Alberta Premier Mulls Sales Tax to Fix Ailing Oil-Based Economy

Prentice says a provincial sales tax is up for discussion as low oil prices continue to bleed billions of dollars from the treasury.

Alberta Premier Jim Prentice gives a state-of-the-province address in Edmonton on Dec. 9, 2014. Prentice says a provincial sales tax is up for discussion as low oil prices continue to bleed billions of dollars from the treasury. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson

EDMONTON—Alberta’s prideful boast of being the only jurisdiction in Canada without a provincial sales tax may soon be history.

Premier Jim Prentice, after declaring for weeks that a sales tax was off the table, conceded on Jan. 13 that it’s up for discussion as low oil prices continue to bleed billions of dollars from the treasury.

“I don’t think Albertans generally advocate a sales tax, but I’m prepared to be educated and to hear from people,” Prentice told a downtown lunchtime audience.

He told reporters later that a sales tax is not his preferred choice either.

We're going to have to start containing costs and ratcheting costs down.

— Alberta Premier Jim Prentice