2025 MUNICIPAL RESOURCE
A Message from the ACC President & CEO
Vote Prosperity 2025 is the Alberta Chambers of Commerce’s business-focused platform for the upcoming municipal elections. It reflects the priorities identified by business leaders across the province and is grounded in practical recommendations that support economic growth. To remain competitive, Alberta’s municipalities must reduce unnecessary costs, streamline approval processes, and provide regulatory clarity that enables businesses to invest and expand with confidence.
Business growth also depends on strong relationships between local government, economic development agencies, and business leaders. Effective collaboration
ensures that local policies support business attraction, retention, and long-term prosperity. Equally important are safe, well-connected communities with adequate housing and modern infrastructure — all of which directly impact workforce stability and the ability of businesses to
thrive.
Shauna Feth, President and CEO
Alberta Chambers of Commerce
pillar 1: Strengthening Business Competitiveness
Alberta businesses face increasing financial and regulatory challenges that hinder their ability to grow and compete effectively. Rising costs, lengthy permit processes, and safety concerns impact operational efficiency and profitability. Addressing these barriers will create a more business-friendly environment that fosters economic growth.
Challenges:
• Rising utility fees: 42% of businesses reported increased municipal franchise fees on electricity, and 40% reported increases in natural gas fees, adding to operational costs.
• Complex permit processes: 23% of businesses indicated that municipal permits are a barrier to their growth, citing long processing times, lack of clear guidelines, and inconsistent communication.
Our Recommendations:
To strengthen business competitiveness, the Alberta chambers network encourages municipal governments to:
Boost tax competitiveness: Attract investment and stimulate local business growth by improving tax competitiveness - identified by 38% of businesses as a top concern for municipal candidates.
Reduce municipal franchise fees: Reduce municipal franchise fees on electricity and natural gas, which 44% of businesses identify as having a negative impact on growth or competitiveness.
Streamline permitting processes: Address barriers such as lengthy timelines, subjective
guidelines, and communication issues to facilitate quicker and more efficient business
expansions and renovations.
Establish clear and consistent regulatory guidelines: Established fixed timelines to review and
execute zoning and bylaw changes to provide greater predictability for businesses.
pillar 2: Growing Business Partnerships
Strong partnerships between businesses, municipal leaders and economic development agencies are essential for economic sustainability. However, businesses struggle to engage with
key stakeholders and access necessary resources to expand and thrive. Improving collaboration can enhance economic opportunities and support local enterprises.
Challenges:
• Declining engagement with elected officials: Only 18% of businesses reported having interacted with elected officials in the past year, reducing opportunities to discuss
concerns and influence policy decisions.
• Heightened focus on business attraction and retention: 52% of enterprises operating
for five years or less rank it as a top priority, underscoring the need for early-stage support to sustain growth and competitiveness.
Our Recommendations:
To grow business partnerships, the Alberta chambers network encourages municipal
governments to:
Engage business leaders: Businesses that have connected with elected officials are more likely to recommend to a friend or colleague that they set up business or invest in the municipality.
Advance economic development with investor input: Promote local competitiveness to attract investment and retain enterprises, a priority identified by 40% of businesses for municipal
candidates.
Strengthen communication with the private sector: Improve the quality and timeliness of communication between businesses and municipal authorities to build trust, support collaborative relationships, and enable sound business planning and informed investment
decisions
Foster collaboration with economic development agencies: Encourage increased interaction between businesses and local economic development agencies, as 28% of businesses have contacted these agencies for support in sustaining or growing their operations.
pillar 3: Building Healthy Communities
A thriving business sector depends on well-maintained infrastructure and a skilled workforce. Prevalence of crime, housing shortages, and inaccessible transportation are barriers for growing healthy local business environments - addressing these challenges will enable business to grow
and strengthen the communities they operate in.
Challenges:
• High crime impact: 70% of businesses reported being affected by crime, including theft, vandalism, and trespassing, leading to financial losses and safety concerns.
• Housing supply issues: 26% of businesses identified housing shortages as a priority,
emphasizing the need for affordable and accessible options to support their workforce.
Our Recommendations:
To build healthy communities, the Alberta chambers network encourages municipal governments to:
Increase housing supply: Increase the availability of serviced land, streamline approval processes and explore creative zoning solutions to meet workforce needs.
Improve public safety: Implement measures to reduce crime rates, as a significant number of businesses have been affected by theft, vandalism, and other community-based crimes.
Enhance transportation infrastructure: Invest in roads, transit, and congestion solutions to improve access to business areas, workforce hubs, and customer markets, supporting long-term
municipal economic growth.
Focus on core mandates: Ensure that municipal budgets and resources are directed toward legislated responsibilities under the Municipal Government Act, avoiding duplication of services
and reducing unnecessary cost burdens on taxpayers and provincial budgets.
pillar 4: Improving Government Accountability
Effective governance is essential for fostering a business-friendly environment. Many businesses struggle with understanding municipal decision-making processes, tax structures, and regulatory
frameworks. Strengthening transparency and engagement will build trust between businesses and government, ensuring policies align with economic growth objectives.
Challenges:
• Clarity remains a challenge: Only 28% of businesses report that their local government provides clear, consistent, and easily accessible information regarding regulations, decision-making processes, and administrative requirements.
• Escalating municipal franchise fees: 42% of Alberta businesses report higher electricity franchise fees and 40% face increases in natural gas fees, intensifying cost pressures at the local level.
Our Recommendations:
To improve government accountability, the Alberta chambers network encourages municipal governments to:
Increase transparency in municipal budgets: Improve clarity in budget reporting to ensure businesses can better understand municipal financial allocations and spending priorities, as 31% of businesses find them too simplified or difficult to understand.
Assess the impact of taxes and fees: Conduct evaluations to understand how various taxes and fees affect businesses, with a focus on reducing those identified as barriers to growth, such as development charges and permitting fees.
Enhance communication of regulatory processes: Develop clearer, more consistent communication around municipal regulations and decision-making, as 72% of businesses struggle to access or understand this critical information.
Simplify municipal tax guidance: Streamline and clarify tax-related information and processes for businesses, as 42% report difficulty navigating municipal tax structures and understanding their obligations.