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.

Trade & Transportation - Federal Policy

Although Alberta continues to have a very prosperous trading relationship with its neighbors in the U.S. it is the only province in Canada with access to only one 24-hour border crossing with a disparity to the trading relationship and access to adequate border facilities to facilitate efficient trade between Canada and the U.S.

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.

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

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.

Federal Policy

There are concerns with the changes being imposed by Health Canada on the Self-care Framework related to the imposition of additional new fees, labelling requirements, new regulatory burdens on natural health product businesses; and inequitable authority over the natural health product community.. The new regulatory burdens and costs on natural health product businesses will make it difficult for small producers to comply and will force them to scale back the variety of their offerings or cease production altogether.

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.

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.

Agriculture - Federal Policy

Through regulations enacted federally in 1991, selling raw milk in Canada has been illegal due to public health threats. However, increased consumer interest in unpasteurized dairy has renewed discussions on a range of issues linked to its benefits, challenges and risks with a call for a more robust regulatory environment for the production and sale of raw milk in Canada.

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.

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 land, people, 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.

Energy & Environment - Provincial Policy

Canada has been facing significant pressure on its water resources, both surface and ground water. There are ever-increasing demands for the water resource. The limits of available water have been reached in the southern portion of the province, and concerns are rising about the adequacy of water resources to support continued economic development in the central and northern parts of the province.