By The Canadian Press

Agriculture Industry Shielding Lethbridge Region From Economic Downturn

Mar 1, 2016 | 2:00 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The agriculture industry is protecting much of southern Alberta from the economic downturn plaguing the energy industry.

The City of Lethbridge and the surrounding area is enjoying an agri-boom largely fuelled by high beef prices and a burgeoning agri-food manufacturing industry.

The C-E-O of Economic Development Lethbridge, Trevor Lewington, says it’s a very different picture than the rest of the province.

He says Lethbridge and area has never benefited from an oil and gas boom so its economy right now is stable.

The combined southern Alberta unemployment rate for Lethbridge and Medicine Hat was 5.8 per cent while the provincial rate was 7.4 per cent in January.

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But Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman estimates the rate in his city is closer to four per cent and says with the number of food producers worldwide continuing to diminish, things should only get better.