The Voice: November 4th, 2025
Newly elected council members, the water amendment act, jobs, economy, trade and immigration released two new trade websites, the electoral boundaries report, new mandate letters for Associate Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries and more all in this week's edition of The Voice.
Business News
Congratulations to all of our Newly Elected Council MembersĀ
The Southeast Alberta Chamber extended our congratulations to all elected leaders in our eight municipalities across the region, while also encouraging civic engagement among our business community.Ā
Now that the organizational meetings have concluded, the councils are now set for each region. Once all information is updated, Election results will be available on the Municipal Data and Statistics web page here: Municipal Election Results and municipal contacts can be located here: Find a Municipal Contact.Ā
Bill 7, the Water Amendment Act
The Water Act hasnāt been meaningfully updated since 1999. With a growing population, thriving economy and parts of Alberta experiencing water shortages in recent years, updates are needed to help Albertans share, use and access water more effectively. Under Bill 7, the foundation of Albertaās 120-year-old water system remains firmly in place. The foundation of our system is working, and we are building on that success. There will be no reductions or clawbacks in allocations for existing licences. Albertaās water licence priority system based on the principles of first-in-time, first-in-right is remaining. And royalties, bulk or volumetric pricing of water are not included in this legislation. Currently, licence holders can face time-consuming approvals and delays when they try to amend licences.
Bill 7 will let government set mandatory timelines for reviewing applications and allow farmers, ranchers and others to more easily adjust their licence and bring all their allocations under one licence, making it easier to adapt to conditions on the ground and maximize how effectively water is used.Ā
The amendments will also make it easier for Alberta communities and others to use rainwater from rooftops and to reuse wastewater. The proposed changes will broaden the definitions and allow the use of alternative sources of water, giving the government the ability to set future policy and regulations to increase water reuse for municipalities, industry and others. Bill 7 would also define a new category of lower-risk inter-basin transfers to be approved by a ministerial order, not a special act of the legislature. Only lower-risk transfers that meet strict environmental standards and limits would be considered. Any high-risk transfers would still require a special act of the legislature.
Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration recently released two new Trade websites
New content includes a contact page, general trade key messages and a trade events page. Choose Alberta, Canada (alberta.ca/choosealberta) was launched for international audiences to highlight Albertaās trade and investment strengths, opportunities, and resources.Ā
Resources for Alberta Exporters (alberta.ca/export) was launched for domestic audiences to highlight missions, the Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP), the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) and other resources.Ā
Electoral Boundaries ReportĀ
The Electoral Boundaries Commission is an independent commission established under the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act to review the existing electoral boundaries. Changes to provincial law in the Fall of 2024 increased the number of constituencies from 87 to 89 for the general election. The Interim Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission was tabled and posted on assembly.ab.ca.
More information can be found at https://abebc.ca/.Ā
Additional Mandate Letters Outlining Priorities for Associate Ministers and Parliamentary SecretariesĀ
The new mandate letters outline direction for associate ministers and parliamentary secretaries to support ministers and cover water, multiculturalism, settlement services and Ukrainian evacuees, small business and northern development, affordability and utilities, Indigenous and rural policing, constitutional affairs, rural health and health-workforce engagement.Ā Ā
For Grant Hunter, Associate Minister for Water, heāll be looking at developing water conveyance strategies for dry regions, especially in southern Alberta; and potential infrastructure investments (e.g., irrigation expansion, specialty crop support) that may impact agri-food processors and water-dependent industries.Ā
Muhammad Yaseen, Associate Minister for Multiculturalism, will look at Labour Market Integration: Enhancing funding for mentoring and labour attachment programs for newcomers. Evaluating Holiday Flexibility Legislation: Reviewing models to allow cultural communities to observe holidays without burdening businesses. Supporting councils to address systemic barriers, which may influence workplace diversity and HR practices.Ā Ā
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, Parliamentary Secretary for Settlement Services and Ukrainian Evacuees will focus on supporting settlement services that help newcomers integrate into the workforce, which may involve collaboration with local employers and chambers to facilitate job placements and community support.Ā
For the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Northern Development, Tany Yao, her Business-Relevant focus will be on identifying challenges and opportunities for small businesses, and promoting cross-border trade and reducing barriers with U.S. states.Ā
Chantelle de Jonge, Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities will lead engagement on nuclear energy development and potential opportunities for energy sector businesses, as well as reviewing Albertaās electricity pricing system to reduce transmission and distribution costs and support competitive utility markets and affordability for consumers and businesses.Ā Ā
The Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous and Rural Policing, Nolan Dyck will focus on enhancing public safety in rural and Indigenous communities, which may involve partnerships with local businesses for community safety initiatives.Ā
Our local MLA, Justin Wright, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health will seek to improve rural healthcare access, which supports workforce retention in remote areas. Work to reduce surgical backlogs and ER wait times and support equity in healthcare access, which may benefit employers by reducing wait times and downtime. He will also engage with Regional Advisory Councils to reflect local business needs in health policy.Ā
Chelsae Petrovic, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Workforce Engagement, will engage directly with frontline health workers to inform system reform, which could ultimately support initiatives that improve recruitment and retention in healthcare-related businesses.Ā
Medicine Hat-Cypress News
Gas, electric, wind energy rates set for November 2025
Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting
The calculated electricity rate for October, November and December 2025 is $0.05145 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) which, under theĀ Electric Utility Bylaw 2244, defaults to the minimumĀ $0.07000Ā per kWh forĀ Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers.
The rate is based on a twelve-month, volume weighted forecast as per theĀ ICE-NGX wholesale electricity energy market, not to exceed a maximum of 11 cents per kWh or go below a minimum rate of seven cents per kWh, and is recalculated on the first business day of January, April, July, and October.
Housing in Medicine Hat and area still playing catch up, experts say
Medicine HatĀ and other southeastern Alberta municipalities are issuing more building permits as they face the same housing shortage challenges that nearly every city and town across Canada is dealing with.
TheĀ Alberta governmentĀ has seen some success trying to tackle the issue head on, with over 4,300 housing permits being issued last month alone.
City of BrooksĀ manager of community development Lisa Tiffin said the city has issued significantly more permits year to date to address concerns and has gone so far to recommend other developers visit neighboring townships.
āIf we donāt have that within our policies, or we donāt really have that worked into our land use bylaw, thatās not to say that Taber doesnāt or Bow Island or Dutchess or any of these other communities,ā Tiffin said.
Brooks-Newell News
Alberta Canola Survey
Alberta Canola is surveying farmers to better understand how research funding can be more impactful for farmers across the province.
Alberta Canola is committed to funding research projects that help farmers succeed. Help decide which challenges, opportunities and innovations Alberta Canola should invest in next - great research starts with farmer insights.
What you need to know:
- Responses will directly guide how Alberta Canola invests grower dollars
- It takes less than 10 minutes to complete the online portion
- It's open to all canola growers in Alberta, whether or not they've engaged with Alberta Canola before.
- There is an optional follow-up phone survey, which participants can opt in or out of.
Survey Deadline | December 17, 2025
Read about this on the County of Newell Website
Business Spotlight
The City of Brooks recently hosted a Council Orientation led by George Cuff, bringing together elected officials from the City of Brooks, County of Newell, Town of Bassano, Village of Duchess, and Village of Rosemary.
This kind of collaboration strengthens the region and sets the stage for shared success. When we work together, we build stronger communitiesāfor everyone who calls this place home.
Business Roundtable - Duchess
Letās 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.
Advocacy in Action
Requests for Input
Beneficial Ownership Engagement: The business community, including Indigenous businesses, can share input on proposed legislative amendments to the Business Corporations Act.
You can view all GoA Public Engagement opportunities here: Search Public EngagementsĀ
Improving the Regulatory Environment for Natural Health ProductsĀ
In April 2024, the Chamber responded to our members' request to establish a forum for businesses in the health and wellness sector to connect and share ideas and perspectives and a way to get to know other businesses in the health and wellness sector for both regulated and unregulated industries. A committee was established to represent the regionās health and wellness sector, creating a forum to listen and respond to both public and industry concerns and identify and address issues impacting the Health and Wellness sector. The Chamber adopted a policy position in June 2024, focused on Improving the Regulatory Environment for Natural Health Products.Ā
The policy position was then submitted and approved by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in October 2024 and was introduced by MP Blain Calkins and referred to the Standing Committee on Health. However, when parliament was prorogued all committee work, including the agenda of the Standing Committee on Health, was halted.
We recently checked to find out if the bill would be introduced and MP Glen Motz did share that MP Blaine Calkins presented Bill C-224. It completed First Reading on September 18, 2025, but at this point we have no indication yet on the timelines for how it will move forward.Ā
We will continue to monitor progress to ensure this continues to move forward.Ā Ā
You can view our previous post on this topic here.Ā
Economic Growth Forum: Empowering Growth | Inspiring Collaboration
This year's Economic Growth theme was: Empowering Growth | Inspiring Collaboration
By attending this session, as your local Chamber, we were able to hear about and dive into a mix of timely topics, from current economic conditions and regional activity updates to new exciting opportunities. We were able to gain insights into workforce development, housing initiatives, the emerging aerospace sector, energy transition, regional success stories, and more.
Through various expert-led sessions focused on sharing best practices, real collaboration strategies, and practical solutions, we were able to pull key highlights and insights into sustainable growth, overcoming challenges, and succeeding together as a region.
We are now sharing our insights with you about what we learned so you can be a part of making Southeast Alberta thrive!
Next Level Events
FREE Retail Virtual EventĀ Ā
This holiday season, shoppers are driven by values, emotion, and convenienceāÆā and retailers who can tap into all three will win.Ā
Join us for aāÆvirtual half-day eventāÆthat explores how agentic AI is reshaping retail, what truly motivates gift-giving, and how you can turn retail media into a powerful source of revenue.
SIP AND LEARN
Discover how entrepreneurial thinking can energize teams and inspire fresh ideas in this one-hour Sip & Learn session. Youāll get a taste ofĀ 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, youāll 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 byĀ Medicine Hat College - Extended LearningĀ and theĀ Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce. Register for this event here.
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 RegionĀ | (403) 892-9675
Fuelling the Business Community
Check Out Our Chamber Members
We would like to welcomeĀ Reel Reflection StudiosĀ and Becky Mae CreativeĀ to the Chamber Family!
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!
Local Advisor Receives National RecognitionĀ
At this yearās National Conference for Chambers Plan advisors, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, local advisorāÆJoAnne LetkemanāÆofāÆBrightan Financial Strategies Inc.āÆwas recognized as aāÆTop Producer in Canada.Ā
This prestigious award, presented in September 2025, celebrates exceptional performance and dedication in serving Chambers Plan clients across the country.āÆ JoAnne is recognized for working closely with clients to ensure they receive the best possible solutions. Specializing in health and dental plans for businesses, she has proudly served the community in this role for 17 years through her business.Ā
"Being an advisor with the opportunity to offer the Chambers Plan has been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to work with Medicine Hat business owners and their teams," says JoAnne.Ā
Congratulations to Daphne Antsey-Martin, Awarded Ministerās Seniors Service AwardsĀ
For over 14 years, Daphne Anstey-Martin has been a key contributor to Brooks & District Seniors Outreach, leading initiatives that improve the quality of life for local seniors. She revitalized the Meals on Wheels program, growing it from 17 to over 80 participants within 8 months, and introduced a Christmas Day meal delivery service to ensure no senior is left alone during the holidays. Identifying the need for greater social connection, Daphne organized affordable bus trips for shopping and theatre outings, expanding the program to accommodate over 100 seniors annually. She also built a strong volunteer network of 70 drivers through innovative community outreach efforts. In 2024, Daphne responded to emerging needs by coordinating 2 holiday gift campaigns, reaching more than 400 seniors across the region. Her leadership, resourcefulness and dedication have made a lasting difference to the well-being of seniors in her community. Find out more and view the newsĀ
Family Violence Prevention MonthĀ Ā
Alongside the annual memorial walk on November 3, the Medicine Hat Womenās Shelter has a number of programs and events throughout the month to raise awareness and provide ways for the community to come together to learn more about this issue, what local resources are available, and how each person can be a part of building a safer community.
You can find more information and the list of Family Violence Prevention Month events here on the MHWSS's website.Ā
Elavon ā Special Promotion
When you open a new payment processing account byĀ 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?Ā 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.
Fill Up On Funding
You.Scaled. Accelerator ProgramāÆĀ
This program represents a pivotal moment for Canadian organizations: A first-of-its-kind $5 million initiative to democratize professional-grade AI across Canada. Only 500 grants are available nationwide (350 for small and medium businesses, 150 for nonprofits).āÆWith only 9% of Canadian businesses and 4.8% of nonprofits currently using AI, this program addresses a critical competitive gap threatening organizational survival in the digital economy.āÆ
Application deadline:āÆNovember 15, 2025āÆ
AI for Canadian energy innovation call for proposalsĀ
The Government of Canada has launched the Artificial Intelligence for Canadian Energy Innovation call for proposals to support research and demonstration projects that use AI to advance energy innovation and reduce costs. Alberta businesses in clean energy, technology, and industrial sectors are well-positioned to participate.
Expressions of Interest are due December 4, 2025.
Canadian businesses impacted by response to U.S. tariffs to benefit from reliefĀ
The Minister of Finance and National Revenue announced relief to support Canadian businesses affected by the countermeasures Canada has announced in response to the tariffs imposed by the United States. In keeping with the governmentās approach to protect Canadian workers and their families, and to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of the surtaxes on Canadaās economyāthe Minister announced that:Ā
- the current exemption for U.S. goods used in manufacturing, processing, or food and beverage packaging has been extended for an additional two months, and now includes goods used in agricultural production.Ā
- the temporary exemption from tariffs on imports of U.S. goods that are used to support public health, health care, public safety and national security objectives has also been extended for an additional two months.Ā
- In addition to these changes, further relief from Canadaās tariffs on imports from the U.S. and China have now been implemented for companies that met strict conditions such as demonstrating short supply or existing contractual obligations.Ā
Alberta grants and funding programsĀ
Explore available grants and funding opportunities in Alberta. Please note that some programs may have specific application windows.
Google Local Services AdsĀ
Trying to connect with local customers but not sure how? Google Local Services Ads can put your business directly in front of prospects near you. This guide will cover how to grow your business, build trust with local customers, and simplify your advertising with Local Services Ads for lead generation.
Funding for Indigenous Partnerships in Critical Minerals ProjectsĀ
Natural Resources Canada has launched the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) Indigenous Grants stream, providing up to $3 million in total funding to support Indigenous organizations or partnerships with Indigenous communities. Grants of up to $150,000 (or $200,000 for northern/remote projects) are available to help develop critical minerals projects and associated infrastructure.
Application deadline: December 17, 2025
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle Answers
Did you figure it out? Here are the answers for theĀ October 28th 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.
Other News
Other Resources
Alberta Economy - Indicators at a Glance
Labour Market Notes - September 2025
Quarterly Alberta Job Vacancy Report for the second quarter (Q2) of 2025
Labour market rebounds after a summer slowdown
Alberta Labour Force Highlights ā September 2025
Alberta Indigenous Labour Force Highlights ā September 2025
Unemployment rate and employment in Albertaās sub-regions : July 2025
Other Events
Non-Profits - Fall 2025 Webinars
Events ā APEX | Regional Innovation Network of Southeast Alberta
November 5 | Expand your Customer Base: Proven Strategies for Growth
November 6 | Volunteer Alberta
November 13 | Beyond Bootstrap: Building Support for Self-Funded Growth
November 12, 15 | Financial responsibility ā Board Development: Register for Nov 12, Register for Nov 15
November 18 | Psychosocial Hazards: Applying the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety
November 19 | Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) and the Student Work Placement Program
Useful Links
Follow us on social media for up-to-the-minute updates
The Voice: November 4th, 2025
Newly elected council members, the water amendment act, jobs, economy, trade and immigration released two new trade websites, the electoral boundaries report, new mandate letters for Associate Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries and more all in this week’s edition of The Voice. Business News Congratulations to all of our Newly Elected Council MembersĀ The Southeast Alberta…
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Small Business Week, Municipal Election Day, Getting it done for Albertans: Smart Spending, Lasting Results, BDC: The importance and impacts of consumer spending on business and GDP and more all in this week’s edition of The Voice. Business News Small Business Week: October 19th – 25th The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce is proud to…
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