Your Weekly Tune Up
Business Data Lab launched the Spending Tracker
The Canadian Chamber Business Data Lab launched another tool that can help provide businesses with leading indicators that complement official statistics, but are available faster, at a higher frequency and for more cities. The Tracker provides timely monitoring of spending patterns for 35 locations across Canada. The launch of the tracker showed that consumer spending in Canada started off 2023 with a burst of activity in January, aided by exceptional job growth and unseasonably warm weather. But spending momentum is slowing as consumers cope with higher interest rates. Best thing about the Spending Tracker? It’s free! Check it out.
Tax Tips for 2023 from CRA
1) A reminder to review the 2023 policies on taxable benefits
If you are an employer and offer taxable benefits to your employees or workers, review the January 1, 2023 updates to taxable benefits policies on gifts, awards, long-service awards, social events, hospitality functions, and parking.
2) Looking for the fastest and easiest way to manage your business tax online?
The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) digital services make handling your business’s tax matters faster and easier. You and your authorized employees and representatives can file, pay and access detailed information about your tax accounts. Here is information about the CRA’s most used digital services, as well as information on how to find the rest.
3) Find out if you qualify for Scientific Research & Experimental Development tax incentives
Does your business conduct research and development (R&D) work in Canada? If so, you may qualify for our Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentives. Try our quick and easy Self-Assessment and Learning Tool to find out, up-front, if your R&D project is likely to qualify for tax incentives and to calculate your potential claim amount.
4) Underused Housing Tax penalties and interest waived
The CRA administers the Underused Housing Tax (UHT), an annual 1% tax on the ownership of vacant or underused housing in Canada. To provide more time for affected owners to take necessary actions to comply, the CRA is providing transitional relief to affected owners. The application of penalties and interest under the Underused Housing Tax Act for the 2022 calendar year will be waived for any late-filed UHT return and for any late-paid UHT payable, provided the return is filed or the UHT is paid by October 31, 2023. This transitional relief means that although the deadline for filing the UHT return and paying the UHT payable is still April 30, 2023, no penalties or interest will be applied for UHT returns and payments that the CRA receives by October 31, 2023. Learn more at Underused Housing Tax.
Citizenship Canada: Enhancing Express Entry through category-based selection
A few months ago, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited you to share your thoughts on the implementation of a new way of selecting candidates through Express Entry, the online system that IRCC uses to manage immigration applications from skilled workers. We asked for your feedback as part of the process of creating new categories that support Canada’s immigration selection goals and priorities.
We are now pleases to let you know that the final report on our consultations on category-based selection in Express Entry has been published.
Advocacy in Action
Medicine Hat Regional Airport (YXH) Air Service Survey
Medicine Hat Regional Airport (YXH) is an important link between the City, Canada and the world. YXH wants to ensure it is meeting the air transportation needs of the community and region. Your input to this important survey will help provide vital direction regarding the future air service development of the Airport. Rest assured that your responses will be kept confidential and the resulting report will only present information in the aggregate. If you have traveled in the past 12 months, we encourage you to complete this survey. The survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete, and the deadline is June 9th. Take the survey
Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce extends congratulations to Premiere elect and MLA elect
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce extends congratulations to Premiere elect and MLA elect for Brooks-Medicine Hat Danielle Smith, and MLA elect for Cypress-Medicine Hat Justin Wright. We are looking forward to working with our new provincial representation moving forward.
See our provincial priorities here
View the 2023 Provincial General Election Unofficial Results here
Next Level Events
Learn from the Experts
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce is putting on "Learn from the Experts", an event where businesses are welcome to come learn, chat, ask questions, eat and drink! This is for people who are thinking about starting a business, own a business less than 2 years old, or anyone who owns a business and could use a little advice.
There will be speed-dating style one-on-one time with all the experts and an opportunity to hear from Community Futures Entre-Corp and APEX Alberta about the supports available in Medicine Hat. Come have a beer and learn how to make your business thrive!
Join us June 22nd, 2023 at Medicine Hat Brewing Company Inc @ 3:30-5:30pm. Stay after for the band that is playing as part of the Medicine Hat Jazz Fest starting at 6:00pm!
Enriching Your Business
Fuelling the Business Community
New Members!
We would like to welcome EMCO Corporation LTD and Wilson McKay Real Estate Team 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 Aaron Fleming, newly elected Chair for the 2023 - 2024 Alberta Chambers of Commerce Executive Committee
Aaron Fleming, Commercial Insurance Broker with Western Financial Group, was elected as Chair at the 85th Annual Alberta Chamber Policy Conference and AGM, having served as President in 2016-2017 with the local Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce. Aaron has continued to enjoy his work with influential businesses throughout Alberta mainly in Farm & Ranch, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Education, and Transportation. Aaron has always enjoyed serving his community and in addition to his involvement with the local and provincial Chamber he has also been involved in Country In The City, The Cypress Club, Invest Medicine Hat, Boy Scouts of Canada, and through his church. Aaron also serves as Chair of the Business Admin Advisory Committee for the Medicine Hat College.
Chair, Aaron Fleming | Past Chair, Bruce Galts | Chair Elect, Jodie McFadzen | First Vice-Chair, Kristi Hines | Second Vice-Chair, Brett Bowlesland | Treasurer, Robin Bobocel | View the Alberta Chambers of Commerce Executive.
The Medicine Hat JazzFest is celebrating its 27th anniversary from, June 19 to 25.
There are lots of money-saving options to take part in JazzFeset this year! There are free concerts every day from Tuesday, June 20 to Saturday, June 24 at 2:00 PM on the front lawn of the Esplanade. Everything from a participatory drum circle, to Winnipeg power band Apollo Suns to a jazz jam! There are also two free shows on Thursday and Friday, June 22 and 23 at the Strachan Road Servus Credit Union with local band, The Johnny Javier Quartet.
The Festival Pass gets you over $400 worth of tickets for just $189.50, and includes every event at JazzFest. There are ticket combo packages that include back-to back shows for a savings of $10 on the regular price. There are also three shows for school children at just $4/child.
Winner of an Alberta Chamber of Commerce Business Award in Arts and Culture and two Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in tourism, the Medicine Hat JazzFest is now an established part of the cultural, tourism and economic life of Medicine Hat.
Visit the web site www.medicinehatjazzfest.com for full details. All tickets at www.tixx.ca.
Fill Up On Funding
Youth Boost - Boost our Business Technology Grant
Youth Boost helps young job seekers build the digital and human skills they need to succeed. While new employees come in many ages, employers often get impressive results when hiring students and recent graduates with the skills needed for the workplaces of the future.
Through the Boost Your Business Technology grant, eligible SMEs can access up to $7,300 in wage subsidy funding to hire a student or recent graduate to help support the implementation of new technologies or digital strategies. The Boost Your Business Technology grant is one of two grants offered through the federal Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP). Get started today.
300,000 children with healthier teeth thanks to the Canada Dental Benefit
Dental care for those who need it most is now accessible for a whole generation of children in Canada who will enjoy the health benefits for many years to come. The first benefit period will be ending on June 30, 2023. Children must have received dental care between October 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, so book an appointment now to ensure you are eligible for the first benefit period. Beginning July 1, 2023, families can apply for the second benefit period. Families who meet the eligibility criteria can once again receive up to $650, depending on their income, for each eligible child under 12 for dental care services received between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Learn more
Other Events
May 30th-June 28th | Tween & Teen Programs at MH Public Library | Register
June 7th | Navigating the AI Revolution: Your SME Playbook | Register
June 10th | Celebrate Environment Week: Riparian Tour around Connaught Pond | More Info
June 13th | Rising costs hurting your business? Strategies to protect your profits | Register
June 14th | Canadian Chamber Women in Business Summit | Register
June 16th | Battle of the Businesses 2023 | Register
June 22nd | SEAWA's 16th General Meeting | More Info
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