November 14, 2018 - Edmonton, Alberta

Date: November 14, 2018
Location: Economic Developers Alberta Members, Conference Call

In 10 years…

• We will see more automation, robotization and diversity in the agriculture sector. Western Canada will have more diverse and value-added crops.
• We will produce more value-added products here, such as expanding the bio-industrial field into medicine, cosmetics, and building materials.
• Have a more diverse economy overall.
• Have an improved high- school completion rate.
• Have broadband accessibility and improved education.

Infrastructure

• There is a lack of adequate broadband and internet access in rural Alberta. This limits potential economic growth and options for innovation. For example, this limits the use of robotics in agriculture.
• Currently, the focus on broadband and internet access is on cities; access becomes limited even in satellite communities, not just rural or remote communities.
• Economic growth in smaller rural communities depends on internet access.
• The Connecting Communities Grant focuses on remote communities, less on rural.
• There is a need to expand and diversify agriculture production into bio-industrial fields, with applications in medicines and cosmetics.
• There is a need to diversify crops and increase value-added processing. We need to move beyond commodity crop production.
• We should expand and build on our agricultural expertise.

Education, Skills and Career Development

• The high school drop out rate is too high.
• Students are being attracted to high paying jobs with limited longer-term career potential.
  • This is in part a cultural reality in Alberta and western Canada.
• Change requires improved education and incentives to students to stay in school, but will also require a cultural shift.
• We need to include all participants in the workforce, including Indigenous people and immigrants.
• The State of Tennessee Drive to 55 Program significantly increased Grade 12 graduation rates and success in post-secondary education.
• There is a need to increase entrepreneurial skills development and experience programs in education.
• There is a need for more P3 partnerships (federal and provincial government, municipalities, companies, schools) in career development. Currently, all are in silos.
• A tour of schools by WD, companies, and economic development groups in partnerships could help increase awareness of economic and career opportunities.
• How do we influence the culture? Young people do not know what they do not know. Students are not exposed to a broad range of careers or economic opportunities.
  • Perhaps one idea would be to launch a campaign like “Canada Heritage Moments” on future careers.
• There is a need to expand education in trades looking at future careers in trades, such as maintaining robotics.
• Companies often recruit students directly out of high schools.
• Junior Achievement is supported by many schools and has been successful in expanding awareness of career options and developing entrepreneurial skills.
• We need more data on the labour force and labour market to provide to employers and economic development organizations.
• Education needs to focus on how employees can adjust to automation rather than fear it – how to have a career in the future.

Local Economic Development

• Economic development needs to focus on quality of living, quality of infrastructure and quality of workforce.
• Access to markets requires broadband access.
• We need to support existing businesses in our communities. It does not help to create one business if we lose two in the process.
• Current succession planning is either real estate-based (agriculture especially) or family-based.  We need to expand this to consider immigrant investors and other potential entrepreneurs.  There is a big potential in investors and workers immigrating to Canada.
• Economic developers have been successful in reaching out to potential immigrants with concrete information on business opportunities and the many questions about moving to Canada. There is a need to create linkages between retiring business owners and potential immigrant investors.
• SuccessionMatching.com is a North American-wide investment support organization.
• We need to tie cluster value chains to local markets and businesses. The cluster opportunities are often too general for local businesses to recognize potential in them. It is often unclear how local businesses should approach these opportunities or invest in them.
• Few small Canadian businesses export in comparison to those in most OECD countries. Further, those that do export primarily consider the US market and are hesitant to venture beyond.
• Many Canadian small businesses are comfortable being the size that they are and are hesitant to pursue growth opportunities. Some believe exporting is beyond their capability.  In part, this is part of the culture of western Canadian small business ownership. We need to encourage and help small business owners to consider alternatives.

Other Comments

• Economic diversification is important but we must balance this with the economic potential of the energy sector.
• Energy East and pipelines should remain a national priority.