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VANCOUVER — Alberta remains the most economically free province in Canada but sits 30th overall among 92 jurisdictions in North America, according to a new report from the Fraser Institute.
The think tank’s annual Economic Freedom of North America study compares provinces, American states and Mexican states using data from 2023. Rankings are based on government spending, taxation, regulation and labour market restrictions.
Alberta is tied with West Virginia at 30th in the all government index, which includes federal policies. British Columbia ranks 47th, Ontario 49th, Manitoba 54th and Saskatchewan 55th. Newfoundland and Labrador places last among provinces at 60th, while Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia tie for 58th and New Brunswick ranks 57th.
The report says high taxes, elevated spending and heavy regulation continue to erode economic freedom across much of Canada. Seven of 10 provinces place below all 50 American states.
New Hampshire tops the overall ranking. The study is an offshoot of the Fraser Institute’s global economic freedom index and draws on the work of more than 60 scholars. Detailed tables are available at freetheworld.org.
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