[peck420]

Andyt,

Part of the point of the lower corporate taxes is to draw the companies base to Canada.

I think one of Alberta's Premiers (I think Ralph, but I will have to check) even flat out stated that Alberta's corporate tax rate was tanked to draw head offices out of Toronto and Montreal (same deal just between provinces instead of countries).

I don't know if it has worked. Might have to check how many corporate head offices have moved to Calgary over the last decade.

[bootlegga]

peck420 peck420:

Andyt,

Part of the point of the lower corporate taxes is to draw the companies base to Canada.

I think one of Alberta's Premiers (I think Ralph, but I will have to check) even flat out stated that Alberta's corporate tax rate was tanked to draw head offices out of Toronto and Montreal (same deal just between provinces instead of countries).

I don't know if it has worked. Might have to check how many corporate head offices have moved to Calgary over the last decade.

In some ways it has helped, but despite all the hoopla of Calgary having the second most number of head offices in the country, almost all of them are oil/gas related. I haven't heard of any major financial or manufacturing companies moving their head offices to Calgary.

I don't have a problem with corporate tax cuts, but doing it now is a bad idea. We should have done it five years ago when our economy was booming and we could absorb the loss of tax revenues much easier. I just don't see it making sense when it means more debt and more interest.

[peck420]

Although Calgary's Head Office segment is still heavily dominated by the energy sector, that share has been consistently shrinking.

It used to be 90+% and is currently at 74%, which is definitely a good sign.

Here is a link to a list of the Calgary Head Offices:

http://www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com/sites/default/files/Website_Version%20_-_%20Top_Calgary_based_Companies_%28Head_Offices%29%2C-Ranked_by_2010_Revenue.pdf

[bootlegga]

True, but I haven't heard of too many non oil/gas companies picking up and moving the Calgary.

Sure there are companies like WestJet, Safeway, and Shaw, on that list, but they were either always based there or moved from Edmonton (Shaw). I'll be more impressed with Calgary's Head office scene when a bank or manufacturing company moves there from Toronto/Montreal. That will be a sign that a shift is occurring.

Still, Calgary's emergence as a head office town has nothing but good consequences for Alberta.

[peck420]

Give it time.

Calgary (IMO) has become saturated. Look to Edmonton for growth in head offices, specifically in technology.

When Calgary's population grows larger, they will start to gain more head offices, my prediction: financial.

[bootlegga]

peck420 peck420:

Give it time.

Calgary (IMO) has become saturated. Look to Edmonton for growth in head offices, specifically in technology.

When Calgary's population grows larger, they will start to gain more head offices, my prediction: financial.

Stampede!: The Rise of the West and Canada's New Power Elite is a really good read on the subject;

http://www.amazon.ca/Stampede-Rise-Cana ... 1554701201

It's very optimistic, but I think once the global economy rights itself, lots of it will probably come true.

[eureka]

Calgary is on a death watch. It will be running out of water in a decade or two.

What financial head offices would benefit by moving to Calgary. The Bank of Montreal did so, while maintaining a skeleton in Montreal but that was thirty five years ago. Toronto is and will be far into the future the financial capital of Canada. How can that be changed?

[Curtman]

peck420 peck420:

I think one of Alberta's Premiers (I think Ralph, but I will have to check) even flat out stated that Alberta's corporate tax rate was tanked to draw head offices out of Toronto and Montreal (same deal just between provinces instead of countries).

I don't know if it has worked. Might have to check how many corporate head offices have moved to Calgary over the last decade.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/start/financing/manitoba-cuts-small-business-tax-rate-to-zero/article1819162/

$1:

While provinces like Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan hover around a 3 per cent to 4 per cent small-business tax rate, Manitoba set a new standard by slashing its rate to nothing.

You could try paying companies to move there I guess. Our tax-and-spend socialist NDP beat your conservatives to 0 though.