The Voice: July 7th, 2026
Why Succession Planning Matters, Fraudulent First Aid Certificates, Diversifying the Province's Economy is the Top Priority for Alberta Businesses, and more all in this week's edition of The Voice.
Business News
When It’s Time to Step Away: Why Succession Planning Matters
You’ve worked hard to build your business, and planning for the future can help protect what you’ve created. Whether you’re preparing for retirement, exploring a new opportunity or facing the unexpected, succession planning can make transitions easier for you, your team and your customers. This resource outlines the options available and how preparing early can help reduce uncertainty.
Fraudulent First Aid Certificates
Alberta OHS has recently identified an increase in instances of fraudulent or invalid first aid certificates. Providing workplace first aid that meets Alberta OHS requirements is a legal responsibility and designated first aiders must be trained through an Alberta OHS approved workplace first aid training agency.
Employers are encouraged to review the OHS training scams and high-pressure sales tactics bulletin to help identify misleading or fraudulent training offers and to ensure workers’ certifications are valid and meet Alberta OHS requirements.
For more information on approved training agencies, verifying certificates, additional supporting resources or to apply for approval to teach workplace first aid courses in Alberta, see the latest list of Approved first aid training agencies and Alberta’s first aid training website
Diversifying the province's economy is the top priority for Alberta businesses
Businesses continue to rank removing interprovincial trade barriers as their top priority (71%), while the public is increasingly focused on economic diversification, with support rising 11 points since 2024.
A total of 681 businesses completed the survey between May 22 and June 17, 2026. Additionally, an online panel of 800 members of the Alberta public completed the survey between June 6 and June 14, 2026. As part of the survey, questions on Alberta separation discourse were asked related to current impact on their business/place of employment and the provincial economy. In addition, questions relating to the CUSMA negotiations were also asked.
Medicine Hat-Cypress News
Community Vibrancy Grant application window re-opens
The City of Medicine Hat has begun accepting applications for the Community Vibrancy Grant’s Community Project and Activities funding stream. The latest application window focuses on projects and activities which take place in 2027.
The Community Project and Activities application window has $55,000 in funding available for 2027. Applications will be accepted until Friday, August 28, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Brooks-Newell News
IQubed: Todd Hirsch on Navigating Economic Chaos
Economic uncertainty, global disruption, and rapid technological change are reshaping how we live and do business. Join renowned economist, author, and keynote speaker Todd Hirsch for an engaging discussion on the forces driving change—from inflation and trade instability to AI and shifting global markets.
September 10 | Brooks event | Learn more and register here
Request for Proposal - Communications Audit Services
The County of Newell invites proposals from qualified consulting firms to conduct a comprehensive Communications Audit of the organization's internal and external communications practices, systems, channels, governance, and capacity. The successful proponent will assess current communications effectiveness, identify strengths and opportunities for improvement, and provide actionable recommendations to support organizational transparency, efficiency, and public trust.
RFP closes August 12 @ 2PM MST. Read the Request for Proposal and find instructions on how to submit here: https://countyofnewell.ab.ca/tenders
Advocacy in Action
CUSMA Review Begins as Canada–U.S. Trade Discussions Continue
The first mandatory review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) officially begins this week, marking the start of a formal review process rather than a deadline for the Agreement itself. Canadian officials have emphasized that CUSMA remains in force regardless of the July 1 milestone, with discussions expected to continue in the months ahead.
Canada has reaffirmed its support for renewing the agreement, while Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Negotiator Janice Charette have continued discussions with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, including meetings on the margins of the G7 Leaders' Summit. Both sides have indicated that dialogue is ongoing, with attention focused on addressing longstanding trade issues affecting both economies.
While the CUSMA review is now underway, Canadian officials continue to identify U.S. Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobiles and other sectors as the most immediate priority for businesses. Separately, the Government of Canada introduced legislation to strengthen enforcement against imports made with forced labour following the U.S. proposal of new Section 301 tariffs tied to forced labour enforcement, although CUSMA-compliant goods would remain exempt under the proposal. As negotiations continue, businesses will be looking for greater certainty on tariffs and the future direction of the North American trading relationship, while governments have consistently signalled that the review process will extend beyond this initial milestone.
Canada reaffirms Alberta partnership on energy, investment and major projects
The Government of Canada reaffirmed its commitment to the Canada–Alberta Memorandum of Understanding to advance major resource and infrastructure projects, improve regulatory coordination, and attract investment. Federal officials highlighted the Major Projects Office, a "one project, one review" approach, and more than 20 nation-building projects moving through the system.
Next Level Events
Co-op Ribbon Cutting: Chester's Chicken, Liquor Store, and Dog Spot
South Country Co-op is celebrating 70 years and is almost 20 communities across Southern Alberta.
The Co-op Dunmore Gas Bar and Liquor Store have received an updated look! Including the addition of Chester’s Chicken, located inside the Gas Bar, and a dog park out back- for when you have your furry friend with you and they need to ‘go’ too. Fillable propane will now also be an option at this location.
Thursday, July 9, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Learn more here
Free Webinar: How to Find Buyers in New Markets
Join EDC, along with Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and an experienced Canadian exporter, for a practical discussion focusing on how international buyers assess suppliers, evaluate opportunities and decide which partnerships move forward. This webinar focuses on buyer behaviour, expectations and practical considerations—such as readiness and market requirements—that affect whether buyer conversations move forward, or fall apart.
Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. | Learn more and register here
Alberta’s Metal Industry - Tariffs and Support
Alberta’s metal manufacturing sector is operating in a highly tariff-sensitive environment, where steel and aluminum tariffs, rising input costs, supply chain disruption, and trade uncertainty can affect competitiveness, hiring, and workforce planning decisions. EMC is hosting a sector webinar to show how our new tariff impact labour market initiative will generate practical workforce profiles and planning tools tailored to the realities of metal manufacturers.
July 22 | Online event | Register 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 Region | (403) 892-9675
Fuelling the Business Community
Chamber Members
Check out all the Chamber Members on our business directory!
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 new member posts moving forward!
Canada’s New Privacy Law Is Coming: What Bill C-36 Means for Your Business
Canada is getting ready for a major update to how businesses handle personal information. On June 15, 2026, the federal government introduced Bill C-36. This bill would create a new law called the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act, or PPCDA.
If it passes, this law will replace key parts of PIPEDA, which has been in place since 2001. It would also be the biggest change to Canada’s private sector privacy rules in over 20 years. For businesses, that means change is coming, and it’s smart to start paying attention now.
If your business collects, uses, or shares personal information, this law likely applies to you. That includes small businesses, local service providers, online stores, and companies using tools like CRMs, email marketing platforms, or cloud services. In simple terms, if you have customer data, you need to understand this change. Read Reality Byte's article in the Info Hub or on their website here.
CANADAWEST FOUNDATION: ACCELERATING AI INTEGRATION IN CANADA-THE FUTURE OF WORK AND LEARNING
Canada lags behind the rest of the world both in foundational artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge and investment.
The federal government noted in its announcement of the new national AI strategy that Canada ranks 44th out of 47 countries in AI literacy. Canada also ranks last in the G7 for translating innovation investment into economic value, and in 2025, dropped out of the top 15 in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Innovation Index. Despite these challenges, industry and workers are rapidly pivoting to stay competitive.
Business in Calgary: Navigating the future of business technology
The pace of change in business technology has always been measured in years. Experts now say it’s being measured in months. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to rapidly evolve, the conversation has shifted from what it can do to what it will change. And for workers, it’s increasingly a question of relevance.
“I think we will be going through a fundamental transition from a jobs-based society to an entrepreneurship-based one,” says Mohammad Keyhani, an associate professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.
“This means that more and more people will have to find their own way of creating value rather than step into a value creation system designed by someone else and get a salary. The idea of just expecting that it is normal to have a salaried job will become less common.”
Fill Up On Funding
CanExport SMEs is still accepting applications Deadline
The CanExport SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) program offers competitive funding to help eligible Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises expand into new international markets. The program supports businesses by sharing the costs of export-related activities, helping reduce risk and support export diversification.
It is intended for companies with meaningful economicties to Canada, the capacity to grow internationally, and a clear plan to export Canadian goods and services. Successful projects may receive up to $50,000 in funding for international business development activities. Funding is limited, and applications are assessed on a rolling competitive basis.
EXTENDED: AUGUST 31, 2026 at 10:00 PM | Important: Program requirements have changed since the 2025 application period. Applications that do not reflect these updates may be deemed ineligible. Review what's changed this year before applying.
Alberta Export Expansion Program
Is your company in a solid export-ready position? Are you looking to find new markets for your products? Then the Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP) may be for you. This Government of Alberta program provides funding to export-ready small and medium-sized businesses to travel to global markets to promote their products, make business connections and explore partnership opportunities. Companies that meet eligibility criteria can receive grants to attend international trade events open to the public. Funding helps cover event registration costs and includes per diems for up to two travellers per organization per event.
Organizations can receive up to $15,000 through the AEEP program each fiscal year. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis and has a budget of $2 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year. For more information on available funding, eligibility criteria, program guidelines and the application process, visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-export-expansion-program
Canada-Alberta Workforce Resilience Initiative
Intake is now open for the Canada-Alberta Workforce Resilience Initiative to provide funding to employers, industry associations and communities and other eligible organizations operating in a shifting global trade environment.
Learn more and apply for the Workforce Planning Grant and Employer-led Training Grant by September 30, 2026.
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle Answers
Did you figure it out? Here are the answers for the June 30th 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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The Voice: July 7th, 2026
Why Succession Planning Matters, Fraudulent First Aid Certificates, Diversifying the Province’s Economy is the Top Priority for Alberta Businesses, and more all in this week’s edition of The Voice. Business News When It’s Time to Step Away: Why Succession Planning Matters You’ve worked hard to build your business, and planning for the future can help…
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Chamber Renewal Season, Legislation Passes to Implement Measures from the Spring Economic Updates 2026, Destination Canada Launches National Tourism Investment Hub, Tips for Surviving Construction Season, and more all in this week’s edition of The Voice. Business News It’s Renewal Season! We’re entering Chamber renewal season as it gets closer to September 1st! If you…
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