An Angus Reid Survey shows people in Quebec are the most optimistic when it comes to economic growth in the year ahead. People in Saskatchewan and Alberta are least optimistic. Quebec can expect to get over $13 billion in, so-called, equalization payments from taxpayers. Saskatchewan and Alberta will get nothing. The survey shows 30 per cent of Quebecers think conditions will improve in that province as opposed to 24 per cent who think it will worsen. In Alberta, 79 per cent think the economy will get worse in their province. 56 per cent of residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, who are polled as a single unit, believe the economy in those provinces will worsen over the next year.

Nationally, 43 per cent of Canadians believe economic conditions will get worse. One-in-five workers say they haven’t had a raise in at least five years, or ever. Half of Canada’s full or part-time workers say they haven’t had a raise over the past 12 months.