Project Overview

Alberta has one of the strongest economies in Canada. Boasting an enormous oil and gas industry, it also has the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the world. Alberta also has a thriving IT and Agricultural sector. This Province is an attractive tourist destination, which has hosted the Commonwealth and Olympic Games and boasts a number of iconic National Parks, and places of outstanding beauty such as the Rocky Mountains. Small businesses make up 96% of all businesses in the province of Alberta and are also responsible for 35% of private sector employment in the province. The Government of Alberta stated its intention to support small business development by reviewing policy and programs in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. This included the active encouragement of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in order to keep the success of small businesses at the forefront of the economy in the province of Alberta. This led to the formation of the Small Business Strategy, engaging with people from all aspects of small business development.