- Calgary and Edmonton are the top two entrepreneurial communities in Canada, according to CFIB’s annual assessment. The Albertan cities received top scores due to high levels of business ownership, high optimism, and good local policy.
- Construction of Shell Canada’s $1.35B carbon-capture project in Fort Saskatchewan is complete, and the project will soon be launched. The project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 35 percent, or 1M tonnes per year.
- Single-family housing starts declined in the Calgary and Edmonton regions in the month of September, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. The decline was the result of employment growth and more inventory on the resale market.
- More office space is expected to open up in Calgary’s downtown, according to Newmark Knight Frank Devencore. The overall vacancy rate rose to 12.8 percent in the 3rd Quarter of 2015, compared to 11.4 percent at the end of the 2nd quarter.
- Made Foods is set to open four new locations in Calgary by the end of November 2015. The company offers ready-to-eat meals with locally sourced ingredients and plans to open 10 additional stores across Canada.
- Junior oil and gas companies in Calgary are trying to cut costs due to tough market conditions. The companies will cut drilling and administrative costs as well as selling assets to counter the low commodity prices and high debt levels.
- Alberta’s wholesale sector experienced the biggest annual decline among provinces, according to Statistics Canada. In September, sales reached $6.6B, down 7.7 percent compared to the same month last year.
- According to the Global Auto Report by Scotiabank, auto sales in Alberta are expected to decline from 269,000 in 2014 to 250,000 in 2015. Despite the drop in sales, the province will remain above the long-term averages.
- Manufacturing sales in Alberta declined for the 10th consecutive month in August, according to Statistics Canada. The 14 percent decline from August 2014 stems from lower sales of machinery, fabricated metal products, and petroleum and coal products.
- TransCanada Corp., a Calgary-based energy infrastructure company, will eliminate 30 director positions as a part of its 20 percent cut to senior leaders announced in September. The layoffs are expected to come into effect in November 2015.
- Alberta Health Services extended its contract with Dynalife by one year. The contract, which is worth more than $130M per year, provides lab services for the Edmonton region.
- Brookfield Residential is taking over ALBI Homes, a leading home builder in Calgary, for an undisclosed amount. The takeover will not have any effect on the staff.
- Uber, a service in which freelance drivers receive fares in exchange for rides, started operating in Calgary on October 15. By the launch date, approximately 500 freelance drivers had signed up with the company to provide services.
- Calgary-based Nureva is planning to expand its business thanks to the oil and gas price downturn. The hightech solutions company has been able hire employees with the right skill sets as a result of the layoffs and will hire up to 30 employees within a year.
- A new gallery dedicated to modern and contemporary art will open up in Calgary’s Centennial Planetarium by fall 2016. The art gallery will be developed in various stages, and a fundraiser will be held for it at the planetarium on November 7, 2015.
- Residential housing sales in Fort McMurray fell 39.8 percent in September compared to the time last year, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. The average sale price also declined, while the rental vacancy rate rose in the city.
- The Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., based in Calgary, announced a new labour agreement on October 20. The agreement plans on cutting $400M in capital expenditures that will make the railway more efficient.
- Construction of the St. Gregory the Great Catholic School started in Blackfalds. The $16M school will have capacity for 600 kindergarten to grade 9 students and will open its doors in September 2017.
- According to a new report by Peters Co., the current Canadian drilling slump could be the longest since 1950s. The report forecasts that operator spending in the Canadian oil patch will fall by 39 percent in 2015 and 14 percent in 2016.
- The number of people on Employment Insurance in Calgary rose for the 12th consecutive month in August, according to Statistics Canada. On a year-to-year basis, there were 7800, or 82.5 percent, more people claiming benefits in the region.
- Alberta’s retail sales declined by 2.9 percent in the month of August compared to August 2014, according to Statistics Canada. On a national level, retail sales were up by 2.8 percent over the same period.
- (Source: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/LMI_bulletin.do?cid=3373&EVENTCD=&INDUSTRYCD=&AREA=25262)
Job Bank’s latest market trends, news update in Alberta
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