The Voice: October 28th, 2025
Municipal Election Results, Fall 2025 Speech from the Throne, Aerospace and Defence opportunities, selling Alberta to the World and more all in this week's edition of The Voice.
Business News
Extending Congratulations and Encouraging Civic Engagement
On October 20, 2025, residents across Southeast Alberta cast their votes in the municipal election, shaping the leadership of our communities for the next four years. The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce congratulates all elected officials and thanks every voter who took the time to participate in this vital democratic process.
In Medicine Hat, Mayor Linnsie Clark was re-elected for a second term, securing 5,875 votes. The new City Council includes Yusuf Mohammed [8,242], Ted Clugston [7,757], Stuart Young [7,006], Chris Hellman [6,610], Bill Cocks [4,455],Cheryl Phaff [4,378], Dan Reynish [3,969] and Brian Varga [3,870].
Brooks elected Norm Gerestein as Mayor with 1,804 votes. He will be joined by a new council including Mara Nesbitt [1,576], Chad Falkenberg [1,261], Jackie Johnson [1,202], Anne-Marie Philipsen [1,166], Mohammed Idriss [1,141] and Mike Regner [1,097]
In Redcliff, Chris Czember won the mayoral race, while Cypress County saw elections in five of its nine wards with all previous incumbent candidates being elected and a new candidate, Garry Procter, elected, after Richard Oster decided not to seek re-election in Ward 7.
In the County of Newell, there were 2 elections, one in Division 4 - Cassils, Bow City, Rainier, Scandia and one in Division 8 – Duchess, with all remaining divisions being acclaimed. Incumbent Holly Johnson was elected in Division 4 and Benjamin Hofer in Division 8.
The Village of Duchess and the Village of Rosemary acclaimed all five incumbent Councillors in each municipality.
Bassano's election resulted in Gary Lee, Matthew Loewen, Sydney Miller, Michael Phillips and Michael Wetzstein as Council members for the upcoming term.
Aaron Fleming, Chamber President, commented on the next four years of municipal council, “Our Chamber will have questions about fiscal responsibility, taxation, and how our municipalities will strategically move forward in the right direction to reduce red tape, attract and retain businesses, and strengthen business competitiveness. We also look at Government accountability and how our municipalities continue to build healthy and safe communities."
"The Chamber of Commerce would happily partner with all of our municipalities to offer our thoughts and any guidance that we have through our policies and from what we've heard from our businesses to be able to help our municipal councils over the next four years. The Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with our elected representatives and connecting business to Government over the next four-year term," concluded Fleming.
While Election Day marks a pivotal moment, civic engagement doesn’t end at the ballot box. The Chamber invites its members to stay involved and informed as we continue our work with elected representatives to strengthen Southeast Alberta’s business climate and community wellbeing.
The first opportunity to engage with elected representatives will be during the Chamber’s Leadership Breakfast events in Cypress-Medicine Hat and Brooks-Newell regions.
The Chamber encourages businesses to visit their Vote Prosperity page to learn more about our advocacy priorities and how you can contribute to shaping the future of our region.
Fall 2025 Speech from the Throne
The throne speech marked the start of the second session of the 31st legislature. Throughout this new legislative session, Alberta’s government will pursue several key priorities for business:
New Personal Income Tax Bracket: An 8% tax rate for Albertans earning up to $60,000 has been implemented.
Budget Discipline: The government will continue to limit non-emergency spending increases to below inflation plus population growth.
Debt Management: Alberta aims to maintain the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in Canada.
Heritage Fund Growth: Plans to grow the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund to at least $35 billion by 2027.
Oil Price Benchmarking: The government will track and aim to reduce the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price needed to balance the budget.
AI Data Centres: A new levy framework has been announced to attract Artificial Intelligence data centres to Alberta.
Investment and Growth Fund: The annual allocation to this fund will increase to $50 million, reflecting its high return on investment.
Government Equity in Private Ventures: A framework will be developed for the government to take reasonable equity stakes in private organizations receiving grants.
Tax Incentive Review: A comprehensive analysis of all provincial tax and industry incentive programs will be conducted to assess effectiveness and return on investment.
Automobile Insurance Reform: Completion of the regulatory framework for the Automobile Insurance Act and launch of the Care-First insurance model by January 1, 2027.
Home Insurance: Regulatory changes will be explored to reduce home insurance premiums.
Procurement Reform: A new procurement secretariat will be established to ensure transparency and fiscal efficiency in government purchasing.
Passenger Rail Strategy: Planning and timelines for implementation will be finalized.
Tourism Taxation: Visitors to Alberta may face adjusted taxes and fees to support sustainable tourism infrastructure.
IP Strategy: A new strategy will allow the government to take ownership stakes in technologies and research developed with public funds.
The government will engage stakeholders to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers that hinder economic growth. Find out more.
Aerospace and Defence Opportunities
Alberta Counsel wrote an article recently about the federal government establishment of the Defence Investment Agency (DIA). This new agency holds the responsibilities of “centralizing expertise, cutting red tape and streamlining decisions” in the field of defence procurement and investment. With the provincial mandate letter to JETI and definitive federal action in defence procurement, this could be a significant evolution in the role of the defence sector as a source for economic development in Alberta. For government, industry, and other stakeholders in Alberta, the convergence posed by these announcements should raise significant questions about the future role of Alberta within the Canadian strategic picture and the subsequent opportunities now afforded by these developments.
The article went on to describe Alberta strategic history in defence with CFB Suffield as the largest base by area in Canada, and serving as a Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) testing ground for a variety of systems.
The article concluded that Alberta is well positioned based on existing industrial capacity, military presence, and strategic importance to play a leading role in the future of Canada’s defence environment. However, to fully capitalize on this opportunity, Alberta must ensure that as per the direction of the mandate letters it does its utmost to coordinate with federal, local, and industry stakeholders. For Alberta’s public and private sector, this confluence of factors should be viewed as an opportunity for long-term investment, growth, and a role to once again contribute to Canada’s rearmament in an increasingly uncertain world.
For interest, the Government of Alberta also produces a monthly aerospace and defence newsletter that highlights events and market intelligence related to the aerospace and defence sector globally. If your company has plans to travel to global markets on individual missions or to events not listed, it might still be valuable for you to reach out to learn how you can take advantage of these opportunities.
Selling Alberta to the world
Did you know that in 2024, Alberta exported goods worth $183 billion CAD to 189 countries? Check out the new marketing materials that promote Alberta to the world, featuring information and stats to help companies pitch to international buyers. Check out the Choose Alberta website (alberta.ca/choosealberta) and key messages, and reach out if you’re interested in receiving print materials to help showcase why the world should buy from Alberta.
Recent enhancements specific for improvements to business
The CRA has recently enhanced some services for businesses, including the following that are specific to My Business Account:
- There is now a “View” capability on the address and owner maintenance screens for business owners and their authorized representatives, allowing them to self-serve and reducing the need to call the CRA.
- The GST/HST access code is available directly to business owners, increasing self-service options and reducing calls to the Business Enquiries phone line.
- There is now access to the account overview page for Specialty Business Returns (Other Levies System) on accounts placed in pending closure status.
Enhancements to other services for business include the following:
- An enhanced Progress tracker service to allow corporations to track the progress of T2 Voluntary Disclosure returns.
- The ability to regain access to their CRA account without the need to call if they have lost access or have been locked out because they forgot their sign-in information.
- An enhancement with the Business Number (BN) system to help mitigate suspicious activities and strengthen safeguards against identity misuse.
- An enhancement to the Business Registration Online (BRO) application to prevent threat actors validating SINs for potential misuse.
- An enhanced T2 for third party software with security measures for filers to obtain Web Access Codes and Digital Access Codes. These include confidential questions that aren’t publicly available, enhanced protection for Corporate Internet Filing pages, and account lockouts after repeated failed login attempts to prevent unauthorized access and bot attacks.
Medicine Hat-Cypress News
Rooted in action – City hosts volunteerism learning series
The City of Medicine Hat is pleased to partner with Volunteer Alberta to host a free volunteerism learning series aimed at rejuvenating and educating the volunteer base in the community.
The series is hosted by the City, facilitated by Volunteer Alberta, and made possible through funding from the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program. Read the full news release linked below to learn more on the upcoming dates of these sessions, and how to register.
Brooks-Newell News
Business Spotlight
Calling All Local Business Owners! Are you a business owner in the Brooks Newell Region? Our team is always on the lookout for great local businesses to promote — and it’s basically free advertising! Don’t miss your chance to get featured.
Interested? Send us an email at ecdev@brooks.ca or share your story directly on our website!
Business Roundtable - Duchess
Let’s talk business! Join us in Duchess for a casual roundtable where local business owners come together to chat about challenges, share ideas, and connect.
When? Wednesday, November 5, 2025 (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM)
Where? Village of Duchess Office, meeting room
Learn more and register here.
2025 Brooks Leadership Breakfast
Advocacy in Action
Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce Highlights Annual Leadership Breakfast
The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted its annual Leadership Breakfast yesterday morning for Cypress-Medicine Hat, bringing together senior municipal leaders, along with community stakeholders, for a morning of dialogue, insight, and collaboration.
The event featured an interactive Leadership Panel with senior representatives from the City of Medicine Hat, Cypress County, and the Town of Redcliff, including:
- Al Hoggan, Chief Administrative Officer, Cypress County
- Shanon Simon, Municipal Manager, Town of Redcliff
- Rochelle Pancoast – Managing Director, Energy, Land and Environment, City of Medicine Hat
- Pat Bohan – Managing Director, Development and Infrastructure, City of Medicine Hat
- Joseph Hutter – Managing Director, Public Services, City of Medicine Hat
The recent municipal election shifted this year's event format and focus. This event was traditionally the Mayor’s Breakfast, later evolving into a panel with elected representatives across the region. However, with this year's municipal election, the Chamber requested that Senior Leadership from the City of Medicine Hat, Cypress County, and Redcliff join and share their perspectives on the accomplishments they have seen within each municipality, as well as how they manage transitions during an election year.
"It was a valuable opportunity to gain insight into the accomplishments and what administration has been working on, as well as finding out more about how municipalities transition during an election year", remarked Aaron Fleming, President of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Panellists discussed key measures of success and strategies for onboarding new council members with an emphasis on their commitment to serving their respective communities.
CAO, Al Hoggan, concluded his presentation with energy for the new year, commenting, "It is time to check under its hood to see if any adjustments are needed. We will complete our new and improved Land Use Bylaw. We will continue to be a regional partner and leader, and most of all, we will do our best to ensure our residents have a quality place to live, to work, and to play, and that visitors to our municipality and region will fall in love with our people and our way of life."
The City of Medicine Hat provided a presentation highlighting areas of Energy, Land and Environment, Development and Infrastructure and key priorities in Public Services with Rochelle Pancoast, concluding, "Early in 2026, City Council will complete a new Strategic Plan and Administration will support the newly elected Council by developing the Business Plans and Budgets that will actively deliver on their Strategic Plans."
CAO, Shanon Simon shared their accomplishments through the work completed in the Town of Redcliff, along with highlighting the regional collaboration on the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunities strategy and the annual events they have successfully delivered in Redcliff with the most recent event being the Fall Harvest Festival.
The Chamber extends its thanks to all speakers, attendees, and partners who made the 2025 Leadership Breakfast a success and is looking forward to hosting the next Leadership Breakfast in the Brooks-Newell region on November 5. For more information on upcoming events and initiatives, visit www.southeastalbertachamber.ca.
Next Level Events
2025 Tek Day by Partek
TEK DAY is a free, exclusive event designed to give business leaders practical insights into today’s most pressing technology challenges. Learn directly from industry experts on cybersecurity, AI, and business continuity, and leave with clear strategies you can apply to protect your business, make informed decisions, and leverage technology for growth.
Bring your team and clients along to TEK DAY. The insights shared will benefit everyone—offering a chance to build stronger connections, explore new perspectives, and take away strategies that drive growth and innovation for your business.
November 4th, 2025 | More details and registration here
SIP AND LEARN
Discover how entrepreneurial thinking can energize teams and inspire fresh ideas in this one-hour Sip & Learn session. You’ll get a taste of Leading with an Entrepreneurial Mindset, a Medicine Hat College Extended Learning course designed to nurture innovation and creativity within organizations. Through engaging discussion and a short, practical activity, you’ll explore simple ways to spark new thinking and collaboration. Leave with insights you can apply right away and the curiosity to dive deeper in the full course.
*Appetizers are included in the price of admission, and a cash bar is available.
This event is a collaborative learning experience presented by Medicine Hat College - Extended Learning and the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce. Register for this event here.
3rd Annual Cypress County Ag Connections Conference Presented by MNP Registration
Join us for the 2025 Ag Connections Conference Presented by MNP, a one-day event bringing together cattle and crop producers, agri-businesses, and industry experts from across Southeast Alberta. This conference is your opportunity to connect, collaborate, and grow with others who are shaping the future of agriculture.
This year's conference will feature keynote speakers, expert panels, and engaging sessions that cover the latest trends, tools, and technologies in modern farming and ranching. With a focus on resilience, innovation, and sustainability. Don’t miss the chance to gather with ag professionals, explore new perspectives, and strengthen the connections that keep our rural economy thriving!
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Location: Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Grounds
NEW: Pre-Conference Tour Wednesday, November 12 | Tour TRAD Worms & more!
For more information, visit www.cypresscountybusiness.ca
Confirmed Speakers:
Keynote: Premier Danielle Smith | Keynote Address & Q&A
Keynote: Jessica Holmes | Celebrated Comedian, Author & Mental Health Advocate | "Mental Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Funny"
Keynote: Shaun Haney | Founder of RealAgricutlure and Host of RealAg Radio | "5 Things to Watch out for in Canadian Agriculture"
MC: Katelyn Duban, The WildRose Farmer | First Generation Farmer and Podcast Host
Enriching Your Business
There's a reason Chambers Plan is Canada's #1 plan.
JoAnne Letkeman, Exclusive Chamber Group Advisor
Medicine Hat & District | (403) 504-2166 ext 1.
Scott Walls, Exclusive Chamber Group Advisor
Brooks-Newell Region | (403) 892-9675
Fuelling the Business Community
Check Out Our Chamber Members
Curious as to who is a Chamber Member? Check out our Member directory! Discover and connect with local companies across various industries in our region. Users are not permitted to use the Business Directory to email or contact in bulk. All users must comply and be in accordance with Canadian anti-spam legislation.
We continually look forward to helping our members during their business journey and wish each the best in all future endeavors. We are extremely happy to have such amazing members, and are very glad that we can serve a part in that journey! Keep your eye out for more new member posts moving forward!
Elavon – Special Promotion
When you open a new payment processing account by November 30, 2025, you could receive a $200 statement credit.* The right payment solution can help grow your business, increase customer loyalty, and set you apart from competitors. With flexible point-of-sale solutions customized for your business needs, we make accepting payments easier for you and your customers.
What are you waiting for? For over 30 years we have been helping businesses of every size provide fast and secure payments. Let us do the same for you.
* To qualify for the promotion, you must sign up for a new payment processing account with Elavon Canada between October 1 and November 30, 2025. Merchant accounts must be activated and actively process-ing payment transactions by December 15, 2025 for a minimum of one week and be in an open status at the time of the incentive credit. A one-time $200 credit will be applied to your Elavon statement within 90 days after the first deposit date. Limit one credit per customer. Cannot be combined with another offer. Elavon reserves the right in its sole discretion to modify, suspend or terminate the promotion at any time without additional notice. Restrictions may apply. Services provided by Elavon Canada Company.
Saamis Immigration Services Launches Intercultural Workplace Integration (SIWI) Program Website, Employer Tools and Workshops
Medicine Hat, AB – Saamis Immigration Services Association is pleased to announce its new Supporting Intercultural Workplace Integration (SIWI) Program with several key developments to support employers in Southeast Alberta.
The official SIWI website is now live at http://www.siwi.ca, offering a comprehensive overview of the initiative. The site will continue to evolve as the program grows, providing updates, resources, and event information on resources for workplace integration.
SIWI is also expanding its digital presence. You can now follow the program on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube by searching “Supporting Intercultural Workplace Integration”, where videos will be shared to highlight the program’s mission and impact.
AI for sales and marketing
Sales and marketing are ideal areas for leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools. In sales, there is lots of data. It demands personalized strategies. AI excels at data analysis and customer targeting. So, it is perfect for this task. Also, marketing's focus on content creation—text, images, or video—plays to AI's strengths in creating and optimizing creative assets.
Fill Up On Funding
TRUE NORTH BUSINESS GRANTS
True North Business Grants is dedicated to supporting Canadian businesses with accessible funding opportunities. This program provides $1,000 grants to help small businesses across Canada grow, innovate, and thrive. Each grant cycle will run quarterly, with the first open until November 30, 2025. Recipients will be announced on December 15, with funds disbursed by December 31. As a Canadian-based company, they know firsthand how limited grant opportunities are for Canadian entrepreneurs. The True North Business Grants were created to fill this gap, ensuring more businesses have the resources they need to succeed and make an impact in their communities. Find out more.
TAP into your global growth potential
Ready to go global? Alberta’s Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) is a free, high-impact initiative designed to help small and medium-sized businesses expand into international markets. Through expert-led workshops and personalized mentorship, TAP provides practical guidance on export strategy, marketing, sales, financing, legal, logistics and more. We recently announced $2.8 million to fund TAP for Alberta to help 650+ companies access TAP over the next five years, because we know how important international trade is for the Alberta economy and how helpful this program is for businesses looking to grow.
Learn more at alberta.ca/tap, hear for yourself from Alberta companies who have taken TAP, check out the upcoming cohorts in Edmonton (starting November 4) and Calgary (starting November 25), and consider how TAP can support your company preparing for an international trade mission.
Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant
Funded by the Government of Alberta, the Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant (AMPG) helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers with between 5 and 750 employees improve their operations, invest in technology to automate production and increase competitiveness in markets across Canada and abroad. The program guidelines are available here: https://cme-mec.ca/guidelines-ampg/
Apply now to access an assessment of the viability of your chosen technology, and up to $30,000 in matching funding for technology adoption. Deadline: October 31, 2026
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle Answers
Did you figure it out? Here are the answers for the October 21st crossword puzzle.
Remember that subscribing to our weekly email gets you access to the crossword puzzle. Anyone who sends us their answers will get their name put into our quarterly draw.
The prize? Receive 5 promotional credits with us (for members) or credit towards a membership (for non-members)! Oh and bragging rights that you're a crossword master.
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