Alberta is aprovince in Canada. It is a part ofWestern Canada and is one of the threeprairie provinces. Alberta is bordered byBritish Columbia to its west,Saskatchewan to its east, theNorthwest Territories to its north, and theU.S. state ofMontana to its south. Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two landlocked Canadian provinces.[7] The eastern part of the province is occupied by theGreat Plains, while the western part borders theRocky Mountains. The province has a predominantlycontinental climate, but seasonal temperatures tend to swing rapidly because it is soarid. Those swings are less pronounced in western Alberta because of its occasionalChinook winds.[8][9]Alberta is the fourth largest province by area, at 661,848 square kilometres (255,541 square miles),[10] and the fourth most populous, with 4,262,635 residents.[2] Alberta's capital isEdmonton; its largest city isCalgary.[11] The two cities are Alberta's largestcensus metropolitan areas.[12] More than half of Albertans live in Edmonton or Calgary, which encourages a continuingrivalry between the two cities.English is the province's official language. In 2016, 76.0% of Albertans were anglophone, 1.8% werefrancophone and 22.2% wereallophone.[13]
Alberta's economy isadvanced,open,market-based, and characterized by a highly educated workforce, strong institutions and property rights, and sophisticated financial markets. Theservice sector employs 80% of Albertans, in fields like healthcare, education, professional services, retail, tourism and financial services. The industrial base includes manufacturing, construction, and agriculture (10%, 5%, and 2% of employment respectively), while theknowledge economy includes about 3000 tech companies employing an estimated 60,000 people, mainly in Calgary and Edmonton.[14] Theenergy sector employs 5% of Albertans but significantly impacts exports and GDP.[15] Alberta's exports, primarily US-bound,[16] consist of 70% oil and gas, 13% food products, and 12% industrial products.[17]Oil and gas are culturally influential, having shaped politics, generated "striking it rich" narratives, and created boom-and-bust cycles.[18] In 2023, Alberta's output was $350 billion, 15% of Canada's GDP.[19]
Until the 1930s,Alberta's political landscape consisted of two major parties: the centre-leftLiberals and theagrarianUnited Farmers of Alberta. Today, Alberta is generally perceived as a conservative province. The right-wingSocial Credit Party held office continually from 1935 to 1971 before the centre-rightProgressive Conservatives held office continually from 1971 to 2015, the latter being the longest unbroken run in government at the provincial or federal level in Canadian history.
Since before it became part of Canada, Alberta has been home to severalFirst Nations, such asPlains Indians andWoodland Cree. It was historically also a territory used byfur traders of the rival companiesHudson's Bay Company andNorth West Company. The Dominion of Canada bought the lands that would become Alberta as part of the NWT in 1870.[20] From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, many immigrants arrived in an effort to prevent the prairies from being annexed by the United States. Growing wheat and cattle ranching became very profitable during this period. In 1905, theAlberta Act was passed, creating the province of Alberta.[21] Massive oil reserves were discovered in 1947. The exploitation ofoil sands began in 1967.[22]
A topographic map of Alberta, showing cities, towns, municipal district (county) and rural municipality borders, and natural features
Alberta, with an area of 661,848 square kilometres (255,541 square miles), is the fourth-largest province afterQuebec,Ontario, andBritish Columbia.[29]
The province extends 1,223 kilometres (760 miles) north to south and 660 kilometres (410 miles) east to west at its maximum width. Its highest point is 3,747 metres (12,293 feet) at the summit ofMount Columbia in the Rocky Mountains along the southwest border while its lowest point is 152 metres (499 feet) on theSlave River inWood Buffalo National Park in the northeast.[31]
With the exception of thesemi-arid climate of thesteppe in the south-eastern section, the province has adequatewater resources. There arenumerous rivers andlakes in Alberta used for swimming, fishing and a range of water sports. There are three large lakes,Lake Claire (1,436 km2 [554 sq mi]) in Wood Buffalo National Park,Lesser Slave Lake (1,168 km2 [451 sq mi]), andLake Athabasca (7,898 km2 [3,049 sq mi]), which lies in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. The longest river in the province is theAthabasca River, which travels 1,538 km (956 mi) from theColumbia Icefield in the Rocky Mountains to Lake Athabasca.[32]
The largest river is thePeace River with an average flow of 2,100 m3/s (74,000 cu ft/s).[33] The Peace River originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows throughnorthern Alberta and into the Slave River, a tributary of theMackenzie River.
Alberta's capital city,Edmonton, is at about the geographic centre of the province. It is the most northerly major city in Canada and serves as a gateway and hub for resource development in northern Canada. With its proximity to Canada's largest oil fields, the region has most of western Canada's oil refinery capacity. Calgary is about 280 km (170 mi) south of Edmonton and 240 km (150 mi) north of Montana, surrounded by extensive ranching country. Almost 75% of the province's population lives in theCalgary–Edmonton Corridor. The land grant policy to the railways served as a means to populate the province in its early years.[34]
The Albertabadlands are in southeastern Alberta, where theRed Deer River crosses the flat prairie and farmland, and features deep canyons and striking landforms.Dinosaur Provincial Park, nearBrooks, showcases the badlands terrain, desert flora, and remnants from Alberta's past when dinosaurs roamed the then lush landscape.
Alberta extends for over 1,200 km (750 mi) from north to south; its climate, therefore, varies considerably. Average high temperatures in January range from 0 °C (32 °F) in the southwest to −24 °C (−11 °F) in the far north. The presence of the Rocky Mountains also influences the climate to the southwest, which disrupts the flow of theprevailing westerly winds and causes them to drop most of their moisture on the western slopes of the mountain ranges before reaching the province, casting arain shadow over much of Alberta. The northerly location and isolation from the weather systems of the Pacific Ocean cause Alberta to have a dry climate with little moderation from the ocean. Annual precipitation ranges from 300 mm (12 in) in the southeast to 450 mm (18 in) in the north, except in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where total precipitation including snowfall can reach 600 mm (24 in) annually.[31][36]
Northern Alberta is mostly covered by boreal forest and has asubarctic climate. The agricultural area ofsouthern Alberta has a semi-arid steppe climate because the annual precipitation is less than the water thatevaporates or is used by plants. The southeastern corner of Alberta, part of thePalliser Triangle, experiences greater summer heat and lower rainfall than the rest of the province, and as a result, suffers frequentcrop yield problems and occasional severe droughts. Western Alberta is protected by the mountains and enjoys the mild temperatures brought by winter Chinook winds. Central and parts of northwestern Alberta in the Peace River region are largely aspen parkland, abiome transitional between prairie to the south and boreal forest to the north.
Alberta has ahumid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. The province is open to cold Arctic weather systems from the north, which often produce cold winter conditions. As thefronts between theair masses shift north and south across Alberta, the temperature can change rapidly.Arctic air masses in the winter produce extreme minimum temperatures varying from −54 °C (−65 °F) in northern Alberta to −46 °C (−51 °F) in southern Alberta, although temperatures at these extremes are rare.
In the summer, continental air masses have produced record maximum temperatures from 32 °C (90 °F) in the mountains to over 40 °C (104 °F) in southeastern Alberta.[37] Alberta is a sunny province. Annual bright sunshine totals range between 1,900 up to just under 2,600 hours per year. Northern Alberta gets about 18 hours of daylight in the summer.[37] The average daytime temperatures range from around 21 °C (70 °F) in theRocky Mountain valleys and far north, up to around 28 °C (82 °F) in the dry prairie of the southeast. The northern and western parts of the province experience higher rainfall and lower evaporation rates caused by cooler summer temperatures. The south and east-central portions are prone to drought-like conditions sometimes persisting for several years, although even these areas can receive heavy precipitation, sometimes resulting in flooding.
In the winter, theAlberta clipper, a type of intense, fast-moving winter storm that generally forms over or near the province and, pushed with great speed by the continental polarjetstream, descends over the rest of southern Canada and the northern tier of the United States.[38] In southwestern Alberta, the cold winters are frequently interrupted by warm, dryChinook winds blowing from the mountains, which can propel temperatures upward from frigid conditions to well above the freezing point in a very short period. During one Chinook recorded atPincher Creek, temperatures soared from −19 to 22 °C (−2 to 72 °F) in just one hour.[31] The region around Lethbridge has the most Chinooks, averaging 30 to 35 Chinook days per year. Calgary has a 56% chance of awhite Christmas, while Edmonton has an 86% chance.[39]
After Saskatchewan, Alberta experiences the mosttornadoes in Canada with an average of 15 verified per year.[40] Thunderstorms, some of them severe, are frequent in the summer, especially in central and southern Alberta. The region surrounding the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor is notable for having the highest frequency ofhail in Canada, which is caused byorographic lifting from the nearby Rocky Mountains, enhancing the updraft/downdraft cycle necessary for the formation of hail.
In central and northern Alberta the arrival of spring is marked by the early flowering of theprairie crocus (Pulsatilla nuttalliana)anemone; this member of the buttercup family has been recorded flowering as early as March, though April is the usual month for the general population.[43] Other prairie flora known to flower early are thegolden bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) andwild rose (Rosa acicularis).[44] Members of thesunflower (Helianthus) family blossom on the prairie in the summer months between July and September.[45] The southern and east central parts of Alberta are covered by short prairie grass,[46] which dries up as summer lengthens, to be replaced by hardy perennials such as theprairie coneflower (Ratibida),fleabane, andsage (Artemisia). Both yellow and whitesweet clover (Melilotus) can be found throughout the southern and central areas of the province.
The trees in the parkland region of the province grow in clumps and belts on the hillsides. These are largelydeciduous, typicallyaspen,poplar, andwillow. Many species of willow and other shrubs grow in virtually any terrain. North of the North Saskatchewan River, evergreen forests prevail for thousands of square kilometres. Aspen poplar,balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) or in some partscottonwood (Populus deltoides), andpaper birch (Betula papyrifera) are the primary large deciduous species.Conifers includejack pine (Pinus banksiana), Rocky Mountain pine,lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), both white and blackspruce, and the deciduous conifertamarack (Larix laricina).
The four climatic regions (alpine,boreal forest,parkland, andprairie) of Alberta are home to many different species of animals. The south and central prairie was the homeland of theAmerican bison, also known as buffalo, with its grasses providing pasture and breeding ground for millions of buffalo. The buffalo population was decimated during early settlement, but since then, buffalo have made a comeback, living on farms and in parks all over Alberta.
Alberta Department of Public Health rat poster (1948)
Central and northern Alberta and the region farther north are the nesting ground of many migratory birds. Vast numbers of ducks,geese,swans andpelicans arrive in Alberta every spring and nest on or near one of the hundreds of small lakes that dot northern Alberta.Eagles,hawks, owls, andcrows are plentiful, and a huge variety of smaller seed and insect-eating birds can be found. Alberta, like othertemperate regions, is home tomosquitoes,flies,wasps, and bees. Rivers and lakes are populated withpike,walleye,whitefish,rainbow,speckled,brown trout, andsturgeon. Native to the province, thebull trout, is the provincial fish and an officialsymbol of Alberta. Turtles are found in some water bodies in the southern part of the province. Frogs andsalamanders are a few of theamphibians that make their homes in Alberta.
Alberta is the only province in Canada — as well as one of the few places in the world — that is free fromNorwegian rats.[47] Since the early 1950s, theGovernment of Alberta has operated a rat-control program, which has been so successful that only isolated instances of wild rat sightings are reported, usually of rats arriving in the province aboard trucks or by rail. In 2006, Alberta Agriculture reported zero findings of wild rats; the only rat interceptions have been domesticated rats that have been seized from their owners. It is illegal for individual Albertans to own or keep Norwegian rats of any description; the animals can only be kept in the province by zoos, universities and colleges, and recognized research institutions. In 2009, several rats werefound and captured, in small pockets in southern Alberta,[48] putting Alberta's rat-free status in jeopardy. A colony of rats was subsequently found in a landfill nearMedicine Hat in 2012 and again in 2014.[49][50]
Dinosaur-bearing strata are distributed widely throughout Alberta.[51] TheDinosaur Provincial Park area contains outcrops of the Dinosaur Park Formation and Oldman Formation. In Alberta's central and southern regions are intermittentScollard Formation outcrops. In theDrumheller Valley andEdmonton regions there are exposedHorseshoe Canyonfacies. Otherformations have been recorded as well, like theMilk River and Foremost Formations. The latter two have a lower diversity of documented dinosaurs, primarily due to their lower total fossil quantity and neglect from collectors who are hindered by the isolation and scarcity of exposed outcrops. Their dinosaur fossils are primarily teeth recovered from microvertebrate fossil sites. Additional geologic formations that have produced only a few fossils are theBelly River Group andSt. Mary River Formations of the southwest and the northwesternWapiti Formation, which contains twoPachyrhinosaurus bone beds. TheBearpaw Formation represents strata deposited during amarine transgression. Dinosaurs are known from this formation, but represent specimens washed out to sea or reworked from oldersediments.[51]
The first Europeans to visit Alberta were French Canadian fur traders in the early 18th century. The first British subject to visit Alberta was Anthony Henday, in 1754. French Canadians integrated with local First Nations creating the Metis nation, with elements across the Prairies. French was the predominant European language in Alberta and was used in some early fur trading forts in the region, such as the first Fort Edmonton (in present-day Fort Saskatchewan), operated by theHudson's Bay Company (HBC). After theBritish arrival in Canada, approximately half of Alberta's current territory, south of theAthabasca River drainage, became part ofRupert's Land, which consisted of all land drained by rivers flowing intoHudson Bay. This area was granted byKing Charles II of England to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1670, and rival fur trading companies were not allowed to trade in it.
The Athabasca River and the rivers north of it were not in HBC territory, because they drained into theArctic Ocean instead of Hudson Bay. The north part of Alberta was a prime habitat for fur-bearing animals and was targeted by the HBC and otherfur trading companies.
The first European explorer of the Athabasca region was fur traderPeter Pond, who learned of theMethye Portage, a convenient route to travel from rivers in the Hudson Bay watershed to rivers north of Rupert's Land. He and other Canadian fur traders formed theNorth West Company (NWC) ofMontreal in 1779, to compete with the HBC. The NWC built posts at many points across the northern part of Alberta territory. Peter Pond built Fort Athabasca onLac la Biche in 1778.Roderick Mackenzie builtFort Chipewyan onLake Athabasca ten years later in 1788. His cousin, SirAlexander Mackenzie, followed theNorth Saskatchewan River to its northernmost point near Edmonton, then trekked on foot to the Athabasca River, which he followed downstream to Lake Athabasca. It was there he discovered the mighty outflow river that bears his name – theMackenzie River – which he followed to its outlet in the Arctic Ocean. Returning to Lake Athabasca, he followed thePeace River upstream and crossed the Rockies, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean, and so he became the first European to cross the North American continent north of Mexico.[53]
Fur trade expanded in the north, but there was intense friction and competition between the rival HBC and NWC. In 1821 the British government forced them to merge to stop the hostilities.[55] After amalgamation, the Hudson's Bay Company dominated the economy of Alberta until 1870, when HBC control of Rupert's Land was ended and the territory was transferred to the newly federated Canada. Southern Alberta, Northern Alberta, other parts of the Northland and Rupert's land became Canada'sNorth-West Territories.
First Nations and representatives ofthe Crown negotiated theNumbered Treaties, in which the Crown gained title to the land that would later become Alberta, and the Crown committed to the ongoing support of the First Nations and guaranteed their hunting and fishing rights. The most significant treaties for Alberta areTreaty 6 (1876),Treaty 7 (1877) andTreaty 8 (1899).
TheDistrict of Alberta was created as part of the North-West Territories on 8 May 1882. As settlement increased, local representatives to theNorth-West Legislative Assembly and the House of Commons were elected, and senators appointed, to represent Alberta. After a long campaign for autonomy, on 1 September 1905, the District of Alberta was enlarged and given provincial status, withthe election of aLiberal majority withAlexander Cameron Rutherford as the first premier. At first the economy was very active, then around 1912, Alberta suffered a recession. TheFirst World War presented special challenges to the new province as an extraordinary number of working-age men volunteered for active service, leaving relatively few workers to maintain services and production. Over 50% of Alberta's doctors volunteered for service overseas.[56]
Alberta's economy stayed sluggish, especially during the Depression. Butdiscovery of oil at Leduc in 1946 opened a new era of prosperity and wealth for the province.
On June 21, 2013, during the2013 Alberta floods Alberta experienced heavy rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding throughout much of the southern half of the province along theBow,Elbow,Highwood andOldman rivers and tributaries. A dozen municipalities in Southern Alberta declared local states of emergency on June 21 as water levels rose and numerous communities were placed under evacuation orders.[57]
In 2016, theFort McMurray wildfire resulted in the largest fire evacuation of residents in Alberta's history, as more than 80,000 people were ordered to evacuate.[58][59]
Like the rest of the world, Alberta was affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020. The last restrictions were lifted in 2022.[60]
The2021 Canadian census reported Alberta had a population of 4,262,635 living in 1,633,220 of its 1,772,670 total dwellings, a 4.8% change from its 2016 population of 4,067,175. With a land area of 634,658.27 km2 (245,042.93 sq mi), it had a population density of6.7/km2 in 2021.[2]Statistics Canada estimated the province to have a population of 4,931,601 in Q4 of 2024.[61]
Since 2000, Alberta's population has experienced a relatively high rate of growth, mainly because of its burgeoning economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province had high birthrates (on par with some larger provinces such as British Columbia), relatively high immigration, and a high rate ofinterprovincial migration compared to other provinces.[62]
In 2016, Alberta continued to have the youngest population among the provinces with a median age of 36.7 years, compared with the national median of 41.2 years. Also in 2016, Alberta had the smallest proportion of seniors (12.3%) among the provinces and one of the highest population shares of children (19.2%), further contributing to Alberta's young and growing population.[63]
About 81% of the population lives in urban areas and only about 19% in rural areas. TheCalgary–Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized area in the province and is one of the most densely populated areas of Canada.[64] Many of Alberta's cities and towns have experienced very high rates of growth in recent history.[when?] Alberta's population rose from 73,022 in 1901[65] to 3,290,350 according to the2006 census.[66]
According to the 2016 census Alberta has 779,155 residents (19.2%) between the ages of 0–14, 2,787,805 residents (68.5%) between the ages of 15–64, and 500,215 residents (12.3%) aged 65 and over.[67]
Additionally, as per the 2016 census, 1,769,500 residents hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, 895,885 residents have obtained a secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 540,665 residents do not have any certificate, diploma or degree.[67]
As of the2021 Canadian Census, the ten most spoken languages in the province included English (4,109,720 or 98.37%), French (260,415 or 6.23%), Tagalog (172,625 or 4.13%), Punjabi (126,385 or 3.03%), Spanish (116,070 or 2.78%), Hindi (94,015 or 2.25%), Mandarin (82,095 or 1.97%), Arabic (76,760 or 1.84%), Cantonese (74,960 or 1.79%), and German (65,370 or 1.56%).[78] The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses.
As of the 2016 census, English is the most common mother tongue, with 2,991,485 native speakers.[67] This is followed byTagalog, with 99,035 speakers, German, with 80,050 speakers, French, with 72,150 native speakers, andPunjabi, with 68,695 speakers.[67]
The 2006 census found that English, with 2,576,670 native speakers, was the most common mother tongue of Albertans, representing 79.99% of the population. The next most common mother tongues were Chinese with 97,275 native speakers (3.02%), followed by German with 84,505 native speakers (2.62%) and French with 61,225 (1.90%).[79] Other mother tongues include:Punjabi, with 36,320 native speakers (1.13%);Tagalog, with 29,740 (0.92%);Ukrainian, with 29,455 (0.91%); Spanish, with 29,125 (0.90%);Polish, with 21,990 (0.68%);Arabic, with 20,495 (0.64%);Dutch, with 19,980 (0.62%); andVietnamese, with 19,350 (0.60%). The most common aboriginal language isCree 17,215 (0.53%). Other common mother tongues include Italian with 13,095 speakers (0.41%);Urdu with 11,275 (0.35%); andKorean with 10,845 (0.33%); thenHindi 8,985 (0.28%);Persian 7,700 (0.24%);Portuguese 7,205 (0.22%); andHungarian 6,770 (0.21%).
According to Statistics Canada, Alberta is home to the second-highest proportion (2%) ofFrancophones in western Canada (afterManitoba). Despite this, relatively few Albertans claim French as their mother tongue. Many ofAlberta's French-speaking residents live in the central and northwestern regions of the province, after migration from other areas of Canada or descending from Métis.
Alberta has considerable ethnic diversity. In line with the rest of Canada, many Albertans are descended from immigrants of Western European nations, notablyEngland,Scotland,Ireland,Wales andFrance, but large numbers later came from other regions of Europe, notablyGermany,Ukraine andScandinavia. More recently, Africans, Asians and South Americans in larger numbers have also contributed to Alberta's ethnic origins.[80]
Many Alberta families today can trace their ethnicity in many directions. In the 2006Canadian census, the most commonly reported ethnic origins among Albertans were: 885,825 English (27.2%); 679,705 German (20.9%); 667,405 Canadian (20.5%); 661,265 Scottish (20.3%); 539,160 Irish (16.6%); 388,210 French (11.9%); 332,180 Ukrainian (10.2%); 172,910Dutch (5.3%); 170,935Polish (5.2%); 169,355North American Indian (5.2%); 144,585Norwegian (4.4%); and 137,600Chinese (4.2%). (Each person could choose as many ethnicities as were applicable so the percentages add up to much more than 100.)[81]
Amongst those of British heritage, the Scots have had a particularly strong influence on place-names. Many cities and towns have names ofScottish origins, such as Calgary,Airdrie,Canmore, and Banff.
Both Edmonton and Calgary have historicChinatowns, and Calgary has Canada's third-largest Chinese community. The Chinese presence began with workers employed in the building of theCanadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s.
In 2021, 27.8% of the population consisted ofvisible minorities and 6.8% of the population wasIndigenous, mostly ofFirst Nations andMétis descent. A small number ofInuit live in the province. The Indigenous population has been growing at a faster rate than the population of Alberta as a whole. Some of this increase is due to Albertans who are only now embracing their Metis lineage.[82][83]
As of the2011 National Household Survey, the largest religious group was Roman Catholic, representing 24.3% of the population. Alberta had the second-highest percentage ofnon-religious residents among the provinces (after British Columbia) at 31.6% of the population. Of the remainder, 7.5% of the population identified themselves as belonging to theUnited Church of Canada, while 3.9% wereAnglican.Lutherans made up 3.3% of the population whileBaptists constituted 1.9%.[85]
Members ofLDS Church are mostly concentrated in the extreme south of the province. Alberta has a population ofHutterites, a communalAnabaptist sect similar to theMennonites, and has a significant population ofSeventh-day Adventists. Alberta is home to severalByzantine Rite Churches as part of the legacy of Eastern European immigration, including theUkrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, and theUkrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'sWestern Diocese which is based in Edmonton. Muslims made up 3.2% of the population, Sikhs 1.5%, Buddhists 1.2%, and Hindus 1.0%. Many of these are immigrants, but others have roots that go back to the first settlers of the prairies. Canada's oldest mosque, theAl-Rashid Mosque, is in Edmonton,[86] whereas Calgary is home to Canada's largest mosque, theBaitun Nur Mosque.[87] Alberta is also home to a growing Jewish population of about 15,400 people who constituted 0.3% of Alberta's population. Most of Alberta's Jews live in the metropolitan areas of Calgary (8,200) and Edmonton (5,500).[88]
Alberta's economy isadvanced,open,market-based, and characterized by a highly educated workforce, strong institutions and property rights, and sophisticated financial markets. While most Albertans work in the service sector, Alberta does possess a significant industrial base, intelligence economy and energy sector. This energy sector is famously focused in oil and gas extraction. Oil and gas has been culturally influential, having shaped politics, generated "striking it rich" narratives, and created boom-and-bust cycles.[18]
The majority of Alberta's exports are sent to the United States, and consist of 70% oil and gas, 13% food products, and 12% industrial products.[16][17]
In 2023, Alberta's output was $350 billion, 15% of Canada's GDP.[19]
Before European contact, Indigenous peoples maintained wide trade networks across Alberta. Then, thefur trade, dominated by theHudson's Bay Company and theNorth West Company became the region's first major export economy in the 18th and 19th centuries. Following the transfer ofRupert's Land to Canada in 1870, Alberta's economy transitioned to agriculture and ranching. The completion of theCanadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s facilitated large-scale settlement and grain exports, particularly wheat, establishing agriculture as the province's new economic backbone. A major shift came in 1947 with the discovery of oil near Leduc, launching Alberta's rise as Canada's top oil producer. While oil brought prosperity, the 1980s, 2008 and 2014 saw economic setbacks due to price crashes. Since then, Alberta has worked to diversify its economy, expanding into technology, renewable energy, tourism, and finance to reduce its dependence on oil.
Cows inRocky View. Nearly one-half of Canadian beef is produced here.
Agriculture employed 35,900 people in 2021, representing roughly 2% of provincial employment. Out of them, 19,500 were employed in animal production, 11,800 were employed in crop production, 2,000 were employed in mix farming and 2,600 in support activities or agriculture.[89]
The province has over three million head of cattle,[90] and Alberta beef has a healthy worldwide market. Forty percent of all Canadian beef is produced in Alberta.[91] The province also produces the mostbison meat in Canada.[92] Sheep for wool and mutton are also raised.[93]
Wheat andcanola[94] are primary farm crops, with Alberta leading the provinces inspring wheat production; othergrains are also prominent. Much of the farming is dryland farming, often with fallow seasons interspersed with cultivation. Continuous cropping (in which there is no fallow season) is gradually becoming a more common mode of production because of increased profits and a reduction ofsoil erosion. Across the province, the once commongrain elevator is slowly being lost as rail lines are decreasing; farmers typically truck the grain to central points.[95]
In 2016, forestry provided over 15,000 jobs and generated over $1.0 billion to employment income, $2.6 billion to the provincial GDP, and over $6.1 billion in revenue.[96] Uses for harvested timber includepulpwood,hardwood,engineered wood andbioproducts such as chemicals andbiofuels.
Alberta is the leadingbeekeeping province of Canada, representing approximately 40% of honey bees in the country, with some beekeepers winteringhives indoors in specially designed barns in southern Alberta, then migrating north during the summer into thePeace River valley where the season is short but the working days are long forhoneybees to produce honey fromclover andfireweed.Hybrid canola also requires bee pollination, and some beekeepers service this need.[97]
The mining and quarrying sector, excluding oil and gas, employed approximately 4,300 Albertans in 2021 (around 0.2% of the population) and focused on the mining of coal and mineral resources, such as sand, gravel, salt, limestone, clay, shale and more.[98][99]
Oil and gas extraction itself however is Alberta's largest and most economically dominant primary industry. In 2021, the industry employed roughly 84,500 people in extraction, with another 50,500 in support activities—totaling approximately 135,000 jobs or about 5.6% of Alberta's total employment.[98] In terms of economic output, the sector accounted for approximately 27% of Alberta's GDP in 2022.[100] Alberta also produced about 4.3 million barrels (680,000 m3) of crude oil per day in 2023, making up 84% of Canada's total oil production.[101]
Alberta is the largest producer ofconventional crude oil,synthetic crude,natural gas and gas products in Canada. Alberta is the world's second-largest exporter of natural gas and the fourth-largest producer.[102] Two of the largest producers ofpetrochemicals in North America are in central and north-central Alberta. In both Red Deer and Edmonton,polyethylene andvinyl manufacturers produce products that are shipped all over the world. Edmonton'soil refineries provide the raw materials for a largepetrochemical industry to the east of Edmonton.
Another factor determining the viability of oil extraction from the oil sands is theprice of oil. Theoil price increases since 2003 have made it profitable to extract this oil, which in the past would give little profit or even a loss. By mid-2014, rising costs and stabilizing oil prices threatened the economic viability of some projects. An example of this was the shelving of the Joslyn North project[104] in the Athabasca region in May 2014.[105]
With concerted effort and support from the provincial government, several high-tech industries have found their birth in Alberta, notably patents related to interactiveliquid-crystal display systems.[106]
Construction in Calgary as seen from theCalgary Tower in 2010
While not as important as its service sector or as influential as its oil and gas industry, Alberta'ssecondary sector — comprising manufacturing, construction, and utilities — is still of importance, especially to employment and economic diversification.
In 2021, Alberta'smanufacturing sector employed approximately 122,300 individuals, accounting for 5% of the province's total employment. The sector also contributed $23.4 billion, or 8%, to Alberta's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Key subsectors includefood manufacturing (15.8% of manufacturing employment), fabricated metal products (13.6%), machinery (9.8%), wood products (9.8%), and chemicals (8.7%). Notably, 96% of these jobs were full-time, and 73% of the workforce fell within the core working age of 25–54. However, with 20% of workers aged 55 and older, the sector faces impending retirements that could lead to significant job vacancies.[107]
Alberta'sconstruction industry is a major employer, with 222,200 individuals working in the sector in 2021, representing 10% of the province's workforce. The industry contributed $23.6 billion to Alberta's GDP, equating to 8% of the total. Employment is distributed across trade contracting (54.8%), building construction (30.8%), and heavy and civil engineering construction (14.4%). The workforce is predominantly male (84%), with a significant portion (27%) being self-employed. Additionally, Indigenous workers constitute 13.5% of the construction labor force, surpassing their representation in the overall provincial workforce.[108]
The utilities sector, which encompasses electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, employed 13,354 Albertans in 2022. Employment here grew at an average annual rate of 2.6% between 2017 and 2022, largely because of the expansion of renewable energy sources.[109]
Alberta'sservice sector employs around 80% of Albertans, in various fields like retail, healthcare, education, professional services, tourism, FIRE (finance, investment and real estate), transportation and warehousing, food services, public administration, arts and recreation, and more. Therefore, it unsurprisingly accounts for the majority of Alberta's economic activity.
TheWest Edmonton Mall is home to hundreds of retail businesses and was once the biggest mall in the world
Theretail andwholesale trade sector is a significant employer in Alberta, accounting for approximately 15% of total provincial employment. In 2022, wholesale trade contributed $14.7 billion, and retail trade contributed $14.1 billion to Alberta's GDP, collectively making up about 8% of the province's total GDP.[110]
Healthcare and social assistance, which includes hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and community health programs, is similarly one of the largest employers in Alberta. In 2020, approximately 247,100 individuals were employed in this sector, representing about 11% of the province's total employment. About 88,800 of these jobs are in the ambulatory health care services sub-sector, while 107,800 are employed in the hospitals sub-sector and 50,500 are employed in nursing and residential care facilities. In terms of economic contribution, the sector added $16.7 billion to Alberta's GDP in 2020, accounting for 5.4% of the provincial total. Employment prospects here are good, due to an aging population and ongoing labor shortages, particularly in nursing and residential care facilities.[111]
Educational services account for 7.1% of total provincial employment in Alberta. In 2022, of the 168,100 people employed here, about 98,400 people (58.5%) worked in primary and secondary education, 36,400 people (21.7%) worked in university education, 17,800 (10.6%) worked in other schools and educational support, and 12,200 (7.3%) worked in post-secondary education. In 2022, the sector contributed $12.4 billion, or 4%, to the provincial GDP.[112]
The finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (or FIRE) is a big part of Alberta's economy. In 2023, the finance and insurance sector alone contributed $14.88 billion to the province's GDP, with a five-year average growth rate of 2.8%.[113] In February 2025, activity in this sub-sector declined for the third consecutive month, reflecting a cooling in home resale activity across the country.[114]
Theprofessional, scientific, and technical services sector has experienced rapid growth in recent times, with employment increasing by 28,700 jobs (15.1%) between 2021 and 2022. Since 2018, employment has grown by 47,300 jobs (27.6%), making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in Alberta.[115]
The transportation and warehousing sector employed 130,900 people in 2021, accounting for 6% of total provincial employment. Employment in this sector increased by 10,600 jobs (8.8%) from 2020 to 2021.[116]
In 2022, approximately 108,200 people were employed in Alberta's public administration sector, accounting for 4.6% of provincial employment. Employment in this sector increased by 5,000 jobs (4.8%) from 2021 to 2022.[117]
The arts, entertainment, and recreation sector contributed $1.61 billion to Alberta's GDP in 2023, with an 8.2% growth. However, over a five-year period, the sector experienced an annualized -3.7% GDP and -3.5% employment decline, despite employing 22,663 people in 2023. This may be due toCOVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions, but lower funding from government, higher difficulty in obtaining and retaining staff, and shifts in consumer behaviour could also be contributing factors.[118]
The accommodation and food services -which encompasses accommodations, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, and travel services- is a significant component of Alberta's service economy. 140,400 people were employed here in 2023, which accounts for 6.1% of Alberta's total employment.[119] Furthermore, in 2023, the sector contributed approximately $8.1 billion to Alberta's GDP, marking a 7.8% increase from the previous year. This growth indicates a strong recovery from the pandemic's impact, with the sector surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time.[120]
Alberta has been a tourist destination from the early days of the 20th century, with attractions including outdoor locales for skiing, hiking, and camping, shopping locales such asWest Edmonton Mall,Calgary Stampede, outdoor festivals, professional athletic events, international sporting competitions such as theCommonwealth Games and Olympic Games, as well as more eclectic attractions. According to Alberta Economic Development, Calgary and Edmonton both host over four million visitors annually.Banff,Jasper and theRocky Mountains are visited by about three million people per year.[121] Alberta tourism relies heavily onSouthern Ontario tourists, as well as tourists from other parts of Canada, the United States, and many other countries.
About 1.2 million people visit the Calgary Stampede,[122] a celebration of Canada's own Wild West and the cattle ranching industry. About 700,000 people enjoy Edmonton'sK-Days (formerly Klondike Days and Capital EX).[123][124] Edmonton was the gateway to the only all-Canadian route to theYukongold fields, and the only route which did not require gold-seekers to travel the exhausting and dangerousChilkoot Pass.
Another tourist destination that draws more than 650,000 visitors each year is the Drumheller Valley, located northeast of Calgary.Drumheller, known as the "Dinosaur Capital of The World", offers theRoyal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Drumheller also had a rich mining history being one of Western Canada's largest coal producers during the war years. Another attraction in east-central Alberta isAlberta Prairie Railway Excursions, a popular tourist attraction operated out ofStettler, that offers train excursions into the prairie and caters to tens of thousands of visitors every year.
The Government of Alberta is organized as aparliamentary democracy with a unicameral legislature. Itsunicameral legislature—theLegislative Assembly—consists of 87 members electedfirst past the post (FPTP) from single-member constituencies.[125] Locally municipal governments and school boards are elected and operate separately. Their boundaries do not necessarily coincide.
AsKing of Canada,Charles III is the head of state of Alberta. His duties concerning the Government of Alberta are carried out byLieutenant GovernorSalma Lakhani.[126] The King and lieutenant governor are figureheads whose actions are highly restricted by custom andconstitutional convention. The lieutenant governor handles numerous honorific duties in the name of the King. The government is headed by thepremier. The premier is normally a member of the Legislative Assembly, and draws all the members of the Cabinet from among the members of the Legislative Assembly. The City of Edmonton is the seat of the provincial government—the capital of Alberta. The current premier isDanielle Smith, who was sworn in on October 11, 2022.
Alberta's elections have tended to yield much more conservative outcomes than those of other Canadian provinces. From the 1980s to the 2010s, Alberta had three main political parties, theProgressive Conservatives ("Conservatives" or "Tories"), theLiberals, and the social democraticNew Democrats. TheWildrose Party, a more libertarian party formed in early 2008, gained much support in the2012 election and became theofficial opposition, a role it held until 2017 when it was dissolved and succeeded by the newUnited Conservative Party created by the merger of Wildrose and the Progressive Conservatives. The strongly conservativeSocial Credit Party was a power in Alberta for many decades, but fell from the political map after the Progressive Conservatives came to power in 1971.
For 44 years the Progressive Conservatives governed Alberta. They lost the2015 election to the NDP (which formed their own government for the first time in provincial history, breaking almost 80 consecutive years of right-wing rule),[127] suggesting at the time a possible shift to the left in the province, also indicated by the election of progressive mayors in both of Alberta's major cities.[128] Since becoming a province in 1905, Alberta has seen only five changes of government—only six parties have governed Alberta: the Liberals, from 1905 to 1921; theUnited Farmers of Alberta, from 1921 to 1935; the Social Credit Party, from 1935 to 1971; the Progressive Conservative Party, from 1971 to 2015; from 2015 to 2019, the Alberta New Democratic Party; and from 2019, the United Conservative Party, with themost recent transfer of power being the first time in provincial history that an incumbent government was not returned to a second term.
Policing in the province of Alberta upon its creation was the responsibility of theRoyal Northwest Mounted Police. In 1917, due to pressures of the First World War, theAlberta Provincial Police was created. This organization policed the province until it was disbanded as aGreat Depression-era cost-cutting measure in 1932. It was at that time the, now renamed,Royal Canadian Mounted Police resumed policing of the province, specifically RCMP "K" Division. With the advent of theAlberta Sheriffs Branch, the distribution of duties of law enforcement in Alberta has been evolving as certain aspects, such as traffic enforcement, mobile surveillance and the close protection of the Premier of Alberta have been transferred to the Sheriffs. In 2006, Alberta formed theAlberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) to combat organized crime and the serious offences that accompany it. ALERT is made up of members of the RCMP, Sheriffs Branch, and various major municipal police forces in Alberta.
According to Alberta's 2009 budget, government revenue in that year came mainly from royalties on non-renewable natural resources (30.4%), personal income taxes (22.3%), corporate and other taxes (19.6%), and grants from thefederal government primarily for infrastructure projects (9.8%).[132] In 2014, Alberta received $6.1 billion in bitumen royalties. With the drop in the price of oil in 2015 it was down to $1.4 billion. In 2016, Alberta received "about $837 million in royalty payments from oil sands Royalty Projects".[133] According to the 2018–2021 fiscal plan, the two top sources of revenue in 2016 were personal income tax at $10,763 million and federal transfers of $7,976 million with total resource revenue at $3,097 million.[134]: 45 Alberta is the only province in Canada without a provincialsales tax. Alberta residents are subject to the federal sales tax, theGoods and Services Tax of 5%.
From 2001 to 2016, Alberta was the only Canadian province to have aflat tax of 10% of taxable income, which was introduced by Premier,Ralph Klein, as part of the Alberta Tax Advantage, which also included a zero-percent tax on income below a "generous personal exemption".[135][136]
In 2016, under PremierRachel Notley, while most Albertans continued to pay the 10% income tax rate, new tax brackets 12%, 14%, and 15% for those with higher incomes ($128,145 annually or more) were introduced.[137][135] Alberta's personal income tax system maintained aprogressive character by continuing to grant residents personal tax exemptions of $18,451,[138] in addition to a variety of tax deductions for persons with disabilities, students, and the aged.[139] Alberta's municipalities and school jurisdictions have their own governments who usually work in co-operation with the provincial government. By 2018, most Albertans continued to pay the 10% income tax rate.[137]
According to a March 2015Statistics Canada report, the median household income in Alberta in 2014 was about $100,000, which is 23% higher than the Canadian national average.[140]
Based on Statistic Canada reports, low-income Albertans, who earn less than $25,000 and those in the high-income bracket earning $150,000 or more, are the lowest-taxed people in Canada.[137] Those in the middle income brackets representing those that earn about $25,000 to $75,000[Notes 1] pay more in provincial taxes than residents in British Columbia and Ontario.[137] In terms of income tax, Alberta is the "best province" for those with a low income because there is no provincial income tax for those who earn $18,915 or less.[137] Even with the 2016 progressive tax brackets up to 15%, Albertans who have the highest incomes, those with a $150,000 annual income or more—about 178,000 people in 2015, pay the least in taxes in Canada.[137] — About 1.9 million Albertans earned between $25,000 and $150,000 in 2015.[137]
Alberta also privatized alcohol distribution. By 2010, privatization had increased outlets from 304 stores to 1,726; 1,300 jobs to 4,000 jobs; and 3,325 products to 16,495 products.[141] Tax revenue also increased from $400 million to $700 million.
In 2017/18 Alberta collected about $2.4 billion in education property taxes from municipalities.[142] Alberta municipalities raise a significant portion of their income through levying property taxes.[143] The value of assessed property in Alberta was approximately $727 billion in 2011.[144] Most real property is assessed according to its market value.[143] The exceptions to market value assessment are farmland, railways, machinery and equipment and linear property, all of which is assessed by regulated rates.[145] Depending on the property type, property owners may appeal a property assessment to their municipal 'Local Assessment Review Board', 'Composite Assessment Review Board,' or the Alberta Municipal Government Board.[143][146]
Calgary is famous forits Stampede, dubbed "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth". The Stampede is Canada's biggest rodeo festival and features various races and competitions, such ascalf roping andbull riding. In line with the western tradition of rodeo are the cultural artisans that reside and create unique Alberta western heritage crafts.
In 2019, Minister of Culture and TourismRicardo Miranda announced the Alberta Artist in Residence program in conjunction with the province's first Month of the Artist[147] to celebrate the arts and the value they bring to the province, both socially and economically,[148] The artist is selected each year via a public and competitive process is expected to do community outreach and attend events to promote the arts throughout the province. The award comes with $60,000 funding which includes travel and materials costs.[149] On January 31, 2019,Lauren Crazybull was named Alberta's first artist in residence.[150][151][149] Alberta is the first province to launch an artist in residence program in Canada.
As with any Canadian province, the Alberta Legislature has (almost) exclusive authority to make laws respecting education. Since 1905, the Legislature has used this capacity to continue the model of locally elected public and separate school boards which originated prior to 1905, as well as to create and regulate universities, colleges, technical institutions, and other educational forms and institutions (public charter schools, private schools, homeschooling).
There are forty-two public school jurisdictions in Alberta, and seventeen operating separate school jurisdictions. Sixteen of the operating separate school jurisdictions have a Catholic electorate, and one (St. Albert) has a Protestant electorate. In addition, one Protestant separate school district, Glen Avon, survives as a ward of the St. Paul Education Region. The City of Lloydminster straddles the Albertan/Saskatchewan border, and both the public and separate school systems in that city are counted in the above numbers: both of them operate according to Saskatchewan law.
For many years, the provincial government has funded the greater part of the cost of providing K–12 education. Prior to 1994, public and separate school boards in Alberta had the legislative authority to levy a local tax on property as supplementary support for local education. In 1994, the government of the province eliminated this right for public school boards, but not for separate school boards. Since 1994, there has continued to be a tax on property in support of K–12 education; the difference is that the provincial government now sets the mill rate, the money is collected by the local municipal authority and remitted to the provincial government. The relevant legislation requires that all the money raised by this property tax must go to support K–12 education provided by school boards. The provincial government pools the property tax funds from across the province and distributes them, according to a formula, to public and separate school jurisdictions and Francophone authorities.
Public and separate school boards, charter schools, and private schools all follow the Program of Studies and the curriculum approved by the provincial department of education (Alberta Education).Homeschool tutors may choose to follow the Program of Studies or develop their own Program of Studies. Public and separate schools, charter schools, and approved private schools all employ teachers who are certificated by Alberta Education, they administer Provincial Achievement Tests and Diploma Examinations set by Alberta Education, and they may grant high school graduation certificates endorsed by Alberta Education.
There was some controversy in 2005 over the rising cost of post-secondary education for students (as opposed to taxpayers). In 2005, PremierRalph Klein made a promise that he would freeze tuition and look into ways of reducing schooling costs.[154][155][needs update]
Alberta's health care budget was $22.5 billion during the 2018–2019 fiscal year (approximately 45% of all government spending), making it the best-funded health-care system per-capita in Canada.[157] Every hour the province spends more than $2.5 million, (or $60 million per day), to maintain and improve health care in the province.[158]
TheEdmonton Clinic complex, completed in 2012, provides a similar research, education, and care environment as theMayo Clinic in the United States.[159][160]
All public health care services funded by the Government of Alberta are delivered operationally by Alberta Health Services. AHS is the province's single health authority, established on July 1, 2008, which replaced nine regional health authorities. AHS also funds all ground ambulance services in the province, as well as the province-wideShock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) air ambulance service.[161]
Alberta is well-connected by air, withinternational airports in both Calgary and Edmonton.Calgary International Airport andEdmonton International Airport are the fourth- andfifth-busiest in Canada, respectively. Calgary's airport is a hub forWestJet Airlines and a regional hub forAir Canada, primarily serving the prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) for connecting flights to British Columbia, eastern Canada, fifteen major United States centres, nine European airports, one Asian airport and four destinations in Mexico and theCaribbean.[162] Edmonton's airport acts as a hub for the Canadian north and has connections to all major Canadian airports as well as airports in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean .[163]
Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge have substantialpublic transit systems. In addition to buses, Calgary and Edmonton operatelight rail transit (LRT) systems.Edmonton LRT, which is underground in the downtown core and on the surface outside the downtown core was the first of the modern generation of light rail systems to be built in North America, while the CalgaryCTrain has one of the highest numbers of daily riders of any LRT system in North America.
Passenger trains includeVia Rail'sCanadian (Toronto–Vancouver) andJasper–Prince Rupert trains, which use the CN mainline and pass through Jasper National Park and parallel the Yellowhead Highway during at least part of their routes. TheRocky Mountaineer operates two sections: one from Vancouver to Banff over CP tracks, and a section that travels over CN tracks to Jasper.
In 2024 Alberta's premier, Danielle Smith, announced a 15-year master plan to expand passenger rail in Alberta. This plan envisions rail services toLethbridge, Medicine Hat, Banff,Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, and most importantly an intercity rail service between Edmonton andCalgary, as well ascommuter rail systems in the respective cities. Ground-breaking was planned for 2027, according to Transportation MinisterDevin Dreeshen.[164]
Alberta has over 473,000 km (294,000 mi) of highways and roads in its road network.[165] The main north–south corridor isHighway 2, which begins south ofCardston at theCarway border crossing and is part of theCANAMEX Corridor. Beginning at theCoutts border crossing and ending at Lethbridge,Highway 4, effectively extendsInterstate 15 into Alberta and is the busiest United States gateway to the province.Highway 3 joins Lethbridge toFort Macleod and links Highway 2 to Highway 4. Highway 2 travels north through Fort Macleod, Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton.[166]
North of Edmonton, the highway continues toAthabasca, then northwesterly along the south shore ofLesser Slave Lake intoHigh Prairie, north toPeace River, west toFairview and finally south toGrande Prairie, where it ends at an interchange withHighway 43.[166] The section of Highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton has been named the Queen Elizabeth II Highway to commemorate the visit of the monarch in 2005.[167] Highway 2 is supplemented by two more highways that run parallel to it:Highway 22, west of Highway 2, known asCowboy Trail, andHighway 21, east of Highway 2. Highway 43 travels northwest into Grande Prairie and thePeace River Country. Travelling northeast from Edmonton, theHighway 63 connects to Fort McMurray and the Athabasca oil sands.[166]
Alberta has two main east–west corridors. The southern corridor, part of theTrans-Canada Highway system, enters the province near Medicine Hat, runs westward through Calgary, and leaves Alberta through Banff National Park. The northern corridor, also part of the Trans-Canada network and known as theYellowhead Highway (Highway 16), runs west from Lloydminster in eastern Alberta, through Edmonton andJasper National Park into British Columbia.[166] One of the most scenic drives is along theIcefields Parkway, which runs for 228 km (142 mi) between Jasper and Lake Louise, with mountain ranges and glaciers on either side of its entire length. A third corridor stretches across southern Alberta;Highway 3 runs betweenCrowsnest Pass and Medicine Hat through Lethbridge and forms the eastern portion of theCrowsnest Highway.[166] Another major corridor through central Alberta isHighway 11 (also known as theDavid Thompson Highway), which runs east from theSaskatchewan River Crossing in Banff National Park throughRocky Mountain House andRed Deer, connecting withHighway 12, 20 km (12 mi) west ofStettler. The highway connects many of the smaller towns in central Alberta with Calgary and Edmonton, as it crosses Highway 2 just west of Red Deer.[166]
^According to a 2018 CBC article, Albertans whose annual income is less than $25,000 pay the least income tax in Canada; those that earn about $50,000 "pay more than both Ontarians and British Columbians". Residents of British Columbia who earn about $75,000 pay $1,200 less in provincial taxes than those in Alberta. Albertans who earn about $100,000, "pay less than Ontarians but still more than people in B.C." Alberta taxpayers who earn $250,000 a year or more, pay $4,000 less in provincial taxes than someone with a similar income in B.C. and "about $18,000 less than in Quebec."
^"Languages Act". Government of Alberta.Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. RetrievedMarch 7, 2019.
^Dupuis, Serge (February 5, 2020)."Francophones of Alberta (Franco-Albertains)".The Canadian Encyclopedia.Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. RetrievedSeptember 30, 2020.In 1988, as a reaction to the Supreme Court's Mercure case, Alberta passed theAlberta Languages Act, making English the province's official language and repealing the language rights enjoyed under the North-West Territories Act, while allowing French in the Legislative Assembly and court.
^Larry Donovan; Tom Monto (2006).Alberta Place Names: The Fascinating People & Stories Behind the Naming of Alberta. Dragon Hill Publishing Ltd. p. 121.ISBN1-896124-11-9.
^"Alberta".The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Foundation of Canada. 2008.Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. RetrievedOctober 1, 2008.
^"Alberta Weather and Climate Data". Government of Alberta, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 2012.Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. RetrievedMay 15, 2016.
^ab"Climate of Alberta".Agroclimatic Atlas of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 2003.Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. RetrievedOctober 1, 2008.
^abcdRyan, M. J., and Russell, A. P., 2001. Dinosaurs of Alberta (exclusive of Aves): In: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life, edited by Tanke, D. H., and Carpenter, K., Indiana University Press, pp. 279–297.
^Easterbrook, W. T. Easterbrook (1988).Canadian Economic History. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press. p. 320.ISBN0-8020-6696-8.Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. RetrievedNovember 22, 2015.
^"Beekeeping in Alberta".Government of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Government of Alberta.Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. RetrievedJanuary 18, 2017.
^Eisen, Ben (March 31, 2018)."Alberta's Rae Days—the 2018 budget shows Rachel is just like Bob". Fraser Institute.Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. RetrievedSeptember 22, 2018.When Rachel Notley's NDP shook Alberta's political landscape by winning a majority government in 2015, the similarities to Ontario's Bob Rae NDP government in the 1990s were striking. Both cases marked the first NDP government in provincial history, and both brought an end to Progressive Conservative dynasties (though in the case of Ontario, the beginning of the end had come a few years earlier when David Peterson formed a minority Liberal government).
^"About CFB Edmonton". National Defence and the Canadian Forces. December 5, 2011. Archived fromthe original on September 5, 2011. RetrievedNovember 23, 2012.
^abTedds, Lindsay (May 9, 2018)."The winners and losers if Alberta returns to a flat tax system".Maclean's.Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. RetrievedMay 21, 2019.As the province debates the merits of a less progressive tax system, voters will have to make tradeoffs that help and punish different income earners
^"Highway 2 receives 'Royal' treatment". Alberta Transportation. May 23, 2005.Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. RetrievedNovember 4, 2016.Highway 2 between Edmonton and Calgary is now known as the Queen Elizabeth II Highway.
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