Premier Smith's panel makes changes to pension, policing surveys to fix ‘oversight'
Premier Danielle Smith's government is making changes to its online surveys about Alberta's relationship with Ottawa, despite thousands having already filled out and submitted their opinions.
Smith says the old and new surveys will be combined, and says she doesn't believe that will skew their findings.
The surveys were launched three weeks ago with Smith's touring town hall panel, dubbed Alberta Next, to gauge public sentiment toward possible referendums on distancing Alberta from federal programs and agencies.
The original surveys asked respondents to comment on topics such as a provincial pension plan and police force, but didn't include an option to vote no on those proposals.
It's not clear when the surveys were changed, but the reworked version gives respondents a chance to say no.
The Opposition NDP says Smith's government is manipulating the panel and the survey to stir up separatist sentiment, and says the revised survey further reinforces its irrelevancy.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025.
Jack Farrell and Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
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