Non Partisan Association

Economic diversification requires strategic investment in sectors that reduce Alberta's dependence on commodity price cycles while creating sustainable employment. The NPA's approach prioritizes redirecting public resources toward broad-based benefits and developing industries that build long-term economic resilience.

Corporate Welfare Elimination

The NPA's first economic priority is ending corporate welfare—the system of subsidies, grants, and tax expenditures that transfer public resources to large corporations. These funds should be redirected to investments benefiting all Albertans:

Current Allocation	Proposed Reallocation
Corporate subsidies and grants	Educational infrastructure and programs
Targeted tax expenditures	Healthcare facilities and services
Industry-specific incentives	Public infrastructure maintenance and construction

Public investment should generate public benefit. Subsidizing profitable corporations extracts resources from services that benefit all Albertans.

Value-Added Manufacturing

Alberta's economy exports substantial raw materials that are processed elsewhere into higher-value products. Developing in-province manufacturing capacity captures more economic value from existing resources:

• Employment Multiplier: Manufacturing jobs support additional positions in supply chains and services
• Higher Wages: Processing positions typically pay more than extraction roles
• Value Capture: Processing margins retained in Alberta rather than exported
• Economic Stability: Diversified manufacturing less volatile than commodity extraction

Controlled-Environment Agriculture

Expanding aquaculture and greenhouse production strengthens Alberta's food security while creating agricultural employment:

Greenhouse Agriculture

• Year-Round Production: Controlled environments enable vegetable production regardless of season
• Reduced Transport: Local production eliminates long-distance shipping costs
• Freshness: Shorter supply chains deliver higher-quality produce
• Energy Synergy: Potential to utilize waste heat from industrial processes

Aquaculture Development

• Protein Diversification: Local fish production reduces import dependence
• Land Efficiency: Aquaculture produces high protein yield per unit area
• Rural Employment: Facilities can locate in rural communities
• Supply Chain Resilience: Local production buffers against international disruptions

These diversification initiatives build an Alberta economy that is more resilient, creates broader employment opportunities, and reduces vulnerability to commodity price volatility.