Your Weekly Tune Up

E-Scooters now available

Bird Canada launched their shared electric scooter (e-scooter) program in Medicine Hat on May 26. Locally, e-scooter riders must be at least 16 years old and are strongly encouraged to wear helmets. The e-scooters are set to a maximum speed limit is 20 km/h. In some higher traffic areas, the speed is automatically reduced to 10-15 km/h. To use the e-scooters, riders must download the Bird smartphone app. Riders can start a trip by scanning the QR code located on the e-scooter. The cost to ride is $1.15 to unlock and $0.35 per minute. Learn more about the City of Medicine Hat rules and regulations on the E-scooter pilot program page.

City’s newest power generation plant, Unit 17, now in service

On Monday, May 30, the City of Medicine Hat celebrated the grand opening of Unit 17 – Medicine Hat’s newest power generation plant. The City of Medicine Hat began producing electricity in 1910 with the ability to generate 600 kilowatts of power. The 43 additional megawatts of power generation capacity from Unit 17 brings the City’s total current production to just under 300 megawatts. Units 16 and 17 are located at 5270 Box Springs Road NW rather than at the main power plant on the south bank of the South Saskatchewan River. They both operate on a separate supply of natural gas than the main plant and are able to provide back-up power if our largest generation unit ever goes offline.

Annual roadway resurfacing program

Each year, select roads are planned for resurfacing in the City’s capital budget based on the priority identified within a comprehensive asset management plan. This year, construction will occur at the following locations:

Parkview Drive NE from Altawana Drive NE to 12 Street NE
Altawana Drive NE between Parkview Drive NE and the Maple Avenue Bridge
Sage Road SE from Southridge Drive SE to Stratton Way SE
Strachan Road SE from 13 Avenue SE to Strachan Bay SE

Residents are reminded to view real-time road and sidewalk closures online on the City’s Construction and Closures Map.

Amendments to the Business Corporations Act now in effect

Amendments made to the Business Corporations Act in November were proclaimed on May 31. These changes make it easier for businesses to operate in Alberta by making financial reporting more flexible, clarifying roles for directors and shareholders, and reducing costs and time for businesses to navigate legal proceedings.

Amendments to the Business Corporations Act now in effect:

Clarify directors’ responsibilities and protections.
Expand opportunities for directors and officers by permitting corporations to allow corporate opportunity waivers in a company’s articles of incorporation or unanimous shareholder agreement.

Provide a longer time frame (10 years) for dissolved corporations to get back into business and remove the current time frame (five years) to revive non-profit companies, societies and cooperatives.
Reduce administrative burdens around shareholder approvals by moving from a requirement of unanimity to a threshold of two-thirds approval in two specific situations:
o waiving the requirement of audited financial statements of privately held non-distributing corporations
o passing a written resolution instead of holding a shareholder meeting
Align with other Canadian provinces and with the federal government.

Amendments to Business Corporations Regulation:

Allow corporations subject to accounting standards in the U.S. to be excepted from having prepare additional financial records using Canadian accounting principles when filing annual returns and presenting annual financial statements for their Alberta corporation.
Reduce the administrative burden for distributing corporations that would otherwise be required to prepare two sets of financial statements using different accounting principles.

Alberta Spring Legislative Session Summary

In addition to the introduction of Budget 2022, some additional Government of Alberta Spring legislation highlights included:

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Recognition Act celebrates Her Majesty’s 70 years of reign by recognizing Albertans who have helped change the province for the better.
The Utility Commodity Rebate Act allows for $150 in electricity rebates for two million households, farms and small businesses, amounting to nearly $300 million in relief on high electricity bills.
The Continuing Care Act expands and modernizes continuing care while Budget 2022 provides funding for more than 1,500 new continuing care beds and added home care capacity.

The Education (Reforming Teacher Profession Discipline) Amendment Act, 2022 creates a single, unbiased, fair, accountable process that can be accessed in a timely manger to further protect students and give parents peace of mind.
The Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2022 removes barriers to economic growth like enabling intermunicipal business licences and increasing the sustainability of rural utilities.
The Traffic Safety Amendment Act protects all roadside workers by requiring all motorists travelling in the same direction to slow down to 60 km/hr when passing a vehicle with lights flashing.

View the announcement online

Easy measures for Dog-Friendly Patios

Effective immediately, Alberta eateries no longer need approval from a public health inspector to allow pooches on patios. Alberta’s change to the Food Regulation removes red tape for establishments that want to make outdoor dining easier for their dog-loving customers. Establishments are not required to offer dog-friendly patios, so patrons should check restaurants’ policies ahead of their visit. Establishments will continue to ensure food safety standards for all customers and follow two main requirements:

Non-service dogs are allowed on patios only and must not pass through any indoor food handling areas, such as dining and food preparation areas.
Customers must keep their dogs on a leash or in a carrier and have physical control of the dog at all times.

An Alberta Health information sheet offers guidance to restaurants and outlines best practices to support food operators who choose to allow dogs on patios.

Check out the lastest OHS eNews

Fuelling Our Business Community

Chamber Delegates Represent Medicine Hat & District During 84th AGM and Policy Conference

Delegates from local chambers across Alberta adopted twenty-eight policy resolutions to advocate with the provincial and federal governments during the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) annual general meeting in Lethbridge, May 26-28.

Policy recommendations put forward address issues ranging from electricity regulation to training for high demand sectors such as trucking and transportation. ACC's outgoing President and CEO Ken Kobly says working with members of the Alberta government to get these policy recommendations implemented in a timely fashion is important to ensure businesses can continue growing the economy.

"There is a lot of continued uncertainty for business with energy costs and inflation, and challenges finding talent. Working with business to remove barriers will be key to maintain Alberta's recent economic momentum and investor confidence." stated Kobly.

"What we see with these policy recommendations is an agenda focused on making it easier to do business and a strong chamber network to carry those recommendations forward to government on behalf of Alberta's job creators."

"The chamber network has done significant work over the past two years to position themselves as powerful and modern resource for the business community. We have a vibrant network of committed staff and volunteers throughout the chambers in the province -- it has been an honour to work with them and our chamber colleagues across Canada", Kobly remarked.

View our local Chamber's policy priorities here.

The Power of Community

Hiebert Group - Hiebert Cabinets, Jade Homes, and Jasper Homes

The Hiebert Group is comprised of three successful businesses in Bow Island; Hiebert Cabinets, Jade Homes, and Jasper Homes. John Hiebert and his team know the importance of supporting local businesses in southern Alberta.

When we shop local in Southern Alberta, we support the businesses and families that are our neighbours. Seek local and help to shape our neighbourhood.

The Seek Rural series uncovers some unique and interesting businesses in the surrounding rural communities that may not be commonly known. The videos and photos allow you a sneak peek which I am sure will convince you that a visit to explore them more is well worth it.

Enriching Your Business

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan

Contact JoAnne Letkeman, Exclusive Chamber Group Advisor, 403-504-2166 ext 1.

See all our Value Added Benefits!

Fill Up On Funding

Alberta Jobs Now applications now open

To address potential labour shortages, eligible employers can hire and train up to 10 new full-time or part-time workers. Grants would cover 25 percent of an employee’s annual salary up to a maximum of $25,000 per employee. About $90 million in total funding is available.

Employers will be able to apply to the third intake of Alberta Jobs now at alberta.ca/jobsnow. Employers who have hired eligible employees on or after December 17, 2021, the closure date of the previous intake, can apply. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are allocated. The grant can be used to cover salary or training costs. View this announcement online.

Indigenous Pow Wow Pitch Competition

Submit a 1-minute pitch by June 21 to qualify for the 2022 Pow Wow Pitch with $200,000 in cash prizes! All applicants get access to more than $1,000 in free tools, technology, and resources to start and scale their businesses. Those shortlisted for the semi-finals will have a chance to win up to $25,000.

Advocacy in Action

Canadian Chamber Advocates for Business Needs and Concerns

The top obstacles for Canadian businesses continue to be rising input costs, difficulties hiring workers and supply chain challenges. Rising costs remain by far the number one obstacle for Canadian business right now. Read the Canadian Chamber's statement.

Further recommendations included the government focus on three key topics for regulatory modernization: implementing an economic lens mandate to new regulations; aligning regulations within Canada and abroad; and providing regulatory certainty. Together, these can help Canada’s economy grow.

The Canadian Chamber also appeared at the House Standing Committee on Finance to speak to Bill C-19, the Budget Implementation Act (BIA).

Encouraging the government to remove three sections related to competition policy from the BIA, to allow proper Competition Act studies to take place prior to implementing changes. Making changes now, and then figuring it out later during a review, would be a mistake and risk Canada’s competitiveness. Find out more.

The Canadian Chamber also addressed Employment Insurance (EI) concerns contained within Bill C-19, the Budget Implementation Act (BIA), including appropriateness of funding support measures through the EI program amidst the system’s growing debt.

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Next Level Events

Medicine Hat JazzFest

Now in its twenty-sixth year, The Medicine Hat JazzFest has grown from a grassroots community-based event to a widely recognized world-class festival that has taken its place alongside the other great jazz festivals in Canada. We feature an eclectic mix of venues, running the gamut from an airport hangar to the intimate and quaint atmosphere of our late-night clubs. We feature both free and ticketed events as well as a number of educational opportunities including workshops, jams, and a concert for elementary school children.

Winner of the 2010 and 2015 Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce Tourism Award of Distinction, the 2016 Alberta Chamber of Commerce Business Award in Arts and Culture, the Medicine Hat JazzFest has found a way to bring together great jazz and a community festival that’s all about fun and celebration, and to do it in the beautiful setting of this small and friendly Alberta city.

Tickets are on sale now at www.tixx.ca! You can also view our complete artist line-up. Visit us at medicinehatjazzfest.com.

Labour shortages? Supply chain issues? Inflation?

Join the APEX partners and Palliser Economic Partnership for a free online event with Todd Hirsch, Vice President and Chief Economist for ATB Financial, on Thursday, June 9, from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

As we move into the spring of this year, the economic landscape is being transformed. Geopolitical turmoil, mounting inflation pressures and supply chain disruptions are taking a toll, and Albertans are feeling uncertain about what comes next. For us to make sense of these forces, we need new ways to think about our economy and set aside old ideas and concepts. How will the economy adapt and adjust? And what do workers and employers need to think about?

Chamber Events | Community Events | Training Events

Other News

Celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: The City of Medicine Hat will have a guest book available in the lobby of City Hall from June 2 to 17 for anyone wishing to share well wishes. Finlay Bridge will also be illuminated in purple from June 2 to June 7 as one of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, a long-held tradition to celebrate Royal occasions.

Gas, Electric, Wind Energy Rates Set for June

Public invited to fill out survey on off-leash areas. The survey is open until June 10.

Key Highlights and Insights on the Bank of Canada's latest interest rate hike