Advocacy

Advocacy is at the core of what we do. As the unified voice of business, the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce represents its members’ interests on the issues that matter most to the business community.

Policy Committee Guiding Principles Document

Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce

Introduction

The Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, as a pivotal organization representing the business community, is committed to fostering a vibrant and prosperous business environment. This document outlines our guiding principles for policy positions and policy development, ensuring that our actions and advocacy align with the interests of our members and contribute to the overall economic wellbeing of our region.

Guiding Principles

Pro-Business Growth - We advocate for policies that stimulate the growth and development of businesses. This encompasses support for entrepreneurship, innovation, and business expansion. We recognize the importance of a thriving business community as a cornerstone of our economic prosperity.
No Tax Increases - We firmly oppose any increase in business taxes. Our stance is to advocate for a stable and predictable tax environment, fostering an atmosphere conducive to investment and economic expansion.
Red Tape Reduction - We champion the simplification of regulatory processes. Our goal is to advocate for the elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy that impedes business efficiency and growth.
Free Market Principles - We support the principles of a free market economy. We advocate for minimal government intervention in business affairs, fostering competition and allowing market forces to drive innovation and efficiency.
Workforce Development - We emphasize the importance of skilled labor and advocate for policies supporting workforce training and development. This principle is crucial in meeting the evolving needs of our dynamic business environment.
Sustainable Business Practices - We encourage and support environmentally sustainable business practices. It is vital to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring a sustainable future for our community.
Fair Trade Policies - We advocate for fair and equitable trade policies. Our focus is on supporting local businesses while promoting global competitiveness and ensuring that trade practices are beneficial for all stakeholders.
Infrastructure Investment - We support strategic investments in infrastructure that enhance business operations. This includes improved transportation, technology, and utility services, which are essential for a thriving business environment.

Additional Principles for Consideration

Health and Safety Standards - We prioritize high standards of health and safety in the workplace. Ensuring the wellbeing of employees is fundamental for a productive and ethical business environment.
Community Engagement - We value active engagement with the community. Building strong relationships between businesses and the community fosters a cooperative environment beneficial for all.
Inclusivity and Diversity - We advocate for policies that promote inclusivity and diversity within the business community. Embracing diverse perspectives and practices enriches our business environment.
Technology and Innovation - We encourage the adoption of cutting-edge technology and innovation in business practices. Staying ahead in technological advancements is key to competitiveness and efficiency.

Conclusion

The Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce remains steadfast in its commitment to these guiding principles, ensuring that our policy positions and advocacy efforts are aligned with the best interests of our members and the broader business community. Through these principles, we strive to create a dynamic and prosperous business environment in Fort McMurray.

POLICY COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

ADVOCACY LETTERS

Through effective communication and engagement with all levels of government, we work diligently to influence policies, regulations, and decisions that create a favorable business environment for success and growth in the Wood Buffalo region.

POLICY

For the first time in its history, the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce has a policy writer on contract, drafting policies to support businesses in the region to take to the Alberta and Canadian Chamber AGM.

2023 Provincial Policy Resolutions

For the very first time, our Chamber submitted the a policy resolutions to the Alberta Chambers of Commerce for discussion and approval by the network at the 2023 ACC Annual General Meeting in Fort McMurray.

UPDATE: The policy Improving Access to the Canada- Alberta Job Grant was approved unanimously.

Improving Access to the Canada- Alberta Job Grant

ISSUE

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant provides financial assistance to employers wishing to cover education and training costs for their employees’ job-related upskilling. Presently, the Grant allows business owners of microbusinesses with four employees or less access to funding for their learning. Raising this threshold to owners of small businesses with 100 employees or less would help more small business owners gain the necessary skills for increasing the economic activity their business generates. Many small business owners with more than four employees would benefit highly from accessing the Grant but need access to this funding as their business is considered too large to be eligible.

BACKGROUND

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant allows employers to apply for Grant funding for present or future employees’ training costs. The amount that is covered depends on whether the training is offered to existing employees or for hiring and training a presently unemployed Albertan. Employers contribute one-third of the total costs for existing employees, and the Government donates the remaining two-thirds, up to $10,000 per year for each trainee. When hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, the Government contributes up to 100% of the costs for each trainee up to $15,000. Business owners may also access the Grant to receive training for themselves. However, only owners of microbusinesses with four or fewer employees may do so.1 Limiting business owners' access to training through the Grant to only those who employ four or fewer employees is preventing access to some business owners who would benefit immensely from the program. Many industries only produce revenue streams that allow for the reinvestment of that revenue into educational opportunities for their owners once they are much larger than four employees. This restriction leads to many businesses whose owners would most benefit from learning not being able to enroll in learning opportunities without help from the Grant. Expanding access to the Canada-Alberta Job Grant to owners of small businesses that employ up to 100 people will help them get essential training and knowledge to manage and grow their businesses more effectively. As well, it would only represent approximately a 12% increase in total eligible businesses in Alberta and 87% of Alberta businesses are considered microbusinesses already eligible to receive grant funding.2 Updating these requirements will generate more jobs and economic activity from business owners better equipped to run their businesses well.

RECOMMENDATION(S):

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce recommends the Government of Alberta:

1. Increase the eligibility for the grant to include company owners of businesses with up to 100 employees.

Other Policy Resolutions

Increasing Access to Quality Childcare in Alberta (2022)

ISSUE

The recent childcare funding agreement between the federal and provincial governments is expected to raise demand for childcare. The childcare industry has conversely experienced a decline in labour supply that will need to be addressed to meet the increased demand.

Three things can be done to help increase supply of childcare workers. First, restoring a living allowance for childcare workers in remote areas will help increase talent supply in areas that have a hard time attracting workers. Second, introducing a one-year certificate as the minimum educational requirement for workers in Early Learning and Care (ELC) programs will increase the quality of care given to our children. Third, creating more professional development opportunities for ELC workers will continuously improve the quality of childcare provided in those programs.

BACKGROUND

The Canada-Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement is expected to increase the demand for childcare in Alberta. However, recent events have caused the ELC labour supply to shrink. In the first year of the pandemic, roughly 20% of early childhood educators moved on to another industry with low enrolment caused by the pandemic.

Quality of learning is also vital in ELC environments. Studies show that children's ages in ELC environments are the most formative years in their development. Despite this importance, ELC workers do not receive the same developmental support that educators in schools do.

There are three ways the Alberta Government can rectify these issues to increase the supply of quality childcare.

First, they need to restore the living allowance to remote communities like the one that was removed in March 2020. While maintaining a supply of ELC workers is a struggle all over Alberta, it is even harder to attract workers in remote communities. The $1000/month allowance evened the playing field for the ELC industry against other, higher-paying industries in these communities. Without it, many workers passionate about ELC outcomes are forced to seek employment in other sectors. Restoring a living allowance in remote communities would increase access to quality childcare for Albertans in these communities.

Second, the Alberta Government can increase the quality of care by introducing a one-year early childhood education certificate as the minimum educational requirement for staff in licensed ELC programs. The certification will equip ELC workers with the knowledge and competency needed to fully support children's early learning and care in the most crucial stage of their development. It will improve the quality of childcare in Alberta. The existing workforce also needs to be supported financially with a provincial bursary to meet the new educational requirement.

Third, the quality of childcare would increase with investment in the professional development of ELC workers. Offering more professional development opportunities to ELC workers would equip them with the knowledge to improve outcomes for the children in their care. ELC workers enjoy fewer opportunities for professional development than teachers.45 Teachers use these opportunities to hone their craft and improve their knowledge of childhood development.

As the demand for childcare grows, these three initiatives will increase the quantity and quality of ELC services in Alberta and ensure our children have the support they need at the most crucial time in their development.

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce recommends the Government of Alberta:

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce recommends the Government of Alberta:

1. Reinstate a living allowance to Child Care workers in prescribed remote and rural communities;

2. Introduce a one-year early childhood education certificate as the minimum educational requirement for staff in licensed ELC programs; and,

3. Create a bridging program to support educators currently in the field without an ELCC certificate that blends foundational skills and knowledge while considering prior work experience in the field.

Federal Policy Resolutions

Promoting the Oil Sands as the World’s Most ESG Responsible Oil Source (2022)

ISSUE

World demand for oil is projected to rise over the next several decades. With governments simultaneously shifting to clean energy sources, governments will be looking for environmentally sustainable oil sources to meet that demand.

Alberta produces among the world’s most responsible oil on ESG merits, and this presents an opportunity to gain our global market share as governments turn to cleaner and socially responsible sources of energy. Thus, our governments must promote it as ESG friendly to ensure we are the world’s first choice as an oil source.

We must also continue to innovate in making our oil even more environmentally friendly through net-zero, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and other initiatives to maintain our status as the world’s most ESG responsible oil source for decades to come.

BACKGROUND

World demand for oil is projected to increase to 106.3 million barrels per day by 2040. Simultaneously, governments are shifting to clean energy resources. Alberta can meet increased demand as the world’s 3rd largest oil reserve while also offering the world’s cleanest and most ESG responsible barrel of oil. This is an unprecedented opportunity for Alberta to gain their market share and provide security of supply.

The oil sands industry is a leader in the ESG space and recognizes the need to reduce emissions even while energy demand grows.

Alberta was the first jurisdiction to put a price on carbon in 2007. Average emissions per barrel has decreased by an average of 27-percent in Alberta compared to an average of 13-percent by other major oil producers. Alberta’s oil also leads governance strength and contributions to society. Alberta oil producers contributed over $50 million to community investments in 2015 and 2016 alone. Major infrastructure in the oil sands is also owned by local Indigenous groups limited Partnerships, such as Thebatcha and Astisiy.

The government also needs to continue to support the industry in its efforts to become even cleaner. They can do so by continuing to support the industry in their pathways to net zero, supporting carbon capture, utilization, and storage initiatives, and supporting research and development.

As the world seeks cleaner energy, we have the unique opportunity to lead the world’s energy transformation by producing net zero oil to become the world’s supplier of choice.

Our government needs to reinforce to that we offer the world’s most ESG responsible oil and are ready to meet the needs of increased demand. We also need to continue challenging ourselves to improve our ESG efforts to maintain our competitive advantage.

RECOMMENDATION(S):

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce recommends the Government of Alberta:

1. Collaborate, support, and invest in the Oilsands Industry in their pathways to net zero by 2050;

2. Continue to promote the Oilsands Industry as a leader in ESG performance and innovation;

3. Reduce emission intensity per barrel by continuing support for carbon capture, utilization and storage programs;

4. Support companies as they develop new technologies that drive our journey to net zero; and,

5. Enable policies that promote industry competitiveness, regulatory efficiency and facilitate infrastructure investment.

COMMITEES

To strengthen our advocacy efforts, we have taken significant steps forward. For the first time in our history, we have formed a board-level policy committee with the mandate to structure our policy efforts and engage our membership in the development of policies that address the specific needs of businesses in our region. These policies will be presented at the Alberta and Canadian Chamber AGMs, providing a platform for our members' voices to be heard and their concerns to be addressed. We advanced policies that supported ESG initiatives in our community and had our policies passed at a national level.

List of Committees We Currently Sit On

Wood Buffalo Pro-Business Advisory Committee - Chair
Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network Steering Committee
Cross-sectorial Interagency Committee - Co-chaired
Regional Labour Market Committee
Childcare Workforce Taskforce
Foreign Worker Table

Workplace Inclusion Charter
Keyano Business Advisory Committee
Member of Municipal Working Committees on Social Procurement & RMWB Procurement in General
ACC Policy Committee

Advocacy

POLICY COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

ADVOCACY LETTERS

POLICY

2023 Provincial Policy Resolutions

Improving Access to the Canada- Alberta Job Grant

Other Policy Resolutions

Increasing Access to Quality Childcare in Alberta (2022)

Federal Policy Resolutions

Promoting the Oil Sands as the World’s Most ESG Responsible Oil Source (2022)

COMMITEES

List of Committees We Currently Sit On

Resources

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