Advocacy Newsletter
THE ALBERTA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
May 17, 2018
Have Your Say on Bill 201

The Legislative Assembly of Alberta’s Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future is seeking input for its review of Bill 201, Employment Standards (Firefighter Leave) Amendment Act, 2018 . Bill 201 proposes occasional leave for part-time firefighters to assist in fire services while prohibiting employers, without good cause, from preventing a person to act as a part-time firefighter, if the individual has informed the employer, or from refusing to employ a person because they are a part-time firefighter.

The deadline for written submissions is Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Visit assembly.ab.ca/committees/abeconomicfuture for more information and to make a submission.
Current Advocacy
TRANS MOUNTAIN UPDATE - ALBERTA PASSES NEW BILL GIVING ALBERTA POWERS TO RESTRICT ENERGY EXPORTS
May 16, 2018 - The Alberta Legislature has passed legislation granting power to restrict oil and gas shipments to other provinces. Bill 12, Preserving Canada's Economic Prosperity Act , was passed with an amendment which introduced a sunset clause causing the legislation to expire two years after after proclamation.


Kinder Morgan has imposed a May 31 deadline on the federal government to ensure that B.C. is on board with the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion. The federal government has announced it will intervene in the constitutional reference question filed by the government of British Columbia about regarding the jurisdictional authorities over the transport of bitumen. Furthermore, on May 16, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the federal government is prepared to:

  • Prepared to indemnify the project from any financial loss;
  • Willing to offer this financial security to any company who wants to build the pipeline, should Kinder Morgan back out;
  • Ensuring the financial backing is fair and beneficial to Canadians.

Business leaders from Western Canada are meeting with the Alberta Premier today, May 17, in a show of support for the Trans Mountain project.


THE CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2018 POLICY DEBATE- PROXY FORMS
All chambers who will *not* be attending the CCC AGM and Convention, in Thunder Bay, ON from September 22-24 should click on the attached link to complete the voting authorization form to allow other Alberta delegates to carry their vote at the debate and represent Alberta's businesses nationally.

THE LEDUC CHAMBER PRESENTS: AN EVENING WITH STEPHAN HARPER + TASTE OF THE REGION
An evening with the Right Honourable Stephen Harper on 21st Century Trends - Erosion of Global Stability

Friday, June 15, 2018
Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM - TASTE OF THE REGION
A networking reception featuring local restaurants showcasing delicious tastings and a cash bar.

7:15 PM - 8:15 PM PROGRAM - “21st Century Trends - Erosion of Global Stability”

TICKETS SELLING FAST
$75/person

NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY STRATEGY WILL HELP INNOVATORS COMPETE, SAYS CANADIAN CHAMBER
April 26, 2018 - The Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomes the announcement of a comprehensive intellectual property strategy from the government of Canada today. There is a strong link between the economic benefits of knowledge capital and the protection of intellectual property. IP protections provide the legal certainty needed for innovators and creators to make high-risk, high-capital investment into the newest creative content, cutting-edge technologies, and next generation medicines.
News
INDUSTRIAL AMD COMMERCIAL FACILITIES CAN APPLY FOR FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES
May 10, 2018 - The Custom Energy Solutions program provides funding for industrial operators to assess their energy use and build a plan to present the most cost-effective energy upgrades. Facilities that move forward with custom projects will see up to 50 per cent of the capital cost of the upgrades and retrofits covered by the program, minus the cost of their initial assessment, which is fully covered.

Industrial and commercial facilities in a broad range of sectors, including manufacturing, oil and natural gas, wholesale trades, warehousing and waste management, can apply to receive incentive funding for custom energy upgrades. Examples of eligible upgrades include:
• heat recovery systems
• boiler systems
• building controls
• insulation
• gas compression
• gas pumping
• variable frequency drives
• compressed air
• refrigeration
• water/wastewater

2018 ALBERTA CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
May 9, 2018 - The 2018 construction season is underway in Alberta with the province moving forward on hundreds of transportation projects. More than 500 projects across Alberta will enhance and expand roads and bridges and support water management infrastructure. The wide-ranging work will improve connections between communities, promote safer travel, increase flood mitigation and strengthen key economic corridors.

OVER 40 WORLD TRADE CENTERS SIGN BROAD AGREEMENT ON WORLDWIDE AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION
April 25, 2018 - As signatories on this important agreement and Members of the WTCA's proprietary global network, the MOU will build a robust framework for collaboration on agricultural trade issues. Spearheaded by WTC Harbin (China), each Member of the group of participating WTCs has deep ties to their local agriculture industries and the challenges they face. This group of organizations from more than one dozen countries offers a stable platform to foster trade ties during a time of increasing uncertainty. 

Newsletters
5 MINUTES FOR BUSINESS: STEEL AND ALUMINUM TARIFFS
May 10, 2018- Every month, the Canadian Chamber of commerce releases 5 Minutes for Business . In this edition, a brief look at the looming threat of steel and aluminum tariffs being imposed by the United States . Last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated an investigation into whether steel and aluminum imports were impairing America’s national security. These investigations occurred under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The investigation’s recommendations were released in February and proposed a number of measures, including a mix of tariffs and quotas on steel and aluminum exports from around the globe.


80th AGM AND POLICY PLENARY SESSION - GRANDE PRAIRIE

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