For business, an ideology-driven agenda – whether from the right or the left – doesn’t create favourable conditions for investment
Common sense is not so common, observed the 18th century French writer Voltaire. Sadly, he could be talking about politics in Alberta today. Albertans have been whipsawed by two back-to-back political parties that govern more by ideology than common sense. The NDP governed from the ideological perspective that the state should tax more and use…
Erin Berney, a lawyer with Field Law, discusses implications of the recent ruling for condo boards and owners
A recent court ruling puts a temporary ban on the ability of condo owners to use their units as rentals on the tourism site, Airbnb. Erin Berney, a lawyer with Field Law, explains the ruling and discusses what it might mean for the rights of both condominium boards and condo owners. If you own a…
An increase of 0.4 per cent came after retail sales in the province had fallen below levels last reported in August 2017
Retail sales in Alberta reached $6.7 billion in October, up 0.4 per cent from the previous month, according to a report released Friday by Statistics Canada. The federal agency said the increase came after retail sales in the province had fallen below levels last reported in August 2017. “Despite the gain, the level of retail…
The traveller accommodation index trended downward in November, falling 4.2 per cent year over year
The cost of living in Alberta rose in November at a rate slightly below the Canadian average, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday. The federal agency said the Consumer Price Index in the province was up 2.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis while in Canada it rose by 2.2 per cent. Both those numbers are up…
Budget increase adds 60 drilling locations across Alberta and three more working drilling rigs, creating about 1,000 full-time jobs
Calgary-based energy giant Canadian Natural Resources Limited is increasing its capital expenditure to $4.05 billion in 2020, the company announced on Wednesday. With the Alberta government's recent announcement of the elimination of curtailment for some conventional drilling in Alberta, and its previously announced reduction in income tax rates, CNRL increased its 2020 capital budget by…
Upstream production is expected to reach 800,000 to 840,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, an increase of about five per cent
Calgary-based Suncor Energy says its capital investment program to be $5.4 to $6 billion in 2020 with upstream production expected to be between 800,000 to 840,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), an increase of about five per cent production. “During 2019, we've demonstrated the value of our asset integration and flexibility through our…
Business confidence is the second lowest in the country and well behind the national average of 56.1 per cent
Alberta’s entrepreneurs have the fall blues. The monthly Business Barometer by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business showed small business confidence tumbled in November. The index fell 8.9 points from the previous month to 44.7. It's the second lowest in the country and well behind the national average of 56.1 per cent. The CFIB says an…
And fewer consumers plan to shop on Black Friday and Boxing Day this year, according to Accenture survey
Environmentally friendly products will account for about one-third of Canadians’ spending this holiday season, according to the eighth annual Holiday Shopping Survey from Accenture. But they will be spending a little less money this year on average. “With increased awareness about the climate crisis, it’s no surprise that responsible retail matters now more than ever,…
And across the country, retail sales decreased for the first time in three months
It appears the struggling economy in Alberta is taking a toll on the province’s retail sector. Statistics Canada reported on Friday that retail sales in the province in September dipped to $6.7 billion, representing a decline of 1.6 per cent from August and down 2.7 per cent from a year ago. In Canada, retail sales…
A 9,000-square-foot commercial building on 1.5 acres in Glendon is part of the Dream Big promotion
Two Northern Alberta business owners have launched a campaign to “give away” a 9,000-square-foot commercial building on 1.5 acres right in the heart of Alberta’s Lakeland Region. Glendon business owners Julie and Shane Kissell are inviting Canadians to dream big by submitting their big business idea along with a $250 application fee for a shot…
The move comes as a result of Calgary Co-op’s recent decision to source its groceries from Save-on-Foods
Federated Co-operatives Ltd. is eliminating more than 200 jobs in Calgary this spring as it shuts down its Calgary Food Distribution Centre effective April 2020. In a news release on Thursday, FCL said the move comes as a result of Calgary Co-op’s recent decision to source its groceries from Save-on-Foods. “We're deeply saddened by this…
September decreases were widespread across the province, including in the Calgary and Edmonton areas
The number of people in Alberta receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits continues to fall. Statistics Canada reported on Thursday that 45,900 people in the province received regular EI benefits in September, a decrease of 6.2 per cent from the previous month, “continuing a downward trend that started at the beginning of 2019.” “In September, decreases…
Business confidence has been in a prolonged slump that shows no signs of clearing, survey suggests
Business sentiment in Canada remains in its long slump, according to a report by the Conference Board of Canada. The results of board’s latest survey of business leaders show that businesses remain deeply pessimistic about the economy. The Index of Business Confidence fell by 1.5 points to 86.0 in the third quarter of 2019. The…
Sales have been falling every month since August 2018: ATB
A slow economy continues to dampen the number of new vehicles being sold in Alberta, according to ATB Financial’s Economics and Research Team. In its daily economic update The Owl, the financial institution said the seasonally adjusted number of new vehicles purchased in Alberta was down by 6.1 per cent in September compared to a…
Unfilled positions add up overtime, bringing down firms' productivity levels and ultimately their ability to be profitable and to grow: CFIB
Alberta’s private sector job vacancy rate has stabilized at 2.2 per cent as the province had 35,300 unfilled jobs in the third quarter of this year, according to a report released on Thursday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. In the latest Help Wanted report, Alberta had the second lowest job vacancy rate in…
Common sense is not so common, observed the 18th century French writer Voltaire. Sadly, he could be talking about politics in Alberta today. Albertans have been whipsawed by two back-to-back political parties that govern more by ideology than common sense. The NDP governed from the ideological perspective that the state should tax more and use…
