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www.insideHALTON.com |OAKVILLE BEAVER |Thursday, January 26, 2017 | 1 8 Growth in Canada estimated to be 1.8 per cent in 2017 by Nathan Howes Oakville Beaver Staff While Americans were preparing for the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump Friday (Jan. 20) morning, Oakville residents were getting the scoop on economic predictions for Canada in 2 0f 7. Insights for the coming year were shared at the Oakville Chamber of Commerce' s annual RBC Economic Outlook Breakfast, held at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centte. Craig Wright, RBC senior vice-president and chief economist, and Sean Simpson, vice president of Ipsos Public Affairs, a polling and market research firm, provided their thoughts and forecasts on where the country could be headed this year. The pair also fielded questions from the crowd during a moderated Q-and-A session. The breakfast drew a sold-out attendance of 3 f0 people. At recent meetings, the general consensus among Canadian finance ministers, including the federal minister, and bank officials, was an "uncomfortably narrow range" of economic forecasts for the country this year, Wright said, noting growth will hover at 1.8 per cent. "Not a dramatic difference in any of the growth forecasts. It is, unfortunately, a little bit quicker than our speed limit. This is the disappointingly normal forecast that w e and Craig Wright, left, RBC senior vice-president and chief economist, speaks during the annual Oakville Chamber-hosted RBC Economic Outlook Breakfast at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre on Friday (Jan. 20) morning. Also speaking was Sean Simpson, right, vice-president of Ipsos Public Affairs, a polling and market research firm. | Nikki Wesley/Metroland others have talked about," said Wright. He cited aging demographics, which slows labour force growth and moderate productivity as reducing the "speed limit" for overall growth in the coming months. With a new president, the U.S. forecast received a "Trump bump" as a placeholder to cover expected stimulus, Wright said, but it' s not without its risks -- both positive and negative -- for Canada, too. The U.S. growth rate will be just under 2.5 per cent for 2 0f 7 and 20f8. "Usually when w e bump up U.S. growth, we bump up Canadian growth, so a Trump bump see Canadians on p.20 Exclusive Non-Stop Flights from HAMILTON* Caribbean Cruise Vacations Made Easy Celebrity Cruises Caribbean Vacations It's A ll Included Celebrity Actual plane may differ. 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