Overview

• Nearly 250 people attended the Fort McMurray town hall and most expressed support for the panel’s six proposals, with no protests outside.
• The Alberta Next agenda includes exploring withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan, creating a provincial police force to replace the RCMP, and withholding some social services from certain immigrants.
• Premier Danielle Smith argued that federal policies are constraining Alberta’s ability to fund services, casting Ottawa as the source of “chronic problems.”
• Audience members pressed local concerns such as crowded classrooms, fewer surgical beds and out-of-pocket COVID-19 vaccine costs, prompting the moderator to steer discussion back to federal issues.
• Smith said referendums may be needed to gauge the “true will of the people” as in-person straw polls at events show strong backing, with the tour moving next to Lloydminster.