Latest news with #BusinessCouncilofAlberta
Edmonton Journal
3 hours ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Federal Liberals in ‘honeymoon' with Alberta — for now
Mark Carney's liberal government is still enjoying a 'honeymoon' with Alberta's business community, but industry groups warn the clock is ticking for the prime minister to back his words up with action. Article content Executives in the oil and gas industry are waiting to find out if the Carney government will fast-track a new pipeline as part of its nation-building agenda. Article content Article content Until they get that clarity, they are still dealing with significant policy uncertainty from Ottawa, according to the Business Council of Alberta, which outlined potential actions to improve investment in a recent report. Article content Article content 'There (are) still lots of concerns and lots of issues to deal with, but there's more reason to be hopeful now than we've seen in a long time,' said Mike Holden, the council's chief economist. Article content A federal bill that would speed up natural resource and infrastructure projects that are deemed in the national interest has drawn cautious optimism from the energy sector, amid concerns from Indigenous peoples and environmental groups. Article content In its wish list for Ottawa, Holden's group wants the government to repeal or reform policies that have held back investment in the oilpatch, including a tanker ban on the West Coast and a proposed oil and gas emissions cap. Article content Article content However, there is hope among many businesses that Ottawa could fast-track major projects — namely pipelines — by overriding some of these controversial policies. Article content Article content 'I think this is the honeymoon with Carney,' Holden said. Article content Industry and the federal government are having important discussions about increasing Canada's ability to export and develop natural resources, according to Deborah Yedlin, chief executive of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Article content 'There's a sense of optimism that I have not sensed from an energy standpoint in 10 years,' Yedlin said. Article content Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson has met regularly with those in the energy sector since he was sworn in, she said.
Calgary Herald
13 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Federal liberals in ‘honeymoon' with Alberta — for now
Mark Carney's liberal government is still enjoying a 'honeymoon' with Alberta's business community, but industry groups warn the clock is ticking for the prime minister to back his words up with action. Article content Executives in the oil and gas industry are waiting to find out if the Carney government will fast-track a new pipeline as part of its nation-building agenda. Article content Article content Until they get that clarity, they are still dealing with significant policy uncertainty from Ottawa, according to the Business Council of Alberta, which outlined potential actions to improve investment in a recent report. Article content Article content 'There (are) still lots of concerns and lots of issues to deal with, but there's more reason to be hopeful now than we've seen in a long time,' said Mike Holden, the council's chief economist. Article content A federal bill that would speed up natural resource and infrastructure projects that are deemed in the national interest has drawn cautious optimism from the energy sector, amid concerns from Indigenous peoples and environmental groups. Article content In its wish list for Ottawa, Holden's group wants the government to repeal or reform policies that have held back investment in the oilpatch, including a tanker ban on the West Coast and a proposed oil and gas emissions cap. Article content Article content However, there is hope among many businesses that Ottawa could fast-track major projects — namely pipelines — by overriding some of these controversial policies. Article content Article content 'I think this is the honeymoon with Carney,' Holden said. Article content Industry and the federal government are having important discussions about increasing Canada's ability to export and develop natural resources, according to Deborah Yedlin, chief executive of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Article content 'There's a sense of optimism that I have not sensed from an energy standpoint in 10 years,' Yedlin said. Article content Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson has met regularly with those in the energy sector since he was sworn in, she said.
Hamilton Spectator
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta panel members say idea to cut aid to some newcomers comes from government
EDMONTON - Two members of Alberta's new $2-million panel fighting federal overreach say they aren't responsible for the messaging and ideas on the panel's website, including a suggestion to end social supports for some newcomers. 'I can't comment on what the province has put up in the website,' Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, said in an interview Wednesday. Legge and University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe are two of 15 people introduced by Premier Danielle Smith this week for the Alberta Next panel. The panel, led by Smith, is set to tour the province this summer to hear concerns from citizens surrounding ways to stop unwarranted meddling in Alberta's affairs from Prime Minister Mark Carney's government. The panel is to recommend a series of questions to be put to a referendum next year. Legge, who stood beside Smith the day before at a press conference announcing the panel, said he agreed with messaging on the panel's website that blames housing costs and unemployment on 'disastrous' immigration rates. In the interview, he said immigration levels, especially for temporary foreign workers and international students, are out of control. 'The numbers have gotten so high that Canada simply cannot keep up from a social service standpoint, housing standpoint, access to doctors and physicians standpoint,' he said. But he declined to comment on the panel polling Albertans on cutting social services like health care and education to immigrants not sanctioned by Alberta. Tombe, in an interivew, also said the panel's website ideas originate with the government. 'I can't speak to the government's marketing decisions,' Tombe said. 'Politicians of all parties, of all governments, are in the business of persuading.' When asked if he agreed cutting service access was a solution, Tombe said he didn't agree with the immigration problems as they were illustrated on the panel's website. He said it's not clear if the government is more concerned about population pressures, international students, or housing shortages but said in each instance reality is more complicated than what is laid out by the government. 'If we can clearly define what the actual concern is, then we can get into a more productive policy conversation about how to address it,' he said. The panel's website says immigration over the past decade has been 'disastrous' and done 'without any sort of proper vetting.' 'Housing prices have skyrocketed. Unemployment keeps increasing as immigration outpaces job growth. And sadly, many of the divisions and disputes that plague other countries have begun making their way into ours,' the website reads. To counteract this, the website says Alberta could issue its own immigration permits and cut off those who don't have them from accessing provincially funded services. Smith has spoken about the panel for months, characterizing it as part of a two-track process, to listen to Albertans' concerns while also negotiating with Carney's government on ways to reduce federal rules and policies Smith says are undermining energy development and Alberta's overall prosperity. Smith's government has also loosened referendum rules, making it easier for citizens to gather signatures for public votes on hot topics including separating from Canada. The immigration proposal and messaging on other ideas for consideration drew criticism from provincial and federal counterparts. In Calgary, Federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly, asked by reporters about the panel, said she was 'not necessarily' keeping up with it, but added, 'I'm personally a very important proponent of national unity.' Alberta Independent Senator Paula Simons posted on social media that Smith's government was embarking on a 'vile hate campaign' when it comes to its proposed immigration measures. 'This bitter xenophobia is as un-Albertan as it's possible to be.' Opposition Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the panel's ideas are 'worrisome' and 'full of extremist language that has no place in our province.' Smith's press secretary, Sam Blackett, responded to emailed questions on the immigration issue by sending quotes from the panel's website. He also said that a potential Alberta-approved immigration permit would be granted to those who move to the province under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, which fast-tracks the permanent residency process for workers in sought after sectors like health care, technology and law enforcement. Blackett said permanent residents also wouldn't be blocked from accessing services. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Alberta panel member says to ask Premier Danielle Smith about idea to cut aid to some newcomers
A key member of Alberta's new panel fighting federal overreach says Canada's immigration system needs fixing, but couldn't comment on the panel considering an idea to cut supports for some newcomers. Business Council of Alberta president Adam Legge says questions about potentially excluding certain immigrants from services like health care should be addressed to Premier Danielle Smith. Barring services to some newcomers is a solution being put forward on immigration on the panel's website. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It claims recent immigration levels are to blame for high housing costs, high unemployment and some social unrest, and says one solution might be for Alberta to issue its own immigration permits to preferred newcomers. Legge says all of the ideas on the panel's website come from Smith's government, including proposals to create a provincial pension plan, police force and tax collection agency. Story continues below advertisement But he says the panel won't be limited to the government's ideas, and he hopes Albertans attend planned town halls over the summer to share their thoughts.
Hamilton Spectator
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta panel member says ask Premier Smith about idea to cut aid to some newcomers
EDMONTON - A key member of Alberta's new panel fighting federal overreach says Canada's immigration system needs fixing, but couldn't comment on the panel considering an idea to cut supports for some newcomers. Business Council of Alberta president Adam Legge says questions about potentially excluding certain immigrants from services like health care should be addressed to Premier Danielle Smith. Barring services to some newcomers is a solution being put forward on immigration on the panel's website. It claims recent immigration levels are to blame for high housing costs, high unemployment and some social unrest, and says one solution might be for Alberta to issue its own immigration permits to preferred newcomers. Legge says all of the ideas on the panel's website come from Smith's government, including proposals to create a provincial pension plan, police force and tax collection agency. But he says the panel won't be limited to the government's ideas, and he hopes Albertans attend planned town halls over the summer to share their thoughts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
