A new survey conducted in partnership with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce finds that 51 per cent of Calgary respondents say the current discourse around Alberta’s separation from Canada is affecting the provincial economy, with 93 per cent describing the impact as negative, reports the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
The survey also points to more direct impacts, with 28 per cent of Calgary respondents stating that the discourse is affecting their operations and 88 per cent reporting a negative impact, added the Chamber.
“There is no doubt that Alberta has faced significant economic challenges over the past decade stemming from policies that have strained regional growth and restricted the province from reaching its potential,” said Deborah Yedlin, President & CEO at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
Deborah Yedlin
“But secession is not the solution. Even without confirmation of a formal referendum, businesses are already experiencing negative outcomes and economic uncertainty from the secession conversation. Businesses make decisions based on certainty and confidence in access – to markets, capital, talent and trade networks – and questions about Alberta’s future in Canada disrupts those plans.
The Chamber said the uncertainty is shaping how businesses view the broader economic landscape. Businesses indicated that the potential for Alberta separation is their most pressing concern (53 per cent), ahead of securing a tariff-free deal with the U.S., building new pipeline capacity or managing rising costs. This stands out at a time of heightened trade disruptions and rapidly changing international geopolitics, when stability matters most, it explained.
“Our province has worked to enhance its competitiveness and attract investment and labour, yet this conversation introduces a new level of uncertainty that reduces business confidence in growth opportunities,” said Yedlin. “We cannot compromise our path forward, particularly at a time when we’ve seen considerable collaboration between the provincial and federal governments, including the Alberta–Ottawa MOU, intergovernmental alignment on environmental and impact assessments and the recognition of Alberta as central to Canada’s goal of becoming an energy superpower.”
“Our ability to realize that goal – and continue to grow our economy – depends not only on resolving regulatory issues, but also on attracting the investment capital required to boost production and expand export capacity. The uncertainty created by secession discussions undermines our ability to do exactly that. Real progress comes through sustained cooperation between governments – cooperation that is already delivering tangible results and remains the most effective way to strengthen Alberta’s economy.”
Key survey findings:
- 51 per cent of respondents stated that the current discourse around Alberta’s separation from Canada is impacting the provincial economy. Of those, 93 per cent indicated that the impact is negative. 27 per cent of respondents reported no impact, and 22 per cent said they don’t know.
- 28 per cent of respondents stated that the current discourse around Alberta’s separation from Canada is impacting their business. Of those, 88 per cent indicated that the impact is negative.
- When asked to rank a set of issues facing businesses by importance, 53 per cent of respondents ranked “Alberta Separation” among their top three concerns.
- When asked about the impact of separatist discourse on Alberta’s economy, concerned respondents most commonly identified:
- Higher risk of recession (83 per cent)
- Reduced business investment, including delayed or cancelled projects (83 per cent)
- More businesses considering relocation or expansion outside Alberta (74 per cent)
- More difficulty attracting workers, talent leaving for other jurisdictions (71 per cent)
- More difficulty expanding trade or business with other provinces (60 per cent)
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Entrepreneur. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024, 2025 and 2026.
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