Thursday, June 25, 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

Online News Act could see Google, Meta pay combined $230 million to Canadian media

Online News Act could see Google, Meta pay combined $230 million to Canadian media
The federal government has put a price tag on how much it would like to see Google and Facebook spend under an act requiring the tech giants to compensate media for news articles. 

Online News Act could see Google, Meta pay combined $230 million to Canadian media

Busy long weekend ahead: BC Ferries

Busy long weekend ahead: BC Ferries
B-C Ferries wants customers to prepare for a busy Labour Day weekend. The company says advanced bookings for the holiday weekend show high passenger and vehicle volumes heading from the mainland to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands today through Saturday, with high eastbound traffic expected from Sunday to Monday.

Busy long weekend ahead: BC Ferries

Ongoing cost-of-living crisis should trigger another housing benefit payment: Singh

Ongoing cost-of-living crisis should trigger another housing benefit payment: Singh
The federal government needs to issue another $500 benefit payment for low-income families struggling to keep a roof over their heads, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday. Singh was in Sooke, B.C., on a cross-country summer tour where the national housing crisis and ongoing anxiety about the cost of living is taking centre stage.   

Ongoing cost-of-living crisis should trigger another housing benefit payment: Singh

'Persistent' bears force 160 firefighters to pull out of B.C. Interior camp

'Persistent' bears force 160 firefighters to pull out of B.C. Interior camp
The wildfire service says the bears threatened the safety of staff "within and around" the camp near Gold Bridge, about 100 kilometres west of Lillooet, prompting the decision to quit the camp Wednesday evening.  

'Persistent' bears force 160 firefighters to pull out of B.C. Interior camp

Hiker falls to death

Hiker falls to death
A man has died while hiking in B-C's southern Interior. RCMP say they received a report of a missing person on Monday after a man went paddling the night before on Vaseux Lake, north of Oliver.  

Hiker falls to death

Break-ins at businesses: Surrey RCMP

Break-ins at businesses: Surrey RCMP
R-C-M-P say they're investigating a series of break-ins at businesses in Surrey, including an incident this morning. The Mounties say eight break-ins and attempted break-ins have occurred this month and police believe all of them are related.  

Break-ins at businesses: Surrey RCMP