Overview

• The second Alberta Next town hall drew roughly 500 residents—about one-third of whom challenged autonomy strategies including creating a provincial pension plan and police force.
• Several speakers pressed for an immediate referendum on Alberta’s independence, arguing that a clear vote is needed to gain leverage in negotiations with Ottawa.
• Indigenous protesters and critics outside the venue accused the panel of ignoring treaty rights and targeting immigrants by proposing to withhold social services.
• NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi labeled the consultations a sham that skews toward separatist voices and announced his party’s own Better Together town halls to promote unity within Canada.
• The Alberta Next panel will continue its province-wide tour through October, gathering input to draft referendum questions under Bill 54’s lowered signature thresholds.