Chamber’s business forum and advisory meeting discusses major issues like energy transition, MCC

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on November 5, 2025.

The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce held its quarterly business forum and advisory meeting Tuesday afternoon.

The meeting, open to all members of the chamber, offers the opportunity for members to shape the policies and initiatives that affect the local business community.

Executive director Lisa Dressler and past president Steve Heid answered questions and provided updates about a number of ongoing initiatives.

One major topic raised at the session was the City of Medicine Hat’s energy transition.

The chamber does not currently espouse a position on the energy transition, but Dressler and Heid said there is interest in formulating one, and it is soliciting member input to shape it.

The chamber wants to understand its members positions on issues like the possibility of a municipally controlled corporation, or the Saamis Solar project, in order to influence the direction of its advocacy. The chamber will be circulating a survey to members later this week to collect information on the business community’s opinion regarding the Saamis Solar project.

The chamber previously circulated a survey regarding the MCC proposal, but received only 22 replies out of 850 members. The chamber encourages more members to engage with this week’s survey.

Another major topic of discussion was the city’s recent enforcement of backflow prevention requirements. The city recently began requiring the installation of backflow prevention devices on all possible cross connections to the water distribution system.

Backflow can lead to the contamination of drinking water. Failure to comply with the bylaw could result in water services being shut off.

However, the initial implementation required affected property owners to instal costly equipment with little notice, or else face penalties.

Dressler says initial consultations with the city on behalf of business resulted in an extension of the notice period to come into compliance with the bylaw from 30 to 90 days.

At the chamber’s September board meeting, a set of policy recommendations were approved, including the establishment of a financial assistance program and the provision of flexible, risk-based timelines for implementation.

Now that the new council is in place, she says the chamber will continue advocacy with the municipality to try to see the recommendations adopted.

During the new business portion of the meeting, key issues raised by attendees included concerns about insurance costs and taxation rates for local businesses.

Chamber officials will have their first meeting with the new city council on Nov. 25.

Chamber officials encourage members to submit concerns through their Business Issue Submission form or by contacting the chamber.