Premier Danielle Smith’s Alberta Next Panel wrapped up its cross-province tour Monday night in Calgary with a mix of ovations, dissent, and heated exchanges that underscored Alberta’s charged political climate.
More than 1,100 people filled Spruce Meadows for the final in-person event before the panel convenes to decide the fate of six proposals that would reshape Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa — from pursuing an Alberta-run pension plan to creating a provincial police service.
Smith, who has framed the tour as a chance to “put ideas back in Albertans’ hands” following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal election win, suggested some proposals may advance directly, while others could go to referendum.
“There are some issues where I feel like we are getting enough of a consensus… others will have to be put to the people,” she said.
Strong support, sharp tension
Despite moments of pushback, the crowd overwhelmingly voted in favour of all six proposals in straw polls — echoing results from earlier town halls across the province.
But tensions were never far from the surface. A Calgary high-school student criticizing the government after teachers rejected a tentative deal had his microphone cut off after 14 seconds. Moderator Bruce McAllister snapped back: “Your parents should turn you over your knee.” Audience members quickly rebuked him, calling the remark “rude” and “disgraceful.”
At times, arguments broke out among attendees, with lines of up to 15 people waiting at microphones to confront or applaud the panel. When one speaker denounced separatism, the crowd spontaneously sang O Canada. In other moments, however, cheers erupted at suggestions of Alberta breaking from Canada.
Beyond separatism
Panel member Stephen Buffalo, CEO of the Indian Resource Council, pushed back on separatist narratives, framing the six proposals as constitutional reform rather than a breakaway plan.
“To talk anymore about separation, Alberta walking away, it’s like looking for a Tootsie Roll in a septic tank. It’s just not good work.”
The province is also gathering input through surveys, though results have yet to be released. A telephone town hall scheduled for Wednesday will mark the last round of consultations before the panel meets to recommend which proposals should move forward.
For Smith, the night closed with both validation and volatility: a standing ovation at the start, and a reminder that Alberta’s path forward will remain contested.
