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Alberta
The Province of Alberta is approximately 255,200 square miles in size and boasts incredible scenery and abundant natural resources. It is situated between the provinces of Saskatchewan to the East and British Columbia to the west, with Northwest Territories to the North and the state of Montana, USA bordering the south. The Province is in the Mountain Time Zone which is Greenwich Meantime -7 hours. Between the months of April and October Daylight Saving is in effect and the difference is GMT -6 hours. There are two main cities, Edmonton (The Provincial Capital) in the North and Calgary in the South. Edmonton is located approximately 300 kilometers north of Calgary, with a healthy rivalry between the sports teams and the populations in general. There are many other Alberta Towns and Cities that have a lot to offer with Lethbridge, Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Okotoks some of the larger urban centres. The Provinces landscape is extremely varied and provides a multitude of Recreational Possibilities. From flat open prairies, raging rivers, turquoise lakes and majestic glaciers to the awesome beauty of the magnificent Canadian Rockies. Not surprisingly, the most prized assets of the Province are the Banff and Jasper National Parks , coupled with the pristine Kananaskis Country Provincial park. Banff is by far the more commercial with the Mount Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise ski hills close by. The town is a beautiful place but becomes fairly crowded during the summer and winter with tourists/skiers flocking to the town. Bears are a fairly common sight all around the area and there are often deer roaming around the townsite itself. The world famous Ice field Parkway offers one of the most breathtaking drives in the world as it winds through mountain passes and past enormous Glaciers and emerald blue lakes. Be warned, photographs and video’s do not do justice to the scenery as to appreciate the enormity of the area you have to stand there and take it all in. Once you complete the drive, you will have passed the Columbia ice field where snow coaches can take you for tours on the Glacier. The Town site of Jasper awaits at the end of the parkway and offers a less commercialised mountain town experience. The stunning Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon are a must see and there are sight seeing tours up the Jasper Tramway to the Whistlers summit (2470m high). Please note that you will need a valid park pass to stop in any national park or to drive on the Ice Field Parkway. Alberta has the lowest overall taxes in Canada ( Provincial income tax rate is 10% ) and is the only Province that doesn't have a Provincial sales tax. It boasts one of the worlds most vibrant and competitive economies that thrives on the back of massive oil and gas resources. The recent mad cow crisis has damaged the famous Beef industry though this has now been resolved and the industry is bouncing back. The Provincial Government actively encourages Business Development and investment; this in turn fosters the economic growth and performance that is leading Canada's economic recovery. Alberta is now debt free as a Province after paying off over $20 Billion mainly due to the massive oil and gas revenues. This new found prosperity is now the envy of many of the other Provinces as Alberta has found itself "awash" with extra cash. 2006 started off with the much anticipated "Ralph Bucks" being distributed amongst most Albertan residents. This was a $400 rebate from the natural resources income surplus aptly named after the premier of the day Ralph Klein. After officially handing in his resignation on 20th September 2006, Ralph Klein has been replaced by the new Albertan Premie, Ed Stelmach. One thing is for sure, following in Ralph Klein's footsteps will not be easy even with the Province being debt free and posting large budget surpluses. The rapid growth of the Province has led to shortage of affordable housing and new infrastructure requirements. Alberta has its own standards with regards employment laws and you should make sure you are familiar with them before seeking employment. They cover all the aspects of employment and are designed to protect you. With the present economic climate in Alberta favouring the employee, you really shouldn't be messed around in the workplace. Most employers are having severe difficulties recruiting quality staff and there are now signing bonus's and incentives for many positions. This link will describe the obligations between you and any employer, everything from your rights to the Provincial Minimum Wage. As with all the Provinces, Alberta regulates its own Education System. Currently, the education budget is receiving a great deal of attention from Albertans who are pushing hard for more investment. Some major funding announcements in the 2006 Budget are detailed on the Government of Alberta Website (see link above).Also, the money previously used for debt servicing will now be made available for infrastructure investment - mostly schools, hospitals and roads.
The Provincial agency for assessment of foreign qualifications is The Edmonton based International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS). This service is critical to enable Canadian employers assess your education and was also a requirement for the visa application when we applied.
Also on the self regulation list are Driver Licensing, Workers Compensation Board, Social Welfare Program and a Provincial Nominee Immigration Program. Professional regulation is also governed at a Provincial level - all the information can be found through our "Jobsearch" pages. Another great resource is the list of jobs currently advertised that are applicable for work permits. Just follow this Link for more information. The major political concern for the Alberta Government (headed by new Premier Ed Stelmach and his progressive conservative party) is the Provincial Healthcare system. All Canadians want extra funding to forestall what is perceived as a deteriorating service. I must admit that it is definitely better funded per capita than the UK for instance. The Federal Government is paying out several billion dollars to help out over the next few years and the Provincial Government is making it a priority as well - using the new oil and gas revenues. Alberta has a rich history from the prehistoric days of the dinosaurs, the time of the first nations ruling the land, through western settlement and the journey towards independence. There are several world heritage sites in Alberta with the main two being the very impressive Royal Tyrell Paleontology museum near Drumheller and the Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump site near Lethbridge. The Tyrell museum is a world leader on Dinosaurs with some fantastic displays that are a treat for any family. The Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is an amazing interpretive centre that demonstrates how the native Indians joined together at certain times of the year for the big buffalo jump where they skillfully drove herds of buffalo over a cliff. When successful enough food was gathered for the participants to get them through the winter and all parts of the buffalo were used. Unfortunately, the arrival of the western settlers destroyed this way of life with the buffalo hunted to near extinction. For your convenience here are direct links to all our other Alberta pages:
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