A Climate Emergency or an Economy Emergency?

BY SHANE WENZEL

For several decades we have heard words of doom and gloom about global warming, and calls against fossil fuels, methane and other gases. We have been accused of being selfish for driving cars, air-conditioning our homes, and just living our lives. Even our cows are being accused of contributing for eating a vegan diet, regardless that alternative feeds have been developed. The whole climate topic has accumulated various names when predications failed. It appears to have now settled on climate change as a ‘catch all’ for every weather turbulence. It continues, even though hurricanes and earthquakes have created an abundance of damage since 1727, long before ‘planes, trains and automobiles’.

Fast forward to 2021 and the civic election where an indepth study revealed that day-to-day living and cost of living held the highest concern by 59 per cent of Calgarians. They rated taxes the highest concern at 17 per cent followed by affordable housing, cost of living, public safety and others, while environment and climate change rated 3 per cent. The next greatest concern was the economy at 39 per cent. I was completely surprised the evening of the election to learn that claiming a climate emergency was the first order of business for the new council. Because I believe in numbers and what I see happening around me, I decided to stay away from the emotion and personally rate an economy emergency as a Calgary priority.

I follow some very accomplished economists and have learned there are two types: those who see only what immediately strikes the eye, and those who look beyond at the longer and indirect consequences. As we all know, Calgary has suffered great loses in our economy since 2014 primarily due to long running anti-fossil fuel policies which resulted in lost businesses, bankruptcies and the human disaster of thousands of lost jobs. Governments like to blame private industry and believe their own increased spending is a panacea for recovery, which by fact always leads to runaway inflation. Needless to say, the unexpected pandemic resulted in more lost businesses and sadly more jobs. It is encouraging to hear there are jobs opening up but going unfilled. Where did all the people go? Are the good jobs lost forever along with real investors? And will those office towers and streets ever return to a buzz of activity? Not if the COP26 crowd have their way!

I amusingly listen to our own leaders at the ‘anti-fossil fuel’ gathering in Scotland including the well-known European failures that led the way to discover there is no wind or other renewables without fossil fuel. Every stage of manufacturing wind turbines involves fossil fuels or its derivatives, not to mention their reliance as backup energy. I believe we need to continue to develop our clean fossil fuel technologies to help reduce other countries emissions. I can’t not remind readers of our complete reliance on everything medical during COVID – all of which is made with and by fossil fuels.

Let’s get our key industry back on track and the economy and jobs will follow.

“FAST FORWARD TO 2021 AND THE CIVIC ELECTION WHERE AN IN-DEPTH STUDY REVEALED THAT DAY-TO-DAY LIVING AND COST OF LIVING HELD THE HIGHEST CONCERN BY 59 PER CENT OF CALGARIANS.”

Shane Wenzel is president of the Shane Homes Group of Companies. Follow him @shanewenzel on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.His column is written for the Alberta Enterprise Group, @AEG on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

BBB: A legacy brand that resonates in today’s evolving digital marketplace

Expanding digital footprint and Better Business Bureau. It’s not what you expect to hear about a legacy brand in existence since 1912. Founded to create an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other, BBB does that and so much more.

“BBB remains relevant because it continues to be of the times,” says Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen, President and CEO of BBB Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay.

Backing up this statement are BBB’s robust social media channels and a website (BBB.org) which has more than one million page views (locally) every year. There, consumers can read thousands of business profiles and vetted reviews.

“We provide this service free to consumers so that they can find trusted, local businesses. Being able to access trusted information, drives consumer confidence, which in turn, supports local business.” say’s O’Sullivan-Andersen.

At the pinnacle of this group are businesses who meet BBB’s eight standards and become accredited.

“Not every business becomes an Accredited Business,” says O’Sullivan-Andersen. “And once they are accredited they must ensure the standards are maintained.”

Continuing with the myth-busting, O’Sullivan-Andersen notes that BBB Accredited Businesses include a diverse range from a wide array of industries.

“This covers everything from the sole operator in the trades to large tech companies involved in Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity.”

She adds, “The common denominator is that BBB Accredited Businesses meet and typically exceed those eight standards, which is signified when they display the BBB seal in the form of a digital asset for use on a website, or a physical seal proudly displayed on doors and vehicles across our service area and North America.”

BBB Accreditation Standards

Build Trust

Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.

Advertise Honestly

Follow established legal and ethical advertising and selling practices, including, but not limited to, the BBB Code of Advertising.

Tell the Truth

Honestly represent products and services, including clear and prominent disclosures of all material terms.

Be Transparent

Openly identify the nature, location, and ownership of the business, and clearly and prominently disclose all material facts that bear on a customer’s decision to buy.

Honour Promises

Fulfil all contracts, commitments and representations.

Be Responsive

Address disputes forwarded by BBB quickly and in good faith.

Safeguard Privacy

Protect any data collected against unauthorized disclosure and fraud, collect personal information only as needed, and respect the preferences of customers regarding the use of their information.

Embody Integrity

Approach all business dealings, marketplace transactions and commitments with integrity, good faith and intent to do what is reasonably expected.

The Plan: Oil and Gas and Climate Change

The world’s oil and gas producers and energy associations get it! They walk the walk. They are committed to combating climate change and working collaboratively with governments to meet greenhouse emission reduction goals. And Canada is acknowledged and respected as a dynamic and innovative key player.

Last month, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) joined energy associations from around the world, calling for policy makers at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, to recognize the necessary role for natural gas and oil to meet growing global energy demand, positively impact climate change and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

“As we watch nations around the world struggle to provide energy to their citizens, Canada must step up and offer a safe haven for oil and natural gas investment, so our trading partners have access to reliable, affordable and responsibly developed oil and natural gas,” urged Tim McMillan, CAPP president and CEO.”

McMillan and other world delegates underscored the strategy of a transition, not an elimination of energy resources. The climate summit made the point that, although the reduction and elimination of fossil fuels is a popular movement, it is also a somewhat unrealistic and impractical global plan. Some countries either can’t afford the switch nor do they currently have the necessary alternative energy resources.

One example is Africa. According to the senior vice president of the African Energy Chamber, “Today in Africa there are 580 million people who lack access to any kind of electricity. That number is expected to grow exponentially in the next decade. He noted, as the cost of energy increases globally, African nations would be left behind in the energy transition, should they be asked to undergo a catastrophic and rapid transition. “The continued evolution of the world energy system must maintain access to reliable and affordable energy for the world’s over seven billion people,” MacMillan said. “Today, both developed and developing nations face rising energy insecurity in a context of poorly designed energy and climate policies. Developed nations that once benefited from stable energy supplies are facing energy shortages, price volatility and a lack of infrastructure capable of bringing additional base energy online.”

The summit emphasized the reality that many world countries still experience serious energy poverty. They do not have the ability or the resources to supply affordable and reliable energy to their populations to meet the most basic of human needs. Many are being forced to turn to higher emission sources, as evidenced by the rapid rise of coal demand, to try and meet their energy needs.

MacMillan added that the group of natural gas and oil associations is calling for an inclusive approach in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement which requires increasing – not restricting – energy access, including access to responsibly produced and lower emission natural gas and oil.

“Responsibly produced natural gas and oil can help countries, especially developing countries, make progress towards ambitious emission reduction targets.”

Welcome home to a Calgary first!

“New Urbanism” is an exciting new community planning and design concept based on the principles of walkable blocks and streets, housing and shopping in close proximity, and accessible public spaces. New Urbanism focuses on human-scaled urban design and is catching on in North America, with new urbanist developments in-demand and popular in Austin, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Denver, Colorado and now, Calgary.

In late October, when successful Canadian builder, Dream Unlimited, revealed the first seven of 13 show homes in the grand opening of its 646-acre, mixed-use, “new west” Alpine Park neighbourhood, was Calgary’s first chance to see how a next-generation greenfield development – on the forefront of the new urbanism movement – will improve the way neighbourhoods feel.

Urban planners explain that modern urbanism design and development principles can be applied to new development, urban infill and revitalization, and preservation and also applied to all scales of development in the full range of places including rural Main Streets, booming suburban areas, urban neighborhoods, dense city centers, and even entire regions.

New Urbanists want to see the return of human-scale neighborhoods. They create tools to reform zoning and street design and develop underutilized building types – like shopfront houses and courtyard units – that contribute to diverse neighborhoods. They also advocate for villages, towns, and cities consisting of neighborhoods designed around a five-minute walk from center to edge.

Basics of the new planning and design concept are streets designed for people – rather than just cars accommodating multimodal transportation including walking, bicycling, transit use and driving and providing plazas, squares, sidewalks, shops and cafes. And it is a Calgary first! “To have a community of this scale and calibre in our own backyard is exciting as a Calgarian,” says Tara Steell, general manager of Dream’s Calgary Land division. “It’s such an inherently appealing concept, and residents will absolutely fall in love with the tree-lined streets, charming porches, and incredible public spaces.”

The architectural styles of Dream’s Alpine Park show homes are all uniquely Calgary-inspired and range from Craftsman and Contemporary to Farmhouse, Châteauesque, Prairie and Urban Mountain.

The timing of Dream’s Alpine Park is not coincidental. Momentum has been building for a few years. The opening of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road, a pivotal access to the community, and following City council’s unanimous approval of Stage 2 of the project, which includes the construction of the community’s Village Centre, an innovative naturalized stormwater wetland and a proposed sports and wellness campus, Calgary’s “new urbanism” neighborhood was ready.

“The Village Centre is the hub of Alpine Park and a big part of our community vision,” Steell points out. She also notes that, overall development of Alpine Park will create 1,700 direct and indirect jobs per year, for a total of more than 20,000 new jobs over the 15-year lifespan of the project. And on completion, Alpine Park will be home to more than 12,000 residents and create a projected 4,000 ongoing jobs throughout the commercial, retail, industrial and institutional areas integrated within the neighbourhood.

ABOVE: DREAM’S ALPINE PARK.

Alberta and Saskatchewan securities regulators adopt new small business financing prospectus exemption

The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) and the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) today adopted a new prospectus exemption designed to facilitate greater access to capital for Alberta and Saskatchewan businesses.

“This exemption joins the self-certified investor prospectus exemption adopted in March 2021, and is the next step in our broader efforts to support innovation and diversification in our provinces,” said Stan Magidson, chair and CEO of the ASC. “This initiative is intended to address challenges faced by small and early stage businesses in accessing capital, while still addressing investor protection,” added Roger Sobotkiewicz, chair and CEO of the FCAA.

The new small business financing prospectus exemption allows Alberta and Saskatchewan businesses to raise up to $5 million from the public using a simple, streamlined offering document. The exemption has tiered offering limits depending on whether financial statements are provided to investors. To mitigate the risks to investors, investments are limited, with higher limits possible if financial statements are provided or if the investor either has a certain minimum income or has received investment advice from a registered dealer. The investment limits do not apply to investors who qualify to invest under certain other common prospectus exemptions. The exemption is being implemented on a three-year pilot basis. Details of the new exemption are set out in CSA Multilateral Notice of Implementation 45-539 Small Business Financing available on the websites of the ASC and the FCAA.

The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.