Dear valued Chamber member,

The third quarter of 2007 has wrapped up, and as you continued to work on the success of your business, we continued to focus our efforts on the policy issues and obstacles that you identified as key priorities. 

Chamber Progress Report on Your Five Priority Issues
The Chamber’s Public and Government Affairs Department and our member policy committees have been proactive and influential in addressing the issues that are most important to the success of your business, as determined by membership survey.

Labour shortages

• Time to tap into existing talent pools
• Engaging older workers: The Chamber's approach

Infrastructure deficit

• Greater density will make Calgary work better
• Steering city toward change

High levels of taxation

• Chamber Advises ‘No New Tax Increases’ to Municipal Affairs Minister 

Municipal affairs 

• Calgary Chamber of Commerce releases ‘Renaissance Calgary’ blueprint

Affordable housing

• A suite solution to Calgary's housing challenge 

Additional Priority Policy Initiatives
Alberta Royalty Review

The provincial government is currently reviewing recommendations from the Royalty Review Panel. Following up from a presentation made to the Panel in May, the Chamber urged the provincial government to use extreme caution in the contemplation of significant changes to the existing oil & gas royalty regime, as outlined in a letter and submission to Premier Stelmach. 

• Vision, Savings, Tax Reductions, and Phase-in Approach Critical to Any Royalty Review Change
• Read the Chamber's Royalty Review backgrounder

Discussing Solutions to Growth Pressures with Premier Stelmach

Chamber Board members and policy committee Chairs recently met with Premier Stelmach to discuss priority membership concerns including labour shortages, affordable housing, municipal financing, and provincial fiscal management.

• Chamber offers ‘growth pressure’ solutions to Premier

Information and Feedback
More information on our policy and advocacy efforts and the Chamber’s new policy team is available on our website www.calgarychamber.com. As always, your support of our advocacy initiatives is both appreciated, and fundamental to our collective success. I welcome your feedback on any of the issues that we’ve reported to you about in these updates, or others that you think the Chamber should undertake.

I can be reached at 750-0406 or by email at gpradella@calgarychamber.com.

Yours truly,

Geoffrey M. Pradella
Vice President, Public & Government Affairs
The Calgary Chamber of Commerce

Our Mission
The Chamber’s Public & Government Affairs Department acts as the leading forum for debate, and advocates public policy solutions that improve the business climate on behalf of our members.