Economic and Investment Information
Investment
Every dollar invested in the oil sands creates about $8 worth of economic activity with one-third of that economic value generated outside Alberta – in Canada, the U.S. and around the world.Royalties from the oil sands ($1.9 billion in 2009-10) – Albertans’ share of the revenues from oil sands production – help fund many public programs and services, including infrastructure, health and education. According to CERI, Alberta can expect $184 billion in royalties over the next 25 years.
Alberta's oil sands generate revenue not only for the Alberta government, but also for the federal government through corporate and personal income taxes.
Other provincial governments, as well as municipal governments, receive tax revenue as a result of investment and employment in the oil sands. CERI estimates oil sands will create more than $307 billion in tax revenue across Canada over the next 25 years. Nearly 61%, or $187 billion, will go to the federal government.
Alberta companies have signed millions of dollars in contracts with companies throughout Canada to support activity in the oil sands.
- Key industries servicing Alberta’s oil sands include machinery and metal fabrication, particularly in Ontario.
- Atlantic Canada also benefits from Alberta’s oil sands, by increased activity in certain industries, such as manufacturing.
- New Brunswick steel manufacturers have signed contracts worth an estimated $50 million.
- Thousands of skilled workers from other provinces contribute a substantial portion of their earnings to the economies of their home communities.
Employment
One in 14 jobs in Alberta is directly related to energy.Almost 139,000 Albertans are employed in Alberta’s mining and oil and gas extraction sectors.
Alberta – with approximately 11% of Canada’s population – trains nearly 20% of the nation’s apprentices.
Oil sands development creates jobs outside of Alberta: 23% of oil sands-related employment is outside the province. That rises to 28% for construction-related jobs.
Ontario is one of the largest benefactors, with 812,000 person-years, or 7% of Canadian employment resulting from oil sands activities. B.C. is second with 713,000 person-years, or 6% of Canadian employment.
On average over the next 25 years, oil sands are forecast by CERI to require more than 450,000 annual work positions across Canada. This totals more than 11.4 million person-years of employment.
