Friday, July 3, 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

Rare May heat wave brings worries for further floods and fires: emergency minister

Rare May heat wave brings worries for further floods and fires: emergency minister
Ma says the unusual heat also elevates the risks of wildfires burning in B.C. There are more than 50 fires burning in B.C., most of them in the north and central part of the province, and three wildfires have prompted evacuation orders or alerts for nearby residents. 

Rare May heat wave brings worries for further floods and fires: emergency minister

High temperatures in B.C. pose 'threat of new wildfires,' wildfire service warns

High temperatures in B.C. pose 'threat of new wildfires,' wildfire service warns
Evacuation orders or alerts remain in place for much of the areas surrounding the Red Creek and Boundary Lake fires, about 1,300 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. In its latest update, the B.C. Wildfire Service reported the Boundary Lake fire was an estimated 5,900 hectares. The fire at Red Creek sits at 2,800 hectares.

High temperatures in B.C. pose 'threat of new wildfires,' wildfire service warns

Victoria police arrest man for multiple break & enters

Victoria police arrest man for multiple break & enters
Police say they received a call on Monday morning about a break-and-enter at a residential development, and arrested the male suspect after a brief search of the building. Police say the suspect is a newcomer to Victoria and had 44 prior contacts with police this year, in addition to having been arrested a dozen times.

Victoria police arrest man for multiple break & enters

Surrey's Cloverdale Agriplex getting a $1M upgrade

Surrey's Cloverdale Agriplex getting a $1M upgrade
A one-million dollar upgrade is being supplied through the Destination Development Fund, which will go toward making the site of the Cloverdale Rodeo more accessible and versatile.

Surrey's Cloverdale Agriplex getting a $1M upgrade

Funding investment for air quality improvement in BC schools

Funding investment for air quality improvement in BC schools
A joint investment of 3.2-million-dollars will go toward improving the ventilation systems at five elementary and secondary schools in the province. Two of the schools in Abbotsford will receive funding to replace heat pumps, a chiller and a direct digital controls upgrade.

Funding investment for air quality improvement in BC schools

Possibility of foreign interference in B-C's elections

Possibility of foreign interference in B-C's elections
Eby's comments today around the same time the federal government announced it was expelling Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, whom C-SIS says was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative M-P Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.

Possibility of foreign interference in B-C's elections