Over 2,000 construction, design, and real estate pros gathered in Calgary for BUILDEX Alberta – a two-day showcase of innovation and industry leadership. Backed by ICBA & ICBA Alberta, the event underscored the industry’s crucial role in Alberta’s growth and the challenges needed to keep Canada’s building economy competitive.
Every October, Canada honours the entrepreneurs who power our economy during Small Business Week. With over 1.1 million employer businesses nationwide and 135,978 small firms in Alberta alone, this celebration highlights the vital role of local enterprises. AEG calls on citizens, policymakers, and business leaders to support, advocate, and celebrate these innovators, turning a week of recognition into lasting action.
Governments don’t build industries – they set the policy groundwork that lets innovators thrive. That truth is on display in the fast moving Small Modular Reactor (SMR) sector. While Canada navigates its regulatory path, led by pioneers like GE Hitachi, the United States is racing ahead. The winners aren’t legacy nuclear giants, but agile SMEs reshaping nuclear power into something smaller, safer, and scalable. Alberta can adopt this playbook.
Premier Danielle Smith’s West Coast pipeline plan puts Canada’s federation to the test. With the world’s third largest oil reserves in Alberta, unlocking this market could deliver billions in jobs, tax revenue, and national prosperity – provided the federal government and provinces work together. At AEG we back this partnership as the cornerstone of a stronger, unified Canada.
Alberta’s historic frustration with Liberal federal rule is easing under Prime Minister Mark Carney. Premier Danielle Smith notes new common ground, and AEG President Catherine Brownlee highlights advances in regulatory reform, energy sector recognition, and joint carbon capture projects – signalling a pragmatic, collaborative era for Alberta-Canada relations.
Ottawa’s “major projects” list under Bill C‑5 promises fast‑tracked approvals, yet most initiatives are approved or under construction. An open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney from Canada’s top energy leaders spotlights a deeper issue: an investment climate hampered by excessive taxation and bureaucratic delays. AEG supports their call for a streamlined system that benefits every sector and fuels Canada’s growth.
While some question if North American governments will ease mandatory climate disclosure, global trends show reporting is staying. From California’s new laws to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, climate disclosure is becoming essential. Beyond compliance, effective reporting can reveal inefficiencies, cut costs, and create revenue, turning a perceived burden into a competitive edge.
The Alberta Next Panels give citizens a direct role in shaping the policies that affect our communities, businesses, and economy. Running through September, these conversations invite Albertans to move past division and work together on solutions that reflect our province’s diversity. At AEG, we believe Alberta is strongest when every voice is heard – let’s seize this chance to shape our future together.
Canada’s economy depends on the strength of small and mid-sized enterprises, yet rising tariffs are driving up costs and challenging competitiveness. As growth slows and businesses face mounting pressure, supporting SMEs will be key to ensuring long-term prosperity.
The rapid rise of AI and automation is reshaping the knowledge economy, shifting the value of education from memorization to creativity, problem-solving, and human connection – skills where AI falls short. Like past technological revolutions, AI should be seen as a tool to enhance learning. The challenge for parents, educators, and leaders is to guide its use in fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful connection.
