December 05, 2014 11:00 AM EDT	Ontario Business Outlook Webinar: Counting on U.S. Demand
December 11, 2014 11:00 AM EDT	Webinaire sur les perspectives d'affaires au Québec
December 12, 2014 11:00 AM EDT	Prairies Business Outlook Webinar: Brighter Prospects in 2015
December 18, 2014 1:00 PM EDT	Alberta Business Outlook Webinar: Growth Pattern Continues

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Image with caption: "2014 economic growth by province (CNW Group/Conference Board of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141127_C8122_PHOTO_EN_8638.jpg

SOURCE: Conference Board of Canada

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