By The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Callers to telephone town hall claim plan to quit CPP forcing people to decide if their Albertans first or Canadian first

Nov 10, 2023 | 9:24 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The panel hearing from Albertans on quitting the Canada Pension Plan found itself arguing with callers in its third telephone town hall session.

The panel led by former treasurer Jim Dinning took calls from Calgary and area residents.

Dinning says his panel is there in a non-partisan role, taking the pulse of Albertans on leaving the CPP and reporting back to the province.

However, Dinning took issue with a pair of callers who say Alberta’s claim to half the assets of the Canada Pension plan is greedy and heartless and that the debate is forcing the province’s residents to decide if they are Albertans first or Canadians first.

Dinning says he is a proud Albertan and Canadian.

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He said it’s a mathematical fact that Albertans get less than what they pay into the federation.

He says they deserve to decide if it’s a fair deal and that doesn’t make them greedy.

Shannon Phillips, Alberta NDP Finance Critic For Pension & Insurance Issues, issued the following statement regarding Thursday night’s UCP pension “telephone town hall” in response to media requests:

“Not only do Albertans attending this so-called consultation have to sit through a series of lies from proponents of the plan to gamble away their Canada Pension, but now they risk getting yelled at when trying to correct the record.

“Jim Dinning owes the Albertans he shouted at last night an apology. The UCP plan to leave CPP has caused a great deal of anxiety among Albertans wanting to secure their retirements.

“Mr. Dinning has also previously promised in-person consultations, yet none have been announced. Albertans aren’t buy the nonsense he and the UCP are selling.

“Again, the UCP needs to keep it hands off CPP – Albertans have been clear.”