Your Weekly Tune Up

50 years of protecting human rights in Alberta

2023 marks the 50^th anniversary of the Alberta Human Rights Commission. To encourage public engagement and broaden understanding of human rights, the commission has compiled a provincial human rights resource list that includes numerous events, webinars, podcasts, videos, books and reports as part of its 50th anniversary campaign. Read more here

Secure Spaces program begins

Work to rehabilitate the sidewalk and extend the railing along First Street SE begins this week to support an initiative that will see the downtown pedestrian underpass closed at nighttime starting this fall.

Starting Sept. 4, 2023, the downtown pedestrian underpass that connects South Railway Street SE and North Railway Street SE under the railyard in Medicine Hat's downtown will be closed nightly between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The nighttime underpass closure is the first initiative under the program dubbed "Secure Spaces." Read more.

Additionally, Starting on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the park entrances at Kin Coulee, Strathcona Island Park, and Police Point

Park, will be locked daily from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. to ensure the safety and upkeep of these public spaces. Regular operating hours for all City parks, including the aforementioned, will remain from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. We encourage citizens to continue to enjoy these areas during their permitted hours and to report any instances of vandalism or undesirable activities to the Medicine Hat Police Service. Read more.

Government of Alberta mandate letters

Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism mandate letter

Minister of Infrastructure mandate letter

Minister of Education mandate letter

Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction mandate letter

Minister of Advanced Education mandate letter

Minister of Affordability and Utilities mandate letter

Minister of Indigenous Relations mandate letter

Minister of Children and Family Services mandate letter

Advocacy in Action

More than 250 Industry Associations Call on Government to Extend Deadline for CEBA Loan Repayments

Last week, we signed off on a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland urging the government to extend the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayment deadline. We were included in over 280 industry associations in making this request.
The Senior Vice President Policy with the Canadian Chamber said ... "not all businesses have their heads above water yet: they're facing extreme inflation, unreliable supply chains, and the tightest hiring market in a generation. They're just asking for more time to pay the government back."

Have your Say: 2023 Consultations on Immigration Levels

Every year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) engages with a wide range of stakeholders from across the country to help us shape Canada's next Immigration Levels Plan, which will be announced in the fall of 2023. The Immigration Levels Plan is a projection of how many permanent residents will be admitted to Canada each year and sets targets for overall admissions per immigration category. It builds on ongoing work to strengthen our immigration system and spread the benefits of immigration to communities across the country. IRCC seeks input until August 4. Find out more.

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Next Level Events

We're coming to you with Chamber Connect!

We want to hear what you have to say; about your business and how the Chamber can support you! This Summer we are going around poppin' in to every business with a little popcorn gift and a short survey so we can work on improving our services and help your business with what you need.
Have questions? Call our office at (403) 527-5214.

You don't want to miss out! Stay updated!

Keep an eye out for what's happening around your community, you don't want to miss out on a grand opening or networking opportunity for your business! Coming up...

Business Brainstorming & Beers | Thursday, August 10th

Annual General Meeting (AGM) | November 30th

Grand Openings | Support local businesses! | More Information

Take a Look | Chamber Events Calendar

See You There | Community Events Calendar

CLICK TO VIEW ALL EVENTS!

Enriching Your Business

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

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Value Added Benefits

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Fuelling the Business Community

New Members!

We would like to welcome My Harmony Wellness and Platinum Beauty Bar to the Chamber Family!

We continually look forward to helping our members during their business journey and wish each the best in all future endeavors. We are extremely happy to have such amazing members, and are very glad that we can serve a part in that journey! Keep your eye out for more new member posts moving forward!

Fill Up On Funding

Apply for the Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator for the chance to win $100,000 cash investment prize

Are you a woman or gender-diverse entrepreneur in the early stages of building an innovative tech solution that has the potential to scale globally? Prepare for fundraising with the Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator, designed by Elevate, in partnership with The Firehood. The inaugural 30 tech startups will be selected to join the Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator, from which 5 businesses will get the chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in the final showcase on stage at Elevate Festival.
Apply to the 8-week virtual Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator to gain valuable investment readiness skills, meet directly with investors, and earn the chance to pitch for a $100,000 cash investment prize at Elevate Festival, taking place in Toronto from September 26-28, 2023. Find out more

Low-income workers to receive first enhanced Canada Workers Benefit payments

Millions of low- and modest-income Canadian workers will start receiving their first automatic advance payments of the newly enhanced Canada Workers Benefit. Enhancements to the Canada Workers Benefit, first announced in 2021, expanded eligibility and will top-up the incomes with up to $2,616 total for an eligible family, and $1,518 total for eligible single workers, split between three advance payments this fiscal year (in July 2023, October 2023, and January 2024), and a final payment after filing their 2023 tax return.

The Canada Small Business Financing Program

If buying or improving land, a commercial building, new or used equipment, or renovating to make leasehold improvements would help you grow your business, consider the Canada Small Business Financing Program. It makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions because the ministry of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development shares the risk with the lender. You can borrow up to $1 million to finance a wide range of purchases or improvements.
Discover what's eligible and how to apply now.