Alberta brings in $1bn production spend since January 2020

The Alberta Film and Television Tax Credit has brought in nearly $955m production spend to the province since January last year.

Dozens of film and TV productions have filmed or are currently shooting in Alberta since the beginning of 2020, including HBO’s The Last Of Us, which is being promoted as the largest ever to shoot in Canada.

“From breathtaking landscapes to a growing and skilled workforce, Alberta has a lot to offer to the global production community,” said Jay Roewe, HBO’s senior VP of production and incentives, thanking the provincial government for the tax credit on behalf of the cast and crew.

Other projects currently filming in the province include season 15 of Heartland, Predator sequel Skulls and dramas Billy the Kid and Joe Pickett.

"This is a true Alberta success story, a billion-dollar industry springing up around us right in front of our eyes," said Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

"These productions are filling hotel rooms all over Alberta with workers who are patronizing restaurants and other services, they're hiring carpenters and caterers, they're creating jobs for lighting and tech crews, they're driving both economic diversification and growth at a time when we desperately need it."

In January 2020, Alberta’s Film and Television Tax Credit replaced the previous Screen-based Production Grant, making Alberta more competitive with other provinces like B.C., Manitoba and Ontario to attract productions.