| HIGHLIGHTS Business tax consolidation one step closer March 20, 2012
The Calgary Chamber of Commerce applauds the decision made today by the City of Calgary's Priorities and Finance Committee to move forward with consolidation of the business tax and non-residential property tax, based on a seven-year phased in implementation.
More Information Read the Chamber’s Calgary Herald op-ed in support City report offers more reasons to move forward on consolidation Calgary Chamber of Commerce Statement - Opportunity to Comment on October 5 Calgary Chamber: Business Tax FAQs Calgary Chamber: Policy Brief on Business Tax Consolidation City of Calgary: Business Tax Notice of Motion
HELP MAYOR NENSHI AND THE CITY OF CALGARY CUT RED TAPE The Calgary Chamber of Commerce, along with The City of Calgary and a number of local business advocacy organizations have joined forces for Phase Two of Mayor Nenshi's Cut Red Tape initiative. Thanks for your suggestions. The City of Calgary is now compiling responses and will report back later this year with a summary and action plan. Learn more
Mayor Naheed Nenshi AT THE CALGARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE On Monday, November 28, 2011, Mayor Naheed Nenshi addressed a sold out room at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, sharing his goals for Calgary. View the address on the Chamber's YouTube channel Municipal budget spending increases must not go higher November 10, 2011 The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is concerned with The City of Calgary’s 2012 – 2014 business plan and budgets released yesterday given current global economic conditions. However, it commends The City for the focus on increased efficiency and effectiveness through zero-based service reviews, greater alignment between the overall long-term vision for Calgary and the budget, and a more robust public engagement and communications process. “Calgary is experiencing favourable economic growth in the face of global uncertainty and City Council needs to be careful in responding to growth without overextending,” said Ben Brunnen, Director of Policy and Government Affairs and Chief Economist with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Average operational spending increases of 3.9 per cent fit within our recommend range and we believe City Council should focus on ways to reduce this from here.” Great Calgary ideas help set city agenda When the Calgary Chamber of Commerce launched its Great Calgary initiative during the 2010 municipal election, the idea was to get Calgarians talking about ways to make Calgary even greater. The site featured 15 policy ideas in the areas of governance, growth and development and finance and offered a Facebook site and Twitter feed to spur discussion. Many of these ideas are now being considered or implemented. “We proposed ideas that could serve to bring about the kind of city that we can be proud of,” said Ben Brunnen, Director of Policy & Government Affairs and Chief Economist with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Our intent was to encourage thoughtful conversation and debate.” Over the past year the Chamber has been working with the municipal government to implement these ideas and tackle pressing issues. This collaborative approach has resulted in 35 out of 61, or 65 per cent, of the Great Calgary ideas and Chamber policy work aligning with City Council’s 2012 – 2014 priorities. Three things that will lead to a better Calgary In life, there is always more to do than can ever be achieved, and for a city, that is no different. Every new city council takes time to set its priorities for the next three years. Our current city council is in the process of formulating its priorities for 2012-14. We Calgarians are among the most fortunate people in the world. We live in a safe city with clean air, have an active economy and we have the benefit of leading business people and their ideas. But still there are things to do. We have a number of people doing great things in our city -still, we can always be better. So, as city council completes its priorities for 2012-14, there are three key areas that the Calgary Chamber of Commerce believes are the most important for the long-term health, vitality and well-being of this city, its economy and its citizens.
Chamber urges focus on efficiency in upcoming City budget Calgary’s first in-depth and multiphase public consultation on the municipal budget wrapped up in May. City Council and Administrators now begin the process of incorporating the feedback into a 2012 – 2014 budget plan to be finalized in October. “As City Council you elected us to make tough decisions, but you also told us to make those decisions on the best possible information,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi in taped comments posted on The City’s budget consultation website. “That includes us hearing from you as fellow problem solvers and fellow citizens about what you want to see.” The Calgary Chamber of Commerce was a strong proponent of the need for greater dialogue with citizens around the budget and participated throughout the entire process. Secondary suites decision viewed as a positive step forward City Council’s decision to expedite the process for approving secondary suites in R2 areas of the city (single-detached, semi-detached and duplex dwellings) as well as engage in further study, was viewed by the business community as a positive step forward. “Sometimes you can’t get to your goal in one bold move. It takes smaller steps,” said Adam Legge, President + CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “We are moving in the right direction. The business community is pleased with the level of thoughtful discussion and debate around this issue, both by Calgarians and elected officials. We are confident that over time myths and misperceptions will be overcome with facts.” The Calgary Chamber of Commerce and other business, anti-poverty groups, social agencies and student associations strongly support secondary suites in all residential neighbourhoods, provided certain conditions are met. Read our reaction to Council's decision Learn more about the Calgary Business Coalition announcement on Feb. 15 Additional Resources Calgary Chamber: Combating the Myths of Secondary Suites Calgary Chamber: Policy Brief on Secondary Suites City of Calgary: Secondary Suites Policy Report Listen to Chamber President + CEO Adam Legge on the CBC Homestretch
GREAT CALGARY POLICY ACTION BRIEFS Leading up to the 2010 municipal election, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce released 15 Policy Action Briefs in the business community's priority themes of governance, growth and development and finance. These concise policy pieces present ideas and opportunities to strengthen Calgary, offering sensible actions that can be implemented right away. Compilation of Policy Action Briefs - Ideas to make a great Calgary even greater (PDF) Letter to Mayor Naheed Nenshi and City Council members
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Greatcalgary.ca is a Calgary Chamber of Commerce-led initiative to get Calgarians talking about ways to make our city even greater. |
