It’s hard to think of a time in the last 50 years that compares to what we are currently going through! We have a major war in Europe, struggled with 2 years of a global pandemic and are now experiencing the worst round of inflation in a long time!

It’s hard to think of a time in the last 50 years that compares to what we are currently going through! We have a major war in Europe, struggled with 2 years of a global pandemic and are now experiencing the worst round of inflation in a long time!

What times we live in! From the worst pandemic since the Spanish flu, to war in Europe, run away inflation, political upheaval and unprecedented supply chain issues. Yet, Alberta remains a rewarding place to do business! We have seen our share of boom and busts over the years, but well run companies find a way to survive and thrive. It is a testament to the women and men of Alberta who continue to adapt to whatever the current conditions are. The State of the Industry update and the AMBA President’s message in the April Newsletter outline the many challenges and opportunities ahead.

Happy New Year to all. A new year brings optimism for better days ahead. Let us hope we are in the FINAL Covid wave! One of the first nations, South Africa, to be hit with the Omicron virus has now reported a steep decline in new cases. Let's hope for a similar trajectory in Alberta and the rest of the world!

What an unprecedented time the world has just gone through! After close to 18 months of battling COVID-19, Canada is starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. On July 1st, Alberta removed the majority of the health restrictions. However, the dark cloud of variants still lurks. The key weapon in the battle is vaccination and thankfully Alberta's vaccination numbers improve daily. Alberta still very much relies on the energy sector. With oil prices breaking $75/barrel there is new optimism in the oilpatch. As the various energy companies return to profitability we will see dollars reinvested, creating jobs and economic growth. At the same time natural gas pricing has recovered. Supply is at low levels and demand has been growing. The hydrogen sector is heating up and attracting both government and private sector investment. Combined they will be a significant economic driver for Alberta. The demand for construction services should start to see some tangible increases.

What an unprecedented time the world has just gone through! After close to 18 months of battling COVID-19, Canada is starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. On July 1st, Alberta removed the majority of the health restrictions. However, the dark cloud of variants still lurks. The key weapon in the battle is vaccination and thankfully Alberta's vaccination numbers improve daily. Alberta still very much relies on the energy sector. With oil prices breaking $75/barrel there is new optimism in the oilpatch. As the various energy companies return to profitability we will see dollars reinvested, creating jobs and economic growth. At the same time natural gas pricing has recovered. Supply is at low levels and demand has been growing. The hydrogen sector is heating up and attracting both government and private sector investment. Combined they will be a significant economic driver for Alberta. The demand for construction services should start to see some tangible increases.

Well, we certainly live in interesting times! Just when COVID numbers were trending down along with hospitalizations, ICU patient numbers and the arrival of vaccines, a curve ball arrives in the new variants and numbers start to spike. In spite of the pathetic efforts of our federal government, Alberta is about 15% vaccinated and the arrival of new vaccines is supposed to spike. On the plus side, we are seeing positive numbers being forecast on economic growth. With the largesse of the federal government, Canadians have the highest level of savings in some time. Who thought paying 15- 17 year-olds living at home $10,000 in CERB was a good idea?