Quick Facts

Regional Advantages

Location

Demographics

Labour Market

Major Industries

Major Employers

 

Regional Advantages

• Northern Residents Tax Deduction
• Stable, mature resource industries and spin-off businesses
• Fastest growing region in the province
• Excellent business potential for innovative entrepreneurs/investors
• Pristine wilderness/abundant natural resources

Location

The REDI region spans 80,527 square kilometers in Northwest Alberta, Canada.

• Mackenzie County
• Town of High Level
• Town of Fort Vermillion
• Town of La Crete
• Little Red River Cree Nation
• Community of Meander River
• Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement
• Town of Rainbow Lake
• Zama City
• Assumption

Demographics

Population	21,242
Average household income	$41,980
Average age of residents	23  (Canadian average - 37)
Growth between 2001-2003	13% (still growing)

Labour Market

Labour force	6,500
Participation rate	74%
Unemployment Rate	5%

Major Industries

• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Oil and Gas

Major Employers  (100 or more employees)

Organization	Industry	Employed
Northern Lights Health Region	Health Care	335+
Tolko Industries	Forestry	250+
Poncho Well Servicing	Oil and Gas	130+
Husky Energy	Oil and Gas	125+
La Crete Sawmills	Forestry	115+

Taxation

Corporate Income Tax (2004)	Alberta	Canada
General business	11.5%	22.12%
Large manufacturers and processors	11.5%	22.12%
Small business	3.0%	13.12%

A combined rate is obtained by adding the federal and provincial rates together

REDI Region Mill Rates	Residential	Commercial
High Level	14.736	19.182
Mackenzie County	11.393	17.689
Rainbow Lake	10.176	10.176

The above mill rates are per $1000 of assessed value. Mackenzie County includes hamlets of Fort Vermilion, La Crete and Zama.

Taxation

Utilities

Water & Waste Water

Lifestyle

Transportation

 

 

Utilities

Natural Gas Retailers

• AltaGas Utilities
• Town of Rainbow Lake Gas (780-956-3934)
• Northern Lights Gas Co-op (780-928-3744)

Electrical Power Retailers

• Direct Energy Regulated Services
• ATCO Power

REDI Region Sample Power Rates:

	Fixed Monthly Fee ($)	Cost of Energy ($/kWh)
Residential	6.18	0.07542
Small General Service	6.27	0.07514
Large General Service	4.62	0.07115
Oilfield	6.27	0.07177
Farm	6.27	0.07410
Lighting	5.28	0.05920
Irrigation	6.27	0.07231

2004 rates; prices in $CDN.  Variable ($/kWh)=0,00031

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Water & Waste Water

The Peace River, one of Alberta’s largest rivers by water volume, flows through the region.

Reliable water and wastewater management facilities are operated by the REDI region’s municipalities.

REDI Region Sample Water Rates

Fixed charge per month	$20.00
Rate per cubic metre	$0.5727
Sewer rate	46.13% of above total

Lifestyle

• 15 schools (Mennonite, First Nation, Christian Education)
• 3 Post-secondary institutions
• 2 Hospitals
• 4 Community health clinics
• Indoor arenas
• Snowmobile and ski trails
• Golf course
• Tennis courts
• Indoor Pool
• Bowling alley
• Baseball diamond
• Average annual hours of sunshine- 2,000 to 2,400

Transportation

• Provincial Highway 35 - north-south 
• Provincial Highway 58 - east-west
• 5 airports
• Mackenzie Northern Railway line (Smith, AB to Hay River, NWT)

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