Forestry, mining and manufacturing are three industries which will give New Brunswick’s economy a boost in 2017 according to the Conference Board of Canada.
However, the board’s provincial outlook projects that real GDP growth will be limited to 1.2 per cent on average this year and next.
Despite uncertainty over the softwood lumber dispute, forestry and logging will benefit from strong demand in the United States.
Gains are also expected this year in manufacturing and metal mining production at the Caribou mine near Bathurst.
On the downside, the Conference Board believes New Brunswick’s aging population will weigh down labour force and economic prospects in the years ahead.
Alberta is expected to have Canada’s fastest growing provincial economy in 2017 with Newfoundland and Labrador projected to be the only province with negative growth.
