Prolonged construction projects in core commercial districts have led to significant operational and financial challenges for local businesses, including lost revenue, closures, and legal and advocacy activity. Business owners and associations have expressed the urgent need for improved planning and support from the city. Kent knows that to maintain Calgary’s vibrancy and give entrepreneurs the best opportunity to succeed, city hall needs to do better.

To ensure future municipal construction projects do not continue to cause severe disruptions to businesses Kent plans to include affected business owners in the planning process to develop strategies to minimize the impacts of work on operations, change planning processes so work is completed on a shortened timeline, provide communities with transparent and predicable project timelines, and expand grant and compensation programs to help businesses get through difficult times.

Representing 93.5% of businesses in the city as of 2024, small businesses are vital to the city; They provide jobs to many Calgarians and foster a vibrant and unique urban environment. Unfortunately, economic adversity, compounded by lingering disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures, have made it increasingly difficult for small businesses to remain viable.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, nearly half of small business owners report cash flow as a primary concern, and many cite difficulty in securing loans from private financial institutions.

Public financing may help bridge these funding gaps, enabling economically viable businesses to develop and grow. Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver have demonstrated the efficacy of public financial interventions. Similar programs have proven to encourage small business innovation, upgrade commercial spaces, and create small business jobs. Furthermore, OECD research indicates such investments can result in economic growth across the city as local spending is stimulated.

Kent’s plan includes programmes designed to support both emerging entrepreneurs and established small enterprises. Low-interest municipal loans or loan guarantees would allow for capital investments, technology upgrades, and workforce expansion. This initiative aligns with Calgary’s Economic Development’s strategy, Calgary in the New Economy, which emphasizes innovation and business diversification.

Through public investment in our city’s entrepreneurial spirit, Calgary can stimulate long-term economic resilience, diversify economic dependency beyond volatile resource-based sectors, and promote a more vibrant and diverse entrepreneurial economy.

With Kent’s plan for a small business public financing program, Calgary can ensure the vitality of its local economy, encourage innovation, and drive job creation for residents.

We can build a stronger Calgary by ensuring local skilled tradespeople have the opportunities, resources, and recognition they deserve. In Ward 8 and across our city, solid public infrastructure and good jobs go hand in hand. As councillor, Kent Hehr will champion efforts to ensure the city’s investments put Calgarians—and Calgary’s renowned tradespeople—first.

Make Project Labour Agreements (PLAs) the standard
Kent will advocate to make PLAs standard on all city-funded infrastructure projects, ensuring top standards in safety, workplace conditions, and project outcomes. These PLAs will guarantee fair wages and accountability, protect city investments, and support local trades workers.

Keep homegrown talent in Calgary to secure a future-ready workforce
Some of Canada’s most talented tradespeople graduate from SAIT, right here in Calgary, yet many of them move away to find opportunity. Kent will support partnerships between the City of Calgary and SAIT, backing opportunities that connect students to apprenticeships and real-world experience.

End black market labour and enforce fairness
Kent will call for the creation of an audit task force to ensure all city procurement strictly prohibits illegal, unsafe, and exploitative labour practices. Strong enforcement will help keep jobs and training opportunities local, guaranteeing that public investments generate good, secure jobs for Calgarians.

Prioritize local economic crowth
Kent believes infrastructure spending should benefit Calgary families, not just the lowest bidder. By working with local unions, contractors, and SAIT, the city can help residents into quality trades careers and reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers for skilled positions. Every public project should contribute positively to the local workforce and economy, delivering reliable, safe, and high-quality results on time and on budget.

In response to Canada’s housing affordability crisis, the federal government has stated intentions to prioritize the development of prefab housing as a key industry to deliver rapidly built and cost-effective homes. With this national shift, the City of Calgary has an opportunity to lead in the development of the prefab housing industry. By implementing supportive municipal policies and incentives, Calgary can align with federal priorities, enhance the housing supply locally and across Canada, and promote long-term economic growth and diversification within the city.

In addition to economic growth and diversification, the strategic development of the prefab housing industry in Calgary could contribute to addressing both the city’s housing need. Furthermore, other cities have already initiated programs such as Toronto’s Modular Housing Initiative to accelerate the provision of housing to those in need, demonstrating how prefab models may contribute to other policy objectives such as a housing first approach to homelessness.

Calgary, with its skilled workforce, strong transportation infrastructure, and existing manufacturing capacity, is well-positioned to become a regional hub for prefab housing production.

To stimulate the industry in Calgary, Kent plans to establish an incentive program that could include including tax credits, public financing and investment in the industry, and investments in training programs aligned with prefab construction. ideally, this policy would be implemented in partnership with provincial and federal funding streams intended to encourage the rapid construction of affordable housing. These steps would support innovation, job creation, and housing development for the city in alignment with Canada’s national housing strategy.