EDMONTON – On behalf of our board and members, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce wishes to acknowledge the growing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine. Our thoughts are with Ukrainians abroad, at home here in Edmonton, and across Alberta.
The following statement is issued today in reaction to the tabling of the 2022 Provincial Budget:
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is cautiously optimistic about today’s balanced budget and congratulates the Government on its strong emphasis on diversification, and commitment to workforce development. One of the most pressing issues for business is labour attraction and retention. Businesses are facing significant challenges in the labour market and need more support to help them attract, train, and retain skilled workers.
“After two years of working through the global pandemic, our businesses need the tools and conditions that will allow them to seize opportunities as economic conditions improve. The Alberta Government must do all it can to create stability for businesses and confidence for investors and commit to long-term planning to ensure we move away from cyclical prosperity.” says Jeffrey Sundquist, President and CEO.
The Edmonton Chamber recommends the Government of Alberta publish a rolling, annual report with a 20-year outlook to track economic and demographic trends. With economic recovery projected to take years, this would provide a long-term framework enabling businesses to understand provincial priorities into the future, promoting stability, planning, and investment attraction.
We are encouraged to see that there is funding for downtown revitalization however along with our partners we advocated strongly for supportive housing and mental health investments and will continue to review the budget to see where those funds will be allocated.
Media Contact
Deanna Miyauchi
780-409-2143
dmiyauchi@edmontonchamber.com