Your pension isn’t just some number on your pay slip — it’s a promise. It’s a reward for all the work you’ve done over your life. It means that after years of working, you can retire and feel safe, knowing your money is still working for you. But in Alberta, many people are upset and worried because Premier Danielle Smith wants to take the province out of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and start a new Alberta-only pension plan (APP).
This isn’t just a normal political discussion — it’s personal. And most Albertans don’t agree with the Premier’s plan.
Most Albertans Don’t Want to Leave the CPP
A survey done by the Alberta government showed that 63% of Albertans want to stay in the CPP. Only 10% supported leaving. But instead of being honest about the results, the government kept them hidden for nearly two years. They only shared the information after Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner told them to do it.
Many people believe this was an attempt to control the message and make it seem like more people support the Alberta Pension Plan than actually do.
The Government Is Using Unfair Tactics
This situation shows what’s called “manufacturing consent”. That means the government is trying to convince people to agree with them — even if they don’t — by using one-sided facts, spending public money on ads, and running surveys that don’t ask clear questions.
Instead of having real conversations with citizens, the Alberta government hosted phone-in town halls and released a survey that didn’t even allow people to simply say “yes” or “no” to leaving the CPP.
Even the Premier Knows the Idea Might Fail
At a town hall hosted by a separatist group, Premier Smith admitted she thought her idea was an easy sell and that young people would support it. But she also said, “If we put it to a vote now, people would vote it down.” She believes this is because Albertans don’t have enough information — not because the plan is bad.
This shows she knows Albertans don’t want to leave the CPP but still won’t let the idea go.
The $334 Billion Claim Is False
A big reason given for leaving the CPP is that Alberta is supposedly owed $334 billion, which is more than half of all CPP funds. But this number is not true. Canada’s chief actuary and many economists say the real number is more like $130 billion — about 20-25% of the CPP, not more than half.
Even Trevor Tombe, an economist who supports Smith on other issues, says the $334 billion claim is wrong.
The Government Keeps Pushing the Plan
Despite the truth, the Alberta government continues to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on ads and a program called Alberta Next to convince people to support leaving the CPP. Before Albertans can even take the new survey, they must watch a video that claims Alberta pays more than it gets — which isn’t the full story.
The video and survey never ask the real question: “Should Alberta leave the CPP?” That shows the government isn’t looking for opinions — it’s looking for agreement.
Why CPP Is Still a Good Plan
The Canada Pension Plan is one of the most trusted retirement systems in the world. It is independent, meaning it’s not run by any one province or political party. It’s also portable, so you can move to other parts of Canada and keep your benefits. And it’s managed by professional experts, not politicians.
Premier Smith never even mentioned leaving the CPP during the 2023 election — but made it one of her top priorities after winning.
This Is About Politics, Not Pensions
Albertans are right to be suspicious. This doesn’t look like a plan to protect pensions — it looks like a political move. The government is trying to use retirement money to gain more control or push political goals.
If Alberta leaves the CPP, there’s no going back. It could lead to court fights, cost millions of dollars, and make the future unsafe for many people’s retirement.
The Risk Is Too Big
No one asked for an Alberta-only pension plan. The current CPP is working well, and there’s no good reason to replace it with an untested, risky, and politically controlled alternative. Creating a new system just for Alberta could fail, and the cost of failure would affect people for the rest of their lives.
When politicians start looking at your retirement savings as tools for power, that’s a red flag. Pensions should never be a political gamble.
Albertans Will Keep Fighting for the CPP
Albertans know what’s at stake — their retirement security. Even if the government doesn’t seem to trust voters to make the right decision, the people of Alberta trust themselves. The CPP is not just a policy — it’s a promise, and they’re not ready to let go of that promise without a fight.
The CPP isn’t perfect, but it’s stable, strong, and respected around the world. And that’s exactly what Alberta needs.