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TL;DR
The Business Council of Alberta has started a new effort to support Alberta staying in Canada.
On October 19, Albertans will vote on whether to start the legal steps needed for a binding separation referendum.
Polls show that most Albertans want to stay in Canada. Business groups have raised concerns about how the debate could affect investment and jobs.
The ballot will also include five questions about immigration that could affect services and provincial policies.
Six weeks before the vote, the Business Council of Alberta (BCA) launched an information campaign supporting Alberta’s place in Canada.
Adam Legge, president of the BCA, said most members support staying in Canada. The campaign will share voting information, articles, and videos online and in print, but the group will not act as a third-party advertiser.
Legge said the campaign’s goal is to “combat voter apathy and encourage people to vote” and to share a business viewpoint on the referendum. He added that members are hopeful separation will be rejected, but the issue may not go away after the vote.
The separation vote is non-binding
There are 10 questions on the October 19 ballot. The last one asks voters to choose whether Alberta should stay a Canadian province or start the constitutional steps needed for a binding separation referendum. Elections Alberta says the result will be non-binding. Question 10 will be counted first, and the unofficial results must be finished within 48 hours after the polls close.
Recent polls show most people want things to stay the same. In August, a Leger poll found that 65 percent planned to vote for staying in Canada, while 23 percent supported starting the separation process.
Business groups are concerned about the uncertainty from the debate. In a Calgary Chamber of Commerce survey, 48% of 137 members said they might move if the process continued. However, this survey was not weighted, so it does not represent all Calgary businesses.
Economic models for the chamber suggest that higher trade costs could lower Alberta’s GDP per person by about six percent. Separation supporter Keith Wilson disagreed with this analysis, saying Alberta could build stronger economic ties with the United States.
What this means for you
The referendum will not change anyone’s immigration status or access to provincial services right away. However, five other ballot questions deal with immigration levels, who can get public programs, waiting times for some social supports, possible fees for health care and education, and proof of citizenship for voting in the province.
These questions would not create new rules on their own. Any changes for temporary residents, international students, or temporary foreign workers would need more government action and new laws. Eligible voters can check ID requirements and voting options with Elections Alberta before October 19.
Before you go…
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Dozie Anyaegbunam | Managing Editor