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

Guilty plea in UBC crash

Guilty plea in UBC crash
A Vancouver man accused in the dangerous driving deaths of two University of British Columbia students has pleaded guilty. The B-C Prosecution Service says 23-year-old Tim Goerner pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death earlier this month.  

Guilty plea in UBC crash

Indo-Canadian man fined $20K for immigration fraud

Indo-Canadian man fined $20K for immigration fraud
An Indian-origin man has been fined $20,000 for his role in a scheme that charged newcomers tens of thousands for permits to work in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Avtar Singh Sohi, 42, pleaded guilty on Monday to misrepresentation under the Canada Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. 

Indo-Canadian man fined $20K for immigration fraud

Two men charged after blind, non-verbal woman abducted in stolen van in Edmonton

Two men charged after blind, non-verbal woman abducted in stolen van in Edmonton
Two men are facing charges after a van was stolen in Edmonton with a 40-year-old woman inside who is blind and non-verbal. Edmonton police issued an Amber Alert on Thursday for the woman.  

Two men charged after blind, non-verbal woman abducted in stolen van in Edmonton

Home sales to dip in BC over the next year

Home sales to dip in BC over the next year
The B-C Real Estate Association says "the anchor that is (Canada's) monetary policy" will continue to weigh down home sales in this province over the next year. The association has released its fourth-quarter housing forecast showing residential sales are expected to dip nearly five per cent to just under 77-thousand units this year.

Home sales to dip in BC over the next year

Guilty plea in Chinatown stabbings

Guilty plea in Chinatown stabbings
A 44-year-old Vancouver man has pleaded guilty to two separate, unprovoked stabbings that happened in -- or near -- the city's Chinatown neighbourhood in September of last year.  In one stabbing, a cyclist working as a food delivery driver had his throat slashed but survived, while police say the other victim suffered "life-altering" injuries.

Guilty plea in Chinatown stabbings

Avian flu at Chilliwack poultry

Avian flu at Chilliwack poultry
Avian flu has been detected in birds at a second commercial poultry operation in Chilliwack. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the infection was confirmed yesterday -- four days after another farm was quarantined and its flock was ordered destroyed to halt the spread of the highly infectious illness.

Avian flu at Chilliwack poultry