Alberta premier faces criticism, anger at Edmonton panel town hall

After receiving a warm welcome and widespread support just 24 hours earlier, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faced a more vocally critical and frustrated crowd as she and her hand-picked panel members assembled in Edmonton for the second of a series of summer town halls.

"We sound like bratty children," said Roberta Stasyk, a resident of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., who was one of many speakers who showed up to voice their frustration.

Smith launched the panel to address public concerns over Prime Minister Mark Carney's election win — concerns that have pushed some to want Alberta to separate from Confederation.

The premier's staff said some 500 people attended the Edmonton town hall on Wednesday.

Unlike in Red Deer the night before, at least one-third of the Edmonton crowd was there to challenge Smith and the other 15 panel members on topics like creating a provincial police force, amending the constitution, and taking greater control over immigration.

Creating a provincial pension plan was a hot-button issue, with most of those who stood up to share their opinion saying Smith needed to drop the idea once and for all.

Stasyk called it a "horrible idea," while others challenged the benefits touted in a government-produced video that played before the topic was discussed.

"A much smaller jurisdiction ... would make it much more liable to the ups and downs of the market, for one thing," said Hans Smit, a professor emeritus from the University of Calgary, who also asked the panel for a guarantee that a provincial pension plan wouldn't be used for ideological means.

Another speaker, who only identified himself as Todd, told the panel that at the end of the day, he just wanted a pension, but he didn't trust Smith's government to manage it.

"I can stick with the [Canadian Pension Plan], which is one of the most effective things in the world, or I can gamble with you idiots."

While the majority of speakers who lined up to discuss pension plans said they wanted to maintain the status quo, a show of hands showed the majority of the crowd was in favour.

The same occurred when the idea of a provincial police force came up — many spoke against it, but a show of hands had those in favour in a clear majority.

"We really need to have a police force that lives in our community, works with our people, and grows and works with the communities," said one supporter, Brian.

The divide in the room was clear, with attendees competing at every chance to make sure their boos or cheers came out on top.