The federal and Alberta governments announced a $10 million boost Monday for an agency designed to make the province’s business more productive.
Alongside federal Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose, local MLA and Deputy Premier Doug Horner announced the province would provide $7.3 million, while Ottawa gave $3 million to Productivity Alberta.
The agency is a not-for-profit with a board of directors made up of industry members who help businesses improve their productivity.
The agency does assessments that look at ways a business can improve its supply chain or process.
Horner said in a busy economy sometimes businesses don’t have the time to step back and look at ways they could improve.
“Sometimes business can get so busy that they don’t have the time, or the knowledge, or the access to services that can help them grow and improve.”
Horner said striving for a more productive workplace doesn’t mean pushing workers harder.
“It is about productivity from the perspective of efficiencies within the organization, it is not just about somebody working harder in a hour. It is about making your process better.”
The agency focuses its efforts on small and medium businesses and Ambrose said the federal government very much wants to support them.
“The economy is booming and it is booming from coast to coast to coast and we want to continue to support small and medium-sized businesses because they are the backbone of our economy.”
Alberta has the lowest unemployment rate, consistently ranks among the highest for per capita gross domestic product and Albertans themselves work longer hours than anyone in the country.
Ambrose said increasing productivity could give Albertans more time, by using their working hours more affectively.
“That kind of opportunity allows you to increase your productivity and maybe not have to work those long hours as you have to now.”
Ambrose said the Canadian economy is strong, but it can be better and she sees the Productivity Alberta model as something that can be used across the country.
“This is about our national economy. We are getting international recognition for not only the economy we have in Alberta, but across Canada.”
Larry Kaumeyer, the current chair of the agency and president of Almita Piling, said his own business has used Productivity Alberta and they found ways to make the company more efficient and more profitable.
“Just because you think you have it figured out as a small business owner, doesn’t mean someone can’t come in and help you.”
Kaumeyer said that with skilled workers becoming harder and harder to find, it is more important than ever for companies to be as productive as possible.
“I consciously believe that the province will be restricted in its growth going forward, not by the natural resources we have in the province, but by the ability of the human resources to be effective.”
