Long-awaited Alberta Pension Plan survey results show majority opposed to proposal

After months of back and forth between the Alberta government and local media organizations, the province has finally released the results of its Alberta Pension Plan (APP) Survey.

Postmedia says it filed a request for responses from the survey a week after it opened for input in September 2023. That request was followed by numerous others, which the media company says produced no records at all, or records that were completely redacted.

Next came a request for review by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The outlet says mediation with that office led to copies of the survey’s workbook submissions and long-form answers being released to them this week.

A summary of the results has since been released to CityNews, Postmedia, and other outlets by Alberta’s Treasury Board and Finance Ministry outside of the access to information process.

The data shows 63 per cent of respondents were opposed to the creation of an APP, while 12 per cent were undecided or unsure. The remaining 15 per cent were other types of responses, including questions about implementation, non-answers, incomplete responses, or suggestions.

The province says since the initial poll was conducted in 2023, public opinion on the matter has shifted.

It cites a survey conducted by Leger in February of this year which showed 55 per cent of Albertans in opposition and 23 per cent in support.

“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. The Alberta Pension Protection Act guarantees we won’t replace the CPP with an Alberta Pension Plan unless Albertans approve it in a referendum,” the Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance said in a statement.

In May, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said there were no plans to put the matter to a referendum anytime soon.

“I’m not seeing that there’s an appetite to put it to the people at the moment,” she said at the time. “I have said that I would put it to the people if I saw evidence they wanted to vote on it (but) I’m not seeing that at the moment.”

In December, Canada’s chief actuary published a report saying Alberta’s perceived stake of the Canadian Pension Plan’s overall assets was grossly overestimated.

A report commissioned by the province in 2023 estimated Alberta would be owed over 50 per cent of the national plan’s assets, but the chief actuary pegged Alberta’s share at a maximum of 25 per cent.

After her government received the report, Smith said she was disappointed a clear answer on Alberta’s share wasn’t provided and that she planned to follow up with the actuary.

Smith has previously arugued Albertans weren’t getting a fair deal under the CPP, even approving $7.5 million to launch a campaign touting the benefits of a provincial plan.

Reaction to the proposal over the years has been mixed, with both the Opposition NDP and other public interest and union groups consistently staunchly against it.

In a statement following the release of the information by the province, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) president Raj Uppal says she’s not surprised the long-awaited data shows a lack of support.

“There is no case for leaving the CPP,” said Uppal. “An Alberta plan would cost more, and deliver weaker investment returns and smaller pensions.”

As in previous months, CUPE is calling on the Smith government to abandon any and all plans to remove Alberta from the CPP.

“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,” she said. “The premier needs to abandon this idea and stop threatening the retirement security of Albertans.”

-With files from The Canadian Press