The uncertainty that Alberta’s debate over separatism could create will hit Calgary first and hardest when it comes to declining employment and jobs, the city’s mayor said on Friday.
After Premier Danielle Smith announced on Thursday that the province will add a new question to this fall’s referendum asking voters whether they want to stay in Canada or hold a binding vote to separate, Mayor Jeromy Farkas said the uncertainty this referendum brings risks hindering the city’s economic growth and ability to compete for investment on a global scale.
“Having this unanswered question, these storm clouds on the horizon for our future, it’s completely unacceptable,” said Farkas.
“We are the beating heart of enterprise in Alberta and one of the fastest growing cities in North America. But all of that is being threatened by instability.”
Farkas said he’s concerned how debating separatism could create division by pitting communities against one another.
He said the city’s residents would be better served if the provincial government was more focused on issues like affordable housing or local infrastructure.
“This is a huge sideshow, a distraction,” said Farkas.
“Going through not just one vote but potentially multiple votes on separation, it telegraphs to the rest of the world, the rest of the country, that we’re not serious.”
Farkas said he’ll participate in the debate around separatism to help voters understand the risks the province faces if it pursues leaving Canada.
While recent co-operation between the Alberta and federal governments has set the province up for economic growth, Calgary Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Deborah Yedlin said debating separatism creates more risk.
Yedlin argued debating whether to separate sidelines businesses and delays investment in the province. She added Alberta doesn’t need this uncertainty as it tries to export more of its oil and gas, especially after the federal and Alberta governments recently reached an agreement that could result in an oil pipeline and more economic growth for the province.
“We don’t need to introduce an element of uncertainty,” said Yedlin.
“It’s a variable we can control, and we’ve chosen to do this regardless. I think that’s what’s troubling.”
She added the prospect of separatism also creates uncertainty about the regulatory framework businesses would operate in, and potentially scares away needed labour from moving to Alberta.
Some Albertans whom CBC News spoke with in Calgary on Friday were unhappy with Smith’s decision.
Ian Whitworth said he’d like to see the province focus on other issues, as polling has shown most Albertans oppose separating from Canada.
“Don’t we have real issues to deal with in this province?” said Whitworth.
“We’ve got education [funding] shortages, we’ve got health care issues. Can we just move on? The people have already spoken as far as I’m concerned.”
LISTEN | The Calgary Eyeopener political panel talks referendum question on separatism:
Suzanne Landers said she’s also not a fan of the referendum. She doesn’t think there’s a realistic plan for Alberta after it separates, concerning its resources, First Nations issues and pension funds.
“There’s so much tied into being part of this country … It would create a lot of hardship more than benefit,” said Landers.
But Morad Rizkalla, a canvasser for the Stay Free Alberta petition movement, said he was happy to see the question Smith presented on Thursday.
He thinks Alberta is underrepresented in the House of Commons and the Senate, and gets a bad deal from the country’s equalization system.
He’s looking forward to having a conversation across the province about these issues.
“I would have wanted to vote for the Stay Free question, but I don’t think in all honesty that would have won, and that might have been maybe our one shot at it,” said Rizkalla.
“Maybe this is kind of a happy medium to have a campaign over the summertime to talk to people about what the issues are and maybe enough people will vote for that.”