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ALBERTA
ADVANTAGE
Alberta's
vision is "A vibrant and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy
a superior quality of life and are confident about the future for themselves
and their children."
The Government
of Alberta's 20-Year Strategic Plan has outlined four areas of opportunity
that will be important to the achievement of this long-term vision: unleashing
innovation; leading in learning; competing in a global marketplace; and
making Alberta the best place to live, work, and visit.
The Alberta
Advantage illustrates, using widely accepted performance indicators, that
Alberta is leading the way in these areas and is progressing toward its
vision by capitalizing on the exciting opportunities that are available…
- a strong and vibrant
economy
- a young, skilled
and productive workforce
- affordable living
costs
- a strong commitment
to innovation and knowledge-based progress
- a highly entrepreneurial
and competitive business community
- a business-friendly
province committed to responsible regulation
- the lowest overall
tax load of any province in Canada, including no retail sales tax
- a modern and efficient
infrastructure
- an abundance of
natural resources
- a beautiful natural
environment
- a fiscally responsible
provincial government
The Alberta
Advantage is organized around the following categories: the economy, people,
taxes, operating costs, quality of life and sound financial management.
It shows that Alberta is "the place to be."
THE
ECONOMY - STRONG AND DIVERSIFIED
Over
the past decade, Alberta's economic performance has been exceptional,
leading the nation in nearly all economic indicators. This province's
prosperity enables its residents and businesses to be confident about
the future. Alberta is creating an environment and infrastructure that
enables knowledge and technology to invigorate our traditional economic
strengths and create new opportunities.
REAL
GDP per capita
- Alberta has the
highest real gross domestic product per capita among the provinces.
- Since 2000, Alberta's
real gross domestic product per capita has averaged 9.6% higher than
second place Ontario.
REAL
economic growth
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv2.gif)
- Alberta's economic
growth rate was the second highest in Canada over the past five years.
- In 2004, Alberta's
real output grew by an estimated 4.4%.
INVESTMENT
PER CAPITA
- Alberta continues
to be far ahead in total private sector investment per person, as it
has been for decades.
- Over the past five
years, Alberta's investment per capita has been more than double that
of the next highest province, Newfoundland and Labrador.
UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
- Over the past five
years, Alberta's average unemployment rate of 4.9% was lowest among
the provinces, well below the national average of 7.3%.
- In 2004, Alberta's
unemployment rate of 4.6% was the lowest in Canada.
PERSONAL
INCOME
- Over the five years
ending in 2003 (the most recent data available), Albertans enjoyed the
highest personal income per capita.
- In 2003, Alberta
had the highest personal income per capita among provinces at $33,083,
13.3% above the national average.
PERSONAL
DISPOSABLE INCOME
- Over the five years
ending in 2003 (the most recent data available), Alberta was ahead of
all other provinces in personal disposable income per capita. At $25,654,
Alberta's 2003 personal disposable income per capita was 13.8% above
the national average.
- With no general
retail sales tax in Alberta, the disposable income advantage translates
into even greater purchasing power.
RETAIL
SALES PER CAPITA
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv7.gif)
BUSINESS
gROWTH
- Over the past five
years, Alberta's average business growth has been the fastest of any
province in Canada.
- In 2004, the number
of businesses in Alberta increased by 2%, the strongest growth among
provinces.
CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS
- Calgary has approximately
8 head offices for every 100,000 persons. This rate by far exceeds all
other cities in Canada.
THE
PEOPLE - YOUNG, HIGHLY TRAINED AND PRODUCTIVE
In today's
knowledge-based economy, the people of Alberta are our province's most
important resource. Albertans are highly skilled and productive, and are
among the most educated in the world. They are the foundation of our thriving
and vibrant economy.
POPULATION
- Over the past five
years, Alberta's population has grown the fastest among the provinces.
- In 2004, Alberta's
population growth of 1.4% also led the provinces.
NET
INTERPROVINCIAL MIGRATION
- Alberta has the
highest number of interprovincial migrants in Canada.
- From July 2003
to June 2004, a net of 10,902 migrants came to Alberta from other provinces.
The only other provinces to experience positive net interprovincial
migration during this time were British Columbia and Prince Edward Island,
at 7,333 and 299, respectively.
PERFORMANCE
OF STUDENTS AGED 15
- In 2003, the performance
of students aged 15 in Alberta was significantly above the Canadian,
United States and international averages in reading, mathematics and
science.
- Out of 41 countries
and Canada's provinces, Alberta scored second highest in mathematics
and reading and fourth highest in science.
POPULATION
AGED 25-54 WITH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
- Alberta has the
best educated workforce in Canada.
- Approximately 65%
of Albertans aged 25 to 64 have post-secondary education.
SHARE
OF POPULATION UNDER 40
- Alberta has the
youngest population among the provinces.
- About 58% of Albertans
are under the age of 40.
PARTICIPATION
RATE
EMPLOYMENT
TO POPULATION RATIO
-
Compared
to other provinces, more Albertans are working relative to the size
of our working age population.
-
Alberta
is 4.3 percentage points above second place Manitoba.
LABOUR
PRODUCTIVITY
LABOUR
RECORD
-
In
terms of person days lost due to labour disputes, Alberta's 5-year
average record is better than all other provinces except Prince Edward
Island.
-
Newfoundland
and Labrador had a public labour dispute in 2004 that distorted its
five year average.
internet
use
- Albertans are the
most "connected" when it comes to Internet technology, which
improves access to information, education, health and commerce services.
- Canada is the most
connected country in the world.
THE
LOWEST TAX LOAD - LEAVING MORE DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS OF ALBERTANS
Alberta
is open for business with the lowest overall corporate and personal taxes
in Canada. Albertans benefit from a competitive personal income tax system,
the lowest tax on gasoline among the provinces, no general retail sales
taxes and among the lowest property taxes in Canada. Their businesses
benefit from having among the lowest corporate income taxes in Canada
and no general payroll or capital taxes.
TOTAL
PROVINCIAL and MUNICIPAL TAX LOAD
RETAIL
SALES TAX RATES
COMBINED
TOP MARGINAL PERSONAL INCOME TAX RATES
- Alberta has the
lowest top marginal personal income tax rate among the provinces at
39%–29% federal and 10% provincial.
- In Alberta, top
income earners keep 61% of their last dollar earned.
FAMILY
EARNING $30,000
- This graph, and
the following two, compare provincial income, sales, payroll, fuel and
tobacco taxes, and health care insurance premiums payable by a family.
- In Alberta, a typical
one-income family earning $30,000 pays only $406, approximately 85%
less than the average of the other provinces.
FAMILY
EARNING $60,000
-
In
Alberta, a typical two-income family earning $60,000 pays $3,933,
approximately 34% less in combined taxes and health care insurance
premiums than the average of the other provinces.
FAMILY
EARNING $100,000
-
In
Alberta, a typical two-income family earning $100,000 pays $7,224,
approximately 36% less in combined taxes and health care insurance
premiums than the average of the other provinces.
PROVINCIAL
general CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATES
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv26.gif)
- Alberta has the
second lowest general corporate income tax rate in Canada at 11.5%.
- Alberta businesses
also benefit because Alberta has no general sales tax, capital tax or
payroll tax.
PROVINCIAL
SMALL BUSINESS CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATES
- Alberta's small
business corporate income tax rate of 3% is the second lowest in Canada.
gasoline
tax rates
-
At
9.0 cents per litre, Alberta has the lowest gasoline tax rate among
the provinces, 2.5 cents per litre below Manitoba, the second lowest
province.
ALBERTA'S
TAX ADVANTAGE
- This graph shows
the total additional provincial taxes that individuals and businesses
would pay if Alberta had the same tax systems as the other provinces.
The comparison also includes government revenues from health care insurance
premiums and alcohol.
- Albertans would
pay almost $7.0 billion more if we had to pay British Columbia's taxes,
and $11.4 billion more if we had to pay Newfoundland and Labrador's
taxes.
LOW
OPERATING COSTS - FOR BUSINESSES AND HOUSEHOLDS
When
it comes to the cost of living and doing business, the province of Alberta
is an attractive place to be. Alberta's favourable business environment
encourages investment and allows companies and industries to compete and
succeed. Our low taxes, skilled workforce and well-established infrastructure
provide additional outstanding advantages.
business
costs index
- Based on KPMG's
study of business costs in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Edmonton
has the second lowest total costs among the major Canadian cities and
all American cities.
- An Edmonton business
would have an overall 11% cost advantage over the average U.S. city.
INITIAL
INVESTMENT COSTS
annual
labour costs
- Labour costs, a
major component of location-sensitive business costs that can range
from 56% to 85% of total operations, are lowest in Edmonton among major
cities.
WORKERS'
COMPENSATION PREMIUMS
investment
climate
- Based
on the Fraser Institute's 2004 Survey of Senior Investment Managers,
Alberta was in “a league of its own,” with the best investment
climate among all Canadian provinces.
- Every
survey respondent from Alberta indicated that the Alberta government
maintains the necessary economic policies for a positive investment
climate.
office
occupancy costS
- Edmonton has the
lowest overall office occupancy costs among major Canadian cities.
- Calgary has lower
occupancy costs than in Ontario.
GASOLINE
PRICES
natural
gas rates
- Albertans enjoyed
the lowest residential natural gas rates in Canada during the first
ten months of 2004 (the most recent data available).
DAILY
LIVING PRICE INDEX
- Residents in Edmonton
pay less for daily living than some other Canadian cities such as Vancouver.
- A basket of daily
living non-durable goods and services (food, utilities, household operations,
transportation, health/personal care, recreation and tobacco/alcohol
products) that costs $100 in Edmonton would be approximately $129 in
St. John's.
HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY
- Housing affordability
in Alberta is the best among the provinces, as home ownership costs
taking up only 25.5% of a typical pre-tax household income.
- More balanced housing
market conditions, record-low borrowing rates and good household income
gains contributed to Alberta's solid housing affordability in 2004.
NET
HOME PROPERTY TAXES
- Among major cities,
Calgary and Edmonton rank first and second, respectively, when it comes
to lowest property taxes for a typical single family house.
QUALITY
OF LIFE - OUTSTANDING
Each
year, thousands of people from the rest of Canada are drawn to this province,
well known for its exceptional standard of living. Alberta is a prosperous
region, where residents share a rich natural environment and enjoy outstanding
opportunities in recreation, arts and culture.
LIFE
EXPECTANCY
- In 2002, Alberta
had the third highest life expectancy at birth among provinces.
QUALITY
OF LIfe INDEX
- Based on an analysis
of "Quality of Life," Calgary places 25th out of 215 major
cities in the world, tying with the highest ranked U.S. cities, Honolulu
and San Francisco.
EXPENDITURE
ON RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
-
With
the second highest average household income among the provinces (Ontario
with the highest), Albertans are able to spend more on sports, performing
arts, and other recreational and entertainment activities.
SUPPORT
FOR PERFORMING ARTS
provincial
health expenditure
provincial
and local education expenditure
GOVERNMENT
OF ALBERTA - ACCOUNTABLE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
The Alberta
government is committed to responding to the needs of its citizens, while
ensuring a balanced budget. As the only province with no accumulated debt,
Alberta continues to attract international attention as the most fiscally
responsible government in Canada.
GOVERNMENT
surpluseS (DEficits)
- The Alberta government
is committed to living within its means.
- Alberta has the
highest surplus as a percentage of GDP in 2004-05.
GOVERNMENT
net financial assets (debt)
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv48.gif)
- Alberta is the
only provincial government in Canada with total financial assets that
exceed total liabilities.
- At March 31, 2005,
Alberta's financial assets are forecast to be $31.0 billion. Total liabilities
(excluding pension obligations) are forecast to be $11.5 billion, resulting
in net financial assets of about $19.5 billion.
ALBERTA'S
ACCUMULATED DEBT
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv49.gif)
- Alberta's accumulated
debt was eliminated as of March 31, 2005
- This is 20 years
ahead of the debt retirement schedule originally legislated in the Fiscal
Responsibility Act.
CREDIT
RATING
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv50.gif)
- Alberta is the
top province in Canada for credit worthiness. All major rating agencies
(Standard and Poor's, Moody's, and Dominion Bond Rating Service) give
Alberta "Triple A," the highest possible rating.
- The high ratings
reflect Alberta's strong economic performance, high income levels, low
debt burden, and prudent fiscal management.
BORROWING
COSTS
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv51.gif)
- Alberta has the
lowest interest rate spread relative to 10-year Government of Canada
bonds of any province in Canada.
- Alberta's strong
fiscal performance and top credit rating have led to lower borrowing
costs for the province and local authorities that borrow through the
Alberta Capital Finance Authority.
BUDGET
PERFORMANCE INDEX
![](/web/20061208043339im_/http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/publications/budget/budget2005/abadv52.gif)
- For the eighth
consecutive year, Alberta's "A" rating topped all other provinces
and the federal goverment on the Fraser Institute's Budget Performance
Index.
- According to the
index, which is based on the tax and spending behaviour of governments,
Alberta's performance surpassed the federal goverment's second place
ranking by 37%.
economic
freedom INDEX - CANADA
- The Fraser Institute's
measure of economic freedom (which indicates the fostering of economic
growth and prosperity through minimal government regulation and taxation)
rates Alberta number one in Canada as a place to do business.
economic
freedom INDEX - NORTH AMERICA
- Improving upon
its best-ever tenth place finish in 2001 (Alberta was the first Canadian
province to break into the top 10 in North America), Alberta tied with
Texas and Georgia for fourth place in the Fraser Institute's 2002 measure
of economic freedom.
Go to: Alberta
Tax Advantage
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