Does GST apply to asbestos abatement quotes in Alberta?

Yes, GST at 5 per cent applies to the contractor's work on an asbestos abatement job in Alberta.

What this means when you read a quote

The first thing to check is whether a quote shows GST as a separate line or buries it in a lump sum. A quote with a single all-in number may or may not include GST. Ask the contractor to break out labour, materials, disposal and GST as separate items before you compare quotes side by side.

A few things that move the total beyond the base removal price:

• Clearance air testing after the work is done, which published Calgary-area prices put at roughly $200 to $700 per area, is a separate line to check for GST as well.
• Disposal at Shepard landfill costs $220 per tonne since February 2026, plus a $275 per load hard-to-handle surcharge if packaging does not meet the City of Calgary's requirements. Ask whether those fees are in the quote.
• The Alberta OHS Code's 72-hour notification is a filing the contractor makes; ask for the confirmation.

On the contract itself, Alberta's consumer protection rules say a prepaid contract of $200 or more must be in writing and must show itemized prices and a total. If you are paying any amount before the work is finished, the contractor must be licensed with Service Alberta as a prepaid contracting business, and you can confirm that through Service Alberta's licensed-business search. You also have 10 days to cancel after receiving a written copy of the contract.

One practical note: published Calgary-area removal prices run $4 to $10 per square foot for general asbestos removal, and those figures are before GST. When you get a written quote, ask the contractor to confirm whether that number is their price before tax.

Get the GST registration number on the quote, and a written line saying whether the total includes tax.