Trudeau says Smith picked bad time to talk of quitting CPP ( The Canadian Press image)

By The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Trudeau chides Smith for pension exit debate, promises to defend stability of CPP

Oct 18, 2023 | 11:58 AM

EDMONTON – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Liberal government would fight any actions that threaten the stability of the Canada Pension Plan.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government has launched a provincial debate on quitting the CPP and creating an Alberta-only pension plan.

Smith says Albertans are paying in more than they’re getting out the federal plan and a report the province commissioned says Alberta is entitled to more than half the assets of the $575-billion fund.

Trudeau’s comments in a letter to Smith come a day after the Canada Pension Plan’s board asserted Alberta’s messaging and public opinion survey on leaving the CPP are biased, unfair and manipulative.

Trudeau also takes Smith to task for introducing the idea of quitting the CPP at a time of great stress, including geopolitical events and existential threats such as climate change.

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Trudeau says leaders have a duty to help Canadians deal with problems and not, in his words, “introduce even more uncertainty and instability.”

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley issued the following statement in regards to the Canada Pension Plan:

“Albertans’ pensions belong to them.

“We have seen three premiers speak out against the UCP proposal to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan because they know it will be bad for Canada’s future and for the retirement security of all Canadians.

“The Alberta NDP is focused on the concerns of Albertans. We have heard from nearly 27,000 through an online survey at AlbertasFuture.ca and tens of thousands more through emails, phone calls and discussions in our constituencies.

“The message has been overwhelmingly clear — the UCP needs to keep its hands off the CPP.

“The UCP are not acting in good faith when they claim to be offering Albertans a choice on their retirement future. The government’s own survey doesn’t even ask if Albertans support CPP and they have launched a full-scale propaganda campaign using public money to lie to them about the benefits of leaving.

“We invite all Albertans to join us for an online town hall tomorrow Thursday night where we discuss retirement security and pensions further. People can pre-register to attend at AlbertasFuture.ca.

“In the days ahead, we will announce details of in-person town halls about this important matter as well.

“The Alberta NDP will do everything in our power to protect Albertans’ CPP.”

(The Canadian Press)

(With files from rdnewsNOW)