Daily Update: July 9, 2020

Supports for Business

New 10 Year Grant to the Petrochemical sector

The Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program, part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, will bring multi-billion dollar investments to petrochemical projects throughout Alberta, helping to strengthen and diversify the province’s economy and create new jobs for Albertans. Key features include:

A 10-year program period during which eligible projects must be built and operational.
Adopting an open and transparent funding process, whereby every project that meets the program’s criteria will receive funding once built and operational. Government will no longer pick winners and losers through a private evaluation process.
Grants – instead of royalty credits – to be issued to companies after eligible projects are operational. In the current economic climate, grants are the most effective way to attract investment. Grants allow companies to better account for the full value of the incentive provided when calculating their project’s return on investment.
Making the funds available throughout the program’s duration once the facilities are in service, in order to align with typical business investment cycles.

Supports for Individuals

Expert panel formed to review affordable housing

An independent Affordable Housing Review Panel will bring a new vision for affordable housing into focus.Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon has appointed 10 experts to an independent panel, led by MLA Mickey Amery, to conduct a review that will provide recommendations to transform affordable housing. Through this review, the panel will identify ways to make the affordable housing system better serve Albertans in need as well as make more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. More information

Community Supports and Resources

Strathcona Pool Reopening July 10

In line with the City’s reopening strategy, the Strathcona Pool will reopen to the community on Friday, July 10. Visitors must register in advance for swim times. Information on how to register can be found on the City website. More information

Advocacy

Policy Update Following Fiscal Snapshot

Emergency measures introduced to assist Canadians and businesses because of the COVID-19 pandemic have come at a great cost. The total bill, which still is not known, must be monitored closely and transparently moving forward. With diminishing fiscal capacity, the country must begin retooling its economic fundamentals. Canada needs a clear plan to restore private sector growth, starting with a tailored strategy and timetable for safely reopening. We have prepared a 51-point Roadmap to Recovery to help policymakers with the important and challenging work they have ahead. Read more

Featured Webinars

July 16, 11:00 a.m. ET | Foreign Interference Risks For Canadian Businesses, Briefing With Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)

Canadian companies need to remain competitive to both sustain our domestic capacity to produce innovative products and to be a leader in global supply chains. However, in a competitive global environment, significant risks exist for Canadian companies as countries with hostile intents seek to undermine Canada’s economic security. Although espionage and foreign interference are not new, the global pandemic has changed the dynamics of the threat environment. The CSIS economic security division will lead the briefing on the foreign interference risks for Canadian companies and ways to mitigate those challenges. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A with participants. Register now

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Question & Answer Sessions

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will host interactive question and answer sessions for eligible employers on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). These sessions will respond to general questions about the CEWS and provide resources needed to apply. Date: July 15, 2020. Time: 10:00 AM Register here

Neuman Thompson webinar: Understanding the impacts of Bill 32 on your workforce (July 21)

The Alberta Government recently introduced Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta's Workplaces Act. Join Neuman Thompson lawyers Hugh J.D. McPhail, Q.C. and Gabriel Joshee-Arnal as they walk you through some of the most impactful changes and better understand how your workplace might be affected. There is no cost to register and attend, though Neuman Thompson requests that those who are able to make a small donation to the Edmonton Food Bank on the registration page. Register online