The 30 per cent credit applies to investments in small businesses researching, developing or commercializing new technology, as well as firms in the software, cleantech, healthtech, interactive digital media and animation sectors. The program still has a remaining budget of $6.12 million for the fiscal year ended March 31. The provincial government said it is reviewing the investor credit, along with those for digital media and capital investment, all of which were launched by the previous NDP government. (Edmonton Journal)

Talking point: Business groups and startups have expressed concern about freezing the tax credit, which they say are necessary to grow the local tech sector. Alberta already lags behind other large provinces by number of firms created and venture capital raised. A 2018 University of Toronto Impact Centre study found Alberta has a third as many companies between the startup and growth stages as British Columbia, which has a similarly sized population. And, Platform Calgary, which provides space and mentoring, estimates Alberta’s digital economy receives less than a quarter as much investment per capita as Quebec. The tax-credit freeze comes one week after provincial agency Alberta Innovates said it will stop accepting funding applications for its entrepreneurial programs and pause already-approved projects amid a government review.