Scotia Economics forecasts that Alberta’s economy will experience 3.5 per cent growth, followed by Saskatchewan at 3.3 per cent. Canada is forecast to see 3 per cent growth next year, according to the Bank of Canada.
The Scotia study notes that Western Canada will see stronger economic growth next year than Central Canada.
“With Central Canada being much more tied to the U.S. economy, we see the western provinces outperforming mainly on the fact that the one thing that's going to keep going … is our commodity exports," said Scotia Economics' Alex Koustas.
Alberta's energy sector is going to be "a huge driver of investment," along with continued growth in Saskatchewan's potash industry and oil fields, and B.C.'s mining and natural gas industries, Koustas said.