The Weekly Review, March 26 to 29, 2018

Softwood lumber industry has grown in recent years

The value added of the forestry, lumber, and pulp and paper industries exceeds $20 billion and increased from 2013 to 2016. The softwood lumber industry remains an important industry, accounting for an average of 1.2% of total economic activity and over 5% of total exports over this period.

Source: Softwood Lumber Satellite Account, 2016

Police resources fell in 2017

The number of police officers per 100,000 people in Canada fell for a sixth consecutive year in 2017, reaching its lowest rate since 2004. The rate of police officer strength was 188 officers per 100,000 population in 2017, down 1.0% from the previous year and lower than the peak strength of 206 officers in 1975.

Source: Police resources in Canada, 2017

Canadians and the outdoors

Nearly 7 in 10 Canadians participated in outdoor or wilderness activities, some in more than one.

• 18% participated in one
• 15% in two, and
• 41% in three or more kinds of activities

Source: Canadians and the outdoors

Little change in average weekly earnings in January 2018

Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $996 in January, practically unchanged from the previous month. Earnings were up 3.2% compared with January 2017, largely the result of gains in the second half of 2017.

Source: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, January 2018

Canadians tourist spent less at home in the fourth quarter of 2017

Tourism spending in Canada was unchanged in the fourth quarter, following 1.3% growth in each of the previous two quarters. Increased spending by international visitors to Canada was offset by a decline in tourism spending by Canadians at home.

Source: National tourism indicators, fourth quarter 2017