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Which Canadian businesses are using generative artificial intelligence and why?
Businesses are always looking for a competitive edge and generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been heralded as a transformative labour- and money-saving technology. In the first quarter of 2024, approximately one in seven Canadian businesses were already using (9.3%) or had plans to use (4.6%) generative AI.
Putting a price on potholes
We’re well into March, which means milder weather for much of the country. And it also means more potholes popping up all over the roads, as the freeze-thaw cycle goes into overdrive. For drivers, it’s a minefield. For road crews, it can be an exhausting game of whack-a-mole!
Sales at full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2022
Operators in the food services and drinking places subsector continued to recover in 2022, as most restrictions were lifted by mid-year and Canadians felt more comfortable going to restaurants and bars. Operating revenue at food services and drinking places increased by almost one-quarter (+24.3%) year over year to $84.2 billion in 2022, up 7.4% from 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Record natural gas production driven by industrial deliveries – Natural gas year in review 2023
Natural gas is a key component in Canada’s energy product stack. Between its use for heating, electricity generation and as a key input for the extraction of bitumen from the oil sands, it is no surprise that natural gas is of critical importance as Canada’s demand of energy continues to grow.
World Water Day eh
Canada is blessed with water. We have the longest coastline in the world and the third highest volume of renewable fresh water. To celebrate World Water Day, let’s dive into some water-related data.
Canadian petroleum product refining returns to pre-pandemic levels: Refined petroleum products year in review 2023
Output at petroleum product refineries returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in 2023, with more Canadians taking to the road and sky.
Price increases slowing, and some prices are cheaper at the factory gate for Canadian-made food
Over the past two years in particular, Canadians have been encountering higher prices at the grocery store and other places where they buy their food. These places, in turn, source their own products, whether that be through a distributor, an importer, or a local farmer.
Catching zzz’s on World Sleep Day
Whether you’re an early riser, a notorious snoozer or a mid-afternoon napper, the need for sleep is one thing we all have in common. In honour of World Sleep Day on March 15, we’re taking a look at some sleepy findings and figures from the 2020 Canadian Community Health Survey.
Record high crude oil production largely driven by oil sands: Crude oil year in review 2023
Geopolitical conflicts continued to cause uncertainty in the crude oil markets in 2023, although prices subsided from the elevated levels of 2022. Annual production of crude oil and equivalent products rose for the third consecutive year, up 1.4% to 286.4 million cubic metres in 2023, resulting in the highest volume since the start of this data series in 2016. Based on the latest available international data (2022), Canada remained among the top four oil producers worldwide.