Premier Danielle Smith has stated that the United Conservative Party (UCP) caucus and cabinet will determine the next steps following the release of a significant report from the Alberta Next panel. The panel's seven recommendations, published on Friday, December 20, 2024, propose sweeping changes to Alberta's relationship with the federal government.
Key Recommendations for Provincial Autonomy
The panel's core proposals include holding a provincewide referendum on whether Alberta should exit the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and establish an Alberta Pension Plan. Another major recommendation is to proceed with creating an Alberta Provincial Police Service, transitioning community policing responsibilities away from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Furthermore, the report encourages the province to "take a leading role" in reforming equalization and fiscal federalism in collaboration with other provinces and Ottawa. While it did not recommend a referendum on equalization, it suggested the province analyze the costs and benefits of collecting its own personal income taxes.
Timing of Release Sparks Debate
Premier Smith, who chaired the panel, defended the decision to publish the recommendations on the last Friday afternoon before Christmas, a move some critics suggested was an attempt to minimize public discussion. The original release date was set for December 31. Smith denied any intention to "bury" the report, emphasizing the panel's work was meant to shape Alberta's future within Canada.
"In Quebec, they've gone the whole nine yards," Smith said during her biweekly radio show on Saturday, December 21. "They collect their own taxes, have their own pension, their own police and their own immigration system. Should we be doing the same things as Quebec is doing?"
Panel Composition and Public Consultations
The Alberta Next panel, which included UCP MLAs, a University of Calgary economist, a retired judge, and representatives from energy, agriculture, and small business sectors, conducted 10 town halls across the province during the summer and fall of 2024. The consultations focused on immigration, pensions, policing, equalization, taxation, and constitutional reform.
The panel's final report now places the decision-making process in the hands of the UCP government. Premier Smith framed the discussions as essential for addressing long-standing grievances with Ottawa and exploring a potential future with greater provincial autonomy, mirroring powers held by Quebec.
