Alberta fell from the top spot of North America's economic freedom rankings to 47th place, according to a study done by the Fraser Institute. .Alberta had been in the top spot for seven years..“The steady decline of economic freedom in Canada now means every province, alongside a few US states and every Mexican state, resides in the lower half of North America’s economic freedom rankings,” said Fraser Institute Economic Research Chair and study co-author Fred McMahon in a Tuesday press release. .“With new leadership in Alberta, there’s much to be done to once again make the province the most economically-free jurisdiction in North America.”.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith dared Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to infringe on Alberta’s rights and economic corridors in August. .READ MORE: Smith says to Trudeau 'I double dog dare you' to infringe on Alberta.“Clearly Justin Trudeau has been acting like a child in how he deals with Alberta," said Smith. .“We won’t be pushed around anymore.”.The study defines economic freedom as the ability of individuals to make their own economic decisions about what to buy, where to work, and whether to start a business. It said economic freedom is fundamental to prosperity. .All Canadian provinces came in the bottom half of North American economic freedom rankings. .The second-highest ranking province is British Columbia (51st). This was followed by Ontario and Saskatchewan (53rd) and Manitoba (55th). .The four Atlantic provinces — Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (57th), Newfoundland and Labrador (59th) and Prince Edward Island (60th) — have the lowest levels of economic freedom among all provinces and American states, but they outranked Mexican states. New Hampshire retained its top spot in the rankings again this year..“Higher levels of economic freedom lead to more opportunity and more prosperity, so as economic freedom wanes the prospects also diminish for Canadians and their families,” said McMahon. .The study measured government spending, taxation, and labour market restrictions using data from 2020.
