We the People of Alberta: What We Must Think About When Giving Our Government a Mandate

We the People of Alberta have taken a historic step. We chose sovereignty. Now comes the harder, more important part: deciding exactly what kind of country we want to build and how we will guide our new government.

Giving a government a mandate is not just about voting or cheering. It is about We the People clearly expressing our expectations, our priorities, and our boundaries. Before we hand over power, we must carefully think through what that mandate should contain and how firm we want it to be.

This is not about one person’s checklist. It is about the serious questions every Albertan should be asking right now as we shape the future of our nation.

The Big Questions We Need to Consider

As We the People prepare to give our government direction, here are some of the most important things we should be thinking about together:

1. What Are Our Non-Negotiable Priorities? What matters most to us in the early years of independence?

• Protecting and controlling our natural resources?

• Preserving individual freedoms and limiting government size?

• Ensuring strong economic growth and opportunity?

• Maintaining strong communities, families, and rural life?

• Building respectful relationships with our Indigenous partners?

We need to decide which things are truly foundational and which are secondary.

2. How Specific Should Our Mandate Be? Should we give our government broad goals and let them figure out the “how”? Or should we be more detailed in our expectations? Different Albertans will have different answers. Thinking honestly about this balance is crucial.

3. What Timelines Make Sense? Timelines show seriousness. But what is realistic?

• How quickly do we expect core institutions (constitution, currency, defense basics) to be in place?

• How soon should major economic policies be rolling out?

• What should be Phase 1 (immediate), Phase 2 (within a couple of years), and longer-term goals?

We the People must wrestle with what is ambitious but achievable, rather than setting deadlines that invite failure or disappointment.

4. How Do We Build in Accountability? What mechanisms should we insist upon so that We the People stay in control?

• Regular public reporting?

• Referendums on major decisions?

• Stronger recall or confidence measures?

• Independent oversight bodies?

A good mandate includes not just what we want done, but how we will measure and correct progress.

5. How Do We Balance Unity and Diversity of Views? Alberta is not a monolith. Urban and rural, different industries, new Albertans and long-time residents — all have valuable perspectives. How do we create a mandate that brings the vast majority of Albertans together while respecting our differences?

6. What Values Must Guide Everything? At its core, what kind of country are we trying to create? Freedom. Responsibility. Prosperity. Fairness. Self-reliance. Opportunity. We the People need to be clear on the principles that should shape every decision our government makes.

This Is Our Responsibility

Giving a mandate is an act of ownership. It is We the People telling our elected leaders: “Here is the direction we want. Here is what success looks like to us. Now go and deliver — and we will hold you accountable.”

If we are vague, we invite drift. If we are unrealistic, we invite failure. If we are thoughtful and united on the big things, we give our new country the best possible start.

This conversation should be happening in kitchens, coffee shops, town halls, and online forums across Alberta. Every voice matters. The more clearly We the People think through these questions, the stronger and more legitimate our government’s mandate will be.

Final Thought

We the People of Alberta are not just spectators in this great project. We are the founders.

The quality of the mandate we give — how clear, how realistic, how principled, and how firmly rooted in our shared values — may well determine whether Alberta becomes a shining example of what a free people can achieve.

Let us take this responsibility seriously. Let us debate, listen, and refine our thinking. Then let us speak with one strong, clear voice about the future we are choosing to build together.

This is our country. This is our mandate. Let’s get the thinking right.