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Gross domestic product by industry: Provinces and territories, 2012

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Released: 2013-04-26

Real gross domestic product (GDP) by industry increased in eight provinces and all of the territories in 2012. GDP declined in Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. Nationally, real GDP rose 1.8% in 2012 after increasing 2.6% in 2011.

Among the provinces, growth surpassed the national average in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Real GDP increased 4.3% in Nunavut, the fastest pace of any region.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Real gross domestic product, 2012  - Description and data table
Real gross domestic product, 2012 

Chart 1: Real gross domestic product, 2012  - Description and data table

Atlantic provinces

In Newfoundland and Labrador, GDP declined 4.8% in 2012 following a 2.8% increase in 2011. Growth throughout most major industrial sectors was outweighed by a notable fall in oil and gas extraction because of maintenance work and also by a decline in metal ore mining.

Construction activity increased 32% as a result of work on major engineering projects and residential and non-residential building construction. Manufacturing increased 14% on higher output in the petroleum refineries industry and in transportation equipment.

Transportation and wholesale trade increased in tandem with construction and manufacturing. Retail trade, finance and insurance, architectural and engineering services all contributed to services industries growth. Federal government public administration fell 3.0%.

In Prince Edward Island, GDP increased 1.2% following 1.7% growth in 2011. The output of the fishing industry increased 33% and contributed to higher output of manufactured seafood products. Manufacturing increased 5.0% with chemicals (which includes pharmaceuticals) and transportation equipment contributing to the gain. Construction fell 10% as several engineering projects were completed. Services industries grew 1.4% led by education, health care, retail trade, transportation and banking services.

GDP in Nova Scotia edged up 0.2%, following growth of 0.6% in 2011. Goods production fell 4.2% with declines in mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, manufacturing and electric power generation, transmission and distribution. Services output increased 1.2%. Wholesale and retail trade, health care and banking advanced while federal government public administration and defence services declined.

Construction was unchanged in 2012 as higher engineering and residential construction was offset by lower non-residential building construction. Manufacturing output fell 3.1% as declines in food, paper and rubber and plastic products outweighed increases in chemicals (which includes pharmaceuticals), machinery and transportation equipment.

In New Brunswick, GDP fell 0.6% in 2012 after increasing 0.2% in 2011. Goods-producing industries fell 3.6% with declines in construction, mining and quarrying and the energy sector. Manufacturing declined 1.6% as most sub-sectors decreased.

Crop production increased following a poor growing season in 2011. Fishing, hunting and trapping output rose, contributing to higher output of manufactured seafood products. Services output increased 0.4% in 2012 with gains in finance, insurance and real estate services as well as in education services.

Central Canada

Quebec's GDP grew 1.0% in 2012 following 1.7% growth in 2011. Services-producing industries rose 1.3% with increases in wholesale trade, banking, lessors of real estate, health care, and architectural, engineering and related services. Output fell in financial investment services, community colleges and CEGEPs, as well as federal government public administration services.

Output at metal ore mines increased while support activities to mining industries declined. Construction advanced 4.4% with strength in engineering and non-residential building construction. Manufacturing declined 1.8% with decreases in food products, clothing, pharmaceuticals, primary metal products and computer and electronic equipment. Aerospace products and parts manufacturing edged up 0.3%.

In Ontario, GDP rose 1.4% in 2012. This followed a 1.8% increase in 2011. Services-producing industries advanced 1.5% in 2012, led by banking, transportation, health care and professional, scientific and technical services. Federal government public administration and defence services declined.

Manufacturing output grew 2.4% as export demand for automobiles led to a significant increase in motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts manufacturing. Machinery and fabricated metal product manufacturing and pharmaceutical products manufacturing also advanced.

Construction output increased 0.7% as higher residential construction activity was partly offset by declines in engineering and non-residential building construction.

Western provinces

GDP in Manitoba increased 2.7% in 2012 following growth of 1.8% in 2011. Goods production increased 5.2%. Crop production recovered, aided by more favourable weather. A significant increase in oil and gas extraction more than offset a decline in metal ore mining. Construction rose 6.6%, led by strong growth in residential and non-residential building construction.

Services output increased 1.7%, led by transportation and wholesaling of petroleum products, machinery and equipment, and of building materials and supplies. Banking, retail trade, and professional, scientific, and technical services also contributed to the increase.

In Saskatchewan, GDP increased 2.2% in 2012 following a 5.0% increase in 2011. Record oil and gas production more than offset declines in non-metallic mineral mining (which includes potash mining). Manufacturing output advanced 9.2% with increases in machinery, wood products, chemicals and transportation equipment manufacturing.

Population growth fueled demand for many goods and services. Construction of residential buildings and non-residential structures such as schools, health care facilities and shopping malls increased. Services also grew, including retail trade, financial services, education, architectural and engineering services and accommodation and food services.

In Alberta, GDP advanced 3.9% in 2012 following growth of 5.3% in 2011. Output of the oil and gas extraction industry increased 6.1%. However, support services to the oil and gas extraction industry fell 17%.

Manufacturing increased 5.3% with gains in fabricated metal products, machinery, wood products and computer and electronic products. Wholesale trade and transportation services advanced in tandem with goods output.

Construction output rose 7.7% with significant increases in oil and gas and electric power engineering construction. Strong demand for housing contributed to a 14% advance in residential construction.

Services output increased 3.7%. Retail trade, professional, scientific and technical services and business services advanced. Health care, education, provincial and local public administration services increased while the output of defence and federal administration declined.

In British Columbia, GDP increased 1.7% after growing 2.6% in 2011. Output of goods-producing industries rose 1.6% as metal ore mining, construction, and manufacturing of wood products, fabricated metal products and transportation equipment increases were partly offset by significant declines in oil and gas extraction, paper products manufacturing and support activities for mining, oil and gas extraction.

Construction activity increased 4.5% in 2012. Residential and engineering construction advanced. Services-producing industries increased 1.8%. Wholesale and retail trade, transportation services, lessors of real estate, professional, scientific and technical services and health care services all advanced. Sales of existing homes declined, leading to lower activity by real estate agents and brokers. As well, federal government public administration declined.

The territories

Yukon's GDP rose 3.4% following growth of 6.5% in 2011. Goods production increased 6.1%. Mining output grew 21% but was partially offset by a 24% drop in construction as a major electric power engineering project was completed. Output of services-producing industries increased 2.1%, with transportation and accommodation services as well as public sector services such as education, health care and government public administration services all contributing to the increase.

In Northwest Territories, GDP increased 1.9% in 2012 after falling 4.9% in 2011. There was a significant increase in output of oil and gas extraction. Engineering construction increased as work continued at mine sites and on a new bridge. Non-residential construction fell with the completion of a large school and a number of commercial projects. Diamond mining declined for a second consecutive year. Services output increased 0.5%.

In Nunavut, GDP rose 4.3% after rising 4.8% in 2011. Mining and oil and gas extraction advanced 25% and contributed to increased output of wholesale trade. Construction output declined 19% with all construction groups falling except for electric power engineering. Services industries advanced 1.5%. Transportation, finance and insurance, education and government administration services all contributed to the gain.

  Note to readers

The provincial and territorial gross domestic product (GDP) by industry data at basic prices are chained volume estimates with 2007 as their reference year. This means that the data for each industry and aggregate are obtained from a chained volume index multiplied by the industry's value added in 2007.

Percentage changes for GDP by industry are calculated using volume measures, that is, adjusted for price variations.

Estimates of provincial and territorial GDP by industry for 2012 are included with this release. No revisions have been made to data for previous years. Revised estimates of provincial-territorial GDP by industry, and by income and expenditure for 2007 to 2012 will be published in November.

Detailed analysis and tables

All of Statistics Canada's information and data on the System of National Economic Accounts are available from the Browse by key resource module of our website.

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Bruce Cooke (613-951-9061; cookeb@statcan.gc.ca), Industry Accounts Division.

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