CALGARY — Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning will chair a two-day virtual assembly in Calgary next month that organisers say will examine growing discontent in Alberta and western Canada with the current federal system ahead of the province’s Oct. 19 referendum.
The event, billed as “Alberta and the West,” is scheduled for Sept. 19 and 20 and will be livestreamed, organisers confirmed on Aug. 13. Former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell will serve as co-chair.
Purpose and focus
Organisers say the assembly will tackle what they describe as “dissatisfactions in Alberta and much of western Canada with the functioning of Canadian federalism” and explore alternative responses to that discontent. They told reporters the event will carry a strong Alberta focus while including perspectives from other western provinces.
“Chronic dissatisfaction with respect to the institutions and performance of the current federation are fostering a feeling that the status quo is simply not an option going forward,” Manning said in a news release announcing the assembly.
The virtual sessions will include presentations and examinations of a range of options, including proposals related to separation and what it would mean for Alberta to stay in the country, organisers said. They also plan a follow-up session later in October.
Context: the referendum ballot
The assembly comes as the provincial government prepares an Oct. 19 referendum on multiple questions about Alberta’s future. One of the 10 questions on the ballot asks voters whether they want to remain in Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country — a question that has drawn intense public attention and political debate.
Organisers described the upcoming virtual assembly as a public education exercise, a democratic forum intended to present informed perspectives on the range of options being discussed, from remaining in the federation to various proposals for increased autonomy or separation.
Format and participation
Organisers said the assembly will be livestreamed to permit broad public access. They also indicated that voices from across the West will take part, though detailed participant lists and an agenda were not released with the announcement.
How the event will be moderated, whether the province or political parties will participate, and what criteria will be used to select presenters were not specified in the news release. Manning and Campbell are both well-known voices in western Canadian politics, and their involvement is likely to draw attention from voters and media alike.
Questions for voters and next steps
The assembly’s stated aim of exploring “alternative options” signals organisers intend to present arguments on multiple scenarios rather than issue a single recommendation. That framing may be intended to influence public understanding before the October vote, although organisers insisted the sessions are educational.
They also pledged a follow-up meeting in October to continue discussions as Albertans prepare to cast ballots on a package of questions that include provincial institutions, federal arrangements and the separation question.
- Dates: Sept. 19–20 (assembly); follow-up session in October (unspecified)
- Location: Calgary (virtual, livestreamed)
- Chairs: Preston Manning and Gordon Campbell
Organisers say the assembly will examine implications for Alberta both if it remains in Canada and if it pursues other constitutional options. With the referendum less than two months away, the event is likely to become a focal point for debate among campaigners on different sides of the ballot questions.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Assembly dates | Sept. 19–20, 2026 |
| Referendum date | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| Format | Virtual livestream with Calgary hub |
As Albertans weigh their options on a complex ballot, the assembly promises to be a high-profile stop on the public discussion circuit. With a separation-related question on the ballot, any event that brings prominent former politicians to discuss federalism is likely to draw scrutiny from both supporters and opponents of separation, as well as from legal and academic commentators who have warned about the far-reaching consequences of any move to alter constitutional arrangements.
Further details on participants, session topics and how the public can submit questions or view the livestream are expected to be released by organisers in the coming weeks.
Reporting from Calgary.
