The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce has six policies core to our organization which inform the advocacy that we perform, and the positions that we take.

Alberta is a prosperous province, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and a skilled and energetic workforce. At the same time, Albertans - like many Canadians - are struggling with transitions between learning and work, which is resulting in social and economic implications. If Alberta is to remain competitive with the rest of Canada, it must adapt to and address the coming labour market disruptions.

Recent shifts in international trade dynamics, including evolving U.S. trade policies that emphasize domestic priorities and transactional frameworks, and a measured diversification of Canada’s trade relationships have highlighted the importance of reducing reliance on any single market and strengthening links to a broader array of global customers.

Alberta’s long term economic resilience depends on balanced regional growth, yet mid sized municipalities and rural hubs operate within fiscal, regulatory, and infrastructure frameworks largely designed for metropolitan scale, limiting their ability to attract investment, diversify industry, retain talent, and respond quickly to economic opportunities despite their critical role in supporting provincial supply chains and regional services.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Canada’s economy, representing over 98% of all businesses and employing nearly two-thirds of the private labour force.78 Despite their central role in job creation and innovation, SMEs face systemic barriers — chief among them: excessive federal regulatory burdens and a lack of accessible workforce development support.

Canada has an abundance of natural resources that generate direct wealth for Canadians through production and export. Increasingly, these commodities represent a large contribution to Canada’s economic growth; however, Canada still spends billions energy imports annually.

Alberta’s economic growth and competitiveness are hindered by interprovincial trade barriers and inconsistencies in labour mobility agreements. These barriers create inefficiencies in supply chains, increase costs for businesses, and limit opportunities for workers to move freely across provinces. By promoting stronger interprovincial partnerships, Alberta can foster a more seamless and competitive economy, ensuring businesses and workers benefit from a unified national market.

Growing poppies for medicinal use constitutes a thriving industry in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia, but not in Canada. This not only presents an economic diversification opportunity for Southern Alberta’s agricultural sector, offering long term employment and growth opportunities for this and numerous other industries, but would provide Canada with a homegrown source of vital medications.

Canada has an abundance of natural resources that generate direct wealth for Canadians through production and export. Increasingly, these commodities represent a large contribution to Canada’s economic growth; however, Canada still spends billions energy imports annually. Access to markets for commodities, specifically electricity, oil and gas, represents a significant obstacle in Canada’s ability to secure a competitive position in the global economy. Further, failure to develop these projects leads to negative impacts

Alberta’s economy is heavily reliant on international trade, yet global economic shifts, emerging markets, and increasing competition have underscored the need to strengthen the province’s trade presence and investment attraction strategies. Without enhanced support for exporters and targeted international missions, Alberta risks losing its competitive edge in global markets, leading to missed opportunities for economic growth, diversification, and job creation.

Alberta is facing a significant public health and economic crisis driven by substance addiction, costing the province over $6.7 billion annually. The opioid crisis, particularly involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, has led to devastating loss of life and increased social disorder.

The economic footprint of post-secondary education has taken a dramatic hit through frozen government funding. Access to education is essential in the economic prosperity of Alberta and its future access to human capital and intellectual development. Postsecondary education serves as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic organization for both the management and advancement of social and economic progress.

Housing is an integral part of economic growth. The connections between affordable housing investment and economic growth have been well recognized in literature. And yet investment in affordable housing has been insufficient to meet demands. To ensure long-term community sustainability, local and regional economic development and growth plans must consider the role of affordable housing in the growing economy.

The agri-food industry is an economic driver for Canada, contributing to the national GDP as well as ensuring that the supply chain is maintained, and our people are fed. However, labour shortages have plagued the industry. These shortages could be partially solved using the existing Temporary Foreign Workers program, however the TFW program has come under attack in recent years, leading to unease on the part of industry.

Housing is an integral part of economic growth. The connections between affordable housing investment and economic growth have been well recognized in literature. And yet investment in affordable housing has been insufficient to meet demands. To ensure long-term community sustainability, local and regional economic development and growth plans must consider the role of affordable housing in the growing economy.

Transportation systems are intrinsically linked to economic development. There is a growing trend in the transportation planning literature, and in the developed plans of both national and provincial organizations, to consider best-practice for this discipline in terms of multimodal transportation planning.

The partnership between the Government of Alberta and The Regional Economic Development Alliances (REDAs) is aimed at achieving Provincial economic development priorities by leveraging local expertise, knowledge, and funding from municipalities, businesses, and the federal government. The Government of Alberta's role is to enable and support partnerships, set strategic direction, and collaborate on specific regional projects.

Literature has long suggested that Alberta has the natural assets and technical feasibility to support further renewable energy development. Alberta’s renewable energy generation is low compared to the other provinces. Alberta’s largest source of renewable energy is wind power, generated from turbines often built together at wind farms on rural land, producing roughly 20% of total electricity in the province.

Affordable, reliable electricity is critical to the sustainability of the Canadian economy.

Canada has been facing significant pressure on its water resources, both surface and ground water. There are ever-increasing demands for the water resource. The limits of available water have been reached in the southern portion of the province, and concerns are rising about the adequacy of water resources to support continued economic development in the central and northern parts of the province.

The escalating divide between rural/remote communities and urban centres around broadband services potentially limits economic opportunities in all regions of Canada.

The economic footprint of post-secondary education has taken a dramatic hit through the pandemic along with the reductions of government funding. Access to education is essential in the economic recovery of Canada and its future access to human capital and intellectual development. Post secondary education serves as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic organization for both the management and advancement of social and economic progress.