Alberta’s Choice. Canada’s Future.
Time & Location
Oct 01, 2026, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hilton Toronto, Toronto, ON
About the event
On October 1, the Economic Club of Canada hosted “Alberta’s Choice. Canada’s Future.”, featuring a keynote address from The Honourable Thomas A. Lukaszuk, former Alberta Deputy Premier, followed by a panel discussion with Martha Hall Findlay (University of Calgary) and Andrew Leach (University of Alberta), moderated by The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, former Premier of Ontario.
The conversation examined the roots of separatist sentiment and what Alberta’s future could mean for businesses, investment, energy development and economic ties across Canada. The discussion also explored the potential economic and fiscal implications of separation under different scenarios, as well as opportunities for stronger federal-provincial cooperation, workforce development, interprovincial trade and broader economic growth. Speakers The Honourable Thomas A. Lukaszuk, ECA, B.Ed., ICD.D, Former Alberta Deputy Premier
Martha Hall Findlay, Director and Palmer Chair in Public Policy, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary; member of the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations; Corporate Director (currently a member of the Board of TELUS); Senior Advisor for Teneo
Andrew Leach, Professor of Economics and Law, University of Alberta
The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Former Premier of Ontario (Moderator)
*The views expressed on the Economic Club of Canada platform are not that of the Economic Club or its affiliates but of the speakers alone and the organizations they represent.*
Explore the Conversation
Watch the Video Recording
Listen to the Audio
Key Takeaways
The debate over Alberta’s future was framed as more than an economic question, with trust, identity, regional concerns and whether Albertans feel heard all central to the discussion.
The potential economic impact of separation varies significantly by scenario, with a University of Calgary School of Public Policy report estimating $50 billion to $170 billion in costs over the first five years and substantially different outcomes over 20 years depending on whether the transition is smooth or difficult.
Speakers highlighted stronger federal-provincial collaboration on energy, workforce development, interprovincial trade and productivity as important to strengthening Canada’s economic union.
To read further and explore the full insights from this event, download the complete Key Takeaways document below.
Media Coverage
Media Coverage