Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she’s appointing a group to negotiate with the Canadian government on removing laws that restrict energy production, adding that a referendum on the province separating from Canada may be on the ballot as soon as next year.

Danielle Smith said she wants a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, but the voices of those unhappy with Confederation are not fringe extremists and must be listened to.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will chair an “Alberta next” panel to brainstorm how the province can protect itself from perceived economic incursions from the federal Liberal government.