Preston Manning is taking a lead role in addressing Western Canada’s historical grievances with Ottawa ahead of Alberta’s upcoming fall referendum. Manning, the former leader of the Reform Party, will co-chair a virtual forum with former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell on September 19 and 20.
The forum is timely as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is preparing to present 10 questions to voters on October 19, including a query on whether the province should remain part of Canada or proceed with a second binding referendum for separation.
Manning emphasized that the purpose of the forum is to educate and engage voters in a nonpartisan manner, steering clear of the divisive political debates often seen in public forums. The intention is to provide a broader perspective compared to previous panels such as the Alberta Next panel and the Fair Deal panel.
The forum aims to present various options without bias towards any particular viewpoint, with discussions extending beyond Alberta to encompass broader concerns shared across Western Canada. A follow-up session is planned for October to formulate recommendations post the Alberta referendum, which will then be shared with policymakers in Western Canada.
Manning highlighted the importance of fostering a democratic process devoid of partisan conflicts, especially in a time when faith in democratic institutions is waning, particularly among the youth. The forum also seeks to shed light on Smith’s other nine ballot questions, which include proposals related to social services for immigrants, constitutional negotiations on abolishing the Senate, and empowering provinces to appoint superior court judges.
Smith has positioned these proposals as a potential political compromise to address Alberta’s grievances with the federal government, emphasizing her commitment to keeping Alberta within Canada. Manning mentioned that a positive vote on the nine proposals could encourage provinces to assert their role in federal-provincial matters like immigration.
