Medicine Hat, AB — August 28, 2025 — The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the launch of Vote Prosperity 2025, a non-partisan platform developed by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC). Informed by extensive research and input from Alberta’s business community, the platform urges municipal leaders and candidates to prioritize policies that strengthen business competitiveness, foster meaningful partnerships, build healthy communities, and promote transparent, accountable governance.

“As we approach the upcoming municipal election, we encourage candidates and local leaders to recognize that sound municipal governance and a strong business climate are deeply connected,” said Steven Pudwell, President of the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce. “When businesses succeed, the entire community benefits through job creation, investment, and economic stability.”

Vote Prosperity 2025 is built on four pillars: strengthening business competitiveness, growing business partnerships, building healthy communities, and improving government accountability. These priorities reflect key concerns of business leaders in Medicine Hat and across Alberta — from lowering business costs and streamlining local permitting processes to enhancing collaboration, improving housing supply and public safety, and fostering clear communication on municipal budgets and regulations.

“Decisions made at the local level have a direct impact on our business community’s ability to grow and remain competitive,” added Steven Pudwell. “We encourage all candidates to place business priorities at the center of their platforms and demonstrate leadership that supports long-term economic prosperity.”

For more information and to access Vote Prosperity 2025, visit https://www.abchamber.ca/our-priorities/vote-prosperity-ab/ 

Candidates and voters can access additional resources, along with the Chamber's municipal policies, here: https://chamber.southeastalbertachamber.ca/advocacyinsights/Details/vote-prosperity-2025-284165

Join us for engaging and informative Election Forums in Medicine Hat on September 24th and September 26th, and in Brooks on October 1st. 

To view what the local Chamber has been advocating for municipally, click here and learn more through the Chamber's Advocacy Insights page.

The Chamber is accepting questions for candidates through their online form: https://forms.office.com/r/4eNgetn64K

In advance of the 2025 municipal elections, the Alberta Chambers of Commerce is also gathering insights on local business priorities and supports to help local chambers inform candidates and strengthen advocacy at both the local and provincial level.

Please share the research with fellow job creators by typing the link address (opening the link and copying it from your browser will not work): https://research.albertaperspectives.ca/jfe/form/SV_0MNEx5aZQcA3axU?Source=ACC The deadline to share your perspective through this survey is September 12 at 5:00 pm MST.

Please direct all media inquiries to:

Steven Pudwell
Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce President, 2024-2025
(403) 527 - 5214 ext.225

The Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, volunteer-led organization, proudly representing the interests of businesses in our region, and working diligently to stimulate a strengthened and vibrant economy through our connections, support and influence. For over 125 years, the Chamber has stood for promoting business, monitoring government and championing managed growth in the local economy. The Chamber represents close to 900 businesses in our region and is aligned with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC), which represents over 24,000 businesses, the Canadian Chambers of Commerce (CCC), which represents over 200,000 businesses and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), representing over 45 million companies in more than 170 countries. With the largest and most influential business organizations locally, provincially, federally and internationally, the Chamber network is the most unified, valued and influential business network in Canada and works together to shape policy and programs that will make a difference to businesses in our region.