Your Weekly Tune Up
Expanding virtual health care
To support Albertans’ health care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the province is working with physicians to increase options for virtual care. Adjustments to how physicians can bill the province will encourage more physicians to provide care virtually and to make virtual health care more readily available to Albertans who need or choose to use this option. Read More
Providing support to Alberta’s tourism industry
Alberta’s government is allowing eligible accommodation providers to keep the tourism levy amounts they collect from Oct. 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
To ensure money stays in the pockets of Alberta’s job creators, the government is introducing a revenue-tested tourism levy abatement.
This six-month abatement period will free up additional cash flow for eligible operators to employ staff, continue operations and provide valuable services through the winter season. Read More
City announces additional measures for REP facilities
Big Marble Go Centre
- Food service will remain open
Co-Op Place
- Facility will see reduced capacity to 50% during major events (ex. Tigers games)
- Facility will see reduced capacity to 499 people during ice rentals
- Concessions will be unavailable
Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
- Venue will see reduced capacity to 499 people
- Concessions will be unavailable
Kinplex
- Facility will see reduced capacity to 499 people
- Concessions will remain open
Quick Check Up
Alberta surpasses one million booster doses
As of Jan. 3, more than one million Albertans have received all three recommended doses of vaccine through Alberta Health Services, community pharmacies and physician offices.
However, an additional two million Albertans have received two doses and are eligible for a booster. All eligible Albertans are urged to get their booster in order to further protect themselves and keep hospitals from being overwhelmed during this Omicron surge. Read More
Update as of January 10th ----->
Fuelling Our Business Community
Infrastructure projects spur jobs, growth
Taxpayers are spending tens of billions of dollars on public infrastructure as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, creating 50,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs. As we see economic conditions improving, Alberta Infrastructure is delivering hundreds of projects in every corner of the province, including schools, health and capital maintenance and renewal, which are employing thousands of architects, engineers, contractors, and skilled tradespeople, and putting food on the tables of Alberta families. Read More
A stronger foundation for 2022
In 2021, Alberta’s government took major steps to improve access to housing for Albertans in need now, and in the future. The government:
- Released Stronger Foundations, Alberta’s 10-year plan to improve and expand affordable housing.
- Redesigned the Rent Supplement Program to provide more flexibility to tenants and give working Albertans access to temporary help.
- Secured federal funding which will assist 35,500 eligible Alberta households.
- Launched the Find Housing online tool to connect with housing options that meets individuals needs.
Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan support research demonstration projects
The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan invested more than $218,000 in funding for 17 research projects through the Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Program.
The ADOPT Program provides funding to assist producer groups to evaluate and demonstrate new agricultural practices and technologies at the local level. The results of successful trials can then be adopted by agricultural operations in the region.
Projects were initiated this fall and will be conducted throughout the winter months and into the spring. Read More
The Power of Community
12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!
From December 9th to December 24th Santa goes local for 12 Business Days of Giveaways!
Our goal with this giveaway campaign was to encourage people to shop local this Christmas season! We had amazing list of local business that donated and we were able to give away 12 amazing prizes!!
We were so glad we were able to spread some holiday cheer while encouraging others to shop local!!
Enriching Your Business
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.
See all our Value Added Benefits!
Fill Up On Funding
New transition funding for child-care operators
Under the Canada-Alberta Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, $3.8 billion will be invested over five years to lower fees for parents with children zero to kindergarten age accessing licensed child care and strengthen child care for families in Alberta. Read More
Next phase of support for Alberta livestock producers
Livestock producers and beekeepers can now apply for phase two of the 2021 Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance AgriRecovery initiative.
In response to severe drought conditions, the governments of Canada and Alberta worked together to rapidly deploy the Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance AgriRecovery initiative, which has already helped thousands of livestock producers cover their extraordinary costs.
The second phase of this initiative, which opens Jan. 5, provides continued assistance to eligible Alberta producers, who were hit hard by the 2021 drought. Together, the initial and secondary payments will put up to $340 million into the hands of producers to help them address the extraordinary costs incurred feeding their livestock during the 2021 drought. Read More
Advocacy in Action
Canadian Chamber urges government to use National Supply Chain Summit to drive forward economic growth agenda
The Canadian Chamber has been urging for an economic growth strategy to be delivered. Some of the key issues that are going to be on the table include:
- Infrastructure and ensuring they have the capacity they need to move cargo in all modes of transportation.
- Trade and ensuring companies have the tools – and don’t face barriers – to get products to their customers as a trade-dependent economy.
- Labour shortages and filling the one million job vacancies that prevent companies from operating at full capacity.
- Cybersecurity issues to ensure our critical infrastructure is fully protected in an ever-evolving threat environment.
- Border and regulatory measures that create complexities, particularly for small businesses, which prevent business owners from running their company.
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 Resources
Other Events
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