Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity

The document highlights the economic contributions of natural infrastructure in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, noting that the sector provides jobs and GDP growth while increasing resilience to climate-related weather extremes. In Alberta specifically, the sector directly employed over 21,000 people and contributed CAD 2.9 billion to the provincial economy in 2022. The report argues that increased annual investments—such as CAD 20 million or CAD 50 million in Alberta—would further drive job creation and GDP while addressing water infrastructure gaps and buffering against floods, droughts, and wildfires.

• In 2022, the natural infrastructure sector across the Canadian Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) directly employed more than 33,000 people and contributed over CAD 4.1 billion to the regional GDP. When accounting for indirect and induced effects, the sector supported over 58,000 jobs and contributed CAD 7 billion to the GDP.
• Alberta's natural infrastructure sector directly employed over 21,000 people and contributed CAD 2.9 billion to the provincial economy in 2022. Including indirect and induced impacts, the sector's employment rose to over 39,000 people and its GDP contribution to over CAD 5.1 billion.
• Investment scenarios for Alberta suggest that an annual investment of CAD 20 million would increase direct jobs by 3% and direct GDP by 8%, while an annual investment of CAD 50 million would increase direct jobs by 8% and direct GDP by 7%.
• In Saskatchewan, the natural infrastructure sector directly employed over 5,800 people and contributed CAD 640 million to the economy in 2022. In Manitoba, it directly employed over 5,700 people and contributed CAD 540 million in 2022.
• Natural infrastructure investments are identified as a means to address water infrastructure gaps—including stormwater, wastewater, and flood protection—and provide a physical buffer against weather extremes such as floods, droughts, and wildfires.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2023). Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity-alberta.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity. 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity-alberta.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity |date=2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity-alberta.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2023natural, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity-alberta.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }