Province wants your input on Alberta Pension Plan

The province has announced that it will be organizing a series of telephone town halls to engage with Albertans on the potential of shifting from the Canadian Pension Plan to a provincial model. 

Thus far, five town halls are planned between mid-October and the end of November. The Calgary and surrounding area telephone town hall is scheduled for Thursday, November 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Other town halls include:

• Northern Alberta – Monday, October 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Southern Alberta – Tuesday, October 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Edmonton and surrounding area – Thursday, November 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Central Alberta – Wednesday, November 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The engagement panel is gathering Albertans’ feedback on the implications, opportunities and challenges of establishing a provincial pension plan. The panel will then submit a report based on the provincewide engagement.  

According to the province, the Alberta Pension Plan Engagement Panel will be led by former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning.

“Now that the LifeWorks report is out for discussion, our panel has been tasked with listening to Albertans and hearing their thoughts, views and concerns about a provincial pension plan. For something this big, Albertans deserve the benefit of a rational, adult conversation," Dinning said. 

Public engagement started with an online survey when the LifeWorks report was released on September 21. Albertans can listen live to every session online, regardless of where they live.

While the LifeWorks report states that it does not provide any recommendations or endorsements relating to the creation and operation of an APP or recommendation in relation to the current or future operation of the CPP, it does state that the province can withdraw from the CPP if certain conditions are met, including written notice it intends to set up its own provincial pension plan.

A provincial pension plan would also have to meet three conditions, which include providing benefits to seniors which are at least as good as the benefits provided by the CPP, assuming all obligations and liabilities for CPP members in Alberta, as well as being in place at the start of the third year after notifying the federal government.

An Alberta Pension Plan would have to be approved by referendum before it could be implemented.

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