Perhaps the economic situation in Alberta is not all doom, gloom and despair as some pundits and politicians who depend on fear mongering rhetoric to stir up emotions in partisan efforts to rally support might have people believe.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business recently surveyed hundreds of its members in the province, receiving almost 700 responses that indicated an unmistakable rebound in small business confidence.
"Small business confidence in Alberta now lands within a five-point range of the Canadian average for the first time in more than two years," said a press release.
The federation gauges business confidence through what it calls a Business Barometer index, which in May hit a two-year high reaching 66.0. The other provincial numbers were as follows: British Columbia, 69.4; Ontario, 68.2; PEI, 67.9; Manitoba, 66.4; Quebec, 65.0; Nova Scotia, 64.4; New Brunswick, 60.2; Saskatchewan, 49.1; and Newfoundland and Labrador, 45.3. According to past results, index levels normally range between 65 and 75 when the economy is growing at its potential, the federation says.
While the glory days of reckless, short-sighted dependency on sky-high prices of oil are certainly long gone and relegated to the history books, the increasing optimism among Alberta's small business community is nothing less than encouraging as well as indicative of a resilient province that can be successful and prosperous without being overwhelmingly reliant on one single resource.
Of course the road to recovery of an economy reminiscent of the days before the 2015 crash in the price of oil remains a lengthy one marred with speed bumps and potholes, as illustrated by the fact 26 per cent of responding businesses declaring their operations remain in rough shape.
Additionally, short-term employment plans are still not faring particularly well, with about a quarter of Alberta businesses "still being in a position to reduce full time staffing positions and only 14 per cent intend to hire in the next three months," the federation says.
However, the economic prognosis for the province has not looked so promising since the crash, and a quarter of small Alberta enterprises assert their firms are in good shape.
"Upward trending confidence is a positive sign that economic activity is picking up," said Amber Ruddy, the federation's director of provincial affairs for Alberta.
But don't expect that to make any headlines from communications departments of the Wildrose nor the PCs.
Although many business owners reported regulations and taxes remain a thorn in their sides, two-thirds of those that responded also confessed having trouble bringing customers through the door, said Ruddy.
"Sixty-four per cent of Alberta businesses cite insufficient domestic demand as their top limitation," the release said.
But even if the province is not booming as it has in the past, Alberta still has a significant advantage.
According to a report from the Conference Board of Canada, corporations and individual taxpayers in Alberta, as well as Saskatchewan, are getting off easy compared to most other provinces.
We also don't have to worry about a Provincial Sales Tax and our economy is becoming increasingly diverse thanks to ingenuitive, hard-working entrepreneurs as well as our resource rich lands that have far more to offer than just oil.
Our province remains, despite the carbon levy, just about the lowest taxed in the country ó a fact conveniently overlooked by the critics and the opposition.
Sure, we're not out of the proverbial woods yet. But how does the old saying go, it's always darkest right before the dawn?
Alberta's future might very well yet prove to shine brighter than ever before ó this province unquestionably has the potential.
