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Both TransCanada Corp. and city-owned Enmax Corp. confirmed they laid off staff Wednesday as a provincewide economic slowdown blamed on low commodity prices hits pipeline and utility sectors.

“This is a difficult time for all of our employees and contractors, as it is for those at many companies right now. These decisions aren’t made lightly,” said TransCanada spokesman Mark Cooper in an e-mail.

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He said the company wouldn’t provide details on the reductions until they are complete, refusing comment on anonymous social media postings that claim the layoffs are being rolled out over three days, through Friday, and involve hundreds of employees.

The company’s Keystone XL pipeline was rejected last month by U.S. President Barack Obama but Cooper said the cuts are “not related to any specific project or regulatory decision.”

Enmax spokeswoman Doris Kaufmann Woodcock said the electricity generator cut 60 positions on Wednesday.