The Alberta government’s travelling panel that’s soliciting ideas for asserting the province’s sovereignty is scheduled to hold its first public meeting in Red Deer Tuesday evening.
Premier Danielle Smith is chairing the panel of 16 people, which includes four other United Conservative Party MLAs, a former judge, an acupuncturist, and leaders from the energy, business and agriculture sectors.
Smith announced the panel a week after the federal Liberals won their fourth consecutive federal election in April.
As Smith calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to repeal policies she says are harmful to Alberta’s oil and gas industry and economy, the premier has said feedback the panel hears will help members brainstorm potential questions to put on a provincial referendum ballot slated for 2026.
“Ottawa really does have to listen, as I am, take it seriously and correct the things that are causing the grievances, and that’s what I’m working for over the next few months,” Smith said on her Saturday call-in radio show.
The series of summer meetings, both in-person and virtually, along with online surveys, comes after MLAs approved changes to election laws this spring.
Bill 54 lowered the bar for the number of signatures citizens would need to gather to force the government to put a referendum question to Alberta voters. Critics say the move showed Smith’s government is catering to separatists.
The government expects about 650 people who pre-registered to attend the free, but sold-out Red Deer event.
Through question and answer sessions, the panel will revisit many topics of discussion that were before the Fair Deal Panel — a similar exercise sparked by Jason Kenney in 2019 after a previous federal Liberal election win.
Up for discussion are the potential merits and drawbacks of creating a provincial police service, a provincial pension plan, and assuming more provincial responsibility for tax collection.
A series of videos on the Alberta Next panel’s website asks viewers to consider changes to federal transfer arrangements, such as equalization, changes to constitutional powers, and potentially withholding social benefits from some immigrants.
In a 2021 referendum, the majority of Alberta voters who cast ballots said they wanted the provinces’ obligation to participate in equalization removed from the Constitution. Alberta cannot unilaterally change the Canadian Constitution.
At a news conference Monday, NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said senior citizens tell his party they are despondent to see discussion about leaving the Canada Pension Plan resurface, and rural residents are worried about losing RCMP service.
Nenshi said the panels are intended to divide Albertans and Canadians rather than brainstorm solutions, and accused Smith of kowtowing to conservative supporters who are interested in Alberta separating from Canada.
“It doesn’t matter whether Danielle Smith is a separatist,” Nenshi said. “She’s acting like one.”
A second town-hall panel is scheduled for the Edmonton area on Wednesday evening.
Future meetings are planned for Fort McMurray, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Airdrie, Grande Prairie and Calgary.
