Policy Committees

Standing Policy Committees:

Standing policy committee’s and their business volunteers are the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce's main information and policy development resources. Designed to develop policies reflecting the best interests of the local business community, each committee serves as the main policy advice arm on its particular area of expertise for the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Centre Edmonton. All chamber committees, as well as its task forces (temporary) are comprised with senior volunteers from Edmonton's business committee, who hold specific subject matter expertise in their respective areas.

It is the members who sit on these committees who work diligently to discuss and develop policy issues into policy positions which they believe have an adverse impact on commerce and Edmonton’s business community.

During the committees year cycles (September – June), policy positions are forwarded to Policy Forum (the Chamber’s main policy decision making body) for further debate and approval.

Once approved these positions form the consensus used to lobby all three levels of government on behalf of nearly 3,000 Edmonton Chamber of Commerce members.

For 2012-13 the active Standing Policy Committees are:

Energy & Environment Committee

Finance & Taxation Committee

Municipal Affairs Committee

For more information on how to join a standing policy committee - click here

Task Forces:

Currently the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has two task forces in operation; both task forces were struck at the June 2011 board meeting and have both completed their first year of operation (September 2011-June 2012), upon successful completion of their final report; the mandates of both task forces have since been extended.

Workforce Development Task Force - Rick Butler, LOKKEN, Chair
To view the original mandate of the Workforce Development Task Force - click here

Economic Diversification Task Force - Dr. Corey Wentzell, University of Alberta, Chair
To view the original mandate of the Economic Diversification Task Force - click here

Policy Forum:

Led by the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, Policy Forum is made up of the chairs of each standing policy committee, and (if applicable) task forces, along with other select board members. All issues lobbied for by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce must first received approval by Policy Forum.

For more information about Policy Forum - click here

DID YOU KNOW?

On February 27 of 1889, the Edmonton Board of Trade was established.

In 1899, the board of trade acquired a 55-acre parcel of land, which became the site of the city’s new public park and racetrack.

In June 1915, the Edmonton Board of Trade raised $8,098 for the purchase of armaments for the 49th and 51st Battalions.

In 1928 the Edmonton Board of Trade was reconstituted as the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

In November of 1933, the chamber helped to promote recovery by advocating public works projects such as the Jasper and Yellowhead Highways.

In 1942, the chamber created an advertising bureau to help Edmonton merchants adjust to the anticipated decline in business during WWII.

In November 1946, the chamber formed the Better Business Division modeled after the Better Business Bureaus of Winnipeg and Vancouver.

In 1948 the chamber opened the first public tourism office, forerunner to Edmonton Tourism’s visitor centres.

1948 also saw the beginning of the chamber’s annual northern tours with its Friendship Train trip up the new Alaska Highway.

In January of 1978, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce moved into the Sun Life Building at 99 Street and 101a Avenue.

In 1985, the chamber continued to aid the diversification of the Edmonton economy promoting the Edmonton Research Park.

On January 26, 2000, the chamber stepped into the 21st century with edmontonchamber.com.

On July 8, 2004 the chamber moved to its current location on the 7th floor of the nearby World Trade Centre Edmonton.

Policy Committees

Standing Policy Committees:

Standing Policy Committees:

Task Forces:

Task Forces:

Policy Forum:

Policy Forum:

events

DID YOU KNOW?