Provincial government takes steps to improve oil and gas investment competitiveness 

New Energy Minister Ron Liepert outlined changes to improve Alberta’s royalty and regulatory systems to a sold-out crowd at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce last week. 

“It is about creating a bigger pie rather than finding ways to carve up the existing one,” said Liepert.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce was one of the first groups to highlight the need for a competitiveness review, as Alberta’s advantages had, over time, eroded. Declining investor confidence, higher drilling and transportation costs, a burdensome regulatory system and new low-cost North American shale gas supplies were all factors. 

Chamber scores another federal budget win

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce joined the Canadian men’s and women’s Olympic hockey teams by scoring a big win, this time for business. Key Chamber recommendations of deficit elimination, expenditure review and steps to improve corporate tax competitiveness were addressed in the 2010 federal budget.

“Our advocacy efforts worked to secure a roadmap for deficit elimination and efficient spending,” said Geoff Pradella, Vice-President of Public & Government Affairs with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “I am happy to report that this was the main feature of the budget.” 

Chamber idea helps improve efficiency of health care system

Alberta Health Services intends to move forward with activity-based funding, where money is allocated to health professionals via the patients they see, rather than in lump sum operating grants.

“Efficiency of the health care system is critical to better access, controlling costs, improving quality, and competitive delivery,” said Geoff Pradella, Vice-President of Public & Government Affairs with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Health care spending constitutes 41 per cent of the provincial budget, the largest budgetary item. Initiatives to reduce costs will provide room for tax relief.”