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Alberta Chambers of Commerce
CHAIR'S REPORT for November
The advocate for small business | |
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Chair's Report: November 2012
by Tab Pollock
November has been a jam-packed month for us as we hosted two provincial events, held meetings at the Alberta Legislature, and prepared for our business awards.
We reported on the Nov. 6 Fall Board Meeting & Deputy Ministers' Dinner in our Nov. 8 newsletter but I'll just quickly repeat our thanks to the more than 80 representatives from 27 chambers who attended our event. The dinner was an early sellout with 250 guests.
On a sad note, Doug Lynkowski, the deputy minister for Service Alberta, who attended our dinner, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Nov. 11. The Alberta Chambers extends our condolences to Doug's family and colleagues.
To view photos of our event, please visit our Facebook page.
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Alberta's issues rise to federal level at 2012 MP Dinner
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MPs Rob Merrifield and Blaine Calkins |
Nine days after hosting the deputy ministers, 170 guests joined us for our 2012 MP Dinner in Edmonton. We were pleased that 19 chambers sent representatives to this evening function.
Eight of Alberta's government MPs took time out of their busy Remembrance Day week to dine with our guests and answer questions after dinner.
Topics for the question-and-answer session ranged from the global economy's effect on our nation's fiscal situation, to solutions for Alberta's labour shortage, and strategies for developing our energy resources. MP Blaine Calkins, the Alberta Caucus Chair, moderated the wide-ranging Q & A.
To view photos of the MP Dinner, please visit our Facebook page.
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Check out progress of policies on 2012 Status Grid
The Alberta Chambers tracks the progress of our 89 policies in the 2012 Status Grid. Recent updates include responses by Alberta's deputy ministers and MPs at our dinners, letters responding to our policies by federal and provincial ministers, and meetings we recently held with provincial ministers.
The most-recent updates are highlighted in blue.
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Nominations close FRIDAY for Alberta Business
Awards  of Distinction
With so many chambers hosting their own award programs this fall, we hope to see many of your business members among the nominees for our provincial awards.
The deadline for the 2013 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction is Friday. Please make your members aware of our website (www.abbusinesswards.com) and remind them about our iPad nomination contest.
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Edmonton's Martin Salloum, third from left, attracts a crowd at the MP Dinner. |
Martin Salloum announces plans to move on
We don't have many "news flashes" in the chamber world but we sent one out last week when Martin Salloum announced his plans to leave the Edmonton Chamber after 18 years as its President and CEO. He wraps up his chamber career at the end of March.
While Martin's chamber work is renowned on the international and national levels, Alberta has gained from his knowledge and wisdom for three decades. He helmed the Alberta Chambers for many years, rejuvenating our organization before moving to the Edmonton Chamber, which he turned into the largest chamber in the country.
Martin, we wish you well as you move to the next phase of your life.
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ACC meets with provincial ministers
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Infrastructure Minister Wayne Drysdale |
ACC's Executive Committee met with three provincial ministers this month. First up was Transportation Minister Ric McIver. We discussed four issues with Min. McIver: the twinning of Highway 63, which the province is now accelerating; consulting with business during provincial roadwork projects; the Rail Service Review and upcoming federal legislation addressing its recommendations; and the Wild Horse Border Crossing.
We met with Enterprise and Advanced Education Minister Stephen Khan later the same day. That meeting touched on numerous topics, including: the temporary foreign workers program; the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program; international students; and literacy programs.
Last week we met with Infrastructure Minister Wayne Drysdale, who we are pleased to note also attended our MP Dinner that evening. Our meeting with Min. Drysdale revolved around the government's plan to invest in major infrastructure projects. We informed Min. Drysdale that our federation supports this kind of investment as long as it involves a principled and disciplined debt-financing framework.
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We invite you to forward this report to your members
(If you would like a URL for ease of forwarding, click
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce is a federation of 126 chambers of commerce,
representing 23,000 businesses. We are the largest business organization in Alberta.
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