ABOUT
The Alberta and the West Assembly is a project of the Manning Foundation for Democratic Education, which was founded in 2007 to advance democracy through education and communications. Consistent with that purpose, the Assembly is designed as an educational forum in which delegates, advisors and the public can examine and debate the major options affecting Alberta’s and Western Canada’s future within the Canadian federation.
The Manning Foundation provides organizational and administrative oversight for the project, led by an Organizing Committee whose members bring expertise in constitutional, economic, legal and public policy matters. The Assembly is not intended to promote any one of the options under consideration, but rather to ensure that differing perspectives receive a fair and respectful hearing and to help participants and the broader public become better informed about the choices facing Alberta and the West.
Organizing Committees
An ad hoc Organizing Committee has been formed to organize and provide guidance to the Project. It currently consists of:
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Jack Major, former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
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Dallas Howe, former Chair of the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan
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Preston Manning, former Leader of the Opposition in the federal parliament
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Bryan Gould, Executive Chair and founder of Aspenleaf Energy
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Glenn Solomon, Calgary lawyer who has volunteered to assist.
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Don Plett, former Senator from Manitoba
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Lucas Robertson of the Wellington Advocacy Group to assist in identifying suitable representative delegates.
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Troy Lanigan, President of Manning Foundation for Democratic Education.
A Communications Sub-Committee has also been formed to conduct the communications and promotional activities required to organize the Assembly and ensure a large public audience. Its members currently include:
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Derek Robertson and Haley Love of Mash Strategy to coordinate the overall communications and promotional effort.
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Morten Paulsen of the Paulsen Group to assist with project communications and media relations
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Rebekah Swiston Craig to assist in managing the technology required to support the Assembly.