So Alberta, what’s next?
News release
June 24, 2025 Media inquiries
Albertans, not Ottawa, should shape Alberta’s future. The Alberta Next Panel is hitting the road to engage directly with Albertans and chart a path forward for the province.
Albertans are frustrated after 10 years of punitive policies, enacted by the federal government, attacking Alberta’s economy and targeting its core industries.
Chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, the Alberta Next panel will bring together a broad mix of leaders, experts, and community voices to gather input, discuss solutions, and provide feedback to government on how Alberta can better protect its interests, defend its economy, and assert its place in Confederation.
The panel will consult across the province over the summer and early fall to ensure that those living, working, doing business and raising families are the ones to drive Alberta’s future forward. The work will include identifying solutions advanced by Albertans on how to make Alberta stronger and more sovereign within a united Canada that respects and empowers the province to achieve its full potential. It will also include making recommendations to the government on potential referendum questions for Albertans to vote on in 2026.
It will consider and hear from Albertans on the risks and benefits of ideas like a establishing an Alberta Pension Plan, using an Alberta Provincial Police Service rather than the RCMP for community policing, whether Albertans should consider pursuing constitutional changes, which (if any) changes to federal transfer payments and equalization Albertans should demand of the federal government, potential immigration reform that would give the provincial government more oversight into who comes to the province, and changes to how Alberta collects personal income tax. Albertans will also have the opportunity to put forward their own ideas for discussion.
“This isn’t just about talk. It’s about action. The Alberta Next Panel is giving everyday Albertans a direct say in the direction of our province. It’s time to stand up to Ottawa’s overreach and make sure decisions about Alberta’s future are made here, by the people who live and work here.”
Danielle Smith, Premier
“Right now, there is a need to restore fairness and functionality in the country. Years of problematic policy and decisions from Ottawa have hurt Albertan and Canadian prosperity. I am honoured to be asked by Premier Smith to participate in the Alberta Next Panel. This panel is about listening to Albertans on how we build a stronger Alberta within a united Canada, to which I, and the Business Council of Alberta, are firmly committed.”
Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta
Chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, the panel includes 13 additional members, including elected officials, academics, business leaders and community advocates:
- Honourable Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas of Alberta
- Brandon Lunty, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont
- Glenn van Dijken, MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock
- Tara Sawyer, MLA-elect for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
- Bruce McDonald, former justice, Court of Appeal of Alberta
- Trevor Tombe, director of fiscal and economic policy, the University of Calgary School of Public Policy
- Adam Legge, president, Business Council of Alberta
- Andrew Judson, vice chairman (prairies), Fraser Institute
- Sumita Anand, vice president, Above and Beyond Care Services
- Melody Garner-Skiba, business and agricultural advocate
- Grant Fagerheim, president and CEO, Whitecap Resources Inc.
- Dr. Akin Osakuade, physician and section chief, Didsbury Hospital
- Dr. Benny Xu, community health expert
- Michael Binnion, president, Questerre Energy
Albertans have a choice: let Ottawa continue calling the shots—or come together to chart our own course. What’s next? You decide.
Key facts:
- Town hall dates and sites, along with other opportunities to participate in this engagement, are available online at Alberta.ca/Next. Exact locations will be posted in the weeks ahead of the event, and Albertans will be asked to RSVP online.
- The panel’s recommendations will be submitted to government by Dec. 31, 2025.
- It is anticipated that the panel will add additional members in the coming weeks.
Related information
Related news
- Alberta Next: Albertans to choose path forward (May 5, 2025)
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Media inquiries
587-589-6048
Press Secretary, Office of the Premier