Michelle's Record: Jobs & Our Economy

 Our community has been in the midst of a jobs crisis for 5 years since Justin Trudeau was elected. Michelle has been fighting for common sense policies and a plan that will get people back to work and create well paying, stable jobs while growing our economy.

Supporting Small Businesses

Michelle has been a strong advocate for small business in our community. Michelle knows that small businesses, when allowed to thrive, help create well paying jobs and grow our local economy.

That is why Michelle took action and sponsored a petition, (E-1239) which received over 44,000 signatures, calling on the Liberal government to reverse its decision to recklessly increase taxes on small businesses. Michelle also hosted a Town Hall meeting with hundreds of individuals from our community to discuss the proposed changes. As a result of Michelle's efforts and the outcry from thousands of Canadians Justin Trudeau reversed many of the changes he had proposed. Michelle will always fight for job creators in our community.

Michelle understands the risks, sacrifices, and contributions to the Canadian economy that small business owners make. Small business owners are not entitled to sick days, paid maternity leave, lucrative pensions or other financial security measures afforded to other Canadian employees. They take these risks and make sacrifices for their families, and their businesses, in the hope that they will get a bit ahead.

Increased taxes, at all levels of government, have led to many small business owners having to cut back on jobs and, in some cases, close all together. Michelle believes that in order for Canadian businesses to be competitive and create jobs we must lower taxes, reduce red tape and allow everyone the same opportunity for success.

In 2020, small businesses were among the hardest hit by the global health crisis. Michelle worked hard to ensure small business owners in our community were heard.  To better understand the needs of businesses in our community, and where gaps in federal programs exist she hosted small business owners roundtables to connect with business owners across the riding. Michelle also has had dozens of conversations with entrepreneurs in our riding. As a direct result of these conversations with small business owners, Michelle Rempel Garner was able to advocate for changes to many support programs to better support small businesses. Michelle and her colleagues successfully pressured the Liberal government to increase the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy from 10% to 75%, ensuring more employers could maintain their workforce. Michelle also fought against the Liberal government discriminatory BDC loan policy, pressuring the government to scrap their plans and allow more small businesses to access this essential loan. 

Growing the Alberta Economy and Tackling the Jobs Crisis

In response to the jobs crisis in Alberta Michelle and her colleagues launch the Alberta Jobs Taskforce. Conservative MPs met with thousands of individuals, business owners, and other stakeholders to gather their suggestions and policy ideas for how to create jobs and grow the economy.

In a detailed report to the Liberal government, Conservatives, including Michelle, provided the government with a list of tangible policy suggestions that could be implemented immediately to support Alberta workers and their families. Click here to read the report.

Many sectors have been hit severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the cold shoulder that they have received from Justin Trudeau has made it worse than it needs to be. 

That is why in March 2020 and in January 2021 Michelle raised awareness for the layoffs at WestJet, which is headquartered in Calgary.

Michelle continues to stand up for other bedrocks of Calgary like the Stampede. In April 2020 She issued a statement on the need to support the Calgary Stampede in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, she also sponsored an e-petition on the need to support the Calgary Stampede.

Another large employer in Alberta is Shaw. This year it was announced that Shaw would be acquired by Rogers. In March 2021, Michelle issued a statement on the proposal and raised concerns for how this would impact Calgary-based jobs. 

Michelle has also been raising concerns related to Western Canada being ignored in the federal procurement process. For example in August 2020, she advocated in Parliament via QP for her constituent, whose local Calgary company is speaking out on the government’s decisions with respect to the Nuctech bid.

Michelle has hosted several Career Services events in her riding which are focused on connecting individuals seeking employment with services and organizations in Calgary who can assist with their job search. Hundreds of individuals from our community have taken part in these events.