Canada West Foundation

Later this year, Albertans will head to the polls to answer an important question: what is Alberta’s future and its place within Canada?

As a non-partisan, evidence-based organization, Canada West Foundation examines public policy issues that matter to western Canadians and the country as a whole. That’s why we’re embarking on a research initiative designed to help Albertans understand the choices before them.

We’re bringing together economists, academics and policy practitioners with expertise in fiscal federalism, trade, public finance, constitutional law and other relevant fields to examine different dimensions of Alberta separation. Their efforts will culminate in a comprehensive report that outlines what separation could mean in practice, set to release around Labour Day.

In the first of a series of op-eds for the Calgary Herald, Canada West Foundation President and CEO Gary G. Mar discusses the importance of making informed decisions when it comes to the future of Alberta in Confederation.

Although only Albertans will cast ballots in the referendum this October, the implications extend across the entire country. This conversation isn’t only about Alberta. It’s a matter of national interest. Our goal is not to tell people what to think or how to vote but to help them better understand the issues and trade-offs involved.

Read the full commentary to learn more about Canada West Foundation’s research project:

OP-ED | What Albertans need to consider On October 19, 2026, Albertans will vote in a provincial referendum that raises a serious question about Alberta’s future and its place within Canada.