Your Weekly Tune Up: June 12-18, 2021
Alberta hits 70% threshold, triggering full reopening on July 1
With 70.2 per cent of eligible Albertans having been vaccinated with at least one dose as of June 17, Alberta will move to Stage 3 on July 1 and fully reopen, removing all mandatory restrictions. Anyone in Alberta aged 18 and over can still enter the first Open for Summer Lottery draw for a chance to win $1 million. Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on June 24 and proof of vaccination will be required to claim the prize.
Alberta’s Open for Summer Lottery
The Open for Summer Lottery consists of three draws for $1 million each, and an additional 40 travel-related prizes provided by WestJet and Air Canada. This includes week-long stays at all-inclusive luxury resorts and flights across Canada and abroad.
- July Draw - $1 Million
- Alberta residents 18+ with at least one dose.
- August Draw - $1 Million
- Alberta residents 18+ with two doses.
- September Draw - $1 Million
- Alberta residents 18+ with two doses.
Register in the Open for Summer Lottery
All Albertans aged 12+ now eligible for second doses
Albertans who had their first immunization with Pfizer or Moderna (mRNA vaccine) four weeks ago or more can book their second dose through the Alberta Health Services online booking tool, by calling Health Link at 811 or through participating physicians’ offices or pharmacies. To find the closest pharmacy with the earliest available booking date, check the list at Alberta Blue Cross. Albertans who received a first dose of AstraZeneca should continue to wait a minimum of eight weeks before booking their second dose to ensure best effectiveness. Appointments can be booked through Alberta Health Services by calling 811. Book your vaccine appointment.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) is offering a new, secure web-based portal for Albertans to enter any out-of-province and out-of-country COVID-19 immunizations they’ve received to their health records.
Provincial Government Spring Legislation highlights
During the spring sitting, the legislature passed 23 bills, along with Budget 2021. View the highlights.
BC to Launch Compulsory Skilled Trades Certification
The government says certification will happen in phases starting with 10 initial trades from the electrical, mechanical and automotive disciplines, meaning people will be required to be a certified journeyperson or a registered apprentice to work in those areas. the first changes expected in the electrical and mechanical trades by 2023 and in automotive by 2025. Learn more
Enriching Your Business
Tech is an enabler of disruption—and the path to Alberta’s recovery
There was one key insight that emerged for all business leaders: the power and promise of disruptive technology. In the latest report by ATB and MNP, they explore how successfully navigating the post-pandemic recovery means recognizing—and embracing—the transformative opportunities technology provides. But it’s about more than simply adopting the latest tech.
Business-led Recovery Sponsor Thinkific Providing Exclusive Offer for Chamber Members
Have you ever thought about taking your expertise online? Thinkific is a leading cloud-based software platform that enables entrepreneurs and businesses to create, market and sell online courses. You are invited to try Pro + Growth free for three months. Sign up
Constructive Feedback: A Manager's guide to giving feedback that people actually want
Despite the fear, anxiety, or discomfort those in leadership may feel about giving constructive feedback, employees today crave it. To ease some of those feelings and build one’s confidence, check out this guide to learn how feedback contributes to the manager-employee relationship, ways to avoid giving destructive feedback, and ways to navigate the reactions employees commonly have. Learn more
The Power of Community
Grants for youth gang prevention available
The Community Mobilization Grant will allow communities to develop plans that help stop youth from getting involved in gangs and support youth who want to leave gangs. A total of $400,000 in funding is available, with communities eligible for up to $50,000 per grant. Communities are encouraged to apply online before July 20.
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council to receive $750,000 to support elder abuse prevention and intervention initiatives
Locally, Medicine Hat Family Services will receive $36,000. Alberta’s government has produced several resources to support individuals and organizations as they work to prevent and address elder abuse:
- Collaborative Online Resources and Education (CORE) Alberta is an online platform that helps seniors’ organizations improve service delivery by sharing resources and coordinating services. Currently, 28 organizations are using the platform to collaborate on elder abuse prevention.
- Addressing Elder Abuse: A Toolkit for Developing a Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse is an extensive resource designed to help communities increase their capacity to address elder abuse.
- The Social Isolation resource kit provides tools to help service providers raise awareness about the relationship between social isolation and elder abuse.
Fill Up On Funding
More provincial support for the live events sector
One-time grant funding through the Stabilize Program’s Adapt and Innovate stream will empower arts and culture non-profits to rebuild, reopen and offer live experiences. The Adapt and Innovate funding allocates $10 million to support non-profit organizations that are the primary organizers of a live experience event or that own and/or operate a live experience venue. Eligibility includes non-profits that organize arts, cultural, festival or sporting live experience events. Eligibility also includes non-profit owners and/or operators of community halls, cultural centres and museums, along with sport, arts, cultural and agricultural society venues.
Non-profit organizations may use Adapt and Innovate stream funds for projects to better allow them to resume in-person live experiences. Projects could include developing new funding, operating or event models. Non-profits can also use funding for projects to build their digital capability, such as new systems for online bookings, virtual queuing, reserved seating or simultaneous online and in-person performances. Qualifying organizations will be eligible for a grant of up to $75,000. Priority will go to smaller organizations and to organizations whose events are produced in Alberta. The deadline to apply is July 29.
Minister Carr announces program open to applicants to help farmers and agri-businesses develop and adopt clean technologies including more efficient grain dryers
The new Agricultural Clean Technology Program provides farmers and agri-businesses with access to funding to help develop and adopt the latest clean technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance their competitiveness. It will allocate $50 million specifically for the purchase of more efficient grain dryers.
The new program has two funding streams:
- The Adoption Stream will support the purchase and installation of proven clean technologies and solutions that show meaningful reductions in GHG emissions.
- The Research and Innovation Stream will support pre-market innovation including research, development, demonstration and commercialization of agricultural clean technologies.
Government of Canada renews the Indigenous Community Business Fund through Budget 2021
Last year, a total of 559 First Nation and Inuit communities located in the provinces received funding to address the economic impacts of the pandemic, and 170 proposals from community businesses have been funded. $117 million has been allocated to renew the Indigenous Community Business Fund (ICBF). The ICBF provides non-repayable financial contributions to Indigenous microbusinesses and community- or collectively owned businesses across the country that do not qualify for other existing business supports. Read more.
Investing in Alberta agriculture
Alberta’s government streamlined its Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) grant process to make it easier for producers and food manufacturers to access funds. Read more
Reminder: Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant Closes June 30
Advocacy in Action
Canadian Business Leaders Demand Plan For Reopening Borders, Economy
This week President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber, Perrin Beatty, joined the Travel and Tourism Roundtable press conference at the Ottawa International Airport. Perrin reiterated Canada cannot afford to be left behind as other countries around the world begin to reopen.
The Critical Role of Canada's Business-Led Recovery
Together with our members, partners and our COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Leadership Council we are committed to creating real solutions to help Canadian businesses and the Canadians they employ beat COVID-19 and return to economic health. Learn more
Alberta Perspectives survey reminder: Economic recovery and provincial priorities
There is one week left to fill out our provincial economic recovery and provincial priorities survey. Please complete the survey by copying and pasting the following link: https://www.albertaperspectives.ca/c/r/ABpriorities2021
Next Agricultural Policy Framework Identification of Alberta Priorities
The Alberta Government is looking for feedback on the next policy framework that will replace the joint federal-provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Take the survey by July 2.
Elections Canada is Revamping their Elections Website
This voluntary and anonymous questionnaire should take about five (5) minutes to complete. Please note the questionnaire will be available until June 30.
Preparing for Automation: Tracking Occupational Vulnerability
Since its release in March, our Automation Vulnerability Index (AVI) tool has been used by hundreds of policy-makers in preparation for the technological changes to come. Read the research
Helpful Webinars
June 22
Succession Planning: Taxation and Legal Considerations | Register
Future of the Canada – U.S. Border | Register
June 23
Women in Business Summit: Empowering an Inclusive Recovery | Register
Defence Procurement – Opportunities for Western Canadian SMEs. | Register
June 25
Canadian Survey on Business Conditions Discussion | Register
June 28
Building Equitable Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Rural Alberta | Register
June 30
Getting to Net-Zero: Opportunities for SME Business Sector Leadership | Register
Series
Succession Planning Webinar Series (May 11-June 22) | Register or watch again
Check out additional webinar series and on-demand content here
