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Manitoba's economic growth expected to lead country in 2008  
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 | 2:57 PM CT Comments0Recommend3CBC News  
 
Manitoba is expected to lead all provinces in economic growth in 2008 for the second consecutive year, according to the Conference Board of Canada's latest provincial outlook.  
 
The outlook, released Tuesday, predicts the province's gross domestic product will grow by 3.7 per cent again in 2008, making it the fastest-growing provincial economy.  
 
Boosted by ongoing construction projects, robust domestic spending and an optimistic outlook for manufacturing, the Manitoba economy is "firing on all cylinders," according to a board release.  
 
"There's a lot of momentum in the construction sector at the moment. There's some large mega-projects that are in development in the province — if we look in particular at the Wuskwatim hydro project — so that's fuelling construction activity," board spokeswoman Marie-Christine Bernard told CBC News.  
 
"There's been several new jobs and employment growth has been very strong and in combination there's been some provincial and federal tax cuts, so Manitobans are spending. So that's also fuelling growth in the economy."  
 
The province's manufacturing sector is also booming due to large orders for buses and aircraft parts, sparking an expected 5.5 per cent growth in that sector, according to the board's outlook.  
 
Saskatchewan is also poised for strong growth, while Alberta's economy is cooling down, the outlook says.  
 
Ontario and Quebec are expected to face economic challenges due to a "sombre" outlook south of the border, but neither is expected to slide into recession.