Thursday, June 18, 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

Indo-Canadian charged for trying to transport cocaine worth $4.86 mn

Indo-Canadian charged for trying to transport cocaine worth $4.86 mn
Sukhwinder Dhanju was arrested by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) on September 26 last year after he arrived at the primary inspection booth at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge port of entry in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario province. The driver was referred for secondary examination of his truck and trailer, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a release issued on Wednesday.

Indo-Canadian charged for trying to transport cocaine worth $4.86 mn

Government was warned two years ago high immigration could affect housing costs

Government was warned two years ago high immigration could affect housing costs
Federal public servants warned the government two years ago that large increases to immigration could affect housing affordability and services, internal documents show.  Documents obtained by The Canadian Press through an access-to-information request show Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada analyzed the potential effects immigration would have on the economy, housing and services, as it prepared its immigration targets for 2023 to 2025. 

Government was warned two years ago high immigration could affect housing costs

Bitter cold from Arctic intrusion hits B.C., much of Western Canada

Bitter cold from Arctic intrusion hits B.C., much of Western Canada
Bitter cold is descending on Western Canada, with Prairie cities already seeing -30 C temperatures and southwestern British Columbia bracing for an Arctic outflow and an overdue blast of winter. Temperatures in Calgary and Edmonton have dipped to -29 C and -31 C respectively with lows of -38 C possible Friday.

Bitter cold from Arctic intrusion hits B.C., much of Western Canada

Sharp decline in spring snowpack due to human-caused climate change: study

Sharp decline in spring snowpack due to human-caused climate change: study
Human-caused climate change is behind a decline in spring snowpack across parts of Southern Canada and the Northern Hemisphere, says a new study that offers widespread caution of how a warming planet could transform winter and affect water security. 

Sharp decline in spring snowpack due to human-caused climate change: study

RCMP arrest stolen car suspect in Nelson, B.C., after officer hurt in road block

RCMP arrest stolen car suspect in Nelson, B.C., after officer hurt in road block
Police say a 42-year-old man from Trail, B.C., has been arrested after allegedly driving a stolen vehicle that hit three police cars and injured an officer at a roadblock. Mounties say an officer in Salmo, B.C., saw a stolen Toyota Tundra on Tuesday and tried to stop the vehicle, but the suspect sped away.  

RCMP arrest stolen car suspect in Nelson, B.C., after officer hurt in road block

Surrey RCMP launches new tool to spread awareness about gang violence

Surrey RCMP launches new tool to spread awareness about gang violence
R-C-M-P in Surrey are using a new tool to educate young people about gang violence in the hopes of discouraging their involvement in them. Officers from the Mounties' gang enforcement team will be sharing a new video specifically created for Surrey youth during school presentations.

Surrey RCMP launches new tool to spread awareness about gang violence