At the Alberta Chambers of Commerce 88th Annual General Meeting and Policy Plenary, held May 27 - 28, 2026 in Whitecourt, chamber leaders from across the province came together to shape the policy direction that will guide advocacy efforts over the coming year.

You can read the full release here:
https://chamber.southeastalbertachamber.ca/news-release/Details/alberta-chambers-of-commerce-priorities-set-at-acc-s-88th-agm-policy-plenary-335255

A Strong, Unified Voice for Business

During the Policy Plenary, delegates representing chambers across Alberta debated and adopted 28 policy resolutions to advocate with the provincial and federal governments. These policies reflect the real-world challenges facing businesses today and demonstrate the strength of a coordinated, province-wide approach to advocacy. With participation from 31 chambers, the process highlights the value of collaboration in advancing practical, solutions-focused policy.

Southeast Alberta’s Leadership at the Table

The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce played a significant role in shaping this year’s outcomes, bringing forward 10 of the 28 policy resolutions, all of which were adopted by delegates during the Policy Plenary.

These policies reflect the priorities and lived experiences of businesses across our region and reinforce the important role Southeast Alberta plays in provincial advocacy.The adopted policies included:

• Addressing the truck driver shortage through a redesign of Class 1 driver training
  
• Advancing the benefits of twinning Highway 3
  
• Highlighting the importance of agricultural education
  
• Improving risk management for agriculture producers
  
• Modernizing Alberta’s registry agent network
  
• Promoting Canada’s agriculture industry
  
• Reforming the beverage remittance model
  
• Supporting Canadian beverage manufacturing
  
• Embedding economic stewardship in Alberta’s Code of Conduct and Ethics for the public service
• Advancing equitable billing and referral privileges for allied health professionals

Together, these policies span transportation, workforce development, agriculture, healthcare, regulatory modernization, and industry competitiveness - all critical to sustaining and growing our regional economy.

When chambers across Alberta align behind shared priorities, it creates real momentum for solutions that support economic growth and resilience in our communities. You can explore current policy work here: View Southeast Alberta Chamber Active Policies

Key Priority Areas Across Alberta

In addition to the strong regional contributions, broader policy discussions focused on several core areas impacting Alberta businesses:

• Workforce development and labour supply
• Economic competitiveness and investment attraction
• Market access for Alberta products and services
• Regulatory efficiency and modernization
• Rural economic sustainability
  
• Innovation and long-term growth 

These priorities reflect both ongoing structural challenges and emerging pressures across industries.

Addressing Economic Uncertainty

A key message from this year’s AGM was the growing impact of uncertainty on the business environment. Chamber leadership highlighted that uncertainty acts as a barrier to growth by slowing investment, complicating hiring, and reducing confidence. 

This reinforces the need for clear policy direction, stable regulatory frameworks, and strong collaboration between business and government.

Why This Matters for Our Region

For Southeast Alberta, this work is more than policy development - it is about ensuring our region’s voice is heard and reflected in decisions that shape the broader business environment.

The alignment between local priorities and provincial advocacy strengthens our ability to influence outcomes on issues like infrastructure investment, workforce availability, agriculture sustainability, and regulatory reform. It also ensures that the unique needs of rural and mid-sized communities remain part of the provincial conversation.

What Businesses Can Do Now

Advocacy is strongest when it is informed by real business experiences. As these policies move forward, businesses can play an active role by:

• Staying engaged with Chamber updates and advocacy initiatives
• Participating in consultations, feedback opportunities, and roundtables
  
• Sharing challenges, successes, and opportunities with the Chamber
  
• Exploring how these policy areas may impact their operations and growth plans
  

Your input helps ensure advocacy remains relevant, practical, and focused on results.

Looking Ahead

The outcomes of the 88th AGM reinforce the strength of Alberta’s chamber network and the power of a collective voice. With Southeast Alberta contributing 10 adopted policies, our region continues to play a leadership role in shaping the future of business in Alberta.

As these priorities advance, the Southeast Alberta Chamber will continue to advocate for solutions that support economic growth, resilience, and opportunity for businesses across our region.

Join the Movement and be part of the Chamber Network: https://southeastalbertachamber.growthzoneapp.com/join