The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Hon. Rachel Notley and Jason Kenney, former premiers of Alberta, for a multipartisan discussion on the implications of Alberta’s upcoming referendum, and what continued uncertainty could mean for businesses, investment, and long-term prosperity.
Here are the key takeaways.
Economic uncertainty comes at a cost
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was that political uncertainty becomes an economic challenge. Businesses of all sizes rely on predictability when making decisions about investment, hiring, expansion, and innovation. Prolonged uncertainty around Alberta’s future relationship with Canada risks delaying those decisions and reducing investor confidence at a time when competition for capital is increasing globally. Stability is a key for all businesses, and the possibility of separation prevents this from happening.
Alberta and Canada are stronger together
The discussion explored economic relationships that connect Alberta to the rest of Canada, including shared infrastructure, labour mobility, capital markets, and trade networks. While perspectives differed on many issues, there was broad recognition that economic cooperation and market access have played an important role in Alberta’s growth and prosperity. Alberta is strong as a Canadian province and has a deep and meaningful history as part of Canada.
Show up and vote
Overall, it is important to consider what might be at stake in the coming days, and what this means for future generations. Edmonton has strong potential to be an international city, just like Alberta inside Canada has potential to continue to grow in prosperity. At a time when Edmonton and Alberta are moving in a strong direction, this referendum threatens that progress.
Get involved
In their closing remarks, all three panelists emphasized the need to make a plan, and vote in the referendum. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to vote in advanced polls or on October 19th. For more information, visit Elections Alberta.
Have your say.
If you would like to connect with our Policy and Government Relations team, reach out to us at policy@edmontonchamber.com
