Preston Manning

In 2026, Manning announced that he would chair a virtual 'Alberta and the West' assembly on 19 and 20 September, ahead of a provincial referendum scheduled for 19 October. The initiative was intended to discuss dissatisfaction with Canadian federalism and Alberta's options, fuelling debate over provincial autonomy and national unity.

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Political responsibility

Danielle Smith's government appointed Manning to lead a review of Alberta's pandemic response. The appointment prompted criticism because of his previous positions on public health restrictions and his political connections, with some experts questioning the review's independence.

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Direct responsibility

The Manning Centre, founded by Preston Manning, was criticised following revelations of contributions from property developers and its activities training municipal election candidates in Calgary. Critics raised questions about the property development industry's influence over municipal politics.

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Direct responsibility

In 1997, the Reform Party broadcast advertisements arguing that federal politics had for too long been dominated by leaders from Quebec. Opponents denounced the messages as anti-Quebec and as exploiting regional tensions.

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Directly implicated

Manning had long criticised Stornoway, the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition, as a symbol of Ottawa privilege and had said he did not wish to live there. After becoming Leader of the Official Opposition, he eventually moved into the residence, prompting accusations of hypocrisy.

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Personally implicated

Several Reform MPs triggered a crisis following remarks concerning gay people and minorities. Bob Ringma and David Chatters notably suggested that employers could exclude or transfer certain employees because of sexual orientation; Manning eventually suspended them from the caucus, alongside Jan Brown in the subsequent internal crisis.

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The Reform Party faced controversies over activists and candidates associated with racist or extremist statements. In 1993, candidate John Beck was forced to withdraw after racist comments came to light. Other controversies involved activists' links to the far right.

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During the Reform Party's early rise, Manning criticised the federal official bilingualism model and advocated an approach concentrating bilingual services where demand justified them. The position drew strong criticism, especially in French-language media and from language rights advocates.

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Personally implicated

Manning and the Reform Party opposed allowing Sikh RCMP officers to wear their religious turban with their uniform. The position became emblematic of debates at the time about multiculturalism, religious accommodation and national identity.

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Personally implicated