TORONTO - A survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business finds small business confidence rose in December to 65.0 -- almost a point and a half higher than in November.
Ted Mallett, the CFIB's vice-president and chief economist, says the Business Barometer index typically hovers between 65 and 70 when the economy is expanding.
He says the return to "near normal" is good news for Canada's economic performance.
Provincially, business owners in Alberta and Saskatchewan were Canada's most optimistic in December at 73.6 and 72.2 respectively, while British Columbia scored a 68 on the 0-to-100 scale.
Heading east, optimism wanes some, with Quebec businesses at 65.3, Manitoba firms at 64.8, and Ontario businesses at 63.5.
The confidence scores drop even further in Atlantic Canada, with Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick all at 59.8. Small businesses in Nova Scotia were the least optimistic of all, at an index level of 55.6.
