Your Weekly Tune Up
New economic opportunities with highway rest areas
A Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) is now posted online for interested companies to submit a proposal for proposed rest areas. Following the RFEI, a Request for Proposal (RFP) process will include awarding contracts later in 2022. Construction is anticipated to begin as early as 2023 with Alberta Transportation providing the opportunity to develop government-owned land along major highways. Costs associated with commercial developments will be paid by the private sector and recovered through business revenue. Find out more.
Online services make life easier for Albertans
Alberta’s government continues to reduce red tape by modernizing and streamlining services. Since June 2020, when changes were introduced to make registry services more accessible, more than 350,000 transactions have been completed online. MyAlberta Digital ID has been a key element for Alberta’s government to bring more services online. A verified MyAlberta Digital ID account allows Albertans to sign in, verify their identities using their driver’s licences or ID cards, and complete registry services without needing to visit a registry agent in person. Read More
Boosting economic recovery through immigration
Two new immigration streams will help rural communities grow by attracting skilled newcomers. The new rural immigration streams are part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, a federal-provincial program that nominates individuals for permanent residence in Alberta if they have skills to fill job shortages or are planning to buy or start a business in Alberta. Find out if you are eligible for the Rural Renewal Stream.
Quick Check Up
Alberta takes steps to safely return to normal - Step two
Effective March 1 (based on hospitalization rates continuing to trend downwards):
- Any remaining provincial school requirements (including cohorting) will be removed.
- Screening prior to youth activities will no longer be required.
- Capacity limits will be lifted for all venues.
- Limits on social gatherings will be removed.
- Provincial mask mandate will be removed.
- Mandatory work from home removed.
Fuelling Our Business Community
2022 State of the City
The Annual State of The City event was held at the Medicine Hat Lodge February 22nd, 2022. Doors will opened at 11:15am followed by lunch and the event from 12:00-1:30pm.
The annual 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. We reflected upon the accomplishments of our community during a tumultuous 2021, and where able 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.
The Power of Community
City launches “Choose” campaign
The City launched a new campaign that will encourage positive conversation and interactions to support community well-being, providing an opportunity to collaborate with the community to build optimism and positivity with testimonials and stories.
The “Choose” campaign features a variety of Medicine Hat residents, including Mayor Linnsie Clark and all of City Council, sharing their thoughts on choosing empathy, compassion, and optimism. The campaign is featured on the City’s 'Shape Your City' public engagement website, where residents will be encouraged to share their own positive perspectives and stories, which may in turn be featured on the City’s social media channels.
“Our community has faced a lot of challenges over the past few years and many of our neighbors, friends and loved ones are struggling,” said Clark. “We all have the power to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Sometimes when we are struggling, things like kindness, patience, generosity, and hope can feel difficult and we can lose sight of the impact that we have on those around us. Obviously, a campaign isn’t going to fix everything, but maybe it will serve as a gentle reminder to each of us of the incredible power we have to make a positive difference.”
Investing in women’s success in IT
Alberta’s government will invest $1.9 million to support skills development training for women’s success in the IT sector. A two-year Research and Innovation Grant to the Momentum Community Economic Development Society’s latest program is aimed at helping more women enter and succeed in the IT sector. The program is now accepting applications and will start May 2, 2022. Read More
Helping live music thrive in Alberta Final Report
The Stabilize Live Music Grant is helping hundreds of venues, musicians and other music professionals get back to recording and performing.
Business grants up to $25,000 are now supporting 64 innovative projects at live venues to help Alberta’s music industry adapt and recover during COVID. Individual grants of up to $1,500, totalling $619,000, went directly into the hands of 420 musicians and other live music professionals to help them with live performances or create new sounds in the studio.
Due to high demand for the business innovation stream, the Alberta government added $1 million to the original $2 million allotted for Stabilize Live Music Grant program. To date, the program distributed more than $1.5 million in business grants. As a result, more local venues were able to bounce back, keep people employed and entertaining Albertans. Read More
Enriching Your Business
See all our Value Added Benefits!
Fill Up On Funding
Home office expenses for employees – What you need to know for the 2022 tax-filing season
The Government of Canada is extending the temporary flat rate method for those still working from home so that Canadians will continue to have a simpler way to deduct home office expenses for the 2021 tax year. With the temporary flat rate method, eligible employees can claim a deduction of $2 for each day worked at home in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum amount employees may claim using this method has been increased to $500 (it was $400 in the 2020 tax year) for the maximum of 250 working days (200 days in the 2020 tax year). The eligibility criteria for the temporary flat rate and detailed methods remains the same for the 2021 tax year. Find out more.
Advocacy in Action
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force
We have a long-standing commitment to upholding the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our team, our members and our Board of Directors are people from countless different backgrounds, working together with the goal of building our community to be as vibrant and prosperous as it can be. Our team values and highlights the importance of underrepresented groups, especially in the business sector of Southeastern Alberta.
This year we are proud to announce that we are taking an even more active stance on promoting these principles in our community, by the creation of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.
The goal of this task force is to create a united front of business owners, Chamber members and staff, as well as active citizens in order to promote the values and benefits of a diverse and fair workplace. The group will be dedicated to promoting action and change through the application of crowdsourcing ideas, political advocacy, and public engagement. The path towards addressing workplace prejudice is one that needs participation from everyone, and the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce is proud to be addressing these issues directly.
If you have any questions about our efforts please email policy@medicinehatchamber.com
Next Level Events
2022 Home + Leisure Tradeshow
April 22nd - 24th
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. Bringing business together under one roof provides a fantastic experience for everyone. For businesses, the personal connections you can make with thousands of consumers and clients is unmatched. For consumers, you'll find fresh inspiration, helpful tips, innovative products and fantastic deals in remodeling, home improvement, design, gifts and services. Learn More
The global supply chain: Turning crisis into opportunity
Expert insights on how to protect your business against disruptions now and in the future.
Live Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 from 1 to 2 p.m. ET to learn about:
- How supply chain disruptions and labour shortages have impacted Canada’s global business
- How to mitigate supply chain risks and manage future crises, including novel virus variants
- How to minimize risks and challenges through supply chain diversification
- How to use your existing supply chain to give your business a competitive edge
- What the future of supply chains looks like—and how you can be ready for it
Useful Links
Find more updates on our social media
