As I settle into my chair at the Marriott conference center in Red Deer, the buzz among United Conservative Party members is palpable. The annual general meeting always reveals the party’s grassroots priorities, but this year’s policy resolutions paint a particularly vivid picture of Alberta’s conservative movement in 2023.
“We’re pushing boundaries because we feel Ottawa isn’t listening,” explains Sarah Thornton, a constituency association president from rural Alberta, sipping coffee between sessions. She’s referencing several bold proposals up for debate this weekend that touch everything from cryptocurrency to vaccines and Alberta’s place in Confederation.
Among the 30 policy resolutions submitted by UCP constituency associations, several stand out for their ambitious—and controversial—scope. The Calgary-South East riding association wants Alberta to declare Bitcoin legal tender alongside the Canadian dollar. Meanwhile, Medicine Hat-Brooks members seek to ban mRNA technology in food production, reflecting lingering pandemic-era skepticism about the technology that powered COVID-19 vaccines.
Perhaps most striking is a resolution from Innisfail-Sylvan Lake constituents calling for a referendum on Alberta’s independence if Ottawa fails to reform equalization payments and address other provincial grievances within two years.
Political scientist Dr. Melanie Johannson from Mount Royal University views these proposals as signals rather than imminent policy shifts. “These resolutions represent the concerns of the party’s most engaged members, not necessarily policies Premier Smith will implement. They’re pressure points from the grassroots.”
Indeed, Premier Danielle Smith’s government maintains significant discretion over which member-approved policies translate into legislation. At last year’s AGM, members endorsed 55 resolutions, including calls to prohibit transgender youth from accessing certain medical treatments—a policy Smith ultimately declined to pursue.
The Bitcoin proposal reflects Alberta’s growing interest in financial sovereignty. Cryptocurrency advocate Jason Dreher sees opportunity: “Alberta has the entrepreneurial spirit and energy resources to become North America’s Bitcoin mining hub. Legal tender status would be revolutionary.”
Provincial Finance Minister Nate Horner has expressed cautious curiosity about cryptocurrency but emphasized stability in provincial finances. “Innovative financial thinking has its place, but Alberta’s treasury requires prudent management,” Horner stated at a Chamber of Commerce event last month.
The anti-mRNA resolution reveals lingering pandemic tensions. It calls for Alberta to “prohibit the use of mRNA technology in the development, production or distribution of food products” and promotes “traditional farming and ranching techniques.”
Dr. Sarah Wellington, microbiologist at the University of Alberta, counters with scientific perspective. “mRNA doesn’t persist in organisms or foods. This resolution stems from misunderstanding how the technology functions in both medical and agricultural applications.”
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange has walked a careful line, acknowledging vaccine hesitancy while supporting conventional healthcare approaches. “Personal health choices matter to Albertans, but our policies must balance freedom with scientific evidence,” LaGrange noted in September.
The separation-minded resolution titled “A Plan for Alberta Independence” draws from long-simmering western alienation. It demands federal reforms on resource development, pension management, and equalization payments within 24 months, with separation proceedings to follow if these conditions aren’t met.
Peter Downing, former Wexit movement organizer now attending as a delegate, believes the timing is right. “Five years ago, independence was fringe. Today, it’s mainstream enough for constituency debate. The federal government’s climate policies have pushed many moderates toward sovereignty thinking.”
Premier Smith, who previously advocated for greater provincial autonomy through her Alberta Sovereignty Act, has softened her approach since taking office. “My focus is making Alberta stronger within Canada while ensuring our constitutional rights are respected,” she told reporters last week at a Calgary infrastructure announcement.
Political strategist Emma Rodriguez, who has worked on conservative campaigns across Western Canada, notes these resolutions serve multiple purposes. “They’re pressure valves for member frustration, bargaining chips with Ottawa, and signals to the party’s base that their concerns are heard—even if implementation is unlikely.”
Constitutional expert Dr. James Morton from the University of Calgary cautions against dismissing even the most ambitious proposals. “Throughout Canadian history, ideas that seemed radical when first proposed—from Charter protections to healthcare models—eventually shaped policy decades later.”
As voting begins tomorrow, the outcomes will provide valuable insight into the UCP’s internal dynamics heading into the next election cycle. Smith must navigate these passionate grassroots demands while maintaining appeal to the broader Alberta electorate, where polls suggest more moderate positions on most issues.
For many delegates like Ron Chambers, a retired oil worker from Grande Prairie, the process matters regardless of immediate implementation. “We’re putting our markers down. Maybe not all these ideas become law tomorrow, but they show where the heart of this party beats.”
As afternoon sessions begin, I notice how each resolution—whether about Bitcoin, mRNA technology, or separation—reflects Alberta’s complex relationship with change, tradition, and its place within Canada. The weekend’s votes won’t just determine party policy positions but will signal the continued evolution of western Canadian conservatism.
