Vital role of small businesses
Last week, Oct. 16-22, was Small Business Week — an opportunity to celebrate entrepreneurship in our province and recognize the important role small businesses play. I have been pleased to meet with many local entrepreneurs, small business owners and others to learn about the terrific work they are doing in our community.
In the face of global economic uncertainty, Alberta small businesses continue to demonstrate innovation and resiliency. In fact, more than 95 per cent of all businesses in the province are small businesses, and they employ over 500,000 people. That is more than a third of the entire private sector. Small businesses are the foundation of our towns and neighbourhoods, and provide good jobs for Albertans to earn a solid living for themselves and their families.
Our government wants to make sure that small businesses have the support they need to thrive. Business Link is a partnership between the Government of Alberta and the federal government to provide information, support and advisers to small businesses around the province. Find it at You can find information on other programs and resources at
businesslink.ca.
The Alberta Jobs Plan includes a number of initiatives to help small businesses, which will diversify our economy and create long-term growth. We are reducing the small business corporate income tax by a third. This tax relief will be worth approximately $185 million to small business owners in 20172018. This makes us tied for second-lowest provincial small business tax across the country. We are also offering an Alberta Investor Tax Credit and a Capital Investment Tax Credit, which will encourage investors to come to, and stay in our province.
Celebrating Small Business Week in our community, the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Business of the Year Awards on Oct 20. All of the nominees and winners (and sponsors!) are phenomenal businesses and contribute so much to our community, but I am going to take a moment to highlight just a couple.
The Environmental Stewardship Award went to Synergy Permaculture Inc., an urban farming operation that turned lawns and empty lots around the city into local food. Walking around Lethbridge this summer, I saw Synergy vegetable plots at homes, schools, daycares and in neighbourhood spaces. They brought food production right into our backyards and sold their products through other local businesses.
The Business Leadership Award, which recognizes a business with an outstanding impact on the community, went to Teamwork Training Ltd. In their 25 years of operation, Teamwork training has helped 25,000 southern Albertans find jobs, with more than 80 per cent of those people still employed after six months. They provide targeted training and coaching to get job seekers into career opportunities, and they work closely with employers to ensure a right fit.
Thank you to all of the small and medium-sized businesses in our community, and thank you to the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce for recognizing the good work that is happening right here.
Of course, we all need to stay healthy if we are going to get to work. With winter on the way, flu season is almost upon us. Influenza is serious, and a flu vaccine is the best prevention. All Albertans six months and older can get a vaccine for free, and the earlier in the season you are immunized the more protection it will give you.
Every flu season is different, and to combat each year’s predominant strain, you need a new vaccine every year. When more people in a community are vaccinated, the infection has less chance of spreading to those who are especially vulnerable. The flu vaccine saves lives.
Attend one of the many clinics being offered, or contact your doctor or pharmacist to see if they are providing vaccines in their locations.
If you have any questions or feedback, my staff and I are here to listen and to help. Call us at 403-329-4644, email us at Lethbridge.west@assembly.ab.ca, or stop by at 402 8 St. S. I look forward to hearing from you.