Overview

• Alberta Next panel kicked off its town hall tour in Red Deer and Sherwood Park this week with 450–650 participants voicing views on provincial autonomy and outright secession.
• The panel is collecting public input on grievances over federal energy and climate policies and exploring proposals such as pulling out of the Canada Pension Plan, creating a provincial police force, and withholding services from some immigrants.
• Feedback from the summer consultations will inform policy recommendations and potential referendum questions on enhanced provincial powers slated for the panel’s October report.
• Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi has launched a parallel Better Together tour to advocate for federal unity and counter separatist sentiment.
• Constitutional experts caution that any move toward a separation vote would entail complex negotiations with the federal government and Indigenous treaty holders.