Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is hosting Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the Premier’s Stampede Breakfast in Calgary Monday, where they plan to announce an update on “economic growth.”
Taking place at the McDougall Centre in downtown Calgary, the annual breakfast includes cabinet ministers and caucus members.
The premier’s office says nearly 4,000 people attended last year, which some staff say was the largest turnout in over a decade.
The breakfast itself begins at 7 a.m., while the announcement with Ford takes place at 9 a.m.
The Ontario premier joined Smith at last year’s event, which was followed by an announcement focused on improving trade and transportation links between the two provinces.
Details on the announcement are unclear, but more information is expected.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is in attendance, along with Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas.
Farkas says the breakfast is a good opportunity to shine a light on investment opportunities in Calgary, as “government can only move at the speed of trust.”
“I want Calgary to get its fair share of investment from the provincial government, and you know, we have the Premier here and practically all of the ministers,” he tells 660 NewsRadio.
“And when I hear about 50 members of Parliament from the Liberal caucus there sending here as well, you know, this is Alberta’s chance to get its fair share of investment from the rest of the federal government.”
He adds the event, like many during the Stampede, reflects the city’s “western traditions” while inviting guests from around the world.
“Stampede has always been political, ‘small P’ political, but this year I really think it’s ‘big P’ political. We’re at the center of a referendum campaign. We’re debating what Alberta’s future is in the rest of the country. So the fact that we’re able to host the rest of the country here — host the rest of the world — it couldn’t happen at a better time,” he said.
“For me, my takeaway is that we’re so much better and stronger together. You know, this is a great Canadian tradition. It’s a great Albertan institution, and it’s the Calgary community opening its doors to the world. And I could not think of a better place to be.”
Also at the event were several people protesting coal mines in the Rocky Mountains, including some holding signs from advocacy group Alberta Beyond Coal. The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said at the beginning of the year it would open public input on a mining proposal from an Australian company, Northback Holdings Inc., whose application was denied in 2021. The AER approved an application in 2025.
Meanwhile, during the Calgary Stampede parade on Friday, Smith heard both cheers and jeers while riding shotgun on a horse-drawn wagon that clip-clopped through the city’s downtown.
Just a day earlier, Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new West Coast pipeline proposal, which she framed as a nation-building project.
Smith has enjoyed strong poll support in her term, though those numbers have slipped amid the recent debate on whether Alberta should separate from Canada.
With files from The Canadian Press
Keep it Factual
Add CityNews Calgary as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
