We love our community and we are dedicated to support our businesses, their employees, members, non-members, old and young. Even though it feels like everything has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment as an organization to our community remains constant.
The Chamber of Commerce is being used as the hub for business information and news for our region and we are asking businesses direct their inquiries and question to us. If we don’t have the answers, we have contacts at every level of Government through our network that we are reaching out to with questions and we are advocating to government with recommendations when we find gaps in supports and resources.
See our Stronger Together video below:
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Changes to Canada Emergency Response Benefit
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The Government of Canada
announced
that upper and lower payroll limits for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) have been expanded in order to include more businesses. The new CEBA 2019 payroll limits are:
• A lower limit of $20,000
• An upper limit of $1.5 million
We are encouraged by this expansion and are still advocating for those business owners who get paid in dividends to be included in these programs. The Chamber network is also pushing the government to expand this program to be offered through other financial institutions, such as credit unions. Read the
Canadian Chamber of Commerce statement
regarding this announcement.
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5 Steps for Business During COVID-19
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Click the steps below to watch each video
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Information For Individuals
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Changes to Canada Emergency Response Benefit
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The
federal government announced
it will be expanding the CERB in order to help more Canadians benefit from the program. The government will be changing the eligibility rules to:
- Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
- Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Extend the CERB to workers who recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19
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Let’s all cheer for Canada’s volunteers!
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Almost 13 million Canadian volunteers deserve our coast-to-coast-to-coast cheers for their dedication and generosity. Let’s all join together to applaud their immense contribution to our country, our communities and millions of our lives during
National Volunteer Week (NVW)
: April 19-25
Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity and want to make a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic? Consider applying to help the federal and provincial government to help in the following areas:
1.
Case tracking and contact tracing;
2.
Health system surge capacity;
3.
Case data collection and reporting.
Are you already volunteering? Let us know by tagging us on social media and using the hashtags
:
#CheersToVolunteers #NVW2020
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Information For Community
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- The federal government launched a new portal dedicated to mental wellness. Wellness Together Canada will connect Canadians to peer support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls and will make it easier to find credible information and help address mental health and substance use issues.
- Alberta’s Mental Health Helpline is available 24-7 toll-free and offers confidential support for mental health concerns: 1-877-303-264
- The Crisis Text Line Alberta is a service available 24-7 that offers information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support for Albertans of all ages, by texting CONNECT to 741741.
- Alberta 211 is a free helpline that connects Albertans to community and social services in their area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 150 languages.
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We know that right now it can be overwhelming with the amount of new information coming out each day. We've got you covered with our Chamber Daily COVID-19 Updates. All levels of government, all relevant info, all in one place every weeknight. We also have quick summary videos you can watch at the top of each post.
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In the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic, it is difficult for Canadians, their families, businesses and governments to look beyond confronting the immediate effects of COVID-19. While Canadians continue to focus on supporting each other today, we must also start looking over the horizon to the post-COVID-19 world to start planning how our country and economy can emerge stronger.
Recovery starts with resiliency. Supporting business and employees through the COVID-19 pandemic is helping to ensure they will be able propel our economic recovery.
While no one can predict with any certainty the economic, political and cultural changes this crisis will have on Canada and the rest of the world, we know these changes will be significant. The high level of collaboration among governments, businesses and civil society managing this pandemic should give Canadians confidence about our collective ability to deal with the long-lasting changes it will bring.
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A Guide to Successful Email Marketing for Small Business
April 22, 2020
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BBB Savvy Consumers: How to Identify and Avoid Covid-19 Scams and Frauds.
April 22, 2020
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FarmSafe Workshop - Recruitment, Orientation and Training
April 22, 2020
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CPHR: Leadership in Times of Crisis
April 22, 2020
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Crisis
Communications
April 23, 2020
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Communication and Conflict Management for Business Families.
April 22,2020
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Support Local
Our Support Local page is a way to connect businesses, who are still operating, to their community. Send your hours of operation and promotions to
[email protected].
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Every business owner and employee can
join
for supports and information. We will be providing daily live speaker presentations at 7:30 am each weekday morning with business tips and news.
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These past weeks have brought home how connected we are to each other and how our economy is reliant on connections locally, provincially, federally and internationally. All business starts small, grows locally and then finds ways to grow and expand. Our
Global Growth Award celebrate a business or organization that has managed to navigate those opportunities and expanded its market by exporting products or services outside of Alberta’s borders inter-provincially and/or outside of Canada’s borders internationally.
We are grateful for the sponsorship of
South Country Coop Limited
, a local success story starting in 1956, and now supporting suppliers from across Canada. They truly embody the spirit of our
Global Growth Award
. Do you know a business that has been able to grow and connect to markets across Canada or the world?
Nominate them Today
!
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All nominations are also forwarded to the Alberta Chamber's Business Awards of Distinction.
Click here
to see this year's finalists including Greg's Drugs Ltd, QinetiQ Target Systems Canada, Mavericks Baseball Club, Being Human Services, and LimeLitez Dance Academy representing Medicine Hat!
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Surveys on Business Conditions
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A sector that is still out there working is our construction industry. Luckily, the
Medicine Hat Construction Association
, is making sure that industry specific information is being sent out to their members. We applaud all those builders who are doing everything they can to ensure that safety is top of mind during
COVID19
, while still managing to provide essential services.
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While we want everyone to stay active and healthy, we want to ensure that we are all doing what we can to stay close to home.Check out this amazing accessory available at
CyclePath Medicine Hat
that let’s you transform your living room into your favorite outdoor pursuit.
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Find more updates on our social media
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#InThisTogether #YXH2gether #COVID19AB #FlattentheCurve #AlbertaCares
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