By rdnewsNOW staff

Business Council of Alberta

Alberta businesses outline priorities ahead of municipal elections

Sep 11, 2025 | 2:34 PM

With municipal elections taking place across Alberta this fall, the Business Council of Alberta (BCA) has released a new report, Municipal Matters: Business Priorities for Alberta’s Local Governments, calling for local leaders to focus on the fundamentals that matter most to the people, communities, and businesses that call the province home.

“Alberta business leaders want their local governments to get the basics right,” said Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta, in a press release. “Business leaders want communities that are safe and serve to attract and retain people, staff, and customers. At the local level they want greater government efficiency, clear priorities, and stronger partnerships between local governments, businesses, and communities.”

“In short,” adds Legge. “they want to be viewed as a vital stakeholder to community prosperity and vibrancy.”

BCA officials say the report was spearheaded by their Task Force on Business Priorities for Alberta’s Local Governments, comprised of 12 business leaders from across the province.

They are said to include:

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• Michael Brown, Task Force Co-Chair, President & CEO of Trico Homes Inc
• Murray Cunningham, Task Force Co-Chair, President & CEO of Scott Builders Inc
• Colette Miller, Corporate Director; Cameron Naqvi, President of Cameron Development Corporation
• Corey Smith, President & CEO of RAM Elevators and Lifts Inc
• Dhruv Gupta, President of Akash Group of Companies
• Henry Edgar, President of Autograph
• Jason Herle, CEO of Fountain Tire
• Mike Wheeler, COO of The Canadian Brewhouse
• Rohit Gupta, President of Rohit Group
• Rob Blackwell, COO of Aspen Properties
• Spencer Forgo, VP Government Relations & Corporate Affairs of ATCO Ltd.

BCA officials say the Task Force came together with a shared goal: to identify the most pressing issues for local governments in Alberta and chart a path forward with recommendations that can be immediately acted upon. The BCA says the initiative included a survey of their members to better understand the challenges businesses face at the local level and the opportunities for improvement.

Overall, the BCA says this report calls for a fundamental change in mindset at the local government level: one that sees business as a partner in creating prosperity, and recognizes economic growth as essential to long-term success; it outlines clear priorities and specific recommendations to help guide returning and incoming local leaders, including:

1. Safe & vibrant communities

According to the report, Alberta’s main streets and downtowns must be places where people feel safe, businesses can thrive, and families want to spend time. That means tackling crime, investing in mental health and addictions supports, and keeping public spaces clean and welcoming.

Some of the key recommendations include ensuring safety and well-being and strengthening community vibrancy by:

* Tackling barriers to reporting crime.

* Building local mental wellness and addictions strategies.

* Partnering with other levels of government to expand housing and wraparound supports.

“Addressing public safety and crime is the top priority Alberta business leaders want to see local governments address, with 94 per cent of those surveyed, saying they were moderately to severely concerned about it,” shared Legge. “Business success, local economic health, and jobs are tied to the safety and vibrancy of communities. Investments in tackling social disorder are investments in local prosperity.”

2. Growth through efficient planning & development

The report notes that families and businesses need homes, infrastructure, and space to grow. But slow, inconsistent, and costly permitting is holding communities back. By cutting red tape and aligning rules, municipalities can unlock more housing, support new businesses, and keep costs down.

Some of the key recommendations include streamlining permitting approvals and building for the future by:

* Cutting red tape by collaborating with business.

* Reducing both direct and indirect government-imposed costs on new housing developments.

* Strengthening business engagement in long-term land use and infrastructure planning.

3. Economic strength & financial stewardship

Albertans want to know their tax dollars are being spent wisely. According to the report, businesses are calling for more transparency, smarter spending, and stronger economic development efforts that grow the tax base without raising rates.

Some of the key recommendations include enhancing fiscal sustainability, growing the tax base and fostering economic growth by:

* Benchmarking taxes and fees against comparable jurisdictions.

* Reporting annually on budget performance and broader success metrics.

* Enhancing economic development capacity and making it a priority in municipal planning and budgeting.

Read the full report, Municipal Matters: Business Priorities for Alberta’s Local Governments, here.