Article content

Canadian executives are the most optimistic about investment and hiring since the 2014 oil shock, further evidence the country’s economy is on the mend.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Canadian companies haven’t been this upbeat about investment and hiring since before the oil crash Back to video

This forecaster predicts the loonie will hit almost 76 cents, but others who see ‘holes in the Canadian story’ say it will sink to 67 cents.





[/np_storybar]

Measures of investment, employment and sales prospects improved, according to the Bank of Canada’s Business Outlook Survey. Companies also reported firming input pressures across all regions. Many highlighted the risks of rising protectionism.

Monday’s readings are another signal Canada’s economy may be turning the page on the oil crash that began more than two years ago. Reports Friday from Statistics Canada showed an unexpected surge in full-time employment and the first trade surplus in more than two years.

“You have the economy firing on a number of cylinders here,” Paul Ferley, assistant chief economist at Royal Bank of Canada, said by phone from Toronto. Policy makers will “probably suggest that the data is starting to show improvement, but emphasize it’s early going yet.”