BCA Podcasts

At the start of 2023, things were looking up for the province of Alberta. In fact, Alberta was experiencing one of the most dramatic fiscal turnarounds in history. At the same time, Albertans and Canadians were struggling with the rising cost of living, a challenge the Bank of Canada sought to address by hiking interest rates. Now, as we get near the end of the first quarter of 2023, how have thos...

When we think about the ways poverty presents itself, many of us are guilty of envisioning the visibly poor and unhoused. But the realities of poverty are a layered, complex experience, and one that casts a wide net on who fits the description. On this episode, we're joined by Executive Directors Meaghon Reid of Vibrant Communities Calgary and Erick Ambtman of End Poverty Edmonton to discuss Alber...

The rise of globalization has given much to our world: we have been able to feed billions of people and lift millions out of poverty; try new foods from countries across continents and oceans; buy anything we could ever want at the click of a button and have it delivered within hours or days. But this system is vulnerable, and on the brink of collapse. On this episode, we are joined by author and...

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 leading experts, business leaders, innovators, and thought leaders across Alberta and Canada exploring solutions...

It's a new year, and that means we're back with a fresh look at what is happening in the economy, both here in Alberta and Canada, but also around the world. Coming into 2023, things are a bit in flux: people are concerned about rising inflation, rising cost of living, the cost of healthcare, and a looming global economic slowdown. But despite these hardships, Alberta's job market is hot, people a...

2023 has just begun, but already there is much in flux within the province. Rising inflation and concerns around affordability plague many, and questions around healthcare and a looming global recession weigh heavily on the minds of Albertans. While Albertans are happy to leave the pandemic behind them, many Albertans are still looking to find their footing heading into 2023. To help illuminate so...

2022 brought us what can only be described as world-changing moments: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the death of Britain's longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth the Second, overturning of Roe v Wade, protests in Iran. 2022 was also a big year for Alberta: we are experiencing the most dramatic fiscal turnaround in our history. Premier Danielle Smith was elected leader of the UCP and became the 1...

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 this special, bonus series of The Brief, we are talking to leading experts, business leaders, innovators, and thought leaders across Alberta and Canada, exploring solutions to the world's bigge...

When you think about the word "prosperity," what comes to mind? For many of us, "prosperity" means having the resources to afford food and shelter, and to be able to provide other necessities of life. However, for others, access to even these basic needs is a luxury. So how we do ensure that everyone has the resources they need to thrive? On this episode, we're talking to Bissell Centre CEO, Gary...

When you think about literacy, what comes to mind? If you are like most people, it's simply the ability to read and write. However, literacy is more than that. Think about this: while most Canadians can read and write, just over half of Canadians can read and write well enough to reach their full potential. And part of that means being able to adapt to the rapidly shifting skills required for curr...

One of the more common human experiences is buying food—whether at a supermarket, farmers market, a roadside stand, or even a food bank. But rarely do we think about how the food we buy, or any of the products we consume, got to their destinations. There is an entire sector behind the transportation and distribution of the products we use every single day. On this episode, we're talking to Jeff Mc...

Inflation, interest rates, and global instability are still rearing their ugly heads as we head into the final quarter of 2022. And these conditions have prompted economists to lower economic growth forecasts across the globe. And this means Alberta will be impacted, too. However, Alberta is more than ready for this impact. In fact, Alberta's economy is still on track to be the largest it's ever b...

When economists or policy makers measure growth or even quality of life and well-being, one of the most common indicators used is GDP, or Gross Domestic Product. And this is a measure of economic growth. And while our economic success is important to our growth as a province and a country, sometimes GDP doesn't give us the whole story on our progress as a society. On this episode, we're talking to...

When we think about safety and wellness, we often think that it is a social issue. But what if we can harness the power of entrepreneurship and apply economics and business solutions to social challenges such as safety and wellness? One Alberta accelerator is looking to do just that. On this episode, we're talking to Ashif Mawji, a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, venture capitalist, mentor, a...

When people talk about housing in Canada, it can certainly generate some anxiety. Between rising interest rates, increased demand, and a still vulnerable supply chain, the housing market is under pressure. So, what can we do to improve access and affordability? The answer may lie in the innovation and entrepreneurialism of a local real estate company in Alberta. On this episode of C-Suite Unplugge...

For a long time, Alberta's labour market was strong. If you lost a job, it wouldn't be long before you were hired elsewhere. However, over the past several years, Alberta's labour market has been some turmoil, and Albertans have navigated employment and unemployment through oil price crashes, global pandemics, and more. And just a few short months ago, Alberta's long-term unemployment rate was one...

Alberta has a unique emissions profile in Canada. As the centre of much of the nation's energy production, Alberta is a significant emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. But that fact also points to the opportunity that is found in Alberta to move the needle on emissions reduction efforts in Canada. In early 2022, the Business Council of Alberta released a report called A Low-Carbon Industrial Stra...

After nearly a decade of struggle, is Alberta making a comeback? Many economic indicators—commodity prices, revenue inflows, employment levels, inter-provincial migration—say yes. But with rising inflation and interest rates and lower wage growth, this comeback comes with terms and conditions. BCA's economists Mike Holden and Alicia Planincic break down the state of Alberta's economy going into Su...

A two-time Top 40 under 40 recipient, Brian Boulanger is a respected veteran leader in Canada's energy industry. With a portfolio career in energy, Brian is now the CEO & Director of ARC Financial, Canada's largest energy-focused private equity manager. We go behind-the-scenes with Brian to hear more about his career journey, what role mentorship has played in his life, and his thoughts on ESG and...

Armed with a degree in neuropsychology, Navin Arora's career did not take him along the path of medicine. Instead, following an interest in business, Navin found himself smack in the middle of the telecommunication sector, where he has built his craft to the point where he now leads a national team at TELUS Business Solutions that supports Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs thrive through digit...

When you think about what a good life is for, what comes to mind? For Albertans, a good life means that everyone who calls this province home feels like they belong, that they have access to opportunity and can help create solutions to some of the world's biggest challenges such as providing low-carbon energy or feeding a growing world or supporting healthy lives. Today, the Business Council of Al...

As one of the only Indigenous-owned and operated universities in Canada, the First Nations University of Canada "seeks to have an ongoing transformative impact through education based on a foundation of Indigenous Knowledge." Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann is the President of the First Nations University of Canada, and she joins The Brief to share this vision, how the University is centring Indigenous Kno...

Inflation in Canada hit a 30-year high in April 2022, and Albertans are feeling the pinch in nearly every category—shelter costs (rent, utilities, etc.), food, and gas, to name a few. In fact, nearly 1 out of 4 Albertans are struggling to afford basic necessities. And with slow wage growth and long-term unemployment still a challenge, we may be at a tipping point in Alberta. To explore what we can...

With an estimated 2 billion people more to feed by 2050, we need to produce a lot more food—and we need to do it in a way that is sustainable, affordable, and secure. Joy Agnew, Associate Vice President of Applied Research for the Olds College Centre for Innovation joins the show to talk about the work the College is doing to use data and technology to innovate how we produce food and how we can s...

As one of the first tech unicorns in Alberta, Benevity has become not only an Alberta success story, but a key driver in the evolution of corporate purpose, developing a platform that drives both social and business impact. And at the helm of this global and growing company is Kelly Schmitt. While Kelly never saw herself in the job of Chief Executive Officer throughout her leadership journey, Kell...