Bell: 'Huge risk' — Smith's budget boss warns Albertans of perils of separatism

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsNationalPoliticsOpinionColumnists Bell: 'Huge risk' — Smith's budget boss warns Albertans of perils of separatism Start your engines, the latest eye-opening report on the big-time costs of Alberta leaving Canada heats up the referendum debate Author of the article: By Rick Bell Published Sep 17, 2026 Last updated 1 day ago 4 minute read Join the conversation Jason Nixon, pictured with Premier Danielle Smith on Dec. 10, 2025, was named the province’s new finance minister on May 21, 2026. Shaughn Butts/Postmedia Article content He didn’t mince his words. Article content “I think it confirmed what all of us suspected,” says Jason Nixon, budget boss in the UCP government led by Premier Danielle Smith, of the explosive report on the costs of Alberta leaving Canada. Article content Article content It is an independent probe commissioned by the Smith government through Nixon’s office. Article content Nixon considers the look-see to be the most credible thing he has seen “on a topic that has not been well-researched.” Article content Article content “We needed experts to go and deal with the eye-glazing numbers academics can spend a lot of time on doing math.” Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Eye-glazing. The final numbers in the report, the math coughed up by the calculators, are eye-popping. Article content Possibilities. An Alberta debt of $442 billion. Article content In the long term, if Alberta’s exit from Canada is difficult, annual wages for workers could be almost $12,000 below what they would have earned if Alberta had not separated. Article content Fewer jobs, lower incomes and a larger deficit. Article content “There is significant risk to Alberta leaving Confederation,” says Nixon. Article content “If everything goes perfect there could also be small benefits to the province, particularly to the provincial government. Article content “I will leave it to you and your readers to determine the likelihood of everything going perfect with something like this. Article content “What is really clear is the risk to everyday Albertans, people who need to pay…