The Voice: January 6th, 2025
Happy new year, Medicine Hat Council Approves 2025-2026 Budget, City of Brooks Approves 2025 Budget, and OHS Code Changes all in this week's edition of The Voice.
Your Weekly Tune Up
Happy New Year!!
As we step into 2025, we want to thank our members, partners, board of directors, Chamber team and community for an incredible 2024.
This year is particularly special as we celebrate our 125th anniversary! 
We are thrilled to embark on this milestone year with you, reflecting on our rich history and looking forward to a future filled with growth, innovation, and collaboration.
Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, let's make 2025 a year to remember!
Stay up to date on the big things coming up, learn a little Chamber history, and donate to our Legacy Fund on our website here: https://www.southeastalbertachamber.ca/about/our-legacy/
Medicine Hat City council approves 2025-2026 budget
Medicine Hat City Council approved the 2025-2026 budget with a 5.6 per cent property tax increase in 2025 and another 5.6 per cent in 2026. Based on a $315,000 single-family home, this would equal an increase of approximately $10 per month in 2025 and again in 2026. Residential utility customers will see a one per cent increase in utility rates, while commercial rates go up five per cent and industrial customers increase by four per cent. The budget includes $449.5 million for operating expenses and $99.4 million for capital projects in 2025. In 2026, the operating expense budget is $460 million and the capital spend is $112.9 million. For a full breakdown of the City’s budget, visit medicinehat.ca/budget.
CIty of Brooks Approves 2025 Budget
The City of Brooks Council has approved the 2025 Budget, prioritizing the continued delivery of valued services while addressing significant financial pressures. The approved budget includes a 5.75% tax increase, equivalent to approximately $12.00 per month for a home assessed at $300,000. Despite expenditure pressures, cost containment measures implemented by City departments have successfully limited the base budget increase to 2% ($4.30 per month), which remains below the current rate of inflation. However, an additional 3.75% ($7.70 per month) increase is required to meet the funding needs of the RCMP.
For more details and to view the full budget documents, please visit: https://www.brooks.ca/937/2025-Budget
OHS Code Changes
The OHS Code is a regulation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and contains the detailed technical requirements for controlling health and safety hazards at workplaces. On December 4, 2024, Alberta’s government updated Part 27: Violence and Harassment, Part 33: Explosives, and Part 37: Oil and Gas Wells, and also made miscellaneous editorial amendments across the OHS Code. During a transitional period between December 4, 2024 and March 30, 2025, work site parties can comply with either the updated provisions or the prior provisions.
Starting on March 31, 2025, work site parties will need to comply with the updated provisions. Most of the updates reflect best practices, standards and equipment that industry was already using.
The updates also help align Alberta with other Canadian jurisdictions, which promotes labour mobility and inter-provincial trade.
Where it makes sense, the changes focus on health and safety outcomes rather than prescriptive requirements to give employers and workers the flexibility in how health and safety outcomes are achieved. Other updates to the OHS Code also include editorial changes to improve clarity, remove duplication and correct errors. The updates received strong support from workers, employers and health and safety professionals and we appreciate their valuable input.
If you would like to learn more about the input received on these changes, you can read the “what we heard” report. The regulations amending the OHS Code, which contain the details of the changes, can be found here and here. Informational resources will be available in the coming months. To provide stakeholders with information on future work that is planned for the OHS Code, the three-year plan and timelines have been updated. For more information on the 2023-2026 plan, please see OHS Code Review Plan. If you have questions about the changes or the OHS Code review process, they can be submitted at any time to lbr.ohsreview@gov.ab.ca. Read the special edition news here.
Advocacy in Action
Agriculture hits the Canadian Chamber’s top 12 policy matters
The Canadian Chamber published 12 Policy Matters in 2024, covering a broad range of topics from productivity to housing to international trade. While a lot happened in 2024, our three most popular topics — productivity, CUSMA and agriculture — are as relevant as ever. Dive back into the topics with the 2024 final edition of Policy Matters.
Upcoming Improvements to Wild Horse
The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce, along with various partners within the Province of Alberta and State of Montana, have long advocated for improved services at the Port of Wild Horse. Following conversations recently this past fall and winter with the Land Border Crossing Stakeholder engagement team, we were pleased to hear of the planned improvements to the Wild Horse Port of Entry. With the Request for Proposal closing on January 3rd , we look forward to hearing about the next steps on this project, knowing that our port of entry will be significantly improved with office space, a public lobby and washroom facilities, better accessibility, coverage of the primary inspection lane and a detached secondary garage.
In addition, there have been recent announcements with US counterparts to provide consistent hours on both sides of the border with the agreement from CBSA on the Canadian side and CBP on the US side. In addition, we anticipate the continuation of extended seasonal hours from 8 am to 9 pm during the summer months.
The overall Land Border Crossing Project consists of improvements to ports of entry across Canada totaling $481 million in a multi-phase infrastructure program, with the Wild Horse Port of Entry being one of the top priorities for improvements. In addition, the Government of Alberta announced improvements to the Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor for highways 36, 41 and 881 to improve the north-south trade corridor on the eastern side of the province, often used as an alternate route to the Canamex Corridor.
You can view our position and recommendations here. While we continue to advocate for the EDI equivalency and hours of operation, this investment and commitment is an important step forward for improvements to the border.
Why this matters: Potential benefits of an improved Wild Horse port include reduced mileage costs for commercial truckers, enhanced economic development in the Eastern Alberta Trade corridor, more effective utilization of staff and facilities at Wild Horse, increasing connectivity of the regions by reducing travel time and uncertainty and improving overall cross-border traffic. It will lower costs for businesses in transportation-related sectors and provide a more direct pathway for north-south traffic and trade across the region. We continue to encourage the development of north/south trade and the ability to remove bottlenecks, delays, restrictions and limitations on crossing times. We also know we need increased usage and demand at the port of entry to justify further improvements in hours and services. We continue to support the work and improvements at the Wild Horse Port of Entry, while promoting usage of Wild Horse. You can follow the latest CBSA News here.
Canadian Chamber shares insights on the 2024 Fall Economic Statement
The Fall Economic Statement presented in December demonstrated a lack of fiscal accountability, further compounded by a government in total disarray. This creates profound uncertainty for Canadian businesses and families at a time when stability is desperately needed.
President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Candace Laing, has called on the government to work with the Canadian business community to ensure our collective economic security, particularly with the looming threat of U.S. tariffs. "This is the number one issue facing Canadian businesses — it endangers our economic stability, jeopardizes our jobs, and undermines our global competitiveness." Read the Canadian Chamber statement
The Canadian Chamber also offered its yearend perspective on The Bank of Canada’s double dose of rate cuts here.
Want a bit more...
You can also view Canada Infrastructure Bank’s annual Fall Market Update. Experts in global and Canadian infrastructure offered their insights on the unique challenges that face Canada today, and the CIB’s CEO, Ehren Cory, presented the company’s Q2 highlights and project results. Watch now
Canadian Chamber's Statement Regarding Justin Trudeau's Resignation
In light of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation announcement today, the Canadian Chamber has issued a statement acknowledging this turning point for Canada.
"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau read the room and made the right call by announcing his resignation today," said our President and CEO Candace Laing. "We have always been a nation of builders, and we should harness our entrepreneurial spirit to boost our lagging productivity and deliver on the priorities that matter to Canadians." Read the statement here
Next Level Events
Coffee & Conversations
It's the new year and we are back!
Join the Chamber Thursday morning to enjoy coffee and conversations about your business, our business, or life in general! This is a great opportunity to connect in the mornings if your afternoons and evenings are too busy. You can stop by for a quick hello or stay and chat for a while; everyone is welcome!
Location is TBA so mark your calendars and save the date: https://chamber.southeastalbertachamber.ca/chamber-calendar/Details/coffee-conversations-1085682?sourceTypeId=Website
Small Business Supports Team: Resources and Services for Success
The Workforce Consultant team is hosting a free webinar with the Small Business Supports team from Jobs, Economy and Trade. The Small Business Supports Team is available to connect Alberta’s entrepreneurs with essential resources and services for success. Key focus areas will be Biz Connect, Outreach and Partner Support.
- Thursday, January 30, 2025, 10:00 - 11:30am
- To register, click here.
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation: Strategic Planning 101 | January 8th, 2025 @ 10:30am - 12:00pm
This webinar is aimed at the small to medium Alberta food, beverage, natural health product and Bio-Industrial manufactures to learn the concepts and processes of strategic planning and learn why it is essential for the success of your organization. Scott Samoleski, from Street Smart Strategic Planning has designed the webinar to provide participants with a foundational understanding of how to develop a 'Big Picture' strategic plan and what elements of the planning process are critical for success. Industry panelists will also share their real-world perspectives and experiences going through strategic planning initiatives. To register, click here.
- Understand the purpose of strategic planning and its importance to any organization
- Review steps/elements involved in an effective planning process
- The importance of distilling complex information into a clear, concise and action-oriented plan
- Tracking and measuring success
- Keys to success/Common pitfalls
Enriching Your Business
There's a reason Chambers Plan is Canada's #1 plan.
JoAnne Letkeman, Exclusive Chamber Group Advisor
Medicine Hat & District | (403) 504-2166 ext 1.
Scott Walls, Exclusive Chamber Group Advisor
Brooks-Newell Region | (403) 892-9675
Fuelling the Business Community
New Chamber Members
We would like to welcome Butter's Oilfield Consulting, Celtic Pride Manufacturing Ltd, and CAREERS: Next Generation 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!
Congratulations to Hometown Culinary and Enerstar Solutions for becoming the first Living Wage Employers in Medicine Hat
Congratulations to Hometown Culinary and Enerstar Solutions for becoming first designated Living Wage Employers in Medicine Hat and Spec Association in Brooks. We are proud of our member employers for taking this important step, recognizing that Living Wage Employers experience a decrease in employee turnover and absenteeism, increased retention and productivity, and savings on rehiring and retraining. Employers can also use the living wage as a tool within their recruitment strategy for lower-paying occupations.
Living Wage Employers receive public recognition for demonstrating a commitment to socially responsible practices, making them more attractive to potential employees and customers. Paying a living wage constitutes a critical investment in the long-term prosperity of the economy by fostering a dedicated, skilled, and healthy workforce. The Living Wage Employer Program recognizes and celebrates employers that pay their direct and indirect employees a living wage. Employees who earn a living wage experience increased mental health and physical health, and economic well-being.
Currently Medicine Hat’s Living wage is $17.55 and $18.50 in Brooks. There are also some staff exemptions for trainees (e.g., interns, practicum students) and those who are still in the probationary period, as well as those who work less than 120 hours per year. For organization that would like more information, please visit the website: Alberta Living Wage Network (livingwagealberta.ca). Employers can find out more here: ALWN-Employer+Guide-2024.pdf
Fill Up On Funding
Foodtech Next
Foodtech Next is a funding opportunity for early-stage Canadian technology firms who seek to be part of - or sell to - the wider food industry. The program allows companies to demonstrate and pilot their innovation in operational environments to prove their solutions and validate the return on investment for the food sector. The goal is to accelerate the commercialization of Canadian innovation by generating first demonstration opportunities.
- Intake Opens for Expression of Interest: February 24, 2025
- Expression of Interest Deadline: April 7, 2025
- Full Application Deadline: May 26, 2025
Learn more here: Programs - Canadian Food Innovation Network
Sector innovation and Development Component of Supporting Artistic Practice
The Sector Innovation and Development component of Supporting Artistic Practice funds projects by Canadian and First Nations, Inuit and Métis arts professionals, cultural connectors, groups, and organizations. These projects must grow and improve the arts sector. Grants encourage initiatives that strengthen and develop support for artists in Canada.
You can apply for:
- a project grant for a single project
- a composite grant for a 1-3 year grant for multiple projects.
Learn more about the grant and apply here: Sector Innovation and Development | Canada Council for the Arts
Brooks-Newell Region News
Brooks-Newell State of the Region
We had the opportunity to attend the State of the Region, hosted by Brooks-Newell Economic Development, on January 3rd. We heard presentations from Reeve Doerksen - County of Newell, Mayor Petrie - City of Brooks and Premier Danielle Smith - MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat.
We were pleased to hear about progress and revitalization of the Crop Diversification Centre and the call for Expressions of Interest. There is ongoing development in Lake Newell Resort and the connector path between Lake Newell and the City of Brooks should be completed in 2025.
There is also work being done on the Brooks-Newell Hydrogen hub. The 300+ new housing units proposed for Brooks should assist with future housing demands and new schools including the Grasslands Junior High and a proposed new High School for Christ the Redeemer, will provide much needed space to the expanding divisions and increasing population. It was estimated that the high school would have approximately $51 Million+ benefit to the local economy with construction based on the comparison to the junior high build.
In other development, BrooksNet is now complete and they are working on getting more homes connected. The Pace solar farm has hearings with the AUC slated for April. There are also plans for an overpass at highway 36 and improved highway/road access at the JBS facility turnoff. Recreation was also on the docket with upgrades planned for the tennis courts and a new spray park, amongst other projects.
There is recognition of the Brooks wastewater capacity needs with a price tag of approximately $30 M. Because of the recognized priority, it's slated in the current capital budget for 2025-2028 (page 19 for those interested) and the City is seeking grants and funding to assist with costs.
Through the recent City budget process, the City of Brooks was able to maintain their municipal budget portion to a 2% increase with the other 3.75% increase due to increased costs for RCMP.
For the provincial update, housing needs in both urban and rural and for varied income levels were recognized as an immediate concern and communities across Alberta are stepping up to increase housing supply. Health care improvements are being addressed through the creation of four health care agencies with primary care, addictions and mental health, assisted living Alberta and acute care Alberta. They will also be doing a rural health facility review. In education, they have seen the growth in students, which means a need for school construction with 30 new schools over the next 3 years proposed across the province. They are also focusing on agriculture, along with border security and policing, as well as compassionate intervention in 2025.
There was a wealth of insight and upcoming plans presented and we look forward to the next update on progress and plans in January 2026!
Call for Expressions of Interest: Crop Diversification Centre South (CDCS)
The CDCS is a Government of Alberta facility near Brooks with excellent‐quality research fields, a modern greenhouse complex, a fully equipped workshop, several specific purposed laboratories, and numerous other buildings. The County of Newell has been working with the Government of Alberta to develop a management model that makes the CDCS assets available to the research community on an efficient, cost-recovery basis. The County is in the final stages of securing a ten-year lease of the CDCS from the Province of Alberta beginning April 1, 2025.
A not-for-profit organization that will oversee management of the CDCS assets under a sublease with the County is expected to be incorporated in 2025. In the meantime, while the necessary agreements are being established with the Province, the County is accepting responses to a call for Expressions of Interest in accessing the CDCS. Find out more
Bassano making headline news with Interprovincial to intraprovincial migration
As Calgary's real estate prices edge upward, life in small town Alberta is looking increasingly tempting for the thousands of Ontario residents heading west.
Read the CBC article to find out more
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle Answers
Did you figure it out? Here are the answers for the December 16th crossword puzzle.
Remember that subscribing to our weekly email gets you 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 Events
Interested in sponsoring a Chamber event?
Jan 21 | Financial Survival for Entrepreneurs | Register
Jan 22 | Unveiling Targeted Workforce Insights – EDA Wednesday Webinar
Jan 23 | Enhance Your Ability to Recruit and Retain Persons with Disabilities | Register
Jan 28 | Occupational health and safety and disability management | Register
Useful Links
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The Voice: January 6th, 2025
Happy new year, Medicine Hat Council Approves 2025-2026 Budget, City of Brooks Approves 2025 Budget, and OHS Code Changes all in this week’s edition of The Voice. Your Weekly Tune Up Happy New Year!! As we step into 2025, we want to thank our members, partners, board of directors, Chamber team and community for an…
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