Sunday, June 28, 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

BC United takes aim at Province over high cost of living for BC residents

BC United takes aim at Province over high cost of living for BC residents
The opposition says a new report by accounting firm M-N-P shows 52 per cent of British Columbians are just 200 dollars away from insolvency in a province with some of the highest rents and gas prices in North America.   

BC United takes aim at Province over high cost of living for BC residents

Pair arrested for gun and drug offences

Pair arrested for gun and drug offences
North Vancouver R-C-M-P say they stopped a Volkswagen after officers spotted it travelling the wrong direction on a one-way road at one A-M last Friday. Police say they stopped the vehicle and the driver got out and ran away before being arrested after a 10-minute chase.   

Pair arrested for gun and drug offences

Thousands of B.C. families will see an increase in government family benefit plan

Thousands of B.C. families will see an increase in government family benefit plan
The monthly benefit payment from the province goes to families with annual earnings below $106,908 for those with one child and $143,783 for a three-child family. Funding goes up this month by $250 a year for a two-parent family of four and as much as $750 for a single-parent family with two children. 

Thousands of B.C. families will see an increase in government family benefit plan

Inflation rate fell to 2.8 per cent in June

Inflation rate fell to 2.8 per cent in June
The inflation rate fell to 2.8 per cent in June, but Statistics Canada is also reporting grocery prices shot up 9.1 per cent from year-ago levels. That's even more than prices rose in May.

Inflation rate fell to 2.8 per cent in June

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province
The B.C. Wildfire Service website says 13,935 square kilometres have been burned since April 1, surpassing the previous record of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018. But there are still months to go in this year's season and the service says there are almost 400 fires currently burning.

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization
Delta Police Chief Constable Neil Dubord says in the letter that while he agrees with "the underlying principles of decriminalization," an early evaluation shows that the policy has not led to "the desired outcome." Dubord says there were 791 overdose deaths in the province between then and May, which "closely mirrors" the 772 deaths recorded during the same period last year.

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization