Toronto will post the strongest GDP growth this year, 2.6%, among the 13 major metropolitan areas covered by The Conference Board of Canada’s Metropolitan Outlook: Spring 2017. Employment growth in Toronto is expected to reach 1.9% this year, well above the 1% national average. The robust job market conditions will continue to act as a magnet to newcomers — the metropolitan area’s population is expected to grow by 1.8% or 112,000 people this year.

"Although economic growth is forecast to ease in 2017, Toronto will still be the metropolitan growth leader in Canada this year,” said Alan Arcand, associate director, Centre for Municipal Studies, The Conference Board of Canada.

Vancouver will come in second place, as a cooling housing market limits its GDP growth to a still-strong 2.4%. Employment growth is forecast to slow dramatically to about 14,000 new jobs in Vancouver this year after a record 61,000 jobs added in 2016.

Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina will enjoy renewed growth this year, after suffering economic contractions in 2016.

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