Two unelected leaders, one guiding the pro-Canada side and the other the Alberta independence movement, rarely agree on anything. But Jeffrey Rath of the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) and Thomas Lukaszuk, who leads the Forever Canada campaign, share similar views on the five-member Calgary School of Public Policy panel recruited by the UCP government. They both believe the panel, tasked with assessing the economic impacts of transitioning to a breakaway Alberta, favors the independence viewpoint.
Panel Composition Under Fire
Lukaszuk criticized Premier Danielle Smith for appointing what he called a panel of "firewall signatories." The so-called firewall letter, published in 2001 and co-signed by political scientist Ted Morton, advocated for greater Alberta autonomy and called for the province to depart from Canada on issues such as pensions, policing, taxation, health care, and Senate reform. Morton, a former Alberta government finance minister, is now on the panel, leading Lukaszuk to say, "They should be fitting Morton with a separatist suit — he's the author of the firewall."
Other Panel Members
The panel also includes prominent economist Jack Mintz, who has advised Conservative politicians and been highly critical of federal government policy. A 2020 book co-edited by Morton and Mintz stated: "None of us favour separation as a first option. But we also see it as a viable last resort if all else fails." Other members are former Saskatchewan health minister Janice McKinnon, Business Council of Alberta president Adam Legge, and Cenovus board chair Alex Pourbaix. Legge has expressed concern over the economic costs of Alberta separatism, while McKinnon advanced cost-cutting and private medicine in Saskatchewan.
Rath's Perspective
Priddis-area lawyer Rath, an outspoken advocate for Alberta independence, mocked Smith for the choice of panel members, repeating the accusation that she is straddling both sides of the debate. "If there was ever Smith playing both sides of the fence, this is it," he said. "These guys are on our side — we're pretty confident they will confirm our Value of Freedom document." That document claims Alberta independence would save the new country about $70 billion, money that would no longer be sent to Ottawa, with one-time setup costs of no more than $5.7 billion.
Broader Context
The panel's formation comes ahead of a fall referendum on Alberta independence. Both leaders' rare agreement highlights the contentious nature of the debate, with critics arguing the panel lacks impartiality. The UCP government has not responded to the criticism, but the panel is expected to release its findings later this year.
