Breakenridge: Alberta Next exists to criticize Ottawa, and that's been laid bare

Last week marked the final in-person town hall for the Alberta Next panel, but the government might be wishing it had at least one more. The closing performance likely left a bad taste in people’s mouths.

It was an interesting coincidence to have the final Alberta Next Panel , the premier’s pipeline announcement and the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s move to strike all occurring within a few days.

The first two issues obviously overlap and it’s abundantly clear that it’s the preferred policy terrain for the government. Ottawa can’t be blamed for a teachers’ strike, after all, and there’s little desire for conversations that involve anything that isn’t Ottawa’s fault.

The hostility shown toward a high school student at last week’s panel was perhaps an extreme manifestation of this senti