The panel’s final report reflects extensive online engagement and 10 in-person town halls held across Alberta during the summer and fall of 2025, reaching thousands of Albertans in communities across the province. 

The government caucus will review these recommendations in the coming months to discuss which of the recommendations it intends to adopt as a government; no final decisions have been made at this time. The report is available now to the public.

“Through Alberta Next, Albertans were clear that for too long, decisions made outside this province have limited Alberta’s ability to grow our economy and chart our own course. This engagement was about confronting those realities and identifying concrete options to take control of our future. We’ve received the panel’s recommendations and will review them carefully before responding in the months ahead.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

As part of the final report submitted to government for consideration, the panel made a total of seven recommendations for the Alberta government’s consideration.

Final Recommendation Overview:

  1. Continue to build and support institutions for trusted, responsible self-government to reduce Alberta’s dependence on Ottawa and strengthen Alberta’s respect within the federation.
  2. Provide Albertans with a detailed Alberta Pension Plan proposal outlining what benefits, management structure, contribution rates and implementation plan an APP would include. A provincial referendum asking Albertans whether to establish an APP and exit the CPP should only be scheduled after this proposal is provided to Albertans.
  3. Complete a detailed cost-benefit analysis for Alberta collecting its own personal income taxes for future consideration by Albertans, but do not schedule a referendum on this issue at this time.
  4. Take a leading role in working with other provinces and the federal government to reform equalization and fiscal federalism.
  5. Continue with the ongoing work of establishing an Alberta Police Service (APS) to provide policing services in Alberta's rural and small city communities, and transition community policing services from the RCMP to the APS and municipal policing services.
  6. Proceed to a provincial referendum on the provincial government exercising more control over immigration.
  7. Proceed to a provincial referendum on Alberta working with other provinces on specific constitutional amendments to protect provincial jurisdiction, including:
    • Protecting provincial areas of jurisdiction from federal interference.
    • A provincial right to opt-out of federal programs affecting provincial jurisdiction without losing the associated funding.
    • Permitting provinces to appoint their own King’s Bench and Court of Appeal Justices.
    • Abolishing the unelected federal Senate.

Chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, the Alberta Next panel brought together a broad mix of leaders, experts and community voices to gather input and provide advice to government on how Alberta can better protect its interests within a united Canada. The panel completed its engagement on time and on budget. Feedback received at the town halls, in addition to survey results and professional polling, was taken into consideration to draft the proposed recommendations.

Quick facts

  • The panel held meetings open to the public in 10 communities across Alberta (Edmonton, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, Fort McMurray, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Airdrie, Grande Prairie and Calgary), as well as one online town hall.
    • More than 5,000 Albertans participated in these events.
    • The livestreams of the town halls have received roughly 800,000 views and remain online for those interested in watching.
  • Each of the six surveys hosted on the Alberta Next Panel website received between 6,000 and 12,000 responses, and roughly 22,000 comments were submitted through the online feedback portal.

Related information

Related news