News
The latest news, editorials, and conversations shaping Alberta’s business environment.
Stay informed with timely updates, expert insights, and in-depth conversations.
Should Canada Emulate the UK’s Net-Zero Pathway?
I am picking up some chatter within certain circles in Alberta and Canada that the UK’s net-zero framework is a plan to emulate. This position is ostensibly informed by an invitation-only whirlwind tour of handpicked UK net-zero projects and initiatives attended by a group of Canadians. My fellow Canadians were duly impressed by what they were shown and came away, after a few days, with the idea that the people and industries are united in a “Team UK” approach. There were several key “takeaways” from the tour but the top three included: an aggressive net-zero timeline that “everybody appears to be on board with”; the UK has a new type of increased decarbonized industrial production guided and driven by government industrial planning; and a serious concern with energy security.
I am picking up some chatter within certain circles in Alberta and Canada that the UK’s net-zero framework is a plan to emulate. This position is ostensibly informed by an invitation-only whirlwind tour of handpicked UK net-zero projects and initiatives attended by a group of Canadians. My fellow Canadians were duly impressed by what they were shown and came away, after a few days, with the idea that the people and industries are united in a “Team UK” approach. There were several key “takeaways” from the tour but the top three included: an aggressive net-zero timeline that “everybody appears to be on board with”; the UK has a new type of increased decarbonized industrial production guided and driven by government industrial planning; and a serious concern with energy security.
Alberta’s Pre-Election Budget Biggest Surprise? Fiscal Prudence!
Pre-election budgets are rarely admirable. Money is spread around like pixie dust to curry the support of voters and to knee-cap opposition parties by borrowing their ideas. To a certain extent, the pre-election good news budget that Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews delivered Tuesday follows this time-honoured political path, helped by $27.5 billion in oil and gas revenues in the 2022/23 fiscal year. And so, it is easy to chide the budget for populist policies like freezing insurance rates and capping post-secondary tuition fee increases at 2 per cent and for industrial policy measures for politically favoured industries (such as agricultural processing and film and television production). And there is the usual scattering of minor tax credits instead of a general cut in personal taxes – with no mention of a tax review geared to major reform, which the United Conservative Party proposed when it took office.
Pre-election budgets are rarely admirable. Money is spread around like pixie dust to curry the support of voters and to knee-cap opposition parties by borrowing their ideas. To a certain extent, the pre-election good news budget that Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews delivered Tuesday follows this time-honoured political path, helped by $27.5 billion in oil and gas revenues in the 2022/23 fiscal year. And so, it is easy to chide the budget for populist policies like freezing insurance rates and capping post-secondary tuition fee increases at 2 per cent and for industrial policy measures for politically favoured industries (such as agricultural processing and film and television production). And there is the usual scattering of minor tax credits instead of a general cut in personal taxes – with no mention of a tax review geared to major reform, which the United Conservative Party proposed when it took office.
AEG Podcast, Ep 15: Immersive Reality and Complex Data Visualization
In this podcast, Catherine interviews Jeff LaFrenz, Co-Founder and President of VizworX, an organization that specializes in delivering enterprise-class digital experiences using immersive reality and complex data visualization technologies. Jeff shares his extensive experience in technology commercialization and how he thrives on pulling together complex technical and business requirements to build high-performance teams. He also discusses the latest trends in immersive reality and how VizworX is using it to create engaging digital experiences for its clients. Join us to learn more about how Jeff and VizworX are pushing the boundaries of data visualization through immersive reality.
In this podcast, Catherine interviews Jeff LaFrenz, Co-Founder and President of VizworX, an organization that specializes in delivering enterprise-class digital experiences using immersive reality and complex data visualization technologies. Jeff shares his extensive experience in technology commercialization and how he thrives on pulling together complex technical and business requirements to build high-performance teams. He also discusses the latest trends in immersive reality and how VizworX is using it to create engaging digital experiences for its clients. Join us to learn more about how Jeff and VizworX are pushing the boundaries of data visualization through immersive reality.