Supporting a Strong Economic Recovery – Recommendations for Alberta Budget 2020/2021

The Alberta economy is reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fall in the price of oil early in 2020. The unemployment rate is higher in Edmonton compared to most other places in Canada.

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce commends the Government of Alberta for working diligently, along with other orders of government, on the pandemic response in support of job creators and all Albertans. The business community is focused on the short, medium and long-term recovery and hope that the coming years see a return to a strong economy that includes everyone in the province.

With many payment deferral programs coming to an end this fall, job creators are concerned about their capacity to catch up on a mountain of bills with fewer customers coming through the door. We urge governments to ensure that there are flexible debt repayment schedules for businesses who accessed debt-supported response programs, such as the CEBA and BCAP, to ensure employers aren’t forced to shut their doors due to government debt repayment.

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic

1. Work with ATB and credit unions to provide flexible debt repayments, and advocate the federal government to provide flexibility on debt repayments to support businesses once support programs end.

2. Improve affordability and access to childcare by expanding income-dependent payment schemes above the current eligibility cap, providing full subsidization for low-income families where appropriate, and exploring options for increased flexibility, including 24-hour childcare.

Responsible fiscal management

3. Align spending with core government priorities, including a full and transparent review of all government programs and services to eliminate under-used or ineffective services.

4. Appoint an independent panel of experts to review Alberta’s revenue sources.

Trade Diversification and Innovation

5. Set specific, measurable and commercially sustainable five-year diversification targets that include performance objectives and transparent reporting.

6. Create a new grant to cover expenditures for commercial demonstration and commercialization.

7. Develop and execute an Intellectual Property Strategy to accelerate commercialization of Alberta’s IP.

Capital Spending for Future Growth

8. Prepare for Alberta’s continued growth by strategically investing in growth-enabling infrastructure.

9. Work with service providers to invest in infrastructure projects for permanent supportive housing and centres of community, enhancing community vibrancy and creating new construction jobs.

10. Work with industry on a plan to develop and implement a strategy to enable 100% of businesses, homes, ranches and farms in Alberta to have access to broadband internet by 2025.