Premier Danielle Smith has launched a new initiative called Alberta Next to explore the province’s future within Canada, as citizen-led efforts to trigger a referendum on independence gain momentum. In a province-wide address, Smith detailed her grievances with Ottawa and said many Albertans no longer believe they can prosper within Confederation. The new panel will hold town halls and propose ideas that could be voted on in a 2026 referendum, though Smith emphasized that her government is not initiating a vote on separation itself. She has also introduced a negotiating team to push for demands like lifting the tanker ban, ending federal production caps, and securing Alberta’s energy export access. Smith described her first post-election conversation with Prime Minister Carney as positive but stressed the need for concrete action.
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has voiced strong support for a potential Alberta independence referendum. He praised Danielle Smith for confronting federal overreach and asserting Alberta’s right to defend its financial and political priorities. Drawing parallels to Quebec's own history, Plamondon argued that provinces have a legitimate right to consult citizens on sovereignty if Ottawa fails to respect them. He criticized Quebec Premier François Legault for lacking similar resolve, contrasting his inaction with Smith’s bold approach.
Alberta Legislature Speaker Nathan Cooper is stepping down as both Speaker and MLA to become Alberta’s new representative in Washington, DC, starting in June. Cooper, who has served as the MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills since 2015, said the appointment comes at a crucial time for Alberta-US relations and was offered to him by Premier Danielle Smith. His new role will involve promoting investment, trade, and strategic connections in the US. His departure, along with two other recent MLA resignations, creates three vacancies in the Alberta Legislature. Cooper previously served as interim UCP leader, was elected Speaker in 2019, and re-elected in 2023.
A two-year investigation by Alberta's Information and Privacy Commissioner has found that all 27 government departments violated provincial freedom of information laws. The report revealed that internal policies, including an "Access Request Playbook," allowed officials to unfairly reject information requests by demanding excessive detail and closing files prematurely. Commissioner Diane McLeod said such practices breach the government's legal duty to assist applicants and create unreasonable barriers to public access. She emphasized that citizens shouldn't need insider knowledge to request information and that current practices undermine democratic transparency. The government responded by claiming commitment to openness and pointed to a new, yet-to-be-enacted law that it says will improve the system. However, McLeod argued her concerns also apply to the new legislation.
At its recent convention, the Alberta NDP voted to end automatic federal NDP membership for its provincial members, allowing individuals to opt out for the first time. The move, supported by over two-thirds of delegates, was controversial, with some warning it could damage national party unity. Critics argued the change was a reaction to political attacks from the UCP and feared it would weaken the broader NDP movement. Supporters, including leader Naheed Nenshi, said it would help attract new members who disagree with federal policies. Nenshi had campaigned on this change and welcomed the vote as a step toward greater inclusivity. Delegates also reaffirmed Nenshi’s leadership with 89.5% support, nearly a year after he succeeded Rachel Notley.
Alberta teachers have overwhelmingly rejected a mediator’s recommendations in ongoing contract talks, triggering a 14-day cooling-off period before a possible strike vote. The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) reported record voter turnout, reflecting strong dissatisfaction with the proposed deal. The key issues include workload, class size, and compensation. The rejection sets the stage for escalating labour tensions between teachers and the provincial government, with the ATA warning that strike action remains a real possibility if meaningful progress isn't made soon.
The province added 15,000 jobs in April 2025, making it one of the top provinces in Canada for employment growth, second only to Quebec. Most of the new positions were full-time, helping to recover some of the losses seen in March. Key sectors that saw gains included manufacturing, information and culture, and public administration. However, job losses were recorded in professional services, natural resources, and retail. Despite the job growth, Alberta’s unemployment rate remained steady at 7.1% due to population growth. Lethbridge had the lowest unemployment rate among major Alberta cities at 5.4%, while Red Deer had the highest at 8.2%. Calgary and Edmonton’s jobless rates held steady at 7.4% and 7.3%, respectively.
