Category: Business/Finance

  • AB’s Entrepreneurs want Budget Balanced by 2017

      Now is the time for the government to show they are small biz friendly  CALGARY, August 31, 2015 – Following Finance Minister Joe Ceci’s first quarter fiscal update, indicating a balanced budget will be tabled within three years, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released survey results outlining positive steps the NDP government…

  • Alberta’s First Quarter Report Released

      Alberta’s updated first quarter forecast reflects higher-than-anticipated costs for fighting wildfires and drought, as well as the reversal of the previous government’s planned health levy and cuts to healthcare and education. The first quarter results show an increase of $456 million for disaster assistance, including agricultural drought relief and wildfire fighting costs, over and…

  • Small Business Confidence Continues Downward Trend

      One in five Alberta entrepreneurs look to cut back on staff as tax pressures rise CALGARY – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) today released the latest Business Barometer numbers showing Alberta’s small business confidence falling.  Confidence levels dropped three and half points in August to 40.4, barely above 2008-recessionary lows.  The resource…

  • Sigurdson MIA on Jobs and Advanced Ed Portfolio

    Sigurdson MIA on Jobs and Advanced Ed Portfolio

      EDMONTON, AB – Wildrose Shadow Innovation and Advanced Education Minister Wes Taylor raised concerns that while Alberta’s economy is facing its most trying time since the Great Recession and the province’s major online university faces insolvency, Jobs and Advanced Education Minister Lori Sigurdson is busy campaigning for Tom Mulcair in BC. Athabasca University is one of…

  • National Job Vacancy Rate Drops in Q2

      Toronto/Calgary, August 25, 2015 – Approximately 325,200 job openings remain unfilled across the country, according to the latest Help Wanted report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Nationwide openings in full-time, part-time and temporary positions sit at 2.6 per cent, down a tenth of a percentage point from last quarter. “Vacancy rates…

  • Jobs Minister Should Focus on Economy, Stop Campaigning in BC

    Jobs Minister Should Focus on Economy, Stop Campaigning in BC

      EDMONTON, AB (August 25, 2015): Alberta’s Job Minister Lori Sigurdson needs to get off the campaign trail for Thomas Mulcair and start paying attention to the economy, the Wildrose Official Opposition said. On Monday, Sigurdson was in BC campaigning for North Okanagan-Shuswap candidate Jacqui Gingras. That same day, oil dipped to new six-year lows…

  • Sabal Homes Has Become Hopewell Residential

    Sabal Homes Has Become Hopewell Residential

      Under A Unified Banner, One of Alberta’s Most Popular New Home Builders and Community Developers is Creating the Spaces and Places Where People Love to Live CALGARY /CNW/ –  Award-winning home builder Sabal Homes has retired its name, and has officially become Hopewell Residential. The name change for the Hopewell Group of Companies’ multi-…

  • CFIB Announces New Alberta Director

      Calgary – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) announces Amber Ruddy as the new Director of Provincial Affairs for Alberta. Ruddy will represent the interests of CFIB’s 10,000 members in the province by leading the organization’s legislative, research, and communication activities on issues affecting small and medium-sized businesses. “Over the course of Amber’s…

  • Losing Balance, Regaining Control: Alberta’s Economy in 2016

    Losing Balance, Regaining Control: Alberta’s Economy in 2016

      We know that it’s been a challenging year for our economy. The Canadian and global economies remain out of balance, which has weighed down confidence and commodity markets. And here in Alberta, economic stability was lost with a severe slump in oil prices—that’s had a painful impact on employment for thousands in our province.…

  • Alberta strengthens economic relations with Missouri

    Alberta and Missouri have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on promoting economic development and trade. The MOU, signed during Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s visit to Alberta, provides a framework to collaborate on economic development initiatives in areas such as agriculture, environmental policy, and research and innovation. The agreement focuses on enhancing economic development,…

  • ATB First Quarter Results Reflect Story of Alberta Economy

    ATB First Quarter Results Reflect Story of Alberta Economy

      Edmonton— The results for the first quarter of ATB Financial’s current fiscal year reflect the unfolding story of Alberta’s economy in 2015, says ATB President & CEO Dave Mowat. “The biggest stresses we are seeing stem from the impact of low oil prices. Alberta has very experienced leadership in our energy sector and they…

  • Smallest Businesses Make Biggest Investment in Training

    Small firms hire double the percentage of inexperienced workers compared to larger businesses CALGARY – Canada’s smallest businesses lead the way in employee training, investing nearly $2,000 per employee on average each year according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ (CFIB) latest report.  Entrepreneurs in Alberta invest upwards of $3,000 per employee.  These findings…

  • Privacy Guardians Urge Caution for Businesses Contemplating a Bring Your Own Device Program

    Privacy Guardians Urge Caution for Businesses Contemplating a Bring Your Own Device Program

    Federal, British Columbia and Alberta privacy commissioners issue guidelines to help organizations reduce risks for personal information when considering allowing employees to use their own mobile devices and computers for work. With the line between work and home increasingly blurred, bring your own device (BYOD) programs are growing in popularity and raising significant concerns among…

  • Roger Brooks Session Coming to Okotoks ~ The Art of Branding Your Community

    Roger Brooks Session Coming to Okotoks ~ The Art of Branding Your Community

    September 29    8:15am at RPAC Light refreshments  Free of Charge Registration info will be available soon at www.okotoksventure.ca so check back regularly. On September 29 at 8:15am, there will be a public workshop presented by Roger Brooks titled, “The Art of Branding Your Community.” Roger will explain the branding process for Downtown Okotoks; why it is important;…

  • Stiff Fines Required to Deter Power Price Rigging

    Stiff Fines Required to Deter Power Price Rigging

      Deregulation has been an overall success for Alberta’s electricity system, but there is still work to be done to ensure Albertans are getting the best services at the lowest cost possible. A recent investigation by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) concluded that TransAlta, Alberta’s primary electricity generator and wholesaler, deliberately timed power outages at…