Your Weekly Tune Up

Get the Scoop on the Bank of Canada’s Latest Monetary Policy Report and Interest Rate Hike

Last week the Bank of Canada announcement marked its eighth interest rate hike, bringing it up to 4.50%. Though inflation shows signs of coming down, it remains triple the Bank’s target rate as Canada’s economy also remains in excess demand. The hike came with some positive news – there would be a conditional hold on additional interest rate increases in the current cycle – making it the first major central bank to do so. Read the Canadian Chamber’s full analysis.

Talent for Canada

Canada is facing an acute talent crisis. As the world’s economies recover from the pandemic, the global competition for talent is already escalating. As a result, Canada needs to take the initiative thoughtfully, but aggressively, to attract capable new students. To help encourage the federal government to address this crisis, Universities Canada, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce joined together to launch the Talent for Canada campaign.

Photo by Scott Graham

Alberta’s government is pausing private passenger vehicle insurance rate increases through to the end of 2023

While no new rate increases will be approved for the remainder of this year, some Alberta drivers may still see rate increases on their renewals in 2023. This may be due to previously approved rate changes, changes to driving records including at-fault claims and tickets, or changes to insurance profiles such as a new address or a different vehicle being insured. The government is also requiring insurance companies to provide most Albertans with the ability to pay their premiums through payment plans. Alberta’s government implemented reforms in fall 2020, which are expected to further stabilize rates. However, factors such as inflation and supply chain issues for auto parts have impacted the effect of reforms in the short term. In addition to pausing rates until the end of 2023, Alberta’s government will continue developing short- and long-term solutions to steady and lower auto insurance rates. Find out more and view the consumer tips.

Advocacy in Action

Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel

The Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel will review the legislation that guided Alberta’s response to COVID-19 and recommend changes to improve the handling of future public health emergencies for Albertans.

Experts and members of the public are invited to share their input on what amendments to legislation could better equip the province to cope with future public health emergencies.

This work will help ensure government has the best possible approach to responding to public health emergencies while minimizing unintended harms to the economy, health, mental and social well-being, and civil liberties of Albertans.

Share your ideas with the panel on what amendments to legislation could better equip the province to cope with future public health emergencies. Find out more

farmer-with-mask-in-the-greenhouse-with-organic-cultivation-of-tomatoes-MRAF00569

Great Taste of Canada

The Great Taste of Canada is launching in spring 2023. They are asking for your help to inform the content strategy. The Culinary Tourism Alliance is seeking input from food tourism stakeholders across the country including but not limited to culinary and agritourism stakeholders, government agencies, food content creators/writers, researchers, consultants, and non profits. Visit this link to contribute ideas to the content strategy. Find out more and have your say: https://forms.gle/tGxA1WyRRmUGv3Ah9

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Next Level Events

Strong Towns Community Action Lab kicks off Feb. 7

The Community Action Lab is a two-year project designed to introduce Strong Towns ideas to the community, shift the conversation, and kickstart the implementation of a Strong Towns approach. It combines multiple events and information sharing, community building, training, and mentoring.

The first of three main public engagements planned for 2023 will take place Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the main theatre of Medicine Hat’s Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre. Attendance is free but registration is required. Register here or visit www.medicinehat.ca/strongtowns.

The Conference

The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce is bringing a large-scale professional development conference to Southern Alberta. Hosting a panel of speakers that present new concepts and ideas that Medicine Hat has never seen before. This event will not only be an amazing learning opportunity but also will attract business owners from all over the province. 'The Conference' is going to feature a wide variety of speakers including topics of interest such as economic development, operational strategies, marketing, leadership, and motivation. 'The Conference' is perfect for long-term business owners looking to grow on a wide scale.

This "new to" Medicine Hat Event looks to bridge the gap of learning opportunities within an ecosystem presented to professionals within and outside of the city. 'The Conference' will begin early on Thursday, May 25th, and extend into the afternoon of Friday, May 26th.

Get your event passport here

The Social Event of the Year is back!

Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the 2023 Award Winning Alberta Food & Beverage Expo

The Alberta Food & Beverage Expo is excited to be working with the Chamber of Commerce this year to help support and grow the hospitality industry within Medicine Hat. This show brings positive economic impact to the community and creates awareness to the local businesses that we love to support.

Lastly, we are very excited to work with the Medicine Hat Firefighter Charity Association once again as our official charity sponsor.

If you are interested in becoming an exhibitor Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce has negotiated discount rates with the Alberta Food & Beverage Expo for their members. For more information call Brittany at 403-360-7734 or email info@eatdrinkalberta.com

If you would like to attend the social event of the year the event goes live Saturday February 25, 2023, at Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Grounds, Doors open at 4:00pm.

Tickets on sale now: https://eatdrinkalberta.getfusiontickets.com/events/11260

Our Home & Leisure Tradeshow is back! March 3rd, 4th, & 5th of 2023

Booth registration is still open for our 2023 Home & Leisure Show! We will be running a FULL SHOW meaning we will be utilizing all 3 areas of the Cypress Centre as well as returning to our original date of the first weekend of March. Our tradeshow booths are always a high demand so please consider registering sooner rather than later to get the best spaces available as they fill quickly!

Chamber members receive -10% off their booth registration! Register Here. This year we have included amazing package add-ons for your booths like on site PSA Announcements, Social Media Packages, and even custom Drone videos of your booth to be used as promo for the weekend!

Looking to get involved in a different way? Perhaps sponsorship is the way to go!

In addition to exhibitors, we are looking for several sponsors. We have a lot of amazing sponsorship opportunities as it takes a big team to put on such a large-scale and well attended event. We would like to extend these offers out to our membership first, then to the public. By sponsoring you can receive amazing benefits such as, logo recognition on event marketing, at the event, ads in our show guides, complimentary show tickets, and the opportunity to hang your own banners in the show, and in our exclusive Exhibitor Lounge. View Sponsorship Opportunities!

CLICK TO VIEW ALL EVENTS!

Enriching Your Business

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan

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

Find a Job

Value Added Benefits

Post a Job

Fuelling the Business Community

Delta Irrigation at the Home & Leisure Tradeshow

We are proud to announce that you will see Delta Irrigation at our Tradeshow, located in Booth 353 they will have answers to all your irrigation questions. We are extremely excited to host this year's tradeshow, see you there!

Canadian Small Business Cyber Security Survival Guide

An attempted cyber attack against Canadian small businesses is inevitable in today’s world, but that doesn’t mean organizations need to become victims. Committing to applying the cyber best practices can help protect your small business against most cyber attacks. Find out more. Need someone to connect on this locally, check out our business directory.

Alpharetta, Georgia USA - November 12, 2012: Angled shot of a Microsoft Windows 8 start screen.

The Government of Canada’s Online Tendering Service Is Now on CanadaBuys

CanadaBuys has now replaced Buyandsell as the official source for tender and award notices for the Government of Canada and the broader Canadian public sector. This means all new tender opportunities are posted on CanadaBuys, and the tender search function is no longer active on Buyandsell. In coming months and in stages, content and features on Buyandsell will be migrated to CanadaBuys. If you haven’t already done so, register your business for a free SAP Ariba account and complete a company profile to view full tender details and bid on tender opportunities posted on CanadaBuys. Completing the company profile also allows your business to self-identify as belonging to underrepresented groups.

Alberta Energy is seeking expressions of interest to help the government gauge the potential for a provincial network of hydrogen fuelling stations owned and operated by the private sector

The expression of interest is focused on the heavy-duty transportation sectors because they are the most likely to be early adopters of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. Industry will be asked to provide information including potential locations, capital and operating costs, delivery and storage, and safety considerations. In addition, the expression of interest will gather information to assess the potential for the infrastructure to be used for general commercial and personal use of Albertans.

In 2021, Alberta released its Hydrogen Roadmap, which outlines the province’s vision to deploy Alberta-produced hydrogen across domestic and global markets. Transportation was identified as a major market to integrate clean hydrogen. To help ensure this market grows in the future, a reliable fuelling network that meets the needs of Albertans and industry is required. Read more.

Image by Gerd Altmann

Fill Up On Funding

HAT Smart launches 2023 residential incentive program

Four separate incentives have been launched similar to the 2022 program with slight updates:

Existing Homes
New Homes
EnerGuide Home Evaluations

Scratch and Win

Visit www.hatsmart.ca or call 403-529-8249 for full program details, including information on how to apply for rebates, and to stay up to date on the current level of funding. Applications must be submitted online, unless other arrangements are made through the HAT Smart office.

Looking for student talent

Autism CanTech! Has students who are able to work for 5 hours per day at no cost to the employer and excel at many of those organizational tasks that we never seem to have time to get to. Learn more and share with employers. Learn more.

Inventures 2023 Startup Pitch Event

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to pitch your product or service to a panel of leading VCs, angel investors and industry heavyweights. Finalists receive free registration to all Inventures programming, access to professional coaching and on-site mentoring opportunities, plus a chance to score $10,000 in funding in each of six categories:

The Metaverse
Future of Work
Ag/Food Tech
Health Innovation
Clean Tech
Computing Infinity

It’s FREE to apply! Better hurry – deadline is February 24!

Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

Microloans are available now for women across Canada! Apply NOW and receive instant pre-approval from our DELIA microloan fund with funds in your bank account in weeks. Women entrepreneurs can receive rapid access to capital to help start up, stabilize, or expand their ventures. Learn more and apply now at ncfdc.ca/delia.

Modern Office: Portrait of Beautiful Authentic Specialist with Short Pink Hair Standing, Holding Laptop Computer, Looking at Camera, Smiling Charmingly. Working on Design, Data Analysis, Plan Strategy

Changes to AFSC’s insurance products for 2023

Producers can expect several changes to Agriculture Financial Services Corporation’s (AFSC) insurance products for 2023. The changes include a move to monthly payments for Moisture Deficiency Insurance, an increase in the reseeding benefit compensation rate, the addition of bear predation (hive and bees) to the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, increased coverage for Straight Hail Insurance and the cancellation of Satellite Yield Insurance. Find out more.