(Medicine Hat) The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce, along with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, have reviewed and analyzed the 2025 provincial budget announced on February 27, 2025.

“We know this budget was made in a time with global tensions, economic uncertainty, volatile commodity prices and the threat of tariffs putting a lot of pressure on Albertans, businesses, and government revenues coupled with the ongoing challenge of reducing the provincial deficit and debt,”  stated Steven Pudwell, Chamber of Commerce President.

Chamber of Commerce Treasurer, Brittany McMillan further added, "We were pleased with the recent changes to individual tax rates, which have resulted in a more favorable tax environment for most individuals and have positioned our province as one of the lowest three jurisdictions for the majority of taxpayers. Keeping the corporate tax rate as lowest in the Country is a positive step forward and we would like to see future budgets also have the small business tax rate as the lowest in the country."

Small businesses with income less than $500,000 are still taxed at a rate of 2%. In order to better support the growth of small businesses, the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce continues its recommendations to reduce the small business tax rate to somewhere between 0-1%, which would place Alberta in alignment with the tax rates offered by our prairie neighbors in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. These business owners are also challenged with uncertainty and constant and continued cost increase pressures. Decreasing the small business tax rate would provide greater incentives for entrepreneurship and help stimulate and sustain the local economy, ultimately benefiting job creation and long-term economic growth.

"Our recommendation has typically included that the calculation of spending as a percentage of GDP should be less than 26%, with the current projection at 20% in Alberta. With a 2025-26 operating expense at 3.6%, $2.2 billion higher than the 2024-25 forecast, anticipated to reach $66 billion in 2027-28, we hope that the Government works towards a commitment to balance the budget in future years with focused economic diversification, investments and savings, moving forward to balance the budget after this three-year budget cycle." concluded Lisa Dressler, Chamber Executive Director.

View the Chamber's complete budget analysis online here. 

Find out more about the 2025 Provincial Budget:

Budget 2025: Meeting the challenge

Budget Documents

Please direct all media inquiries to:

Steven Pudwell, Chamber of Commerce President, 2024-2025

Lisa Dressler, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Phone: (403) 527-5214 ext.225

The Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, volunteer-led organization, proudly representing the interests of businesses in our region, and working diligently to stimulate a strengthened and vibrant economy through our connections, support and influence. For close to 125 years, the Chamber has stood for promoting business, monitoring government and championing managed growth in the local economy. The Chamber represents over 800 businesses in our region and is aligned with both the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC), which represents over 24,000 businesses, and the Canadian Chambers of Commerce (CCC), which represents over 200,000 businesses. With the largest and most influential business organizations locally, provincially, and federally, the Chamber network is the most unified, valued and influential business network in Canada and works together to shape policy and programs that will make a difference to businesses in our region.