West at a Glance - April 2017 Issue
(PDF; 423 KB)
Inside this issue
- Provincial Government Developments
- News and Opinion Highlights
- Key Economic Indicators
- Upcoming Events
Provincial Government Developments
British Columbia
- Government of BC renews the #BCTECH Strategy – The Government of BC has released an update to its #BCTECH Strategy, which was launched at the start of 2016. The update focuses on skills and talent, including commitments to increase the number of tech grads by 1,000 per year, double tech co-op placements to over 1,400 students per year, and expand the Mitacs student research program by two-thirds to over 800 internships annually. The update also includes expanded eligibility for BC's Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit to include augmented reality/virtual reality products and an increase in the Small Business Venture Capital tax credit budget of $3.5 million per year. Other initiatives include a new Innovative Ideas Fund, which will encourage government purchase of innovative technology products, a pilot "Startup in Residence" program to support the test and launch of private-sector solutions to public-sector challenges, and a new rural representative on the BC Innovation Council.
- BC releases rural economic strategy – The Government of BC released a new rural economic development strategy, Building on our Rural Advantages. The strategy outlines a three-pronged approach to build, strengthen, and diversify rural communities. Investments are expected to support up to 26,600 direct and indirect jobs. The impact is expected to contribute $2.8 billion to provincial GDP. Initiatives include $40 million to expand and enhance high-speed Internet, a $10 million investment in management of invasive plant species, an extension of the $25 million Rural Dividend Fund, $150 million for the Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia to plant trees and create jobs, a phase-out of the provincial sales tax on electricity purchases, and a reduction in the small business tax rate.
- BC's mining competitiveness – BC Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, announced new policies and funding to increase competitiveness, strengthen First Nations involvement, and enhance responsible resource development in BC's mining sector. Policies and funding include: $18 million over three years for mines permitting and oversight, elimination of the provincial sales tax on electricity over the next two years, adding community engagement as a deductible expense in BC's mining exploration tax credit program, establishing a Major Mines Permitting Office to improve coordination of mine permits across government, and reducing turnaround time for Notice of Work permits. Despite these actions the Fraser Institute's annual Survey of Mining Companies shows BC has dropped ten places to 27th for investment attractiveness in mining. BC, along with the Northwest Territories and Yukon, are the country's mining districts where it takes the longest to obtain exploration permits, with 60 per cent of survey respondents indicating wait times in BC have lengthened over the past decade.
- Using innovation to drive commercialization in BC's forest sector – The Government of BC has announced a Clean-Tech Innovation Strategy for the BC Forest Sector. The strategy, created in partnership with FPInnovations, will help increase the value of BC's forest resources, as well as identify innovative solutions to strengthen the forestry sector. FPInnovations provides creative scientific solutions to support the global competitiveness of the Canadian forestry sector. The three themes of the strategy are: enhanced economic viability, environmental sustainability, and Aboriginal and community technical support.
Alberta
- Alberta government releases 2017 budget – Alberta Treasury Board and Finance released its 2017 budget, which forecasts a $10.3 billion deficit for 2017-18 (3.2 per cent of GDP). The province's net debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to increase from 3.1 per cent in 2016-17 to 12.3 per cent by 2019-20, as the government runs continuous deficits. The budget builds upon initiatives included in Budget 2016 and announcements made over the previous 12 months. These initiatives include continuation of the Climate Leadership Plan which reinvests $5.4 billion in carbon levy revenue over the next three years, continuation of the $250 million Job Creation and Diversification Plan, and $129 million for the First Nations Development Fund. GDP is expected to grow by 2.6 per cent in 2017-18.
- New funding for Alberta's Carbon Conversion Technology Centre – Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Alberta Economic Development and Trade (EDT) have announced $10 million each in funding for the new Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre (ACCTC) in Calgary. The federal funding is part of NRCan's Oil and Gas Clean Tech Program, from Budget 2016, which provides $50 million over two years for technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector. The ACCTC will be owned and operated by InnoTech Alberta, a subsidiary of Alberta Innovates, and will enable near-commercial scale testing of CO2 capture and utilization technologies. Finalists in COSIA's Carbon X-PRIZE competition and winners of Emissions Reductions Alberta's $35 million Grand Challenge will be among the first to benefit from ACCTC facilities.
- Alberta Premier meets with US lawmakers – Alberta Premier Rachel Notley traveled to Washington, DC from February 26 to March 1 to engage in bilateral discussions with US officials and lawmakers. The mission included meetings with: George David Banks, Special Assistant to the President for International Energy and Environment; Senator Jon Tester, who sits on the subcommittee for energy and water development as well as the subcommittee responsible for agriculture; and Fred Upton, chair of the energy subcommittee. Ms. Notley also met with industry leaders from the US Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian-American Business Council, among others. Prior to this trip, Premier Notley met with Alberta business leaders from the oil and gas, agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing sectors to discuss Alberta's trade relations with the US.
- Alberta Premier participates in global energy conference – Premier Notley and Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd participated in the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston. Texas from March 6 to 10. Premier Notley was part of a panel discussion on energy and the environment, where she was quoted as saying that it is important for the oil sands industry to plan on the basis of "a business cycle that is longer than the current political cycle in the US." Ms. Notley also met with international oil and gas executives and the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, and attended roundtables on innovation, economic diversification, and Canadian perspectives.
- Alberta provides additional funding for Apprenticeship Training Awards – The Government of Alberta is providing $1 million in additional funding for its Apprentice Training Awards due to increased demand by unemployed apprentices in the province. The original investment in these awards was $1.5 million in the fall of 2016, providing 1,500 apprentices with $1,000 each towards technical training programs. The additional funds will be allocated to 1,000 more apprentices by March 31.
- Alberta government provides new solar installation rebates – The Government of Alberta has introduced a $36 million Residential and Commercial Solar Program, which provides rebates for homeowners, businesses, and non-profit organizations that install rooftop solar panels. The Minister of Environment and Parks, Shannon Phillips, estimates that the program will lead to new panels on 10,000 rooftops by 2020. Other impacts include the creation of 900 jobs in Alberta's solar sector, cutting solar installation costs by up to 30 per cent for residences and 25 per cent for businesses, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the province by approximately 500,000 tonnes.
Saskatchewan
- Government of Saskatchewan releases its budget for 2017-18 – On March 22, 2017, Saskatchewan Finance Minister Kevin Doherty tabled the province's budget titled "Meeting the Challenge." The budget controls spending, modernizes and expands the tax base, and invests in priority government programs, services, and infrastructure projects. It also outlines a plan to return to balanced budgets in three years. A deficit of $685 million is forecast for 2017-18, and a number of measures are included in the budget to help meet the financial challenge. Measures include increasing the provincial sales tax by one percentage point, increasing the Education Property Tax, and higher taxes on tobacco. The budget also includes $3.7 billion for investment in infrastructure, $5.6 billion in health spending, and nearly $1.4 billion on social services and assistance. The budget also provides $210 million in program funding for First Nations and Métis organizations and individuals.
- Premier Brad Wall promotes trade in Iowa – Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall traveled to Iowa in mid-March to help promote trade between Canada and the United States. The trip comes as a result of discussions with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who asked the Premier to represent Canada in Iowa. On March 15, 2017, Premier Wall addressed the Iowa House of Representatives to stress the importance of free trade between Canada and the United States. The Premier referred to Saskatchewan lentil farmers who grow about 60 per cent of the world's lentils and are in need of fair trading partners. Premier Wall also participated in a roundtable discussion with state agricultural organizations and delivered remarks at a reception attended by several hundred business, government, and academic representatives. Iowa counts Canada among its top trading partners, and last year, Canada-Iowa trade was almost $6 billion. Saskatchewan exporters shipped US$335 million worth of goods to Iowa in 2016, mainly potash, oats, canola, and live swine. Iowa in turn had exports of US$363 million, primarily agricultural equipment, to Saskatchewan in 2016. The United States is the province's largest export market and a solid economic relationship is critical to maintaining a strong Saskatchewan economy and contributing to one in five Saskatchewan jobs that depend on international trade.
- Government of Saskatchewan to reduce public sector compensation – In its 2017-18 budget, the Saskatchewan government proposed a reduction of $250 million in public sector compensation, representing a savings of roughly 3.5 per cent. The targeted reduction will apply across the public sector and will impact employees at government ministries, Crown corporations, agencies, health regions, school divisions, and the post-secondary sector. The provincial government has indicated that the specifics of how the savings will be achieved will be determined through negotiation. Previously, the government announced its plan to reduce salaries for Members of the Legislative Assembly and Ministers by 3.5 per cent. At the same time, staff in the Premier's office, caucus offices, and Ministers' offices will receive nine unpaid days off in the coming year, which is roughly equivalent to a reduction of 3.5 per cent as well.
Manitoba
- Diamonds discovered in northeast Manitoba – On March 6, 2017, the Government of Manitoba announced that they have received reports confirming the existence of diamonds in northeastern Manitoba. The discovery, made by geologists at the Manitoba Geological Survey and their industry partners, Lynx Consortium, marks the first time that diamonds have been found in the province.
- Trades training for refugees in Manitoba – On March 7, 2017, the Government of Manitoba and Red River College announced a new training program to provide language and construction skills to refugees and newcomers that have arrived in the province in the past year. The province is contributing $225,000 to the program, which will focus on developing essential language, safety, and basic construction skills.
- Province releases third quarter financial report - Manitoba Finance Minister Cameron Friesen released the province's third quarter report on March 20, 2017. The report projects a deficit of $872 million, which is an improvement from the $911 million projected when the 2016 budget was presented.
- Pallister, federal Liberals suffer from a failure to communicate – Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister was disappointed that there was no new funding in the federal budget for kidney disease research, medevac flights, or services for refugees crossing the border. The premier has been at odds with the federal government over health funding, climate policy, and funding for a $60 million "Factory of the Future" that the National Research Council had promised to build in Winnipeg in 2015.
News and Opinion Highlights
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Government of Canada releases Budget 2017 – Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled the federal budget for 2017-18 in Parliament on March 22. Because of uncertainty over the US government's near-term fiscal plans, particularly whether they will deliver promised tax cuts, Budget 2017 offered little in the way of new spending. New parts of the Innovation Agenda were announced, including the consolidation of existing programs and the announcement of a Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative. The budget also gave the Government of Alberta $30 million for use in oil well remediation and announced measures to promote economic growth in Indigenous communities.
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MDA acquisition, new technology, and headquarters – MDA Corp. has acquired DigitalGlobe, a US satellite imaging company, in a $4.7 billion deal. The companies were already working together on WorldView Legion, a next-generation imaging constellation that will be able to revisit a location on Earth 40 times per day. While it was speculated that MDA might move its headquarters to the US, Anil Wirasekara, MDA's CEO, says that the company headquarters will remain in BC, with a goal of increasing its Canadian presence and number of Canadian employees. The DigitalGlobe headquarters will remain in Colorado.
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Calgary company sells flight technology to China – Calgary-based FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. has announced the US$1.68 million sale of their Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) to a Chinese commercial airline. AFIRS is a communications system that allows for real-time communication between an aircraft and a monitoring station. FLYHT won the contract, which is for a five-year period, in a competitive bid among other suppliers. The commercial airline will also have the option to purchase more of FLYHT's technology over the course of this contract. In 2016, FLYHT received $2.3 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada's Western Innovation Initiative to upgrade and commercialize two proprietary technologies.
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Saskatchewan's largest private firm enters the renewable power business – The Brandt Group acquired the former Mitsubishi Hitachi plant in Saskatoon with plans to transform the facility into a wind turbine factory employing nearly 500 people. Brandt, Saskatchewan's largest private firm, expects the purchase will expand its revenue to $3.3 billion by 2025. The plant is expected to be operational within weeks and will help utilities like SaskPower to expand their reliance on renewable power to 50 per cent by 2030. Wind power represents a new direction for the company, and it will seek partnerships with municipal, provincial, and federal authorities.
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Mobile gas capture technology has huge potential in Saskatchewan – In November 2015, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil wells, which release invisible plumes of natural gas into the atmosphere. The new regulations put limits on venting and flaring these gases, creating a market opportunity for companies like Plum Gas Solutions, which makes facilities to recover and eventually sell natural gas from wellhead fumes. Similar regulations are already in place in Alberta.
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Tech firm grows in Winnipeg, MB – iQmetrix's Winnipeg office will be adding over 8,000 square feet and 108 skilled positions in 2017, nearly doubling its size. The software developer currently employs 95 people in 10,000 square feet and attributes the growth to their expanding product line within the retail software industry. iQmetrix also benefitted from WD assistance in the early 2000s, under the First Jobs in S&T Program.
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New Flyer Industries surpasses $2 billion in revenue – The bus manufacturer headquartered in Winnipeg, MB announced that it had reached $2.3 billion in revenue for 2016, 48 per cent more than the previous year. The increase was attributed in part to the company's acquisition of Motor Coach Industries in 2015, the cost savings discovered in combining efforts, and an increase in sales of low-emission buses. In 2017, the company is forecasting a 4 per cent increase over 2016 production with 3,650 new busses and motor coaches, and they have recently confirmed a new contract for up to 100 60-foot Xcelsior clean diesel busses with the Pittsburgh Port Authority.
- Companies divest interests and cut proven reserves in Alberta oil sands – Canadian Natural Resources Limited announced a $12.74 billion deal to purchase oil sands assets from Royal Dutch Shell and Marathon Oil. Shell will continue to operate the Scotford upgrader and Quest carbon capture and storage project. In addition, ExxonMobil announced that it has cut its proven crude reserves including 3.5 billion of bitumen at the Kearl oil sands project in Alberta. Low oil and gas prices have caused these reserves to no longer qualify as "economically producible" under the US Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) definition. Finally, on March 29, Calgary's Cenovus Energy announced a $17.7 billion deal to purchase most of ConocoPhillips' Alberta oil assets.
Key Economic Indicators
| British Columbia | Alberta | Saskatchewan | Manitoba | Canada | Last Update |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Domestic Product | ||||||
| Real GDPFootnote 1 (2007 $billions, forecast) | $216 | $288 | $58 | $56 | $1,674 | 2017 |
| % ch. from year earlier | 3.4% | -2.2% | -1.5% | 1.7% | 1.5% | |
| Labour Market | ||||||
| Employment (SA, thousands) | 2,443 | 2,289 | 570 | 641 | 18,308 | Mar-17 |
| Change from previous month | 4.2 | 20.4 | -5.1 | 2.8 | 19.4 | |
| % ch. from previous month | 0.2% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.1% | |
| % ch. from year earlier | 3.5% | -0.1% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 1.5% | |
| Unemployment Rate (SA,%) | 5.4% | 8.4% | 6.0% | 5.5% | 6.7% | Mar-17 |
| percentage points from previous month | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | -0.3 | -0.1 | |
| percentage points from year earlier | -1 | 1.2 | -0.2 | -0.5 | -0.4 | |
| Regular EI beneficiaries (SA) | 55,340 | 91,730 | 19,270 | 16,090 | 567,930 | Jan-17 |
| Change from previous month | 20 | -6,090 | -370 | 230 | -1,850 | |
| % ch. from previous month | 0.0% | -6.2% | -1.9% | 1.5% | -0.3% | |
| % ch. from previous year | 1.9% | 41.2% | 23.1% | 2.9% | 3.7% | |
| Average weekly earnings | $931.42 | $1,112.98 | $1,007.87 | $898.19 | $967.15 | Jan-17 |
| Change from previous year | $24.43 | -$5.74 | $23.47 | $20.43 | $16.73 | |
| Prices | ||||||
| CPI (y/y) | 2.3% | 2.2% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.0% | Feb-17 |
| CPI (y/y) previous month | 2.3% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | Jan-17 |
| Consumers and Business | ||||||
| Retail Sales (SA, $millions) | $6,477 | $6,436 | $1,651 | $1,653 | $45,952 | Jan-17 |
| % ch. from previous month | 2.9% | 2.4% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.2% | |
| % ch. from previous year | 6.6% | 4.8% | 6.0% | 2.8% | 4.5% | |
| Manufacturing Sales (SA, $millions) | $3,924 | $5,731 | $1,355 | $1,498 | $53,816 | Jan-17 |
| % ch. from previous month | -0.3% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 1.7% | 0.6% | |
| % ch. from previous year | 7.0% | 14.8% | 12.6% | 0.6% | 2.7% | |
| Building Permits (SA, $millions) | $1,276 | $1,121 | $247 | $264 | $7,450 | Feb-17 |
| % ch. from previous month | 9.0% | -8.2% | 66.4% | -12.6% | -2.5% | |
| % ch. from previous year | 9.7% | -21.8% | 35.8% | 31.1% | 3.9% | |
| Housing Starts (SAAR, thousands) | 47 | 35 | 5 | 9 | 254 | Mar-17 |
| % ch. from previous month | 55.6% | 32.8% | 3.6% | -6.2% | 18.4% | |
| % ch. from previous year | 8.1% | 58.4% | 33.0% | 196.9% | 24.7% | |
| International Trade | ||||||
| Merchandise Exports ($millions) | $2,980 | $8,000 | $2,262 | $1,098 | $38,491 | Feb-17 |
| % ch. from previous month | -17.3% | -3.9% | -12.7% | -8.4% | -5.4% | |
| % ch. from previous year | 4.8% | 36.9% | 3.5% | -2.7% | 2.4% | |
| Merchandise Imports ($millions) | $3,816 | $2,033 | $773 | $1,693 | $42,483 | Feb-17 |
| % ch. from previous month | 1.8% | -2.4% | -9.8% | 8.8% | 1.5% | |
| % ch. from previous year | -2.3% | -5.3% | 8.4% | 6.2% | -1.3% | |
| Demographics | ||||||
| Population (estimate) | 4,777,157 | 4,280,127 | 1,158,339 | 1,328,346 | 36,503,097 | Q1 2017 |
| % ch. from previous year | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.3% | |
| Largest Cities (CMAs) | Vancouver (2,463,431) | Calgary (1,392,609) | Saskatoon (295,095) | Winnipeg* (778,489) | 2016 | |
| Victoria* (367,770) | Edmonton* (1,321,426) | Regina* (236,481) | ||||
Upcoming Events
| Event | Description | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | |||
| COFI | COFI will host its annual convention for industry and government leaders from BC to discuss key issues and opportunities facing the BC forestry industry. This year's theme is Forestry for the Planet. | Vancouver, BC |
COFI :April 5–7, 2017 |
| Air Canada | The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade will host Air Canada President and CEO, Calin Rovinescu, to discuss competitive business in the 21st century. | Vancouver, BC | Air Canada :April 20, 2017 |
| North American Wholesale Lumber Association | Vancouver Regional Meeting. Panelists are Jason Fisher (Province of BC), Susan Yurkovich (Council of Forest Industries), and Duncan Davies (Interfor). | Vancouver, BC | North American Wholesale Lumber Association :April 27, 2017 |
| PwC | PwC hosts its 30th annual Global Forest, Paper & Packaging Industry Conference. | Vancouver, BC | PwC :May 10, 2017 |
| WOOD MARKETS | WOOD MARKETS will host the 7th Annual Global Softwood Log & Lumber Conference shortly after the announcements of countervailing and anti-dumping duties from the US. | Vancouver, BC | WOOD MARKETS :May 11, 2017 |
| Simon Fraser University | The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade will host SFU President and Vice-Chancellor, Andrew Petter, in a discussion about building BC's innovation economy. | Vancouver, BC | Simon Fraser University :May 30, 2017 |
| Annual Aboriginal Opportunities Forum | The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade hosts this forum with keynote speaker Jody Wilson-Raybould, MP for Granville and Minister of Justice. | Vancouver, BC | Annual Aboriginal Opportunities Forum :June 16, 2017 |
| Alberta | |||
| Tenet i2c Innovation to Commercialization | A Dragon's Den-style pitch competition for University of Calgary researchers developing products for medical treatments. | Calgary, AB | Tenet i2c Innovation to Commercialization :April 11, 2017 |
| Healthcare Reform: A Policy Conversation | A conversation on health-care reform hosted by the University of Calgary. | Calgary, AB | Healthcare Reform:April 11, 2017 |
| Women in Supply Chain: The Innovative Supply Chain | The Van Horne Institute's first installment of a new speakers' series on the Innovative Supply Chain, featuring Jennifer Martin, President and CEO of Telus Spark. | Calgary, AB | Women in Supply Chain :April 12, 2017 |
| AccelerateAB | An annual event connecting local startups, mentors, investors and other partners to accelerate the success of Alberta's entrepreneurs. | Calgary, AB | AccelerateAB :April 19, 2017 |
| Alberta's Carbon Tax – Its Impact on the Economy and Policy Certainty | Part of the Calgary Chamber's Energy Future Series, this event will bring together Alberta CEOs to share their perspectives on recent policy changes and the impacts on their businesses. | Calgary, AB | Alberta's Carbon Tax :April 19, 2017 |
| Innovating Alberta's Energy Future Showcase | An Energy Futures Lab event featuring speakers from across Alberta, including Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Co-founder of the Cleantech Group Nicholas Parker. | Calgary, AB | Innovating Alberta's Energy Future Showcase :April 19, 2017 |
| Strengthening the Southern AB/Port of Prince Rupert Trade Corridor | The Calgary Regional Partnership, with the Port of Prince Rupert will host a working session focused on creating practical action plans for expanding trade between southern Alberta and Prince Rupert. | Calgary, AB | :April 20-21, 2017 |
| XXV Anniversary Business Forum and Gala Dinner | The Canadian Council for the Americas is hosting an event to discuss the future of the economic regions in the Americas (NAFTA, Pacific Alliance, Pacific Rim, US-Canada and the Americas). | Calgary, AB | Strengthening the Southern AB/Port of Prince Rupert Trade Corridor :April 25, 2017 |
| IPAC & Conference Board of Canada Present: Resilience | A conference focused on the increased risks posed by natural hazards and the responses from both public and private sectors. It will also feature a lessons learned event for the May 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, assessing the disaster management issues encountered. | Edmonton, AB | IPAC :April 25-26, 2017 |
| University of Calgary's W21C Program 2017 Reverse Trade Show | A trade show hosted by Alberta Health Services which highlights clinical challenges for seniors that could be addressed through the development innovative technological solutions. | Calgary, AB | University of Calgary's W21C Program 2017 Reverse Trade Show :May 2, 2017 |
| Alberta-US Trade Summit | A summit hosted by Calgary Economic Development that will include expert panels discussing the current political and economic environment. | Calgary, AB | Alberta-US Trade Summit :May 2-3, 2017 |
| 2017 Summit of Co-Operative Leaders | Hosted by the Alberta Community & Co-Operative Association (ACCA), this summit will feature panel discussions on the role of co-ops in strengthening Alberta's economy. | Red Deer, AB | 2017 Summit of Co-Operative Leaders :May 3, 2017 |
| Report to the Community: Reimagine | An event by Calgary Economic Development discussing new ideas and innovative technologies and how they shape Calgary's story to the world. | Calgary, AB | Report to the Community :May 5, 2017 |
| CCAB Aboriginal Economic Development Conference | A conference highlighting innovation in the Indigenous economy. | Calgary, AB | CCAB :May 11, 2017 |
| Let's Talk Exports with EDC's Peter Hall | Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) and Export Development Canada (EDC) are hosting a breakfast with guest speaker Peter Hall, Vice President and Chief Economist at EDC, to discuss global economic trends. | Edmonton, AB | CME :May 11, 2017 |
| 2017 Canadian Inland Ports Conference | An annual Van Horne Institute conference discussing the economic benefits of inland ports for the provinces and communities in which they are located. | Calgary, AB | 2017 Canadian Inland Ports Conference :May 24, 2017 |
| Polytechnics Canada's Annual Conference | The theme of this years' conference is "Canada's Polytechnics: Building Canada through Skills and Innovation," and will feature keynote speaker Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO of the Lumina Foundation. | Edmonton, AB | Polytechnics Canada's Annual Conference :May 31-June 1, 2017 |
| Saskatchewan | |||
| Saskatchewan Economic Summit 2017 | The Saskatchewan Economic Summit 2017 is organized by the Conference Board of Canada's Saskatchewan Institute. The Summit is an opportunity for senior government officials and decision-makers from the private sector to discuss issues affecting Saskatchewan. | Regina, SK | Saskatchewan Economic Summit 2017 :April 3-4, 2017 |
| Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum | The 9th Annual Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum is presented by the Saskatchewan Mining Association, the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, and the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association. The Forum will provide information on how businesses can access mining supply opportunities. | Saskatoon, SK | Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum :April 4, 2017 |
| Johnson Shoyama Graduate School 2017 Tansley Lecture | Under the theme: "Canada and President Trump: How do we manage?" – former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson explores the uncertain and critical era into which Canada-U.S relations are entering. | Regina, SK | Johnson Shoyama Graduate School 2017 Tansley Lecture :April 5, 2017 |
| "State of the City" Address | Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon, will deliver the annual "State of the City" address. | Saskatoon, SK | State of the City :April 11, 2017 |
| 2017 Agri-Value and Networking Event | This year's theme is "Growth, opportunities and Challenges in Value-Added Processing." The workshops will feature an address by Lyle Stewart, the Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture as well as other local and international speakers. | Saskatoon, SK | 2017 Agri-Value and Networking Event :May 4, 2017 |
| 2017 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference | The 2017 includes talks on production optimization, geology and environmental issues. Also featured is the core workshop, intended to give delegates a unique perspective on the geology of key plays within the Williston Basin. | Regina, SK | 2017 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference :May 2-4, 2017 |
| Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. 2017 Annual Business Conference | This year's business conference will focus on "Business Innovation Through Technology" featuring high calibre speakers and content while providing the opportunity to learn from some of the province's up and coming entrepreneurs. | Saskatoon, SK | Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. 2017 Annual Business Conference :May 10, 2017 |
| Canada Wide Science Festival (CWSF) | Hosted by the University of Regina, the CWSF is a fun-filled exhibition of science, technology, engineering and math. Guests can engage with Canada's top 500 young scientists and get hands on science activities. | Regina, SK | CWSF :May 14-20, 2017 |
| Leadership Conference 2017 | The event hosted by the Edwards School of Businesses a day of collaboration with evidence-based practitioners who represent industries in health, technology, sports and education. The event will provide attendees with tools and best practices to implement to make more strategic decisions. | Saskatoon, SK | Leadership Conference 2017 :May 18, 2017 |
| Emerging Labour Force Trends Conference | Sponsored by the Government of Saskatchewan, the event will feature the Saskatchewan Minister of the Economy who will give an overview of Saskatchewan's Labour Market Challenges & Opportunities. | Regina, SK | Emerging Labour Force Trends Conference :May 24, 2017 |
| Saskatchewan Mining Week 2017 | The week-long event will feature various activities and events ending with the 49th Annual Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition. | Saskatoon, SK | Saskatchewan Mining Week 2017 :May 28-June 3, 2017 |
| Aboriginal Business Match Event (ABM) | The event in June will spotlight Agriculture and Manufacturing. The event will connect community, national and international decision makers to provide business-ready opportunities for productive land base use and diverse and industrial equipment. | Regina, SK | ABM :June 5-7, 2017 |
| Canada's Farm Progress Show (40th Anniversary) | This milestone event – the 40th Anniversary of the Canada Farm Progress Show brings in more than 40,000 attendees and 700 exhibitors from around the world. The event connects local producers and international customers with the latest in dry land farm equipment, technology and innovation. | Regina, SK | Canada's Farm Progress Show :June 21-23, 2017 |
| Manitoba | |||
| Manitoba Sustainable Energy Association (ManSEA) | Conference and ManSEA's annual general meeting with the theme of "Carbon Pricing and Sustainable Energy – What does it mean for me?" | Portage la Prairie, MB | ManSEA :April 5, 2017 |
| Red River College (RRC) Applied Research and Innovation day | A showcase of student and staff applied research that's happening at RRC and being driven by industry. | Winnipeg, MB | RRC :April 6, 2017 |
| Metalworking Manufacturing and Production Expo | A cost effective, tightly focused forum, targeted to the manufacturing & production audience where attendees can meet face-to-face with product and application engineers and get hands-on experience with the products and solutions displayed. | Winnipeg, MB | Metalworking Manufacturing and Production Expo :April 18, 2017 |
| The Innovators – ICTAM | The ICT Association of Manitoba (ICTAM)'s signature event, celebrating innovation leaders that are inventing the future. | Winnipeg, MB | ICTAM :April 19, 2017 |
| Vision Quest | Vision Quest will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, business leaders and youth to discuss and promote Aboriginal business, community and economic development. | Winnipeg, MB | Vision Quest :May 16-18, 2017 |
| CANSEC | The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) will showcase leading-edge technology, products and services for army, navy, air force and joint forces military units. | Ottawa, ON | CANSEC :May 31 – June 1, 2017 |
Western Economic Diversification Canada
The role of Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is to improve the long-term economic competitiveness of Western Canada by supporting programs and services that enhance innovation, business development, and community economic development. In addition, the department undertakes policy, advocacy and coordination activities in order to advance the interests of Western Canada in national economic decision-making.
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