A proposal to introduce mandatory business licensing in Rocky View County has ignited frustration among entrepreneurs in the hamlet of Langdon, who argue they were left out of the consultation process.
County Council Moves Forward with Licensing Study
Currently, businesses operating within Rocky View County—which encompasses rural areas and hamlets surrounding Calgary—are not required to obtain a business licence. Instead, they must secure a development permit, whether moving into an existing space or developing new commercial property.
However, the county council has been exploring the establishment of a business licensing framework for several years. The latest step came on December 9, when local lawmakers voted 6-1 on a notice of motion. This motion, introduced by Reeve Sunny Samra, directs county administration to prepare a report on the implications and feasibility of a licensing program. The report is due by the end of January.
Reeve Samra argued that a licensing program would "support investment attraction, business retention, sector diversification, and improved data management for economic development and other county departments." He also noted it would align Rocky View County with neighbouring municipalities like Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, and Cochrane, pointing out that even the small village of Beiseker, with under 1,000 residents, requires business licences.
"It also gives us some insight into what’s in that building from a fire, safety and emergency response [perspective] because currently, we don’t know who is operating what in which building," Samra stated during the council meeting.
Opposition Voices and Business Community Concerns
The sole vote against the motion came from Division 5 Councillor Greg Boehlke, who represents areas including Balzac and lands northeast of Calgary. Boehlke expressed skepticism about the value a licence would provide to existing businesses.
"After talking to businesses that are involved and have a business licence, they feel that they get no value whatsoever out of it," Boehlke said. "I don’t know who we’re trying to make feel good with this, but it certainly isn’t our business community."
Langdon Business Owners Cry Foul
Following the December vote, several business owners in Langdon—a hamlet of more than 6,000 people located roughly 20 kilometres east of Calgary—have voiced strong criticism on social media. A common complaint is the perceived lack of consultation before the council's decision to explore licensing.
Colleen Kahut-Seminuk, who runs a pet and dog-sitting service from her Langdon home, described the potential licence as feeling like a "cash grab."
"Cost is definitely up there, but I’ve had my small business now for 10 years and this has never come up before," she told Postmedia. "It’s not going to make a good small business better and it’s not going to make a bad small business better."
The debate sets the stage for a significant policy discussion in early 2024, pitting the county's goals of improved regulation and data collection against the concerns of small business owners about added cost and bureaucracy.
