Trade & Transportation - Provincial Policy

Transportation systems are intrinsically linked to economic development is a self-evident truth. However, there is a growing trend in the transportation planning literature, and in the developed plans of both national and provincial organizations, to consider best-practice for this discipline in terms of multimodal transportation planning.

Municipal Affairs - Provincial Policy

Pressure on affordable housing across Alberta and Canada is growing. It is neither feasible nor sustainable for governments to address the issue on their own. P3 (Public-Private Partnership) models show the greatest potential to address the magnitude of the issue while creating a sustainable program. More affordable housing units can be rapidly brought on stream by activating the private development sector to meet demand.

Trade & Transportation - Federal

Despite recent trade agreements, many barriers continue significantly impede the movement of goods, services and labour between Canadian provinces and territories, creating ongoing uncertainty that harms Canada’s reputation as a secure place to invest and do business.

Transportation - Provincial Policy

Given the importance of the trucking industry to Alberta’s economy, the current shortage of drivers needs to be addressed as soon as possible. While the incentives available are helping to drive new students into the Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program, the number of motor vehicle accidents seen including commercial vehicles has caused an increase in insurance premiums for new Class 1 drivers...

Trade & Transportation - Provincial Policy

Twinning construction of the remaining (approx.) 170 kilometers of Alberta Highway 3 known as Crowsnest Pass Highway, has been a concern for nearly two decades due not only to safety and efficiency concerns, but also concerns related to the stagnation of economic benefits and market access along this corridor. The main benefits that accrue from twinning Highway 3 include safety improvements, time savings for commercial and recreational travel, increased social and economic activities, tourism, and agricultural needs.

Municipal Affairs - Provincial Policy

Municipalities are now required to operate and maintain utility infrastructure on any private property which provides service to more than one parcel within a development versus entering into joint use agreements with developers.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial Policy

Alberta and Quebec are the only two remaining jurisdictions in Canada that have not consolidated their corporate income tax administration with the federal government. The duplication of filing requirements imposes an additional tax compliance burden through two returns and creates unnecessary compliance risks for Alberta businesses. From a tax compliance perspective, this continued duplication of functions, including reporting, auditing and returns, is a source of frustration and red tape.

Municipal Affairs - Municipal Policy

Excessive regulations in planning, building and development processes can slow the progress of development in our community. In order to encourage economic prosperity of our region, there are ways to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and ensure the City of Medicine Hat is viewed as 'Open for Business."

Agriculture - Provincial + Federal Policy

A thriving pharmaceutical industry is growing poppies for medicinal use in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia, but not in Canada. This not only presents a large diversification option for the Southern Alberta agricultural sector but offers long term employment and growth opportunities for this and numerous other industries.

Municipal Affairs - Municipal Policy

Economic activity in our region is below the desired pace, and this slowed economic activity is having a noticeable local impact. Residents of Southeastern Alberta are earning some of the lowest average wages in the Province which, with the current economy and interest rates, leads quickly to a standard of living below that of our neighbors.

Municipal Affairs, Municipal, Provincial

The current process to discover, investigate, remediate, and redevelop brownfields is onerous, costly, and frustrating for local governments and does not encourage and incentivize the private sector to redevelop brownfields. While Alberta's Municipal Government Act enables local governments to cancel, defer, or reduce the municipal taxes on brownfields through a property tax bylaw, the provincial portion of education taxes remains on the property. In addition, legislation and regulations for remediation and reclamation.

Finance & Taxation - Municipal Policy

The off-site levy bylaw #4721 was adopted on November 22, 2022 under the Corvus model with levy rates reviewed each year commencing in 2023 and adjustments made annually based on that same model. With the economy and businesses just starting to recover from challenging financial and regulatory circumstances an incentive program should be implemented to ensure maximum benefit for development in our community and to ease the process and create stability and predictability.

Municipal Affairs - Municipal Policy

An economic development strategy plays a key role in directing and focusing economic development efforts within a region. Currently, several initiatives and organizations are involved in contributing to economic development within the Southeast Alberta region; however, there is no overarching strategy to provide direction to these organizations or to address their role and guide their activities.

Energy & Environment - Provincial Policy

Health Canada has guidelines for domestic reclaimed water use in toilet and urinal flushing but Alberta does not follow these guidelines as our province does not use reclaimed (grey) water.

Workforce Development - Provincial Policy

The MicroSociety program is underutilized, yet an incredibly effective learning tool that helps students develop invaluable skills resulting in higher student engagement and grades.

Agriculture - Federal Policy

Border inspections of Canadian and US meat are simply re-inspections of CFIA and USDA inspected meats. On July 6, 2009 FSIS formally acknowledged that Canada’s system of meat testing is equivalent to USDA standards. However, every shipment of Canadian meat into USA is subject to mandatory reinspection at the border, with re inspection fees applicable. This border re-inspection process places the Canadian meat industry at an economic disadvantage to that of the USA.

Agriculture - Federal Policy

In order to reduce food waste, and to keep beef stock off the black market, producers and licensed abattoirs need the ability to work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and veterinarians to assess both compromised and unfit animals for possible transport to slaughter facilities

Trade & Transportation - Provincial & Federal Policy

Alberta is one of Canada’s most robust provincial economies with the highest GDP per capita and an economy driven by its ability to export products and services. As a result, transportation and logistics plays a critical role in our economy, as it supports a variety of industries across the province. Yet, with one of the best transportation systems in Canada, we still have only one full-service commercial port of entry between Alberta and the U.S. There is a need for better access and hours at our border to facilitate e

Agriculture - Provincial Policy

The agriculture industry significantly contributes to Alberta’s economy and enhancing the strength of the sector is an important priority. It is particularly important for Alberta’s agri-food industry to market their products in a way that reflects the link between ‘Grown-in-Canada’ product and a supply chain, environment, standard, and identity that is uniquely and 100% Canadian.

Agriculture - Provincial Policy

With greater attention around food sustainability and the environmental foot print of agriculture, there is a need to raise awareness and provide fact-based education focused on where our food comes from, recognizing the sustainability of agribusiness and its vitally important role in our economy as a natural resource.

Workforce Development - Provincial Policy

Alberta has the highest minimum wage rate in Canada at $15.00 per hour. While minimum wage increases are one of the ways to combat poverty, a robust solution should be applied, taking into consideration living wage variances across the province and rates of taxation on low income earners.

Agriculture - Provincial + Federal Policy

Current risk management programs are not meeting the changing needs and requirements within agriculture. Furthermore, the lack of education and awareness around risk management strategies is limiting the growth and success of agriculture producers.

Workforce Development - Provincial Policy

There is a need for integrated, effective, and efficient mental wellness support in the workplace for Alberta businesses. Mental health issues and concerns continue to cost businesses and the economy in both financial and human terms. Traditional solutions are not addressing the increasing need, and new and innovative approaches are needed to assist in dealing with the acceleration of mental health issues.

Transportation - Provincial Policy

Global commerce is increasingly reliant upon the ability for goods to reach local, regional and international markets. As such, it is imperative to consider the crucial role that transportation networks play in economic development. Current infrastructure in and around Southern Alberta requires serious upgrades and advancements to maintain and leverage a competitive edge in advancing business success in Southern Alberta.

Energy & Environment - Provincial Policy

In order for Alberta to compete on the global stage, we need to address issues such as regulatory uncertainty and cost competitiveness so that industry has the tools it needs to maintain a competitive advantage and so that the province and regions can attract new investment opportunities.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial Policy

The Government of Alberta regulates the Alberta Registry Agents’ (ARAs) Regulation by capping the fee amounts for most of the services they provide. In addition, Registry Agents are eager to develop a modernization plan to enhance services, including online registry services to Albertans in conjunction with Service Alberta and other stakeholders. The Government of Alberta should support these modernization efforts and review regulations to ensure Alberta Registry Agents can continue their vital work effectively.

Trade & Transportation - Federal

Current federal legislation does not allow for meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables to cross provincial/territorial borders, or to be exported out of Canada unless these products are processed in a federally licensed facility. The new Safe Food for Canadians Act will expand this to include all foods shipped out of province/territory. The Canadian government claims that this is required to ensure that Canada fulfils its commitments under current world trade agreements.

Agriculture - Federal Policy

With greater attention around food sustainability and the environmental foot print of agriculture, there is a need to raise awareness and provide fact-based education focused on where our food comes from, recognizing the sustainability of agribusiness and its vitally important role in our economy as a natural resource.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial Policy

Since corporate income tax represents a very large percentage of pre-tax income, decisionmakers are highly sensitive to corporate income tax rates. It is in Alberta’s best interests to reduce and keep corporate income taxes low to attract business to Alberta and retain them in our province.

Finance & Taxation - Federal Policy

In a global economy where technology and innovation are increasingly important, Canada trails most of its peer countries in innovation and research. The Government of Canada needs to act quickly to address this, particularly by restoring faith in and simplifying a tax credit regime that nurtures private sector investment across all industries in R & D and technology.

Energy & Environment - Provincial Policy

Literature has long suggested that Alberta has the natural assets and technical feasibility to support further renewable energy development. That being said, Alberta’s renewable energy generation is low compared to the other provinces. Despite the importance and potential of renewable energy as part of a low carbon future, Alberta generated 11% of its electricity in 2017 from renewable sources, which is significantly less than the national rate of 66% renewable generation.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial + Federal Policy

There is a relationship between the size of government and economic growth. While government spending is needed, there are studies that have shown that when government grows beyond a certain size it can hinder economic growth and lead to lower living standards for citizens.

Energy & Environment - Provincial Policy

Government needs to strike a balance between achieving its emission reduction goals and preserving the competitiveness of the economy using pragmatic, flexible and innovative solutions.

Agriculture - Federal Policy

To feed the world, we have to grow 10,000 years' worth of food in the next thirty years, which means agriculture producers worldwide must increase food production by 60 to 70 percent. This demand is met with finite resources in agriculture including people, land and investment coupled with the high costs of technological adoption and implementation, environmental and regulatory burdens and a lag in specialized education and skill development.

Finance & Taxation - Municipal Policy

Non-residential properties continue to pay a greater proportion of property taxes than residential rate payers, even though it is not clear that they use a greater proportion of the benefits received from property tax revenues.