Weekly Update: April 1 – 8, 2021
Supports for Business
Step 1 Restrictions in place again
Additional restrictions were announced on Tuesday, April 6th. Effective at 11:59 p.m. on April 6, updated mandatory health measures go into effect for retail, fitness and performance activities. Effective at noon on Friday, April 9, restaurants will be restricted to providing only takeout, delivery and patio service. Alberta will remain in Step 1 with restaurant restrictions until further notice. Businesses can view the restrictions online in the Path Forward Plan. More information.
Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP)
APIP offers companies a grant worth 12 percent of their eligible capital costs when building new plants for petrochemical, hydrogen, fertilizer or fuel products, or expanding existing ones. The program was designed to compete against similar programs offered by American states like Louisiana and Pennsylvania, which have seen significant investment in petrochemicals. The Alberta Industrial Heartland Association estimates that there is an opportunity to grow the sector by more than $30 billion by 2030, resulting in tens of thousands of jobs for Albertans that would otherwise go to those competing jurisdictions. More information.
Support for testing and contact tracing through the Safe Restart Agreement
The federal government announced the final instalment of the Safe Restart Agreement. The final instalment of $700 million will help provinces and territories to further increase their testing capacity and support Canadians through this crisis. More information.
Inventures Startup Pitch Event
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to pitch your innovative new product or service to a panel of leading industry professionals, VCs and angel investors, live in Calgary at Inventures 2021, September 22-24 and win $10,000. More information. Plus register to get a FREE pass to all Inventures Unbound Virtual programming. View sessions whenever you want and get year-round access to loads of archived content. Members of our team have accessed content and know there's some valuable content for you. Get your Free Pass.
Supports for Individuals
Nominations are open for the Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards
The Stars of Alberta awards highlight and pay tribute to volunteers who give their time, energy and skills to make a difference in the lives of Albertans. Two awards are given in the categories of Youth (up to 24 years of age), Adult and Senior with three awards given in the breaking barriers category. Nomination deadline is September 15th. Nominate someone in our community today. You can also still recognize volunteers through the Alberta Northern Lights Volunteer Recognition Program.
Alberta ramps up vaccine rollout
Alberta’s government will bring in four new measures starting immediately to ramp-up the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Opening bookings to everyone in Phase 2B
Starting April 7 at 8 a.m., anyone born in 2005 or earlier with eligible underlying health conditions can book appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine at participating pharmacies or with Alberta Health Services (AHS) online or by calling 811.
AstraZeneca vaccine available for Albertans 55+
Albertans aged 55 to 64 who do not have a chronic health condition can now make an appointment to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Effective immediately, anyone born between 1957 and 1966 can book appointments at participating pharmacies across the province. AHS will also begin booking appointments starting on Monday, April 12.
Rapid flow clinics
Bookings for rapid flow clinics in Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat will open on Friday, April 9. More clinics will open in Edmonton and Calgary next week. Bookings can be made with Alberta Health Services (AHS) online or by calling 811.
Pharmacy walk-ins
Alberta will soon expand its vaccine rollout at participating pharmacies to allow walk-in bookings, rather than those by appointment only. Additional information will be shared when pharmacy walk-ins become available next week.
Community Supports and Resources
Moving back into Step 1 of COVID-19 restrictions
Updated mandatory health measures came into effect for retail, fitness and performance activities on April 6 at 11:59. Effective at noon on Friday, April 9, restaurants will be restricted to providing only takeout, delivery and patio service. View the updates and restrictions on retail, indoor fitness, adult performance activities, restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafés, places of worship, social gatherings, personal and wellness services, indoor and outdoor children’s sport and performance.
Increased funding for Vaccine Development
Alberta’s government is providing $20 million in funding to support research and development in vaccines and curing disease. As part of Budget 2021, the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute (AVI) at the University of Alberta will receive $20 million in funding over four years. The funding will accelerate research and development of pharmaceutical and vaccine treatments. More information.
Advocacy
Federal Government Increases Alcohol Excise Tax – Again
Canadians already pay some of the highest alcohol prices in the world, with 47% of the retail price of beer being tax, 65% for wine and a whopping 80% tax on spirits. Nevertheless, and despite the ongoing pandemic crisis in hospitality, Ottawa has again increased the tax rate. This is clearly unhelpful for economic recovery, and we continue to call on the government to reverse course in the upcoming April 19 budget. Find out more and help us spread the word.
Industry Advisory Roundtable on COVID-19 Testing Recommends Self-testing
The Industry Advisory Roundtable on COVID-19 Testing, Screening, Tracing and Data Management has released a second report. This report reiterates the importance of task shifting to enable the use of rapid tests to screen for COVID-19 in workplace settings. Rapid screening helps with the quick isolation of positive COVID-19 cases to keep the rest of the workplace safe and support economic recovery. Read the report.
Facebook: Supporting Vaccine Rollout Is Critical for Canada’s Economic Recovery
We won’t see true recovery until vaccines are widely accessible and it’s clear we need to act quickly and we need to get this right. Challenged by limited vaccine supply, the next critical step for Canadians and our economy is to amplify public health messages encouraging vaccine acceptance. The business community has an important role to play. Read Facebook's Guest Blog Post
Have Your Say
How are you impacted in the move back to Step 1. Take the Alberta Chambers Alberta Perspectives Survey.
New Resources
Business-led Recovery
The path towards recovery is found in three distinct, but interdependent, phases:
- Making sure Canadians and businesses get through the current lockdown.
- Making sure we reopen our economy successfully and never return to lockdowns again.
- Making sure Canada has a viable economic plan to recover its damaged and transformed economy.
We will continue to highlight supports as they become available and introduce new opportunities to showcase the business leadership that will help Canada recover as quickly and safely as possible. Learn more.
Alberta Wildfire launches new mobile app
Alberta Wildfire launched a brand new application in March for Albertans and those who want to know more about wildfire in the province. The new application has many features, including the ability to search for specific information such as fire bans and advisories across the province. Find out more and download the app
Moody's Flowcharts
Moody's has developed flow charts for federal entitlements. Find them here: CERS and CEWS
Rapid Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screening: Program Overview
After an Alberta Chambers of Commerce network call with Chambers across the province, AHS provided a fact sheet for the new Rapid Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screening program.
Service Canada COVID-19 updates and improvements poster
Service Canada has updated its general poster, which has been updated with changes to the CRB, CRCB, and CRSB.
Featured Webinars
April 14
Advantage Alberta: Alberta's compelling story - Panel 2 | Register
April 20-22
Canadian Family Enterprise Forum | Register
April 22
A Budding Business – Building the Foundation for a Cannabis Store | Register
April 28
Employer Workshop - Alberta Employment Standards | Register
March 30-April 30
Open Dialogue: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Canada | Find out more.
Webinar Series
April 8-July 22: Alberta Business Family Institute - Transition Planning series | Register
CPA Financial Literacy Webinar Series for Small Business | Register
Family Enterprise Leadership Series | Register
Women Entrepreneurs in STEM: Breaking Down Barriers to Starting a Business | Register here.
Alberta Innovates: Inventures Unbound | Free Pass
View an overview of events and market intelligence related to the technology sector globally here
Federal relief funding with Vexxit: CEWS, CERS and CEBA | Watch now
