Alberta remains largest net contributor to Ottawa’s coffers despite damaging federal policies

According to a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute, nearly half of Albertans believe they get a “raw deal”—that is, they give more than they get—being part of Canada. It’s easy to see why Albertans are frustrated. Despite the province’s crucial role in the federation, the federal government continues to inflict restrictive and damaging policies on the Albertan economy.

The Trudeau government’s list of policies includes Bill C-69 (which imposes complex, uncertain and onerous review requirements on major energy projects), Bill C-48, (which bans large oil tankers off British Columbia’s northern coast and limits access to Asian markets), the oil and gas emission cap, the “clean fuel standard,” numerous “net-zero” targets that disproportionately impact Alberta, and so on. Not surprisingly, the same poll found that 65 per cent of Albertans believe federal government policies have hurt their province’s economy.

What’s less clear is why the federal government wants to thwart Alberta’s economic engine, considering how much the province contributes to the federation financially. In our current system of federalism, Ottawa collects various taxes then redistributes money to Canadians in other provinces for federal programs including equalization, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and employment insurance.

According to a new study published by the Fraser Institute, from 2007 to 2022 (the latest period of available data), Albertans contributed $244.6 billion more in taxes and other payments to the federal government than they received in federal spending—more than five times as much as British Columbians or Ontarians. The other seven provinces received more federal dollars than they contributed to federal revenues. In other words, Alberta is by far the largest net contributor to Ottawa’s coffers.

Alberta’s large net contribution reflects its comparatively young population (fewer retirees), higher rates of employment, higher average incomes and relatively strong economy. Alberta has a history of punching above its weight economically. For perspective, from 1981 to 2022, the province had the highest annual average economic growth rate in Canada. And despite dips in growth due to the 2014 oil-price collapse and COVID, in 2022 Alberta accounted for 17.9 per cent of Canada’s total economic growth despite being home to just 11.6 per cent of the country’s population.

It’s a similar story for business investment per private-sector worker (in 2022, Alberta’s level more than doubled the non-Alberta average among provinces) and private-sector job growth with Alberta contributing nearly one in every five private-sector jobs created in Canada in 2022.

Alberta’s prosperity, which helps fuel federation, may help explain why in 2022 56,245 more Canadian residents moved to Alberta than left it—a much higher net inflow than in any other province. For decades, Alberta has provided economic opportunities for Canadians from other provinces willing to relocate.

Finally, without Alberta’s large net contribution to the federal government’s bottom line, Ottawa would have significantly larger budget deficits. In 2022, for instance, without Alberta the Trudeau government’s $25.7 billion budget deficit would have ballooned to $39.9 billion. The larger the deficit (all else equal) the greater the debt accumulation, which Canadians must ultimately finance through their taxes.

When Alberta’s economy is strong and prosperous, it benefits all of Canada. And due to Alberta’s economic success, Albertans continue to contribute relatively more to the federation than Canadians in other provinces. That’s something the federal government should encourage, not discourage.