Monday, July 6, 2026
ADVT 
National

Immigration, pension: A look at survey questions put forward by Alberta Next panel

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Jun, 2025 10:44 AM
  • Immigration, pension: A look at survey questions put forward by Alberta Next panel

The Alberta Next panel, chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, is holding town halls this summer to get feedback on how the province should stand up to Ottawa while building a "strong and sovereign Alberta within Canada."

Smith has promised a referendum next year on some of the ideas put forward to the panel.

The panel's website launched on Tuesday with surveys on six issues. Before taking each survey, participants must watch a short video.

Here are some of the questions:

Immigration

"Should the provincial government refuse to provide provincial programs to non-citizens and non-permanent residents living in Alberta unless they have been granted an Alberta government-approved immigration permit?"

Constitutional changes

"Should Alberta take a lead role in working with other provinces to pressure the federal government to amend the Canadian constitution to empower and better protect provincial rights?"

Federal transfers and equalization

"Do you agree that the current federal transfer and equalization system is unfair to Alberta?"

"Do you think Alberta should work with other provinces to transfer a larger share of overall taxes from Ottawa to the provinces?"

Provincial police force

"What aspect do you like most about an Alberta Police Service?"

"What concerns you most about shifting from the RCMP to an Alberta Police Service?"

Alberta pension plan

"What potential benefit do you like most about Alberta opting to leave the CPP and create its own Pension Plan?"

"Which risk of opting out of CPP to start an Alberta Pension Plan are you most concerned about? 

Tax collection

This survey had problems displaying questions on the website Tuesday afternoon, but a video beforehand asks Albertans if they would support creating a provincial revenue agency.

It says doing so would require hiring 5,000 staff, cost Alberta at least $750 million per year, and require residents to file provincial and federal taxes separately -- but it would also create jobs and give Alberta more of a say over its tax regime.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Water taxi crash in B.C. prompts report's caution

Water taxi crash in B.C. prompts report's caution
A report from the board says four of the five people aboard the Rocky Pass were injured when the boat came to an abrupt stop on the rocks on Jan. 25, 2022. The operator, who had 20 years of experience captaining the taxi, was using GPS in very foggy conditions when the navigation device froze.

Water taxi crash in B.C. prompts report's caution

House in Maple Ridge hit by gunfire

House in Maple Ridge hit by gunfire
According to Mounties, one residence in the area was hit by gunfire. The residence was occupied at the time of the incident but no gunshot injuries occurred. The victims are cooperating with the police investigation. 

House in Maple Ridge hit by gunfire

Dead body of a woman found inside a tent in the Downtown Eastside

Dead body of a woman found inside a tent in the Downtown Eastside
The cause of death remains under investigation. Evidence indicates the woman died prior to the fire starting. Vancouver Police are working with the BC Coroners Service to identify the woman.

Dead body of a woman found inside a tent in the Downtown Eastside

More snow brings warnings for some B.C. highways

More snow brings warnings for some B.C. highways
Environment Canada says anywhere from 15 to 25 centimetres is expected at higher elevations of the passes north and east of Hope by Tuesday morning. Up to 15 centimetres of snow is forecast along the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler, but the weather office says conditions there should ease by later in the day.

More snow brings warnings for some B.C. highways

Four of Flair Airlines leased aircraft seized

Four of Flair Airlines leased aircraft seized
Flair Airlines says passengers were "impacted" after four of its leased aircraft were seized in Toronto, Edmonton and Waterloo, Ont., in what the company is calling a "commercial dispute." Flair issued a statement on Saturday calling the move by "a New York-based hedge fund" to take the aircraft "extreme and unusual."    

Four of Flair Airlines leased aircraft seized

One found dead in an apartment fire in the Whalley area of Surrey

One found dead in an apartment fire in the Whalley area of Surrey
 Surrey Fire Service say they found one person dead inside an apartment after a fire in the Whalley area.  The Surrey RCMP were also called in to the 13300 Block of 104th Avenue where the fire took place at around 8:30am on Saturday.     

One found dead in an apartment fire in the Whalley area of Surrey