Chris Day introduced Zoe Addington, Director of Policy, Research and Government Relations, Calgary Chamber. See Zoe’s bio. The Chamber has three strategic pillars: Grow, Connect and Influence. Zoe is responsible for the Influence strategic pillar that includes Government Relation; Policy and Regulations. Activities include informing Chamber’s business members and discuss with them government activities that potential effect them. She advocates for Calgary business at all levels of government, civic; provincial; and federal. And she serves as the media spokesperson for related issues.
In executing her role, she facilitates consultation with Chamber members in a variety of forms. A critical issue of their organization and business members is seen as costs piling up from government decisions at all levels, civic, provincial and federal. The issues for Chamber and their business members include increasing property tax in Calgary’s downturn economy; increasing employee expenses with legislation to increase minimum wage, and federal government tax changes being rolled out. Significant uncertainty as well with current U.S. administration.
Chamber Civic Election Poll identified three priority issues: Taxes and Money Management; City Overspending; and Business Property Tax Rates. Zoe identified three strategic areas the Chamber focused on: efficiency, equitable, and entrepreneurship.
Efficiency focuses on spending and regulations. Within the Equitable pillar, Zoe identified one Calgary Chamber measure, ratio of business to resident tax, in which Calgary’s ratio of 3.5 to 1 is by their records the highest in Canada. The Chamber would like to see the business rate reduced to 2.5 but acknowledged this is a complex issue. Identified the City only really has one revenue lever – property assessment and tax. The loss of value of Calgary’s downtown (with 30% occupancy) has created a substantive revenue gap for the City. And within the Entrepreneur pillar seeking government support for new business ideas and in saying ‘yes’ to help and support business to succeed.
The Chamber hosted a sold out Civic Election Town Hall in which its members could engage and discuss issues with Calgary’s Mayoral Candidates.
Post-Election Analysis:
Voter turnout was the highest in 40 years. City invested time and money to get voters out.
It is tough to run against and defeat incumbent Mayors. Ultimately Bill Smith didn’t give enough reasons to be elected. One potential ‘Con’ of election results is status quo with all incumbent City Councillors re-elected. Will four new Councillors be enough to change the Council dynamics? She sees positive that three women were elected but more representation is desired. Name Recognition is key for Civic Election runs.
A brief Q and A clarified distinction between Calgary Chamber and Calgary Economic Development. Chamber is business membership funded while Economic Development is government funded and role is selling Calgary and bringing in new business to the city.
