Manitoba will have one of the faster growing economies in the country over the next two years, according to the latest forecast from RBC Economics.
The bank predicts Manitoba will ring up the third best rate of economic growth in Canada in 2008 and 2009, at 2.8 and 2.9 per cent respectively.
The only two provinces it thinks will turn in a better performance are Saskatchewan, at 3.6 and 3.2 per cent, and Alberta, at 3.3 and 3.0 per cent.
It also predicts the Canadian economy will see more moderate growth -— 1.6 per cent in 2008 and 2.3 per cent in 2009.
"The diversified composition of the economy has helped keep Manitoba's growth profile more stable compared to the other provinces," Craig Wright, the bank's senior vice-president and chief economist, said in a statement released today.
RBC is the second major forecaster to paint a rosy economic picture for Manitoba. The Conference Board of Canada predicted last month that Manitoba would lead the country in economic expansion this year, with real GDP growth of 3.7 per cent.
