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Better economic times are coming in 2020 after a “mild recession” sideswiped Calgary, Edmonton and most of Alberta throughout this year.

A new study by the Conference Board of Canada projects Edmonton and Calgary will post the weakest economic performance among 13 major Canadian cities this year.

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In fact, the province’s two biggest centres will both see gross domestic product contract by 0.4 per cent this year before rebounding in 2020, while the province’s economy is forecast to decline by 0.8 per cent.

Both cities and the entire province are suffering from similar problems: weak investment levels, a downturn in the construction sector and the ongoing impact of oil production quotas that have stifled the economy.

“Alberta will suffer a mild economic contraction in 2019 as the energy sector reacts negatively to mandated production cuts,” the study states.

Next year should be better.