Alberta may lose digital media jobs after budget snub, say developers

Alberta’s decision not to include a promised Interactive Digital Media tax credit in the provincial budget raised concerns that game studios would increasingly create jobs elsewhere. Inflexion Games COO and Digital Alberta chair Scott Nye said the Edmonton studio was originally established as an entirely Alberta-based company following the introduction of the previous credit, but began distributing its workforce to other jurisdictions after the program was cancelled in 2019. Industry representatives argued that Alberta’s approximately 1,500 interactive digital media workers were competing against much larger ecosystems in provinces offering incentives, including British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario. The previous Alberta program provided a 25 per cent refundable credit on eligible labour costs. Calgary Economic Development also warned that the absence of an incentive made attracting studios and developing local talent more difficult. The debate highlighted how provincial policy could directly influence where game companies hire, expand and invest.