Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaCanadians would be paying additional $1000 a year if it weren't for Alberta's contribution: reportAlberta's net contribution over the past nine years is a projected $321.9 billion — nearly four times that of British ColumbiaLast updated 5 days ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.The Canadian flag and an Alberta provincial flag fly together in Cochrane.Canadian income taxpayers would have to pay, on average, an additional $1,000 every year to maintain Ottawa’s current spending levels if it were not for Alberta’s contribution to federal finances, a new report by the Fraser Institute has found. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorA study released Monday by the think tank says Alberta’s relatively high employment rates, higher average incomes, and younger population mean the province makes an outsized contribution, paying more to federal revenues and national programs than it receives in transfers and federal spending.From 2007-2008 to 2026-2027 Albertans’ net contribution is a projected $321.9 billion, according to the research — nearly four times British Columbia’s at $87.8 billion and more than five times Ontario’s at $59.6 billion.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe other seven provinces were net recipients during that time period, which means they received more money back from Ottawa than the amount of revenue they sent.According to the study, Alberta’s large net contribution helps fund federal programs across the country and reduces the tax burden that would otherwise fall on taxpayers elsewhere. It concludes that maintaining federal spending levels without Albertans’ net fiscal contribution over the time period would require taxpayers in other provinces to pay an additional $1,007 per year on average.“Many Canadians don’t realize what a sizeable contribution Albertans make to federal finances and how taxpayers in other provinces benefit from it,” said Tegan Hill, director of Alberta policy at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the research.“As Canadian federalism increasingly takes centre stage in many of the country’s important policy discussions, it is important that all Canadians and policymakers understand the significant contribution Albertans make every year to federal finances and how Canadians in other provinces benefit from that.”Previous research from the Fraser Institute found that the combined federal and provincial net debt, adjusted for inflation, has nearly doubled from $1.24 trillion in 2007-08 to a projected $2.44 trillion this fiscal year, a growth of 97.7 per cent.The Fraser Institute’s latest study comes days after research found half a million Canadians migrated to Alberta over the past 30 years, making it the country’s most popular province.Data from the past three decades showed Alberta had the largest net gain in migration from other provinces, gaining 538,824 more people than it lost. This was the largest net gain in the country, and more than double British Columbia’s at 214,883.The study didn’t investigate the reasons for the gains and losses across the provinces, but past research points to jobs, wages and taxes.And yet, despite its popularity, a recent Postmedia-Leger survey found that fewer than half of Albertans say they would stay in a newly independent province should it separate from Canada.Meanwhile, the latest opinion polls suggest the majority of Albertans wish to remain part of Canada, with a Leger survey from June 5 finding that 73 per cent of Albertans say the province should remain, and an Angus Reid poll from May 27 finding that three-in-five say they’d vote in October to stay.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. 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