Surprising strength in western Canadian oilsands and construction markets along with rising interest in driverless mining trucks and a tax cut in Alberta are fuelling optimism for Finning International Inc.

The world's largest Caterpillar heavy equipment dealer is announcing more locations in Western Canada will be closed and a total of 1,100 more jobs in several countries will be cut, representing eight per cent of its global workforce.

Finning International buys Saskatchewan Caterpillar dealership as Kramer family retiring from equipment dealership business.

Caterpillar dealership Finning International says it will reduce its Canadian workforce by roughly nine per cent or about 500 people.