The Canadian Senate Chamber within Parliament in the capital of Ottawa. (Photo: Tektite | Dreamstime.com)

By Jesse Gill

Canadian Senators touring southern Alberta

Jul 11, 2025 | 8:52 AM

Senators from across Canada are starting a four-day working tour through southern Alberta on Friday.

The focus, according to a government release, is engaging with key industries and cultural institutions in the region, and connecting with local leadership in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary and surrounding areas.

“Senators will benefit from this trip because experiencing Alberta on the ground ensures the Province’s concerns are built into the national perspective —strengthening both Alberta and the federation it proudly anchors,” said tour host Alberta Senator Daryl Fridhandler.

“Alberta is Canada’s energy and agriculture powerhouse and a critical export gateway. When parliamentarians invest time on the ground engaged in two-way dialogue, they reaffirm that every province — regardless of population — shapes the national agenda.”

The Medicine Hat stop will include a visit to the major greenhouse operation of Big Marble Farms, just southwest of the city.

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A visit to the Cavendish potato processing facility at the north end of Lethbridge will also be included.

Stops will also be made at a conventional oil battery operation near Taber, the Travers Solar Project in Vulcan County near Lomand, and Calgary’s CPKC national operations headquarters and hydrogen locomotive research and development project.

“Bringing Senators here isn’t a photo-op; it’s a learning opportunity,” Senator Frindhandler said.

He added that after visiting these locations, “Alberta realities start shaping national policy the very next day.”

The Senators will have a number of one-on-one discussions with a variety of local leadership at social events throughout the tour, according to the release.

An outreach effort in the region to reduce separatist sentiment in the province is also being sought.

“As an Alberta Senator and a strong federalist, it is a very important part of my role to represent the interests of Alberta in the Senate of Canada,” Senator Frindhandler said.

“It’s important to introduce my Senate colleagues from other regions of the county to my region,” he added.

“It is equally important to introduce Alberta to my Senate colleagues. Both of these initiatives have not been sufficiently undertaken in the past.”

Frindhandler said when Parliamentarians invest time on the ground engaged in a candid, face-to-face two-way dialogue, they reaffirm that every province — regardless of population — shapes the national agenda.

“My colleagues and I are very excited and look forward to connecting with people around southern Alberta over the next four day,” he added.

“I know this will have a huge beneficial impact on our work in Ottawa.”