Policies

Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Core Organizational Policies

The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce has six policies core to our organization which inform the advocacy that we perform, and the positions that we take.

Kevin Farrell

Strengthening Economic Competitiveness in Rural and Secondary Municipalities

Alberta’s long term economic resilience depends on balanced regional growth, yet mid sized municipalities and rural hubs operate within fiscal, regulatory, and infrastructure frameworks largely designed for metropolitan scale, limiting their ability to attract investment, diversify industry, retain talent, and respond quickly to economic opportunities despite their critical role in supporting provincial supply chains and regional services.

Kevin Farrell

Investing in Market Access for Alberta Business

Recent shifts in international trade dynamics, including evolving U.S. trade policies that emphasize domestic priorities and transactional frameworks, and a measured diversification of Canada’s trade relationships have highlighted the importance of reducing reliance on any single market and strengthening links to a broader array of global customers. Strategic improvements to transportation and trade-enabling infrastructure will help Alberta businesses navigate this complex global environment, improve

Kevin Farrell

Creating an Effective Workforce for the Changing Economy

Alberta is a prosperous province, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and a skilled and energetic workforce. At the same time, Albertans - like many Canadians - are struggling with transitions between learning and work, which is resulting in social and economic implications. If Alberta is to remain competitive with the rest of Canada, it must adapt to and address the coming labour market disruptions.

Kevin Farrell

Ensuring the Future of Canadian Energy

Kevin Farrell

Empowering Canadian SMEs: Streamline Regulations & Invest in Workforce Innovation

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Canada’s economy, representing over 98% of all businesses and employing nearly two-thirds of the private labour force.78 Despite their central role in job creation and innovation, SMEs face systemic barriers — chief among them: excessive federal regulatory burdens and a lack of accessible workforce development support. These constraints threaten Canada’s long-term economic competitiveness, particularly in high-growth sectors such as digital

Kevin Farrell

The Importance of "Building Local" to Keep the Economic Footprint of Post-Secondary Education Strong

The economic footprint of post-secondary education has taken a dramatic hit through frozen government funding. Access to education is essential in the economic prosperity of Alberta and its future access to human capital and intellectual development. Postsecondary education serves as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic organization for both the management and advancement of social and economic progress.

Kevin Farrell

The Economics of Addiction: Alberta’s Crisis and Path Forward

Alberta is facing a significant public health and economic crisis driven by substance addiction, costing the province over $6.7 billion annually. The opioid crisis, particularly involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, has led to devastating loss of life and increased social disorder. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation by disrupting drug supply chains and limiting access to critical harm reduction services. Additionally, external pressures like potential U.S. tariff increases threaten to

Kevin Farrell

Strengthening Alberta's Global Trade and Investment Presence

Alberta’s economy is heavily reliant on international trade, yet global economic shifts, emerging markets, and increasing competition have underscored the need to strengthen the province’s trade presence and investment attraction strategies. Without enhanced support for exporters and targeted international missions, Alberta risks losing its competitive edge in global markets, leading to missed opportunities for economic growth, diversification, and job creation.

Kevin Farrell

Ensuring the Future of Canadian Energy

Canada has an abundance of natural resources that generate direct wealth for Canadians through production and export. Increasingly, these commodities represent a large contribution to Canada’s economic growth; however, Canada still spends billions energy imports annually. Access to markets for commodities, specifically electricity, oil and gas, represents a significant obstacle in Canada’s ability to secure a competitive position in the global economy. Further, failure to develop these projects leads to

Kevin Farrell