Alberta business leaders warn separation could turn economic frustration into years of uncertainty

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 09, 2026

Photo Courtesy: CBC News

CANADA – With Alberta’s separation referendum approaching, the province’s business community is stepping into a debate it has largely approached with caution.

Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, says many companies have employees and customers who support independence, making some business leaders reluctant to take a public position. But he says the council’s more than 130 members have made their preference clear: Alberta’s future is stronger within Canada.

The council argues that separation could bring years of uncertainty over trade, market access, currency, debt, interest rates and jobs. Legge has pushed back against the idea that an independent Alberta would automatically gain greater control over its future, calling that notion unrealistic given how many critical economic factors would remain outside the province’s control.

The position does not mean Alberta’s business community is satisfied with Ottawa. Legge acknowledges longstanding frustration over federal policies, particularly among resource companies, while arguing that the province can still demand a better deal without leaving Canada.

The council’s warning comes as the separation debate grows more polarized. Pro-independence groups, including the Alberta Transition Council led by lawyer Keith Wilson, argue that Alberta’s natural resources and agricultural strength would give it significant leverage in negotiations with Canada and the United States.

But for Alberta’s business leaders, the question is increasingly about what happens after the vote. While independence may promise greater control, they warn that breaking away could also mean replacing today’s frustrations with years of economic and political uncertainty.

As the referendum draws closer, Alberta is being asked to choose between a familiar federation that many residents want to change—and an uncertain future outside it.