One step forward, two steps back for investment in energyInvestment in Canada’s energy industry is essential to ensuring the prosperity of all Canadians. Even with moving forward on Trans Mountain, existing government policies along with the Tanker Moratorium and Bill C-69: The Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, represent one step forward and two steps back for investment in Canada's energy industry. In this blog, we outline the current state of investment in Canada’s energy industry and how the Tanker Moratorium and Bill C-69 could continue to impact investment in this crucial sector. Confidence in Canada: Our advocacy for the Trans Mountain Expansion ProjectThe Government of Canada announced its intent on May 29th to purchase the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. While the government getting involved in a private sector issue is never the preference, in this instance it became a necessary step for a Project deemed in the national interest to move forward. As it was demonstrably positive for Canada from an economic, social, and environmental perspective to move ahead, your Calgary Chamber, along with many others, called on the federal government to take what action necessary to make this Project happen. The road ahead: Defining Alberta’s political futureWith the 2019 provincial election beginning to loom on the horizon, your Calgary Chamber has begun its work ensure the issues that are most important to your business are at the forefront. During the election, our advocacy will touch on the many areas where provincial government policies impact business and outline forward-looking recommendations on how Alberta can become the best place in the country to live, work, and grow a business. To kick off of that advocacy work, we have partnered with CBC Calgary to host a panel discussion on the road ahead with Janet Brown on June 8th to explore the issues that matter most to Albertans and Alberta businesses. Workshops[Workshop] AITC and CITC📅 June 6, 2018 🕒 8:30 am – 9:30 am 📍 Calgary Chamber The Alberta Government is investing $60 million per year to extend the Alberta Investor Tax Credit (AITC) – a policy initiative your Calgary Chamber advocated for – and the Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) until 2021-22. The AITC is a 30% tax credit to investors who provide capital to Alberta small businesses doing research, development, or commercialization of new technology, products, or processes. The CITC encourages companies to make capital investments by returning 10% of a corporation’s eligible capital expenditures, up to $5 million – on the purchase of machinery, equipment and buildings. Give your inputHow can Calgary Chamber policy workshops benefit your business?The Policy Department at the Chamber is here to help make your business more successful. One of the new ways we have been doing that is by hosting workshops and webinars on timely and relevant topics. To make sure that we are providing the best content possible, we want to know about the topics that you’re interested in, please take our 3-minute survey to help us provide the right content for your business Dive deeperNavigating the choppy waters of red tapeCalgary has a deeply ingrained entrepreneurial culture. We are a city that believes in solving problems and getting things done. In recent years the City of Calgary has had some highly publicized issues with businesses facing unnecessary "red tape" delays for permits and regulations. Read this blog to learn about the multi-faceted experience (both the good and the bad) that comes with navigating red tape as a business in Calgary—including the impact of red tape and a discussion with Jeff Mooij from 420 Premium Market about how the City has handled cannabis regulations. Alberta Chambers band together to take on mounting costs facing businessEvery year, chamber delegates from across the province head to the Alberta Chambers AGM to debate and pass policy resolutions on behalf of their members. The resolutions that pass by majority vote become advocacy priorities for the Alberta Chambers of Commerce. Building off the work done on the layered cost assessment, we proposed a resolution to address the mounting costs facing the business community. |