Calgary Chamber ACCELERATE platform outlines roadmap to economic strength & resilience

Calgary, Alberta, February 7, 2023 – Ahead of the 2023 Alberta election, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce releases our provincial election platform, ACCELERATE: Driving Alberta Forward, a business-led, solutions-oriented plan to build economic momentum and achieve economic resilience.

“Alberta remains a place of opportunity for businesses and the people behind them. Our unwavering entrepreneurial spirit, dynamic and diverse communities, and economic strength have prepared Alberta to weather future economic pressures,” says Deborah Yedlin, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Now, government has a critical opportunity, particularly with a historic surplus, to accelerate economic opportunities across the province and across sectors. The time to get this right for Alberta is now.”

The recommendations presented within ACCELERATE are specific, forward-looking, and outline a clear path to harnessing our economic potential across industries. Developed in consultation with our members, the Chamber presents 120 recommendations in 21 areas – from hydrogen to childcare, and tax policy to downtown revitalization; from critical minerals to tourism, and creative arts to Carbon Capture and Storage.

Recommendations

1. Fiscal responsibility: Allocate the surplus in line with our economic context today and forecasts for the coming years, ensuring Alberta’s economy is set up for success today and tomorrow.
   
   
2. Affordability and rising costs: Introduce measures to alleviate the pressure of rising costs on businesses and families, helping build resiliency through economic headwinds.
   
   
3. Economic diversification and competitiveness: Advance our traditional industries while driving investment and growth in emerging economic sectors, de-risking innovation, enhancing access to capital and creating a competitive investment landscape across our economy.
   
   
4. Talent and labour: Growing Alberta’s talent pool, ensuring businesses have access to talent by investing in education and training, streamlining immigration systems and increasing access to affordable childcare.
   
   
5. Strategic infrastructure investments: Investing in infrastructure that supports community vibrancy, transport and mobility, safety and security, making Alberta a magnet for talent and facilitating the growth of infrastructure-dependent sectors.

As the voice of Calgary’s business community, the Calgary Chamber will actively engage with key decision makers to ensure the next government implements policies that create an environment for businesses and the people who drive them to succeed today and tomorrow.

To read the full platform, please visit www.calgarychamber.com/accelerate

“We know that Alberta can lead the way on emissions reductions and generate long-term prosperity when we deploy CCUS across sectors and enable our industries to thrive in a low carbon economy. Enhance was glad to collaborate with the Calgary Chamber to develop proactive policy approaches that can keep Alberta out in front using the many tools we have at our disposal to permanently sequester carbon emissions.” – Candice Paton, Executive Director, Enhance Energy

“Non-profit and voluntary organizations build thriving and equitable communities, critical to Alberta’s prosperity. With our sector facing growing challenges from rising costs, the policies proposed by the Calgary Chamber not only support our near-term success but our long-term growth.” - Sue Tomney, CEO, YW Calgary

“The Chamber’s platform sets out a clear vision on how to create a competitive landscape for advanced nuclear energy technology. Nuclear energy has been one of Canada’s safest and most economical ways to provide emission-free energy to consumers and industry, while making significant contributions to decarbonization. With Alberta being a nascent player in nuclear energy, ensuring policies support the pursuit of nuclear energy technologies are critical to Alberta’s long-term economic success.” - Simon Irish, CEO, Terrestrial Energy

“Post-secondary institutions are critical to Alberta’s economic success. As talent developers, hubs for research and innovation, and important contributors to community vibrancy, we were thrilled to work with the Calgary Chamber on putting forward policies that will support our programming and infrastructure requirements for years to come.” Dr. Misheck Mwaba, President & CEO, Bow Valley College

“Ensuring the province supports Calgary's tourism industry through strategic investments in infrastructure and programming is critical to the growth of the visitor economy of our city, and our province. The Chamber’s platform highlights forward-looking solutions that will help position our sector – and our economy – for success." – Cindy Ady, CEO, Tourism Calgary

“It is unquestionable that Calgary’s best days are ahead of us. Even today, we can feel the energy and excitement of what awaits us. But with the thrill that comes with hope also comes the urgent need for leadership that can unite us, inspire us, and guide us. The Calgary Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Provincial Election Platform is a blueprint for success that cannot be ignored and provides a unified voice for Calgary that must be heard.” – Alex Sarian, President & CEO, Arts Commons

“Advocating for investments that grow Alberta’s visitor economy is essential to the success of our members. With many hospitality businesses still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic, we were delighted to continuously receive support and collaboration with the Calgary Chamber. The Calgary Chamber has always put forward strong ideas on how the our sector’s continued recovery and future growth can be supported and amplified.”– Sol Zia, Calgary Hotel Association

About ACCELERATE

Through extensive consultation with Calgary’s business community, the platform outlines five pillars that advance Alberta’s economic prosperity and provide a roadmap for a path forward including fiscal responsibility, affordability and rising costs, economic diversification and competitiveness, talent and labour and strategic infrastructure investments.

About the Calgary Chamber of Commerce

The Calgary Chamber exists to help businesses thrive. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification, and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization, we build on our 131-year history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, and across the city.

Media opportunities

For media inquiries, please contact Shannon Hazlett, Senior Public Relations Advisor, at media@calgarychamber.com.