LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Alberta Chamber of Commerce (ACC) held its annual conference in Lethbridge this weekend. Members of the ACC gathered in Lethbridge to explore the city, discuss issues and how to advocate on behalf of its members to various levels of government.
Out-going President and CEO of the ACC Ken Kolby says it’s been great to have the conference in person again, and he hopes the policy decisions made over this weekend will result in positive government policy for its members.
“We’ve been looking forward to this for two years, but COVID had other plans for us,” said Kolby. “The highlight for me is just the welcome that we’ve received from the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. Certainly our policy discussion, which is ongoing today [May 28, 2022] helps to strengthen our advocacy positions with the government and the government of Canada.”
Kolby says there are a lot of issues that are affecting ACC members, and he’s glad there was a lot to talk about this year.
“It’s a diverse policy book that we have. We have an excess of 80 policies,” Kolby said. “We have the traditional things like Alberta budget, policing, infrastructure, things like transportation, utility corridors, which are very important in order to try and get all sorts of pipelines, electricity transmission, distribution systems. That’s critical to get those types of approvals and some certainty to business.”
One hot button issue rural ACC members are hoping to advocate to the Provincial Government is on utility distribution rates.
Kolby says he’s glad the Provincial Government has taken action.
“Certainly electricity has been a very hot button issue over the last little while,” Kolby said. “I think the government is rapidly coming to the realization that what affects residential customers, affects industrial and commercial customers, at least the same as residential customers, if not more.”
The UCP did introduce Bill 18, otherwise known at the Utility Commodity Rebate Act, in April. The intent of the bill was to provide consumers with an electricity rebate of $150 over three months. Intially thought to be rolled out this summer, it’s unclear as to when consumers and businesses can expect relief.
Another big issue affecting ACC members, according to Kolby, is the province’s labour shortage. Kolby says many of the ACC’s members are struggling to attract potential talent.
“We have a very strange situation going on in this province. You know, the province wide unemployment rate is just under 6%,” Kolby said. “But we’ve also got 40% of employers, who in our latest survey have said that they’re having trouble attracting people.”
The ACC hopes the use of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will be one way to solve the issue.
“We do need access to qualified labour. Certainly things like [the] temporary foreign worker program, which has been accessed in the past, has been very slow off the mark with the issues of COVID,” said Kolby.
ACC members are also getting creative in other ways to retain talent.
“Whenever you get into an issue where there’s difficulty attracting or retaining employees, employers are very creative on offering benefits,” Kolby said. “Maybe on increasing wages, and being a little bit more flexible with work arrangements.”
Kolby says at the end of the day, the advocacy the ACC does is all about lifting up Albertans.
“It’s all about healthy communities. If you have a healthy community, your community thrives,” Kolby explained. “Chambers are not just about the business community, Chambers are about their community in general, and we see that as an important part of advocating for a prosperous Alberta.”
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