Canada’s large banks predict that this year Ontario’s growth will be near the top of all provinces. The jobless rate, 5.8 percent, is the lowest since 2001. The national average unemployment rate is 6.5 percent itself the lowest since 2008. In 2016, Ontario added 96, 800 full-time jobs and surprisingly part-time jobs actually decreased by 10,200 a plus for many workers. Manitoba has the lowest rates at 5.4 percent and British Columbia 5.5 percent. However there are still 437,000 Canadians looking for work according to Statistics Canada. In 2016 the province grew at twice the national average. The growth is not related to just one sector but includes manufacturing, real estate finance and technology. Tax revenue from corporations grew 16,.8 percent last year and 19.6 percent this year as corporate profits grew. The future looks promising as a survey of Ontario businesses by the Bank of Canada showed that sales are up and that companies are intending to invest in new equipment and hire on more staff.
The center of recent growth is in the Greater Toronto Area. The Conference Board of Canada predicts that this will be the leading metropolitan growth area in 2016 leading to a 2.6 increase in GDP for Ontario. Windsor, the Ottawa region, and the Kitchener-Cambridge-Guelph triangle are also prospering. The Conference Board claims: “Through 2019, Ontario households will reap the benefits of a robust business sector. With the labour market looking good, healthy consumer spending across all spending categories is expected over the near term.” Robert Hogue, the senior economist at the Royal Bank of Canada(RBC) described the Ontario economy as vibrant and said: “The Ontario economy has been, I think, quite impressive at adapting, at adjusting, and at continuing to generate jobs.” Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne will no doubt point to Ontario’s growth if she announces a plan to hike the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour.
In spite of the low unemployment level, the growth in the economy has not been matched by a parallel growth in wages. The average worker has not shared in the boom. Statistics Canada data show the average worker’s wages grew just 1.1 percent last year. This is below inflation meaning that last year the average worker took a pay cut. This may have an effect on consumer confidence and sales in the future. As Nik Nanos, of Nanos research put it: “There’s a collision between the psychology of consumer confidence and the reality of the economic numbers. When people don’t feel that real wages are significantly increasing, when they’re unsure about their level of job security, it creates a psychological chill on consumer confidence.” However, borrowing iterest rates are low and that may encourage spending. The Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence Index suggests that consumers in the province are feeling upbeat. The swing up began as the price of oil dropped. No doubt it reflects more money being available as less is spent on fuel.
There is some worry about growing protectionist rhetoric by Trump in the US and uncertainty caused by renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA). Exports could also be hurt if the Canadian dollar, the loonie, were to increase significantly in value. However there are positive signs too from the US. Aided by tax refunds and rising incomes Americans increased spending in April at the fastest rate since 2016 in a sign the U.S. economy is growing faster. This could result in an increase in Canadian exports to the U.S. especially as the value of the Canadian dollar is quite low. Another worrying factor for Ontario is the boom in the housing market in Toronto that may turn out to be a bubble.
While some complain of Ontario hydro rates, the province has a low tax rate of just 11.5 percent. Only British Columbia has a lower rate. Ontario is fortunate as well in that its economy does not depend on one main commodity. It is less subject to severe stress as has happened in Alberta where oil is its main source of revenue. However, the entire manufacturing sector in Ontario was badly hit during the 2008-9 recession and the recovery has been relatively slow with some negative effects such as there being more part-time and contract work with less benefits for workers.
British Columbia led all provinces in the growth of its GDP last year growing by 3.7 percent. This was up from 3.1 percent in 2015. Ontario came second with a growth rate of 2.6 percent the same as in 2015. Manitoba was third with 2.4 percent an increase from 2.1 percent in 2015.
