So… About That Sovereignty Panel
What Alberta’s Push for Autonomy Could Mean for Nonprofit Funding and more
The Alberta Next panel was convened in 2025 by Premier Smith to gauge Alberta’s appetite for greater provincial sovereignty within a united Canada. Through in-person and online engagement, the panel gathered feedback on six policy issues to determine which should be considered in a 2026 provincial referendum, from greater oversight on immigration to federal transfers of funds to constitutional reform.
Why does this matter for nonprofits?
Recommended changes to the Alberta government outlined in the Alberta Next report have the potential to change:
who funds your work
your eligibility for the funding
the rules you operate under
who is eligible for your services
The panel’s recommendations were released months after Premier Smith issued provincial mandate letters, and largely reinforce priorities already assigned to ministries.
(See the full Alberta Next Panel report for a complete list of recommendations: read here)
For example, in their mandate letter, the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration was directed to ‘use all legal means necessary to secure more provincial control over immigration to Alberta’, which aligns with one of the panel’s recommendations to “proceed to referendum on [the provincial] government exercising more control over immigration”.
Similarly, the Ministry of Intergovernmental and International Relations was tasked with negotiating intergovernmental agreements that respect Alberta’s constitutional authority, reflecting the panel’s recommendation to pursue constitutional reform to “enhance provincial powers”.
At a high level, the panel frames their recommendations as a response to two key concerns: that Alberta contributes more to federal revenues than it receives back in services, payments, or programs, and that federal policy decisions have limited and restricted provincial autonomy.
Changes could affect nonprofit funding streams and regulations simply because programmes change hands from federal to provincial oversight, or as the province adapts approval requirements for funding from other orders of government.
Recommendations with potential nonprofit implications include:
Working with other provinces to restructure equalization and federal transfer payments – could impact the size of the provincial budget and which order of government has oversight over certain funds (such as health)
Continuing to build a ‘responsible self-government’ while expanding provincial authority – could impact the rules you operate under
Seeking greater provincial control over immigration – could impact who is eligible for your services
Beyond the referendum, a path for implementing these ideas has not been shared. Many of the panel’s recommendations would require long-term implementation, including negotiations with other provinces and the federal government. As a result, significant policy change is unlikely to be immediate.
As the provincial government continues to emphasize greater economic and policy control, funding priorities and regulatory approaches will evolve. You can expect updates from us as policy directions take shape.
For nonprofits serving newcomers, refugees, or temporary residents, the panel’s immigration recommendations are particularly relevant. The report suggests re-evaluating access to social services for temporary residents, prioritizing those considered ‘valued economic residents. As these ideas remain in the recommendation phase, definitions and criteria are not yet established, and what this means in practice will depend on decisions still to come.
Based on the recommendations from the Alberta Next Panel, Albertans may be asked to vote in a 2026 referendum on:
An Alberta Pension Plan
Constitutional Reform
Immigration Control
Referendum results do not guarantee policy outcomes – any approved questions would still proceed through the standard legislative process. For nonprofits, this period offers an opportunity to observe how government priorities are evolving and better understand how broader policy shifts intersect with funding, services, and governance over time.