Farkas: Alberta Separatism Hurts Calgary's Business

0:00It's April 8th. This is Calgary News today, driven by AI. Calgary's mayor, Jerome Farcus, just laid it out straight in a speech at the Calgary Economic Development Report on April 8th, 2026. He says the city is solid against global economic shakes, but Alberta's separatism talk is straight up killing business chances. Separatists have gathered enough signatures to push a referendum question to the Alberta legislature. Here this week, Farcus told reporters it's time for folks to push back hard. He admits Albertans have real gripes about their place in Canada, but the endless debate is creating a fake crisis that's chasing away deals. He's all in on making the case for staying in Canada, calling it stronger than ever for Calgarians. The impact hits home with businesses' pausing decisions amid the uncertainty. Calgary Economic Development's Brad Perry confirmed they've seen some deals on hold, though none stopped for good. Global tariffs and trade misses add to it, but he stresses the city still offers top stability, talent, and vibe for investors.

1:02Perry highlighted big wins over the past year, helping companies expand to 21 countries across six continents, sparking $60 million. An international revenue through 45 deals, snapping up 700,000 square feet of real estate, pulling in nearly a billion dollars, in investments, and creating 8,000 jobs. With relationships shifting worldwide, Perry sees Calgary poised to lead Canada's charge by diversifying industries and grabbing new trade partners, proving that openness beats pulling back every time.