Facts on Alberta

48 Pages·1992·5.9 MB·English

by  Alberta. Alberta Economic Development and Tourism

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Alberta Economic Development
Facts on Alberta
February 2005
Policy and Economic Analysis
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2017 with funding from
University of Alberta Libraries
https://archive.org/details/factsonalberta2005albe
Facts on Alberta
For more information, contact:
Alberta Economic Development
Policy and Economic Analysis Division
4‘'^ Floor, Commerce Place
10155- 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 4L6
Telephone: (780) 427-6787 Telefax: (780) 422-0061
Website: www.alberta-canada.com
Note: Every attempt was made to use the most verifiable, up-to-date facts. However, as new statistics become available over
time, the specific information presented, while still representing a g ood overall picture, will become less accurate.

y^lboia
Population: 3.2 million (July, 2004)
Area:
Over 661,000 km"
Major Cities:
Edmonton metropolitan area - 1,001,599 (2004)
(population)
Calgary metropolitan area - 1 ,037,093 (2004)
Gross Domestic Product: $170.8 billion (2003, current dollars)
Real Economic Growth: 2003: 2.7%
(constant 1997$) 2002: 2.4%
2001: 1.6%
2000: 6.1%
Economic Base: Traditional
♦ Oil and Gas
♦ Petro-Chemicals
♦ Agricultural Services
♦ Food and Beverage Processing
♦ Tourism
Emerging
♦ Nanotechnology
♦ Biotechnology & P harmaceuticals
♦ Software Development
♦ Electronics & M icroelectronics
Public and Private Investment: $42.2 billion (2003)
Unemployment Rate: 5.1% (2003)
5.3% (2002)
Government:
The Alberta Government’s strategy combines
natural advantages with a p ositive business climate
that encourages investment and growth. This
includes:
♦ a l ow tax regime;
♦ streamlined regulations;
♦ a b alanced provincial budget; and,
♦ a modem infrastructure of transportation,
utilities, education and health.

Table of Contents
Overview 1
• Business Advantage 1
• Lifestyle Advantage 1
Structure of the alberta economy 2
Cost advantage 4
• Business Cost Comparisons 4
Taxation 8
• Federal and Provineial Taxation 8
• Municipal Taxation 9
Real Estate 10
• Industrial Real Estate 10
• Commercial Real Estate 1 1
• Residential Housing 12
Labour Force 13
• Employment 13
• Skilled Labour 14
• Labour Costs 15
• Employment Standards 17
Personal Taxation 1 8
• Interprovincial Tax and Health Care Premium Comparison 20
Transportation 21
• Railways 21
• Highways 22
• Air Service 22
Post Secondary Education 23
• University of Alberta 24
• The University of Calgary 25
26
• The University of Lethbridge
• Athabasca University 26
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) 27
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) 27
• Public and Private Colleges 28
• Educational Support 29
Research & D evelopment Community 30
• Government Supported Research and Development 30
• University Industry Collaborations 33
• World Class Infrastructure 33
• Technology Commercialization and Development 34
• Research and Development Tax Credits 35
Quality OF Life 36
• Nature & T ourism 37
• Sports & F itness 36
• Social & C ultural Activities 37
Safe Environment 37
Overview
Business Advantage
Alberta has been blessed with an abundance of natural advantages that have formed the
foundation of its thriving economy. The Alberta government has built on this foundation by
engineering an economic plan and creating a positive business climate that encourages
investment, helps to foster diversification of the economy and allows businesses to compete
successfully around the world. The result is one of the most vibrant and competitive economies
in North America. Overall, Alberta's open and globally competitive business climate consists of:
o A y oung, skilled and productive workforce,
o A s trong science and technology culture,
o A h ighly entrepreneurial and competitive business community,
o The lowest overall tax level of any province in Canada, and no sales tax,
o An efficient and modem infrastmeture,
o An abundance of natural resources,
o A r ich, sustainable environment and an outstanding quality of life,
o A g overnment committed to less regulation,
o A f iscally responsible government.
As a result, over the past twenty years Alberta has had the fastest growing economy in Canada,
with growth that averages 3.7% per year. Highlighting Alberta’s successes in 2003 are:
o Over $62.8 billion in international exports of goods and services (2003),
o Manufacturing shipments of $45.8 billion (2003),
o Over $96 billion in major capital projects are proposed, announced, under constmetion or
recently completed (November 2004),
o The creation of 47,900 new jobs (2003) and 426,900 between 1993 and 2003.
Lifestyle Advantage
Canada has consistently been rated by the United Nations as one of the top countries in which to
live. Similarly, Alberta is known for its unique lifestyle and high standard of living. In
particular, Alberta offers:
o Spectacular natural beauty and a clean environment,
o Hundreds of cultural festivals, sporting events, fairs and rodeos,
o Cultural and recreation facilities that include international calibre theatres, concert halls,
and sporting venues,
o Major cities and Rocky Mountain national parks (Jasper, Banff & W aterton Lakes) that
are recognized as international tourism destinations,
o Safe, modem cities and charming small towns and villages.
^ Xi;,, Albertbau’ssi n ecsosm m unneietdise.s T oo f ffeirn d a ou dti v emrosriet,y ovifs i rt e sthoeu r Aclebse r taan d F iexrpsetrCtiosme twoe b mseiteet
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Structure of the Alberta Economy
Alberta’s economic climate remains strong despite fluctuating global cycles. An abundance of
natural advantages has been the foundation of Alberta’s flourishing economy. This, in addition
to a p ositive investment climate has allowed Alberta businesses to compete successfully around
the world. Alberta’s increasingly diversified economy has translated into a healthy economic
performance, even when commodity prices have been unfavorable.
Percentage Distribution of GDP - 2 003
Total GDP at Market Prices for 2003: $170.0 billion
Construction
7.0%
Agriculture
2.2%
Health &
Education Manufacturing
7.9% 8.7%
Public
Administration
4.0% Transportation
& U tilities
6.9%
Retail &
Wholesale
Business &
Trade
Commercial
9.8%
Consumer Services
9.1%
Services
4.8%
Source: Alberta Finance, 2004
/nterprovincial Indicators
Population Unemp2l0o0y3m e (n%t) Rate Real Econom2i0c0 4 G (rfo) wth (2%0,0 5 at ( f 1)9 97 Pr2i0c0e6s ) (f)
Province 1993 -2003
2004 (OOO's) ($ millions) 4.3
Newfoundland 517 16.7 18,268 11..16 1.0
Prince Edward Islanc 138 11.1 3.2 1.7 3.6
GDP* 2.7
Nova Scotia 937 9.3 238,,895182 1.7 2.6 32..12
New Brunswick 751 10.6 22,452 2.8 21..52 2.9
Quebec 7,543 9.1 253,657 3.1 2.8 22..19
Ontario 12,393 7.0 494,501 42..16 2.6 2.9
Manitoba 1,170 5.0 37,992 2.6 33..30 2.4
Saskatchewan 995 5.6 36,544 2.7 43..32 3.0 2.2
Alberta 5.1 170,803 3.1
3,202
CBraintaisdha Columbia 341,,199466 87..16 11,42518,,570702 , 33..68 3.4 23..94 22..74
3.0 3.1
*2003 GDP in current dollars
Source: Statistics Canada, Conference Board of Canada (Fall Outlook 2004)
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