Winnipeg – For Manitoba business leaders, the return of the National Hockey League’s Winnipeg Jets is more than a potent symbol or an exciting diversion – it is one of the most beneficial attributes of the provincial economy, according to a new survey of 200 Manitoba business leaders conducted exclusively for the Winnipeg Free Press by Probe Research Inc.

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Labels: Manitoba Business Leaders Index, Manitoba economy, NHL, Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg – Manitoba’s business community has a clear message for Manitoba’s re-elected NDP government – “lower taxes,” especially those paid by the province’s corporations. This finding emerges from the Manitoba Business Leaders Index, Probe Research Inc.’s annual survey of 200 Manitoba CEOs and business owners released exclusively to the Winnipeg Free Press.

The main requests of Manitoba’s business leaders for Greg Selinger's government are to lower business taxes (27%), eliminate the payroll tax (15%) and reduce other taxes (9%). Other advice from CEOs includes leaving the minimum wage at its current level, shrinking the provincial bureaucracy and attracting new businesses to the province (7% each).

Additional findings from this survey include:

• Three-quarters of Manitoba business leaders (74%) remain optimistic about the province’s economic prospects. This corporate economic outlook is similar to the level of confidence expressed by all Manitoba adults (78%).

• Slightly less than one-half of CEOs (45%) expect their own companies to be performing better at this time next year, compared to 44 percent who expect to remain at the same level at this time next year. Only eight percent of CEOs are braced for worse results in 2012.

• The number of companies reporting that they are experiencing a shortage of skilled labour has increased slightly in the past year, with more than one-half (52%) now saying it is difficult to find skilled employees.

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Labels: Greg Selinger, Manitoba Business Leaders Index, Manitoba economy, NDP, Probe Research

Winnipeg – The federal Conservative government continues to be perceived by Manitoba’s corporate executives as the most “business-friendly” level of government, a new survey by Probe Research Inc. reveals.

The latest edition of the Manitoba Business Leaders’ Index asked Manitoba’s business owners and executives to rate the three levels of government on their respective efforts to create a “good climate” for business. The federal government is still considered by executives in the province to be doing the most to create a positive business climate, with nearly four-in-ten (38%) indicating this level of government is doing an “excellent” or “good” job in this regard.

While the federal government received favourable ratings from executives, municipal governments in the province improved their standing among business leaders and are now virtually tied with the federal government in terms of business approval. A growing proportion of CEOs (37%, up from 29% in early 2010) said local municipalities are doing an “excellent” or “good” job of encouraging business growth.

The provincial NDP government, meanwhile, continues to be viewed less favourably by Manitoba business leaders. Just slightly more than one-in-four respondents (27%) shared the view that the provincial government’s business policies have been “excellent” or “good.”

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Labels: City of Winnipeg, Conservative Party, federal politics, Manitoba Business Leaders Index, NDP, Probe Research, provincial politics

Winnipeg – Once the overarching challenge facing Manitoba CEOs, the search for qualified workers is only now beginning to re-emerge as an obstacle to business growth. This finding emerges from the Probe Research Inc. Manitoba Business Leaders’ Index – an annual telephone survey of 200 private-sector CEOs, presidents and business owners.

More than four-in-ten Manitoba companies (43%) currently report that they have been challenged to find skilled workers during the past year, with 54 percent of executives reporting that they have had no difficulty finding workers with appropriate job skills (3% were unsure or did not respond). While the proportion of firms seeking skilled employees remains lower than it was a few short years ago, the number of companies on the hunt for skilled workers has increased compared to early 2010 (+9%, up from 34%).

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Labels: Manitoba Business Leaders Index, Manitoba economy, Manitoba labour shortages, Probe Research

Manitoba Business Leaders Believe Recession Is Over, But Economic Turmoil Results In Less Demand For Skilled Labour

Winnipeg – Manitoba CEOs and company leaders agree the economic turmoil that began in September 2008 is now a thing of the past. Meanwhile, the shortage of skilled workers that has plagued Manitoba businesses in the recent past has eased considerably. These findings emerged from the Manitoba Business Leaders Survey, an annual scientific survey of Manitoba’s CEOs, company presidents and business owners. The survey is conducted by Probe Research Inc. and is based upon the results of telephone interviews with 201 private-sector business spokespersons.

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Labels: Manitoba Business Leaders Index, Probe Research, recession

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Although most Manitoba business leaders expect this province to be in a better position to weather the present economic storm compared to businesses in other parts of the country, many corporations have lowered their expectations for the coming fiscal year.

These findings emerged from a random telephone survey of 200 Manitoba CEOs, presidents and business owners from private sector companies. The survey results are released by Probe Research Inc. exclusively to the Winnipeg Free Press.


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Labels: Manitoba Business Leaders Index, Manitoba economy, Probe Research