Alberta separation referendum would be bad for the country: Calgary Chamber of Commerce [Video]

The head of a group representing Calgary’s business community says a referendum on separation would inflict grave damage on the economies of Alberta and Canada — regardless of the result.

“Businesses are not interested whatsoever in uncertainty,” said Deborah Yedlin, president and chief executive of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s bad for Alberta, but not just Alberta. It’s bad for the country.”

The chamber joins a small but growing chorus of business and political leaders, who say the prospect of a referendum alone will lead companies to think twice before making investment decisions in Alberta.

The advocacy group represents a large number of companies based in Canada’s energy corporate capital, including several of Canada’s largest oil and gas companies.

Atco Ltd. CEO Nancy Southern says discussions around secession have led Asian partners to hold off on making a final investment decision on a hydrogen project until the separatism question …