Central Alberta has some of the most ardent United Conservative Party supporters in the province.
This part of Alberta is a conservative stronghold.
And yet, when the Premier wants to decide what's next for the future of Alberta – there's almost no representation of the region on the 14-person panel.
Central Alberta's lone representative is rookie MLA Tara Sawyer, who was elected in a June 23 byelection and she's certainly a formidable voice. The long-time Acme farmer and former Alberta Grains board chair will provide plenty of insight about agriculture and getting products to market, which will surely be a hot topic for the Premier's panel.
But surely, of the 14 members, at least one could represent Red Deer, Alberta's third-largest city?
A small consolation prize and what could be perceived as an acknowledgement of this slight is the fact that the first town hall is July 15 in Red Deer. And that's the only Central Alberta town hall.
That's not to say members of the panel won't look out for Red Deer and the rest of Central Alberta when they aim to tackle the big questions the province faces. There are a lot of smart people on that panel.
I just think it's a slap in the face to this region that continually supports the UCP and yet, when big decisions are to be made, we get pushed from the table.
According to the province's release, "the panel will consult across the province over the summer and early fall to ensure that those living, working, doing business and raising families are the ones to drive Alberta’s future forward," it states.
"The work will include identifying solutions advanced by Albertans on how to make Alberta stronger and more sovereign within a united Canada that respects and empowers the province to achieve its full potential. It will also include making recommendations to the government on potential referendum questions for Albertans to vote on in 2026."
That doesn't mention how much of a farce the online surveys are. On the Alberta Police Force, you can only share "concerns" and not that it's a bad idea and you don't want it, which is what the majority of Albertans believe.
On the Alberta Pension Plan, the pre-survey video demonizes the CPP, saying that it is spent on federal government pet projects that limit returns, like DEI objectives. This is the second time the government will ask Albertans about this, after 63 per cent of people surveyed said they didn't want it. The government held this info close to the vest, finally releasing it after 21 months of requests from media.
On Immigration, it asks a borderline racist question about whether the province should withhold social services from immigrants. The video before the survey suggests:
"If Alberta isn't satisfied with the number or kind of newcomers moving to our province, we may have the option to withhold provincial social programs to any non-citizen or non-permanent resident who does not have an Alberta-approved immigration status."
Withholding services from people who are not the "right" kind of newcomer is an absolutely absurd suggestion.
The surveys also ask questions about tax collection, constitutional changes and federal transfers and equalization.
Pretty much a redux of Premier Jason Kenney's Fair Deal Panel, which made 25 recommendations on many of these topics six years ago.
So, Central Albertans will still have a chance to provide input, but were denied the opportunity to have an inside track about the direction the province is heading.
It may sound nitpicky, but the province seemed to go out of its way to have different sectors and ideas represented, even including Trevor Tombe, a director of fiscal and economic policy at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, who doesn't always support the premier's position.
“This isn’t just about talk. It’s about action. The Alberta Next Panel is giving everyday Albertans a direct say in the direction of our province," said Premier Smith in the release.
"It’s time to stand up to Ottawa’s overreach and make sure decisions about Alberta’s future are made here, by the people who live and work here.”
I think if you wanted to do that, you might have turned to one of the biggest economic drivers in the region and asked for somebody who knows the people a little bit better and can advocate for our wants and needs.
They will ask the people in an in person town hall, which is not nothing.
I hope the province finds the answers it's looking for in this search for what's next. I'm just disappointed our voices here in Central Alberta will largely be background noise.
Byron Hackett is the Managing Editor of the Red Deer Advocate and a Regional Editor for Black Press Media.
