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Partnership Presents Valuable Opportunity for Students and Businesses
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce and Medicine Hat College (MHC) have partnered to connect local businesses and post-secondary students through a new Work Integrated Learning (WIL) collaboration. WIL experiences provide students with the opportunity to build connections with industry professionals and gain meaningful workplace experience as they complete their post-secondary education, two valuable assets setting them up for success upon graduation. “The Chamber’s vision for this project is
CITY BUSINESS SUPPORT INITIATIVES ALIGN WITH CHAMBER RECOMMENDATIONS
(Medicine Hat) After review of the City’s Land & Business Support department Annual Report, the Chamber commented on the many successes and challenges. The Chamber has worked with the City of Medicine Hat Land Development since 2014 working towards ensuring lot prices reflect market value and that regular consultation with stakeholders is held to discuss the annual reports, pricing strategies, land development strategies, along with discussing new opportunities and emerging issues. In addition, the
Canadian Chamber of Commerce launches National Cannabis Working Group to support sector’s global aspirations
(OTTAWA) – As the first G20 economy to legalize recreational cannabis for adult use, Canada must do more to take advantage of its first-mover status and realize the full economic potential of the country’s burgeoning industry. To support these global ambitions, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has established the National Cannabis Working Group to develop and advocate for public policies that will improve the growth and competitiveness of the Canadian cannabis sector, and help governments achieve their
BROWNFIELD INCENTIVE TAX BYLAW A WIN FOR BUSINESS
The local Chamber of Commerce was encouraged by Land Use Bylaw 4585, the Brownfield Tax Incentive Bylaw that was read a first time in open Council on April 15, 2019 and passed by Council on July 2nd. As part of the recent updates to the Municipal Government Act (MGA), this bylaw is being used as a pilot for brownfield tax incentives and will grant multi-year tax exemptions to encourage infill development, environmental remediation and community revitalization. The two properties that the pilot will focus on
PROPOSED LEGISLATION SUPPORTS CHAMBER FOCUS ON CREATING A STRONG AND DIVERSE LOCAL ECONOMY
(Medicine Hat) – The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce is encouraged with the proposal of Bill 7 – The Municipal Government (Property Tax Incentives) Amendment Act. If passed, this legislation will give municipalities the power to offer stronger property tax incentives to business and industry. Since 2014, the chamber has encouraged the municipal government to consider competitive incentive plans in order to diversify our industry base and attract employers who offer skilled labour or
CHAMBER AND CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FEDERATION SOUND ALARM ON THE RISING COST OF PIPELINE DEFICIT
Pipeline deficit costing taxpayers and the business community (Medicine Hat, AB) - The Canadian Taxpayers Federations is making a stop in Medicine Hat, as part of its cross-country pipeline tour, to show how much money taxpayers are losing because Canadian oil is sold for less than its full value due to a lack of pipeline capacity. To illustrate losses to the taxpayer, in real time, a large digital clock keeps a tally of the deficit. The CTF’s analysis shows the federal government lost $6.2 billion between
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA REFLECTS SUCCESSFUL CHAMBER ADVOCACY
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce was pleased to see a number of policy recommendations reflected in the legislative agenda set forth by the newly elected provincial government last week. All four bills brought forward in the legislature last week addressed numerous issues that the local Chamber has advocated for on behalf of their members. With tabling of Bill 1, An Act to Repeal the Carbon Tax, the provincial government took into account the impact the carbon tax had on Alberta’s business
A Royal Commission for a Royal Pain
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce calls for a comprehensive review of the Canadian tax systemAccording to the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce local businesses and tax practitioners are frustrated by the need to commit significant time, often at considerable expense, to deal with taxation and filing issues. Canadian businesses spend 131 hours on average to prepare and pay their taxes. That is more than three weeks wasted productivity, when other countries do it in half the
Budget 2019 Puts Business on the Sidelines
(Medicine Hat) March 20, 2019 – Yesterday’s federal budget fails to address the fundamental issues undermining the ability of Canada’s business owners to provide economic prosperity for all Canadians, according to an analysis by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce. “While the Budget delivers on some of our advocacy priorities, particularly in the areas of skills and infrastructure, it fails to provide concrete measures to address the tax and regulatory