Guest Speaker: Doug Sollows introduced Janet Riopel who has managed complex organizations in the past and is currently president of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.  Janet also volunteers in many major charities including Rotary and has been awarded many honors for her endeavours.  These include the Queen`s Jubilee Medal and the City of Edmonton Outstanding Service Award.  While she was a member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Glenora, she appreciated that she could include her children in the various projects.

 

Janet acknowledged Doug as chair of one of the Chamber's committees and that the Chamber was comprised of like minded people working towards a common goal.  The Chamber's voice is needed now due to the economic turmoil caused by low oil prices putting us on the edge of recession.  The times are not easy as businesses are pushed to the edge of disappearing.  The 2 new governments add to the confusion as they present unknowns for future programs.  2016 is challenging for business with high unemployment together with decreases in the housing and manufacturing sectors.

 

The provincial government is working on city charters and carbon tax programs but have released little in the way of details.  The federal government has also introduced possible changes, especially with Canada Pension Plan.  This makes for an ever changing business environment.  The chamber will continue to help set a best environment for business as it has been doing for the last 127 years.  Key areas of focus include expansion, confidence, trade and northern partnerships.  If business has confidence there will be activity towards expansion.  The Chambers works to encourage environmental policies in businesses.  The province's plan to increase minimum wage over 3 years by 48%  to give low income families the ability to survive puts pressure on individual businesses.  They may have to reduce other staff benefits, like health insurance coverage, to pay for the wage increases.  This makes us less competitive.

 

Of course, the city government is not off the hook and the Chamber is urging restraint on the increase in business and property taxes.  Keep in mind that the businesses are restricted in price increases of their own.  Another focus is new markets and reducing barriers to trade outside Alberta and Canada.  We need to attract the world to our door.   The Chamber spoke in favour of several pipeline projects and lobbied to get rid of inter provincial regulatory trade barriers.  Edmonton Capital Region needs to compete as a region.  We have to market our capital city region internationally as a single brand.  When large international companies search for new markets or business locations, they skip Edmonton because of the fractured marketing done by each of the regional governments individually.  They present a smaller image and the market is not attractive.  The Chamber continually works on marketing especially in the north (north of 60).  While visiting northern cities Janet finds they are starved for business partners.  We can build strong lasting relationships. 

 

With the economy not expected to improve over the short term ,Alberta is in uncharted waters.  This invites opportunities  and innovation on behalf of local business.  An example is the Edmonton Airport Authority which has become a major player.  China has selected Edmonton as the only entry point for its overnight air freight business in Canada.  The people in the north are over joyed as now they can get their fish to China's market overnight.  Then there is the petrochemical industry where many jobs are being created.   Edmonton downtown construction is continually coming up big, now with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind's hi rise.  Stantec, headquartered in Edmonton, is now the third largest engineering firm internationally, with 22,000 employees.  They know their market.

 

Three words set the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce apart: Advocate, Educate, Connect.  Many voices together being heard.  Time to become a partner of ECC.

 

Janet was thanked by Joe Lizotte.