Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, speaks to media in Winnipeg, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Smith is set to release a report that could lead to a vote on whether Alberta should ditch the Canada Pension Plan.. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
CALGARY – Premier Danielle Smith is set to release a report that could lead to a vote on whether Alberta should ditch the Canada Pension Plan.
Smith, along with Finance Minister Nate Horner and panel chair Jim Dinning, are to release the report at a news conference in Calgary.
Both the United Conservative premier and her predecessor, Jason Kenney, have expressed support for the potential of a go-it-alone program, given Alberta’s wealth and comparatively young population.
The Opposition NDP says it has received leaked details of what is coming in the report and says Albertans should prepare for some flawed estimates on the benefits of quitting CPP.
Economist Trevor Tombe says he’s interested in how the province plans to balance the potential short-term benefits versus the long-term volatility.
Smith has said regardless of the report’s conclusions, Albertans would have the final say on whether to abandon CPP in a referendum.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2023
