ACC COVID-19 weekly update
July 9, 2020
What's new
Restoring balance in Alberta’s workplaces

The proposed Bill 32,  Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act , will support economic recovery, restore balance in the workplace and get Albertans back to work. If passed, this legislation could save job creators an estimated $100 million per year by reducing red tape from daily operations – helping them keep their doors open – and provide jobs for hard-working Albertans.

Neuman Thompson webinar: Understanding the impacts of Bill 32 on your workforce (July 21)

The Alberta Government recently introduced Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta's Workplaces Act. Join Neuman Thompson lawyers Hugh J.D. McPhail, Q.C. and Gabriel Joshee-Arnal  as they walk you through some of the most impactful changes and better understand how your workplace might be affected.

There is no cost to register and attend, though Neuman Thompson requests that those who are able to make a small donation to the Edmonton Food Bank on the registration page. Register online .

Attracting investment to spur job creation

Government has introduced Bill 33 , the Alberta Investment Attraction Act, which would help drive high-impact investment to the province and create jobs. If passed, Bill 33 will create the Invest Alberta Corporation, an arm’s-length agency that will help promote Alberta as a prime investment location for businesses from across Canada and around the world, attracting high-value, job-creating investment.

Another 20 million masks ready for distribution

Free non-medical masks will soon be back at A&W, McDonald’s Canada, and Tim Hortons locations across Alberta. Distribution of masks through these restaurant partners will resume on July 13. More details will be included with the official launch announcement.

Thousands of Albertans get to work on Keystone XL

Almost 12 years after TC Energy first proposed the project , thousands of local workers, including engineers, welders, heavy equipment operators, labourers, teamsters, safety inspectors, Indigenous monitors and other skilled tradespeople, are lacing up their work boots near Oyen and beginning construction on the Alberta spread of the 1,947-kilometre pipeline.

Premier appoints Houston agent general

Former MLA Dave Rodney is taking on a new role as Alberta’s agent general to Houston, Texas, to drive business and investment to Alberta.

New program to make Alberta a petrochemicals powerhouse

The Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program , part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, will bring multi-billion dollar investments to petrochemical projects throughout Alberta, helping to strengthen and diversify the province’s economy and create new jobs for Albertans.

Canada invests in clean technology for Alberta's natural resources sectors

The federal government announced an investment of $6 million, as part of the Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network (CERIN) initiative, to the  Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada  (PTAC) and  Canadian Gas Association  (CGA), through their  Natural Gas Innovation Fund , to support their work in the oil and gas sector.

Economic and fiscal snapshot 2020

This week, Finance Minister Bill Morneau presented a federal economic and fiscal snapshot .
  • In Canada, 5.5 million Canadians – 30 per cent of the workforce – either lost their jobs or saw their hours significantly scaled back over March and April.
  • Private sector economists expect an annualized decline of over 40 per cent in Canada’s real GDP in the second quarter of this year. They expect the economy to contract by 6.8 per cent in 2020 as a whole, its sharpest drop since the Great Depression, before rebounding by 5.5 per cent in 2021.
  • There are now growing signs that the worst of the economic shock is behind the Canadian economy, as the gradual and safe reopening of the economy continues. The shape of Canada’s economic recovery is uncertain and highly dependent on public health.


Government of Canada publishes final regulations on changes to federal labour standards for work-integrated learning

The federal government announced a $40-million investment over three years in the Union Training and Innovation Program and has launched two calls for proposals. Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for funding through two streams: Stream 1: Investments in Training Equipment; and Stream 2: Innovation in Apprenticeship.


Final Components of Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations Announced

The federal government announced the final details regarding Phase 2 of the disbursement of the $500-million fund, announced earlier this year. This final component helps address some of the gaps that have been identified by the industry across Canada since the fund was first implemented. The goal is to help maintain jobs and support business continuity for organizations whose viability has been affected.
Show your support: "Won't blow over" t-shirts

The Lethbridge Chamber and partners are selling "Won't Blow Over" t-shirts to fund a local grant program. Sales profits will go towards individual $1,000 grants, awarded in the fall, to help small Lethbridge businesses. To order, visit lethbridge.fullypromoted.ca/stores/WontBlowOver
Strengthening Canadian supply chain resiliency

Read the joint statement by the provincial, territorial, and Canadian chambers.

CCC webinar: Maintaining business continuity through COVID-19 and beyond with Rogers (July 14)

In this webinar you will hear from Rogers Product Management executives who will provide you information on how to ensure that your business remains operational and your teams stay productive during these changing workplace environments.


CCC webinar: From far and wide: Canada’s accelerated technology landscape with GPA (July 15)

Beyond just a surge of innovation, the tech sector in Canada is accelerating in growth and stature. What responsibility does the government hold in this growth? Does participation in this process boost or stifle innovation? Answering these questions might help us better understand what economic recovery in Canada might look like.


CCC webinar: Foreign interference risks for Canadian businesses (July 16)

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service will provide a briefing on the foreign interference risks for Canadian companies and ways to mitigate those challenges. The briefing will be led by the CSIS economic security division on July 16 at 9 a.m. MT; there will also be an opportunity for Q&A with participants.  

In an effort to keep these bulletins focused on new developments, we have moved key COVID-19 resources to our website . This list is updated daily as new information becomes available.

If you have permission to share experiences from your members on navigating the new federal support programs, especially challenges or gaps businesses have found, please email [email protected]. The ACC will use these stories to inform our feedback and advocacy on behalf of Alberta's business community.

On behalf of all of the ACC executive and staff, thank you for all that you do. Please know we are here for you and wish you and yours good health.
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce is a federation of 122 community-based chambers of commerce representing more than 25,000 job creators.

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