Alberta
Alberta First needs 270,000 Albertans to sign petition, initiate referendum on Pension Plan
New release from Alberta First
The cost of running the CPP has increased a thousandfold since 2000. In 2000, costs were 4 million dollars; currently, they amount to 4.4 billion dollars.
Every Albertan can play a part in ensuring prosperity for generations to come.The Alberta First Pension Plan team strongly believes that the Alberta Pension Plan is a sensible choice. This belief comes after extensive discussions with thousands of Albertans and a deep understanding of the law and the facts. Our responsibility is to ensure that this understanding is shared with every voting Albertan. The Alberta Pension Plan has been a topic of debate, with supporters and opponents expressing their opinions on its potential impact. As a team of dedicated Albertans, the Alberta First Pension Plan team, guided by numerous esteemed professionals across the province, is committed to providing the facts to all Albertans. We support the idea that establishing an Alberta Pension Plan would give Alberta more control and independence over managing the investment funds and the ability to cut the high management fees Canadians pay to the CPP Investment Board. It has the potential to offer greater benefits and lower contributions than the existing Canada Pension Plan. An Alberta Pension Plan would address the unique needs of Albertans and contribute to economic development and financial security. To find reports, videos, and information on the Alberta Pension Plan, you can CLICK HERE. Many who oppose it are worried about the costs and complexities of setting up a separate pension plan for Alberta. They fear higher fees and lower benefits for Albertans than the Canada Pension Plan. Additionally, they are concerned about the economic impact and, most importantly, the Alberta government’s potential interference in fund management. It is essential to consider both perspectives when comparing the Alberta Pension Plan with the Canada Pension Plan. This allows Albertans to make an informed decision. While there are valid concerns, citizens can address these by staying actively involved and acting as watchdogs over the provincial government. Here are the top three concerns regarding moving to an Alberta Pension Plan: “Higher costs to manage an Alberta Penson Plan” Alberta is home to some of the most competent individuals in the financial industry. To ensure cost-effective management, Alberta could consider adopting several models from around the world. The cost of running the CPP has increased a thousandfold since 2000. In 2000, costs were 4 million dollars; currently, they amount to 4.4 billion dollars.  “My benefits will be negatively affected.” As per the CPP Act, Section 3 (1), residents of Alberta must receive, at minimum, the same benefit they received under the CPP for a province to withdraw and create their own. “The Alberta Government will mismanage the fund.” The fear of the government mismanaging money is a valid concern. As Albertans, we must ensure that the Alberta Pension Plan is managed independently, with the sole mandate of maximizing profit and mitigating risk to the fund. We must be vocal and involved in the decision-making process to shape the future of our pension system. What do we need to do?Our first step is to initiate a referendum. The Alberta Government will only proceed with the referendum if there is significant support from Albertans.
This will mark an outstanding achievement, demonstrating Albertans’ determination to secure a prosperous future for all generations.
OUR PENSION! OUR CHOICE! |
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Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement on the April 2, 2025 U.S. tariff announcement:
“Today was an important win for Canada and Alberta, as it appears the United States has decided to uphold the majority of the free trade agreement (CUSMA) between our two nations. It also appears this will continue to be the case until after the Canadian federal election has concluded and the newly elected Canadian government is able to renegotiate CUSMA with the U.S. administration.
“This is precisely what I have been advocating for from the U.S. administration for months.
“It means that the majority of goods sold into the United States from Canada will have no tariffs applied to them, including zero per cent tariffs on energy, minerals, agricultural products, uranium, seafood, potash and host of other Canadian goods.
“There is still work to be done, of course. Unfortunately, tariffs previously announced by the United States on Canadian automobiles, steel and aluminum have not been removed. The efforts of premiers and the federal government should therefore shift towards removing or significantly reducing these remaining tariffs as we go forward and ensuring affected workers across Canada are generously supported until the situation is resolved.
“I again call on all involved in our national advocacy efforts to focus on diplomacy and persuasion while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Clearly, this strategy has been the most effective to this point.
“As it appears the worst of this tariff dispute is behind us (though there is still work to be done), it is my sincere hope that we, as Canadians, can abandon the disastrous policies that have made Canada vulnerable to and overly dependent on the United States, fast-track national resource corridors, get out of the way of provincial resource development and turn our country into an independent economic juggernaut and energy superpower.”
From the Fraser Institute
By any measure, Alberta is an energy powerhouse—within Canada, but also on a global scale. In 2023, it produced 85 per cent of Canada’s oil and three-fifths of the country’s natural gas. Most of Canada’s oil reserves are in Alberta, along with a majority of natural gas reserves. Alberta is the beating heart of the Canadian energy economy. And energy, in turn, accounts for one-quarter of Canada’s international exports.
Consider some key facts about the province’s energy landscape, as noted in the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) 2023 annual report. Oil and natural gas production continued to rise (on a volume basis) in 2023, on the heels of steady increases over the preceding half decade. However, the dollar value of Alberta’s oil and gas production fell in 2023, as the surging prices recorded in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine retreated. Capital spending in the province’s energy sector reached $30 billion in 2023, making it the leading driver of private-sector investment. And completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project has opened new offshore export avenues for Canada’s oil industry and should boost Alberta’s energy production and exports going forward.
In a world striving to address climate change, Alberta’s hydrocarbon-heavy energy sector faces challenges. At some point, the world may start to consume less oil and, later, less natural gas (in absolute terms). But such “peak” consumption hasn’t arrived yet, nor does it appear imminent. While the demand for certain refined petroleum products is trending down in some advanced economies, particularly in Europe, we should take a broader global perspective when assessing energy demand and supply trends.
Looking at the worldwide picture, Goldman Sachs’ 2024 global energy forecast predicts that “oil usage will increase through 2034” thanks to strong demand in emerging markets and growing production of petrochemicals that depend on oil as the principal feedstock. Global demand for natural gas (including LNG) will also continue to increase, particularly since natural gas is the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel and more of it is being traded in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Against this backdrop, there are reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for Alberta’s energy sector, particularly if the federal government dials back some of the economically destructive energy and climate policies adopted by the last government. According to the AER’s “base case” forecast, overall energy output will expand over the next 10 years. Oilsands output is projected to grow modestly; natural gas production will also rise, in part due to greater demand for Alberta’s upstream gas from LNG operators in British Columbia.
The AER’s forecast also points to a positive trajectory for capital spending across the province’s energy sector. The agency sees annual investment rising from almost $30 billion to $40 billion by 2033. Most of this takes place in the oil and gas industry, but “emerging” energy resources and projects aimed at climate mitigation are expected to represent a bigger slice of energy-related capital spending going forward.
Like many other oil and gas producing jurisdictions, Alberta must navigate the bumpy journey to a lower-carbon future. But the world is set to remain dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come. This suggests the energy sector will continue to underpin not only the Alberta economy but also Canada’s export portfolio for the foreseeable future.
Jock Finlayson
Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
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