PricewaterhosuseCoopers released a recent survey of Canadian companies. They announce:

The vast majority of Canada's private companies are forecasting growth and expansion. However, according to the latest PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Survey of Canadian Private Companies, as organizations crest the wave of a buoyant economy and grapple with labour shortages they are failing to address their challenges or measure key performance indicators. At the same time they are placing increasing demand on existing workers and have few plans for future management or ownership succession. This overall lack of preparedness is threatening their growth and expansion prospects.

Seventy-nine percent of the 534 Canadian business leaders who participated in this year's survey are expecting their business to improve over the next 12 months. The main reasons cited for their optimism include an increase in sales (61%), entry into new markets (42%), development of new products (33%) and the buoyant economy (32%). However, there are signs of regional differences with more companies in Western Canada (particularly Alberta) expecting business to improve a lot.