Monday, June 22, 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

Brothers, 14 and 18, facing charges after deadly Calgary shooting Calgary

Brothers, 14 and 18, facing charges after deadly Calgary shooting Calgary
Police in Calgary say charges are pending against two brothers following a shooting Monday that killed one man and injured two others. Investigators responded to a call Monday afternoon in a northeast Calgary shopping mall and found the man dead.  

Brothers, 14 and 18, facing charges after deadly Calgary shooting Calgary

Royal Canadian Mint to start replacing image of late queen with King Charles

Royal Canadian Mint to start replacing image of late queen with King Charles
The Royal Canadian Mint will soon begin producing Canadian coins bearing the face of King Charles. On the King's 75th birthday, the Winnipeg-based facility is set to showcase its design of the new British monarch that will appear on one side of all its coins, replacing the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

Royal Canadian Mint to start replacing image of late queen with King Charles

Friends and family mourn the loss of Canadians killed by Hamas in Israel

Friends and family mourn the loss of Canadians killed by Hamas in Israel
Friends, family and government officials have confirmed that at least seven Canadians were killed when Hamas militants conducted a series of attacks in Israel on Oct. 7. Global Affairs Canada has said an eighth person with deep ties to Canada, who was not a citizen, also died.  

Friends and family mourn the loss of Canadians killed by Hamas in Israel

Biden, Xi early headliners as leaders gather in California for Asia-Pacific summit

Biden, Xi early headliners as leaders gather in California for Asia-Pacific summit
Its 21 member economies represent nearly three billion people and 62 per cent of the world's GDP, generating US$30 trillion in global trade last year alone.  But as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders gather in San Francisco, the focus — for now, at least — will be on just two of them.

Biden, Xi early headliners as leaders gather in California for Asia-Pacific summit

Drowning victim's body found on Island

Drowning victim's body found on Island
Mounties on Vancouver Island say they have recovered the body of a drowning victim in Sproat Lake – 13 kilometres northwest of Port Alberni. The update comes two days after R-C-M-P were called to the lake for reports of a missing 17-year-old after a canoe he and two others were on capsized and sank.  

Drowning victim's body found on Island

PM Justin Trudeau visits Maple Ridge

PM Justin Trudeau visits Maple Ridge
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is visiting Maple Ridge this afternoon. The prime minister and B-C Premier David Eby are scheduled to make an announcement at a clean-energy plant.

PM Justin Trudeau visits Maple Ridge