On September 22, the Calgary Chamber welcomed Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for her annual keynote address and a fireside chat with Calgary Chamber President and CEO Deborah Yedlin, focused on Alberta’s long-term economic competitiveness and the opportunities ahead.
Premier Smith highlighted Alberta’s economic momentum despite global uncertainty, pointing to employment growth, private sector investment and a strong fiscal position. She noted growth taking place across energy, aviation, logistics and emerging sectors including AI and data centres as evidence of Alberta’s ability to compete for global capital. She emphasized maintaining Alberta’s competitive advantage while investing in the infrastructure, talent and services needed to support growth.
Energy and market access were central to the conversation. Premier Smith discussed the Canada-Alberta MOU and opportunities to increase energy production, advance major projects and improve regulatory certainty. She also highlighted efforts to expand pipeline capacity, advance carbon capture and develop a new strategic royalty framework to encourage investment and production.
The Premier also addressed pressures from rapid population growth, including demand for housing, schools, healthcare and skilled workers. Investments in post-secondary education and skilled trades were highlighted as important to ensuring businesses can access the talent they need.
During the fireside chat, Premier Smith and Yedlin explored several issues shaping Alberta’s economic future, including the province’s place in Canada. Premier Smith reiterated her government’s support for Alberta remaining in Canada and pointed to recent progress with the federal government as an opportunity to advance Alberta’s economic interests.
The conversation also addressed Canada-U.S. trade, with Premier Smith emphasizing diplomacy and de-escalation as businesses continue to navigate tariff uncertainty. On labour and immigration, she discussed better aligning immigration with Alberta’s workforce needs while ensuring population growth is supported by housing, infrastructure and public services. Looking to emerging opportunities, Premier Smith highlighted Alberta’s potential to attract significant investment in AI and data centres, supported by abundant energy, available land and a competitive regulatory environment. She also acknowledged the importance of addressing community concerns as the sector grows.
As Alberta navigates a changing economic and geopolitical landscape, Premier Smith underscored the importance of maintaining a competitive business environment, building the infrastructure needed for growth and ensuring businesses can access talent and global markets – all of which are critical to the province’s continued prosperity.
Thank you to Premier Smith for joining Calgary’s business community, and to our members and partners for participating in the conversation.
The Calgary Chamber extends its gratitude to our presenting sponsor, Walmart, thanking sponsor, Imperial Oil, and our supporting sponsors, Oil Sands Alliance, Bow Valley College, Quebecor/Freedom Mobile, ConocoPhillips, De Havilland, CPA Alberta, Pembina Pipeline, CAPP, Beacon Data Centres, and Canadian Natural.
