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The Coutts border crossing on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia

Opinion: How Alberta’s small businesses can navigate U.S. tariffs

The recent one-month suspension of a 25-per-cent tariff by the United States on most Canadian imports has thrown many Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into a state of uncertainty. While the intent behind these tariffs seems to be to not only protect American jobs and industries by taxing goods consumed within the U.S., but also to motivate action on border issues such as illegal migration and the movement of the deadly drug fentanyl, the ripple effects are being felt keenly north of the border.
The recent one-month suspension of a 25-per-cent tariff by the United States on most Canadian imports has thrown many Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into a state of uncertainty. While the intent behind these tariffs seems to be to not only protect American jobs and industries by taxing goods consumed within the U.S., but also to motivate action on border issues such as illegal migration and the movement of the deadly drug fentanyl, the ripple effects are being felt keenly north of the border.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of 2022

While I planned to talk about ‘The Good & The Bad of 2022’, there truly is an “Ugly’ component that can’t be overlooked because of its influence on the outcome. 2022 has been a challenging year, full of complexities, surprises and most concerning times. As the days wound down to December 31, it seemed the tone might have just carried forward into 2023 if things were not talked about. For me personally, it truly does feel like we have lived through one of the most difficult times in our country.
While I planned to talk about ‘The Good & The Bad of 2022’, there truly is an “Ugly’ component that can’t be overlooked because of its influence on the outcome. 2022 has been a challenging year, full of complexities, surprises and most concerning times. As the days wound down to December 31, it seemed the tone might have just carried forward into 2023 if things were not talked about. For me personally, it truly does feel like we have lived through one of the most difficult times in our country.

What Companies are Getting Wrong About Doing Good (Webinar)

This is a webinar hosted by Jeff Davidson, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Center in Calgary, on the topic of corporate social activism. The discussion focuses on the importance of businesses engaging in social change to meet the expectations of their audiences, including employees, customers, shareholders, and investors. Joni Abram, an expert in social change, marketing, and behavioral science, joins Jeff to discuss the risks and potential impact of corporate social activism, and how businesses can approach it authentically to build goodwill and establish themselves as valuable members of the community. They also discuss the importance of tangible outcomes and impact, and give examples of good and bad corporate social activism. The webinar emphasizes that smaller companies can have a real impact on their communities and offers practical advice on how to achieve meaningful social change.
This is a webinar hosted by Jeff Davidson, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Center in Calgary, on the topic of corporate social activism. The discussion focuses on the importance of businesses engaging in social change to meet the expectations of their audiences, including employees, customers, shareholders, and investors. Joni Abram, an expert in social change, marketing, and behavioral science, joins Jeff to discuss the risks and potential impact of corporate social activism, and how businesses can approach it authentically to build goodwill and establish themselves as valuable members of the community. They also discuss the importance of tangible outcomes and impact, and give examples of good and bad corporate social activism. The webinar emphasizes that smaller companies can have a real impact on their communities and offers practical advice on how to achieve meaningful social change.