"Black Friday is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Even though things this year aren’t necessarily what we’re all used to, it’s a good opportunity to support the province’s local businesses as they recover from the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Alberta-owned and operated businesses are the backbone of our economy. Every dollar you spend at a local business is a dollar that is reinvested into the economy and the community. Buying local helps keep more than 530,000 Albertans employed and injects about $100 billion into our economy every year.

“We recognize that it has been one of the toughest years for business owners. To support our local businesses during these difficult times, Alberta’s government has provided financial assistance with the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant and created the Alberta Biz Connect web page to help businesses easily access advice and supports. In fact, the government just eased the eligibility for the relaunch grants so that more businesses can access this much-needed funding.

“Due to recently announced health restrictions, and to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, many retailers are offering different ways to access their products and services this year. I encourage all Albertans to support our retailers today and during the holiday shopping season by shopping locally – whether it’s in-store, online, or curbside pickup, every purchase at a local business makes a real difference in the lives and livelihoods of Albertans.

“I also encourage Albertans to be patient with retailers, their employees, and with each other. These are unprecedented times, and we need to remember that we are all in this together. And, together, we can make a difference and help create a strong economic recovery for Alberta.”

Quick facts

  • In June 2020, there were 167,627 small businesses (with one to 49 employees) in Alberta, making up 96 per cent of all businesses with employees. 
  • In June 2020, there were 39 small businesses for every 1,000 people in Alberta, third among the provinces (after Prince Edward Island and British Columbia) and far ahead of the Canadian average of 33. 
  • In 2019, small businesses employed 536,555 Albertans, about 35.4 per cent of all Alberta private-sector employment (excluding the public administration, health and education sectors).