One day before Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) will launch its province-wide ‘Alberta Next’ campaign, the Opposition NDP has come out with its own plan to hear from voters.
Leader Naheed Nenshi made the announcement alongside party MLAs in Edmonton Monday, launching the ‘Better Together Summer’ plan.
The party says its initiative will push back against the “separatist agenda” enhanced by Premier Danielle Smith and her party.
“Danielle Smith’s separatist agenda puts everything at risk — investments, jobs, and the everyday systems we rely on like healthcare — all to hold her political coalition together. That’s not leadership; it’s self-serving recklessness,” said Nenshi. “Albertans are proud of this country, and they deserve a government that feels the same.”
Nenshi added he and the NDP Caucus will travel across the province through the summer, knocking on doors, attending community events, hosting town halls, and listening to Albertans about what they think building a strong future for Canada looks like. The ‘Better Together Summer’ will focus on mid-size and smaller communities, according to the party.
“It’s a summer of listening, it’s a summer of sharing and more important, it’s a summer of how we come together and show our pride and dedication as true Canadians,” Nenshi said.
As of now, there are scheduled stops in Lethbridge, Red Deer and Edmonton, with Nenshi promising there is “much more” on the way.
The Alberta Next Panel, organized by the provincial government, has scheduled 10 town hall style events throughout Alberta until the end of September. Planned stops include Red Deer, Sherwood Park, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Airdrie, Grande Prairie and Calgary.
All the free tickets for the next two stops – 650 seats for July 15 in Red Deer and 600 for July 16 in Sherwood Park – have already been claimed.
Albertans who want to have their say but aren’t able to get to the events in person, can fill out an online survey here.
Topics of discussion, according to the province, will be federal transfers and equalization, an Alberta Pension Plan, constitutional changes, a provincial police force, immigration, and tax collection.
The province claims the panel is not about advocating for a separation referendum.
“No, Alberta Next is about exploring the ideas and policies to assert our sovereignty and constitutional rights within a united Canada. After decades of unfairness and mistreatment, we must stand up for our people, economy and shared future as Canadians,” reads an answer to the question ‘Is this about Alberta separating from Canada?’ on the event’s website.
The government has said there will be a referendum during the next provincial election in 2026, and Alberta Next will help to inform the questions that ultimately make it to that referendum.
Premier Smith is leading the 15-member panel, which includes three United Conservative Party legislature members: Brandon Lunty, Glenn van Dijken and the party’s newest MLA, Tara Sawyer, who recently won a byelection.
‘Costly and destabilizing‘
The NDP says Alberta Next is a distraction from the government’s record on important things like healthcare, education and affordability.
“The UCP government continues to isolate Alberta from the rest of the country, with costly and destabilizing policy ideas like withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan, replacing the RCMP, and lowering the threshold for a referendum on separation,” the NDP leader said.
In a statement, the premier’s press secretary said Nenshi is spreading misinformation by repeatedly calling her a separatist, adding that Smith believes Albertans will not buy what the NDP is selling with “Better Together.”
A former political reporter turned strategist says it’s tradition for politicians to hit the road in the summer, but Alberta Next is different.
“I was just at Stampede,” said Tom Vernon of Crestview Strategy. “How many pancake breakfasts did I have to attend and I saw all exact same politicians at every single one. This is a more formalized process though. There is going to be a clear mandate of questions being asked, information being polled and a report pulled out of it.”
CityNews spoke to Albertans about the town halls — both the UCP and NDP’s — and reaction was mixed.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Edmonton’s Kevin Dutchak. “We need our politicians to get out there and listen to what we have to say and that. So I think it’s good the NDP is getting out there as well.”
“It’s just a lot of bickering, in my eyes, back and forth,” said Medicine Hat’s James Haskayne.
“As long as they’re talking to people, it’s a good thing,” added Edmonton’s Trent Oster. “Ultimately, each party has its base and they’re going to lean into it.
–With files from Sean Amato in Edmonton