Alberta is a place that makes and grows more than it can possibly use at home. Energy, grain, beef, manufactured goods, and services — our prosperity has always depended on selling to the world. That makes one question central to the referendum: who decides how Alberta reaches its markets, and on what terms?
Why market access is the whole game
A barrel, a bushel, or a shipment is only worth what you can actually sell it for. When Alberta products are bottlenecked — a pipeline delayed, a rail line congested, a port out of reach — they sell at a discount, or don’t sell at all. That gap is not a rounding error; it’s paycheques, provincial revenue, and small-town survival. Alberta has spent years watching decisions about its own market access made by people with no stake in the outcome.
Fairer terms, decided closer to home
A more self-determined Alberta means the province that produces the goods has a real seat at the table when the routes and rules are set. Local control over trade priorities means Alberta can pursue the infrastructure and agreements that get our products to buyers at fair value — instead of accepting a captive discount set elsewhere. This connects directly to the case in Keeping More. Building More.: value that stays here funds the services Albertans rely on.
A barrel, a bushel, or a shipment is only worth what you can actually sell it for. Market access is the whole game.
Trade is about partnership, not isolation
It’s worth being clear about what this is not. A stronger, more self-determined Alberta is not a more isolated one. Alberta would seek strong, practical relationships on trade, transportation, and the countless ties shared across Canada and beyond. As our plain-language explainer notes, a YES vote begins a negotiation aimed at better arrangements — including the cross-border trade that Alberta workers and buyers depend on every day.
- Better routes to market so Alberta products sell at fair value.
- A real seat at the table when trade and transport priorities are set.
- Strong partnerships — with the rest of Canada and international buyers alike.
- Value kept at home to fund Alberta’s schools, hospitals, and roads.
What about existing trade relationships?
Businesses that rely on cross-border supply chains want certainty, and a negotiated transition is built to provide it. Existing trade relationships, contracts, and supply arrangements are exactly the practical details settled carefully, with continuity as a priority — not disrupted overnight.
See how this ties into jobs in Alberta’s Economy: Strength, Jobs, and Opportunity, and take the pledge to vote YES.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does market access matter so much for Alberta?
Alberta produces far more than it uses at home. When products are bottlenecked, they sell at a discount — costing paycheques and provincial revenue. Better market access means fairer value for what Alberta makes and grows.
Would a YES vote make Alberta more isolated?
No. A stronger, more self-determined Alberta seeks strong, practical trade and transport relationships with the rest of Canada and international buyers. The goal is better terms, not isolation.
What happens to existing trade contracts and supply chains?
They are protected through a negotiated transition. Existing trade relationships and supply arrangements are settled carefully, with continuity as a priority.