The Alberta Chamber of Commerce has released a survey indicating that the topic of Alberta's separation is significantly concerning to businesses within the province. Out of 594 respondents, primarily from the private sector, 50% identified the issue as important while 30% expressed the highest level of concern. The findings suggest a worrying trend with 28% of businesses feeling that talks of separation are negatively affecting their operations, reflecting a six per cent increase from the previous year. Furthermore, 56% of the participants stated that separation discussions are impacting the provincial economy, which is also a rise from last year.

The survey highlighted that a substantial majority, 90%, of the respondents perceive the impacts of separation discussions as negative. Key concerns included uncertainties in business planning, fears of recession, diminished investment confidence, and even considerations for relocating out of the province. The Alberta Chamber of Commerce emphasized that such anxieties are detrimental to the business landscape, revealing a growing unease about the province's fiscal future linked to these separation talks.

As the discussions surrounding Alberta's potential separation continue, these survey results could signal to policymakers the urgent need for addressing the underlying concerns of the business community. The trend towards increasing apprehension among businesses about separation could stall economic growth if left unmitigated, as companies prioritize stability and predictability in their operations to encourage investment and growth within Alberta.