Alberta job growth outpacing the rest of Canada

According to Statistics Canada, 1900 of the 2900 new jobs in Canada in January were right here in Alberta. We’ve got the lowest jobless rate of all provinces, at 4.9%. And, we’ve posted the highest job growth rate, creating over 80,000 jobs in the past year. All this, while Ontario lost 7,500 jobs in January.

Read more in the Edmonton Journal story:
Alberta accounts for most of Canada's January job growth

Canadians contributing less to RRSP's

According to a recent RBC report, Canadians are contributing less to their RRSP’s. Contributions rose from the 1960’s to the late 1990’s, but since then, contributions have declined. If the drop continues at this rate, less than 2% of disposable income will be contributed to RRSP’s. We haven’t seen contribution rates that low since the mid-70’s.

There’s concern that people aren’t properly preparing for retirement. But, one possible explanation is that people are investing in real estate, and using that as a bigger part of their retirement strategy.

Edmonton Journal has the story:
RRSP use on track to 35-year low: RBC

Analysts expect Ottawa to tighten mortgage rules

There’s a chance that the federal government could make it tougher for people to purchase a home, by tightening lending rules for mortgages. Possible changes could include raising the minimum down payment from 5% or reducing the maximum amortization from 30 years (it was changed from 35 to 30 years not that long ago). This change could come this spring, possibly by late March.

Would stricter lending rules affect the real estate market? Only time will tell. It could keep some first-time buyers out of the market completely. Or it could shift more interest toward the condo market here in Edmonton, which may be a good thing, as the condo market has taken a bit of a beating.

Read the Edmonton Journal story:
Analysts expect Ottawa to tighten mortgage rules

Edmonton Population on the Rise

Edmonton’s population grew by 11.2% to 812,201 from 2006 to 2011, according to the 2011 Census of Population report released today by Statistics Canada.

The growth rate is even faster than the 9.6% recorded between 2001 and 2006 and maintains the city’s position as the fifth-largest city in Canada.

Read the complete article:

Edmonton Population on the Rise :: City of Edmonton

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