Speaker: Michael Percy – Dean, School of Business at the University of Alberta

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Session Summary:

Do we accept the speaker’s assessment of Alberta’s performance in this area? If not, what is our assessment?

• General agreement with speaker’s “B” (economic) and “B-” (social) although some thought assessment was too generous
• In some places the boom may have already started again (Fort McMurray)

Do we agree with the proposed solutions and alternatives? If not, how would we alter them?

• General agreement that social infrastructure / quality of life / sense of community required to keep talent in Alberta but need more concrete solutions for rural areas, challenge of urbanization
• Some indicated too many government-led solutions
• Who builds social infrastructure: government?

What additional ideas, solutions, and alternatives do we think would improve Alberta’s performance in this area?

• Safe place for people to live / raise families is crucial
• Recreate Alberta’s image; stand up for the province (not apologetic)
• Spend on infrastructure during low economic cycle, focus on maintenance during boom
• Balance between government and community decision-making (hybrid solutions)
• Empowering social institutions (e.g. churches, community organizations)
• More provincial / municipal cooperation, share prosperity across the province
• Improve literacy rates, completion rate, focus on engineering
• Transfer skill sets from oil and gas industry to other industries
• Stable, transparent, regulatory regime for business certainty
• Tax incentives to motivate business to take more responsibility, must be a low tax jurisdiction
• Alberta residency bonus (some felt economic incentives not effective)
• More value-added technology / innovation
• Build pipeline to the coast / diversify export markets, stop being price takers, Alberta negotiated trade agreements

Small Group Discussion response forms:

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