{"id":72466,"date":"2025-08-15T20:55:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T20:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/72466\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T20:55:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T20:55:13","slug":"premier-smith-alberta-next-panel-face-hecklers-supporters-at-fiery-edmonton-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/72466\/","title":{"rendered":"Premier Smith, Alberta Next panel face hecklers, supporters at fiery Edmonton event"},"content":{"rendered":"

A travelling panel collecting public feedback on Alberta\u2019s grievances with Ottawa struggled to keep an emotionally-charged crowd on topic at its third summer town hall on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

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Premier Danielle Smith and members of her Alberta Next panel drew its biggest crowd yet \u2014 nearly 750 people \u2014 in Edmonton to brainstorm about possible future referendum questions.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tProtestors gather outside a town hall hosted by the UCP\u2019s Alberta Next panel in Edmonton on Thursday to show their opposition to the idea of Alberta separation.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGlobal News\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Division and outrage in the room quickly spilled over into anger, F-bombs, and challenges to Smith\u2019s United Conservative Party government that weren\u2019t on the agenda, from health care to accountability and transparency.<\/p>\n

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When asked why the UCP had recently removed a requirement for ministers and senior staff to publicly release receipts for expense claims over $100, Smith said something went awry and made an unexpected policy announcement.<\/p>\n

The change was supposed to be an effort to keep the location of frequently-used hotels for government trips redacted, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to see if we can maybe try to track down what happened and do a reversal,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

In her friendly opening remarks, Smith said \u201cwhen Edmonton speaks, we listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was met with a flutter of guffaws from one end of the room.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1:49
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrustrations aired to Danielle Smith at \u2018Alberta Next\u2019 town halls\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

As the lineups to two open mics in the room grew difficult to corral, off-topic questions and comments drew frequent interruptions from the crowd and the moderator, Bruce McAllister.<\/p>\n

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He soon became the target of vocal disdain.<\/p>\n

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In an effort at crowd control, he compared the behaviour of some in the crowd to that of a toddler in a grocery store throwing a tantrum.<\/p>\n

Many who spoke at the mic were critical of the proposals and the panel\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

But most in attendance registered their support for the panel\u2019s six policy ideas in straw polls, including pulling out of the Canada Pension Plan and creating a provincial police force to replace the RCMP.<\/p>\n

Some cheered enthusiastically as pre-released videos were projected beside the stage.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tSupporters of the idea of Alberta separation gather outside the town hall hosted by the Alberta Next panel in Edmonton on Thursday.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGlobal News\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

With a show of hands, the crowd came down in favour of ideas like withholding social services for some immigrants, and reforming federal cash transfers and equalization.<\/p>\n

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Others in attendance pushed back and got heated over issues like health care.<\/p>\n

Some called the government\u2019s videos propaganda, misinformation, or in one case, \u201cdisgusting\u201d for appearing to blame newcomers for pressures on housing and social services.<\/p>\n

Several people questioned why the UCP wasn\u2019t focused on addressing more basic public needs.<\/p>\n

At one point, one man asked: \u201cWhy do we think we should have to fight tooth and nail for our right to health care?\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith was soon defending her government\u2019s decision to force many Albertans to pay for COVID-19 vaccinations this fall.<\/p>\n

The premier noted that COVID shots are no longer being funded by the federal government, and was met with heckles.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d Smith said, punctuated with some light profanity in a response that was met with applause.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2:00
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConcerns raised around \u201croadblocks\u201d to access the COVID 19 vaccine for vulnerable groups\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

In her closing remarks, she acknowledged the polarization in the room, but insisted Alberta can\u2019t expect to get a fair deal from the federal government \u201cjust by sitting down and having tea together.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cI am all for diplomacy, but you have to be willing to meet people on a two way street,\u201d she said, pointing to federal green electricity policies she has long labelled unachievable.<\/p>\n

Smith has said one of the reasons for the panel is to address concerns that are inspiring separatist sentiment in the province.<\/p>\n

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has said there are provincial grievances with Ottawa that need to be addressed, but has dismissed the panel as a way for Smith to curry favour with extreme elements of the UCP to keep them from splintering off.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also said the government is using it to conjure up unreliable data to support things it already wants to do.<\/p>\n

The panel also held town halls last month in Red Deer and Edmonton.<\/p>\n

All three drew protesters at the gates and inside, dismissals of the panel as a self-serving political exercise meant to stir up discontent and division.<\/p>\n

It is next set to host events in Fort McMurray and Lloydminster in two weeks.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7:07
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDanielle Smith launches Alberta Next panel to boost provincial autonomy\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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