2023 - 2024 Work Wrap-Up

With our annual general meeting coming up this week, we'll be focusing on summarzing our work over this past year and here's a sneak peak. We’ve spent over 1200 dedicated hours in our advocacy and lobby efforts over the past year, including over 70 meetings with Government representatives and hosting 26 different advocacy events, along with meetings on issues specific to the business community. We were pleased to see this work pay off in the progress we are starting to see. We also want to ensure we are laser focused on our core mandate and the things important to the members and industries in our region. 

Our provincial and federal priorities in 2023-2024 included: 

• Addressing the Truck Driver Shortage Through a Redesign of Class 1 Driver Training with new learning pathways introduced in March 2024 and accelerated training for Ukrainian evacuees in August 2024 
• Highlighting the benefits of Twinning Highway 3 with the construction commencing this spring, along with a plan for a phased approach to complete the twinning. 
• Commercial Border Crossing Access with the RFP recently announced for new construction of the border facility with a closing date of December 13, 2024 for proposals and ongoing conversations about improvements.  
• Improving Risk Management for Agriculture Producers with recent changes announced in October 2024 to address some of the burden related to paperwork and increasing compensation for margin declines.  
• Increasing Access to Mental Health Workplace Supports with conversations with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions around supporting community led, collaborative and entrepreneurial approaches. We were pleased to support the Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference and to see additional training for recovery coaches in Southeast Alberta and we continue to seek out solutions for more workplace support.  
• Investment Attraction for Industrial Zones received greater information and clarity in May of this year around the criteria for establishing a Designated Industrial Zone with a Government resource provided to assist in the creation of designated industrial zones in Alberta.  
• Reclamation of Renewable Energy Projects saw a new path forward in February 2024 with new policy changes to ensure closure and reclamation costs can be met safely and responsibly.  
• Supporting Alberta's Craft Liquor Industry and ensuring that we support our liquor retailers by maintaining the current retail model in Alberta.  
• Improving the regulatory Environment for Natural Health Products with the current Bill 368 being debated through the federal Standing Committee on Health. 

Our municipal priorities included: 

• Influencing the need for a municipal economic development strategy with a new regional economic development strategy anticipated in Q1 of 2025. 
• Development Benefit Considerations for the Offsite Levy bylaw with a task force announced as a result of our September 3, 2024, presentation to Council with work ongoing in 2025 to look at a model that works for the municipality and industry.  
• Creating a Business-Friendly Regulatory Environment with ongoing meetings with development and infrastructure on a range of topics including land use zoning, offsite levies, permitting and licensing, as well as overall work with the business community.  
• Creating a Strong and Diverse Local Economy with work and consultations ongoing as the City of Medicine Hat develops its 2025 incentive program. We are also pleased that other municipalities are now offering incentives to address the housing shortage, including both Redcliff and Brooks.  
  
  Stay tuned in 2025 as we continue this work and address our key priority areas: https://www.southeastalbertachamber.ca/our-voice/ while evaluating new concerns that come to the table through our business advisory committee and business advocacy submissions.