2018-2019 Policy Book Last Updated: February 2020 With the largest and most influential business organizations locally, provincially and federally, the Chamber network is the most unified, valued and influential business network in Canada and works together to shape policy and programs that will make a difference to businesses in our region. 1 POLICY BOOK 2018- 2019 APPROVED POLICIES FOR THE MEDICINE HAT & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MUNICIPAL Municipal Election Policy ........................................................................................................................................................................ Page 6 Approved May 2012, Renewed December 2012, Amended May 2017 Defining a Process for Electorate Information ....................................................................................................................................... Page 7 Approved December 2012, Amended September 2013 Opposition to Land Transfer Tax ............................................................................................................................................................ Page 8 Approved March 2013 Municipal Red Tape Reduction ............................................................................................................................................................ Page 10 Approved March 2013 Tax Equity: Narrowing the Gap Between Residential and Non-Residential Property Taxes ............................................................. Page 13 Approved January 2018 Sustainable Municipal Finances ............................................................................................................................................................ Page 16 Approved January 2016 Creation of an Integrated Southeast Child Advocacy Centre............................................................................................................. Page 20 Approved November 2017 Development Benefit Considerations for the Off-Site Levy Bylaw ..................................................................................................... Page 22 Approved January 2018 Predictable and Fair Market Value Assessments ................................................................................................................................. Page 29 Approved December 2018 Streamline Size of Government ............................................................................................................................................................ Page 34 Approved September 2019 Creating a Strong and Diverse Local Economy ................................................................................................................................... Page 37 Approved: September 2019 City of Medicine Hat Municipal Economic Development Strategy .................................................................................................... Page 41 Approved: September 2019 Impacts of Significant Minimum Wage Increase ................................................................................................................................. Page 44 Approved: September 2019 Benefits of Twinning Highway 3 ........................................................................................................................................................... Page 47 Approved: February 2020 Striking a Balance Between a Healthy Economy and Low Carbon Emisisons .................................................................................... Page 50 Approved: February 2020 Modernization of Alberta Registry Agents ........................................................................................................................................... Page 53 Approved: February 2020 Predictable, Fair and Transparent Market Value Assessments ........................................................................................................... Page 55 Approved: February 2020 Highlighting the Importance of Ag Education .................................................................................................................................... Page 58 2 Approved: February 2020 Clarity Required in Joint Use Agreements ........................................................................................................................................... Page 61 Approved: February 2020 Improving Risk Management for Agriculture Producers ..................................................................................................................... Page 65 Approved: February 2020 Extension of Hours at the Port of Wildhorse........................................................................................................................................ Page 69 Approved: February 2020 PROVINCIAL - SPONSORED Impacts of Significant Minimum Wage Increase ................................................................................................................................. Page 72 Approved 2015, Renewed 2018 Extension of Hours at the Port of Wild Horse ...................................................................................................................................... Page 76 Approved 2008, Renewed 2011, Renewed 2014, Renewed 2017, Renewing 2020 Striking a Balance between a Healthy Economy and Low Carbon Emissions .................................................................................... Page 79 Approved 2017, Renewing 2020 Modernization of Alberta Registry Agents ........................................................................................................................................... Page 83 Approved 2017, Renewing 2020 Benefits of Twinning Highway 3 ........................................................................................................................................................... Page 86 Approved 2017, Renewing 2020 Higher Standards for Animal Welfare .................................................................................................................................................. Page 88 Approved: February 2018 Managing Impacts of Layered Legislation ........................................................................................................................................... Page 90 Approved: February 2018 Clarity Needed in Employment Standards Averaging Agreements and Treatment of Statutory Holidays ..................................... Page 92 Approved: February 2018 Removing Provincial Excise Tax on Medicinal Cannabis ..................................................................................................................... Page 96 Approved December 2018 PROVINCIAL – CO-SPONSORED Grown-In-Canada Label: Marketing Alberta’s Livestock ..................................................................................................................... Page 99 Approved 2008, Renewed 2011, Renewed 2014, Renewed in 2017 Sponsor: Lethbridge Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat, Red Deer Water for Sustainability – An Alberta Strategy .................................................................................................................................. Page 101 Approved 2009, Renewed 2012, Renewed 2015, Renewed 2018 Sponsor: Lethbridge Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat Domestic Reclaimed Water Use ......................................................................................................................................................... Page 105 Approved 2013, Renewed 2019 Sponsor: Sherwood Park Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat, Lethbridge Restoring Canada’s Innovation Competitiveness .............................................................................................................................. Page 106 Approved 2013, Renewed 2016, Renewed 2019 3 Sponsor: Red Deer Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat, Lethbridge Promote Agribusiness Growth Opportunity by Reducing Barriers to Interprovincial and International Trade .............................. Page 108 Approved 2014, Renewed in 2017 Sponsor: Red Deer Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat. Lloydminster, Lethbridge, Spruce Grove Institute an Appeal Process for Labour Market Opinions ................................................................................................................. Page 111 Approved 2014, Renewed in 2017 Sponsor: Red Deer Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat, St. Albert, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie Elimination of Border Re-Inspections & Associated Fees on Canadian Meat Exports into USA ................................................... Page 112 Approved 2015, Renewed 2018 Sponsor: Red Deer Co-Sponsor: Camrose, Medicine Hat Dual Credit Opportunities in Alberta ................................................................................................................................................. Page 115 Approved 2016, Renewed 2019 Sponsor: Lethbridge Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat Reduce Alberta Corporate Income Tax Rates ................................................................................................................................... Page 118 Approved 2016, Renewed 2019 Sponsor: Sherwood Park Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat, Lethbridge Measuring the Effects of Increased Minimum Wages in Alberta ...................................................................................................... Page 120 Approved: 2017 Sponsor: Lethbridge Co-Sponsor: Medicine Hat Investing in Market Access for Southern Alberta Business ..............................................................................................................