A history related publication that I read called ‘What If’ focuses on events that could have occurred in the past that would have changed the direction of the world or a country. Two that come to mind include ‘What if the U.S. had invaded Canada and we became the 46th state?’ And ‘What if communism hadn’t failed?
A Year in Review – The AEG Annual Report 2024
“Central to our work is AEG’s core belief that meaningful change comes from a broadnet work of influencers and proven decision-makers across every major industry inAlberta. Together, we know that we can achieve more. Our network allows businesses of all sizes to connect with Alberta’s business leaders and policymakers, providing them with a clear and informed view of the provincial landscape. This access enables businesses to stay knowledgeable about industry developments, legislative changes, and key economic trends impacting Alberta.” – Catherine Brownlee, President, Alberta Enterprise Group
James Rajotte has been Alberta’s Senior Representative to the United States since May 1, 2020. In the role, he regularly meets with senior elected officials, business executives, and thought leaders from across the U.S.
Canadian Sustainability Standards Board Fails Canadians
Calgary – Catherine Brownlee, President of the Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG), made the following statement in response to the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) newly released sustainability and climate disclosure standards:
“We are disappointed that the CSSB seems to have conducted consultations with no regard for those that took the time to submit as part of the consultation process. This is a sham. The only changes made were to extend the relief of compliance by an additional year from what was proposed in the standards. It would seem there was never an intent to consider substantially modifing the standards for the Canadian context aside from extending the dates of compliance. It is shocking that none of the recommendations from the majority of stakeholder responses were included in the published standards.”
CALGARY – Earlier this week, the Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG) and the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) jointly filed a constitutional challenge against the federal government, over its new ‘Greenwashing’ law which unreasonably restricts free speech.
The challenge, filed in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, targets sections 236 and 239 of Bill C-59, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, which amended the Competition Act in ways that severely limit the business community’s ability to discuss environmental impacts. These provisions impose unreasonable restrictions on the dissemination of truthful and fair-minded information, striking at the heart of free expression and open debate in Canada.
Alberta, with its wealth of natural resources, skilled workforce and strategic position within North America, is ripe for the establishment of a comprehensive Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) that goes beyond logistics to encompass manufacturing, job creation and economic development.
Will we ever be free from scandal in Ottawa? Keeping track is starting to become tough. It is even tougher to know if any are ever properly resolved, or if they just fade away when the next scandal is uncovered, and the taxpayers just lose track of what happened. One of the latest surrounds the $1B ‘Green Slush Fund’.
Premier Danielle Smith – Full Presentation
At Supreme Steel, Acheson
Acheson Business Association and Alberta Enterprise Group event.
Fireside Chat with Premier Danielle Smith and Cam Milliken, Public Affairs at Genics Inc.
John Liston is the Managing Partner of Newcastle West Partners, a transition and transaction M&A advisory firm operating across Canada and the United States.
Newcastle West Partners specializes in business continuity, with a focus on ensuring smooth transitions for companies led by retiring baby boom entrepreneurs. The firm’s philosophy views continuity as an ongoing, forward-looking process, far broader than succession alone. Many succession plans falter due to insufficient long-term planning, and Newcastle West Partners works to address these gaps early, safeguarding the future of each business.
