Economics

Taxation

The Province of Alberta enjoys one of the most competitive business tax environments in North America. The general corporate income tax rate was reduced to 10% in 2006, providing for a combined federal/provincial corporate income tax rate of 29% in 2009.

The Government of Canada is also reducing the general corporate income tax rate from 19% in 2009 to 15% in 2012. The new income tax rates combined with the fact that Alberta has no provincial capital taxes, no payroll taxes, no sales tax, and has a publicly funded health care insurance system makes Alberta’s tax environment very competitive.

In addition, the province of Alberta further increased the small business threshold to $500,000 as of April 1, 2009.

Corporate Tax Rate Comparison Chart (%)

13.4% represents the average effective top general provincial corporate income tax rate.
6.5% represents the average effective top general state corporate income tax rate.
U.S. rates known as of January 2009.
Sources: Alberta Finance and Enterprise; Tax Foundation.

Municipal Tax Rates

Source: Alberta Municipal Affairs, 2009.

For additional information, please visit the Alberta Municipal Affairs Web site.

Operating Cost

Operating in the GROWTH Alberta region are doubly favourable; the region is relatively inexpensive within Alberta which, as a whole, possesses a substantial cost advantage over other industrialized jurisdictions.

Alberta Place-to-Place Price Comparison Chart (relative to Edmonton)

Source: 2007 Alberta Spatial Price Survey.

International Business Location Cost Chart (annual cost for 12 operations, relative to US)

Source: KPMG "Competitive Alternatives - KPMG's Guide to International Business Location 2008 Edition".

Access to Markets

Alberta is strategically located in the epicentre of the western Canadian market of nine million people. It has emerged as the western North American warehouse and distribution hub for Canada and the Pacific Northwest region of the United States (Source: AlbertaCanada.com, 2009).

Alberta is the only western province that offers overnight, or less than 24-hour delivery service to all of western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest - a market of more than 50 million consumers (Source: AlbertaCanada.com, 2009).

Within Alberta, the GROWTH Alberta region offers convenient access to the major energy centres in the North, and is well positioned near major corridors for access to other parts of the continent.

Driving Distance from GROWTH Alberta Region (measured from Westlock, AB)

Source: Google Maps, 2009.

Highways

The GROWTH Alberta region is intersected by six primary highways: Highway #2, Highway #18, Highway #28, Highway #33, Highway #44, and Highway #63. A number of secondary highways further enhance the convenience of accessing locations throughout the region. In total, the member municipalities of GROWTH Alberta maintain 5,936km of open road (Source: Alberta Municipal Affairs, 2007).

Airports

Nearby Edmonton International Airport offers convenient access to major passenger and freight service, with direct access to a number of international locations. As well, the region is dotted with four regional airports, located in Whitecourt, Swan Hills, Barrhead and Westlock.

Rail and Bus

Rail service on multiple lines is provided by Canadian National Railways. Greyhound Bus Lines offers regularly scheduled bus service and there are numerous trucking and courier companies servicing GROWTH Alberta.

Municipal Infrastructure and Planning

The GROWTH Alberta region strives to be 'Open for Business' by encouraging municipal services, policies and attitudes that facilitate the success of our entreprenuers.

Utilities

Source: Alberta Utilities Consumer Advocate, 2009.

For additional information, please visit the Alberta Utilities Consumer Advocate Web site.

Water and Wastewater

Source: Alberta Municipal Affairs, 2009.

In addition to a strong base of regional water and wastewater transfer capacity, the GROWTH Alberta region will see a number of new regional water lines turned on in the coming year, further increasing accessibility throughout the region.

Additional information is available directly from our member municipalities.

Zoning and Land-Use

Information on zoning and land use should be requested directly from our member municipalities.

Permits

The GROWTH Alberta region is part of the BizPaL network of online permit and licence information.

BizPaL is an online service that simplifies the business permit and licence process for entreprenuers, governments and third part business service providers, by providing one-stop access to permit and license information for all levels of government.

Answer just a few questions to create your own customized list of necessary permits and licences.