
Alberta premier faces criticism, anger at Edmonton panel town hall
"We sound like bratty children," said Roberta Stasyk, a resident of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., who was one of many speakers who showed up to voice their frustration.
Smith launched the panel to address public concerns over Prime Minister Mark Carney's election win — concerns that have pushed some to want Alberta to separate from Confederation.
The premier's staff said some 500 people attended the Edmonton town hall on Wednesday.
Unlike in Red Deer the night before, at least one-third of the Edmonton crowd was there to challenge Smith and the other 15 panel members on topics like creating a provincial police force, amending the constitution, and taking greater control over immigration.
WATCH | The Alberta Next panel makes stop in Edmonton:
The Alberta Next panel makes stop in Edmonton
38 minutes ago
Creating a provincial pension plan was a hot-button issue, with most of those who stood up to share their opinion saying Smith needed to drop the idea once and for all.
Stasyk called it a "horrible idea," while others challenged the benefits touted in a government-produced video that played before the topic was discussed.
"A much smaller jurisdiction ... would make it much more liable to the ups and downs of the market, for one thing," said Hans Smit, a professor emeritus from the University of Calgary, who also asked the panel for a guarantee that a provincial pension plan wouldn't be used for ideological means.
Another speaker, who only identified himself as Todd, told the panel that at the end of the day, he just wanted a pension, but he didn't trust Smith's government to manage it.
"I can stick with the [Canadian Pension Plan], which is one of the most effective things in the world, or I can gamble with you idiots."
'Alberta's grievances'
While the majority of speakers who lined up to discuss pension plans said they wanted to maintain the status quo, a show of hands showed the majority of the crowd was in favour.
The same occurred when the idea of a provincial police force came up — many spoke against it, but a show of hands had those in favour in a clear majority.
"We really need to have a police force that lives in our community, works with our people, and grows and works with the communities," said one supporter, Brian.
The divide in the room was clear, with attendees competing at every chance to make sure their boos or cheers came out on top.
While it was less of a regular occurrence than Tuesday's town hall in Red Deer, some speakers in Edmonton did use the opportunity to push for separation.
"Alberta's grievances with Ottawa predate our becoming a province," said one speaker, Cathy.
"Let's just move forward with a referendum on independence, force that constitution open, and see where those talks take us."
Other Alberta independence supporters gathered outside, making sure those who attended saw a large "Alberta Sovereignty Now" banner as they walked to their cars.
Also in the parking lot were two protesters, one holding a sign saying "I love [U.S. President Donald] Trump" and wearing a large papier mache head that was a caricature of Smith.
'Punching down'
Back inside the Edmonton hotel ballroom where the town hall took place, Smith, at times, was forced to defend the topics her panel was assembled to discuss.
One proposal, that Alberta create its own immigration permitting system and cut off immigrants it didn't approve from health care and other provincially-run services, led a speaker to ask why the premier was "punching down on immigrants."
Smith quickly spoke up to say that wasn't the case, adding that her government was just trying to find a solution to high housing costs and "increasing pressure on our social programs."
"There has to be a reasonable amount of newcomers that are able to come here, fit into the economy, be able to be self-supporting," Smith said.
"That is, I think, a bit high at the moment."
Panel member Sumita Anand, who also serves as co-chair on Smith's council for multiculturalism, agreed with the premier, and at one point pleaded with the crowd for support on the proposal.
"Please instruct us to put reasonable check stops," said Anand, an executive at a Calgary-based non-profit that provides support to those with disabilities.
"All we are asking for are check stops so that we can make a better future for our children and our grandchildren here."
Jennifer Long, an anthropology professor at MacEwan University in Edmonton, challenged the premier and the panel, saying they were giving more "fodder" to issues that are already dividing Albertans.
"If we're worried about having affordable housing, why aren't we putting more policies to make landlords who own empty houses to make them come on the market?" Long said.
Earlier in the day, Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi told reporters in Red Deer that the premier's panel was conjuring up unreliable data to support things her government already wants to do.
"What a debacle. This thing is such a sham," Nenshi said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Saskatchewan bringing in military personnel, helicopters to fight wildfires
Saskatchewan is set to get help from Ottawa as dozens of wildfires burn in the province. Federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski says she has approved a request for federal assistance and that Armed Forces personnel and helicopters are being deployed. It comes after Saskatchewan's Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod, said he wrote to Olszewski asking for up to 300 crew members to mop up blazes. He said the province requested helicopters for bucketing and to move crews, and it also needs water haulers and sprinklers to protect communities. Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party government had previously refused asking for federal aid, saying Ottawa did not have what Saskatchewan needed. The province is reporting 50 active wildfires, including 14 uncontained. Wildfires continue to cause havoc in neighbouring Manitoba, where the northwestern community of Leaf Rapids says a blaze has entered the community. The town says the fire jumped the Churchill River and entered the community through its industrial area. It said on social media that all personnel, including firefighters, have had to leave. Provincial data says the fire is out of control and is about 25 square kilometres in size. Multiple wildfires are burning around the community located 980 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, including one southwest of the town that is more than 303 square kilometres in size. There are 121 wildfires burning in Manitoba, 12 of which are considered out of control.


CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Indoor Aquatics Facility Project sparks debate among Regina city council
The biggest item discussed at Regina's executive committee meeting on Wednesday, both in scope and cost, was the Indoor Aquatics Facility Project. The debate centered around committee recommending that city council approve a total project cost for the facility of $285.1 million. A new report put in front of city councillors this week has increased the price tag of the new aquatic facility by $40 million. To fund these additional costs, it is being proposed $30 million come from the re-prioritization of projects in the 10-year Recreation/Culture Capital Plan. That includes $1.28 million from the city's outdoor dog parks to the IAF Project. Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Turnbull proposed a motion to take the $1.28 million from the city's outdoor pools budget instead of dog parks, but the motion was lost by a vote of nine to one. The allocation of the remaining $10 million needed for the facility is proposed to be added to the city's available debt funding, increasing it from $146 million to $156 million. According to administration, the extra $10 million added to the city's debt would result in an increase in taxes of 57 cents per median household per month. Ward 10 Coun. Clark Bezo was not satisfied with this number figure though and motioned to table the IAF discussion until September during budget meetings, so that administration could provide a more thorough dollar figure on Regina residents' debt and tax bill. That motion was lost by a vote of eight to three, with Bezo, Ward 1 Coun. Dan Rashovich, and Ward 2 Coun. George Tsikilis voting in favour. A handful of delegates were at Regina City Hall to make their case for the aquatic facility to move ahead. Cyril Dorgigne with Regina Water Polo and Water Polo Saskatchewan claimed that Regina can't currently support national and international water polo competitions due to the small pool size at the Lawson Aquatics Centre and that the new facility will allow the city of Regina to host such events. 'We are the only top 10 club in the country that cannot host national finals, because we need two feet of deep tank and right now, we can only have one in Regina,' he said. Tracy Moser, the president of the Regina Piranhas Summer Swim Club, said there is limited pool space in Regina for competitive speed swimming. This summer, the club was forced to use some of the outdoor pools in the city due to a six-week closure of the University of Regina indoor pool. She said this challenge would be mitigated with a new aquatic facility. When questioning Moser, Bezo suggested putting a roof onto the recently renovated Wascana Pool. 'We've got Wascana Pool which is a brand-new state of the art facility,' he said. What are your thoughts if we put a roof over that one and cancelled this project?' Moser responded that would be a waste of dollars and would not sufficiently support sports like competitive swimming and water polo. 'Wascana would not meet the needs that we are looking for. We need 50 metres of length, you would never be able to host an event at Wascana, first of all with a roof overtop of it.' Marj Walton, who is on the Indoor Aquatic Facility Community Advisory Committee, encouraged council to get the ball rolling when it comes to the facility, saying it is the mandate of a municipality to have a high-level indoor aquatic facility, and Regina is currently falling behind. The motion to approve the new estimated cost of $285.1 million was passed by a vote of eight to one, with only Coun. Bezo voting against. The decision still requires final council approval next week.

CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Premiers' meeting wraps up with pledge for unity
Vancouver Watch Canada's premiers ended three days of meetings with a promise to remain united in the face of escalating tariff threats from the U.S. president.