Well another year has gone by. Oil at something like 60 a barrel, Everyone who wants a job has one, the days of all the overtime you want havnt quite returned yet. Retail space is available, and affordable, same with housing, I think prices are bobbing along mostly on a flat line. Companies have long ago rationalized costs so are in a good position to profit in another expansion. All said Alberta is doing ok. The slow down was the second worst I have seen, 2016 was a lean year but everyone pulled through it. Those I new laid off in 2016 were all back working by 2017, often with a hair cut wage wise but back to work. This is how its been in the Alberta I know since 80-81 or so and I assume the same before that. So for you young guys/gals....
When things start rocking again....don't piss it away, keep your living costs low, don't take on debt (except land / housing), Save and always be ready for the turn around, Looking back through the decades and from my hazy memory I would guess the average has been 3 to 6 years boom, followed by 1 to 2 slow down. We were really spoiled by that last boom I think it went from 2002 to 2014. There was a little hiccup in 2008,but I don't even count that as a slow down, as it was so brief , So we really had over a decade of boom times. When I say we are well positioned I mean out side of our provincial government, they did the same as every provincial government I have seen since the 80s, they didn't rationalize costs, ran up depts., funded dogmatic black holes, that have driven up provincial dept, and added in tax's at the worst time....but inspite of that we will do ok......I have noticed on my friends heating bills that carbon tax has added 10% to the bill, I haven't yet seen a electric bill so I don't know what the carbon tax has done to the electric bill. Gasoline prices had taxes added in by the former government before being kicked you, then more taxes add in by this new government,,,,,its getting painfull.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
Noticing less Alberta plated pickups around here. For awhile they were everywhere.
Still not the greatest around our area, still a lot not working. Hubby had found a job last Feb., then got laid off this Feb. He was fortunate to get another job within a month driving truck in another type of business. Around here oil trucking companies are dropping like flies.
Learner, admittedly I am not as well informed as to how things are south East? of Red Deer.
I was in Nisku this weekend and wow is all I can say. It looks like most businesses have been expanding, some signs out front of shops looking for welders, fitters, apprentices, labourers. Fab shops that were shuttered are now open again, and Beaumont has whole new subdivisions being developed right down to the highway south of that town, and on a flood plain no less 🙄
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.
... When things start rocking again....don't piss it away, keep your living costs low, don't take on debt (except land / housing), Save and always be ready for the turn around...
Wise words.
None you improvise, one (or more) is luxury.