Alberta Premier Danielle Smith encountered a charged atmosphere during the Alberta Next consultation in Edmonton on Thursday night. The event, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton, drew about 700 attendees, where Smith was asked twice if she would sign the Alberta Forever Canada petition initiated by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk. Smith did not provide a direct answer, stating, "There are all sorts of reasons I support sovereignty within a united Canada."

The Alberta Forever Canada petition aims to gather signatures from residents who wish to affirm their commitment to remaining part of Canada, countering potential referendum questions regarding Alberta's future in the country. Smith expressed admiration for Quebec's governance, highlighting its international trade offices and immigration control. She posed the question, "Do we want to become more like Quebec in managing our own affairs?" She noted that Alberta's growing revenue, now at $75 billion annually, allows for discussions about greater provincial autonomy.

As the panel began, the audience responded with applause and cheers, particularly during the Treaty 6 acknowledgment. However, the atmosphere quickly shifted as tensions rose, with boos and cheers erupting throughout the evening. Smith's opening remark, "When Edmonton speaks, we listen," was met with laughter from parts of the crowd.

The Alberta Next panel aimed to gather public opinions on various topics, including equalization payments, the establishment of an Alberta pension plan, and provincial control over immigration. However, discussions often veered into contentious issues such as healthcare and recent changes to the province's expense disclosure policy.

Despite attempts by moderator Bruce McAllister to maintain focus, Smith addressed audience concerns regarding the province's plan to require pre-registration and payment for COVID-19 vaccinations. She attributed the situation to federal decisions, claiming the federal government "defunded" the immunization program. "We had to make a choice about how to best provide those services to those who needed them the most, without wasting $225 million, which is the value of COVID shots that were thrown away over the past three years," Smith said.

Regarding the expense disclosure changes, which removed the requirement for officials to disclose expenditures over $100, Smith stated she does not wish to conceal expenses. She emphasized that the intent was to protect the privacy of officials while assuring the public that she would work to reverse the decision to erase expenditures from public records.

The evening's moderator, McAllister, stirred controversy by likening some audience members' criticisms to children throwing tantrums. After a poll indicated that most attendees supported Alberta collaborating with other provinces to seek constitutional changes, he remarked, "Thank you to those who are here for the right reasons."

This meeting was the third in a series of Alberta Next consultations, with over 60,000 people reportedly tuning in via livestream. The next event is scheduled for August 26 in Fort McMurray.

Outside the venue, approximately 20 protesters gathered under the banner of the Alberta Civic Integrity Project, which plans to attend all future Alberta Next events. Some held pro-separation signs. Matilda Johnson, a member of the project, criticized Smith's approach, stating, "She just does stuff to look like she’s getting input, but she also ignores the input when it’s given."

Linda Holan, a nurse awaiting surgery, expressed her discontent, saying, "This is not a public consultation in any way. It’s absolutely biased. I’ve looked at some of their videos and, as a nurse, I am sickened by what they’re doing to health care and the vulnerable population."