What authors of the Alberta ‘firewall’ letter think of Smith’s referendum: Full Comment podcast - National Post

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks on Sept. 30. "Tonight I want to invite every Albertan who may still feel hopeless or frustrated with the past direction of our country, to believe and hope in Canada again," she said in a televised speech on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Photo by Brent Calver/Postmedia/FileArticle contentSign In or Create an Accountor View more offersArticle contentTwenty-five years ago they rewired the province’s political thinking with their landmark “Alberta Agenda,” a.k.a, the “firewall” letter: a manifesto for the premier to assert sovereignty within a systemically inequitable federation. Days after Alberta’s referendum on some of the same issues they raised — but also going drastically further in considering separation — Brian Lilley speaks with letter-writers Ted Morton, who went on to become a provincial cabinet minister, and Ken Boessenkool, now a strategist and lobbyist. With voting results showing a hard no to separation and more narrow losses on questions of greater provincial powers in justice, social services and regulation, they discuss whether Premier Danielle Smith’s tactic helped the cause of a more assertive Alberta, or set it back. (Recorded Oct. 23, 2026)

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.