It’s not every day that you encounter a person who runs not one, not two, but multiple companies simultaneously, while also wearing many different hats including Chair, Managing Partner and CEO. But for Irfhan Rawji, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Realize Capital Partners, doing so is simply the only way he knows how to exist.

In our first episode of C-Suite Unplugged for 2024, we talk to Irfhan about his busy and intense life, his journey to the C-Suite, and more about Realize Capital Partners. We also take a deep dive into the current state of immigration in Canada, address some of the challenges facing the system, and look to the future of Alberta and the country as a whole for where we should focus our efforts.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

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Alberta's opportunity to contribute to global solutions in agriculture, energy, and health is immense. Seizing this opportunity will take big ideas, lots of collaboration, and a little “can do” attitude.

In the special series of The Brief, called Missions & Moonshots, we are talking to top experts, business leaders, innovators, and thought leaders across Alberta and Canada exploring solutions to the world’s biggest challenges in energy, agriculture, and health.

Our guest is Adam Sweet, the Director for Western Canada at Clean Prosperity to discuss the changing global investment landscape and how Alberta can use its superpower—the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation—to not just play the game but win.

Adam Sweet’s discussion paper can be read here: http://bit.ly/3h5Lb0k

About Adam Sweet

Adam Sweet is Clean Prosperity’s Director for Western Canada. Adam joined Clean Prosperity from the Government of Alberta, where he helped establish Canada’s first ESG Secretariat as its Executive Director, ESG Coordination and Integration. Albertan by birth and by choice, Adam returned home to Alberta in 2013 following many years in Ottawa working on Parliament Hill, including in Canada’s Environment Minister’s Office in 2011-13. Prior to that, Adam spent time in Canada’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., and served nearly two years on the ground in Afghanistan deployed with the Canadian Government.

Immigration has long been a key part of Canada’s ethos. For decades, Canadians have been pro-immigration, citing its benefits for the economy, but also its contributions to the rich tapestry of culture, language, and tradition.

However, as Canadians navigate the rising cost of living, housing affordability, and access to public services, many—two-thirds in fact—believe that Canada’s targets to welcome 1.5 million newcomers to the country over the next three years is a little (or a lot) off the mark.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Mikal Skuterud, a labour economist from the University of Waterloo and the Director at the Canadian Labour Economic Forum to talk immigration, how Canada’s system works, and where it’s going wrong. We also address productivity challenges and speak to the Council’s latest task force on Prosperity-Driven Immigration.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
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• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

As we enter 2024, Alberta finds itself in a relatively strong position compared to the rest of Canada and is forecasted, once again, to be a leader in economic growth for the nation. This strength is underpinned by Alberta’s outperformance in several areas including population growth, renewed vitality in the resources sector, a stronger labour market, and strong residential and capital investment. But while Alberta holds strong, the rest of the country finds itself sputtering.

On this episode, we’re back with BCA’s economics team, Mike Holden and Alicia Planincic, to break down the Winter 2024 update of the Alberta Snapshot, an all-points summary of Alberta’s economy. 

We look at the labour market and employment, check up on consumer spending and general affordability and discuss business expectations and the state of the economy. We also look ahead at indicators to watch and opine on what’s to come.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

Welcome back to a brand new season of The Brief! We hope that you had a wonderful holiday break if you were able to take one. We’re excited to be back for another season exploring the big challenges that we, as Albertans, face and sharing the big ideas that make this province the best place to live.  

As has become tradition, we’re kicking off the season with renowned pollster, Janet Brown, to peer into the minds of Albertans and hear her insights on how Albertans are feeling starting off the year.

On this episode, we discuss the effects of affordability on households, people’s perceptions of Alberta’s healthcare reform, thoughts on migration to the province as Alberta nears a 5 million population, and so much more.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

In our final podcast of 2023, we sit down with BCA President, Adam Legge, to reflect upon the year past and ponder the year to come.

On this episode we cover things like major news stories from Canada and the world, and the impact that these stories have on Alberta.

We also break down some of the key moments, challenges, and policy wins from the Council, and look ahead to give you a preview of what's to come in 2024, some book recommendations for the holiday, and take a moment to say thanks to our friends and partners supporting the Council.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

It is said that lightning never strikes twice, meaning that an event is rare or unlikely to happen again, but for Mike Rose, Chairman, President & CEO of Tourmaline Oil, the opposition is true. In fact, Mike’s track record of building and running successful companies is nothing short of inspiring.

On this episode, we talk to Mike about the numerous successful companies he’s built from the ground up, his journey to the C-Suite, and his perspective on natural gas in Alberta and in Canada.

We also talk to Mike about what he’s learned from wife and fellow BCA Member, Sue Riddell Rose, President & CEO of Perpetual Energy, and his long-term view for the province.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

Last month, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69) was largely unconstitutional, a win for the province of Alberta—and a win for the many energy and climate focused businesses looking to invest in this province. But what does this mean for the future of energy in Alberta, and where do we go from here?

In this episode, we are joined by Sean Sutherland, Partner in Litigation at Osler, for a deeper dive into the significance of the Supreme Court’s ruling, how this decision impacts provinces across Canada, and the immediate implications for public policy.

We also learn more about the Impact Assessment Act itself, how it was received across Canada, and what he thinks the next iteration might look like.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

Most of us intrinsically understand where the energy we consume goes—heating, cooking, driving, and electricity. But the role of energy is so much more substantial in our everyday lives, often more so than we tend to realize.

On this episode, we speak with Dean Setoguchi, President & CEO of Keyera Corp, an integrated midstream energy business.

Dean walks us through his career from high school diploma to the C-Suite, gives listeners advice on how to advance their careers, and helps contextualize the life of a CEO.

We also talk to Dean about the many ways energy is used to improve our lives, what ESG means to the folks at Keyera, and where Dean sees the future of Alberta energy heading, among a host of other topics.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV

As we get into the final quarter of 2023, Alberta’s economy is sending some mixed signals. Many indicators point to a strong provincial economy including good labour market conditions, positive business activity, and wage growth, but challenges of affordability, slowing national growth, and declining consumer confidence weigh on future growth expectations.

In this conversation, we speak with BCAs Economist Team Mike Holden & Alicia Planincic to cover topics including wages & affordability, the labour market, and business investment.  We also look ahead at our predictions for next quarter.

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About The Business Council of Alberta

The Business Council of Alberta was founded on a simple idea: to make life better for all Albertans. We believe that business has an important role in improving society, and that when business does well, we all do well. We work with the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of Alberta’s largest enterprises to understand the big, long-term challenges that Albertans are facing and work with industry, government, and civil society to solve these problems and build shared prosperity for every person who calls Alberta home.

Check out more of our recent work: https://bit.ly/3JG9ifS

Check out recent episodes of AlbertaBETTER: https://bit.ly/3bHlfFB

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/3BPxDhv

Follow us on social media:

• Twitter: https://bit.ly/3P7pgB0
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Qx6B2J
• LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QaetHE
• YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QswqAV