Wednesday, June 24, 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

Ambulance crashes into lamppost

Ambulance crashes into lamppost
B-C Emergency Health Service says an ambulance with five people on board, including one patient, crashed into a lamppost in Vancouver early this morning. The service says the ambulance had its lights and sirens on as it transported the patient between hospitals, accompanied by a nurse escort and three paramedics.

Ambulance crashes into lamppost

3 charged with First Degree Murder in Pawandeep Chopra's homicide

3 charged with First Degree Murder in Pawandeep Chopra's homicide
Surrey R-C-M-P say three men are facing charges in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Pawandeep Chopra in November last year. The Mounties say Chopra died two days after officers were first called about a patient suffering from gunshot injuries at the local hospital.

3 charged with First Degree Murder in Pawandeep Chopra's homicide

One dead in Cloverdale crash

One dead in Cloverdale crash
Mounties in Surrey say one person is dead after a crash this morning and they're asking for any witnesses or drivers with dash-cam footage to come forward. Police say they responded to the two-vehicle crash in the Cloverdale area shortly before 10 a-m and the victim was declared dead at the scene.  

One dead in Cloverdale crash

Plan to penalize BC Ferries for missed 'core-service' sailings, details next year

Plan to penalize BC Ferries for missed 'core-service' sailings, details next year
A statement from the Ministry of Transportation says details of the plan to improve the reliability of the ferry service will be confirmed next spring. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says he knows last summer was frustrating for travellers and a challenge for BC Ferries due to staffing and mechanical issues.

Plan to penalize BC Ferries for missed 'core-service' sailings, details next year

Delta landfill in British Columbia would turn into a spot for eagle watching in fall

Delta landfill in British Columbia would turn into a spot for eagle watching in fall
Fall and winter are some of the busiest months for a raptor rescue operation in Delta, B.C., as it prepares for the annual migration of eagles scavenging at the Metro Vancouver landfill.  Martina Versteeg, the raptor care supervisor with Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, also known as OWL, said it's a great spot for bird watching as hundreds of eagles converge to gorge at the dump. 

Delta landfill in British Columbia would turn into a spot for eagle watching in fall

Nijjar fallout: India reportedly tells Canada to bring home 'dozens' of its diplomats

Nijjar fallout: India reportedly tells Canada to bring home 'dozens' of its diplomats
India reportedly wants 41 of 62 Canadian diplomats out of the country by early next week- a striking, if largely anticipated, deepening of the rift that erupted last month following Trudeau's explosive allegations in the House of Commons. 

Nijjar fallout: India reportedly tells Canada to bring home 'dozens' of its diplomats