Episode #43
Alberta Referendum: What's at Stake?
Albertans will soon cast their vote on a refer e ndum that could have significant impact s on the province . O n October 19 , Albertans mu st decide whether the pr o vince should remain in Canada or begin the legal process to hold a future legally binding vote on independence. The referendum raises questions that go far beyond separation , including how political and economic uncertainty could affect jobs, public services, immigration, and people living on low incomes. In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty , Michelle James, Director, Policy at Vibrant Communities Calgary, sits down with Ruhee Ismail-Teja of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Alexa Briggs of the Nonprofit Chamber to explore what Alberta's referendum could mean for the economy, social services , and the well-being of Calgarians and Albertans. Three key takeaways Uncertainty around the vote has real and immediate consequences for Alberta. Polls show that business leaders in Alberta are already recon sidering expansion plans and considering relocation. Additionally, changes to immigration and Alberta's workforce could negatively impact the economy. Good economic poli cy is g ood social policy. The purpose of a strong economy i s to create a vibran t city and province , where no one is left behind. Non profits play a major role in Alberta's economy and provide critical services to people experiencing hardship. Changes to governme nt reve nues, funding , or the cost of deliv ering se rvices could have significant impacts . The other nine questions . Five questions address immigration and four address the C onstitution. It is important to understand which questions are binding and what kind of action a ' yes' or 'no' vote would prompt from the government before voting. About Alexa Briggs Alexa Briggs is an executive leader and strategist with more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of public policy, organizational strategy and community impact. As Executive Vice President, Policy, Insight & Engagement at the Nonprofit Chamber, she leads policy, government relations, sector intelligence and stakeholder engagement. Her work spans workforce strategy, civic participation, poverty reduction, sector resilience, and economic and social policy. About Ruhee Ismail-Teja Ruhee Ismail-Teja is an executive leader in public affairs, currently serving as Vice President, Policy and External Affairs at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, overseeing public policy, media and communications, and government and external relations. Ruhee's community contributions include serving on the boards of the Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons), McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy, YMCA Canada, ParticipACTION and others. She holds a Master of Public Policy from McGill University, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Queen's University and a Governance Essentials Certificate from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
