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Helping honest businesses win: Advocating forĀ a Canadian False Claims Act

Helping honest businesses win: Advocating for a Canadian False Claims Act

Each year, local chambers of commerce from across the country are invited to submit policy resolutions of a national scope to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s policy development process. This year your Calgary Chamber's submission called for the adoption of a Canadian False Claims Act to make sure public sector procurement contracts are better protected from fraud.

These types of fraud aren't just, serious crimes, they also undermine competitive markets, unduly exclude honest businesses, have significant economic consequences for both businesses and the public, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars annually. 

Take a look at our submission calling for the adoption of a Canadian False Claims Act.

 
 
Minimum wage hike too fast and may hurt those it aims to help

Standing up for Alberta businesses on the minimum wage hike

Last Thursday the Alberta Government announced that the minimum wage will be increased to $12.20 on October 1, 2016, as part of its move to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2018.

“What we want is a minimum wage that reflects Alberta’s current economic reality,” said Adam Legge, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber. “Increases to the minimum wage should be supported by research, tied to economic growth, and the effect of increases should be monitored and analyzed.”

We have teamed up with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce on this issue to deliver some recommendations to the provincial government on the hike.

 
 

Launch of the Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda

Last week the government launched its innovation agenda, announcing that the work will proceed under six “action areas”. These action areas will be the focus of a summer-long period of public engagement that will result in a strategic action plan. Consultations will be conducted through an interactive website as well as cross-country round table discussions lead by innovation leaders, including Calgary’s very own Dr. Elizabeth Cannon of the University of Calgary.

To learn more, take a look at this slide deck on Canada’s current competitive position  on innovation.

 
 

Legge: The well has run dry

Decisions across all levels of government are having a profound effect on the cost of doing business in our city. We need a shift in perspective among our political leaders, from seeing businesses’ hardship as an inconvenience, to proactively enabling enterprise to thrive. 

Business cannot be treated like an ATM for our governments to tap into when times get tough. The well has run dry. Every additional cost increase raises the likelihood of another business closure, relocation or layoff, and we have reached a tipping point. 

In case you missed it, take a look at our President’s recent Calgary Herald op-ed on the dangers this situation poses to our economic competitiveness. 
 

 

Cities are the key to Canada’s future – let’s unlock it

While competition and growth was once driven by competition by country versus country, or corporation versus corporation, in today’s globally interconnected economy, it’s city versus city.

In the 21st century, it’s Canada’s dynamic urban centres that will be the primary drivers of our future economic growth. But in order to prosper, they need to reorient their economies toward greater engagement in world markets. 

Read up on the latest from leaders of Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade in Canada’s largest cities on their efforts to ensure civic competitiveness is central to Canada’s economic growth strategy.

 
 
Tear down these walls

Fighting the hidden constraints that hinder business growth

Trade is vital to Canada’s economic growth and prosperity. But while we’ve been diligent in pursing trade agreements with international partners around the world, and liberalizing the terms of trade globally, our commitment to those principles here at home isn’t as strong.

Internal trade barriers cost the Canadian economy anywhere from $50 to $130 billion annually. Canada is a small market, and imposing indirect trade barriers limits growth, productivity and innovation. Recently, the Calgary Chamber had the opportunity to provide recommendations to the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce on how Alberta’s ability to become a nimbler, more resilient economy depends on more liberalized terms of trade. 

Read more about the Senate Committee’s recommendations for internal trade liberalization here.