Despite a shrinking population in northeastern Ontario, those numbers do not reflect North Bay's hot economy. A business retention and expansion report tabled at North Bay's Economic Development Commission indicates a strong demand for housing, and rising property values. A Royal LePage survey shows North Bay homes are increasing in value faster than similar-sized Toronto homes. Further statistics show 1,700 more people are employed in the city in 2001 than in 1991, and unemployment has dropped 1.3 percentage points in a decade.
