Our Priorities

We are dedicated to realizing the full potential of Alberta’s abundant natural resources by expanding and diversifying Alberta’s resource manufacturing industries.

Through our unique partnership of industry, post-secondary, and labour leaders, we work with the government to develop policies that attract investment and diversify our economy.

With the right policy environment that addresses decarbonization and workforce development, Alberta is well-positioned to be North America’s backbone for energy security and supply chain resiliency for hydrogen, liquid natural gas (LNG), carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), plastics, and more.

Our Challenges

Alberta is competing with a global market to attract investment for petrochemical projects.

According to the Chemical Industry Association of Canada, more than $200 billion was invested in North American petrochemical projects from 2014 to 2019, but Canada’s share was less than 5%. Recent investment friendly policies in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act will further hinder Alberta’s ability to attract investment into the value-added sector and Alberta’s ability to diversify our economy.

The over $22B of future investments are entirely within the Alberta government's control.

Alberta has a natural competitive advantage through its access to low-cost feedstock and carbon sequestration geology, as well as the jurisdiction to move petrochemical projects forward as they do not require federal approval and are not on the C-69 project list.

However, new projects will not be built in Alberta without an emphasis on decarbonization and adequate workforce development. Solutions to these policy challenges are possible through the collaboration of government, and industry, post-secondary, and labour. Incremental improvements to the Alberta Petrochemical Incentive Program (APIP) will also increase Alberta's ability to continue to attract capital.

With the right policy environment that addresses decarbonization and workforce development, Alberta is well-positioned to be North America’s backbone for energy security and supply chain resiliency for hydrogen, liquid natural gas (LNG), carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), plastics, and more.

Worker walking by pipeline

Decarbonization

New petrochemical projects will not be built without an emphasis on the energy transition. Our members support the creation of the Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP).

In a highly competitive global market, the creation of ACCIP would help ensure Alberta is the number one jurisdiction for our members to invest in.

Two workers conversing

Workforce Development

Should the over $22B of our projects be built, Alberta needs skilled labour available for the 20,250 of construction and 658 of operational employment opportunities. While industry, post-secondary, and labour groups have an important role to play in developing our workforce, the Alberta government needs to take additional actions to enhance overall labour availability and training.

Policies should focus not just on attracting skilled labour today, but providing long-term labour market sustainability through increased post-secondary and primary educational opportunities for the workforce of the future.

While the value-added industry offers an opportunity for Alberta to diversify its economy, it also provides us with the opportunity to diversify our workforce through attracting non-traditional demographics to the energy sector.

Woman working on pipes

Expanding Equipment Eligibility

Previously eligible critical equipment for our projects, such as rail terminals, were not carried over to the current Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP) from its predecessor Petrochemical Diversification Program. The restoration and expansion of equipment eligibility would continue to improve Alberta's ability to attract new projects.

Facility under construction

Advancing REBATE timelines

Currently, projects are eligible to receive rebates over a period of three years following one year of full operations. As projects are already cash-positive for the government under the Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP) before projects begin their operations, our members would like to see rebates begin once projects become cash-positive for the Alberta government over a condensed funding period of two years. This advancing of rebates would boost Alberta's competitive advantage while continuing to protect the taxpayer.