If you’re worried about how things are going in Canada, and want to make sure we keep our country united, prosperous and free, join the Economic Education Association of Alberta in Red Deer on Nov. 15 and 16 for a “Freedom School” on the topic “Meeting the Challenge of Western Separatism”. Hope to see you there.

No, really. Governments across Canada face appalling challenges including the growing threat of Western alienation. But most politicians are far too cautious, focus-grouped and partisan to put forward bold new ideas. If we want frank talk and big ideas that challenge the status quo and open the way for reforms that work, we’re going to have to do it ourselves.

So we’re holding the 6th annual Freedom School conference in Calgary on Feb. 8 and 9 to discuss “Things that Matter: An Agenda for Alberta”. We’ve got a terrific lineup of speakers to talk taxes and pipelines, pensions and schools, equalization and efficiency, and open the way for politicians to escape the rut of stale rhetoric, complacent overspending, bad public services and a weak economy.

Remember Ralph Klein’s supposed wisdom about finding a big parade and getting in front of it. Well, join us in Calgary and let’s get the parade going.

This Saturday at 7 pm I'll be speaking on "Restoring the Alberta Advantage" at the Kitscoty Community Hall in Kitscoty, Alberta. If you're in the area and can make it we'd love to see you there.

In my latest National Post column I say the emptiness of "a plan that puts people first" puts conceit first... and puts us all at risk.

If you're concerned about the direction government budgets are headed in this country at the federal, provincial and even municipal level, and you're in the Calgary area, please join us Friday and Saturday for the EEA's 5th annual Freedom School Conference, on "Stemming the Tide of Red Ink." You can see the list of speakers, get details and register here.

Yesterday Danielle Smith interviewed me on her 770 CHQR radio show about the upcoming EEA conference in Calgary "Stemming the Tide of Red Ink" (March 2-3). We've got a great lineup of speakers from business, government and academia to talk about what's wrong federally, provincially and at the often-neglected municipal level and, crucially, about what we can do to fix it and we hope to see you there.