UCP Needs to Listen to Albertans and Leave the Canada Pension Plan Alone: CUPE
EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A survey of 93,000 Albertans conducted by the provincial government has a very clear message: don't touch the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The results were released by the government after a lengthy request for information by the Edmonton Journal.
CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal says she was not surprised the survey showed 63% opposition to leaving the CPP, and only 10% support for an Alberta plan.
'There is no case for leaving the CPP,' said Uppal. 'An Alberta plan would cost more, and deliver weaker investment returns and smaller pensions.'
Uppal called on the UCP government to abandon all plans to take Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan.
'I know Danielle Smith likes to flirt with separatists, but the Canada Pension Plan is one of the strongest reasons for Alberta to remain in Canada. The Premier needs to abandon this idea and stop threatening the retirement security of Albertans.'
:clc/cope 491
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Majority of Albertans rejected provincial pension in 2023 survey
Nearly two-thirds of respondents to the Alberta government's pension engagement survey did not want to dump the Canada Pension Plan and switch to a plan run by the province. Numbers provided by the government showed 63 per cent of people who responded to the survey were opposed to an Alberta pension, 10 per cent were in favour and 12 per cent were undecided or unsure. The remaining 15 per cent was made up of people whose responses were incomplete, or contained questions or suggestions for "other alternatives." The survey results were released to the Edmonton Journal this week after a 21-month battle. The newspaper reported that it asked the province for the responses on multiple occasions only to be met with refusal or documents full of redactions. The data was finally posted to the government's open data site this week after the privacy and information commissioner became involved. In its response, the government cited two 2025 polls which suggested public opinion was shifting in favour of a provincial pension plan "While recent surveys on an APP show public opinion may be shifting, we will continue to engage with Albertans on this topic through the Alberta Next panel," Marisa Breeze, press secretary to finance minister Nate Horner, wrote. "The Alberta Pension Protection Act guarantees we won't replace the CPP with an Alberta Pension Plan unless Albertans approve it in a referendum." Responses in the document called the idea "reckless" and the survey "a farce." "I do not support this idea. I will move out of Alberta if this happens," one respondent said. "I am Canadian first and fully support the Canada Pension Plan. "Withdrawal from the CPP would be a horrendous miscalculation that will impact our province for generations to come," said another. WATCH | Why Alberta says it's entitled to half of the Canada Pension Plan: One respondent characterized the government's pension ambitions as "political posturing." "Stop playing games with my retirement to spite the rest of the country," another wrote. Supporters of a provincial pension said they wanted Alberta to be independent from Ottawa. "Alberta has paid dearly since Confederation," one respondent wrote. "We deserve independence financially." Edmonton-Decore MLA Sharif Haji, the NDP opposition critic for affordability and utilities, said the results prove that Albertans do not want a provincial pension. He criticized the government for trying to hide the survey answers. "It took close to two years," Haji said. "What it tells me is that they never wanted to share because the result was not the one that they wanted." Haji said an Alberta pension plan is part of Premier Danielle Smith's separation agenda, which includes the push for an Alberta provincial police service. In 2023, the province released a report from an independent third party called Lifeworks, that claimed Alberta would be entitled to 53 per cent or $344 billion of the CPP if it withdrew from the national plan in 2027. But Canada's chief actuary determined late last year that the amount was between 20 and 25 per cent of the $575 billion plan. Smith has said Albertans would have to approve an exit from the CPP via a referendum before her government made any move. An engagement panel led by former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning held town halls on the pension issue in the fall of 2023.
Business Wire
17 hours ago
- Business Wire
UCP Needs to Listen to Albertans and Leave the Canada Pension Plan Alone: CUPE
EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A survey of 93,000 Albertans conducted by the provincial government has a very clear message: don't touch the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The results were released by the government after a lengthy request for information by the Edmonton Journal. CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal says she was not surprised the survey showed 63% opposition to leaving the CPP, and only 10% support for an Alberta plan. 'There is no case for leaving the CPP,' said Uppal. 'An Alberta plan would cost more, and deliver weaker investment returns and smaller pensions.' Uppal called on the UCP government to abandon all plans to take Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan. 'I know Danielle Smith likes to flirt with separatists, but the Canada Pension Plan is one of the strongest reasons for Alberta to remain in Canada. The Premier needs to abandon this idea and stop threatening the retirement security of Albertans.' :clc/cope 491
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11 Funded to Completion
Allocation in President's FY26 Budget HOUSTON, June 18, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Port Houston is pleased the President's fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget has allocated $161 million for the Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11. In addition, the President's FY26 Operation & Maintenance (O&M) budget allocated $53.6 million to the Houston Ship Channel, the nation's No. 1 ranked waterway. These funds are in addition to the $33 million for Project 11 construction and $98 million for O&M in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Workplan for FY25 that was released a few weeks ago. Port Houston Chairman Ric Campo extended congratulations and appreciation to all industry partners, stakeholders, Congressman Wesley Hunt, and the bipartisan delegation involved in this tremendous effort undertaken over the past several years. "This is a momentous achievement," said Chairman Campo. "We appreciate the Trump Administration for recognizing the criticality of this expansion and applaud Congressman Wesley Hunt and Congressman Brian Babin for their tremendous advocacy and unwavering leadership to bring home the millions of federal dollars needed to complete Project 11. This project will keep our economy moving forward and enable our port to continue delivering for not just Houstonians but the entire nation." "Since my swearing-in nearly three years ago, one of my biggest priorities has been to ensure that Project 11 in the Houston Ship Channel is fully funded and its construction completed. As the largest energy port in the entire world, Project 11's success is essential to maintaining Texas's and the United States' energy dominance," said Congressman Hunt. "I would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to President Trump for recognizing the importance of this project and his goal of ensuring America is once again a net exporter of energy." Project 11 Construction Progress Several portions of the channel expansion project are complete and already providing benefits. Daylight restrictions have been reduced by up to two hours in each direction, increasing time for two-way vessel traffic along the waterway and improving efficiency. Later this summer Port Houston will complete the remaining Port-led portion of Project 11 dredging, between Bayport Ship Channel and Barbours Cut Ship Channel, with USACE leading the remaining portions of Project 11 in Barbours Cut and the upper Turning Basin. Project 11 is scheduled to be complete by 2029. Project 11 is a testament to Port Houston's advocacy for the Houston Ship Channel and the region. It will provide a safer waterway for larger ships and vessels, further supporting economic development and jobs for the region and the state of Texas. See more details and updates about Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11 here: About Port Houston For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area's largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nation's largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at View source version on Contacts CONTACT: Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179; E-mail: lashley@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
