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Why is Alberta’s economy performing so well while Ontario continues to pour billions into industries that have been declining for decades?

That was one of the questions Ezra put to economist Jack Mintz, who pointed to a fundamental difference between the two provinces: Alberta’s economy is more entrepreneurial and less dependent on government support.

Mintz, who served as chair of Alberta’s Economic Recovery Council, said the province’s recovery from the devastating economic conditions of 2020 was helped by policies including cutting the corporate tax rate from 12 per cent to eight per cent, investing in infrastructure and expanding agricultural irrigation.

But he said the biggest difference became clear when he met with Alberta’s industry groups. Rather than asking for government handouts, businesses wanted government to get out of the way.

Ontario, on the other hand, has taken a very different approach. The province and Ottawa have repeatedly responded to struggles in the manufacturing and auto sectors with grants, loans, tax preferences and bailouts.

The result? Manufacturing in Ontario and Quebec has been in long-term decline despite decades of government intervention.

Australia is an example of what can happen when governments stop protecting declining industries and allow resources to move toward more productive parts of the economy.

For Alberta, the lesson is straightforward: get government out of the way and let entrepreneurs build.