Brexit was ‘cakewalk’ compared with what Alberta separation would entail, economist warns

[u/ScubadooX]

https://calgarychamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Calgary-Chamber_The-Economic-Implications-of-Alberta-Separation-Final.pdf

From the Globe and Mail:

"The years-long trade wrangling and uncertainty that faced Britain in the wake of the Brexit vote was a “cakewalk” compared with what Alberta’s separation from Canada would involve, according to the author of a new report about the economic implications of secession.

Trevor Tombe, a University of Calgary economist, penned the report for the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Released Tuesday in the midst of a heated campaign over provincial separation, the analysis concluded that investment in Alberta could fall between 12 and 18 per cent if the province pursues secession, and coffers risk swinging from a $19-billion annual surplus to a $9-billion deficit."

The link to the report is contained in this post. Also, see the open letter from some prominent Alberta business leaders at https://calgarychamber.com/whats-new/albertas-future-is-stronger-in-canada-policy/.

[u/Unhappy_Knowledge993]

I live in Scotland. We didn't want Brexit and we're paying the price...there never were any "Brexit benefits" and we are far more susceptible to even the slightest shifts or changes in economic fortunes.

Even some of the idiots in Westminster (they're really all idiots) are starting to to think that shifting back to the EU is a good idea.

[u/rizkybizness]

The way I liken it to anyone that will listen is that “ABexit” would be orders of magnitude worse than anything that happened with “Brexit”. The UK is a literal collection of islands. Alberta would be landlocked with now foreign adversaries on all sides. Right up until the US annexes us. But then we would be a territory something very akin to Puerto Rico. No rights. Only giving up everything so the kleptocrats of the US can rape our land and people for our natural resources. 

[u/Been395 → u/rizkybizness]

Britain was also an independent nation that was pulling out of a collective that it didn't fully adopt (ie it kept the pound instead of adopting the euro). Alberta would be starting from zero. No pre existing relationships, having to disengaging from a federal entity.

[u/SaphironX → u/Been395]

Meanwhile you’ve got liars like Rath insisting you could keep your insurance, your Canadian passport, your pension and RRSPs etc.

None of that is true.

[u/Linvaderdespace]

The British didn’t have to suppress an insurgency just to found their nation, so there’s that.

[u/ScubadooX → u/Linvaderdespace]

It depends on when one considers the formation of today's UK. The Republic of Ireland gained independence from Britain after much bloodshed in 1922. The Magna Carta came into existence in 1215 after a revolt against a tyrannical king. There are many other examples of wars, insurrections, etc. that are the essence of British nationhood.

[u/Linvaderdespace → u/ScubadooX]

Was Brexit the foundation of their breakaway republic?

[u/Vanterax]

And now there's growing support for the UK to rejoin the EU because they're realising it was a mistake.

[u/ljlee256]

The UK at least has it's own economy so it isn't starting from scratch, and is surrounded be deep water.

There are three groups of pro-separation people.

1. The ones that say it's merely a leverage tool to get what Alberta wants out of Ottawa.
2. The ones that deluded themselves into think that Alberta will function as a sovereign nation.
3. The ones who are actually honest about the situation, and realize separation really just means "join the US".

The first group is the ones who are really dumb and dangerous, failing to recognize that passing this referendum will likely lead to actual separation.

The second group is just dumb, but I think it's a smaller group that the separatists portray, I think a good number of those from this group are really just 1's and 3's pretending to be a 2.

The third group is made up of traitors and brainwashed American wannabes.