I would start by taxing the hell out of companies based outside of Ab that do business here. The last 10 years I have seen companies bidding on government tenders that are based in BC, Sk, Mb, and even the USA. I'm no accountant but I'm assuming there's a tax advantage there? I'm also assuming there are O&G companies based out of province working here?
I see it all the time in the construction (roadbuilding) industry; Ab companies that go into BC for any kind of roadbuilding get HAMMERED with taxes (BC has some type of equipment movement tax that is seriously punitive), so most don't even bother bidding. To the best of my knowledge Ab does not do this.
Our largest customer the last 5 years was the same company that twinned the road from Banff to Lake Louise, and they're based in Penticton. That would never happen in BC.
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