The new survey from the Business Council of Alberta suggests business leaders are expecting faster growth over the next 12 months, with half planning to hire and 55 per cent planning to increase investment. Despite trade uncertainty, geopolitical issues and the upcoming October referendum on separation, Alberta’s business leaders remain “remarkably positive,” the council said, citing optimism over recent major project announcements and momentum in the oil and gas sector. (The Logic)

Talking point: The Alberta survey findings are consistent with the latest quarterly Business Outlook Survey from the Bank of Canada, which found businesses in the Prairies expect stronger sales, investment and hiring over the next year than firms elsewhere in Canada. The central bank attributed much of the optimism to energy sector-linked firms, who have seen increased activity and revenue from higher oil prices amid the Iran war. By contrast, business sentiment across Canada largely deteriorated in the second quarter, with the share of firms bracing for a recession jumping to 17 per cent, compared to nine per cent in the first three months of the year.