Economists meet with Alberta officials, say worst appears to be over
EDMONTON — Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci met with key economists Wednesday to look ahead to 2017, with the consensus being the worst is over for the provincial economy.
But Avery Shenfeld, chief economist of CIBC, said how much things will improve is still up in the air and tied to the price of oil.
Ceci and the economists discussed a range of issues, including Alberta’s looming carbon tax.
Shenfeld said while taxes are always a balancing act, the upside of the carbon levy is that it will be recycled back into the economy and is likely less harmful than, say, a higher direct tax on oil producers.