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
Improving Access to the Canada- Alberta Job Grant
Increasing Access to Quality Childcare in Alberta (2022)
Promoting the Oil Sands as the World’s Most ESG Responsible Oil Source (2022)
COMMITEES
Wood Buffalo Pro-Business Advisory Committee - chair
Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network Steering Committee
Cross sectorial interagency committee - cochaired
Regional Labour Market Committee - chair
Childcare Workforce Taskforce
Foreign worker table
Workplace Inclusion Charter
Keyano business advisory committee
Member of a municipal working committees on social procurement & rmwb procurement in general
ACC policy committee
Wood Buffalo Downtown Revitalization Advisory Committee
ADVOCACY
Click to read more: Coalition Letter Re CEBA (Final July 24 2023) English
Click to read more: Letter of Support - Downtown Businesses July 2023
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.
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
COMMITTEES: 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 nation level.
POLICY
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.