A screenshot of a livestream shows Premier Danielle Smith leading the Alberta Next panel discussion at the Cypress Centre in Medicine Hat, where a majority of the crowd seemed to support the general focus of the panel.--SCRENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE
Premier Danielle Smith’s Alberta Next Panel rolled into Medicine Hat on Tuesday, exploring a 2026 provincial referendum.
The panel, speaking at the Cypress Centre, featured 10 of the 16 government chosen speakers who discussed policy optics meant to increase Alberta’s sovereignty within Canada.
The panel was formed to seek public feedback on ways to protect the province from what it calls federal overreach. Each forum, including Medicine Hat’s, features videos on pre-selected topics ranging from questions about supporting a provincial pension plan, changes to Canada’s Constitution and provincial immigration control to withhold social services from immigrants who aren’t approved.
One of the first residents to speak did not address the specific topic of federal equalization reform, instead asking about the province’s $200 per month clawback from AISH payments.
“I’m wondering how you define respect when you take $200 away from disabled people, make them jump through hoops, I’m standing here for my son, Danielle,” the resident said.
“If you’re going to stand up for Alberta and for Canada, you have to listen to all of us…”
The resident was then cut off, one of a few times where moderator Bruce McAllister turned off mics following criticism of the premier or the provincial government.
Each of the topics opened with a video relaying information from the Alberta Next Panel about what a vote for yes would mean, also relaying potential cons that could follow.
“I wish I had counted how many times Ottawa was mentioned in this little presentation we were forced to sit through, and I’m getting tired Ms. Smith,” a resident said before being cut off by McAllister.
“I know it’s not hard, I know it’s not hard, like most everybody understands,” McAllister said. “Forty-five seconds, make a comment and ask a question.”
When it came to discussion about the provincial pension plan, more time was allotted for a supportive comment.
“Is Quebec society and voters, are they crying that they want to go back to the federal umbrella, of course not,” one resident said as part of a minute-and-a-half show of support.
“I really want to give you more time, I do, but I can’t,” McAllister chimed in.
It was one of many showings of support for the premier and the panel’s ideas on brokering a better deal with the federal government. All topics brought forward received a yes vote in the hands up, straw-polls.
The loudest reception came on the idea of a provincially regulated immigration policy and the question, “Should Alberta take more control of the immigration system to counter Ottawa’s open border policies?”
Bruce McDonald, former Justice of the Court of Appeal of Alberta, is on the panel and says Canada had the fourth-largest increase of population in the world due to immigration.
“We all know immigration handled properly is an asset as it has been throughout most of our history, but that’s not where we’re at now,” McDonald said. “The federal government has done, I’m going to suggest, a very poor job in the immigration system.”
While multiple residents spoke in favour of the idea, others raised concerns about how the question has been posed and the light it paints Canada’s immigrants in.
“The (topic) video uses language such as unvetted, open borders and savings to social service programs, which is misleading and it is dangerous,” a resident said to applause.
“That’s what’s happening in this room, this concern. This kind of messaging encourages anti-immigrant sentiment at a time when we need to be building understanding and not fear. The reality is, people don’t come to Alberta to exploit social programs, immigrants aren’t the ones overusing our social programs.
A chorus of boos from attendees forced a pause before she continued.
“If you work in our social programs, you would know the people who come through immigrant streams aren’t eligible for social programs.”
McAllister then asked the resident, “Do you think the number is right? That we have the right amount of people coming?”
“The number isn’t great but the tone is what changes,” she replied.
The evening was the first of a sSouthern leg for the Alberta Next panel, which will hear from residents in in Lethbridge, Airdrie, Grande Prairie and Calgary over the next month.
“Do we want to pursue a path for more responsible government, are we at a size of a population where we should do more of these things because it’s the right thing to do as a grown up province,” Smith asked in closing.
The premier, who says she was able to tour her riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat like a tourist ahead of the panel, compared the province’s situation to a teenager living at home with its parents, asking for respect while living in the basement.
“If you want respect, you have to go out on your own and start doing your own things and then you can have a grownup conversation about it. Quebec had that grownup conversation, they’re taken very seriously because they have pursued a stronger path of responsibility. And we’re just asking you, do you think it’s time for Alberta to do the same thing. And if not that, then what?”
In 1763, King George III agreed that Quebec would have its own system of laws, religion and language in exchange for the people joining Canada and pledging allegiance to the British Monarchy (rejecting the French and Americans who were defeated in the Seven Years War). Quebec has different institutions because of the 1763 Treaty of Paris and the Quebec Act of 1774 and many agreements since then have enshrined/confirmed differences from English/British colonial rules.
Alberta was formed in 1905.
Quebec and Canada have not had a “grown up” conversation since the constitution was patriated in 1982.
The Unity vote in 1995 was equivalent to a tantrum, not a reasoned negotiation.
An Alberta separation referendum is also not going to result in a grown up conversation.
And … how can Smith say Quebec has “pursued a stronger path of responsibility” while constantly moaning about how Quebec is ripping off Alberta through transfer payments? So, Quebec is a responsible model for Alberta to follow but also irresponsibly unable to manage provincial spending with Federal government dollars?
Smith is very good at talking out both sides of her mouth.
Dwayne.W
21 days ago
These panels are a complete joke, besides being a big waste of money. The UCP and Danielle Smith do not listen to the wishes of Albertans. The Alberta Provincial Pension Plan, the Alberta Provincial Police Force, and open pit coal mining in the Rockies of Alberta, are things that most Albertans oppose, yet they are pursuing these things. This is also a distraction from the very poor governance of the UCP. Not the type of government we had under Peter Lougheed.
In 1763, King George III agreed that Quebec would have its own system of laws, religion and language in exchange for the people joining Canada and pledging allegiance to the British Monarchy (rejecting the French and Americans who were defeated in the Seven Years War). Quebec has different institutions because of the 1763 Treaty of Paris and the Quebec Act of 1774 and many agreements since then have enshrined/confirmed differences from English/British colonial rules.
Alberta was formed in 1905.
Quebec and Canada have not had a “grown up” conversation since the constitution was patriated in 1982.
The Unity vote in 1995 was equivalent to a tantrum, not a reasoned negotiation.
An Alberta separation referendum is also not going to result in a grown up conversation.
And … how can Smith say Quebec has “pursued a stronger path of responsibility” while constantly moaning about how Quebec is ripping off Alberta through transfer payments? So, Quebec is a responsible model for Alberta to follow but also irresponsibly unable to manage provincial spending with Federal government dollars?
Smith is very good at talking out both sides of her mouth.
These panels are a complete joke, besides being a big waste of money. The UCP and Danielle Smith do not listen to the wishes of Albertans. The Alberta Provincial Pension Plan, the Alberta Provincial Police Force, and open pit coal mining in the Rockies of Alberta, are things that most Albertans oppose, yet they are pursuing these things. This is also a distraction from the very poor governance of the UCP. Not the type of government we had under Peter Lougheed.