Calgary Chamber urges focus on stability & affordability for upcoming fall session

Calgary, September 18, 2023 – As the House of Commons resumes sitting, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce encourages the federal government to focus on rising costs, labour shortages, attracting investment and supply chain constraints.

"The upcoming fall session is an important one and comes at a time when businesses are in urgent need of stability," says Deborah Yedlin, President and CEO at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. "The federal government will need to grapple with issues of affordability, declining per capita productivity, electricity regulation, bail reform, investment tax credits, immigration, and other key issues to ensure Canada is poised for long term economic growth.”

As the federal government resumes sitting, we urge focus on:

• Provide greater affordability supports for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Ensure affordability and reliability are central to policy development, particularly for the Clean Electricity Regulations.
• Advance the carbon capture utilization and storage and clean technology investment tax credits, including several amendments.
• Invest in housing affordability by incentivizing the development of affordable non-market and market housing units.
• Increase provincial nomination limits for immigration and extend the time workers may remain in Canada.
• Establish the Canadian Innovation Corporation in Calgary.
• Support rural and Indigenous communities seeking access to high-speed internet by investing in rural broadband.
• Reform bail legislation to increase safety for communities and businesses, accelerating the resurgence of downtowns across the country.
• Establish and implement carbon contracts for difference, and advance the development of production tax credits for Clean Hydrogen, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage and Low-Carbon Fuel in Canada
• Unlock funding that advances infrastructure essential to sport, entertainment, arts and culture, tourism and transportation.
• Advance the development of the National Supply Chain Strategy and explore the creation of a National Industrial Strategy.
• Create a national Indigenous loan-guarantee program to facilitate access to capital and advance economic reconciliation.
• Support research, development and innovation at post-secondaries across Canada through targeted funding supports to advance research or aid in the commercialization of ventures created within the post-secondary system.

As the fall session resumes, we remind the federal government that collaboration with the business community is imperative to economic success. Government must prioritize stability and affordability for people and businesses, ensuring Canada’s competitiveness as the economy slows.

ABOUT THE CALGARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Calgary Chamber exists to help businesses reach their potential. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1891, we build on our history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors across the city.

For media inquiries, please contact Shannon Hazlett, Senior Public Relations Advisor, at media@calgarychamber.com.