Public interest advocacy group holding online town hall on Alberta Pension Plan

A virtual town hall is being held Wednesday night on the Alberta government’s proposed Alberta Pension Plan.

The event is being put on by Public Interest Alberta.

Executive director Bradley Lafortune says they’ll have two experts discussing the implications — one who is a former senior government advisor and pension expert, and the other who is from the Parkland Institute Research Centre at the University of Alberta.

There will also be a question and answer period to follow.

“One of our messages is that the important thing when it comes to big pension plans that are administered on behalf of Canadians — and we are all Canadians — is that they are free from government interference,” he said.

The webinar opens at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation starts at 6 p.m.

A link to the event can be found on the Public Interest Alberta website.

Public appetite for APP low in past, but new data lacks

A survey conducted by the government had its results released last spring after much back and forth between the province and local media organizations.

The data showed 63 per cent of respondents were opposed to the creation of a provincial pension plan, while 12 per cent were undecided or unsure.

However, since the poll was conducted in 2023, it’s possible public opinion on the matter has shifted.

In December 2025, the Alberta Next Panel released its recommendations after months of touring the province for public engagement.

That report recommended the province provide Albertans with a detailed proposal for a potential future APP. The document should outline benefits, governance structure, contribution rates and an implementation plan, it added.

A referendum on whether Alberta should withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan should only be held after the proposal is made public, according to the report.

Last month, Premier Danielle Smith said there would be a referendum in Alberta on Oct. 19, 2026 regarding several matters including immigration, healthcare, and taxes. Pensions aren’t on the ballot as of now.

The ongoing discussion around Alberta separatism also finds itself intertwined with the pension discussion. Smith has previously said that it’s possible separation could also end up going to the people in October.

A citizen-initiated petition to force a vote on whether Alberta stays in Canada is ongoing.

-With files from Lisa Grant, Lauryn Heintz, and Michael Ranger