Calgary Chamber of Commerce outlines its priorities for new legislative session

The United Conservative government is set to begin the spring session of the legislature at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Jacqueline Wilson reports.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is laying out its key recommendations for the spring session of the Alberta legislature, scheduled to begin Tuesday.

In its submission, addressed to Finance Minister Nate Horner, Chamber CEO Deborah Yedlin wrote she is looking for a greater effort to ensure Alberta is an enticing place to invest in business and infrastructure.

She’s also looking for more support for post-secondary education, on-the-job training and supporting credentialing for newcomers.

“To ensure we leverage Alberta’s positive outlook and economic strengths, businesses – across all sizes and sectors – must continue to be top of mind,” Yedlin said.

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She added the Chamber is encouraged by the United Conservative government’s commitment to a number of strategic investments such as carbon capture, agri-tech and agri-food processing.

Yedlin says the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation remains “critical to our economic success.”

However, affordability remains one of the top concerns for Alberta businesses, particularly small businesses, she said.

“(Affordability is a) significant challenge for many small businesses, impacting their ability to attract and retain talent, manage operating expenses and invest in their growth – ultimately impacting their viability,” Yedlin wrote.

The spring session of legislature begins on Tuesday and Budget 2025 will be tabled on Thursday.