Premier Smith's Alberta Next Town Halls Confronted by Diverse Views and Direct Challenges on Autonomy Proposals

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her "Alberta Next" panel have concluded their initial series of town hall meetings, including the first-ever event in Red Deer and a subsequent session in Edmonton, where they faced a range of public opinions and "tough questions" regarding the province's pursuit of greater autonomy. The panel, appointed by Smith, aims to gather feedback on how to "strengthen Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada" and address perceived federal overreach.

Discussions at the town halls centered on several key areas, including the potential withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to establish an Alberta Pension Plan (APP). While proponents highlighted potential financial benefits due to Alberta's younger workforce and a projected $140 billion share of CPP assets, critics voiced concerns about the stability of a smaller plan and pointed to a previous survey showing only 10% support for an APP. One attendee in Edmonton remarked, "We sound like bratty children" when discussing Alberta's grievances.

The proposed creation of a provincial police force to replace the RCMP also generated significant debate. Supporters emphasized improved local accountability and response times, particularly in rural areas, citing successful hybrid models in communities like Camrose. However, opposition largely focused on the substantial startup costs, estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, and the ongoing operational expenses, as the federal government currently covers 30% of RCMP contract policing costs.

Other topics included constitutional changes, immigration reform, and the provincial collection of personal income taxes. Premier Smith defended the panel's approach, noting that the federal government's own white paper suggests the RCMP transition away from contract policing by 2032. She also clarified that the government is seeking more control over immigration to align with Alberta's economic needs, similar to Quebec's model, rather than "punching down on immigrants."

The public engagement process itself drew criticism, with some attendees expressing frustration over what they perceived as biased survey questions and government-produced videos framing the discussions. Premier Smith acknowledged this feedback, stating that the online surveys for the pension plan and police force have been updated to include options for indicating opposition. The panel's findings from these town halls are intended to inform potential referendum questions for Albertans in 2026.