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Varcoe: New survey finds 68% Alberta businesses seeing effects of separation talk on economy

'This is having an impact, and it is something that they're concerned about — and it is constraining their decisions around ... investment and deployment of capital and hiring,' said Alberta Chambers of Commerce CEO Shauna Feth

As an October vote on Alberta separation draws closer, provincial business leaders say the debate is starting to weigh upon companies — and negatively affect views about the state of the provincial economy.

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce will release a new report on Thursday that shows 39 per cent of its members and business respondents who were surveyed recently believe the discourse surrounding separation is affecting their companies — up 11 percentage points since January — while nearly half say it’s not having an influence.

Varcoe: New survey finds 68% Alberta businesses seeing effects of separation talk on economy Back to video

Concerns about separation focus on the potential for slowing the economy or a recession — cited by almost seven in 10 of those who think there’s an impact — followed by the effect on investment and sales dropping.

The survey found 68 per cent of respondents say the issue is affecting the provincial economy. And of those, about 90 per cent characterize it as negative, citing a range of issues, such as the ramifications on business investment or companies considering a move out of the province.

Of the respondents who believe the discussion is impacting Alberta’s economy, about six in 10 said it would........

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