| Edmonton, AB – The Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) today released its annual Alberta Perspectives “Public and Business Attitudes to Key Policy Issues” findings, collected between May 22 and June 15, 2025. Insights from 602 self‑identified business leaders across the province highlight a focused agenda: unlock opportunities for trade diversification and investment.
“While Alberta businesses remain optimistic about our province’s long‑term future, this year’s survey underscores softening confidence in our fiscal position and a clear mandate for policies that remove barriers to commerce and enable trade infrastructure to be developed,” said Shauna Feth, President and CEO of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce.
Alberta’s private sector reports a cautiously positive outlook, 64 per cent describe their view of Alberta’s long‑term future as favorable, though only 17 per cent are “very” positive, which is down from last year’s highs. At the same time, concern about the province’s finances has jumped: the share of businesses expressing “very” high concern now matches that of the public, reflecting rising uncertainty around Alberta’s fiscal outlook.
Energy remains the economic bedrock as 90 per cent of respondents rate the oil and gas sector as “vitally/very” important, with 69 per cent calling it “vitally important,” the strongest endorsement on record. This is paired with a push for strategic market diversification: 77 per cent cite removal of interprovincial trade barriers as their top priority for the province, closely followed by 69 per cent urging the expansion of pipelines to non‑US markets and strengthening of local supply chains.
Emerging dimensions of concern about Alberta’s economic future and its place in Confederation also surfaced through expanded survey measures. Federal Government policy impacts immediately ranked as the top issue facing the province among business respondents. Meanwhile, 27 per cent report that discourse around Alberta separation is affecting their operations, and 64 per cent believe it is harming the provincial economy.
“Alberta’s business leaders are sending a clear message: to secure our economic future we must build the infrastructure that opens access to new markets at home and abroad – and the federal government has a critical role to play in that,” said Shauna Feth. “The ACC stands ready to partner with industry and government to turn these insights into actions that drive shared long-term prosperity.”
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