Fuelling Our Business Community
Happy Holidays!!
The Chamber Team will be taking some time off this Christmas Season, the office will be closed from December 24th to January 3rd!
We will resume regular office hours 8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday starting on January 4th!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!! Only 4 Days left!
From December 9th to December 24th Santa goes local for 12 Business Days of Giveaways!
Our goal with this giveaway campaign is to encourage people to shop local this Christmas season! #Santagoeslocal Each giveaway is donated by an amazing local business and will be different each day! Participants can be entered by commenting on our daily Facebook posts up until Christmas. You can also be entered by posting a photo of your local purchase and using hashtag #santagoeslocal and tagging us.
When you win!!! Claim your prize by presenting a receipt from a purchase made at a local business!
We look forward to spreading some holiday cheer and makes sure you are shopping local this Christmas season!
Your Weekly Tune Up
Looking ahead to build Alberta
Through Building Forward: Alberta’s 20-Year Strategic Capital Plan, the government’s infrastructure decisions will be guided by economic, technological, environmental and social trends anticipated to affect the province over the next 20 years.
Federal-provincial partnership to improve access to high-speed Internet
The federal and provincial governments announced an agreement to bring high-speed Internet to underserved rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Alberta. The CRTC has approved funding for four projects through the CRTC Broadband Fund.
Government of Canada Released the Economic and Fiscal Update 2021
The Government of Canada released the Economic and Fiscal Update 2021. However, Chamber's are still waiting for the government’s economic growth plan.
If you have ever wondered about the priorities of Government, aside from the throne speech, budgets and fiscal updates, you can also view Government mandate letters. The federal mandate letters outline the objectives that each minister will work to accomplish, as well as the pressing challenges they will address in their role. The most recent federal letters focus on climate change, creating new jobs and growing the middle class, the focus on home-ownership, delivering on $10 a day child care, and walking the shared path of reconciliation. View the Mandate letters issues in December.
In addition, RBC Economics released its highlights of this week's Fall Economic Statement including:
- Strong economic recovery helped the government’s bottom line.
- $145B deficit in the current fiscal year set to shrink to $58B next year.
- $71B in new, targeted spending to finish the fight against COVID-19, support BC flood recovery and advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
- Debt-to-GDP peaks at 48%, down from 51% projected in Budget 2021.
- More spending and revenue measures likely to come in Budget 2022 with platform commitments largely unfulfilled.
Quick Check Up
COVID-19 updates: Omicron variant response
The Alberta government has announced new actions in response to the highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant, including:
- Expanding rapid test kits for at-home use by providing five individual tests per person at select sites
- Providing booster vaccinations with appointments available through the online booking tool, participating clinics, pharmacies and doctor’s offices, or by calling Health Link at 811.
- Clarifying health measures with indoor private social gatherings allowed up to a maximum of 10 individuals 18 years and older. Gatherings will no longer be limited to two households and there will be no distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated Albertans.
- Due to the Omicron variant, AHS is re-introducing the process to those potentially exposed to this highly contagious new variant to recommend they get a COVID-19 test. Contact notifications will also occur for close contacts of COVID-19 cases who have recently travelled outside of Canada and the United States where it hasn’t been determined yet if they are positive for the Omicron variant. For more information about contact tracing and getting a COVID-19 test, visit the AHS website.
The Power of Community
'Tis the season to be jolly!
Every year community comes together to bring the best Christmas lights possible. Medicine Hat News always creates a map to congregate locations for all these amazing house setups! Make sure you take some time to go and see some of these amazing light shows!
Enriching Your Business
See all our Value Added Benefits!
Fill Up On Funding
Canada Summer Jobs 2022: Application period for employers now open
The Government of Canada launched the employer application period for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2022 program. The program provides opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills within the not-for-profit, small business and public sectors, and supports the delivery of key community services. Find out more and apply.
Digital Innovation in Clean Energy (DICE) Open Call for Proposals 2.0
The second round of funded DICE projects will continue to develop technology that creates jobs in the digital economy, improve the efficiency of energy production at all levels, reduce GHG emissions and contribute to environmental innovations in water and land management. Up to $2.5 million is available over 18 months for DICE 2.0. Project funding can be up to but not exceed $350,000. Proposal submission deadline is December 22, 2021.
Accelerate Innovation
Transform your business faster with the Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program. Accelerators intensify learning experiences by compressing years of experiential learning into a few months: access coaching, community, capital and globally tested scaleup and pitch practices. Test, iterate and validate your product.
Ideal applicants are early-stage or growing companies engaged in innovation and novel technology development. Learn more about the Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program at www.apexalberta.ca/tech-accelerators. Transform your product or service faster with the Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program, funded by Alberta Innovates.
Advocacy in Action
Business Needs for Future Public Health Emergencies
As Canada prepares to enter the post-pandemic era, businesses want to see the lessons learned acted upon for future public health emergencies. The Canadian Chamber Covid-19 Recovery Leadership Council shared its recommendations of what Canadian Businesses need to best prepare for future emergencies. This includes updating outdated guidance and ensuring that governments at all levels utilize every appropriate tool before resorting to lockdown measures. Doing so will help avoid unnecessary and damaging economic disruption in future public health emergencies.
Next Level Events
2022 State of the City
The annual State of the City event is where you can learn about the City's progress over the past year and get informed about what's in store for the community in 2022. Join us as we reflect on the accomplishments of our community during a tumultuous 2021, and be the first to hear what the City of Medicine Hat has in store for the coming year including exciting new projects, opportunities for development, and vision for the future.
This event will be held at the Medicine Hat Lodge February 22nd, 2022. Doors will open at 11:15am followed by lunch and the event from 12:00-1:30pm. Tickets for this event are $56 + gst which include your meal and registration. If you are a Chamber Member please remember to log in during registration to take advantage of your discount!
2022 Home & Leisure Tradeshow
Each year the Chamber invests time and resources into creating a quality trade show for our community, and we are proud to host not only the longest-running, but the largest trade show in Medicine Hat. With thousands of consumers visiting the shows over the course of three days these trade shows give an incredible opportunity to gain exposure for your business, demonstrate and sell products, and showcase your services. And as an added bonus, Chamber members receive 10% off the price of trade show booths!
Friday, March 4, 2022 12:00 PM - Sunday, March 6, 2022 4:00 PM
Other Events
Canadian Chamber 2021 Events Available on Demand
Christmas Lights Across Canada with the IllumiNATION launch on December 21 at 6:00 MST
Meaningful employee engagement in a post-pandemic lens | Jan 12
U.S. State and Local Government Procurement 101 for Canadian Companies | Jan 26
Useful Links
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