Separating from Canada could cost Alberta up to $170 billion over the first five years, a report commissioned by the province suggests.
The report by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy estimates the cost of withdrawing from Confederation to range from a minimum of $50 billion to a maximum of $170 billion.
The report’s estimate takes into account the cost of building new infrastructure, hiring an estimated 70,000 civil servants to manage state functions, and assuming Alberta’s share of the federal debt.
The report also examines two scenarios for separation. The first describes a relatively seamless process in which negotiations with Ottawa are “quick and favourable” to Alberta. The second describes a longer and more challenging transition if the federal government takes a hardline stance during negotiations….