4:00 PM
BMH 102

Dr. Ian Brodie will pose the question “Alberta is Staying: Now What?” as part of the Department of Political Science’s 2026 Annual Public Lecture. The event will take place on Thursday, November 19 at 4:00 PM in BMH 102.

Alberta Voters recently voted to remain in Canada. Yet most Albertans do not think this settles the question of separatist agitation. It is certainly not the end of discussions about Canadian federalism or Alberta’s status in the federation. The way forward is unclear. Dr. Brodie, an astute observer of Canadian politics with a wealth of experience in and out of government, will lay out the path forward.

About the speaker

Dr. Ian Brodie is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Calgary. His newsletter, The Thursday Question, is closely read by Conservative and other parliamentarians in Ottawa and he appears regularly on The CGAI Podcast Network and "The Chiefs" through The Herle Burly Podcast. He is also a senior advisor with New West Public Affairs.

He was Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that, he worked as Executive Director of the Conservative Party of Canada and as Chief of Staff to the Opposition Leader.

He has worked at the highest level of politics and public policy as a senior member of the team that created the Conservative Party of Canada and propelled Stephen Harper into the Prime Minister's Office. Combining his academic training and political experience, he wrote At the Center of Government, an Amazon.ca bestseller in politics.