Shaikh: Alberta Separation Would Create 'Significant Uncertainties'

Alberta's separatist movement has been revived in recent years, with some arguing that the province can thrive on its own. However, Mike Shaikh, a Calgary businessman, believes this idea is flawed and based on greed rather than reality.

Santayana once said that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. In 1970s Alberta, a separatist movement was born after OPEC raised the price of oil in response to Western countries supporting Israel. Shaikh points out that little has changed since then, and Alberta's economy still relies heavily on resources.

Shaikh argues that separating from Canada would be unfeasible for several reasons. Firstly, agriculture alone cannot support five million Albertans, and the province's economy is not diversified enough to survive without Canadian markets. He also notes that access to tidewater is crucial for exporting goods, and Alberta currently relies on pipelines that cross British Columbia.

Shaikh criticizes the separatists for being 'frightfully naive' and failing to consider the economic and legal implications of separation. He believes that Albertans would be better off working within Canada to address their grievances rather than trying to leave. Shaikh concludes that the potential benefits of separation do not outweigh the significant uncertainties it would create.