Former Canadian Alliance leader and federal cabinet minister Stockwell Day joined The Really Big Show for a wide-ranging conversation on wildfires, public safety, immigration, trade and Canada’s energy future.
Day began by reflecting on his years working with former Alberta premier Ralph Klein, describing an approach centred on keeping commitments even when they were politically difficult.
He recalled Klein’s government pledging to reduce provincial spending by 20% over four years, saying the cabinet understood the move could cost them re-election, but moved ahead because it was what they had promised Albertans.
“That was one of those rare times in political life where you did something because it was the right thing, not based on whether you were going to get elected or not,” Day explained.
The discussion also touched on Alberta’s welfare-reform approach of the era. Day said government assistance should be available for people who genuinely need it, while people capable of working should be supported into jobs or training rather than remaining on passive assistance.
With smoke and fire activity affecting the Okanagan, the discussion turned to wildfire prevention and the risks facing communities at the urban-forest interface.
Day argued governments need to place far more emphasis on prevention, faster response times and consequences for people convicted of deliberately setting fires.
He also called for stronger forest management, more practical mitigation and investments in water infrastructure that could help protect communities before a fire reaches them.
Day said the first question municipal candidates should be asked this fall is what they will do to improve mitigation and prevention.
“Your communities are at risk,” he noted. “It should be a priority issue here.”
The conversation then moved to immigration, border enforcement and public safety.
Day said Canada should continue to welcome legal immigration, while applying clearer consequences in cases involving people who commit serious crimes or remain in the country without legal status.
He raised concerns about the pressures rapid population growth can place on housing, healthcare and public services, arguing Ottawa needs to be more transparent and accountable about the outcomes of its policies.
When host Jim Csek pointed to the difficulty independent media outlets can have obtaining responses from federal ministers and government offices, Day said public officials should respond to criticism and questions, even when they are uncomfortable.
“Sometimes when you’re getting criticized and you feel the anger rising, just take a breath and listen,” he said. “There might be some truth in the criticism you’re getting.”
As Canada faces continuing trade uncertainty with the United States, Day said he is not a supporter of tariffs, warning that tariff disputes ultimately hurt consumers and businesses on both sides of the border.
But he also argued Canada must think more strategically about its relationship with China, particularly while seeking a stronger trade relationship with the US.
According to Day, Canada’s energy industry remains one of the country’s greatest opportunities. He called for renewed attention to pipelines, liquefied natural gas exports and getting Canadian oil and gas to markets beyond the US.
Day argued Canadian energy is produced under high environmental and labour standards and could help countries reduce reliance on coal or on energy from authoritarian regimes.
The former minister also said regulatory uncertainty has discouraged investment, leaving Canada dependent on selling too much of its oil at a discount to one market.
“Canada has the most ethically developed oil and gas products in the world by far,” Day explained. “Our own government makes it impossible.”
Day closed with a message for voters ahead of municipal elections: pay attention, ask questions and do not assume one vote does not matter.
