(Image Credit: Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce)

By Jesse Gill

ADVOCACY

Southeast Alberta Chamber submits policy resolutions to Alberta Chambers for provincial consideration

Mar 20, 2026 | 1:24 PM

The Southeast Alberta (SEAB) Chamber of Commerce has submitted 11 comprehensive policy resolutions to the Alberta Chambers of Commerce for consideration at their annual policy plenary session in May.

Stating that it represents one of the most extensive policy advocacy packages in the organization’s recent history.

Focused on issues that the SEAB Chamber says are impacting southeastern Alberta’s diverse economic base, including a wide range of policy submissions for critical economic, infrastructure, and regulatory challenges affecting businesses and communities across Alberta.

“These 11 policy resolutions represent the collective voice of our business community and demonstrate our commitment to advancing solutions that will strengthen Alberta’s economic competitiveness,” SEAB Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors president Aaron Fleming said in a statement.

“From transportation infrastructure to agricultural innovation, from healthcare reform to regulatory modernization, these policies address the real challenges some of our members are facing every day.”

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The Chamber is advocating for accelerated work on the remaining sections to twin Highway 3, addressing the truck driver shortage, and modernization of Alberta’s Registry Agent network to ensure continued service delivery across rural communities.

There are multiple resolutions focused on supporting Alberta’s agricultural sector, including improved risk management programs for producers, enhanced agricultural education in the K-12 curricula, and national promotion of Canada’s agriculture industry to combat misinformation and build public trust.

The Chamber is pushing for equitable billing and referral privileges for allied health professionals to improve access to care.

Policy submissions to address federal support for Canadian beverage manufacturers facing U.S. tariff challenges, liquor remittance model reform for small manufacturers, and equitable regulation of commercial short-term rentals.

The Chamber is also advocating for embedding economic stewardship principles into Alberta’s public service code of conduct to strengthen fiscal accountability and long-term planning.

A policy package the Chamber says reflects the diverse economic base of southeastern Alberta, which includes significant agricultural production, manufacturing, and growing tourism and hospitality sectors.

“These policies aren’t just about regulatory changes – they’re about ensuring southeastern Alberta remains competitive and that our businesses can thrive in an increasingly complex economic environment,” Fleming said.

“Whether it’s ensuring our agricultural producers have access to effective risk management tools or making sure our transportation corridors support trade and commerce, these resolutions address some of the foundations of our regional economy.”

The policy submissions call for action at both provincial and federal levels, with the interconnected nature of Canada’s regulatory environment.

Federal-focused policies include support for beverage manufacturers facing U.S. trade challenges and national agricultural promotion initiatives.

Provincial policies, on the other hand, focus on healthcare delivery, infrastructure investment, and regulatory modernization.

“Our approach recognizes that effective advocacy requires engagement at multiple levels of government,” SEAB Chamber of Commerce executive director Lisa Dressler said in a statement.

“With five renewing policies last updated in 2023 and six new policies, they are written to ensure they are current, clear, and provide evidence-based recommendations that can guide government decision-making and support economic growth.”

The SEAB Chamber of Commerce states that the 11 policy resolutions will be reviewed by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce policy committee and presented for debate and voting at the annual policy plenary session in May.

Policies approved by the provincial body become part of Alberta Chambers’ advocacy agenda, which may then be forwarded to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for national consideration.

The SEAB Chamber states it developed these policies through extensive consultation with members, industry stakeholders, and subject matter experts, ensuring each resolution is grounded in real-world business challenges and supported by current data and research.