Your Weekly Tune Up
Council approves Cost Pressure Relief Program
The Cost Pressure Relief Program includes the following:
a) $200 per month for the months of August, September, October and November be applied to each Residential Utility Account holder, including residential units represented by condo associations and other housing-based associations as a community cost pressure relief program, commencing with a double initial payment on the billing cycle of September 18, 2023;
b) $500 per month for the months of August, September, October and November be applied to each Small/Medium Business Utility Account holder as a community cost pressure relief program, commencing with a double initial payment on the billing cycle of September 18, 2023; and
c) the disconnect notice fee be waived between June 1, 2023 and September 18, 2023, inclusive of both days with credits to be provided for the months already billed and included on the customer's next bill; and
d) the late fees be waived between June between June 1, 2023 and September 18, 2023, inclusive of both days with credits to be provided for the months already billed and included on the customer's next bill; and
e) the NSF (non- sufficient funds) fees be waived between June 1, 2023 and September 18, 2023, inclusive of both days, with credits to be provided for the months already billed and included on the customer's next bill; and
f) the total cost of $33.2 M which includes community cost pressure relief program and waived fees be funded through a budget amendment from City Financial Reserves.
City Council also approved a recommendation directing staff to:
a) Deliver a draft utility bylaw amendment for Council's consideration that establishes interim electricity rates based on 'best of market' prices available in the province; and
b) Convene an independent (third‐party) review of the City of Medicine Hat (CMH) COMCO business unit to confirm overall strategic approach to ensure best value for the community
For full details, download the agenda package, watch the full meeting on the City of Medicine Hat's YouTube channel or read the Council Highlights.
New and updated OHS resources
Visit the OHS Resource Portal for bulletins, infographics and recorded webinars supporting workplace health and safety in Alberta. Your feedback about the OHS Resource Portal would be appreciated! Please take a moment to complete this short survey.
Updated Resources:
- Cleaning up burned structures
- eLearning - Hazard assessment quiz
- Noise at the work site
- Workplace first aid approvals
- Workplace first aid approvals: Advanced First Aid Application Form
- Workplace first aid approvals: Basic First Aid Application Form
- Workplace first aid approvals: Intermediate First Aid Application Form
The Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards
If you know someone who selflessly gives to a non-profit, such as your Chamber, nominate them for a Stars of Alberta Volunteer Award. Categories include Youth, Adult, Senior and Breaking Barriers - The deadline to nominate is September 15.
Advocacy in Action
Downtown Collective Stakeholder Meeting
This meeting is to carry on the discussions from the June 14th Downtown Collective meeting, including event task force updates for the Downtown Collective Committees. The Committee will be a stakeholder lead group that works together to decide on and coordinate key initiatives for the Downtown Collective. Initiatives could include events, advocacy, networking, communication, and more. Attendance is necessary if you would like to be a part of driving our Downtown forward. More details here
Next Level Events
Learn from the Experts is Back!
Learn from the Experts - Sponsored by McNally's Tap House. After our first Learn from the Experts event in June, we heard loud and clear that this event was incredibly impactful for all the attendees. We're inviting you back for another opportunity to meet with other industry experts with different focused topics to ask questions specific to your business. The format will be similar to the first one, with speed-dating-style conversations taking place over the course of two hours. Each attendee will have an opportunity to speak with each expert on the issues that will be most impactful to them. Register now
Upcoming Employment Standards webinars
Employment Standards webinars (including live Q&As) are scheduled for the following topics:
- Employment Standards in Alberta - Wages and Overtime: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
- Employment Standards in Alberta - Administration and Enforcement: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
- Employment Standards in Alberta - Vacation Pay and General Holiday Pay: Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
- Employment Standards in Alberta - General Overview: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:30 p.m
For more information, or to register for one of the sessions, please visit alberta.ca/employment-standards-webinars.aspx
Canada Alberta Job Grant Insights
Have you used the Canada Alberta Job Grant for your organizations training needs? Has it been a while? Join us September 27, 2023 at 10:00am to learn about the program and whether or not your organization qualifies.
The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their present or future employees for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.
Enriching Your Business
Fueling the Business Community
• NEW MEMBERS •
We would like to welcome Canadian Combat Arts Association 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!
City of Medicine Hat Community Spirit Awards Recipients Selected
Thirteen Medicine Hat residents will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community on October 18, 2023, including some of our members! The 2023 Community Spirit Award recipients are:
Awards of Service:
Arts/Culture: Robert Pape
Civic Pride: Willy and Cindy Taillon
Community Inclusion: Kristen Sept
Compassion: Kym Porter, George Kovalev
Sports/Recreation: James and Coreen Sheardown
Volunteerism: Brenda Taylor, Kendra Albrecht, Terry Noble
Awards of Excellence:
Heart of Medicine Hat: Donna Serr
Change Maker: Karen Saffran
The Community Spirit Awards will be presented Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre. Find out more.
Small Business week: Share your Insights
Short-Term Employment Forecast Validation Project
The Short-Term Employment Forecast (STEF) is an annual publication providing a three-year overview of occupations expected to be in demand in Alberta. Businesses, governments, and the public use STEF to plan and build productive and effective workforces.
They are seeking your input to ensure the results of the 2023-2025 STEF accurately reflect the unique labour market conditions specific to each local or regional area. Your feedback will be used to flag occupations where demand prospects based on the STEF do not align with anecdotal experiences, informing us that further investigation may be required. The survey will be active all month, so please share by end of September. Complete the survey
Fill Up On Funding
Driver for Hire
Free online safety training for drivers. Brought to you by the Canada Safety Council and funded by the Skills for Success Program. Drivers can complete the training online, earn a certificate and collect a $100 honorarium. HERE
Agriculture Labour Task Force Grant Program
This program supports producers and processors, to help companies recruit, hire, and retain workers in the agriculture and agri-food industry. Two grant streams available. One to improve awareness of related careers and another to support the improvement of HR practices and capacity. Find out more
Thrive Academy
A 12-week agri-food tech pre-accelerator program for idea stage entrepreneurs, early-stage startups and researchers looking to commercialize their innovations. Find out more about this immersive program HERE
AgriDiversity Program
The AgriDiversity Program aims to help under-represented groups in Canadian agriculture, including youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities, to fully participate in the sector by helping these groups address the key issues and barriers they often face for sector participation. Apply here.
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle Answers
Did you figure it out? Here are the answers for our September 5th crossword puzzle!
Remember that if you subscribe to our weekly email, you get access to the crossword puzzle! Anyone who sends us their answers will get their name put into our quarterly draw. The prize? Receive 5 promotional credits with us (for members) or credit towards a membership (for non-members)! Oh and bragging rights that you're a crossword master!
Other Resources
Other Events
September 13th | EDA Attracting Remote Workers - Why and How Webinar | More Information
September 14th | Tech Night at Grit City Distillery | Register
September 16th | Women in Business: 2nd Annual WIB Expo | Register
September 17th-21st | 24th World Petroleum Congress | Register
September 19th | Web Presence 101 - Ensuring Your Foundation is Set | Register
September 27th | Startup Women: How I Raised My First 100K - And I What Did Next | Register
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