Alberta cities plummet in entrepreneurial ranking

LETHBRIDGE — The recession in Alberta appears to be creating a gloomy mood among the province’s entrepreneurs.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released its 2016 Entrepreneurial Communities report, which ranks Canadian cities as places to start and grow a business. Last year the top 25 was dominated by Alberta. But that’s no longer the case.

In this year’s report only the Calgary periphery makes the top 25, which is led by Collingwood, ON. Last year the Calgary surrounding area came in first. Lethbridge occupied 18th place last year, but now comes in 55th. Calgary itself dropped from 45th to 112th.

The reason? The federation attributes it not to policy, but to the attutude of local entrepreneurs. Given the economic outlook, the group describes record low optimism levels. The overall survey compiles 14 indicators, in the categories of presence, perspective, and policy.