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OTTAWA — Growth in Canada’s economy was flat in October, following a decline in the previous month and setting an uncertain tone for the end of the year.

“Gains in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction as well as the public sector were offset by declines in manufacturing, utilities and retail trade, “ Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

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Many economists had expected growth to recover by 0.3 to 0.4 per cent in October, after a loss of 0.5 per cent in September that led some to warn the Canadian economy could be headed for another significant downturn after contracting in the first half of 2015.

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Wednesday’s GDP report adds to concern for growth in the remainder of 2015.

“All told, a weak set of results, which has us now looking at nearly no growth in Q4, increasing the odds of another Bank of Canada ease,” said Nick Exarhos of CIBC Economics.

The sluggish start to the fourth quarter prompted BMO economists this morning to cut their forecasts for the fourth quarter, this year and next. They now see Q4 growth at an 0.5 per cent annual rate, down from the prior estimate of 1.7 per cent and the BoC’s latest forecast of 1.5 per cent.

Growth for 2015 was cut to 1.2 per cent from 1.3 per cent and for 2016 growth was cut to 1.6 per cent from 1.8 per cent.