Media Room

We work hard to be a voice on the priorities of Albertans and Alberta businesses.

We are thought leaders in the space of business, the economy, and the future of Alberta, and we love working with provincial and national journalists to help tell Alberta’s story from a business lens. Here is some of our impact.

Media Requests

For media inquiries, interview requests, thought leadership & presentation requests, or to schedule a 1:1, please contact Brittany Brander, Manager, Communications & Brand at bbrander@businesscouncilab.com.

Media Spokespeople

Adam Legge, President
Mike Holden, Vice President of Policy & Chief Economist
Scott Crockatt, Vice President of Communications & External Relations
Alicia Planincic, Economist & Manager of Policy

Recent Media Releases & Statements

Nov 21 2023

Fall Economic Statement promotes energy infrastructure and Indigenous investment but lacks clear plan for long-term growth

Calgary, Alberta—Today’s Fall Economic Statement focuses on housing and affordability measures but also...
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Nov 09 2023

Prosperity scorecard on life in Alberta turns up surprisingly positive results

90% of Albertans feel they have an opportunity to live a good life; and economic performance, quality...
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Nov 01 2023

Letter & Submission to Minister Guilbeault on the Draft Clean Electricity Regulations

BCA’s letter and submission to Minister Guilbeault on the draft Clean Electricity...
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Oct 23 2023

Proposed net-zero grid rules unfit for realities of Canadian geography

The draft one-size-fits-all scheme unfairly threatens energy security in some provinces, while barely...
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Oct 04 2023

We need more Alberta in Ottawa

If you’ve been out and about in Ottawa this week, you might have seen a large delegation of...
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Federal Budget 2023
Sep 29 2023

Competitiveness, growth, and Canada’s opportunity to lead on the agenda as one of the largest delegations of Alberta CEOs heads to Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario—A delegation of business leaders from across Alberta arrives in Ottawa on October 2 to...
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BCA in the News

2023
2022
2021
2020
2019

2023

  • Alberta throws out another lure for Ontario workers (Edmonton Sun)
  • Varcoe: At $30B, here’s another TMX cost overrun to set your watch by (Regina Leader-Post)
  • What business wants from the 2023 federal budget (Ottawa Citizen)
  • Proposed Alberta omnibus bill to put $4 million towards adoption benefits (Calgary Herald)
  • Alberta Budget 2023: Business supports, tax incentives focused on stability (Calgary Herald)
  • Varcoe: Strong oil price gives Alberta financial firepower for cutting debt and spending (Calgary Herald)
  • Keeping Us Fed (Business in Calgary)
  • Alberta Premier Smith ‘puzzled’ by Ottawa’s long-awaited Sustainable Jobs plan (Edmonton Journal)
  • Alberta should use surplus to address debt, save and lower taxes: Fraser Institute (Calgary Sun)
  • Varcoe: More ping-pong in carbon capture spat as finance ministers gather (Regina Leader-Post)
  • Opinion: The global race for hydrogen is on. Here’s how Alberta can win (Edmonton Journal)
  • Alberta’s tech sector hit by layoffs after boom investment year (CBC News)
  • Labour market at its ‘hottest’ in years; Alberta well-positioned to weather potential recession: report (Edmonton Journal)
  • More job opportunity and higher wages coming to Alberta in 2023: Report (Global News)
  • Varcoe: Alberta economy in a ‘state of transition’ as layoffs bump up against labour shortages (Calgary Herald)
  • Alberta to prioritize some immigrants based on immediate family connections (Calgary Herald)
  • Public hearing on city’s single-use items bylaw this week (Calgary Sun)
  • Around 100,000 jobs open in Alberta — but many companies can’t find those with specific skills (CBC News)

2022

  • Alberta job vacancy numbers levelling off, StatsCan data shows (CBC News)
  • ‘It is your new normal’: Canada’s aging workforce root of national labour shortage (Financial Post)
  • Opinion: How to make Alberta a global leader in value-added agriculture products (Edmonton Journal)
  • Alberta’s famous ‘wage premium’ rapidly eroding, experts say (Financial Post)
  • Varcoe: Alberta and Ottawa find rare common ground on a climate issue (Edmonton Journal)
  • Taxe de rachat d’actions : les profits des pétrolières seraient dans la mire d’Ottawa (ICI Radio Canada)
  • Opinion: Alberta’s best days are still to come, but we must define the future in three key areas (Edmonton Journal)
  • Varcoe: Inflation ‘hitting harder’ in Alberta with slow wage growth in province, warns business council (Calgary Herald)
  • Canada will fast-track mining, energy projects important to allies: Freeland (Regina Leader Post)
  • Diane Francis: Canada is a lightweight nation (Financial Post)
  • Varcoe: Free economic advice for a new premier — don’t ‘rock the boat’ (Calgary Herald)
  • Varcoe: Businesses back city push to reduce single-use items, but cool to mandatory bag fee (Calgary Herald)
  • Legge: Canada’s reputation at risk as we abandon our allies in their hour of need (Calgary Herald)
  • Alberta’s economy emerges from pandemic in good condition: Fraser Institute (Calgary Sun)
  • Varcoe: Soft landing still possible after latest interest rate hike, says central bank executive (Edmonton Journal)
  • Opinion: Adding ‘North’ to American energy strategy should be a diplomatic priority (Edmonton Journal)
  • Report says Alberta economy on road to recovery (Global News)
  • As Stampede kicks off, corporate Calgary is in the mood to party (Financial Post)
  • Risk of recession high but Alberta could avoid worst impacts, says Mark Carney (CBC News)
  • On the energy transition, ARC Financial’s Mac Van Wielingen feels ‘a touch of vindication’ (Ottawa Sun)
  • Varcoe: Economic blueprint envisions rosy outlook if Albertans can get ‘rowing in the same direction’ (Calgary Herald)
  • Alberta unemployment rate drops, but labour shortages still common in many industries (City News)
  • Alberta at Noon with Judy Aldous: Long Term Unemployment (CBC Radio)
  • Varcoe: With inflation racing, when will Alberta’s energy rebates arrive? (Edmonton Journal)
  • Employment pushing Alberta’s recovery (Calgary Herald)
  • Varcoe: Federal incentive for carbon capture puts ball back in Alberta’s court (Edmonton Journal)
  • Alberta’s UCP government ‘pleased’ with federal budget’s carbon capture tax credit (Calgary Herald)
  • What Alberta can look for in the federal budget (CBC News)
  • Narrative surrounding Alberta must change: study (Calgary Sun)
  • Full-time employment dropped, part-time jobs increased in Alberta in February (Calgary Herald)
  • Business Council of Alberta Offers Policy Recommendations ‘To Reduce Carbon And Grow The Economy’ (Daily Oil Bulletin)
  • Opinion: If you want to grow your career, go back to the office (Calgary Herald)
  • Business organizations detail wish lists for Alberta budget (Calgary Herald)
  • Province continues to push economy forward to recovery in throne speech (Calgary Herald)
  • COVID-19: Downtown Calgary braces for provincial work-from-home mandates to be lifted (Global News)
  • OPINION: We need new solutions to solve the long-term unemployment crisis (Edmonton Journal)
  • Varcoe: Downtown Calgary prepares for the return of office workers — but key questions loom (Calgary Herald)
  • Varcoe: Jobs grow in Alberta, but long-term unemployment hangs over province (Edmonton Journal)
  • Varcoe: Bank of Canada holds interest rates, businesses expect hikes in 2022 as inflation roars (Calgary Herald)
  • Population movements across Canada see increase in Alberta population for first time in over a year (Calgary Herald)

2021

  • Opinion: If we are not careful, the Great Reset could become the Great Regret (Calgary Herald)
  • A wild rodeo ride for the Alberta economy in 2021; From oilpatch rebound to megadeals, tech and energy transition (National Post)
  • How Alberta’s tech sector is turning a corner (CBC News)
  • Varcoe: Top 10 Alberta business stories of 2021 (Calgary Herald)
  • Varcoe: ‘War for tech talent’ expands in Calgary as Benevity goes global and mCloud plants roots in downtown (Financial Post)
  • Albertans approve of more investment in renewable energies: poll (Calgary Herald)
  • Indigenous leaders push for creation of mandatory elders wisdom panels on resource projects (CBC News)
  • Varcoe: ‘I am an activist,’ says Steven Guilbeault as he meets energy leaders (Financial Post)
  • Varcoe: Oil plunges $10, underscoring anxiety over Alberta’s economic rebound (Edmonton Journal)
  • Varcoe: Hydrogen has the potential to be Alberta’s next oilsands in importance (Calgary Herald)
  • Oil patch execs fear Trudeau’s ‘reckless’ energy emissions cap (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Canada’s biggest oilsands firms pledge 97% cut in emissions — with government support (Edmonton Journal)
  • Legge: The other COVID crisis we need to be talking about: mental health (Calgary Herald)
  • Varcoe: Demise of Canadian Energy Pipeline Association ‘really short-sighted,’ warns Alberta energy minister (Financial Post)
  • Oil prices hit seven-year highs; US$100 oil possible this winter, experts say (CTV News)
  • Albertans departing province for greener B.C. pastures, ATB report shows (Edmonton Sun)
  • Opinion: Let’s make the most of this economic recovery (Edmonton Journal)
  • A ‘startling’ $10 billion turnaround in Alberta’s deficit but province needs to get off royalty roller-coaster (Financial Post)
  • Alberta communities lukewarm to Liberals’ $2B pledge to help ‘transition’ oil workers (Global News)
  • Alberta halves projected budget deficit to $7.8B; credits global boost in oil demand (Global News)
  • Top CEOs urge diversification as Alberta grapples to find its place (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Liberals shift target to Big Banks from Big Oil, but there’s little relief in oilpatch (Financial Post)
  • Varcoe: ‘I see it coming’: Vaccine passports, mandatory shots for workers spark fierce debate (Edmonton Journal)
  • CEOs and business leaders looking for ideas from Albertans to ‘define the decade’ (Global News)
  • Blue-chip task force seeks input to change the ‘direction of this province’ (Calgary Herald)
  • Oilpatch Represented On Business Council ‘Task Force’ On Alberta’s Future (Daily Oil Bulletin)
  • Mobile Vaccination Clinic rolls into the Grande Prairie Region on Wednesday (Whitecourt Star)
  • Mobile vaccine clinic makes stop at Heritage Festival (CTV News)
  • Alberta’s 1st mobile vaccination clinic rolls into Kananaskis Country (Global News)
  • Mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic to hit the road next week; 75 per cent of eligible Albertans have one dose (Edmonton Journal)
  • Alberta launches mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic for worksites and rural communities (Global News)
  • Calgary gets ‘opportunity to flex again’ as the Stampede returns (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Employers to hire more contract workers as economy emerges from pandemic: Poll (BNN Bloomberg)
  • What about the workers? Canada needs a blueprint for workers caught up in the global energy transition (Financial Post)
  • Kenney says he pushed for faster reopening as Canada-U.S. travel restrictions extended to July 21 (Edmonton Sun)
  • Alberta’s unemployment rate in May the lowest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (Edmonton Journal)
  • As the ranks of oil and gas executives dwindle, where do they go? (BNN Bloomberg)
  • This is how proof of COVID-19 vaccination could work in Alberta (CBC News)
  • Opinion: Canada needs a national travel framework and health passes (National Post)
  • Kenney announces ‘largest jobs training program in Alberta’s history’ to begin Thursday (Calgary Herald)
  • Alberta’s oil producers feel recovery — but analysts aren’t predicting a repeat of the last boom (CBC News)
  • ‘Huge red flag’: Alberta’s long-term unemployment rate hits record high in April (Edmonton Journal)
  • Opinion: Liberal budget fails to capitalize on Alberta’s resource sectors (Edmonton Journal)
  • Varcoe: Job retraining, carbon capture bright spots for Alberta in federal budget (Edmonton Journal)
  • Federal budget doesn’t go far enough to help Calgary’s economic recovery, city’s mayor says (Calgary Herald)
  • Calgary to become global headquarters of North America’s first continental railway (Financial Post)
  • Anxiety in Alberta over $26B Shaw acquisition as Rogers promises jobs and investment (National Post)
  • Corporate head office job losses a ‘wake-up call’ for Calgary (Red Deer Advocate)
  • Varcoe: Watch out for boomerang effect — rising commercial property taxes have lowered investment in Alberta cities (Calgary Herald)
  • Opinion: UCP budget will get good ship Alberta through the storms (Edmonton Journal)
  • NP View: Alberta is no place for a sales tax (National Post)
  • Time for a sales tax? As Alberta deficit grows, so do calls to diversify oil-dependent economy (Edmonton Journal)
  • Business Council of Alberta reacts to 2021 budget (Global News)
  • Alberta faces long road to recovery as it unveils $18.2 billion budget deficit (Financial Post)
  • One-time payment to working parents for childcare not enough: advocate (Calgary Sun)
  • Business Council of Alberta recommends provincial sales tax, carbon tax to counter fiscal deterioration (Global News)
  • Varcoe: Cash-starved Alberta needs sales tax and carbon tax, says business council (Calgary Herald)
  • Sales, carbon tax needed to counter Alberta’s ‘rapid’ fiscal deterioration, business council says (Global News)
  • Opinion: Three ways we can attack Alberta’s long-term unemployment (Edmonton Journal)
  • Recreation facilities and gyms eager to reopen when the time is right (Calgary Herald)

2020

  • Poll shows broad national support for energy sector during COVID recovery (Calgary Herald)
  • Varcoe: New survey finds one-quarter of Alberta CEOs uncertain if their companies will survive pandemic (Calgary Herald)
  • Applications now open for Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program (Global News)
  • Varcoe: As outbreaks continue at workplaces, saving lives still trumps livelihoods (Edmonton Journal)
  • Ottawa’s oil and gas response is ‘underwhelming’ so far: Jim Davidson (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Oil and gas sector needs more support from Ottawa as prices plunge: Former TransCanada CEO (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Alberta’s small businesses prepare for deep pandemic-induced recession after years of fragility (Calgary Herald)
  • Federal government unveils $250M to help tech firms weather COVID-19 (Calgary Herald)
  • Trudeau announces $1.7B to clean up orphan wells in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan (Global News)
  • Oilpatch on ‘pins and needles’ waiting for aid, while Calgary Stampede uncertain (CBC News)
  • Keystone investment not a distraction from COVID fight, Kenney vows (Calgary Herald)
  • Small businesses crippled by COVID-19 applaud Ottawa’s pledge to cover 75 per cent of payroll (Calgary Herald)
  • Alberta’s oil and gas sector looking for support during COVID-19 crisis (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Alberta to pay levies, extend leases in first wave of aid for embattled oilpatch (Financial Post)
  • Anxiety mounts among Albertans as province faces ‘profound adversity’ not seen since the 1930s (Financial Post)
  • ‘Waiting to see what happens next’: Edmonton businesses face challenges with COVID-19 (CBC News)
  • Canada’s energy sector ‘particularly vulnerable’ after oil price crash (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Varcoe: Oilpatch has ‘never experienced anything like this’ (Calgary Herald)
  • Alberta budget targets ‘full employment’ by 2023 despite economic volatility (CBC News)
  • ‘Disappointment, fear and anger’: Indigenous communities blindsided by Teck’s decision to pull Frontier project (Financial Post)
  • Varcoe: Alberta businesses insist rail blockades ‘can’t go on much longer’ (Edmonton Journal)
  • Finance minister finds ‘alignment’ at pre-budget roundtable in Calgary (BNN Bloomberg)
  • Varcoe: What’s in store for jobs, oil and real estate — three keys to Alberta’s economy (Edmonton Journal)

2019

  • Government exploring flow-through shares for tech sector in absence of cancelled tax credits (Calgary Herald)
  • Provincial budget cuts could take toll on Edmonton and public sector, critics say (CBC News)
  • The Business Council of Alberta (Business in Calgary)
  • Varcoe: Alberta must take some tough medicine to balance its books, MacKinnon panel says (Edmonton Journal) 
  • Alberta corporate tax cut makes it the lowest rate in Canada (Calgary Herald) 
  • New Alberta business council to focus on policy, not lobbying for investment: Kvisle (BNN Bloomberg) 
  • Edmonton Journal)