AlbertaBETTER

7 of 10 Canadians believe that Canada's immigration system needs to change, with only 28% of Canadians feeling like the current system is working. So where did we go wrong, and what can we do to get back to setting ourselves apart on the global stage?

You might know him as Former Premier of Alberta, or as the longest serving federal Minister of Immigration. But on this episode of The Brief, we speak with the Hon. Jason Kenney to breakdown Canada's immigration system, identify the opportunities and barriers present within, and outline the role of economic immigrants in Canadian society.

We also discuss the ideal archetype for incoming Canadians, the connection between immigration, economic growth, and national productivity, and what we need to do to set ourselves apart on the global stage.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

Alberta has seen the strongest employment growth of all large provinces, but while resilient, Alberta has not escaped weak expectations globally or nationally. The labour market is softening, unemployment has ticked up, and Albertans are still feeling the impact of inflation and interest rates, with less than half feeling good about their finances.

Despite this, Alberta businesses are among the most optimistic in the country, and they intend to continue to spend on capital this year. Further, Alberta is attracting a larger share of venture capital dollars, despite a national dip in overall investment.

On this episode, we’re back with BCA’s economics team, Mike Holden and Alicia Planincic, to break down the Spring 2024 update of the Alberta Snapshot, an all-points summary of Alberta’s economy.

We look at the labour market and employment, check up on consumer spending and general affordability, and discuss business expectations and the state of the economy. We also look ahead at indicators to watch and ruminate on what we hope is to come.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

There are many things in today’s world that we take for granted, and one of those things is the consistent, reliable access of electricity to our homes. Albertans have high expectations when it comes to the delivery of power from Alberta’s electrical grid, but providing that reliability is no easy task when you service 85% of Albertans.

In this episode, we speak with Gary Hart, President & CEO of AltaLINK, to discuss his journey to the C-Suite, where his leadership philosophy originated, and the areas of focus at AltaLink that are part of the organization’s “no quit” strategy.

We also speak to Gary about the realities of decarbonizing the electrical grid, the current state of affairs, and the need for interties to nearby regions, amongst a variety of other topics.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

Like many immigrants to Canada, the going was not always easy. But for Amir Shami, President & CEO of Rotaflow Group of Companies, backing down was never going to be an option.

Now, years after obtaining his P. Eng in Alberta and returning to school to gain the business prowess he felt he was missing, Amir is a thoughtful Albertan leader looking to contribute to the betterment of this province.

In this episode, we talk to Amir about his journey to the C-Suite, his journey to Canada as a new immigrant, his advice for young professionals, and tips and tricks for navigating the re-certification process for newcomers.

We also talked to Amir about his time in Ottawa as part of the One Alberta. One Canada. business advocacy mission, check-in on why he was drawn to the Council’s prosperity-driven immigration task force, and hear from him on what he learned about being a leader.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

With a storied career in Alberta government, we can’t think of many people with a more impressive portfolio.

From Minister of Agriculture, Advanced Education, Technology, and Finance, to his role as Deputy Premier, all the way to his current role as Partner as P3 Capital Partners, Doug Horner is a through and through Alberta leader who has worked extensively to help make Alberta better.

In this episode, we talk to Doug about his journey to the C-Suite, ask for some insights from his time in government, and have him walk us through the offerings at P3 Capital Partners. We also talk to Doug about the Horner legacy, how family member Minister Nate Horner is doing in his role as Finance Minister, and look ahead to the future of Alberta.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

2024. The year that must not be named. The Voldemort of years.

After a generation of globalization, peace between major powers, economic integration, and stability, we find ourselves in 2024 in a new political, social, and economic world, and business leaders find themselves thinking about geopolitics more than at any time in recent history.

On today’s episode, we are taking things global. We’re joined by geopolitical experts from the Eurasia Group—Willis Sparks, the Director, Global Macro, and Anna Ashton, Director, China Corporate Affairs and US-China—to talk about the top political risks facing us this year. We’ve packed a lot into this episode, covering a vast range of topics: Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, US election, China, Canada and the US, energy markets, food, and much more!

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

It’s not every day that you encounter a person who runs not one, not two, but multiple companies simultaneously, while also wearing many different hats including Chair, Managing Partner and CEO. But for Irfhan Rawji, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Realize Capital Partners, doing so is simply the only way he knows how to exist.

In our first episode of C-Suite Unplugged for 2024, we talk to Irfhan about his busy and intense life, his journey to the C-Suite, and more about Realize Capital Partners. We also take a deep dive into the current state of immigration in Canada, address some of the challenges facing the system, and look to the future of Alberta and the country as a whole for where we should focus our efforts.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

Alberta's opportunity to contribute to global solutions in agriculture, energy, and health is immense. Seizing this opportunity will take big ideas, lots of collaboration, and a little “can do” attitude.

In the special series of The Brief, called Missions & Moonshots, we are talking to top experts, business leaders, innovators, and thought leaders across Alberta and Canada exploring solutions to the world’s biggest challenges in energy, agriculture, and health.

Our guest is Adam Sweet, the Director for Western Canada at Clean Prosperity to discuss the changing global investment landscape and how Alberta can use its superpower—the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation—to not just play the game but win.

Adam Sweet’s discussion paper can be read here: http://bit.ly/3h5Lb0k

About Adam Sweet

Adam Sweet is Clean Prosperity’s Director for Western Canada. Adam joined Clean Prosperity from the Government of Alberta, where he helped establish Canada’s first ESG Secretariat as its Executive Director, ESG Coordination and Integration. Albertan by birth and by choice, Adam returned home to Alberta in 2013 following many years in Ottawa working on Parliament Hill, including in Canada’s Environment Minister’s Office in 2011-13. Prior to that, Adam spent time in Canada’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., and served nearly two years on the ground in Afghanistan deployed with the Canadian Government.

Immigration has long been a key part of Canada’s ethos. For decades, Canadians have been pro-immigration, citing its benefits for the economy, but also its contributions to the rich tapestry of culture, language, and tradition.

However, as Canadians navigate the rising cost of living, housing affordability, and access to public services, many—two-thirds in fact—believe that Canada’s targets to welcome 1.5 million newcomers to the country over the next three years is a little (or a lot) off the mark.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Mikal Skuterud, a labour economist from the University of Waterloo and the Director at the Canadian Labour Economic Forum to talk immigration, how Canada’s system works, and where it’s going wrong. We also address productivity challenges and speak to the Council’s latest task force on Prosperity-Driven Immigration.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

As we enter 2024, Alberta finds itself in a relatively strong position compared to the rest of Canada and is forecasted, once again, to be a leader in economic growth for the nation. This strength is underpinned by Alberta’s outperformance in several areas including population growth, renewed vitality in the resources sector, a stronger labour market, and strong residential and capital investment. But while Alberta holds strong, the rest of the country finds itself sputtering.

On this episode, we’re back with BCA’s economics team, Mike Holden and Alicia Planincic, to break down the Winter 2024 update of the Alberta Snapshot, an all-points summary of Alberta’s economy.

We look at the labour market and employment, check up on consumer spending and general affordability and discuss business expectations and the state of the economy. We also look ahead at indicators to watch and opine on what’s to come.

------------

About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV