President + CEO's Blog | Calgary Chamber of Commerce

Last night’s election was an exciting one – definitely an unexpected result by most polls (and, if you were expecting some reprieve from the robocalls, think again – now the pollsters will be polling on what happened to the polls.  Funny thing is, no one will be able to trust the results!)

The good news, however, is this government is going to be good for Calgary business.

Perhaps most significantly, Premier-designate Redford is supportive of Alberta taking the lead on developing a Canadian Energy Strategy, which is critical for the Calgary business community.

This is because our renowned energy resource endowment has increased Alberta’s profile on the global stage. The opportunity before our province today is to decide what we role we want to play.

Premier-designate Redford’s approach has been one of collaboration and relationship building, as we have seen through her efforts to engage her provincial colleagues, the federal government, and US legislators in building support for Alberta’s energy sector by dispelling myths and taking part in respectful dialogue. This is exactly the type of approach we need if we are to diversify our energy export markets and access world prices for our energy products.

The progressive conservatives have also committed creating a new partnership with Alberta municipalities – one we hope will strengthen the ability of our large urban centres to provide high quality services while ensuring taxpayer accountability. This is something we plan to stay engaged on to ensure the interests of the Calgary business community are represented at the table.

Finally, the new Alberta legislature offers something for business that we have not seen in nearly 20 years: a strong opposition. This means more debate and discussion on policy issues and ideas in the legislature, which will ultimately strengthen the provincial decision-making process from a taxpayer accountability perspective.

A Redford-led Progressive Conservative government offers much potential for our province. Now it’s time to move forward on shaping Alberta’s future through favourable business and economic policies

Ben Brunnen, director of policy and government affairs and chief economist, Calgary Chamber

Do your part to shape Alberta’s future by voting for the next provincial government

Civic engagement – what does it really mean? As I look at the media attention given to the political parties, their platforms, their “no answer” answers, even the discussion around who is wearing what, I wonder if Albertans are really engaged in this election.

If voter turnout on April 23 is even close to the historical lows of around 40 per cent that we saw in the last provincial election, the answer is sadly “no.” We apparently take for granted the right to vote, to elect a party that we feel will do the right thing for us and our province. I come from a country where it is slightly different – where I come from, Australia, it is compulsory to vote. Expect a fine if you don’t. We don’t think of those countries where people will risk their lives to make their voice heard, to stand in line for hours and hours just for that right. No, what we see is an environment where people are given paid time off to vote, where access to the party platforms and what they stand for is relatively easy for anyone with access to the Internet or a newspaper or radio and yet still citizens choose not to vote.

How can this city record the highest voter turnout for a municipal election less than two years ago, not be engaged and committed to replicating that at the provincial level of government?

I sat in a forum this week that discussed the business issues of this election, sure, not a real sexy topic, but still a solid foundation to build your understanding  of where our business tax revenues will be put to work in support of, for example, education and health agendas moving forward. The attendance was abysmal. A smattering of folk turned up. How can this city record the highest voter turnout for a municipal election less than two years ago, not be engaged and committed to replicating that at the provincial level of government?

My opinion is that civic engagement is not for just those that care about a political process. Civic engagement is being part of your community – large or small. From volunteering at your local community hall or at your neighbourhood rink to exercising your right to vote at the local, provincial and federal levels and becoming, at the very least, engaged in these agendas. At this level it affects you, your children and your parents. You need only take a look at the basic platforms to be informed of the issues and were the parties stand. Make the time to do this.

Not voting is not taking action – that’s allowing others to take the action for you. Action you may or may not agree with. Not asking the questions when the issues are on the table and candidates are there, is not equipping yourself with the information you and your business needs to move forward, to prosper or fail over the next four years.

Calgary is our neighbourhood – 1.2 million neighbours – that make this city great. But it will only be great if you stand up and be counted, this election and every election. Spend time over the next few days talking to those you know, and learning from them where they stand on the topics on the table for this election. Visit www.GreatAlberta.ca and look at the analysis of party platforms. If all that fails talk to your next cab driver, for sure they’ll have an opinion to share.

 Jackie McAtee is Director of Marketing and Communications at the Calgary Chamber

It’s election time in Alberta again, and this time the race looks interesting.  It will be likely the first election in many years where some competition looks to be happening.  And as a result, being informed will be essential in selecting Alberta’s governing party.

The Calgary Chamber’s members told us earlier this year that their priorities are:

1. Economic competitiveness;
2. Workforce and immigration;
3. Municipal affairs;
4. Tax and fiscal management; and,
5. Regulatory enhancement.

It is imperative that Albertans go to the polls on April 23 being informed across the party platforms in order to make an informed choice.  Throughout the balance of March and into April, the Calgary Chamber will be helping to make that easier with our Great Alberta initiative, which is a collection of ideas we’ve come up with from talking to Calgary’s business community that we’d like to see the next government adopt to make our great province even greater. 

Every Albertan is touched in some form or another through the economy.  Up or down, good prices or bad prices, we all feel it in our wallets, at the pump, at the store or in our work.  Given our tie to a commodity based economy, Alberta is heavily tied to the ebbs and flows of prices for oil, natural gas, grains, pulses, wood and other commodities.  Albertans want to feel a greater level of stability, certainty and optimism around the economy now and tomorrow.  They want to feel that the boom-bust cycle might potentially be a thing of the past (heaven forbid).  And they want to feel that they are living in a province where the government has a firm handle on its fiscal picture – today but also looking ahead to tomorrow.  So they are looking to a provincial government to help deliver a solution that will work to achieve greater economic stability, activity and prosperity into the future.

Albertans are also looking for a simpler and more streamlined way of doing business in Alberta.  This ranges from competitive tax rates to regulatory submissions for energy projects.  Albertans are “get it done” kind of people and want to make sure that government is there facilitating making their business successful, not impeding it from being successful.  They are looking to see what the parties will offer in terms of a more streamlined and business conducive environment in Alberta.  It has been a long time since the “Alberta Advantage” was touted … what is it in version 2.0?

One topic that has come back in spades is workforce.  The recession of 2008 pushed pause on this issue for Alberta, which had been experiencing record low unemployment and drastic levels of wage inflation.  It created a brief respite for us.  But demographics alone couldn’t keep pause on forever.  With the first of the baby boomers hitting the traditional age of retirement (65) in 2011, we are now on a course to lose nearly 40 per cent of our workforce in the next 20 years.  Statistics Canada estimates that by 2021, nine short years from now, 24 per cent of the workforce will be over 55 years of age.  And we don’t have the population in younger cohorts to fill the gaps.  So business is struggling again with how to deal with the labour shortages they are now seeing.  Whether it be in Northern Alberta or in a fast food operation, businesses are challenged in finding qualified workers.  Albertans will be looking to a provincial government that can create enabling conditions for them to have adequate workers to drive their businesses.  Whether this is through additional educational capacity, technology improvements, or foreign workers, and likely a combination of all of these, there is a critical need for workforce and immigration strategies to be front and centre with the party platforms in order to ensure that there are the workers that will power Alberta’s future.

In the grand scheme, what’s your role?  Get informed and know the platforms, for this is not an election to be taken lightly.  It is a real competition.  Know where you stand and engage with your candidates.  Ask them tough questions.  Don’t let them fluff their way out of the answers.  Make them work for your vote.  The Great Alberta initiative of the Calgary Chamber will provide strong recommendations that address these business priorities and therefore are the right directions to make a great Alberta even greater.

This post originally appeared as an op ed in the Calgary Herald Jan 27/12

Bunny suits and pig snouts.
That is what I saw protesting outside the Chamber building this week
during a speech by Federal Minister of the Environment Peter Kent.  He was here to discuss the outline for Canada’s improved regulatory process for applications that have environmental implications as well as the decision by the Federal government to withdraw from the Kyoto Accord.

I’m not so naïve and entrenched in my views as to believe that there never would be opposition to decisions of government or industry, nor am I so firm in my opinions that I don’t welcome conversation of other perspectives, but bunny suits?  Is that
what it has come to?  Advancement of modern ideals and protection of rights and freedoms has always come from open discourse and debate – at times highly contentious and charged.  Grandstanding, misinformation and odd public acts have only served to create divisions in issues, difficulties coming together
and a confused public.  Individuals like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King never took it upon themselves to dress up as bunnies or throw signs over buildings of government to advance their cause.  And they are viewed as two of the most
remarkable change agents of history.

Where we sit today is this no-man’s land.  On the topic of energy and GHG’s, groups
opposing anything from projects like Keystone XL, Gateway or development of the
oil sands, are using misinformation and rhetoric to advance their cause.  Industry is attempting to respond but is doing so in ways that are not hitting the pulse of the public.  Companies like Cenovus, however, have got it right, addressing the advancements in our everyday life that have come from innovations in the energy sector and the products that are created through energy.  In the middle is government
working to address public need and sentiment, economic development, protection
of our natural resources and environment and being a world leader.  Are we getting anywhere?  Nowhere near where would could be.

What is needed is a meaningful conversation.  As an organization that supports the needs of the business community, I encourage business leaders to be open to new
perspectives and give those with different views, grounded in fact and reality,
an opportunity to meet and discuss matters with you.  Very unique opportunities may grow from it, as is being demonstrated by the number of oil and gas companies that routinely look for renewable energies to support their operations.

I also encourage those who want to work to advance change
with industry or government to come with a grounded approach and request, one
that is centred on facts, and not driven by emotion, impossibility or
misinformation.   I actually think that you will find highly receptive audiences in business willing to meet and discuss how projects or approaches might be changed to incorporate different thinking.  There is innovation happening in industry, and through meaningful well informed discussions and discourse, even greater innovation can occur.

Meaningful conversations will mean much more in the long-term. Fact stands greater tests for making decisions than emotion.  And looking to possibility rather than
ignorance and impossibility will at least get us farther than not.  Beating someone over the head with how wrong or stupid they are, or insinuating they are some barnyard animal, never did much other than to aggravate and annoy.  Those aren’t the kids of invites that we often accept.  Demonstrations of willingness are often the best invitations.

I stood listening to the sounds of the small protest outside our doors.  I am in fact glad there are folks willing to stand up for what they believe in, for if we all just nodded
our heads we wouldn’t get too far.  But the smiles and the honks that floated around I don’t think were ones that signalled a lot of progress but rather a curiosity about what people would be dressing up like bunnies for.

The Chamber recently had its second iF Series day on June 22.  We had 4 amazing speakers: Patrick Lor of Fotolia; Brenda Hemmelgarn of U of C; Ken Kristoffersen of POP Kollaborative; and Bob McInnis of Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids.  Each spoke passionately and eloquently.

We are proud to be producing the iF Series – but it is the impact that it has on people that makes it all worth while.

See what Margarita de Guzman thought about it – she came away changed  http://circlecrm.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/what-if-sharing-the-inspiration-to-make-things-happen/

Ken Kristoffersen spoke about how the iF Gala with AB Ballet’s Jean Grand-Maitre made his change his plans to move to Toronto and to remain in Calgary.

Experience it yourself.  go to www.ifseries.ca, follow @ifseries on twitter.  Book Nov 10.  And be part of the conversation.

it is an interesting question isn’t it….so much possibility, so much potential, so many things we could do, could be…..

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce has launched the iF Series – see my op ed below for a sense of what it is all about.

www.calgaryherald.com/Cheering+excellence+will+make+Calgary+great+city/4847287/story.html

I hope you will join us on June 22 for our next event, featuring Patrick Lor, Bob McInnis, Ken Kristoffersen and Brenda Hemmelgarn.  Tickets can be purchased here.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce compiled Great Calgary (www.greatcalgary.ca) as a way to identify key policy positions for consideration during the municipal election of 2010.

We are now using Great Calgary as our Municipal government relations platform.

One thing that the Chamber called for was greater engagement in the budget process, as well as a review of core and discretionary spending.

The City has heard that call and introduced Our City, Our Budget, Our Future.  It is an engagment process meant to have Calgarians tell City Council where they want their dollars spent – what is a priority to them and what is not.

I HIGHLY encourage all Calgarians to contribute to this conversation so we ensure that our tax dollars are spent in the areas that we feel are priorities.  Don’t miss this opportunity.

Go here to have your say. If you need some inspiration, Great Calgary is a wonderful place to start!

The Calgary Chamber today hosted Dr. Jeff Turnbull – President of the Canadian Medical Association.  He spoke about his concern over the state of health care in Canada.

The Chamber has long focused on health care as a topic – we have a dedicated health care committee and it is increasingly taking a focus in our policy and government relations work.

Dr. Turnbull spoke perusasively and eloquently about the need for change, but more importantly, the ability to change.  He believes, and I agree, that the Canadian health care system is not beyond repair.  It will just take leadership, courage and a willingness to do things differently across not only governments but practitioners as well.

As is practice at the Chamber these days, we ask our speakers and guests an “if” question – something that will spark imagination, innovation and drive action.  We asked Dr. Turnbull if he could change one thing to make the greatest impact on health care, what would it be?  He had two answers – one from the perspective of Canadians; and that was to increase access to health care.

The more interesting answer was from the perspective of his role.  He answered apathy.  He feels that there is too much apathy across the country that health care cannot be fixed.  He disagrees.  It is not beyond repair.  We just need to get people to care again, and be willing to do things, and think, differently.  The answer is there.  It isn’t complicated.  It is just a matter of the will to do it.

The past week marked a significant week for Calgary from an international perspective.

The Inter-America Development Bank (www.iadb.org) Annual conference was in Calgary last week.  This saw hundreds of delegates from across Latin America and the Carribean come to Calgary to discuss the affairs and issues of development lending in the Americas.  We were truly in the spotlight internationally and gained significant profile.  Calgary’s place as a global financial centre is growing and we have opportunity to capture an even greater range of activity.

In conjunction with the IADB conference, a conference of Mayors from across Latin America and the Carribean was formed, hosted by Mayor Nenshi.  It was the launch of the IADB Sustainable Cities program.  It again, saw Calgary being the host from an urban sustainability perspective and enabled us to speak to our efforts, as well as to convene international expertise on the topic.

Just prior to the IADB start, the Chamber supported Agrium in its lunch presentation by John McArthur, CEO of Millennium Promise (www.millenniumpromise.org), the lead organization dedicated to the achievement of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.  John spoke about the need for developed countries and companies within those countries to assist in the reduction of extreme global poverty.  The opportunity to reduce poverty is immense, but technologies and resources are needed.  Individuals like Bill Gates, George Soros and numerous celebrities have endorsed this plan and approach.  So the question is, what role does Calgary, its companies and its citizens want to play in such an important global initiative?

Finally, the proposed merger of the TMX and the LSE came to Calgary and through the Chamber doors earlier this week, with TMX CEO Tom Kloet and LSE CEO Xavier Rolet meeting with a small, member only group to discuss the merger and answer questions and feedback.  Discussions were wide ranging and it showed the role that the Calgary Chamber and its members can play in informing and debating nationally significant issues.

Through all this activity, it becomes apparent that Calgary is poised for a more significant international role.  Whether it is as a financial centre, energy centre, centre in support of achieving global causes, reaching new international markets for our companies or being a leader on any range of topics and issues.  It is a rather un-Canadian thing to do to claim a space as our own and focus on it.  We have the people, the talent, the resources and the ability to “own the podium” across a significant number of global arenas.  But we have to be purposeful about going there.  I hope we do.