Alberta Enterprise Group applauds competitiveness review.

EDMONTON: The Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG) is welcoming changes proposed in the Alberta Government’s competiveness review and is urging the province to expand the process to other areas of the economy. 

AEG, whose members employ more than 30,000 Canadians and generate billions in economic activity each year, says all Albertans benefit from increased oil and gas drilling activity. 

“Alberta’s competitive advantage has eroded in recent years,” said AEG Vice President David MacLean. “Government changes to royalty rates, changing economic circumstances and technological advances in unconventional gas left the province exposed to competition from other jurisdictions. Making necessary changes to win that business back will benefit all sectors of the economy and create jobs – not just here in Alberta, but across Canada.” 

AEG is also supporting the proposed work by MLA Diana McQueen, who will chair a cross-ministry task force to identify and recommend regulatory efficiencies. 

“It’s no secret that excessive red tape is a business killer for any industry,” said MacLean. “Our members, particularly in the energy industry, have flagged Alberta’s regulatory regime as a hindrance to doing business and creating jobs.” 

Competiveness review should extend to other sectors 

The group is calling on the government to conduct competiveness reviews of other areas of the economy – such as the labour regulations and taxation – in order to make Alberta a North American investment leader. 

“These reviews should happen automatically every few years and expand to examine all elements of the economy to ensure Alberta is the most competitive jurisdiction in North America to invest,” said Maclean. “It’s time we took a good look at Alberta’s labour laws as well as personal and corporate tax rates to ensure the province compares favourably to other jurisdictions. Why stop at energy?” 

“The Alberta government must foster stability in order to encourage investment,” added MacLean. “As the government moves forward with regulatory streamlining and royalty rate reductions it must simply do it once, do it quickly and get it right.”