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ACCOUNTING > CONSULTING > TAX
ACCOUNTING > CONSULTING > TAX
Opening the Door to Opportunity
Opening the Door to Opportunity seeks to highlight the economic contributions of Indigenous Peoples stemming from the spending by Indigenous governments, Indigenous-owned businesses and Indigenous households. It seeks to counter stereotypes by analyzing the economic impact of Indigenous governments, businesses and households, and includes insight into how employment among Indigenous businesses benefits the province as a whole.
The economic impact of Indigenous Peoples in Alberta extends beyond the boundaries of their communities and traditional territories, and it has become clear that the interests of Indigenous Peoples and the future prosperity of Alberta is aligned. To understand the size of the Indigenous economy in Alberta and the many pathways through which Indigenous Peoples contribute to the Alberta economy, ATB Financial and MNP partnered to undertake this study.
Reporting on the Economic Contribution of Indigenous Peoples in Alberta
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7% of the Alberta population are Indigenous.
71% of Alberta’s Indigenous population are of working age.
Only 24% of Indigenous individuals live on-reserve.
The GDP generated by the Indigenous economy was equivalent to approximately two percent of Alberta’s total GDP in 2019.
Indigenous Peoples are the fastest growing population in Alberta with a total combined household income of $7.5 billion.
In 2019, spending by Indigenous governments in Alberta was estimated to be approximately $1.72 billion, of which $510 million was paid to households as wages, salaries and benefits. The remaining $1.07 billion was spent on goods and services.
Indigenous Population Growth
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Economic Contributions of Indigenous Governments
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Economic Contribution of Indigenous Owned Businesses
In 2019 there were estimated to be more than 1,700 Indigenous-owned businesses located on-reserve and 1,350 Indigenous-owned businesses were estimated to be located off-reserve.
Construction
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Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
2
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
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Top 3 sectors of Indigenous Owned Businesses:
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- The Indigenous economy in Alberta is approximately 2% of Alberta’s GDP. That is similar to the total 2019 direct GDP generated by Alberta’s Agricultural sector.
- Total employment among Indigenous population was estimated to be equivalent to 89% of the total direct employment of Alberta’s energy sector.
- Employment generated through the spending of Indigenous governments, businesses and households was estimated to be roughly 88% of the employment of Alberta’s Tourism sector.
In 2019 Indigenous-owned businesses were estimated to have paid $820 million in wages and salaries to their employees and an additional $290 million in wages was estimated to be paid by their suppliers as a result of spending by Indigenous-owned businesses.
In 2019:
Economic Contribution of Indigenous owned Businesses
60,000 FTEs of total employment supported through spending by Indigenous households, Indigenous governments and Indigenous-owned businesses
What was the size of the Indigenous economy in Alberta in 2019?
Size of the Indigenous Economy in Alberta
Opening the Door to Opportunity
All artwork created by Jason Carter - www.jasoncarter.ca
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Contact us
Get Social with MNP
Suite 2000, 330 5th Ave. S.W.
Calgary, AB
T2P 0L4
Careers
All artwork created by Jason Carter - www.jasoncarter.ca
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HEAD OFFICE
“Since the 1700s, Métis People were integral to the economic growth of Alberta through the fur trade and we continue to be a growing force today. This report not only highlights the income and employment disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples but also how closing this gap will undoubtedly benefit all Albertans. Métis Settlements General Council is committed to increasing our self determination and growth of our regional economies.”
Herb Lehr
President, MSGC
“The Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) and all its affiliate organizations make significant economic contributions towards the economy in Alberta. Our contributions are made in the economic development, housing, education and cultural spheres. In the spirit of reconciliation, we anticipate that the readers, and all levels of government, recognize these contributions, and the continued importance of the work we do to close the income and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples to all Albertans.”
Audrey Poitras
President, Métis Nation of Alberta
Marlene Poitras
Regional Chief, AFN Alberta Region
“Indigenous People are deeply involved and an integral part of local economies. We share a deep connection with our ancestral homelands and our traditional territories. We are therefore always conscious of steps we can take to improve our immediate surroundings. Indigenous entrepreneurs take this to heart and are the economic engines of our local communities and of society as well. We’ve always been involved in our economies, and trade was a way of life since time immemorial, long before the settlers came to trade their goods with us. While this report looks at, and makes important commentary on the financial contributions of Indigenous Peoples to Alberta’s Economy, it cannot capture that which is immeasurable and contributes, our cultures and traditions which inform and enrich life for all peoples here in Alberta.”